Book Review - A Sweet Misfortune (Virtues and Vices of the Old West, #2) by Maggie Brendan

 

 A Sweet Misfortune by Maggie Brendan is about a young woman who was kidnapped by a stranger and her life in the aftermath of the kidnapping.  Rachel Matthews  knew that she couldn’t rely on others to take care of her. She has always tried to take care of herself the best she knows how. She is destitute and alone, after her parents died in an accident and her brother leaves town to try to make enough money to buy back the family homestead.

Rachel is determined to make enough money to support herself even if it means taking on an unsavory job prospect. She becomes a dance hall girl and works for tips from the bar patrons. The women who work at the dance hall or saloons, are sometimes given the name of “soiled doves”, meaning that they do more than just dance for money. 

When her brother, Preston, hears of her circumstances, he writes to a friend to help her out as Preston is in California searching for gold and isn’t close enough in proximity to help his sister. Preston is unable to leave his current location because he left to earn money to buy back the family ranch. He asks John McIntyre, a widely admired cattle baron to help rescue her. 

The last thing John McIntyre wants to do is to help Rachel and go into a saloon. He is more focused on his fledgling business and buying more property. He lives to take care of his property and his grandmother, Estelle. However, John is a man of honor and would never refuse a friend in need. So, he strides into the saloon and picks up Rachel right off stage and takes her to his house by horse.

As one can imagine, Rachel didn’t take too kindly to being kidnapped from her job. However, while still upset at John, she still stays with him in hopes that Preston will make the trip down for her. After months go by, Rachel isn’t sure how much longer she can take advantage of John’s and Estelle’s kindness. She isn’t sure how  long she can spend with John after finding out that Preston borrowed money from him and John holds title to her family’s property.  To complicate matters, Rachel starts to feel attracted to John even though she still can’t quite forgive him just yet about her family’s ranch and for kidnapping her. Will Rachel be able to save up enough money to get back her family farm?

The book started off okay but it was a boring and predictable read. I didn’t really care for any of the characters and the story felt dull.  Rachel was confusing as a character. She kept saying how she was proud of her job and was more than happy to go back to it but then she couldn’t wait to leave the saloon. She mentioned that being a dance hall girl is a job that only desperate women take but, then claims the job paid well that she didn’t mind it. I feel like she was trying to convince herself or others that the job isn’t as bad as they think it is but it really is a terrible job to have.  

Annabelle, the housekeeper on John’s farm,  would switch from speaking “proper” English then switch to broken Southern English. It was confusing at times and hard to imagine what this character was like. I did like reading her and Estelle’s lines the best though.  I also didn’t understand why Preston never visited or even attempted to help his sister. He claims that he cares for her but it is later revealed that they barely had any communication when he was searching for gold.

The characters just do wild and bizarre things that makes me question how viable the storyline really is. When Rachel reads a note from someone, she decides at that very moment she needs to go out during horrendous weather to talk to that person. She wasn’t even properly dressed and didn’t even consider how terrible the weather was. John, who is still recovering from a treacherous medical ailment, had an easy time to go out and get her without even seeming to struggle. They made it seem that even the smallest task would be too much for him to handle but apparently riding the freezing blizzard and carrying another person on horseback was no big deal.

The book would go on for pages with no progression to the story.  I wonder if the title was reflecting my feelings on how much it was a misfortune that I was stuck reading the book. It was definitely a relief when I finished the book. Given how boring and predictable this fluff piece was, I don’t think I would be in a rush to read another book by the author.

 

Book Review - This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

 

 

This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles is about an old woman who is coming to terms with nearing the end of her life and a secret that makes her question everything she holds dear. Minerva Jane Jenkins married when she was just 14 years old. She loved her husband, Stately Jenkins, very much. So much, that when he moved her to an isolated part of the mountains, she didn’t have any objections. She went along with his plans like she believed a good wife should.

When Stately Jenkins passed away fifty years later, he made her promise that she wouldn’t tell anyone about the small box he kept hidden. He told her it was filled with gold and that’s all Minerva knew about it. She promised Stately that she wouldn’t tell a single soul about the box and the treasure within.

