REVIEW: I love a good Christmas story. I have been fortunate to be an early reader for several of them this year. It was a ton of fun and I have a few more to go. The Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge rises to the top because this year we get to read a continuation of the story for each of the girls and their mother. Christmas Peace by Violet Howe melted my heart. 

Ms. Violet writes the story of Maddie who is the Matriarch of the family. After losing her husband and daughter in an accident she struggled for purpose in her life. During Christmas one year she took in four girls who needed homes at the last minute knowing foster homes are hard to come by during the holidays. The love that grows between Maddie and these girls is beautiful. 

I love these characters! Each author writes a different one and their particular story and because of that the characters are rich and full. You get a wide perspective of the family they have become and the adults the girls are now. 

The stories were so well received last year and because readers fell in love with them, the story continues this year! I’m hoping we get at least one more year. They set such a warm and beautiful feeling for my holidays and I know they will do the same for yours. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

Christmas has been a magical time for Maddie and her four adopted daughters ever since she first welcomed the girls into her home for the holidays years ago. With each passing year, preserving their family traditions and holiday customs has remained a priority, but now that the girls are adults beginning families of their own, Maddie worries that this may be the last year they’ll all spend the holiday together.

When Robert suggests a pre-holiday trip to celebrate their first year together, Maddie’s heart is torn between making the most of time with her daughters or enjoying a romantic getaway that would provide a much-needed break from the overwhelming stress she’s been under at work.

With a promise that she’ll be back by Christmas Eve, she jets off to an idyllic resort in Costa Rica with Robert, but the vacation ends up being not at all what Maddie expected. Then, when complications threaten to delay their return and put her beloved family holiday in jeopardy, Maddie’s faith in the Christmas spirit is put to the test.

Can she still find the magic of the season and have Christmas Peace in her heart?

If you’re a fan of heartwarming, second-chance, holiday romances with later-in-life heroes and heroines, you’ll love this volume of the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series!

Don’t miss a Soul Sisters book – download them all today!
Book 1: Christmas Sisters – FREE prologue book
Book 2: Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim
Book 3: Christmas Wishes by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: Christmas Hope by Violet Howe
Book 5: Christmas Dreams by Ev Bishop
Book 6: Christmas Rings by Tess Thompson
Book 7: Christmas Surprises by Tammy L. Grace
Book 8: Christmas Yearnings by Ev Bishop
Book 9: Christmas Peace by Violet Howe
Book 10: Christmas Castles by Judy Keim
Book 11: Christmas Star by Tess Thompson

REVIEW: Holy Toledo! Hang on to your seat!! Only One Wave by Jenifer Ruff was one of those books that hooks you and won’t let you go until you’re finished and beyond. I finished last night and I’m still thinking about this exciting book. 

Number one. The medical part of the story is awesome. There is a Tsunami on the Island of Nalowale and a virus follows. The story is the race to find out how to cure it. I loved all the medical testing and attempts at treatment. If you’re like me and love medical stuff, this is your next read. 

Number two. The main characters who appear in the rest of the series are on the island. The inhabitants of the island that are suffering losses and illness after the  the disaster of the Tsunami. You can’t help but feel sorry for them. One little boy kept tugging at my heartstrings. 

Number three. There is a lot going on and the author is so good it’s easy to follow. I felt along the way I knew what was going on, but I didn’t. Only One Wave was very well written and Jenifer Ruff did an amazing job.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: “Once again, Jenifer Ruff delivers a heart-pumping thriller! The well-crafted twists surrounding this medical mystery will keep you guessing until the end.” – Audrey J. Cole – USA Today bestselling author

A tsunami strikes a small island in the Pacific Ocean, leaving destruction and madness in its wake.

After the natural disaster, CDC epidemiologist Dr. Madeline Hamilton and her fiancé, FBI operative Quinn Traynor, go to Nalowale Island to investigate a deadly outbreak of unknown origin. Victims become aggressive and irrational, suffering from insomnia, hallucinations, and eventual death.

Under quarantine conditions, with all communications to and from the island shut down, the wave of illness climbs toward a calamitous crash. Then Madeline uncovers something terrifying…and impossible. The investigation requires huge leaps of faith and significant acts of courage, but what they discover, and what they take home with them, will change lives forever.

“Only One Wave is a gripping thriller led by captivating characters and an enthralling story. I loved every minute of it.”—Timothy Browne, USA Today bestselling author

This is the third adventure in the FBI & CDC thriller series featuring Dr. Madeline Hamilton and Agent Quinn Traynor. Mystery and medical thriller fans of James Patterson, Michael Crichton, and A.G. Riddle will be hooked. It can be read as a standalone novel with no confusion.

