Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Book Review - Dreams of Falling by Karen White

 


Dreams of Falling by Karen White is about a woman, Larkin Lanier, who returns home after her beloved mother goes missing. Many years ago, three young girls spent most of their lives together. Their childhoods were intertwined with each other and they were rarely apart. They decided to write their hopes and dreams on ribbons and stow it in a special tree for their wishes to come true. Their most important one was that whatever happens, they will remain friends forever.

Larkin left her home in Georgetown, South Carolina, nine years ago humiliated. She felt that she could never go back and face her friends after an embarrassing incident.  However, when she receives a call that her mother has gone missing, she realizes that she has no choice but to return back home. She is excited to see her family who missed her and wants her to come back home, but dreads running into her childhood friends who remember the incident that caused her to leave.

Larkin’s mother, Ivy, is discovered near the burned out wreckage of her family’s home. She is unconscious and badly injured when she is found. No one knows why Ivy decided to go to the house and Larkin is desperate to find answers. As she digs for answers, she discovers the reason why her mother went to the house. The secrets that she uncovers dates back fifty years ago and it began with those three girls whose friendship was tested in the most heartbreaking ways.

This was the second book I read by the author. I felt that the author is skilled at creating realistic Southern characters but it feels to me that her main female characters are always unlikeable. I didn’t care for Larkin’s storyline as much because I found her to be annoying. She was rude and assumed the worst of her best friends without any reason but she gave the benefit of the doubt to a guy who was constantly rude and mean to her. Larkin was dismissive when her childhood friends were trying to make amends or hang out but willingly hung out with a guy who was demeaning to her on multiple occasions. I didn’t understand why her friends were so loyal and understanding to Larkin when she wasn’t very nice to them in turn. Larkin acted like the entire world revolved around her and didn’t really care about anyone else’s feelings and she kept acting like “woe is me”.

The book was told from alternating points of view and timelines. I found it difficult to keep track of the different characters because there were so many and each one was related to each other. I felt that Ivy’s chapters didn’t add much to the story. In the majority of her chapters, she spent time trying to figure out what is keeping her attached to Earth, or she was pining for her dead boyfriend, Ellis. I felt like the chapters would have a bigger impact if we got more details about their relationship.

I didn’t like that the characters refused to share information with each other until Ivy woke up from her coma or there was another interruption that caused the delay. I felt that  caused the story to drag on longer than necessary. The book was slow moving with pages of nothing happening. Aside from the annoying main character and the predictable twists, I found the book to be an okay read. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Book Review - Starting Over on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills

 

 


 

Starting Over on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills is about a single mom who made a split second decision to hook up with her best friend one night, and that decision ended up changing both of their lives. 

Rebecca (Becca) Hayes has been so focused on raising her daughter, Sofia, and furthering her finance career that she feels her life is missing companionship. She decides that she wants to start dating again but she isn’t sure how to go about it. She hasn’t been on a date since her daughter was born a few years ago. She hasn’t talked to a romantic partner in a while either and she is afraid of embarrassing herself on a date. 

The only man she has been talking to or is close with is her best friend, Jackson Lowe. Becca knows that Jackson is objectively very attractive but she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. She has always put her feelings for him on the back burner. Until one day, she asks Jackson to help her get back into the dating game. One thing led to another and the pair ended up spending the night together. A few weeks later, Becca realizes that she is pregnant with Jackon’s baby. She knows she was able to count on him before but she doesn’t know if he is mature enough to be a father.

Jackson isn’t sure what he wants to do in life. He certainly wasn’t ready to be a father. He thought he was going to spend his days working as team lead at his family’s landscaping business and spend his free time surfing while being a bachelor. However, for years he has been secretly in love with Becca but he felt that he wasn’t good enough for her. She was also the real reason why he never settled down with anyone else. He felt that no one could compare to her.

After finding out that Becca is pregnant, Jackson realizes that he wants to have a life with Becca. He wants to have a family and grow old with her. Jackson knows he will need to put in the work if he wants to become the father and man Becca needs him to be.

The book was a quick and cozy romantic read. There was some mention of adult themes but the love scenes were behind closed doors. I thought the book was an okay read. I wish the author had given more details about how the main characters’ relationship had changed after spending the night together. It was like they talked about it and the story mentioned the time spent but that was about it. I wanted to know: how did they feel after the night together? Was it something they wished happened sooner?

