REVIEW: Brilliant! Tell Me The Truth by Kiersten Modglin was an absolutely brilliant book. She hasn’t been named the Queen of Twists by her fans for nothing. I love the way she hooks you into going along with her premise and then she blows you out of the water. I have to be honest and really didn’t know where this book was going but, I never expected it to end the way it did.

I actually liked Edith and her husband Joe. I wasn’t sure Joe was lying like Edith though. He seemed so sincere when he tried to explain to his wife he wasn’t lying. I was hoping they would figure out what was messing with their marriage. Edith also had a best friend named Dan. He was such a good guy! I would have loved to have someone like Dan for a friend. He was true blue and my favorite character. 

The writing was flawless. It takes true talent to rope in a reader and make them think the way you want them to. In this case, you could have easily hated one character or another. The ending in the book was the true twist. Somebody was despicable. Someone took things into their own hands. Someone was not who we thought they were. Someone was a hero. Someone was many things. Can you guess? I’m not telling. You’re going to have to read this book and find out for yourself who was who and who was what. 

This was such a delicious book. I devoured it pretty fast. I couldn’t put it down. If you like a book that keeps you guessing. Doesn’t give anything away then this book is for you. This is Psychological Suspense at it’s best.

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SYNOPSIS: It’s not the first time Edith’s husband, Joe, has lied to her. But it will be the last?

When she finds photos of a mysterious woman on her husband’s phone, the heartbreaking implications are all too familiar, and Edith sets out to discover her identity. What starts as a desperate search for answers quickly becomes a terrifying spiral of obsession and subterfuge.

With each new secret uncovered about her life, her marriage, and the man she loves, Edith is left with even more questions.

What exactly is Joe hiding?
Who is the woman in his photos?

Refusing to accept Joe’s lies any longer, Edith soon finds herself living a double life, telling lies and keeping secrets of her own. When she uncovers a final piece of the puzzle, something darker and more gut-wrenching than even she could’ve anticipated, Edith is forced to make a choice about the future of her marriage.

The truth always comes at a price.
Sometimes, that price is your life.

REVIEW: Carolina Blue Sky Days is the second book in A Second Chance at Love Series by Susan Schild. Carolina Comforts was book one. I totally love this series and I think those who enjoy love stories about older people will also fall head over heels for this series. 

The characters in this series are all colorful. Linny is probably the most down to earth but, she’s still fun and ready for adventure. Her mom has spunk and is a hoot. Her sister knows how to get what she wants. Her boyfriend is a down home, veterinarian. His mom is something “special” if you know what I mean. Linny’s attorney friend is out of this world wacky. This book is filled with fun and interesting characters. 

Nothing in this story is straight forward. It doesn’t go as planned or turn out as you would think it would. That along with the characters makes it so much fun. Carolina Blue Sky Days is available for preorder now!

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SYNOPSIS: Ready for the comforting and sweet next book in the Second Chance at Love series? Put on your comfy clothes, pull up a chair, and relax!

At age 40, Linny Taylor is ready for love, but her con man late husband has made her wary of any men, especially the ones who seem too good to be true. But small-town veterinarian, Jack Avery, is proving to be as kind and genuine as he seems. And Linny’s marrying him!

With her dreams of a happily ever after about to come true, Linny has a serious case of pre-wedding jitters. Jack’s wealthy family doesn’t approve of her, his ex-wife is acting too chummy with him, and Linny has yet to win over his son’s heart.

If Linny can’t find a way to trust love again, she risks losing the one man she wants to be with—forever…

REVIEW: If you are like me and love the idea of reading someone’s diary from the past, then The Diary if Anne Monroe by Heidi Andrews is the book for you. It was an easy but, thoughtful read. I happily went along for the ride and enjoyed the adventure.

This book is told from two points of view. One is the 13 year old Margaret who is adopted. The other is through the diary. At first I felt the writing was not professional and needed some editing. I’ve thought about it and decided it was genius. It is told by a 13 year old and the voice changes as she grows to adulthood. The diary takes place in a shorter time span and is told by a 17 to 18 year old. The author told this story to perfection.