Minerva is now ninety four years old and she feels that she is nearing the end of her life. She feels happy that she is going to die because she leads a lonely existence.  She is proud that she managed to keep Stately’s promise of keeping the box a secret, which proved to be harder when a journalist showed up to her door.

Del Rankin is a reporter and wants to know about her story and Stately’s involvement in the gold that went missing.  He promises Minerva that he is only interested in the people involved in the story.  Del’s friend, Colton, made it obvious that he is only interested in finding the location of the gold by any means necessary. Both men think that Minvera is a pushover and would tell them what they need to know, but little did they know Minvera is a firecracker and will stop at nothing to protect her promise to Stately.

The book took a bit for me to get into. Minerva narrates the book in her Appalachian dialect and I had a hard time understanding what she was saying at times. A few times, I would have to go back and reread the same sentence over and over again. The story was slow and plodded along without much happening. However, there were a few heartwarming moments between Minvera and Del that caused me to tear up. The book did have a few surprises and twists towards the middle and end of the book. It also had some humor sprinkled throughout the book. I am glad that I decided to stick it out and not give up halfway through like I originally planned on doing. If you like Christian fiction that takes place in the Appalachian mountains, then you might enjoy this one.

 

Book Review - Somebody's Daughter by David Bell

 

Somebody's Daughter by David Bell is about a man who is roped in to save a child that may be his. Michael Frazier was having an enjoyable dinner with his wife, Angela, and the last thing he expected was his ex-wife, Erica, showing up. He hasn’t seen or talked to her in the last ten years  since they divorced.

Erica is desperate for Michael’s help. Her ten-year-old daughter, Felicity, is missing and Erica claims Michael is the father. Michael is unsure because Erica never mentioned anything about a child and he feels that she is lying to him so he feels obligated to help her.

Michael is hesitant to follow Erica into the dark of the night but he is unwilling to turn his back to a child who might be in danger.  As Michael follows Erica into the darkness of the night, he realizes that there are secrets and lies from the past decade unraveling that might put his new family in danger. He doesn’t know who he can trust and who else is hiding secrets from him.

The book was narrated from multiple perspectives: Michael; Angela; and one of the detectives on the case, Detective Griffin. The book was fast paced and had a lot of twists and turns. However, I felt the book left a lot to be desired and seemed a bit clunky, in that the book introduces a lot of twists and side stories about secrets from the last decade but none of them are really fleshed out. One of the side stories questions the paternity of the missing girl but even in the end, they never really tell us who the father is. There is another subplot where Erica stole the baby but nothing comes from that and the two characters just faded out. I felt like that the author just threw a bunch of random possibilities to keep the reader guessing but failed to say this is what really happened.

I questioned a lot of the characters’ intelligence because they did things that I wonder why they thought they were good ideas. When Michael left Angela at home, she was going crazy thinking of the different things that could go wrong. Her mother in law, Gail, offers to come over and keep her company. Angela had seen a strange man stalking their house and they both ended up inviting that stranger into their house. The stranger was aggressive and then started searching their house and taking their phones hostage. Eventually, Angela leaves with this person willingly even though she is terrified and her husband doesn’t know where she is. I don’t know if any rational person would let a stranger into my house when their spouse’s supposed child went missing and then that person takes my phone.

I felt like the book was a slow build with the short chapters that were alternating narratives between the characters. It did make the story seem like it was fast paced but sometimes I wanted to read more about what was going on in the current arc for a particular chapter. I felt the ending came out of nowhere and it wasn’t something I expected. I felt like the author could have edited the book and made it a bit more focused and I’d have enjoyed the book a lot more. If you like suspenseful thrillers with twists and turns, you might enjoy this book.

Book Review - Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

 

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon is about a grandmother, mother, and granddaughter trio who decide to solve a murder.  Lana Rubicon is known for her killer business skills. She’d caused many people to tremble in their shoes when they knew she was coming. She is proud of the L.A. real estate empire she has built with her keen business intuition and taste.

After having a health scare, she decides to move 300 miles north of the city to a small coastal town where her daughter, Beth lives with her teenage granddaughter, Jack. Lana isn’t used to the easygoing sleepy town vibes. She tries to get used to the slower pace of life instead of fast paced life in LA but it’s a hard adjustment spending her days doing nothing. Lana feels that the boredom might kill her before the cancer does and that she needs something to do to make her feel relevant again.