I didn’t really understand why Becca was being so hard on Jackson. He was a single adult that had no responsibilities. If he wanted to spend his day on a job that was relatively stress free and enjoyable to him so he can spend his free time surfing, why was it a big deal for her? When he found that she was pregnant, he continued trying to be present for her and her daughter, though Becca said she was surprised at how much she could rely on him throughout the book. The book spends so much time going over the same thing about Jackson not being responsible enough and the last few pages is their blowup argument that just seemed like a token conflict scene before the book ends.

Another thing that confused me was that Jackson seemed very considerate of Becca’s feelings. He would try to arrive early to drive her to events because she didn’t like driving long distances by herself. He would also babysit her daughter when she had to do something. He seemed to get along with kids and enjoyed playing with them. I felt like Becca judged him for not being mature without realizing he never had the reason to be that way and when he did step up or try to, she had her own preconceived notions that were hard to get past.

I also didn’t see why Jackson was so loyal to Becca. He bent over backwards and consistently tried to better himself to be a good partner to her. When he was asking for support for something he was passionate about and did try to put in the work (but mentioned that he had some details to iron out), Becca immediately dismissed him. It just didn’t seem like they weren’t on fair or equal ground when it came to emotionally supporting each other. 

Another aspect of the story that gave me pause was that I felt like all of Becca’s and Jackson’s friends all had kids. They failed to remember that if you are not a parent or caregiver for a child, you might not know or have all the parenting skills that they seem to think that everyone needs to have to be a parent. 

The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. If you like straightforward romance novels, then you would enjoy reading this book.

 

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Book Review - Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen

 

 


 

Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen is the final book in the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted trilogy. Tabitha Brown gives birth to a beautiful baby girl after being told in the previous book that she might not be able to have biological children. She is trying to juggle the demands of being a new parent, the needs of a newborn baby, her friends, her job, and her love life.

After experiencing a stressful year, Tabitha decides that this would be her year to achieve her goals and obtain the life she had always wanted. She plans on getting her career, home, and love life in order. Except, the demands of motherhood are draining and Tabitha feels that she barely has time nor energy to do anything.

Tabitha loves her daughter and finds motherhood fulfilling but she wants more from her life. When her beloved coworker mentions that she is planning to retire from the news studio, Tabitha is worried that she might return from maternity leave to a hostile work environment. Just before Tabitha takes her leave, she basically sets all of her ships on fire by going against the wishes of her producer. When she hears news that the station is planning to hire an outside candidate to fill her friend’s role, Tabby is afraid that she might lose her chance to the weekday anchor position that she has worked so hard for.  Tabitha is worried that she might also lose or not maintain her current position of the weekend anchor.  

She normally turns to her friends for support but they seem to be having their own issues to deal with and her relationship with her friends have been frayed since she became a mother. Alexis, her best friend, is still struggling with her marriage with her cheating husband, Rob. Her other friend, Laila, is trying to launch her own business after being fired from her last job.

Her relationship with Marc has also hit a standstill. She isn’t sure what she wants from their relationship anymore. In the previous books, she wanted to get married and settle down with him and start a family. After Marc gives her an ultimatum about their current relationship, she isn’t sure what she wants to do. To make matters worse, his overbearing and controlling mother comes to visit and has something to say about everything, including her ability to mother her daughter.

Tabitha is trying to navigate her life but finds herself failing in every aspect. She feels lonely and isolated from her family especially right now when she needs them the most. Tabitha knows that her friends and family will help her if she asks for it, but will Tabitha finally put herself first and ask for help?

I read the second book in the series and I was able to follow along with the story. However, I feel that the books should be read in order as it will help illuminate character nuances, relationships, and side story lines. This book addresses the cliffhangers that were left hanging from the previous book and wraps up most of the pending problems in the end.

I felt that the book didn’t flow as smoothly as the previous book in the series and was choppy in some places. I felt that this book was missing something, like the spark the previous book had.  The ending made me feel that Tabby still doesn’t know what she wants from Marc and her relationship with him.  The ending of the series felt underwhelming as I was expecting a lot more to happen but it didn’t. If you liked the other two books in the series then you might enjoy this book.

