"The Men of Holmby Hills: Aiden Book Two by Allyson Simonian

"Now I'll receive the terms I want in our divorce. I should be happy. No judge in their right mind would reward a cheating spouse. Brianne and I had a prenup in place, but my terms were still generous. Given what's happened, though, I won't pay out a single dime. I won't reward someone who has betrayed me."......

In this contemporary romance we find Aiden and Brianne on the edge of divorce. Aiden, convinced that Bri cheated on him. A new factor arises in their splintered relationship when Aiden discovers that Brianne is pregnant.

Aiden is self centered and narrow minded. He can’t see past his flourishing business and his expensive lifestyle. The people who deal with him are probably at the end of their patience with him. Even Bri has had enough.

Aiden's attitude threatens his future of having a civil relationship with Bri. It also threatens his work and a major project he's working on. If something doesn't change, and soon, Aiden stands to lose it all.

A quick, fun read. You’ll want to keep those pages turning. Will Aiden and Brianne work it out? Whose baby is it? Can anything, or anybody, make Aiden see the error of his ways?

Thank you Allyson Simonian

Buy "The Men of Holmby Hills: Aiden" on Amazon: click here!

"Little Secrets" by Jennifer Hillier

                                                                                             

"They say if a missing child Sebastian's age isn't found within twenty-four hours of his disappearance, chances are he never will be. This is the first coherent thought Marin Machado has every morning when she wakes up. The second thought is whether this will be the day she'll kill herself."...….

This psychological thriller will take you on an unforgettable ride. As in Jennifer Hillier’s previous novels, her writing is outstanding. I’ve enjoyed several of them.

As a parent, one of Marin’s worst nightmares has come true. While shopping with her son, she lets go of 5 year old Sebastian’s hand for just a moment. Then he’s gone.

Marin and Derek are doing their best to hang on. They have money, homes, businesses, and fast cars. None of it will matter a year down the road. Marin keeps a small secret. She keeps a private eye on retainer. She’s never stopped looking for Sebastian.

Unfortunately, she finds that Derek is cheating. If she can’t get her son back, she can focus her rage on her husbands mistress. Marin will do things she’d never imagined she was capable of.

The story was a thriller from start to finish. Can she come to terms with their loss? Can Derek pull it together before Marin ends up doing something that could land her in prison, or perhaps a widow?

Well written, stunning amount of reality, loss, grief. Last, but not least, a lot of things are done out of love. What will the aftermath of all this tragedy bring?

Thank you Jennifer Hillier, Netgalley, and St. Martins Press. 

Buy "Little Secrets" on sale on Amazon April 21st: click here!

"Snapshots" A Collection of Short Stories by Eliot Parker

“As they crested over the embankment, they saw a terrible scene. Cutting through the dusk, the coruscating lights of police cars and an ambulance pulsed like red eyes.”....

“Snapshots” is a great title for this book. Each short story is a look into a moment in time for each of the characters. You will be drawn in immediately by the story, and the characters.

They were unique storylines. Endings you would not predict. I had previously read an Eliot Parker novel, “ Fragile Brillance.” He’s a very gifted writer. He knows just the right things that will pull you into the story.

From the creepy “Hands” to a baseball game with consequences, to a look at a couple and their choices. A little bit of love, a little bit of superstition, a little bit of crime. A great read overall!

Thank you Eliot Parker

Buy "Snapshots" now on Amazon: click here!

"Weapons of Remorse" by Chevron Ross

"Six men are dead because of me, and the fact that my platoon survived because I shot those soldiers doesn't make me feel any better. Hardly a day passed since I got home that I haven't wondered about them. Who they were. What they were like. Whether they had wives and children and hopes for the future. If we hadn't been soldiers, if we'd met some other way, we might have liked each other, maybe even became friends. "...….....

This realistic tale involves the stories of several families, and how gun violence affects them. A Christian Fiction story that gets to the heart of the issues.

Hank, a former soldier, who feels he has blood on his hands. A cop, Laronda, who finds that using her gun will come with horrible consequences. Then there is David, a man who believes that all school shootings are hoaxes. Dan will have his 5 year old grandson stolen from his family. Is there any hope of his return?

Each of these families will have to find peace it’s their situations. I was unsure of the subject matter at first. Not my usual first choice. As the story went along, and the pieces became connected, I found myself wondering the outcome.

Is there an answer to end gun violence? The author had very interesting, and realistic ideas, as to how we could get a handle on this as a country as a whole.

As you read along you get a feel for how gun violence, the laws, and our rights, have been twisted or misused. No matter what your stance is on owning or banning guns, this is a reflective opinion of ways that could actually help and save lives, while preserving our 2nd amendment rights.

Thank you for the thoughtful read Chevron Ross. 

Buy "Weapons of Remorse" now on Amazon: click here!

Currently Reading: Weapons of Remorse

Thank you!

Just a brief thank you to my readers. I just want to take a moment to let you know that I've not stopped reviewing books. I have taken on a job that takes up more time then any job I've ever had. Its put a slow down on the amount of books I can currently accept. I used to have 5-10 books ready to read and review at any given time. Now, to be fair to my authors requests, I'm only taking one at a time. Thank you for your patience. You can still send me an email at mmshealy@aol.com. If I have room, and you don't mind waiting a bit, please send your requests along. 

