REVIEW: Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls is my first book by this author. I do have a couple by her that I’ve hung onto because they were gifts and I always wanted to read them. I think I have to make room for them in my schedule now that I have tasted her writing style.

This book takes place in the 1920’s during prohibition. It has it all. There is bootlegging, family feuds, love stories, cheating and everything in between. It was a good story and kept me turning the pages. Don’t you just love a great story?

Reading the author’s notes at the end, it looks like she put a lot of research into this book. She  based some of the characters and happenings with historical events. I enjoy a story that has some truth to it. I will have to say there was an awful lot of cheatin going on in this family. It just wasn’t in the current generation but went back many generations. 

If you like Historical Fiction and reading about different time periods, then this book might be for you. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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SYNOPSIS: Named a LibraryReads Pick for March 2023 and a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Oprah Daily, Elle, and LitHub!

From Jeannette Walls, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle, comes a riveting new novel about an indomitable young woman in Virginia during Prohibition.

Most folk thought Sallie Kincaid was a nobody who’d amount to nothing. Sallie had other plans.

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

You will fall in love with Sallie Kincaid, a feisty and fearless, terrified and damaged young woman who refuses to be corralled.

REVIEW: I am so excited! Tammy L. Grace is writing a new series. The first book is titled Greetings From Lavender Valley. I read it in one sitting. It is so good and I love the premise of the series. We have not had a new series by Tammy in a while so I am anxious to dive in. She has been part of other series written by multiple authors and I loved those but, this one is just her writing.

It is about a woman named Jewel who finds out she is unable to have children of her own. She and her husband live on a farm near a small town and decide to foster children. They have five long term girls who each have lived with them for at least five years. To Jewel, these are her children. 

We get to know them through letters she has written to them each over the years after they have graduated high school and moved on to college. We find out what they do with their lives and how they have managed their adult lives. We learn this at the beginning through the letters and the books go on to concentrate on each girl.

This sounds like such a lovely series. I was never one that read series for long without dropping them after a while. I have found that the series by multiple authors has kept my interest and I think this one will too as we get to know each girl. I love the books and stories that I’ve read of Tammy’s and I don’t think this one will be any different. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into these books. This book releases April 5th and Pathway to Lavender Valley will release on May 3rd. The first 3 books are up for pre-order. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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

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SYNOPSIS: Six women. Four decades. One long, unexpected reunion.

Jewel Austin is a foster mother to dozens, but forms a special bond with five foster girls she welcomed under her roof long ago. Through handwritten letters, Jewel keeps in touch with these women she nurtured to adulthood.

Now in her eighties, Jewel’s time is short, and her last letter spells out an unusual request. The five women have never met but Jewel’s last wish is for them to return to Lavender Valley Farm together, back to the refuge where they once found the love and support they craved. Jewel has a keen sense of knowing their needs before they do and she knows they are going to need their sisters of the heart.

Life’s been hard, but facing the inevitable loss of the only parental figure you’ve known can be harder. Will the five women be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way of granting the beloved matriarch of their family her last wish?

Get to know each of the women through Jewel’s own letters in GREETINGS FROM LAVENDER VALLEY, the first book and prequel in the Sisters of the Heart Series. Fans of heartwarming, feel-good women’s fiction like those by Debbie Macomber or Sheila Roberts will devour this series by USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace.

REVIEW: I am pretty sad right about now. The Last Port of Call by Elizabeth Bromke is the last book in the Sail Away series. If you haven’t read any of them yet, what are you waiting for? The first book is Welcome Aboard and it is a free download. It will also give you an idea of what all the books are about. There are nine total. They are not connected by characters at all. They’re only connected by the fact they all take place on a cruise. I’ve really enjoyed this series.

I have to say that I did not like the characters in the beginning of the book. Marie and her mother Joan are something else. I’m going to say they mellowed out and changed a bit by the end of the book. That was excellent writing on Elizabeth’s part. I am not usually one to hate characters but, I was glad to see them change their ways. I think. The ending made me wonder about Joan.

I did like the book by the end. There is always a reason an author writes the circumstances and characters they do. Sometimes, you have to hang in there until it becomes obvious. I’m glad I did. I haven’t heard any rumblings about this series continuing. If they write more, I will be reading them but, this is a nice little series that is good as it is. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review. 

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

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SYNOPSIS: Set sail to new adventures and escape with eight best-selling authors in the exciting new Sail Away series!

Marie Stern is two things she doesn’t want to be: freshly divorced and turning fifty. But if that isn’t bad enough, the messy dissolution has cost her much of her life savings and many of her friends.