 

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Book Review - The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

 

A group of new moms whose babies were born in the same month decide to form a group called the May Mothers. They meet twice a week in Prospect Park to connect. One day, they decide to meet for drinks at a neighborhood bar for a break. It starts off as a fun night until, one of the babies is taken from his crib while his mother is at the bar.

Winnie is a single mom and she was reluctant to leave her six week old son, Midas, with a babysitter.  But, the other May Mothers were insistent that Winnie join them for a fun night out. They hired a babysitter for Winnie to enjoy herself and told her that everything will be okay. Except now, Midas is missing and there are no leads.

The book started off strong then slowly trudged along at a more confusing and slower pace. I felt that the author moved back and forth between the May Mothers' point of views too many times that it got confusing. I had hard time keep tracking of each person and their own backstory and secrets. I felt like the ending was a jumbled mess. It unraveled so quickly that it didn't seem realistic. The person behind the kidnapping was shown one way and then when they were confronted, madness just took over. I am on the fence on whether or not that was completely believable.  The author did sprinkle some evidence pointing to this person but, it was minor details that was easy to gloss over.



Thursday, May 12, 2022

Book Review - Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen

 


Tabitha Walker is thrown into a head-spin when she finds out she is pregnant after being told she might not be able to have biological children. She devotes herself to becoming a "single mother by choice". She is exhausted from going to doctor's appointments, her job, and preparing for the baby. And that's before her boss at the new station started receiving complaints from viewers about her natural hair.

After an unexpected turn of events, her on and off again ex-boyfriend, Marc, makes an entry back into her world with surprising demands. When the situation at work escalates and her livelihood and her identity is threaten, Tabitha needs to make some tough decisions for her and her baby’s future. Tabitha knows it takes a village to raise a child and turns to the women who have been there for her.  Will Tabitha be able to harness the energy from her village to help maintain order in her life?

This was the second book in the series but, it can be read as a standalone. I thought it was an entertaining read but, a few times there were some "eye-rolling" moments.I felt the ending was also a bit abrupt and felt rushed. I feel like the author left it open for a third novel but, I wasn't interested in the series to continue reading as some of the characters felt flat. Overall, it was a quick read with interesting topics but, not much story.

Monday, November 15, 2021

Book Review - Hush Little Baby by R.H. Herron

 

Jillian Marsh has been a survivor her entire life. She escaped her toxic upbringing from her religious mother as a teenager and then she hit rock bottom in her twenties because of alcoholism. She has gotten her life together after getting sober and building a successful marriage and medical career. However, she is struggling to make amends for her past mistakes during her drinking days.

A decade later, things are going down hill for Jillian. Her wife, Rochelle, has cheated and left her for someone else while Jillian is pregnant with Rochelle’s biological child. Jillian feels unsettled being alone at home especially, when weird things are happening. Even the members of her mommies-to-be group are no longer offering the solace it once was especially, when secrets are being unraveled.

As missing items starts turning into threats, Jillian starts to question everyone around her. She is afraid that someone close to her wants to hurt her. The only thing Jillian knows for sure is that she is willing to do anything to protect her baby.

I thought the book was an okay read. The book was a bit slow but, the ending was a whirlwind and made it hard to seem believable. There wasn't anything in this book that set it apart from other book with similar premises. I would be opened to reading other books by the author but, I wouldn't be going out of my way to read them.


Monday, September 6, 2021

Book Review - The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter


 

Delta Dawn spends most of her day photographing the perfect lives of the wealthy people in NYC. She has a special gift of transforming stiff hugs and tear-stained faces into ones of joy during parties. When Delta is invited to Natalie Straub's eleventh birthday party, she finds herself yearning to be a part of the family instead of an outsider. She wants to be includes in the family's daily lives.

Delta decides that she will find a way to make herself a part of the family. She offers to babysit for Natalie while befriending Amelia. She also tries to offer emotional support to Fritz so, she can be ingrained in every aspect of the family's life. Soon she finds herself a fixture at the home and they soon realizes photos are not the only thing Delta is good at manipulating.

The novel is a claustrophobic read and it made me second guess every single person I have invited into my life. I had a hard time believe that no one called Delta out on behavior but, from the looks of it she probably doesn't have much friends. The ending left me wanting more though because it felt rushed and incomplete.