I got caught up in the story of the two young women. For me, I was drawn in right from the beginning. I’ve always loved books set around a diary. It gives me a chance to peek into someone’s private thoughts. I would never read someone’s diary that was living. Thats just not right and I guess I like the permission a book gives me. I can have all the fun without the guilt. 

This book is interesting in the points it brings up about adoption and how all the parties involved can feel at different times in their lives. It was fun, heartbreaking and realistic. It certainly gave me something to think about. I would highly recommend this lovely book.

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

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SYNOPSIS: Margaret, a thirteen-year-old girl who has always felt out of place among her family, moves into her biological mother’s childhood home in the summer of 1952 in Alexandria, Virginia. Shortly after moving in, she discovers a diary under a floorboard in her bedroom, and after reading it, she learns that it belonged to her birth mother, and against her parents’ wishes, she goes looking for her. Margaret’s search leads her to her angry grandmother who has forgotten about her daughter and speaks ill of her, so Margaret decides to put off her search until after she graduates high school. Over the next few years, life for the Sorenson family is a normal one, and just when the Sorenson’s think Margaret has forgotten about her birth mother, she takes off once again right after graduation with her boyfriend Tom to New York, a city much bigger than where she came from—not knowing what to expect or if she will find her mother, Margaret pushes forward, not letting anyone or anything get in the way of her finding her mother and getting the answers to the questions she has had since she was a child.

REVIEW: Wooowee! Hot, hot, hot! I may have burned my fingers and eyeballs! WOW! What a fun book!!!

Fake Crown by Wendy Million was a fun book that brought me out of my reading slump. Don’t get me wrong. I was still reading but, since the first of the year it was not with the same enthusiasm. I’m rating this book a 5 star and I’ll tell you why.

This book is not what you would call a literary masterpiece. It probaby won’t have a place among the classics. I don’t think Wendy meant it to be either. Brent is one of the main characters who is training for the Olympics and has six years before he retires. It doesn’t leave him much time to have a relationship since he is also in college at Northern Michigan University. (Michigan is my home state and another reason to love this book.) Posey is the girl who answers his post on the campus chat looking for a date to his friend’s wedding in Bermuda. 

I really liked the characters. They are much younger than me but, I was still drawn into the story and cared about what was happening. Believe me, there is a lot that happens. There is enough loving in this book to take it to the moon and back. If, you know what I mean. So, if you don’t like that kind of thing…be warned ahead of time.

I enjoyed that I was also watching the winter Olympics while reading this book. It comes out in time to order it so you too can read Fake Crown during the Olympics. They tell us about the sacrifices the Olympians make to be there and the time involved in training. You get some of that in this book and the drive that Brent has as he readies for competition.

I read The Donaghey Brothers series by Wendy and I totally fell in love with those books. If you read that series, if you like sports and especially Olympic sports and you like romance even if it isn’t clean, you will want to pre-order this book NOW! I’m already looking forward to book two. This is the first book of four in the Bellerive Royals series

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

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SYNOPSIS: Previously published as Olympic Crown by W. Million.

Posey Jensen is a friend collector, boyfriend avoider, and thrill seeker. When someone posts in a group chat looking for a wedding date to Bermuda, Posey jumps on the chance to prove to a new friend that she’s the reigning queen of adventure. But even she’s not prepared for Brent Faulkner: Olympic swimmer, Northern University star, and the only guy she’s ever thirsted after.

Brent Faulkner has a +1 for his friend’s wedding he can’t fill—and zero desire for another relationship. He’s married to his sport, and girlfriends are never happy mistresses. When he posts in Northern University’s group chat seeking a seat filler, someone named Jensen replies, and Brent figures a bros weekend will be just what he needs.

Little does he know, Jensen is Posey Jensen, and she’s diving into his life to change his priorities forever.

This is a mistaken identity turns to fake dating new adult sports swimming romance.

REVIEW: I just finished a sweet love story by Hilary Grossman and it was Cop an Attitude. If you are looking for a cute book that will take you away from the normal grind and give you something else to think about, this book will do the trick. If you read Forest River PTA Mom’s Series by this author and enjoyed the fun, hang on because you will recognize at least one character returning to this series. This is the first book in the I Can’t Stop Loving You Story series. 

