REVIEW:

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens was my first book by this author and I will be looking at her previous books and watching for new ones. This probably won’t be the last book I read by her. I will say for me this book was quite a ride. I found I had to put this book down from time to time because the tension and the drama in the book was hard to read. It was continual and the tension was always underlying. Whew! I’m kind of glad it is over. I think I may be too old for that.

The older couple in the book is Tim and Alice. They have suffered a loss. Tim is a teacher and bought a motorhome to take Alice to the Olympics and a long trip away from home to get back to themselves. They meet a young couple and Tim offers them a ride to a town where they can find work. The ride NEVER ends. Well, it does, but they don’t seem able to ditch the hitchhikers. 

I really liked Tim and wondered what was the problem with Alice and I did finally find out. This couple was stellar. I wound up really liking both of them. Ocean and Sky were the hitchhikers and I think in the end I still didn’t like them. The author did a great job with these characters. I didn’t really question the actions of the characters because as the story rolled on you got glimpses into why they were the way they were. It really all made sense. 

This was a great book. I think the violence was a bit much for my taste, but I can see a scenario like that happening. Considering the areas that the story took place in, it was a lot easier for the crimes to be committed without them being caught very quickly. All in all it was a very believable story. It just made me mad and sad.

If you like a story that literally makes you hold your breath and sit on the edge of your seat, then this one is for you. I’m not sure it would be a good one for your nightstand. You may wind up with nightmares! For anyone that likes a good crime spree, Chevy Stevens has written The Hitchhikers just for you! Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from #ChevyStevens, #St.MartinsPress, and #Netgalley. 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:

Chevy Stevens, the beloved New York Times bestselling author of Still Missing and Those Girls, returns with her most breathtaking thriller yet.

With its relentless pace and unforgettable twists, The Hitchhikers delivers what bestselling author Karin Slaughter calls “a frightening and viscerally chilling road-trip-gone-wrong story.”

Desperation is a dark road…

It’s the summer of 1976. Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, every detail accounted for. Then they meet two young hitchhikers and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are prisoners in a deadly game with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes:

In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

A chilling, twist-laden ride to the final page, The Hitchhikers is that rare novel that will break your heart as it holds you in suspense.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

CHEVY STEVENS lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she’s not working on her next book, she’s hiking with her two dogs on her favorite mountain trails and spending time with her family. Chevy’s current obsessions are vintage airstreams, Hollywood memoirs, all things mid-century modern, and stand-up comedians–not necessarily in that order. Her debut novel, STILL MISSING, was a New York Times bestseller and won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. Her books, including THOSE GIRLS which Stephen King called “incredibly scary”, have been published in more than thirty countries. Her novel, DARK ROADS, will be released summer 2021. Please visit her at http://www.ChevyStevens.com.

REVIEW:

I’m anxious to share with you The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter. I have enjoyed every book I read by her and this one wasn’t any different. She writes clean and interesting romance books. I know that I am going to be entertained when I pick up one of her books. I hope you will be too.

This book is about a Bookshop and those of us who love books are often drawn to a good story about a book store. I don’t know about you but if there is a library or book store mentioned in the title, I always take a look and most often it goes on my want to read list. I couldn’t resist this one because it was also by Denise Hunter. I didn’t even read the synopsis. 

This bookshop was owned by Shelby Thatcher’s Gram who has just passed away. Gram is doing a little matchmaking from the other side. She has left 49% of the shop to Gray Briggs who is Shelby’s ex who broke her heart. She promised herself she would never speak to him again. Now, they have to work together because Shelby does not want to lose her Gram’s shop. This is just scratching the surface of the story. There is so much more going on. Once you open this book, you will be hooked and will not be able to walk away from it.

I love small towns for all the good and the bad. There is definitely some bad going on in this town and it will make you mad. You will probably be rooting for Gray but like me be wondering how in the world this will all work out. Love often will find a way. I just wasn’t sure how. 

I loved the characters in this book. They are the kind of people you would want in your own family or circle of friends. I was sad that Gram was gone, but she made her voice heard throughout the book. Shelby’s dad and brother were good guys who butted heads for years. A lot of wrongs were righted in this book and peace was brought for some. I will let you read it to know exactly who, what, when, where and why. It is so worth it!

If you love a good family story and one that takes place around a Bookshop, then this might just be the book you need to read on your next free weekend. I think The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter definitely deserves a top spot on your nightstand.

