REVIEW:

I frantically finished When Houses Burn by Lauren Lee last night. I’ll tell you why in a minute. First, let me tell you this author knows how to bring suspense to a climax and how to shock you. I have been reading her books for a while now and I have enjoyed them. I started out with her Detective Dahlia series. If you remember, I recently read Murder in the Mom’s Club and that one kept me on my toes. This book is another story. 

I was innocent when I opened the first page of this book. Now, I’m not. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve read a lot of crime novels, psychological suspense and mysteries. They are all in my wheelhouse. This book beats them all. I finally figured out how I know when I  am reading a phenomenal book. When I get to a point in the book and it takes a turn that makes me want to put the book down and never pick it up again! Does that happen to you?

When Houses Burn does not make you guess who the murderer is. It tells you. There is no guessing. You get to walk right into his mind and take a seat. This book was scary when you think there are people like this walking around in our world. Does one of them live next to you? I pray not.

Lucas Finch is the man who walks into the psychiatric office of Dr. Dalilah Hedley. He has killed both of his parents and is required by the courts to have 30 sessions of treatment. Dalilah has never treated a psychopath before. He scares her and intrigues her at the same time. Ms. Lee has outdone herself with the character development of these two. I had no doubt in my mind that these characters really exist. I don’t know how she does this. 

I started this book one evening and finished the next day. A hallmark of a good book for me is when the storyline and the characters wiggle their way into my dreams. I have dreamed of this book for two nights. I’m starting another book today because I must get them out of my head and dreams. I highly recommend When Houses Burn by Lauren Lee. 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 through Booksprout. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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 desire turns deadly, houses will burn. . .

Dr. Delilah Hedley has never treated a psychopath. Never been attracted to a patient. Never broken the rules. That all changes when the dangerously handsome Lucas Finch walks through her doors. As Delilah struggles to maintain her professionalism, Lucas pushes the boundaries between doctor and patient.

When a woman is found murdered on the outside of town, Delilah will discover a surprising connection to the victim that shakes her to her core. But Lucas wouldn’t… he couldn’t… could he? With a murderer on the loose and a killer on her couch, Delilah must do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means fanning the flames enveloping her life.

Dark and twisted, When Houses Burn is a story of murder, forbidden temptation, and questioning everything you know about the person who makes your heart flutter.

REVIEW:

Whenever I finish a book by Ashley Farley and close the cover, I always feel like she will never write another book I will love as much. She always proves me wrong! The same goes for her series. I loved the family in her Marsh Point series. I never wanted it to end. She is about to bestow upon us a brand new series called Sandy Island. 

The first book in the Sandy Island series is Southern Discomfort. We have a new family, some wonderful new characters and a few familiar ones thrown in. If you read the Marsh Point books, you are going to absolutely want to read the new Sandy Island series! I gobbled up that first book like a great big chocolate chip cookie.

Blossom is my favorite character and she is just “heavenly”. I couldn’t get enough of her. She is helpful, calming, full of advice and “down to earth”. She always had a plausible solution to any problem that popped up. She was the calm in the storm. I love the character development in Ms. Farley’s books. She always has an outstanding character or two in every book. I find myself anticipating who that is going to be when I pick up a new book written by her.

The plot in this book is busy. You’ll understand why when you read it. It will keep you on your toes wondering what in the world will happen next. It certainly held my interest. I read it very quickly. Why? Well, I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. This series is a spinoff of the Marsh Point series but don’t worry, you don’t need to read that series first. Each of her series stands alone. 

If you’re looking for a great summer read that is light and fun with a little angst thrown in, this book is for you. It is full of friendship, family and has a lot of emotion from the heart.

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 #Ashley Farley. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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. I appreciate your support. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS:

Isabelle is haunted by remorse over a past mistake that drastically changed the lives of those closest to her. Apologizing would be a step in the right direction—if only she could muster the courage to say, “I’m sorry.” Her world is turned upside down when her late husband’s will stipulates that she transform their waterfront estate into a bed and breakfast. As the summer’s first guests are due to arrive, Isabelle feels increasingly overwhelmed. Unexpected help arrives in the form of her twenty-four-year-old granddaughter.

