Review: Before I Fall

Synopsis:

With this stunning debut novel, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver emerged as one of today’s foremost authors of young adult fiction. Like Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why and Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, Before I Fall raises thought-provoking questions about love, death, and how one person’s life can affect so many others.
For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—”Cupid Day”—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.
However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.
Named to numerous state reading lists, this novel was also recognized as a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, The Daily Beast, NPR, and Publishers Weekly. It has been optioned for film by Fox 2000 Pictures.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.

Rating: 4-stars

Review: 

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is a stunning YA novel. Inside, I was immediately sucked into the protagonist’s mind. Everything, she said, did, or felt….felt like I was doing it all. Creepy in a way. This book is packed high with emotions. Anger, loss, love, and sadness. Every page was engaging. Entertaining. The ending was epic. The pacing of this book felt a bit slow. It was mostly a steady pace all the way through it. Lauren Oliver does have a talent for writing. I opened up this title and got lost. Teenagers go through so many dramas and emotions that I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride. Ups and downs…craziness everywhere. Strong, bold, and dramatic. The effect worked. I was hooked. Before I Fall, is a recommended read. Beware you may need a tissue box….

Review: Kamikaze White Noise

Synopsis:

Kamikaze White Noise is a collection of three books by Nicole I. Nesca, The Sexual Repression Collection, Kink and Canned. Though not a formal trilogy, the books were written as companion pieces and follow the themes of sexual freedom, emotional frankness and street-carnival logic, all written with Nicole Nesca’s usual free-flowing sardonic wit. Kamikaze White Noise is prose and poetry that assaults the sense, liberates the mind and celebrates life on the edge like a perfect quarter-mile drag race.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Kamikaze White Noise by Nicole I Nesca is a brilliant collection of poetry. The poems words create a billion emotions swirling in my mind. As I read further, I was pulled deeper into the bold free verse. Unlike anything I’ve read. Each piece had its unique message that branded me. The words flowed easily. Not once did they feel forced nor strained. Exciting. I found many themes hidden in each poem. I loved it. Nicole I Nesca is definitely one poet I would watch for….her poetry is beautiful. Overall, I recommend Kamikaze White Noise to readers worldwide. 

Author Interview with Patricia Gachagan

Author Interview: Patricia Gachagan, Born Together
ULM: What lead you to writing your inspiring memoir, Born Together?

 

I have always been attracted to writing, keeping journals over many years as well as being a fan of the old-fashioned pen and paper letter writing as I travelled and lived abroad. I simply started one day to write down and express my deep feelings about the unexpected journey I had been taken on after giving birth to my son. I always wanted to write a book and before I knew it I had 20,000 words written and realised this was my opportunity as well as my motivation.

 

 

 

ULM: What was the journey like for you as you went through your diagnosis of multiple sclerosis?

 

There was an element that the whole situation was unreal and that surely it couldn’t be Multiple Sclerosis as I had only just had my baby and I was in the throes of adjusting to life as a first-time mum. It was also quite terrifying waking up in a ‘different’ body day by day, with my ability and mobility changing dramatically and I had no control over it. I was consumed by fear at the same time as experiencing joy with my wonderful baby. It was a real juxtaposition of my emotions to contend with.

 

 

 

ULM: What were your first thoughts when informed of your diagnosis?

 

I suppose it was disbelief in amongst the absolute panic as I had found out by accident, on my own with baby Elliot, at a routine doctor’s appointment. Even although I knew MS was the main contender, I was still shocked at the realisation that my worst fear had come true. My panic was not for just for me, but for how little Elliot’s life would be affected by my diagnosis. I was so scared to begin with.

 

 

ULM: How did you feel when writing about your journey in Born Together?

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process of writing Born Together. From the very first sentence, I was hooked. My writing journey unlocked many emotions, from grief and fear in the beginning to finally the relief of accepting my ‘new’ self and abilities. It very much challenged me, but I embraced those challenges fully and seized it as an opportunity to move forward with my new life.

 

 

ULM: Was the writing therapeutic for you?

 

Writing was very therapeutic for me and serendipitously came along at the same time as the counselling sessions I had been referred to by my GP. They very much worked together. They challenged me to the core about how I had been dealing with my diagnosis and all the changes it had brought about in my life. I had to face some hard truths and painfully let go of the ‘old’ me. It was not an easy task, but it was the beginning of a much brighter and more positive future. I am very grateful for my writing journey.