Jack is independent and loves the slough near their house. She works as a kayak tour guide and wants to save up enough money for a boat to go sailing by herself. While on a tour, one of the kayakers finds a dead body. Jack brings in the group and reports the body to the police. Jack becomes a suspect because she finds the body but she was also out in the slough the day before with another tour group. Beth and Lana are worried that the police will just blame Jack for the murder without actually investigating the crime. Beth wants her mother to focus on getting better while finding Jack a lawyer instead of Lana sticking her nose into the investigation. However, Lana decides that she can’t sit still while her granddaughter is accused of something she didn’t do. Lana will stop at nothing to protect her family while proving that she is still useful. Will Lana be able to find out the truth behind the murder?

The book was a fun and quick read. The characters were quirky with some laughable moments. I liked reading about Lana and her amateur sleuthing journey. I like that the author showed us how Lana was piecing together the clues and her thought pattern behind her deductions. The murderer was easy to guess but their motivation was slightly different than I was expecting.

The murder aspect does play a role but the story also focuses on repairing and strengthening the bonds between the three women. Lana cares about her daughter and granddaughter but didn’t spend any time with them. She has to learn how to bridge the gap that has widened over the years. While Beth is trying to let go control of her daughter and giving her own space and independence.  Beth finds it difficult since it has only been the two of them for years. It was interesting seeing how the characters were trying to navigate the relationships with each other while trying to figure out their needs and the murderer. If you are looking for a murder mystery with a bit of heart, then you might enjoy this book.

Book Review - Always Be My Duchess (Taming of the Dukes, #1) by Amalie Howard

 

 

  

Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard is a tale of two opposite people who are brought together by a mutual interest in accomplishing their goals. Lord Lysander Blackstone is the Duke of Montcroix, and he only has one goal and interest on his mind. He singularly cares to increase his already considerable fortune in order to surpass his late father’s legacy, and has no interest in finding a “duchess”. After a series of betrayals and broken promises, he finds it easier to keep his emotions in check if he focuses on growing his empire. However, a piece of real estate that he needs for his budding railroad empire is blocked by the eccentric owner of the property. The owner is only willing to sell the property to someone who believes in love and who wants to build and raise a family on the land. Lysander is devastated and annoyed that his cold personality and lack of a love life could jeopardize his business plans. He starts to lose hope for being a candidate the owner will sell to until he crosses paths with the alluring Miss Geneviève Valery.

Geneviève “Nève” Valery once had a promising ballet dancer career and her entire life ahead of her. However, her dreams and career were destroyed when Nève refused to become the mistress of a wealthy patron. Nève is out of work and desperate to find a new job but her scorned lover makes it impossible for her to land any roles. 

Nève crosses paths with the Duke when she saves him from a group of unsavory men when he was in a vulnerable state. He makes her an offer that is hard to resist. Nève is skeptical if the Duke will act honorably given her last encounter with the ton, in which the Duke is a prominent member. After hitting a dead end in job prospects, Nève decides to take up the Duke on his offer to be his fake fiancée. The plan is to help convince the eccentric seller to sell Lysander the property he desires, and Nève would be well compensated if the deal goes through. Nève and Lysander are both only focused on getting their side of the deal, until they realize that they might get more than they bargained for!

Nève and Lysander are both strong characters who are determined to keep their feelings in check but find themselves instantly drawn to each other. It was interesting and fun seeing how the duo tried to ignore their budding feelings for each other but kept finding themselves in compromising situations. The novel was set in the Victorian era but it could have taken place in any era with minor edits to the story. The elements of the Victorian era (other than the class issues) did not really come into play. There were no facts of the era or the time period to build the world in the mind of the reader. It just seemed to be chosen by the author for the romantic aspect of this time period.

I enjoyed the first half of the novel as it showed the pair maneuvering their relationship from two parties with a business arrangement while being romantically attracted to each other. However, towards the middle it got repetitive. Lysander kept making the same mistake of doing something nice but not taking into consideration Nève’s feelings, even though she told him how she felt. This could have been due to ignorance because of his social standing and privilege.  Nève also ran hot and cold. She was not consistent – she was either a fiery firecracker or a damsel in distress. 