 

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Book Review - The New Girl by Harriet Walker

 


Margot Jones is the fashion editor at a famous fashion magazine. She is pregnant with her first child. Margot's life is the envy of other women. She has a successful career, a beautiful home, gorgeous clothes, and a doting husband.

Maggie is a freelance journalist and is envious of Margot. She wishes that she can have Margot's life. When Margot offers Maggie the temp job of covering Margot's maternity leave, Maggie is excited. She knows the job is only for a few months but, she can't help but want more.

When Margot gives birth, her oldest friend decides to end their friendship. This causes her to feel insecure and suspicious of everyone. Margot eyes everything with paranoia especially, when an online troll starts a vicious attack on her. Margot's perfect facade starts to break and it might expose a dark secret she spent years keeping.

I thought this book was going to be a thriller and it turned out to be a completely pointless book. I honestly don't think this book needed to be published. There was nothing that made this book a thriller because the story line line was two women complaining and comparing each other to themselves. The story kept dragging on to the point where I wanted to throw the book into the trash. The ending was far fetched and seemed silly. The mastermind behind "everything" needed help and to face the consequences of their actions but, it was like they brushed it under the rug.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Book Review - Watch Her (Hester Thursby Mystery #3) by Edwin Hill

 

 


Angela White and her friend, Hester Thursby attends a prestigious gala at Prescott University to celebrate the new lavish campus. During the gala, they are called to the house of the college's owners, Tucker and Jennifer Matson, because there was a break-in. Jennifer claims that someone broke into their home. As Angela and Hester investigate, they realize that Jennifer might be lying about the break-in.   However, they are still curious why Jennifer would lie about the incident.

Hester is asked by Maxine, the general manager of the college, to locate some missing alumni. As Hester begins to dig into the project she notices a strange pattern between the students. The case becomes more urgent when one of the missing students turns up dead. As Hester and Angela delve deeper into the case, they unearth decade old secrets that someone wants to stay buried.

This was my first book of the series. I felt like readers could read this book as a standalone but, I felt like I was missing some nuances between the characters. I thought the book moved at a very slow pace for my liking. Most of the action happened in the last 75 pages and the first few hundred pages were just filler. I am not entirely sure the plot is completely believable either. I had a hard time liking any of the characters and didn't get some of the side stories between Hester and her partner, Morgan. That whole relationship was confusing for me and I am guessing it's because I didn't read the first two books. This book would be a good read for fans of the series or people who like cozy mystery reads.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Monday, December 21, 2020

Book Review - You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce

 


Cassandra Tipp is an infamous and eccentric bestselling novelist. She is known for her vivid imagination.  She is a famous recluse and one day she is gone but, leaves behind a final manuscript.

Everyone in town remembers the events that lead to her infamous trial. She has been acquitted with the insanity defense. Her husband died mysteriously and has never been solved. A few years later, her brother and father died in a murder-suicide.  

In her final manuscript, Cassandra details her life history. She details what happened in the happens and what she believes happened to her husband. However, her story comes with a price.

This novel is an epic waste of time. It took forever to get anywhere and the author filled the book with useless details. I read more than half of the novel but, just lost interest in it. I feel like there was nothing really keeping me tethered to the book and to read more. I tossed this book to the side and started reading something that I actually cared to read.

  **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Book Review - The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

 

 

Immanuelle Moore is living in Bethel where the Prophet's word is the law. Her very existence is blasphemy. Her mother had an affair with an outsider of a different race. For her mother's sins, her entire family was cast out in disgrace. Immanuelle tries to atone for her mother's disgrace by trying to worship the Father and follow all the rules as the other women in the settlement.

Growing up, Immanuelle has heard stories about the Darkwood forest. Settlers are forbidden from entering the forest. The forest is where the first prophet chased and killed four powerful witches. When returning home from the market, an accident occurs which causes Immanuelle to enter the Darkwood forest. She comes across two of the witches and they give her a gift. When Immanuelle opens the gift, she realizes it's her dead mother's journal. She finds out that her mother once sought sanctuary in the woods.

Immanuelle knows that having the journal is forbidden but, she is fascinated with the secrets that are buried in the pages. She is struggling to understand how her mother could go against her faith and conspire with the witches. As she tries to dig deeper into the journal, she learns the truth behind the Church and its history along with the secrets it keeps.