So, the newly single Marie moves back home with her mother, an ornery octogenarian with a penchant for entering to win radio contests. Once back, Marie realizes her mom is in worse shape than she expected. Joan needs help, and Marie worries she was almost too late…

When Joan Stern’s adult daughter returns home, the timing couldn’t be worse. After entering and losing thousands of vacation contests over the years, the retired hairdresser has hit the jackpot. She just won two tickets to an all-expense-paid Alaskan cruise for a week. And she already promised the ticket to her boyfriend.

Marie doesn’t think it’s wise for her mother to travel, especially on a cross-country boat trip. She’s ready to put the kibosh on things, but it’s too late. Not only is her mother going on this vacation, but she’s taking with her a secret boyfriend. That is, until he dies, leaving Joan with one extra ticket and a zest for life so powerful that Marie must either pray that Joan doesn’t fall overboard, or…

She can join her mother before the ocean liner reaches its last port of call.

Will the mother-daughter duo embark on a wild ride, full of laughter and tears and second chances? Or will they drown in their respective sorrows?

Drift into the beauty of Alaska aboard the Opal of the Seas in this feel-good and feisty women’s fiction about a mother and daughter, life and love by USA TODAY bestseller, Elizabeth Bromke.★ Don’t miss a Sail Away book! ★
Book 1: Welcome Aboard – prologue book
Book 2: The Sound of the Sea by Jessie Newton
Book 3: Uncharted Waters by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: A Not So Distant Shore by Ev Bishop
Book 5: Caroline, Adrift by Kay Bratt
Book 6: Moonlight On the Lido Deck by Violet Howe
Book 7: The Winning Tickets by Judith Keim
Book 8: Lost At Sea by Patricia Sands
Book 9: The Last Port of Call by Elizabeth Bromke

REVIEW: I think I might be one of the luckiest gals on earth. I just finished the new book by Elizabeth Berg titled Earth’s the Right Place for Love. I have been honored to be the recipient of so many great books to read this year for review. I have to admit I do fall in love easily with my books, their characters and plots but there have been some outstanding books this year already. It is going to be a stellar year and we’re not quite a fourth into it!

This book takes me back to my early years. The days when our streets were quiet, not much traffic and the children and parents were outside and not sitting in their house on electronics. We were always outside and now I never see anyone out just enjoying the day. The book starts and ends in the winter of 2016. The first chapter picks up in April of 1947 in Mason, Missouri. The book is the telling of the young life of Arthur and the girl he loves named Nola. You must read the book to find out what happens between Arhur and Nola. 

I loved every minute of this book. It reminds me of the way life was in my young years growing up and how my mother was. Women wore more dresses back then and were home raising the family and keeping house. The kind of woman my mother was. She took care of me, nurtured me and made sure I had what I needed to be the woman I grew up to be. She was the best. I think Arthur thought his mother was the best too. 

I love small towns where you know everyone and they all know you. This is what Mason was like and when a storm goes through, they all go out to help each other clean up and rebuild. Arthur did odd jobs for the older women in town on Saturdays to earn his spending money and he learned to enjoy and appreciate the older generation. Arthur was kind, loving and  a soft soul.

If you love reading books that take you back to your early years or you love to read about the time period your parents or grandparents lived during, this book is definitely one you should pick up. There is a love story and a story of true friendship. There are times of great loss and times to be treasured. I just can’t say enough about this book. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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

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SYNOPSIS: This beautiful new novel by the beloved author of Open House and Talk Before Sleep tells the story of two young people growing up in Mason, Missouri, and how Arthur Moses, a shy young man, becomes the wise and compassionate person readers loved in The Story of Arthur Truluv.

Nola McCollum is the most desirable girl in Arthur’s class, and he is thrilled when they become friends. But Arthur wants far more than friendship. Unfortunately, Nola has a crush on the wrong Moses—Arthur’s older brother, Frank, who is busy pursuing his own love interest and avoiding the boys’ father, a war veteran with a drinking problem and a penchant for starting fights. When a sudden tragedy rocks the family’s world, Arthur struggles to come to terms with his grief. In the end, it is nature that helps him to understand how to go on, beyond loss, and create a life of forgiveness and empathy. But what can he do about Nola, who seems confused about what she wants in life, and only half aware of the one who loves her most?

Full of unforgettable characters and written with Elizabeth Berg’s characteristic warmth, humor, and insight into people, Earth’s the Right Place for Love is about the power of kindness, character, and family, and how love can grow when you least expect it.

REVIEW: So far, I have loved every book that I’ve read by Denise Hunter. I recently finished A Novel Proposal and I have to say I just liked the book. I wasn’t in love with it. I did enjoy it and it was entertaining. It just lacked something that I could not put my finger on.