The book was mildly reminiscent of “Pretty Woman” but it's not a remake of the story. The novel is a predictable read with no unexpected twists. The ending does leave an opening for another character to get their “happy ending” in the next book in the series. The book had adult content and language, and isn’t for readers who prefer clean romances.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - No Admissions by Brittany Geragotelis + Giveaway

 

Frankie discovers one of her classmate's inventions is stolen the day before a school wide competition, the renown international thief promises to make it right. She works her skills to help retrieve the project for her classmate. Frankie thought her mission was a completed but, she finds out that there's more to the story.

A group of wealthy parents are using their influence and money to guarantee that their kid gets into the most exclusive schools regardless of their kids' ability. They will stop at nothing to guarantee that their kids are set up for success.

The case seems easy to Frankie until she gets to know the parents and their kids. She then realizes that not everything is so black and white. Frankie decides to set her bar higher, and take down the mastermind who has been hired to get the kids into their schools.

This is the third book in the series and it follows the similar pattern of the other two previous books. The book can be read as a standalone. In this book, Frankie is still learning to "play nice" with others including, Ollie and her uncle. It was interesting seeing Frankie, who is normally calm under pressure be vulnerable with her feelings and trying to have empathy with others. While, Frankie still has ways to go before she can understand Ollie and her uncle, she has made great progress in this novel including, understanding that Ollie wants and needs to be an equal say in their antics. If you enjoyed the two previous books, you will enjoy this book. 

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

 

About The Book:

Title: NO ADMISSIONS (The Infamous Frankie Lorde #3)

Author: Brittany Geragotelis

Pub. Date: October 18, 2022

Publisher: Pixel + Ink

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 304

Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

A group of parents looking to buy their less-deserving children into elite schools is about to learn a thing or two from a criminal mastermind in the third book in the Infamous Frankie Lorde series, perfect for fans of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls and Heist Society.

When Frankie discovers that a classmate’s invention has been stolen the day before a school-wide competition, the once-renowned international thief figures she might as well flex her skills to steal it back. But just when Frankie’s about to call her mission a success, she learns there’s more to the story than she’d originally thought.

A group of wealthy Greenwich parents are using their influence -- and wallets -- to guarantee that their kids get into the most exclusive institutions on the East coast, no matter how undeserving their kids are, or how far they have to go to ensure success. 

Easy peasy for Frankie to crack.  Until she gets to know these classmates of hers...and their parents...and everyone's real motivations and issues.  Frankie sets the bar higher, to take the scam down from the top.  The guy who's been hired to get the kids into their desired schools: "Mr. Admissions."  

Reviews:

"The action sequences are fun. . . ."—Kirkus Reviews

 

Grab the first 2 books in THE INFAMOUS FRANKIE LOURDE Series now!

 

About Brittany Geragotelis:

Brittany Geragotelis, a former Olympic-bound gymnast and magazine editor, is a self-professed pop culture junkie turned author. Her paranormal action book Life’s a Witch received 18 million reads on the writing site Wattpad.com. What the Spell is the first published book in the series, followed by Life’s a Witch and The Witch Is Back. The Infamous Frankie Lorde is her first series with Pixel+Ink. Brittany lives in Los Angeles with her awesome husband, two clever boys, one scaredy-cat, and a crazy dog.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a finished copy of NO ADMISSIONS, US Only.

Ends October 25^th, midnight EST.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/10/2022	Mom with a Reading Problem	Review/IG Post
10/10/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
10/11/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
10/11/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review/IG Post
10/12/2022	Forthenovellovers	Review/IG Post
10/12/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
10/13/2022	@hodophile_z	IG Review
10/13/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
10/14/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt
10/14/2022	Books and Zebras	IG Review

Week Two:

10/17/2022	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/17/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt/IG Post
10/18/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
10/18/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
10/19/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
10/19/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Spotlight
10/20/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/20/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
10/21/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review
10/21/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review

Book Review - Mine by Courtney Cole

 

Tessa Taylor has the perfect life. She has three beautiful children, a successful business, and a loving husband. However, her life comes crashing down when she unlocks her husband, Ethan's iPad and finds a nude photos from another woman. Lindsey is a younger woman and a bombshell.