The novel is an interesting read. I thought it was interesting reading the description of the witches. However, I was expecting a bit more from the novel. The secrets that the church has is more about human greed than a secret scandal. I felt like the story followed most storylines about cults where men are fearless leaders and women are stripped of most of their rights. Then one woman will try to stand up to the leaders but, the "faithful followers" will go against her but, she will do the right thing anyway. I was confused by the role of witchcraft. It seems like some of the other "darker-skinned" people worshiped the witches but, the witches seem to be evil people hurt whoever gets in their way. I thought when Immanuelle saw the marks on the witches' faces are similar to the Prophet's wives, the story was going to take a different turn but, it didn't.  The story had potential but, failed to live up to it. Also, can we stop making people who look different especially people of dark skin color villains by the story characters?

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Book Review - South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber + Giveaway




Photo Credit - Amazon

Blue Bishop has a special ability to find things that are lost. In her small town of Buttonwood, Alabama, she has a knack of finding lost objects such as pets, wallets, keys, and occasionally, trouble. One day during her walk, Blue discovers an abandoned newborn baby in the woods, just south of a magical buttonwood tree.

Sarah Grace  Landreneau Fulton is facing a tough decision. She was always taught by her mother to be perfect and do better. Sarah Grace has always tried to do the right thing even if it isn't what her heart wants to do. She fears how her family might react to her secrets.

With the appearance of the baby, both Blue's and Sarah Grace's lives will change forever. Together they will have to learn to fight for what they want in life and who they love. As they begin to live their true selves, they discover secrets that might reveal who they are.

Oh, this book was such a joy to read! The characters were all well developed and I couldn't wait to see if they got their happy ending. I also like that the romance in the novel didn't have a lot of childish back and forth but, characters who display their true feeling. The book was such an emotional rollercoaster, you can feel each of the characters' pain and joy. I can't wait to read other books by the author.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 




Forge Books
Tor/Forge
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Forge Books (July 21, 2020)
Language: English
On Sale: 07/21/2020
ISBN: 9781250198563


Praise for Heather Webber's MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE

"Full of family secrets, undeniable charm and that particular touch of magic so often found in the South, MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE is a heartfelt and redemptive tale of a daughter looking to move forward in the place her mother couldn’t wait to leave behind. Heather Webber creates a town as dynamic and real as her characters—and a story so compelling that it will stay on readers’ minds long after the final page. I savored every word." —Kristy Woodson Harvey, national bestselling author of Slightly South of Simple

"Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is an enchanting gem of a novel, brimming with charming characters, heartwarming connections, old secrets, and a southern setting that makes you want to move there. As refreshing as a glass of blackberry tea, this is truly magical realism at its best!" —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author

"Family, fate, and magic intertwine in this endearing Southern tale of long-held secrets, homemade pie, and building one's future from the remains of the past. A tantalizing, delicious delight, through and through. Heather Webber writes with so much detail and imagination that I’ll be craving some Blackbird Cafe pie—and the comfort that comes with it—for a long time to come." —Kristin Harmel, international bestselling author of The Room on Rue Amélie and The Sweetness of Forgetting


Blue Bishop has a knack for finding lost things. While growing up in charming small-town Buttonwood, Alabama, she's happened across lost wallets, jewelry, pets, her wandering neighbor, and sometimes, trouble. No one is more surprised than Blue, however, when she comes across an abandoned newborn baby in the woods, just south of a very special buttonwood tree.

Sarah Grace Landreneau Fulton is at a crossroads. She has always tried so hard to do the right thing, but her own mother would disown her if she ever learned half of Sarah Grace's secrets.

The unexpected discovery of the newborn baby girl will alter Blue's and Sarah Grace's lives forever. Both women must fight for what they truly want in life and for who they love. In doing so, they uncover long-held secrets that reveal exactly who they really are--and what they're willing to sacrifice in the name of family.


You can purchase South of the Buttonwood Tree at the following Retailers:
        

Photo Content from Heather Webber 

HEATHER WEBBER is the national bestselling author of more than thirty novels--including Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, the Lucy Valentine novels, and the Nina Quinn Mysteries--and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She loves to spend time with her family, read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, watch cooking competition and home improvement shows, crochet, and bake. Heather lives in southwestern Ohio and is hard at work on her next book.
        
