REVIEW:

If you like Domestic Thrillers or Police Procedurals, I have the perfect recommendation for you! It is The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole. This book is actually the follow up to The Final Hunt but does a very good job standing on its own. It was two years ago that the first book came out and it took me a minute to remember it. So, if you have not read the first one you can comfortably read this one. My suggestion is to get both books and read them in order. You won’t regret it. They are both filled with a lot of action and mystery.

Cameron Prescott is a woman who does not have very good luck with husbands. Her first husband was abusive. She thinks she hit the jackpot with husband number two. He was loving and generous. She eventually finds out he is The Teacher Killer. 

Being married to a serial killer is having an impact on her dental career. She packs up and moves to Tok, Alaska to start a new life and practice. Things are going smoothly until a murder in the small town reminds her of her husband’s grisly signature. She starts to look over her shoulder and feels like she is being stalked.

Ms. Cole did an exceptional job of developing her characters for this book and the first one. Each character has a distinct personality and lifestyle. It is easy to know who each one is and keep them straight. 

The storyline will keep you turning the pages late into the night. I had a hard time putting the book down to go to bed and to take care of the necessary things like fixing dinner. If it were up to me, I would just grab some cookies out of the cupboard and keep on reading. My husband is understanding but not that much!

If you love a good cat and mouse story and love trying to figure out who is the cat and who is the mouse, you will love The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole. Don’t forget to grab The Final Hunt too. These books will keep you guessing and sitting on the edge of your seat until she tells you how it is going to all go down. 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.

SYNOPSIS:

A missing body. A bloody bear trap. Is a serial killer back from the grave?Tok, Alaska. Cameron Prescott hopes the past stays buried. After believing her murderous husband is finally dead, the fierce survivor longs to start over with her state trooper boyfriend. But her illusion of peace shatters when she hears of a fresh killing that resembles her late husband’s grisly signature.

Horrified to learn the evidence points to a member of law enforcement, Cameron questions how well she knows her new man. And as the lies and bodies pile up, Cameron is convinced she’s being stalked by a killer.

Is trusting anyone just a path to a cold tomb?

From USA Today bestselling author Audrey J. Cole comes the highly anticipated, tension-filled sequel to The Final Hunt.

REVIEW:

The Wishing Tree Prequel is the first book and a free download. That gives you a taste of each book and a feel for the whole series. Get your free copy today and start reading this wonderful series. This might just be my most favorite series to date!

I Wish is book two in The Wishing Tree Series by Amanda Prowse. These books take place in Linden Falls, a small town in Vermont. The folks that live in the town are warm and welcoming. Most of them appreciate living in their town and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

This story is about a woman and her daughter from England that decide to get away for the summer. They close their eyes, spin the globe and plant a finger. It lands on Linden Falls in Vermont. They pack their bags and go. What a great premise! Haven’t we all thought of doing something like that?

If you love small towns and all the quirky characters you meet, you will love this series. So many of my favorite authors are a part of the adventure. 

Wish You Were Here by Kay Bratt is book 3 of The Wishing Tree Series. It’s an awesome installment to this wonderful series. These books, although by different authors, have all the feels. 

This has a senior love story in it but it really does revolve around love of community and friends. Henry Harmon is the husband of Greta who is the talk of the town. Neva was an old friend and she owns the local Inn. You need to read it to see what happens.

This book and series is brimming with wonderful characters that we would all love to live near and be friends with. It is easy to fall into the stories and feel like you are a part of what is going on and that you know these folks. It is a dream come true to visit Linden Falls.

Wish Again by Tammy L Grace brings us the fourth book in The Wishing Tree Series. If you have read anything in the past from Tammy Grace, you know she brings out all of the feels in her books. I’m sure you will not put this book down once you start it.

Each book brings us a new set of folks or we learn more of the circumstances of the ones we’ve met. Paige has come home to live with her mom and help her with the bookstore on the town square. The town square surrounds the huge Linden tree at the center. The tree is believed to grant wishes. 