The story had to do with an author who is losing her contract and the publisher wants her to write a romance book. She loves Westerns and is trying to follow in her Grandfather’s footsteps. He was a well known writer of Westerns. She is a good writer but, Westerns are not a hot seller these days. Hence, the change.

There is a romance story within this book. There are epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. They tell you how to write a romance novel and let you know what way the book is headed. It was a cute idea and a little interesting but, as a reader I’m not so sure I wanted to know where the book was headed or how to write a romance novel. I just want to read and enjoy without worrying about the mechanics. That’s just me.

I still enjoyed the book. The characters and the plot were interesting. I just wouldn’t put it up there as high as some of her other books. If you think about it though, the interesting thing is the title of the book has a few meanings within the book. Let me know what you think about The Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from #DeniseHunter, #Netgalley and #ThomasNelson Publishers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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SYNOPSIS: From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a sweet and sizzling story of a romance writer surprised by her own happily ever after.

When novelist Sadie Goodwin is forced to stop writing westerns and charged with penning a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales, there’s only one tiny problem: She’s never been in love.

Desperate to salvage her career, Sadie begins devouring romance novels. Knowing she must devote herself to this confounding genre, she accepts an invitation to hole up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer. Where better to witness love in bloom than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?

However, once ensconced in the charming ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she finds many ways to procrastinate. First there’s the beach, right outside her backdoor, with all its interesting visitors (research). Then there’s the free library she decides to build and set up by the back deck (She has to do something with all those romance novels). To say nothing of Sam Ford, the grumpy neighbor on the other side of the duplex . . . who she can’t seem to stop annoying.

A social butterfly by nature, Sadie soon gets to know all the beach regulars—sunbathers, walkers, and surfers alike. The free books draw a crowd right up to the house for nice little book chats, which further irritates her reclusive neighbor, to break up her “writing.” But things take an unexpected turn when Sadie opens a recently-placed novel to find a secret compartment—and tucked inside is a beautiful engagement ring. To whom does the ring belong? Sadie is convinced she needs to find the owner and save the man’s proposal from certain doom.

She draws a reluctant Sam into the project, and slowly their connection begins to develop. Are these weird fluttery feelings the first stirrings of love? Has Sadie managed to stumble upon the very subject about which she must write—and wouldn’t Sam make the perfect alpha hero?

Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to pen a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end?

REVIEW: Oh Boy! It has been a hot minute since I read a Historical Fiction book. The Cuban Daughter: The Lost Daughters Book 2 by Soraya Lane made me wonder why. It was her Historical Fiction books about World War II that got me interested in the genre in the first place. If you haven’t read anything by her yet, please do yourself a favor and go to her book list and pick something out. She makes learning history enjoyable and her stories are really wonderful.

This story has two timelines. One takes place starting at about 1950 in Cuba and the other one is present day in London and a little in Florida. I love how the two timelines work together to bring you to the conclusion of the book. 

The main characters in the present day are Claudia and Mateo. I loved both of them. In the earlier time period in Cuba we have Esmeralda and Christopher. Their love story will make you swoon. Well, so will the one between Claudia and Mateo. You want nothing but the best for these four. Life is filled with family secrets, love and loss, pride and mistakes. 

This book was so hard to put down. I actually did right in the middle of it to help an author out doing a last minute beta read on her new novel. I was able to jump right back into this one and not miss a beat. This story was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. It made me mad and happy all at once. You have to read The Cuban Daughter to know what I mean. 

Soraya Lane has once again turned out a novel that broke my heart and mended it back together again. It reminded me why I love Historical Fiction and that I have been away from it for way too long. Until next time…Happy Reading.

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

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SYNOPSIS: As Esmeralda moved past Christopher, her breath stifled as he caught her finger in his. It was only a split-second, their fingers intertwined in a hold so brief that no one could have possibly noticed, but it told her everything she needed to know. He didn’t just come to see Cuba. He travelled all this way to see me.

Havana, 1950. As the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Cuba and regarded as the most beautiful girl in Havana, Esmeralda knows the importance of marrying well for her family. But when her father takes her on a business trip to London, she falls in love with a young merchant named Christopher.

When Christopher is invited to visit her father’s sugar farm, Esmeralda knows that they must keep their love affair hidden at all costs. But when the country falls into revolution, Esmeralda is faced with an impossible choice – flee to America with her family or follow her heart and travel to London to be with Christopher. But Esmeralda has been keeping a secret from her family for months, and her decision will have devastating consequences.

London, present day. Claudia is rebuilding her life and following her passion of restoring unloved houses back to their former glory. But when her mother asks for her help in tracking down her grandmother’s history, her curiosity is piqued. Her only clue is a family crest, which she learns is for the Diaz family, once one of the wealthiest dynasties in Cuba. Impulsively Claudia books a ticket to Havana, feeling sure in her heart that she will be able to uncover her family’s true story.