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Thursday, June 25, 2020

Book Review - This Little Light by Lori Lansens



Photo Credit - Amazon

Rory Miller and her best friend, Fee, are on the run after a bomb denotes in their elite Christian private school. Their triple-gated California community is filled with born-again Christians and celebrity worshipping while abortions are made illegal. During their American Chastity Ball, young women are dressed in white and make pledges to their fathers that they will remain virgins until they marry. The bomb denotes during the Ball causing the girls to run away and struggle for survival.  Christian zealots and bounty hunters are all hunting for the girls while Roy blogs about their story in real-time, in hopes of leaving the truth on what happened in case they don't make it.

In the span of 48 hours, readers are taken through Rory's and Fee's journey through events and what leads them to run away. I was a bit torn on the book, I didn't quite like any of the characters and felt like it was an overwhelming read (for me). I did feel for Rory who was having a hard time navigating her new reality. I thought the book moved a bit slowly and I wasn't fond of the narrating style. The book was a bit predictable but, the ending was a surprise and very unexpected. This wasn't my most favorite read of the month but, I am still opened to reading more books by the author. If you like dystopian books, then this might be a good book for you.


**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Book Review - The Half Sister by Sandie Jones



Photo Credit - Amazon
Kate and Lauren are sisters who were never really close. They meet for lunch every Sunday at their parents' home. Since, their father passing, their family gathering never really felt the same. However, their lives get turned upside down one day when there is a knock at their door. A young woman named, Jess tells Kate and Lauren that she is their half-sister. She even has the DNA test to prove it. As Kate starts digging into Jess's story, she realizes that they are all hiding secrets.

I have all of the author's novels and have enjoyed them. However, I am stuck between liking this novel and it being "meh". Towards the end of the novel, it seems like one of the characters just breaks and spirals out of control when she seems to have planned things out. The novel was a quick and thrilling read but, I didn't find myself really connecting to any of the characters. The majority of the book was predictable but, it was an entertaining read.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Book Review -The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch + Giveaway



Photo Credit - Amazon

Evan Eldridge never dreamed that he would be a war hero. He thought he would just serve his country in the war against Napolean. When Evan saves the life of a fellow soldier, he is appointed the Earl of Whitelock. He never realized that amount of trouble that would follow his brave actions.

Evan receives the new title along with a crumbling manor house and a stranger for a bride. All Evan wants is his memories from the battlefield. He knows there is something he can't remember because of his wounds. If Evan doesn't remember in time, not only will his marriage be in jeopardy but, someone's life.

The novel was an interesting cozy read with a few surprises thrown in. I felt that the novel moved a bit slowly and the villain gave up too quickly. They portrayed him as someone who will never give up but, he seemed to give up very quickly only to move to another half-brained scheme. I am interested in reading more Marcus in the next novel.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 About the book


Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

About the author


Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Book Review - Don't Turn Around by Jessica Barry

Photo Credit - Amazon

Cait Monaghan and Rebecca McRae are driving together in the middle of the night to a clinic. This is their first time meeting each other. As they drive together through desolate roads, they both realize they have secrets to protect. Secrets that might endanger both of them.

When a truck starts following them, they assume it's teenagers pranking them or someone with road rage. It shortly becomes clear that the person driving the truck is actually hunting them for fun and they are out for blood. 

As they continue to drive, the ride keeps getting more dangerous. The secrets they kept buried in the past are out to haunt them. Someone wants one of them and is willing to stop at nothing to get what they want. With the secrets they have, it could be anyone wanting to hurt them. If they want to get out alive, Cait and Rebecca will have to start trusting each other before it's too late.

The first half of the novel kept me intrigued and full of suspense. At first, I liked that alternating characters but, after a while, it got annoying because some of the characters didn't really play a part in the mystery. I am assuming the author did that for the reader to guess who the mysterious person behind the wheel was. The ending was a bit disappointing for me because it felt abrupt and it wasn't what I was expecting. However, I still found the book to be an enjoyable read and look forward to reading other books by the author.


**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Book Review - A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot



Photo Credit - Amazon

After Thea Michener's husband was murdered and her baby stillborn, Thea decided there was nothing left for her in Ladreville. She moves with her friend, Aimee to Cimarron Creek to take the open midwife position. Thea has no interest in remarrying and having more children after her husband and child passed. However, when she arrives in town a Texas Ranger is waiting for her on her doorstep.