Tessa is stuck in her home while Ethan is stuck on a business trip. While a horrific hurricane is ripping through the area, Tessa is trapped in her own home. She is torn between confronting her husband or should she reach out to Lindsey.

As the storm ravishes Florida, Tessa grows restless and finds herself desperate for revenge. She decides to lure Lindsey over by pretending to be Ethan. When the two women come face to face it becomes a battle of wills.

This book was a good trashy read but, it didn't have much substance to it. I didn't really care for many of the characters as I found it hard to relate. The ending came about abruptly without really tying into the story together in the end. I had a hard time not rolling my eyes because of how silly the characters were acting. If you like trashy unrealistic revenge reads, then this book might be a good book for you.

Book Review - Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

 

Beauregard “Bug” Montage is a devoted husband, a doting father, a patient son, a loving cousin, and a fledgling business owner, who is also the best getaway driver in town. Bug knows that he has no future in driving getaway cars and tries to focus on his business. 

Bug worked hard to build his business and focus on his family. However, he finds himself struggling to maintain his lifestyle and finds himself drawn to his dangerous past. Especially, when someone from his past shows up and offers him an opportunity to join the crew for a jewelry store heist.  Bug feels that he has no choice but to get involved if he wants to keep his family safe but, he finds that he likes being in the driver seat for dangerous situations more than he should.

I enjoyed this fast paced action packed novel even though it was a bit predictable at times. I thought the characters were well fleshed out and interesting. I didn't really care for the ending because it felt like a non-ending to me. Overall, it was an interesting read and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

 

When he wakes up, he is on a deserted beach in Maryland wearing only swim trunks and his head covered in bruises. He can't remember who he is or why he is in Maryland. All of his memories are fuzzy and he has no idea where to go. He has a faint idea that Maine is his hometown and returning might help uncover some more answers. Instead, when he arrives he feels like he has more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack until he goes missing one night. During her frantic search she uncovers secrets that he has been keeping from her. Lily fears that Jack is hiding a dark past and he is purposely keeping her in the dark.

Maya Scott is desperate to find her estrange stepbrother, Asher, since he has disappeared without a trace. She is grateful that he is back even though, he has trouble remembering her.  She is worried that he will remember their mutual history and the secrets that bond them.

The book was a disappointing read. I was able to guess most of the story but, the ending did have a twist. Personally, I don't think it was worth reading to the end because it took forever to get there. I am not sure I would go out of my way to read anything by this author again because this book was a huge disappointment and waste of time.

Book Review - Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall, #2) by Robert Bryndza

 

Criminology professor Kate Marshall is on a scuba dive with her son when they make a shocking discovery. They find a body of a teenage boy in the depths of the Shadow Sands reservoir. The detective chief inspector is quick to rule the case as an accidental drowning. However, Kate believes there is more to the story. As she begins to follow the evidence and clues, she discovers something more sinister.

It turns out the latest victim is one of the many in a series of deaths and disappearances linked to the moorlands. There is an urban legend of a phantom that uses the rolling fog to hunt for its victims. When a researcher studying urban legends disappears without a trace, Kate must act fast if she wants to find her alive.

This novel is the second book in the series but, I felt like it could be read as a standalone. I thought the book was an interesting read and it was nice seeing old characters making a reappearance while getting more history on Tristan. I enjoyed reading this book but, I definitely felt like I enjoyed the first book more. I felt like something was missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. However, I am excited to read the next book in the series.

Book Review - The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

 

Stephen Aston is getting married again but, he still married to his first wife. His first wife, Pam, is in a care facility for dementia. Stephen can easily get over that roadblock by divorcing Pam, even if his adult children protest his decision.

Tully and Rachel Aston feel that Heather is just using their father. They feel like she is an interloper. Heather is the same age as Rachel, who is the youngest daughter. They believe that she is after their father's money. However, Heather has her own reasons why she is marrying Stephen.

Pam is unable to speak for herself and her memory is shot. Tully and Rachel are determined to get the truth behind their family's secret. Will they be able to get the truth?