I read Cop an Attitude when it was a novella in an anthology by several authors. I wrote to Ms. Grossman and expressed how much I enjoyed the novella and wished she would expand it into a novel. I wasn’t quite ready for the book to end. Well, it turns out I was not the only one to encourage her to do that and she indeed turned her novella into a full length novel. She has seamlessly inserted Peter’s side of the story. It was not choppy at all and the writing flowed effortlessly. I have to say if I read this novel first, I would never have known about it earlier life.

This is a love/hate relationship between a man and woman that actually knew each other in elementary school. As most of us do, they went their separate ways after graduation from High School. They meet again as adults. He is a police officer and she is a hard working woman coming home from the office late at night. He stops her and detains her for an extended time and as you can guess their relationship is off to a rocky start. I loved the attraction they had for one another and kept hoping someone would get it together. 

This book is not a serious book and I don’t think it was meant to be. It was created to bring a little joy into our hectic lives and give us something different than the same old grind to think about for a while. Waverly and Pete’s relationship is fun and I’m looking forward to where this series is headed next. Cop a Plea is the next book to be released on July 25th (maybe earlier). I don’t know about you but, I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!

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SYNOPSIS: Their reunion left a lot to be desired. Are they a disaster in the making or totally meant to be?

I kicked love to the curb for the greater good. After all, my soaring career would’ve made my family so proud, and men have a tendency to stop success cold. But I never expected a single and sexy police officer to pull me over, flirt with me, and then write me a ticket.

Now I see the infuriating cop everywhere I go. It doesn’t help that we have a past, and he’s an amazing dad to his daughter. And every time I want to get back to my small-town routine, I can only think about what my life would be like with the no-nonsense policeman…

I should really just forget the whole thing. But if I do, will I lose my last chance at love?

Cop An Attitude is the charming first book in the I Can’t Stop Loving You romantic comedy series. If you like engaging characters, enemies to lovers, and laughing out loud, then you’ll adore Hilary Grossman’s humorous walk on the wild side.

Buy Cop An Attitude for an arresting affair today!

REVIEW: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict is another masterpiece by this author. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by her so far. She brings to us stories of women who have contributed greatly to technology or science that did not get the recognition they deserved simply because they were women. My first book by her was The Other Einstein. She caught my attention with that book and I have been reading her books since then. I have some to catch up on and I am looking forward to time to be able to do that.

Her Hidden Genius is about Rosalind Franklin who did much of the research and study of DNA. She was the one to discover the double Helix structure of DNA. She is the one to take thousands of X-ray pictures to coax DNA to reveal itself to her. She sacrificed her life to discover the nature of DNA and her drive advanced our understanding of humankind. She was the top of her field but, it was hidden by the men she worked with. 

It amazes me that we have so many women that did so much for science in the study of physics and chemistry. The men that felt women didn’t have a place in the world of men or didn’t have the brains to compete. It is sad to think that it has taken so long for the women of the world to show what we are made of and what we can accomplish. It has been many years and many courageous women and we are just starting to break the barrier. It is about time!

If you love Historical Fiction, I highly recommend Her Hidden Genius and anything else Marie Benedict has written. She is an author that puts an abundance of research into her writings. She is amazing. If you are a fan of hers, I know you will be reading this book. If you haven’t read any book by her, you are missing out. Don’t let Marie Benedict be another hidden genius!

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

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SYNOPSIS: She changed the world with her discovery. Three men took the credit.

Rosalind Franklin has always been an outsider―brilliant, but different. Whether working at the laboratory she adored in Paris or toiling at a university in London, she feels closest to the science, those unchanging laws of physics and chemistry that guide her experiments. When she is assigned to work on DNA, she believes she can unearth its secrets.

Rosalind knows if she just takes one more X-ray picture―one more after thousands―she can unlock the building blocks of life. Never again will she have to listen to her colleagues complain about her, especially Maurice Wilkins who’d rather conspire about genetics with James Watson and Francis Crick than work alongside her.