 

 

ULM: How did you find the determination to get through this difficult time for you and your family?

 

That was easier than anything else I had to face physically. Just one look at Elliot, just the thought of my wonderful son with his whole life ahead of him was enough to drive me forward with lethal determination that his life would not be adversely or negatively affected by me having a lifelong diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

 

 

 

ULM: What advice would you give to others going through what you did?

 

To stay positive and learn to accept your new self and the changes to your life. That is part of a process and doesn’t happen overnight, but the sooner it does happen, the better it is for yourself and those around you. There is the need then to adapt to those changes, but to stay very much focussed on what you can do and not hold on to the past and what you can’t do anymore. Try to see it as a new beginning and not an ending and take charge of your own health. I am very pro-active in managing my MS and that has been a defining fact in my new abilities and creating a different quality of life, but still one that is enriched and fulfilling.

 

 

ULM: As a mother of a new-born with a disability, was there anyone you had for moral support? What gave you hope during these struggles?

 

I didn’t then, and still don’t now, see myself as someone with a disability. I see myself as ‘differently’ abled, but able nonetheless. I focus on what I can do and achieve and it is a lot. My husband, Allan, was an amazing support and tower of strength. He still is and he too is very pro-active and determined. My mum and sister have been selflessly committed to supporting me and Elliot and were around a great deal in those early days. Elliot, and the importance of his future, gave me the hope and the belief necessary that I could manage well and turn my life around from a path of ill-health and disability to one of positivity, achievement and ultimately a happy and fulfilled family life.

 

 

ULM: What’s your favourite quote to live by?

 

‘Do ordinary things to live an extraordinary life.’

 

 

 

ULM: Your memoir mentioned a new treatment. Would you recommend it to others?

 

This new and pioneering treatment is called Robo-Physio and is based on a ‘Spinal Approach to Health’. It is a physio therapy device which releases the stiffness in your spine. I have seen good results of this therapy, but it needs to be used on a regular basis to maintain the benefits. It helped very much with my fatigue and ability during the period I tested it, allowing me to be able to move my body better, balance better and walk better at that time. This is a private therapy, but I would certainly suggest people look in to it and consider giving it a try. It is available through Pacla Medical and you can contact them to arrange a free trial. There are no side effects which is a clear bonus and seems to make it worth trying to see if it is suitable for you individually.

 

 

ULM: What are your plans for the future?

 

I plan to continue writing and sharing my positive message as far and as wide as I possibly can. I plan to live as full and enriched a life, with Multiple Sclerosis, as I possibly can. I want to show others that a chronic diagnosis like mine does not have to be the end. We all have to take what we’ve got, whatever that may be, and turn it in to the very best we can.

I have introduced my MS jigsaw to help support individuals with MS and I plan to develop that further with a view to extending self-help ideas for living with MS. My MS jigsaw has many pieces, all of which can help someone with MS manage their symptoms and reach the best quality of life they can.

 

 

ULM: Where can readers find you and your memoir online?

 

Readers can find me at www.patriciagachagan.com for more information and to buy Born Together. It is also available through kindle and at bookstores, such as Waterstones, to order.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Born Together

Synopsis:

Born Together is the inspiring memoir of Patricia Gachagan, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and her determination to overcome the challenges to live a full life and to be a mother to her son, Elliot. When Patricia became pregnant with Elliot, she could not contain her joy and elation at the prospect of starting a family. But within hours of his birth, her body began to deteriorate. Born Together tells of Patricia’s struggle to cope with her declining health and the simultaneous demands of motherhood. 
Eventually, Patricia was diagnosed with MS, and it was put to her that her immune system had attacked itself, in error, following the birth of her baby boy. Patricia took an alternative approach to almost everything and refused to settle for a prognosis of a life of disability and vulnerability. Many doubted her ability to succeed, but her determination to turn her life around was rewarded with a new and pioneering treatment, researched by Medical Research Scotland and part-funded by the Scottish Government Enterprise Scheme. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Born Together by Patricia Gachagan is an inspiration to all. Her journey of determination and strength will amaze everyone who reads this book. It amazed me. Hooked me in fast. A mother’s terrible yet frightening journey of survival. After giving birth, her body was suddenly taken over by a paralyse. Her health kept turning for the worse. I kept thinking that she wasn’t going to make it. That this was going to be the saddest book I’ve read. But Patricia Gachagan held surprises from me. She kept moving forward despite her challenges. Every time I feel like complaining, I’ll always remember this book and consider myself lucky. Overall, I recommend this nonfiction book to readers worldwide. Especially, to mothers out there. 