I have a lot of books with a similar theme but, this book was quite disappointing. There was almost no twist and the ending was predictable. I didn't like the direction the book took because the ending was a bit open and all the character's story was called into question. All the characters complained about this one person about being abusive but, then called that person "the love of their lives". This book just showed a bunch of dysfunctional people and they all second-guessed themselves even though they had a gut feeling. I can't say that I really cared for any of the characters.

Book Review - Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison

 

 

The Goode School is located on top of a hill in a tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia. The school is a prestigious prep school for girls that is also known as the Silent Ivy. Girls from rich and influential families flock to the school that is known to only accept the best and brightest students. The Goode students are expected to follow their honor code along with their long-held traditions. The students who attend the school can be expected to have bright futures at Ivy League universities and beyond.

However, a mysterious newcomer has arrived at Goode and things have started to turn for the worst. All the students have come to accept the rules and the cruelties of the secret societies.But when a popular student is found dead, the truth starts to seep through the cracks. The rumors suggest that she was struggling with keeping a secret and that drove her to suicide.

I thought the book was an interesting read. It was a suspenseful read with a twist ending. The book was told in alternating point of views but, it was hard at times distinguishing between the character at times. In the middle the book was a bit slow, I felt like if the author condensed the book in some parts, it would have been a better read. I would read other books by the author.

Book Review - The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith

  

Joseph is the favorite son of his father, Jacob. His older brothers are jealous and resentful over Joseph's status as their father's favorite. So, when the opportunity arises to get rid of him, the brothers take the chance and sell him to slave traders. They told Jacob that Joseph was killed by wild animals. The brothers believe that their troubles are finally over but, for Joseph and his brother, Judah, they are just beginning.

Joseph becomes imprisoned when he is accused of raping his master's wife. Judah tries to escape the guilt of selling his brother into slavery. Decades has passed, when the brothers finally reunite again. Joseph  is in a position of power while Judah begs for mercy. Will the brothers be able to choose forgiveness?

I have read a few books by the author and I liked this book better than the others. I felt like the story flowed more smoothly even though at times, the book felt like it was moving very slowly. There was a lot of sex and scenes of rape that I didn't care for but, I understand that they were needed for certain parts of the story. I like that the story was told from alternating story lines. I like reading about how the brothers were dealing with the past betrayal. While, I know that Joseph is the main character and he  didn't want the preferred treatment of his father, I felt that when he got older he lost some of his humility. Overall, the book will be well received by readers who are  fan of the author's.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Call Me Elizabeth Lark by Melissa Colasanti

 

Twenty years ago near the Oregon coast, Myra Barkley's daughter has disappeared from the rocky beach near the family inn. For the past twenty years Myra has stayed at the front desk of the inn waiting for her child to come home. One rainy day, Myra's wish comes true. Someone who looks like her daughter, Charlotte,  walks through the door and with a child of her own.

Elizabeth Lark is on the run with her son, Theo, from an abusive husband. She return to her hometown against her better judgment to hide from him. She decides to stop at the Barkley Inn to figure out the next steps. Myra insists that Elizabeth is her long lost child and offers Elizabeth a safety net she desperately needs for her son. Elizabeth knows that she isn't Myra's daughter and she finds herself intertwines with the family.

Elizabeth's return sparks a renewed interest in her disappearance. The new spreads of her return but, someone knows that Charlotte  didn't disappear on her own. Someone is desperate to keep what happened twenty years ago a secret.

I thought this book was an okay read. I had a hard time liking some of the characters and couldn't understand them. For example, Myra was upset that  Charlotte disappeared and kept hoping she would return. I felt like she was devoted to this daughter but, all her other kids it was like she didn't really "care" for.  There was two separate times when her daughters needed her but, she chose her husband but, then she seems to be fighting with him all the time. I found some of the dialogue to be unrealistic and choppy at times. The book was slow in the beginning and the middle and then towards the end everything just happened so fast that it felt unrealistic. The twist at the end was a bit predictable and expected.