Tammy always has a dog in her books and this one has a wonderful dog named Gladys. She is a trained therapy dog and also pretty much has the run of the town square. She is known to make her daily trip around the square to see all of her friends. 

Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses by Barbara Hinske is book five in The Wishing Tree Series.

In this book Pam and Steve have both grown up in Linden Falls and have each harbored a secret crush on the other. They both wind up working at the local gym and it is fun to watch them trying to remain friends. They have a chemistry that everyone can see except them. 

I haven’t mentioned that I think each of these books would easily stand on its own. I think if you didn’t read them in order or only read a few of them, you would miss out on all the fun. The tree plays an important role in all of the books. If you love clean and interesting love stories, you will fall in love with this little town and it’s inhabitants. 

Don’t forget to download the FREE prequel The Wishing Tree. You will get to read the first chapter of the first six books. That will leave you wanting to jump right into these books. 

REVIEW:

I have the honor of introducing you to a wonderful new novel. It is Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip by Gail Ward Olmsted. I found this book delightful and enjoyed my travels with Katharine. Her full name is Katharine Prescott Wormeley. If you read Landscape of a Marriage, you will remember she is a close friend of Frederick Law Olmsted. She was an independent woman who never married and accomplished many things in her lifetime. Don’t forget to read the synopsis because it will tell you all of the interesting things that she accomplished in her life. She was quite a woman. 

In 1907 Katharine decided to drive on her own in her new car from her home in Newport, Rhode Island to her home in Jackson, New Hampshire. It is 300 miles and it took her 6 days! Her average speed was 10 miles per hour. Can you imagine? She met a lot of interesting people along the way and stayed with a different friend most nights. She was well off but she was a very generous woman. She believed in helping others.

It was fun to go that far back in time to understand what it was really like. Again, we get to learn about that time period in our own country. The gas prices that she thought were outrageous and the cost of food along the way. The way she dressed while she was driving. She wore driving gloves! Her car was an open top car, what we might call a convertible today.

The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking what a wonderful friend Katharine would have made and how much fun it would have been to be on that trip with her. We would make that trip today in a few hours and miss all the adventures she had. Think of that next time you take a road trip. Make it remarkable.

If you love history, travel and learning about our country back when our ancestors grew up and were living their lives then this is a book you will want to read. It was a fun book full of things to make you stop and think. Maybe we will have bigger hearts after reading all about Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip. Gail Ward Olmsted thank you for your enjoyable look into the past and a glimpse of a truly remarkable woman.

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:

“Kate makes me want to take a road trip. She’s lovable and charming, and her voice… SO GOOD.” -Kerry Chaput, author of the Defying the Crown series

“An uplifting and heartwarming tale of resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of a life brimming with adventure and purpose.” –Booklist

If you loved Landscape of a Marriage by Gail Ward Olmsted, you’ll absolutely adore Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip.

In the fall of 1907, Katharine decides to drive from Newport, Rhode Island to her new home in Jackson, New Hampshire. Despite the concerns of her family and friends that at the age of 77 she lacks the stamina for the nearly 300-mile journey, Katharine sets out alone. Over the next six days, she receives a marriage proposal, pulls an all-nighter, saves a life or two, crashes a high-society event, meets a kindred spirit, faces a former rival, makes a new friend, takes a stroll with a future movie mogul, advises a troubled newlywed, and reflects upon a life well lived: her own!

Join her as she embarks upon her remarkable road trip.

Katharine Prescott Wormeley (1830-1908) was born into affluence in England and emigrated to the U. S. at the age of eighteen. Fiercely independent and never married, Kate volunteered as a nurse on a medical ship during the Civil War, before founding a vocational school for underprivileged girls. She was a philanthropist, a hospital administrator, and the author of The Other Side of War: 1862, as well as the noted translator of dozens of novels written by French authors, including Moliere and Balzac. She is included in History’s Women: The Unsung Heroines; History of American Women: Civil War Women; Who’s Who in America 1908-09; Notable American Women: 1607-1950; A Biographical Dictionary; and A Woman of the (19th) Century: Leading American Women in All Walks of Life and figures prominently in With Courage and Delicacy: Civil War on the Peninsula by Nancy Scripture Garrison.