Arriving in the bustling and vibrant city she meets a young man named Mateo, a chef who loves nothing more than to cook his family’s recipes. As they get to know each other over dinner, Mateo says that his grandfather used to work for the Diaz family and he too wants to uncover what happened.

But when they arrive at the Diaz family home, they find it completely abandoned as if preserved in time from the 1950s. It’s not long before they uncover a heartbreaking story about her family, who were forced to leave everything they had ever known. As she becomes closer to Mateo, will her family’s story of sacrifice convince Claudia to leave behind her own home and follow her heart to Cuba?

An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching novel about family secrets, lost loves and new beginnings. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

REVIEW: Holy Cow, y’all! I could not wait to write this review and share this book with you. I absolutely and unequivocally love this book. It may be one of my all time favorites. The book is Off the Map by Trish Doller. I have not read anything by her before but, I’ll be keeping my eye peeled for more of her books. This book was phenomenal.

Like most of you, I read the synopsis of the book and thought I would give it a try. Sounded like a cute little book. Cute is not the word for this book. It is so much more than the synopsis tells you about. In fact, it doesn’t even scratch the surface. I am not going to be able to tell you a lot about this book because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. Plus, I want you to get the full effect of what happens as it happens.

Off the Map has many laugh out loud moments. It has many moments that will surprise you, shock you and make you go back and read it again to someone else in the room. I also found myself crying that big old ugly cry. So, make sure you have tissues handy when you sit down to read. You’ll be mopping tears of joy and sorrow.

This book has love scenes in it that will make you curl your toes. Now, I don’t think they were out of context and I was not offended by them. I don’t know what that says about me but, they weren’t nasty. Pure sweet love.

I loved the characters in this book and they are very well developed. If they aren’t, they still have something about them that makes you want to know more about them. They are either quirky, loving, helpful, funny. I don’t think there was one character that I didn’t like. Well, one that was never there. You’ll understand when you read the book.

I would love to rate this book a 10. It is that good! I’m definitely in a book coma. You must consider putting Off the Map by Trish Doller on your “must read” list. Until next time…Happy Reading.

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #TrishDoller, #Netgalley, #St.Martin’sPress and #St.Martin’sGriffin. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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SYNOPSIS: Trish Doller’s idyllic romance Off the Map proves sometimes a wrong turn can lead to the exact right destination.

On the road to love, you don’t need a GPS…

Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been traveling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.

Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.

Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love – if only they choose it.

REVIEW: In My Life by Kay Bratt is book number three in the Hart’s Ridge series. If you love police procedurals, mysteries, family dynamics, romance or anything along those lines, you would love this series. After reading the first book in the series, which is Hart’s Ridge, I couldn’t wait to read more. I thought book one was great and the second one was better and In My Life was better yet. I highly recommend this series. I can’t wait to read more and see where it is headed.

The main character is Taylor Grey. So far each book is about a different crime and a different member of the cast. In My Life is about Cate who is Taylor’s mother who spent twenty years in prison after being convicted of murder and arson. I love Cate’s tenacity. She works hard to re-enter society and the lives of her children while maintaining her patience. I wanted to be able to hug her so many times.

The case in this new addition to the series deals with a triple murder that takes place on a Christmas Tree farm. Taylor spends long hours tracking down leads and trying to solve this murder. For a case that seemed unsolvable, I loved where the clues actually came from. I think you will too. It is quite ingenious.

Kay Bratt does an awesome job with her character development. She also does a great job of leaving you wanting more. The first four books in this series are coming out in quick succession and I understand there will be four more but they will release with more time in between. I am not sure how I will handle that. I love diving into a series and binge reading. At this point, I am so engrossed in the series and the relationships, I am sure I’ll be waiting impatiently for more. Give this series a try. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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

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SYNOPSIS: Within In My Life, the third book of the Hart’s Ridge small-town mystery series, Deputy Taylor Gray investigates a triple murder alongside her unofficial partner, Detective Shane Weaver. While juggling her professional duties, Taylor also struggles to navigate personal decisions and determine what it will take to help bring balance to her life.

Meanwhile, Catherine, recently released from a 20-year prison sentence, attempts to reintegrate into society, but faces rejection from potential employers and distrust from her adult daughters. Will she be able to find the stability and peace that she longs for?

As readers delve deeper into the town’s secrets, they will discover the darker side of Hart’s Ridge, proving that even seemingly perfect places have hidden flaws. Bratt masterfully weaves a thrilling tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

In My Life is book three of the new Hart’s Ridge small-town mystery series, written by Kay Bratt, million-copy best-selling author of Wish Me Home and True to Me.