Shelby, fresh out of college with no job and too much time spent obsessing over her ex-boyfriend, is sent to the Lowcountry by her exasperated parents. As personalities clash, Isabelle and Shelby discover they are more alike than they realize. Can they set aside their differences to manage the challenges that arrive with their first wave of guests?

REVIEW:

Hello Little Girl is the tenth installment of the Hart’s Ridge Series by Kay Bratt. You won’t want to miss this one. It will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to see how the story unfolds and comes to a conclusion. I just finished it and could not wait to sit down at my laptop and tell you all about it!

I don’t want to give too much away so this will be a little tricky. First of all if you have been reading this series you know that one of the deputy’s wives is missing. The search is still ongoing for Lydia Grimes. In the meantime, Taylor takes an assignment that takes her away from her family for a good while. There is a lot going on in this particular book and you won’t want to put it down until you have an answer to all of it.

Taylor and Sam make the sweetest couple but something needs to give. Taylor is so wrapped up in her career that I am worried she will ruin her life. I’m hoping she doesn’t. I would love to see more sweet moments between these two. I think that is my only complaint so far about this series. Taylor’s family is all together on the farm and we knew that from previous books. I love them. It takes all kinds to make up a family and Kay Bratt has done a wonderful job of developing these characters.

I love the town of Hart’s Ridge. I love small towns and think this one is just about ideal. The neighbors and coworkers we have come to love are going to be hard to say goodbye to at the end of this series. I do have good news. There is going to be at least one more book. It is going to be a Christmas book for us to read during the holidays. I just love a good Holiday story. What a better way to spend some during the hectic season by sitting down with this wonderful cast of characters! I can’t wait.

If you have been keeping up with this series, you’ll want to get this one as soon as you can to see what’s going on in town. If you haven’t been reading it, I highly recommend it to you. 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 #KayBratt. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

In the picturesque town of Hart’s Ridge, where secrets linger and shadows dance, Deputy Taylor Gray finds herself at a crossroads in the much-anticipated tenth installment of the beloved small-town mystery series, “Hello Little Girl.”

Taylor is given all she’s ever wanted when her family is complete, but will it be enough to put them as priority and stop putting her career first?

Meanwhile, a woman held in captivity grapples with a moral dilemma of her own. Trapped between the desire to reclaim her freedom and the urge to save another, she must summon the courage to make a choice that will shape not only her destiny but also the lives of those she holds dear.

Join Deputy Taylor Gray and the resilient inhabitants of Hart’s Ridge as they embark on a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit. “Hello Little Girl” promises to be a riveting addition to the series, leaving readers spellbound until the final revelation.

REVIEW:

I was blessed to read a fabulous book titled Polite Calamities by Jennifer Gold. She is a new author to me and I am so glad I took a chance on her new book. I will be watching for more from Ms. Gold. 

This book takes place in the 60’s during my childhood. My family didn’t live like the families in this book. We were not as wealthy. In fact, what made it so interesting is that the main character was from a middle class family and was trying to fit in. The snobs weren’t having it. They were awful. 

The antics and the struggles were real. This book was a little bit on the longer side but, I had so much fun reading it, I flew right through it. Jennifer Gold knows how to build suspense and how to keep you interested in the day to day goings on between two friends who are exploring being best friends. Neither of them have had a best friend or were able to connect since early childhood. There were hitches along the way and I expected that. 

I loved the settings in the book. We get to live in a very affluent neighborhood in the 60’s and a horse farm one of the ladies grew up on. The other character had a father who was an educator. These ladies both had life changing things happen early in life that molded who they were. 

This book was so different in plot and structure than I’ve read before. The writing style was unique. I didn’t get bored at all. I hate to tell you this is a perfect summer read but, I will tell you that it is a great read anytime! 