REVIEW: Believe me when I tell you that I never wanted to read a book about Covid. We have heard and lived Covid for almost two years. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult was a pleasant surprise. I truly thought the book would be different than it was.

I enjoyed the part of the book where Diana goes to The Galapagose on her own because her boyfriend who is a doctor has to stay behind to fight the virus. She becomes stranded on the island when it and the world closes down due to Covid. She stays so long that she is no longer a tourist and is seen as a resident. Who wouldn’t want to be stranded on such a beautiful place as Isabela Island?

The interesting part of the book is some of the research this author has done about the after effects of Covid especially those that have been put on ventilators and survived. I love the medical facts I learn along the way in my reading journey. 

I know most of us want to shy away from a novel about Covid. I highly recommend reading this book. It takes us away to a dream vacation and provides some pretty interesting information. I even appreciated the author’s notes at the end of the book. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. I think you’ll love it and at least appreciate it. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #RandomHousePublishing-Ballentine, #Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and The Book of Two Ways comes “a powerfully evocative story of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Malibu Rising)

Rights sold to Netflix for adaptation as a feature film

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

REVIEW: Mimi Lee Cracks the Code by Jennifer J Chow was a rollicking good time! This is the second book I’ve read by her and because I now know what a Cozy Mystery is my enjoyment was unbridled.

I enjoyed visits with many of the same characters from the first book. I totally missed the second book in the series but, it didn’t seem to be a problem. I think you can jump in anywhere and not feel lost at all. Jennifer makes it easy. I will be reading number two as soon as I can. 

Mimi Lee and her talking cat Marshmallow have solved a few murders much to the chagrin of Detective Brown. He would like her to get lost but, you have to protect your friends! Right? Marshmallow has a dry sense of humor that I appreciate. Like most kitties, he demands attention and pampering.

If you love Cozy Mysteries or just enjoy a fun book, you might enjoy this series! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: One of BookRiot’s Best Upcoming Cozy Mysteries for the Second Half of 2021!

When murder follows Mimi Lee to her romantic island getaway, she puts on her best sleuthing hat with her sassy cat in tow in this adventurous cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow.

Mimi Lee just found an extra perk to being a pet groomer at Hollywoof (other than cuddling animals all day long, that is). Pixie St. James, one of Mimi’s clients and the investor behind Hollywoof, has offered her and her boyfriend, Josh, a getaway at her vacation home, nestled on beautiful Catalina Island. With the island just outside of Los Angeles but still far enough from the hustle and bustle, Mimi, Josh, and their cat Marshmallow (who, of course, wouldn’t be caught dead in a dingy pet hotel) are excited for their relaxing stay.
 
That is, until Pixie’s last renter, Davis D. Argo, turns up dead. Mimi and Josh’s romantic getaway immediately turns into an enormous buzzkill, especially when Pixie asks Mimi for help. The police suspect Pixie, and Mimi knows a thing or two about wrongful allegations. Mimi figures it couldn’t hurt to snoop a little since she’s already there, and soon discovers that a valuable item is missing. Except Pixie isn’t the only one in the neighborhood who has been robbed. There is something strange happening on the island, and Mimi won’t stop until she finds out what it is.

REVIEW: The Confidant by J.S. Ellis was an interesting book but, not my favorite by this author. I’ve read a couple of others that I loved. This one was good, just not a home run. 

This novel deals with friendship and cheating both within a friendship and a marriage. The big hangup for me is I don’t like cheating or lying and go out of my way to avoid both.

This story was like having a long discussion with your best friend and hearing all the ins and outs of another friendship that person is involved in. 

The characters were believable along with the story line. It made me miss my best friend that passed away several years ago because there was nothing we wouldn’t discuss all day long. I miss that and just maybe why this book left me wanting something more. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: Be careful who you trust with your secrets.

A part of him knew she was always lying, but he could change that. He could change her.

When charismatic Zoë first sits in Jason’s salon chair, he can immediately tell they have a connection. Who wouldn’t? She was smart, witty, and incredibly funny, everything someone could want in a budding friendship. But soon, Jason learns there is more to Zoë than meets the eye.

When lies are uncovered and secrets exposed, Jason must decide just how far he’s willing to go in the name of friendship.

How far should he go to uncover the truth? If he digs too deep, could Jason lose the very person he’s trying to keep?