On his way to town, Ranger Jackson Guthre finds an abandoned baby and takes the child with him to town.  Since he was investigating Thea, he decides this is the perfect opportunity to get to know her better. Jackson is convinced that her late husband was involved in the robbery that killed his brother. As Jackson befriends Thea, he realizes the situation is more complicated than he could imagine. He realizes he will need Thea's help if he wants to catch the criminals behind his brother's murder.

This was my first time reading anything by the author and I found the book to be an enjoyable read. I didn't read the other books in the series and I was still able to follow along with the story.  I enjoyed the mystery elements in the book as it added depth to the novel. I feel like a lot of romance novels just have a bit of back and forth with the main characters without any actual story or character development. The only thing I didn't like or found realistic is that right off the bat, Jackson knew that Thea was innocent. Part of me hoped that she was at least involved the robbery to add in some more drama. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading more by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Monday, April 6, 2020

Book Review - The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones


Photo Credit - Amazon

The novel follows four Native American men after a dark event from their childhood. An entity is bent on getting revenge because of the incident causing the men to struggle and worry about their lives. The four friends are not involved in following their culture and traditions causing them to be placed in the entity's crosshairs.

I love horror novels and I was looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately, I just couldn't finish reading it. I finished more than 90% of the book but, I just honestly couldn't be bothered anymore. I found the writing style hard to follow and I had to reread the same sentences multiple times and it still didn't make sense. I found the story to be very slow and I can't say I liked any of the main characters.



**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Book Review - Formula for a Perfect Life by Christy Hayes + Giveaway


Photo Credit - Amazon


College student Kayla Cummings is a hopeless romantic. She has dreams of the perfect life with husband and kids. However, her dreams are dashed after finding out she is pregnant from a one-night stand with her secret crush. Kayla is devasted and unsure of what she needs to do. She turns to her best friends and roommates for advice. The only thing she does know for certain is that she will need to tell the father.

Ben Strickland's future has been written in stone by his parents. He has zero margins for error. He needs to get a decent score on the LSAT since failed the first time. Ben is struggling to juggle his upcoming finals along with his demanding girlfriend Darcy. However, when Kayla shows up on his doorstep claiming to be pregnant, Ben's control on his life begins to further spin out of control.

Ben and Kayla have to work together to figure out how they are going to handle their unplanned pregnancy. Will the be able to forget past hurts and buried secrets to forge a new path together?

The novel is a cozy romantic read. It was a predictable read as there weren't many unexpected surprised or deep dark secrets. There was the usage of adult language that at times felt like a bit much. However, I have been in relationships and heard of stories of women being referred to that way. So, it was a bit realistic. The book would be a good read for fans of cozy heartwarming romantic reads.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**


On Tour with Prism Book Tours
 
Formula for a Perfect Life By Christy Hayes
  
Christian New Adult Contemporary Romance 
Paperback & ebook, 323 Pages
 March 30th 2020

Two practical strangers. One fateful night. Two pink lines.

College senior and obsessive romantic Kayla Cummings' dreams of a storybook life are spun off course by an unplanned pregnancy after a one-night stand with her secret crush. Devastated, Kayla turns to her roommates and best friends for advice. No matter what she decides, no matter how deeply embarrassed, she has to tell the father.

Ben Strickland’s future is written in stone—as long as he gets a decent score on the Law School Admission Test. Feeling pressure from all sides, Ben struggles to juggle his upcoming finals, another shot at the LSAT, and his needy girlfriend Darcy. When the girl he spent a memorable night with weeks ago shows up at his doorstep pregnant, his already chaotic life spins out of control.
With the clock ticking, decisions to make, and a boatload of people to disappoint, Ben and Kayla embark on a journey neither anticipated—a journey where falling in love might be the biggest surprise of all. But when old hurts and buried secrets pose a greater threat to their future than impending parenthood, will Ben and Kayla go their separate ways or forge a new path to happy ever after?

(Affiliate link included.) Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

About the Author
Christy Hayes lives outside Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and dogs. Christy writes Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance, Christian Romance, and Women's Fiction. When not writing, she’s reading, walking dogs, or stalking her college-aged kids on social media.
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
Three winners will receive an ebook of Maybe It's You by Christy Hayes Open internationally Ends April 8, 2020