If you love a book that gives you all the feels, makes you shake your head, keeps your interest as it builds suspense that you aren’t even sure is there but you feel it. Then this book is for you. 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 #JenniferGold, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

In a hazy 1960s Rhode Island summer, three disparate lives converge and combust in this riveting story of the empowerment women find in friendship, solidarity, and rage, from the author of Halfway to You.

Winifred is blunt, opinionated, and outrageously colorful. In a community that demands domesticity, she simply doesn’t fit. When her wealthy husband suddenly dies, Winifred’s fellow society housewives no longer have a reason to play nice. Cast out entirely, Winifred throws roaring parties for the clerks and waiters that serve the town, finding the connections she’s been craving—and upsetting the gentle balance of her elite neighborhood in the process.

Flailing artist Marie wants to paint over her past before the painful memories consume her. On the brink of making a longtime dream come true, her newfound friendship with Winifred might be the key to finally moving forward—or her undoing.

High-society housewife June weathers a chronic pain that would make other women faint. With her veneer crumbling, she has no patience for the free spirit shaking up her community. Filled with a mixture of obsessive hatred and fascination for the outcast, June’s determined to destroy Winifred and return her life to the way it used to be.

When slow-simmering summer secrets and resentments finally reach the boiling point, everyone is at risk of being burned. Polite Calamities explores what “community” really means when societal survival is at stake, and what happens when women decide it’s time to stop behaving and start living.

REVIEW:

The Hedgerow by Anne Leigh Parrish was my latest read by an unknown author to me. Ms. Parrish has published several books but she just popped up on my radar. It looks like she has a four book series about The Dugan Family and several other books with interesting titles. She also has several collections of short stories. You might want to take a look at her offerings.

This book held my interest and I am not exactly sure why. It takes place right after the war when women who worked were expected to go back home and take care of their husbands and families. For some women that was a more difficult task. Edith Sloan is the main character in this book who was a map maker during the war and married a man she did not love. Edith has a lot of ambition. She owns her own bookstore and wants to be a publisher of authors who are not mainstream.

I kept reading this book waiting for something really big to happen. It just kept plodding along and never really had a satisfying ending. Kind of like a few year period in the life of any one of us. This may be the beginning of a series but, I did not see anything that made me think it would be. The book started on one day in the life of Edith and continued through a few messes and ended on a note. Not a high note or a low one. 

I am hoping I find out more about Edith Sloan and how her life progresses. Maybe that is all the author was trying to accomplish with this book. If it is going to be a series, I can go with that. If not, I kind of wonder what the whole purpose of the book was. It was not a terribly long book so it was worth the experience.

If you like period books that take you to a time and place you’ve never been, this would be right up your alley. I definitely want to read something else by this author. 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 #AnneLeighParrish, #Netgalley and  #UnsolicitedPress. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

An elegant, character-driven novel of paradoxes, The Hedgerow reveals universal human truths.– FOREWORD REVIEWS


It’s 1949, the freedom granted women by the Second World War is over, and stifling social conventions are once more at play. Edith Sloan, the rebellious, well-educated heroine of An Open Door returns in The Hedgerow to pursue her dreams of owning a thriving bookstore on Harvard Square and establishing a poetry press to publish the silent and underserved. Free of her dreary marriage to Walter, she receives a proposal from Henry, a wealthy British peer and the man who made the purchase of her bookstore possible. When she accepts, is it from love or gratitude? Will being his wife help or hinder her plans? Edith soon finds herself at the intersection of free expression and censorship. Duty competes with desire, while serious endeavors are undermined by trivial pursuits. As she tries to balance the competing demands in her life, troubling facts from Henry’s past come to light. Edith also discovers that being a pioneer in publishing comes with consequences she hadn’t foreseen. The decade draws to a close and delivers one more surprise Edith must summon extraordinary courage to face.