Book Review - The Rooster Bar by John Grisham

 

Mark, Todd, and Zola decided to attend law school for their own different reasons. They are now third-year students who feel duped by the system. They borrowed eye dropping amounts of money to attend a low tier for-profit school that is so mediocre that its graduate rarely pass the bar exam or get any profitable jobs. The trio later find out that their school is a chain of for-profit schools owned by a shady businessman who also owns a bank specializing in student loans. They realize they are one of many  victims of "The Great Law School Scam".

They begin to feel hopeless and that they have no way out. They decide to concoct a plan that they can escape their debt, expose the scam along with making a few bucks in the process. However, they realize for their plan to work they would need to leave law school a few months shy of graduation.

This was my first John Grisham novel and I was excited to read it. However, I found the novel to be very boring and slow. I read more than one third of the book before I had to stop reading it. I had a hard connecting to any of the characters and I didn't care for the one female character. It was hard to feel sympathetic with characters who complain about being ripped off and then goes ahead and rips off other struggling people. They were also upset about being duped but, it looks like they didn't really do proper due diligence and feel angry that they are being taken advantage of. Apparently, the school has a wide reputation of being horrible, wouldn't they have figured that out by the first year? I felt like Zola was just made into a prop and rarely served a purpose. I felt like most of the book is ripped straight from the headlines with little addition from the author other than his social commentary.

Book Review - The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John

 

 

 Belle likes to believe that she is immune to the charms of wealth. However, when her best friend, Summer, invites her to a birthday bash on a yacht owned by her billionaire boyfriend, Belle has hard time saying no. She is in a desperate need for a vacation after her acting career has stalled and her waitress job leaves her drained. Once she sets foot on the beautiful Lion's Den, she realizes the vacation isn't what she expected.

The dream vacation has quickly descend to a nightmare when they realize they don't have much freedom or privilege on the yacht. They find their host to be terrifyingly controlling and everything has to go his way. On the trip, Belle finally realizes what kind of person Summer really is and that Summer will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Belle realizes that she might be a prisoner onboard the yacht but, she must keep her wits about her if she wants to escape.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I first picked up this but, I thought it was probably going to be a trashy beach read. The first few pages started off fine but, then it descended into a full on over the top soap opera drama style story. I felt like it was very hard to be believable. There was a few times I was over the story because I am thinking what kind of person would put themselves in this situation and just kind of sit back  and take being treated terribly. The ending of the novel was quite predictable and could be seen miles away. It was an okay read but, I wouldn't be reaching for any of the author's book any time soon.

Book Review - The End of Her by Shari Lapena

 

Stephanie and Patrick are trying adjusting to life with their colicky twin girls. The babies are a handful and Stephanie struggles with sleep deprivation but, she feels that she has everything she ever wanted.

A woman from Patrick's past, Erica, appears and makes a deadly accusation. She claims that Patrick's first wife didn't die by accident but, Patrick murdered her. Patrick insists that he is innocent and that Erica is only after their money.  As Stephanie interacts with Patrick and Erica, Stephanie begins to suspect that her husband might be a murderer. As Stephanie begins to lose her trust in Patrick, she wonders who is telling the truth?

This book was a devious good read that leaves the reader guessing until the end. I was a little disappointed in the ending where many of the characters had their back against the wall but, we never know what became of them. I didn't care of most of the characters but, I still wanted to know their fates. Overall, it was a good book and I look forward to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell

 

The first Mrs. Ford was a beautiful and accomplished socialite that was married to a younger man. She mysteriously died one day and left her wealth to her husband. The second Mrs. Ford is a waitress from a small town who is struggling to ends meet. They met during a summer fling ten years prior and now she is rich beyond her dreams. Connor Ford is a mysterious man who is beloved by two women. Is he a victim or the mastermind behind his first wife's death?

 The book was interesting a few pages in but, towards the middle it felt like it was dragging. The ending came as a one-two punch with a few twists but, those were seen miles away. I can't say that I cared for the main character of the book as she is one of the dumbest person I ever read. There was one scene someone alluded to a murderer being in the house and she got evidence for her case but, she leaves it barely hidden and goes to confront the person. I am not sure about you but, if there is someone wishing to do me harm I don't go directly to them to make myself and easy target. However, I would still be opened to reading other books by the author.