REVIEW:

Landscape of a Marriage by Gail Ward Olmsted was by far one of the most interesting books I’ve read in quite a while. I think I learned something about a subject I didn’t really think too much about. I love to read a book that is interesting and fun and teaches me something I didn’t know before. In this case, I learned about Frederick Law Olmsted who designed and built Central Park in New York City.

Landscape of a Marriage was actually the story of his life with his wife Mary. Mary was married to his brother John Hull Olmsted first but he died about six years into their marriage leaving her with three small children. Fred was devastated over the loss of his brother and after spending time with Mary and her children asked her to marry him. Although he asked her to marry out of obligation, they both fell deeply in love. They had two more children of their own.

Fred did many things in his early life to earn a living. He was a smart man. After a while and with the encouragement of Mary he pursued his love of Landscaping. He did many public parks in the United States. I was fascinated with all the places he designed and all of the work he did. 

I totally enjoyed the time I spent with this book. The research that went into its pages was above and beyond. If you haven’t guessed, Gail Ward Olmsted is married to a distant relative of Fred Olmsted. How fun is that? It made Landscape of a Marriage more interesting and fun to read. 

If you are like me and love to learn more about history in a fun and interesting way, then this is a book that should be on your radar. I love Historical Fiction! Don’t 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 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:

“Landscape of a Marriage is a historical fiction masterpiece. Mary and Fred’s relationship is wonderfully depicted and the history that is woven into this book is done so intricately and commendably.” –Ellie Yarde, reviewer for the award-winning Coffee Pot Book Club

A marriage of convenience leads to a life of passion and purpose. A shared vision transforms the American landscape forever.

New York, 1858: Mary, a young widow with three children, agrees to marry her brother-in-law Frederick Law Olmsted, who is acting on his late brother’s deathbed plea to “not let Mary suffer.” But she craves more than a marriage of convenience and sets out to win her husband’s love. Beginning with Central Park in New York City, Mary joins Fred on his quest to create a ‘beating green heart’ in the center of every urban space.

Over the next 40 years, Fred is inspired to create dozens of city parks, private estates and public spaces with Mary at his side. Based upon real people and true events, this is the story of Mary’s journey and personal growth and the challenges inherent in loving a brilliant and ambitious man.

REVIEW:

Alison Ragsdale has once again graced us with her outstanding ability to spin a story that will forever change us. Not only did I cry a bucket load of tears while reading An Impossible Choice but, I carried the sadness of the characters with me in my heart. I don’t know how you could possibly read this book and not feel profound empathy for Honour and her family.

I have found Ms. Ragdale has a way of developing characters that I find hard to dismiss. They wiggle their way into my heart and won’t let me go. I actually started this book on Saturday evening as I was getting ready to go to sleep and only read a few pages. I couldn’t put it down once I picked it back up again. I had to know what was going on with the people.

Tissue warning. Please make sure you have tissues next to you while reading this book. I was a blubbering mess within the first ten percent of this book. This book had times of complete joy to counteract the sadness. I do have to tell you what you find on the cover of this book will give you some idea of what you will be dealing with. Sickness of a child and the decisions that need to be made can tear your heart into a million pieces.

The storyline was believable and not at all contrived. You will have some good surprises along the way. The family has friends and a town that rallies around them to help with the hard times they are facing. It always warms my heart when you see people willing to step up and help out when needed. It always means so much. I will have to say that this book pulled a full spectrum of emotions out of me.

If you love a heartfelt book. One that will pull at your heartstrings and one that will make you hopeful and joyful then An Impossible Choice should be on your radar and on your nightstand. 

I will forever be a fan of Alison Ragsdale. Nobody can make me connect with my feelings and heart the way she does. If you haven’t read anything by her, you don’t know what you are missing. 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:

Mothers talk about impossible choices. But, as I look at my daughter in a hospital bed, her red hair fanning out around her, my heart feels literally torn in two. Should I risk my son’s life to save my daughter, or keep my little boy safe and watch my precious girl slip away?