Then it finally happens―the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what unfolds next, Rosalind could have never predicted.

Marie Benedict’s powerful new novel shines a light on a woman who sacrificed her life to discover the nature of our very DNA, a woman whose world-changing contributions were hidden by the men around her but whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind.

Also By Marie Benedict:

The Other Einstein

Carnegie’s Maid

The Only Woman in the Room

Lady Clementine

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie

STAY TUNED FOR MY REVIEW!

REVIEW: A new series came to town today! It is called The Wishing Tree Series. I had the awesome opportunity to read the prequel and I will be reading and reviewing the first six books in the series, so stay tuned! When I read to the end of the prequel, I noticed there are twelve books listed to be released by 8 authors. Some of the authors are favorites of mine and I can’t wait for these books to release! Let me tell you these are really great authors and I’m sure you may follow some of them on social media and read their books. I do!

I really want to pique your interest so I am going to tell you who all the wonderful authors are. They are Amanda Prowse, Kay Bratt, Tammy L. Grace, Barbara Hinske, Camille DiMaio, Ashley Farley, Jessie Newton, Tonya Kappes. Oh! You know what? The  prequel is free to download!! You can’t go wrong with that. The prequel gives you the first chapter of the first six books. I don’t know about you but, I can’t turn down free especially books by these ladies!

I enjoyed every single chapter in the prequel and it is just enough to make you want to read the books. I’m already hooked and I’m dying to read the them. They won’t all come out at the same time so there will probably be a little wait between books. I don’t know about you but, if I get a good series, I want to binge read until I’m done. I think I’m going to have to use a little self control. 

The Wishing Tree is in a small town that draws a lot of tourists every year. The tree is believed to grant wishes or at least bring them about. If you have a wish, you write it out on a piece of paper and tie it to a branch. There have been many wishes over the years that have been answered. I am so excited to jump in and read these books. The characters are flawed and wonderful at the same time. Just like we all are. 

The prequel (book 1) will be ready to download on February 2, 2022 and book 2 on March 2, 2022. It looks like they will be released a week apart from there on out until the series concludes. I hope you are as excited as I am to dig into this new series, The Wishing Tree. I just know it is going to be wonderful. Go download your copy of the FREE prequel now!

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SYNOPSIS: The Wishing Tree

Wishes in branches tied with string. Someone’s hopes. Another’s dreams.

Welcome to Linden Falls, Vermont, the picturesque small town that everyone dreams of living in. Within the charming streets of a community of people who care about one another, lies the heart of the town–the infamous Wishing Tree on the downtown square. The stately Linden tree is beautiful and made even more so by the shimmer of ribbons that flutter from the sprawling branches.

Tourists from all over the world flock to town and join the locals to hang ribbons of hope from the branches of the majestic tree. Some believe it’s magic, others think it’s old folklore, but one thing that is indisputable is that love, forgiveness, and other happily ever afters are all made possible when someone takes a chance and hangs a wish from a branch.

Enjoy this peek into the quaint town of Linden Falls and the lives of its residents and guests in this prologue novella, then join a handful of bestselling, award-winning authors as they bring the Wishing Tree series alive and leave you with a feeling of peace and happiness from book to book.

★ Don’t miss a Wishing Tree book! ★

Don’t miss any of the books in The Wishing Tree Series – download them all today:

Book 1: The Wishing Tree prequel/prologue book
Book 2: I Wish.. by Amanda Prowse
Book 3: Wish You Were Here by Kay Bratt
Book 4: Wish Again by Tammy L. Grace
Book 5: Workout Wishes & Valentine Kisses by Barbara Hinske
Book 6: A Parade of Wishes by Camille Di Maio
Book 7: Careful What You Wish by Ashley Farley
Book 8: Gone Wishing by Jessie Newton
Book 9: Wishful Thinking by Kay Bratt
Book 10: Overdue Wishes by Tammy L. Grace
Book 11: A Whole Heap of Wishes by Amanda Prowse
Book 12: Wishes of Home by Barbara Hinske
Book 13: Wishful Witness by Tonya Kappes

REVIEW: The Amendment by Kiersten Modglin is the sequel to The Arrangement. If you read The Arrangement, you definitely want to pick up a copy of The Amendment. Oh my goodness! If you thought The Arrangement was quirky and full of twists and turns, you haven’t seen anything yet. Hang onto you chair because there is a chance that you might fall out. Whiplash is certainly a possibility. In short, make sure your medical insurance is paid for the month.  If you are a Kiersten Modglin fan, you know exactly what I am talking about.