When it all comes crashing to the light, and someone’s very life hangs in the balance, will he regret what he’s done? Or will Jason wish he had only done more?

For fans of Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn.

REVIEW: I’m in love all over again! Christmas Surprises by Tammy L Grace is actually Book 7 of Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge Series. I read and reviewed all six books last year and only had a chance to read book 7 this year. I’ve got to tell you, I’m dying to read the other 4 books!

This book is the next installment of Jo’s and Luke’s life two years after they after they rekindled their friendship at the lodge during Christmas. Life has change a lot for these two. Jo moved back home to Granite Ridge, opened her law practice and married Luke. This past of the story also takes place during Christmas. 

I loved every second of this installment and I’m chomping at the bit to read the stories of Maddie and the other girls. If you read the first six books last year, you’re not going to want to miss this year’s books! I love these characters and it’s like returning home for a visit. You will be pleasantly surprised with Christmas Surprises! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

Two years ago, Jo returned to Granite Ridge for her sister’s wedding and reconnected with Luke Turner, her childhood best friend. Now, she’s happier than she’s ever been, newly married and making a new life together in their small hometown. Her law practice is flourishing, the project of her heart—a nonprofit to help foster children—is coming together, and Luke’s new business venture as an outdoor excursion guide is thriving.

They spend their spare time with family, especially enjoying being an aunt and uncle to Alissa’s and Stevie’s toddlers. As their first Christmas as a married couple approaches, they’re beside themselves with excitement, determined to make it a magical and memorable holiday. Then, while Luke is taking an important client on an extended tour of the backcountry, a terrible accident leaves Jo with a life-changing decision to make. The stress of the tragedy threatens their new beginnings.

Will their relationship crumble under the pressure, or will the magic of the holidays help Jo and Luke shore up their love and find a way to make the most of the unexpected surprises?

If you’re a fan of small towns, heartwarming family holiday stories, along with a few furry friends, you’ll fall in love with the latest book featuring Jo from the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge Series written by USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace.

✓ Don’t miss a Soul Sisters book – download them all today!

Book 1: Christmas Sisters – perma-FREE prologue book
Book 2: Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim
Book 3: Christmas Wishes by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: Christmas Hope by Violet Howe
Book 5: Christmas Dreams by Ev Bishop
Book 6: Christmas Rings by Tess Thompson
Book 7: Christmas Surprises by Tammy L. Grace
Book 8: Christmas Yearnings by Ev Bishop
Book 9: Christmas Peace by Violet Howe
Book 10: Christmas Castles by Judy Keim
Book 11: Christmas Star by Tess Thompson

REVIEW: Whew! I need to slow down my heart. Memory Hunter by Liane Carmen is Book 3 of the Investigation Duo Series. Let me tell you, it is a good one. I enjoyed the other two books and this one makes a great addition to the series. If you read the first two, you’ll definitely want to read Memory Hunter. If you haven’t started the series, hurry up! You’re missing out on some great entertainment. 

I think the owners of the DNA Investigation company have gotten in over their heads with their current case. They mainly solve adoption cases using DNA. This time their client was mugged and can’t remember who she is. She has a driver’s license but doesn’t have a car and the police think the name on the license is incorrect. How does that happen? And why?

I like this series because their business uses DNA to solve the kind of cases they take. It is a different kind of twist. If you like to build your family tree or you’re interested in your family’s history, you might enjoy this series. I recommend this series for something different with some interesting characters. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: When Brittany Mullins shows up at the hospital after being attacked, she’s alone and in bad shape. Her injuries heal, but she’s locked away the memories of who she is and what’s happened to her. She has keys to an apartment and identification, but the name on her driver’s license appears to be for a person who doesn’t exist.

Brittany comes to detectives, Jules and Becky, in hopes they can use DNA testing to confirm her real identity. While they wait for her results, they dig into the few clues they have about her life before the attack. They can’t help but believe she’s in hiding–from someone or something dangerous.

When a mysterious man appears to be stalking Brittany, Jules and Becky know they need to protect her until they can figure out how he fits in. As they attempt to unravel his agenda, they discover there could be more at stake than they imagined. Then, as friends and family gather for a wedding, Brittany goes missing. Becky panics, especially when she realizes Jules is nowhere to be found either.

REVIEW: I’ve read a few novels by Bette Lee Crosby and The Fault Between Us is a wonderful book. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book for your own library and enjoyment.