My darling daughter Tara has a rare form of cancer and there’s nothing I can do. At eleven years old, she’s already been so brave, but my sweet girl is hanging on by her fingernails. She has one last chance: a bone marrow transplant from her little brother. But nine-year-old Callum has an autoimmune disease, and there’s a chance it will put him at risk.

It’s life or death for one of my children and I have to make this decision alone.

I wish there was someone by my side to help me and my family through this terrible time. But life has hit us so hard recently. A few months ago, my beloved husband died in a tragic accident and now I might lose Tara too. All I want to do is to protect my children: so much has been taken from us already. I hope for a miracle, but my daughter is running out of days, and I have to choose.

If I make the wrong choice, will I lose one of my precious children forever?

Totally heartbreaking and gripping fiction about parenting, loss and finding light in the darkest of times. If you love Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Jojo Moyes, this novel will stay in your heart forever.

REVIEW:

Outstanding! Laura Kemp has astounded me with her new novel titled I Paint the Sky. I loved and enjoyed her Lantern Creek series and have been impatiently waiting for a new book penned by Laura. I was finally blessed with the opportunity to review her new book and boy what a blessing that was. I’ll tell you why.

Her style of writing in this book is so different. She pulled me in and held me spellbound until I read the last page. Then, she left me wanting more. The reason I wanted more is because she made me like her characters and now I want to know more about their future. I can live with the way she ended the book. She tied it up well and didn’t leave me hanging. I just want to hang out with them again.

This book is an American Historical Romance. I’d like to call it a Historical Western Romance. This book has it all. There are Indians, horses, wagon trains, friends, outlaws and best of all one of the best love stories I’ve read in a while between Emily Ives and Caleb Merritt. You’ll see Emily grow up and fight for what she wants and Caleb will learn to put his past in the past and grow to be the man Emily needs. Y’all are going to love their story. 

You learn a little bit about what it was like to move across the country in a wagon train. The dangers they faced and the work it entailed every single day. It wasn’t easy and I don’t think I would have been a woman that could have faced the rigors of moving West. They were strong and determined people. A lot of folks lost their lives and did not see their dreams come true.

I have found I enjoy books that take place in the early days of our country and in the time before we traveled on highways in a motor car. People settled in homes as primitive as sod houses. It was a very different way of life. I have enjoyed learning about that time period and the hardships folks faced everyday even when they weren’t moving across the country. 

If you are like me and enjoy reading about these things then this is a book I highly recommend you pick up and read. Laura Kemp wrote I Paint the Sky and it definitely deserves to be on your nightstand. Laura, I’m proud of you Michigan girl and the book you wrote that starts out in our home state. Way to go!

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.

SYNOPSIS:

She came west to start a new life… But what is she running from?

Married to a man she barely knows, nineteen- year- old Emily Ives has hopes of starting a new life in her small, Michigan town. Soon she is pregnant, and shocked to discover her husband’s charm masks a violent nature. When a fire claims the lives of her loved ones, she has one choice, escape on the Oregon Trail to the Black Hills, where her uncle and his wife are waiting.


But there’s one hitch…

Caleb Merritt has lived his life in shadow since the death of his wife. When he finds Emily about to give birth in the back of a wagon, he offers to help, only to find himself drawn to her when he should be running the other way. She has secrets, that’s for certain, and the last thing Caleb needs is more heartbreak.

When tragedy splits the wagon party in two, Emily discovers the husband she thought was dead is not only alive, but hunting her. With her life and a long-lost treasure hanging in the balance, Emily must confront the past if she ever hopes to see the future.

“A stunning tour de force set against the backdrop of the American West.” –Rob Samborn, award winning author of The Painted Souls series

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!

REVIEW:

I just finished the new book by Lauren Lee titled Murder in the Moms’ Club. I have to say that I have only read the books in her Detective Dahlia series which I really enjoyed and couldn’t wait to jump into this new series. If I am reading correctly, this may only be a duet of two books. It was so good that I am looking forward to the next book.