If you haven’t read The Arrangement yet, do that first! You need to know who you are dealing with. I enjoyed this book but, I have to tell you I didn’t see that ending coming! 

If you love Psychological Suspense, you will love this book. Don’t forget to read The Arrangement first! 

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SYNOPSIS: The dark, scandalous, and completely twisted sequel to Kiersten Modglin’s #1 bestselling domestic thriller, THE ARRANGEMENT…

First, there was the arrangement.
A simple, yet salacious fix to the problems looming in their marriage. But when things took a tragic turn, Peter’s and Ainsley’s lives quickly fell into disarray.

Now, their secrets have been exposed.
They know the truth—about each other and their marriage.
As they struggle to move on from their past and the damage they’ve caused, new problems begin to surface.

Someone they love is hiding a catastrophic secret. The fragile ground they stand on is starting to crumble. Their family is being torn apart at the seams. And, maybe worst of all, a threat from the past is lurking, ready to unveil the things they’d kill to keep hidden.

They thought the nightmare they’d made it through was over, but the worst is just beginning…

Once, they vowed to do anything to make their marriage work.
Now, that vow will push every boundary they have left.
In order to survive, they’ll need to completely trust each other.
But can they?

Last time they did, things went terribly wrong…
This time, it might be worse.

If there’s one thing that’s certain, their secrets are too big to let anyone walk away alive.

REVIEW: The Night Train To Berlin by Melanie Hudson was a captivating novel. I have not read any other books by this author but, discovered I do have one of her books in my library. It is just a matter of time before I read more from Ms. Hudson. This book was enough to wet my whistle and I look forward to more of her writings.

I love Historical Fiction and this one was in my Wheelhouse. I like the mood of the book. This author picked up on the songs of the time period, the travel by train and all men and women wanted to do their part in war effort of WWII. There was more pulling together and sacrifice back then. Gas, food and many other things were rationed. Sliced bread was banned by our government for a time because we needed steel for the war. They soon found out that banning sliced bread didn’t help the steel supply all that much. You’ve heard of the saying “Just like sliced bread”? That is where it came from!

I enjoyed the two time periods. One was during the war and the other one is modern day. The main character during the war years was Eliza and she was a war artist that would paint her views of the war in the front lines. She was also a Red Cross nurse. The modern character was Ellie and she has a congenital heart problem that kept her from living the life of a normal young adult. There is a love story in each time period. I fell into rooting for the characters and hoping they would find each other and live happily ever after. I enjoyed these characters and the men that enter their lives. They had very different obsticles to overcome in both timelines.

If you like Historical Fiction and don’t like World War books, you might like this book. It is not a heavy war story. The modern timeline helps that a lot. I encourage you to give this book a shot. 

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SYNOPSIS: The most heartbreaking historical fiction novel you will read this year from the USA Today bestseller!

A train journey into the past
A love that echoes through time

Paddington Station, present day

A young woman boards the sleeper train to Cornwall with only a beautiful emerald silk evening dress and an old, well-read diary full of sketches. Ellie Nightingale is a shy violinist who plays like her heart is broken. But when she meets fellow passenger Joe she feels like she has been given that rarest of gifts…a second chance.

Paddington Station, 1944

Beneath the shadow of the war which rages across Europe, Alex and Eliza meet by chance. She is a gutsy painter desperate to get to the frontline as a war artist and he is a wounded RAF pilot now commissioned as a war correspondent. With time slipping away they make only one promise: to meet in Berlin when this is all over. But this is a time when promises are hard to keep, and hope is all you can hold in your heart.

From a hidden Cornish cove to the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy in June 1944, this is an epic love story like no other. Perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff, Kate Quinn, Rachel Hore and Kate Furnivall.