"Accidental Activist: Justice for The Groveland Four" by Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman

A very interesting read. One of the authors, Josh, came upon the story of what was named “The Groveland Four.” Because of the fire it ignited in him, he took it upon himself to help find justice for their families.

I admire his drive and the fact he didn’t give up. There were dead ends and stone walls at many turns. That didn’t stop him. By publishing this, he also has educated others, myself included, about a piece of history. This story was not known to me.

He tells you the methods he used to achieve the things he did. Is there something or an event you feel needs attention, and perhaps it’s own justice? I’d recommend this book as a way to get a feel for the things you might need to get started.

Definitely an informative and interesting education of facts. I’m glad the author was able to do something for the families of “The Groveland Four.” They deserved justice, but it was not an easy road. Briefly, "The Groveland Four" involved the awful treatment and outcome of four young black men accused of raping a white woman in 1949. The evidence was pretty clear that this had not taken place. Still they were beaten, arrested, convicted, attacked by mobs. Homes burned. It would be 70 years before their families would find justice.

The world should have more people like the young man who authored this book, and didn’t take no for an answer. Thank you for the informative read. 

Buy "Accidental Activist: Justice for The Groveland Four" now on Amazon: click here

"Please See Us" by Caitlin Mullen

                                                                                          

"Jane Doe #2 is newer- she's only been in the marsh for two days. If you got close enough you might still be able to smell the traces of her perfume on her skin or the scent of the last cigarette she smoked lingering in her hair. She is still that close to life, like a door she could almost walk back through. Jane Doe #1 has been here for two weeks now"...…..

Atlantic City. Once a haven for casinos and nightlife, it’s bright lights fading into the seedier side of the city. A tale told from the living and the dead.

There are dead bodies in the marsh behind the motel. They lay there waiting to be seen, begging to be seen. Needing to be found so that they may find their eternal peace.

Clara is a psychic, operating along the boardwalk. Clara is barely hanging on, and not overly gifted. Lily is back in her hometown, dissatisfied with her life and herself. She’s come home to start over. When Clara and Lily form a odd friendship, it could take them to dark places.

When a relative of one of the dead girls asks Clara for a reading, things take a turn for her. Her inner sight begins to strengthen, and gives her some unsettling pictures in her head. If she can just sort them out and make sense of them.

The story was riveting from the start. A resemblance to true crime made the story more eerie. The characters felt real, surrounded by the whispers of the dead. The women are there and you can feel them pleading to "Please See Us."

Thank you Caitlin Mullen, Netgalley, Gallery, Pocket Books. 

Buy "Please See Us" on Amazon: Coming March 3, 2020

"Darling Rose Gold" A Novel by Stephanie Wrobel

"My daughter should never have been left to fend for herself. A few years without me, and she winds up pregnant and abandoned. Our neighbors can grouse all they want about my controlling ways, my dubious mothering. But they don't understand how much she needs me, how lucky she is to have me here to run her life for her. I'll right this sinking ship in no time."

Patty abused her child from the beginning. Making her sick, taking advantage of her innocence, and a child’s love for their parent. Years go by and finally Patty is arrested for the abuse of her daughter, Rose Gold. Can Rose ever forgive her mother? Prison changes people. Not just Patty, but Rose as well.

The town is shocked that Rose would take her mother in when she leaves prison. Is there a secret reason these two are together again? Maybe they can move on from the past. Everyone is watching, including Rose's co-workers, the neighbors, old friends, even strangers at the grocery store.

Shocking, but with traces of familiarity to real cases in the news, mothers guilty of “Munchausen by Proxy.” Rose has suffered in ways that changes her view of the world. It changes the way most people would deal with everyday situations. Now that Rose is grown, how does she see this childhood?

A carefully planned twist that makes the story even more disturbing. Patty and Rose will find their lives changed forever. I found the book a fascinating read. As a parent, shocked by the behavior of a mother. Even though this book is a work of fiction, there are far too many real cases that have occurred. A riveting read you'll find hard to put down.

Thank you Stephanie Wrobel, Netgalley, and Berkley Publishing Group
#michellesbookends #netgalley #berkleypublishinggroup #darlingrosegold 

On sale March 17, 2020 at Amazon: click here!

"HER" a novel by Britney King

Buy "HER" a novel: on Amazon: click here!


“It’s a shame we feel the need to know every little thing. Because, and this is where I’d like to warn you, knowing every little thing is dangerous. Knowing every little thing is like asking for a cup of poison and drinking one tiny sip at a time. It will kill you slowly. But it kills you nonetheless.”

Ann is the perfect neighbor. Fabulous and popular, everyone likes Anne. She’s written a self help book. Ann throws great dinner parties and everyone wants to be her friend.

Sadie lives in the same neighborhood. Unfortunately for her, her life isn’t going along very well. Her husband left her, she’s lost her motivation.

Ann and Sadie meet. Ann takes her under her wing, and tries to get Sadie on track. The relationship is odd, and slightly overwhelming for both of them. Then there’s the little matter of people they know dropping dead. Sadie is so jealous of Ann and her life, would she kill to keep Anne to herself? Or were the deaths just a coincidence?

A twisted kind of stalker tale. Crazy storyline you won’t be able to put down. Sadie is so relatable. Everyone hits a low point in their life. Who better than to have a self help author as your friend?

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. My first time reading this author. I got interested in her books through a book email signup. You just never know where you’ll find a great author with a great book. I’ll be looking to read more from this writer.

Thank you Britney King