There are six moms in this group and the newest member, Caroline, hasn’t even met Taylor yet. Why? Taylor is missing! There is also Marisol, Alexis, Sydney, Hayley. The introduction to the characters in her emails shows us that these are not your typical moms. They are all drop dead gorgeous. I did forget to tell you this story takes place at an affluent beach community. Maybe that is why these ladies don’t look like the mothers did when I grew up! I will have to say that the development of her characters was spot on. It was not hard to keep the six women separate in my mind. I don’t like it when I can’t keep characters clear in my mind and have to refer back in the book to figure it out. I am happy to say that did not happen.

Carolyn and her family are new to town and school started the week before they moved in. She meets the Mom’s Club in the morning when she is dropping off her son at school. She works from home and was able to accept a coffee invitation where she finds out that nobody knows where Taylor is. This is the beginning of figuring out what may have happened to Taylor. 

The book has a major twist at the end. That is all I can really say because I don’t want to ruin it for you. The next book will have some bombshell revelations for us that I surely don’t want to miss. So much happened in this book and the next one is sure to keep us glued to our chairs until we know how this all works out.

If you love good mystery, psychological suspense and domestic thriller thrown in, then Lauren Lee’s Murder in the Moms’ Club should be on your radar. 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.

SYNOPSIS:

Motherhood can be murder . . .

In an affluent city by the beach, the seemingly idyllic world of a moms club shatters when one of its members vanishes without a trace. As suspicion ripples through the close-knit community, a new family moves to town, ready to embrace a fresh start.

Eager to find her tribe, the new mom on the block, Caroline, quickly becomes caught in an intricate web of friendship and secrets. But beneath the surface of perfect smiles and lavish lifestyles lies a darkness Caroline can’t avoid. Haunted by the unexplained disappearance of a fellow mom, Caroline starts to unravel a delicately constructed house of cards.

Murder in the Moms’ Club is a gripping domestic thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final, heart-stopping twist. Prepare to be captivated by a story of secrets, lies, and the deadly consequences of joining the wrong group of friends.

REVIEW:

Sometimes I feel like a broken record. Does anyone know what a broken record is anymore? So, ok let’s just say I feel like I repeat myself a lot when I review books by Kiersten Modglin. Bitter House is another one of her books that I have to say is my new favorite of hers. The twists and turns and the gasps out loud never end. I’ll get those out of the way now and we can explore what is different about this book.

The Dream Job was my first book by Kiersten and it was released on May 12, 2020. I guess that means I’m entering my fifth year of being a true fan. I’ve read a lot of her books. One day I will catch up and have read them all. I can’t say that for sure because this woman can write. Her mind is pretty twisted and she just keeps cranking those stories out to her devoted fans.

One thing I will have to say for this unique author is she never writes the same book twice. She does a wonderful job of mixing up the genres. I love that I never know quite what to expect when I crack open the cover of a new book. I love that she does not seem to have a formula like a lot of successful authors you find out in the mainstream.

This book is a romance of sorts with themes of abuse. Not between the two main characters and it is not in your face. I think the way it was handled it will not be a trigger for the readers. The Bitter house has many secrets hidden within its walls and on the grounds. It was fun coming across the secrets one at a time. I think it was the hidden gems that kept me reading.

Oh! You all know I like stories about diaries and small towns. This book just happens to have a diary within its pages. Oh my, I’m in heaven. It also takes place in Nashville. Once a small town but not so now. I live just outside of Nashville and it is always interesting to read about your surroundings and what it might have been like years ago.

If you like Historical and Domestic Thrillers or just a good mystery, you will probably enjoy this novel. It will keep you turning the pages until you are turning the last one. Then you will wish for more. This book was totally delicious and yummy. 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:

Vera Bitter is dead, but her secrets have yet to be buried.

After the tragic death of Bridget’s parents, her grandmother took her in. Vera Bitter raised her from behind a closed door—cold and uncaring from the moment she arrived at Bitter House. After Bridget’s high school graduation, Vera kicked her out without so much as a goodbye, and Bridget never heard from her again. Which is why, when she receives word of Vera’s passing and discovers she’s inherited the family manor, she’s immediately filled with dread.