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 #Netgalley and #Thomas Nelson. 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:

She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again. “Book lovers, book clubs, and anyone who’s ever dreamed of owning a bookstore will adore this cleverly interwoven story” (Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shelterwood). Full of fall vibes, The Second Story Bookshop is perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber and Gilmore Girls.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school, she’s helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Grandville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago.

Grandville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school, he couldn’t skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he’d fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he’s back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend’s will. Facing the town’s animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram’s beyond-the-grave scheme is working–Shelby’s old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces–one that threatens Gram’s beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?

If you’re looking for an enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance set in a cozy lakeside bookshop brimming with healing, heart, and Southern charm, The Second Story Bookshop is your perfect, feel-good escape. Let Shelby and Gray’s tender journey remind you that sometimes the path back to love starts at the front step of a bookstore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise Hunter is the internationally-published bestselling author of more than forty novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 Club and been featured in Southern Living and Woman’s World.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling, drinking chai lattes, hiking, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest and four beautiful grandchildren.

You can learn more about Denise through her website.

REVIEW:

I think I found another series to get lost in. I know I’m late to the party, but just think of the fun I can have catching up! The series is the Rosemont series by Barbara Hinske. I just finished Threads of Kindness, the eleventh book in the series! Don’t be afraid to jump in anywhere because I just did! Ms. Hinske is so talented that you never feel lost when you pick up any book she’s written. How great is that?

Threads of Kindness takes place during the holiday season. Holidays are different this year for some. There is a new museum coming to town and some fun discoveries in the old building that is going to house it and another couple is busy planning their wedding. There is so much happening in this book and I was so engrossed with learning the new characters and all the kindness being shown to each other. 

One of the best things about this series is it takes place in the small town of Rosemont. You know me, I love small towns. Rosemont didn’t make me feel like I was home, but it definitely is a town that I would consider living in. I love how the people are so kind and caring. I also love that there are distinct differences in their seasons. 

If you are a series fanatic like I am, you will love this series. There is even a special Facebook group that is all about Rosemont for those that love the series. I haven’t looked into it yet, but I plan to. I definitely think you will enjoy this story if for nothing more than a great book to read for the holidays. Grab a copy for your nightstand! You can thank me later. 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. 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:

Westbury’s attics aren’t the only places harboring secrets …

Maggie Martin isn’t hosting Rosemont’s annual Christmas potluck. Her Christmas cheer has vanished until an exciting piece of news and a call for help propels her into action.

Meanwhile, Anita Archer’s sewing machine museum is rapidly becoming a reality. She’s purchased an abandoned building on the town square, and renovations are ahead of schedule and under budget. Until they’re not. The shocking discovery of an illicit enterprise would have been enough. When pipes freeze, the resulting flood exposes a discovery that puts Westbury on the map in a whole new way.

Sunday Sloan and Josh Newlon are immersed in wedding preparations. The gown she bought online arrives, and it’s not the one she ordered. Sunday knows she’ll have to make do with the dress she received—there’s not enough time before the ceremony for her to find the dress she’s dreamed of since childhood. The women of Westbury will hear none of it. With the clock ticking toward the big day, a circle of determined women turns disaster into a shared triumph of friendship and skill.

Welcome back to Rosemont, where every chapter feels like coming home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today Bestselling Author

Barbara Hinske is an attorney who left the practice of law to pursue her career as a full-time novelist. She inherited the fiction gene from her father, who wrote mysteries when he retired and told her a story every night of her childhood. Barbara is the author of the beloved Rosemont Series, the Guiding Emily Series, the Paws & Pastries Series, her sweet Christmas stories, the mystery, thriller, and suspense novels in her “Who’s There?” collection, and three novellas in The Wishing Tree Series.

She and her husband share their own Rosemont with two adorable and spoiled dogs. She is besotted with decorating, entertaining, cooking, and gardening. Her novels The Christmas Club (2019) and Guiding Emily (2023) have been made into Hallmark Channel movies.

Praise for Coming to Rosemont:

“In a category that doesn’t often feature felonious crimes as a main plot point, it’s somewhat surprising to see this title — with corruption, fraud, and arson coursing through the story — in a list of top performers. But with enough twists and turns to hook any reader’s attention, an adorable dog on the cover, and some classic women’s fiction tropes, Coming To Rosemont delivered more than enough firepower to win over our readers!” BookBub’s Best: Women’s Fiction (#4)

“In this series opener, Hinske immerses readers in a delightful small town….The joys of the tale come from the warm relationships and the story of a woman getting a second chance at life and love.” Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

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