Bette Lee Crosby has a writing style that is impeccable. She writes books that draw you in without thinking about it. They just have an easy flow. Of the books I’ve read of hers, I can’t pick a favorite. It always seems to be the one I just finished. Her books have it all. The covers are beautiful, great story lines, the characters are well developed and thorough research.

A large part of this book takes place in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities. I learned about the earthquake that destroyed the city back in 1906 and the fires after the quake that also did a lot of damage. There were 3,000 people killed and thousands were left homeless. The city rebuilt but, it was bigger and better, never again the city the inhabitants remembered and called home. 

Templeton, the main character from Philadelphia, meets John a financier from San Francisco on a trolley in Philly and falls madly in love. They are married within a few weeks and move to San Francisco much to her family’s chagrin. I loved the adventure. I admired her passion for fashion design and her drive. 

If you love Historical Fiction, love stories or family drama you will likely fall in love with this book and it’s characters. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much for the experience Bette Lee Crosby! 

SYNOPSIS: April 18, 1906 – A devastating earthquake rocks San Francisco and Templeton Morehouse fears her husband is lost forever. A powerful and compelling story from USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby

Chances were a million to one that a girl born and raised in Philadelphia would encounter a stranger from California on the trolley and fall madly in love, but that’s what happened. Templeton was not only taken with John Morehouse, but also with his tales of life in San Francisco. As an aspiring fashion designer, the dazzle of a city called the Paris of the West, with its towering department stores and European couture was too much to resist.

Despite her family’s objections, she and John are married and, on their way back to California, before the month is out. To ease the heartbreak of such a move, Templeton promises her family that they will return for a visit every summer. She fully intends to keep that promise, but as her fashions gain popularity, the business grows increasingly more demanding. The trips back to Philadelphia become less frequent and she makes foolish choices she will come to regret.

Now, when she is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted, a devastating earthquake has torn across San Francisco and she awakes to discover the father of her baby is missing.

With the city in flames, Templeton’s daddy leaves Philadelphia and sets out in search of his son-in-law. He’s too old for such a trip and ill-equipped for the challenges he will encounter, but he’s the only hope of saving his daughter’s happiness.
Lines of communication are down and the city in shambles, so the only thing Templeton can do is pray she doesn’t lose both her daddy and her husband.

REVIEW: Looking for the warm fuzzies for Christmas? Try The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn. This book will hook you from the start and hold your interest to the very end. It did me and I really enjoyed my visit at the inn.

This is my first book by this author. I have another book of hers sitting on my bookshelf I haven’t been able to read yet. Now I’m going to make an extra effort to get it read.

I loved the characters in this book. Even the ones that aren’t alive anymore. The main character Laurel lost her mom several years ago and still feels the empty void in her life. Joel just lost his mother recently. Her dad is mostly an absent character as he had to leave town and called Laurel to come run the inn for December. 

I felt like I could pack my bags and move to this town. It was small and inviting. My kind of place. The book wasn’t over the top Christmassy. There was still tradition and decorations. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Netgalley and #Bookouture. Opinions in this review are completely my own.  

SYNOPSIS: An unputdownable, feel-good Christmas romance about fresh starts, the importance of family and learning how to follow your heart. Perfect for fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Rachel Hanna and Carolyn Brown.

As twinkling lights go up and snowflakes begin to fall, Laurel Hanover and her eight-year-old son are going home to the Cranberry Inn in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Laurel can’t wait to leave New York behind to help her father run the family business, and make snow angels with her son, even if it’s just for Christmas. But when she walks through the door, she’s shocked to find the inn in disrepair, and a letter saying her father will be gone until Christmas Eve…

No one in town knows where Laurel’s father is, and she doesn’t know whether to be worried or angry – but she won’t let the inn go under, and nothing will get in the way of the perfect Christmas for her son. Seeing the worn-out wooden bannisters, bare of festive lights, she immediately recruits her childhood friend, brooding local carpenter Joel Hutcherson. They might disagree on whether any walls actually need to come down, but each rip in the carpet makes Laurel more concerned for her father, and Joel is a welcome distraction. And when he admits that Laurel was his first crush, she realises she’s falling for him.

But then Laurel uncovers a card with beautiful, ornate writing amongst her father’s things and learns the real reason he disappeared. And it changes everything. Worse still, she thinks Joel knew the truth all along.

Laurel thought this was going to be the perfect Christmas – that maybe she had found her happy. But now there’s nothing to stop her from running back to New York the moment the baubles come down… is there?