Those worries are amplified when she arrives at Bitter House after years away to find an enigmatic piece of her past waiting for her. Growing up, there was only one person Bridget distrusted more than her grandmother, and that was Cole Warner—the son of Vera’s house manager and the bane of her childhood existence. Now, he’s her new housemate.

Owning the house she was once forced to leave with a man she’s always despised forces Bridget to confront feelings and questions she’s been running from since the day she was driven away from Bitter House.

Then the first letter arrives.

And with it, a world of secrets, darkness, and deception is unlocked. Years ago, Bridget tried and failed to find sanctuary inside the shadowy halls of Bitter House, and as she struggles to imagine a future there now, she discovers a terrifying truth: behind the iron gate and stone walls of the old estate, nothing is quite what it seems. Bitter House has secrets and, if she can’t decide whom to trust, danger lies in wait.

From million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin comes a bone-chilling, compulsively page-turning, and achingly addictive thriller set within the walls of a mysterious old manor with a sinister secret.

BROKEN STRINGS REVIEW:

WooHoo! I’ve read a brand new series. A new author to some but, I have reviewed this author for a while. Because she is writing in a new genre she has adopted a new pen name. I’m not going to spoil it because I think if you really want to know you might be able to do a little research and find out for yourself. The author’s name is S. J. Sullivan.

This is a  three book series called The On and Off Relationship of Audrey and Nicky. This first book is titled Broken Strings. Audrey is a Ballerina and Nicky is a Rockstar. I really have to be upfront with you and tell you I had my doubts about this series right from the git go. At my age I am not really into rock music anymore and I have never followed ballet. I do have to admit that I took an interest in these two characters and can’t wait to finish their story. This three book series is being released all at once on May 28th. I am making myself write the review for each book as I read them so I can keep them separate.

Audrey is young and innocent because she has poured all of her energy into her dance and has not had a lot of dating experience. Her mother was a single mom and it was just the two of them her whole life. Nicky on the other hand has had an absentee father and a mother who didn’t take time for him growing up. He was pretty much on his own most of his life. He does what he wants when he wants. That is the reason Audrey and Nicky have an on and off relationship. They care for one another but their careers come first.

The character development seems great for the two main characters. The lesser of the characters isn’t there as much. That is ok. I think you’ll find that you really only care about what is going on with Audrey and Nicky anyway.

Well, I really want to get to the next book in the series. In the meantime, please check out the pre-order price on this series. You can’t go wrong if you think you might have some interest in them. I was shocked when I saw how much these books were going for. Until next time…Happy Reading.

SYNOPSIS:

Audrey Thomas and Nicky Levin were the “it” couple of the eighties. The paparazzi followed every move of their glamourous jet-setting lives… until their break-up sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Thirty years later, the rockstar and the prima ballerina have been spotted together again… yet few know what truly happened.

Audrey was summering in the tiny town of Meadow Springs to contemplate her future in ballet. The last thing she needed to complicate things was a budding rockstar. But fate had other plans. Nicky Levin sauntered into her life with bad boy energy, dripping with talent, and undeniably drop-dead gorgeous.

Audrey never meant to fall for him. Still, the more time she spent with Nicky, the more she found her head and heart filled with thoughts of him. With both of their careers on the brink of stardom, they agreed to meet and make time for each other whenever they can. Then, tragedy struck and sent their epic romance into a tailspin.

Do the recent spotting by the media indicate their love story is getting a long-awaited sequel? Or has too much time passed for their second chance?

DAMAGED STRINGS REVIEW:

Damaged Strings is book two in the series by S. J. Sullivan titled The On and Off Relationship of Audrey and Nicky. Audrey being a Ballerina and Nicky a Rockstar. As you can imagine, these are two very different worlds in the entertainment industry. Nicky and Audrey are about as different as their careers.

I am really enjoying this series. Damaged Strings was a difficult book to read. It is hard to understand how someone becomes a drug addict and how difficult the fight is to break the addiction. You also know how some of us women always try to fix things. I think it is in our dna. We also want to be there for the ones we love and care about.

Nicky hits what I would think is bottom. He is hiding deep and dark secrets from Audrey. I feel for her and what Nicky puts her through. I also feel her pain and want to see them get their happily ever after. Do they? I don’t know. I have to get back to reading and get started on book 3. You know I’m not going to tell you how it ends. Right? You’ll have to find out for yourself. Until next time…Happy Reading!

SYNOPSIS:

Audrey can’t stop thinking about Nicky.

Haunted by what could be, she takes the plunge and travels to L.A to reunite with him. Sparks reignited between them, prompting Nicky to ask Audrey to move in with him.

They seem on their way to the happily ever after that evaded them… when Audrey discovers Nicky is keeping a dark and deadly secret from her.

Can she save him from himself? Or will she be forced to choose between the man she loves and his dangerous vices?

BEAUTIFUL STRINGS REVIEW:

Beautiful Strings is the third and final book in The On and Off Relationship of Audrey and Nicky. I am thrilled to be able to introduce you to this series. This author has always written Psychological Thrillers which I love. I had reservations about the Rock and Roll aspects of this book but it was so well written that I didn’t mind at all. There was some of the behind the scenes workings of being a Rockstar and being a Ballerina while the main theme of the book was the love story between these two unlikely people who fall madly in love with each other.

The on and off relationship is no joke. They break up, get back together, and generally because of touring spend many months apart. Be ready for your heart to be torn into pieces many times while reading these books. It is worth reading these books for general information about the two different careers and the perils people are subject to while performing their jobs. I love to learn new things and these books taught me things I haven’t thought of before.

I have to tell you that these books are fabulous and although they are a change of genre for this author, she did a wonderful job bringing the characters and the books to life. I felt like I was watching a movie while reading Audrey and Nicky’s story. I started Broken Strings and flew through that book and hopped right into Damaged Strings and jetted right on to Beautiful Strings. I couldn’t read fast enough. I think S. J. Sullivan made a very wise decision to release these books all on the same day. They are well worth every penny!

If you love slightly different characters and backgrounds, learning something new, and have an interest in the arts, then these books are for you. I think you will enjoy them. Let me know what you think. I’m anxious to hear. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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

I received complimentary copies of these books 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.

SYNOPSIS:

Two years ago, Audrey broke up with Nicky.

Moving on from her famous ex has proved harder than anticipated. People still ask questions, and the tabloids continuously drag her name into stories—more than anything, Audrey wants to put Nicky behind her.

But fate has other plans.

Nicky is determined to win her back and make amends for how he hurt her. He knows Audrey is too leery to trust him, but somehow, he hopes to regain her trust.

Can Audrey put the past behind her and forgive Nicky? Or has the curtain fallen on their happily ever after?

REVIEW:

I have to admit that when author Nancy Klann-Moren sent me a request to review her new novel Love and Protest my interest peaked but I wasn’t crazy about revisiting the protests of the Vietnam era. I was a high school student during that time and I remember it well. It was a difficult time. There were other aspects of the book that sounded pretty good so I said I would read it and review for her. I am so glad I did!

This book takes place in two different time periods. One during Vietnam and one in more recent times with Black Lives Matter. Libby Carlson is the main character who protests during the Anti-Vietnam War Movement 52 years ago and 17 year old Harper Warner comes across her diary in a nightstand drawer in a thrift store. Her mother is recently deceased. The diary helps her through her time of mourning and inspires her to get involved with something bigger than herself.

If you have followed me for very long you know that I love small towns where Harper is from and I love books written about diaries. Right there are two things I love in a book and I somehow knew I was going to fall in love with this book. How could I not?

This author has such a way of developing characters. You learn a lot about Libby Carlson through her diary entries. You are right there with her as she meets a young man that gets her interested in a movement that she can’t help but become active in. Then we have Harper who has recently lost her mother and desperately needs something to become involved in and there is nothing much bigger in our time than the Black Lives Matter Movement. We learn from her thoughts while reading Libby’s diary what Harper is all about. These are just two of the wonderful characters you will meet when you read this book.

Oh! Another thing I love about a book is one that can teach me something while I am enjoying a good story. I learned more than my young mind absorbed about the Anti-Vietnam Movement 52 years ago and I learned more about the Black Lives Matter movement of today. Her research was thorough. 

So, if you are like me and love small towns, wonderful characters, learning something new and getting a peak in someone’s diary, then you will love this book as much as I did. I literally gobbled it up. It was a book I could not put down. 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.

SYNOPSIS:

POIGNANT AND HEARTFELT
THE IDEAL NOVEL FOR A BOOK CLUB

While wandering through the Second Chance Thrift Shop, 17-year-old Harper Warner comes across a diary tucked in a nightstand drawer. The original owner, Libby Carlson, had chronicled her “Summer of Love” in San Francisco and her involvement in the Anti-Vietnam War Movement 52 years earlier.
Harper is certain her recently deceased mother arranged this discovery, and she gives the find special import. The diary entries help Harper cope with her loss and motivate her to become involved in something larger than herself.
After deciding her cause would be the Black Lives Matter movement, COVID-19 unexpectedly upends her plans. Her media-fueled fears and obsession with the growing death count drive her into isolation, until the George Floyd murder. Separated by generations, Harper and Liberty’s heartbreaks and missteps are intertwined as they come of age and find their individual paths toward activism.

Interview:

Where did the inspiration for Love and Protest come from?

As my first novel, The Clock Of Life, did, Love and Protest gives a nod to social activism.

I’ve always liked the concept of ordinary people getting involved to make a difference for the greater good. As this story says, activists are the shining lights of our democracy. They expose the dark corners of government and power. 

Coming of age in a time of political unrest is complex, and I hope this book encourages the reader to think about the strength of involvement and the belief in something worth fighting for.

What part of writing this book surprised you? 

At first, I thought the story was about a young girl who found a diary and how it affected her life. Once I realized the diary was simply the vehicle for exploring both girls’ stories, I saw it as more compelling and more complete.

What is your favorite chapter or part of the book, and why?

Chapter five. It’s short—only two pages. It’s the graduation scene, where the valedictorian gives a unique commencement speech that reminds Harper of sweet times spent with her mother. I named the boy Tommy Newsome in honor of my diseased brother.

What are some of your hopes or goals for your novel Love and Protest?

1) Number one best-seller at the top of the charts for two years straight.

2) A meeting with George Clooney at the villa on Lake Come because he wants to produce the movie and would like me to write the screenplay

3) Holding the Oscar at the awards ceremony.

How do you come up with the ideas that become the storyline for your books?

I like to write about working-class, blue-collar relationships, and quirky characters. In my short stories, my initial intension is to explore a characters struggle with something. Then, I insert a friendship, real or imagined, and the characters guide me to the end. My last novel, The Clock Of Life, started out as a short story.

What inspires you to write?

Inspiration is elusive. I never know where it will come from next. Sometimes it comes from a place or a smell. Sometimes from a song or a feeling. I like being in a creative environment, around true artists of all kinds. I think creative people are a real turn-on.

Do you have any favorite times or places to write?

I don’t write in coffee shops or public places, and I don’t have a musical playlist when I write because I prefer silence. I “see” the scenes in my head and “hear” the voices during the conversations. For me, outside noise gets in the way of the process.

I write on the computer, in my office. The first and most difficult step is sitting my butt in the chair and giving my writing a higher priority than, oh, everything else. 

As an artist and a writer, do you look to different means of inspiration for each, or does one complement the other?

I suppose they both tell a story. Art is more playful and inspired by objects, and writing takes a lot, lot, lot longer.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes. Readers hold the key to any writer’s heart. Readers are our raison d’etre, and I am particularly grateful to everyone who has expressed appreciation for my efforts.

One more thing for fun.  Here’s the diary I found quite a few years ago.