Review: Wish You Were Here

Synopsis:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers and Swear on This Life comes a novel about a young woman who reunites with a soulful artist after their magical one-night stand…only to be faced with an impossible decision.
Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, floating from interest to interest, job to job, and guy to guy, searching for a spark but never quite finding it. All she knows is that she won’t discover it working as a waitress at a pies-and-fries joint in Los Angeles or living with her fun but aimless best friend in a tiny apartment in the Arts District.
Then Charlotte collides with Adam, a gorgeous and soulful painter who seems just as lost as she feels. Their instant connection turns into a midnight drink…and a whirlwind night of champagne, Chinese food, and the kind of conversation that only happens in romantic comedies. But the next morning, Adam gives Charlotte the cold shoulder, leaving her confused and hurt—and wondering if the few odd moments between them the night before were red flags in disguise.
Months later, Charlotte hasn’t been able to shake Adam, so she decides to find out what happened the morning after their magical night together. This fateful decision rewrites their wild love story, but what Charlotte doesn’t know yet is that the ending has already been written.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino is a stunning read. This novel, shows readers what it’s like to find oneself and where they fit in the world. The main character has had just as many jobs as she’s had boyfriends. Then fate comes shaking her world up…and before she knows it, she’s falling in love. Someone else loves her, but she loves the complete stranger instead. Life can be as cruel as it is kind. Love, chances, loss, and new beginnings are found in this emotionally intense tale. I cried, laughed, and fell in love. These characters made the world seem lighter and fuller. Opportunities comes and go…but some may never leave us. Those will end up being a part of our happily ever afters. Maybe. Wish You Were Here was well-written. I was entertained from the first page. I didn’t know what to expect next. I liked the susprises. Renee Carlino is talented. Overall, I highly recommend this read to women worldwide. 

Review: Ascension of Larks

Synopsis:

When globetrotting photographer Magdalena Henry loses the only man she’s ever loved, she risks her stellar career to care for his widow and young children on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest.
Free-spirited and fiercely independent, Maggie adores her life of travel and adventure. But she has a secret. She can’t let go of her first and only love, renowned architect Marco Firelli, now married to her best friend Lena.
When Marco drowns in a kayaking accident, Maggie rushes to the Firelli family’s summer home on San Juan Island. Once there she discovers that Marco was hiding something that could destroy his family. As fragile, perfectionistic Lena slowly falls apart, Maggie tries to provide stability for Marco and Lena’s three young children.
When Maggie is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete in the world’s most prestigious photography competition, she thinks she’s found the answer to their problems. Then Lena makes a choice with unexpected and devastating consequences, forcing Maggie to grapple with an agonizing decision. Does she sacrifice the golden opportunity of her career or abandon the Firellis just when they need her the most?
Gradually the island begins to work its magic. A century-old ritual to beckon loved ones home offers hope in the midst of sorrow. And a guilt-ridden yet compelling stranger hiding on the island may offer Maggie a second chance at love, but only if she can relinquish the past and move forward to find joy in unexpected places.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Ascension of Larks by Rachel Linden is a captivating read. Talk about an adventure! The main character, Maggie has her hands full. A past lover marries her best friend. From there things get more complicated, messy, and mysterious. When Maggie’s past love dies, she rushes to the aid of his family. Trying to help them out as they move forward in life. But even then, life gets shaken. Maggie is offered a once in a life time event…and the family she’s come to help, is needing her help more than ever. Decisions need to be made and soon. Following Maggie as she grabbed what came her way, was interesting. She’s the kind of woman who deeply cares and does everything possible in her reach. Fate has a way of awarding her…maybe. A possible new love may enter into her complex situation. Rachel Linden’s novel was fast-paced. It held a promising tale. Delivered with excitement, an emotional journey, and believable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ascension of Larks. Loss, love, and new beginnings. 

Review: The Angry Fighter’s Story

Synopsis:

Bullied at a young age, David develops a hot temper and needs an outlet to challenge his aggression into. When he learns about his Uncle’s past, David decides to follow in his footsteps and become a champion fighter, but it won’t be an easy journey. Can David live out his dream?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Angry Fighter’s Story by Bill Vincent is well-written. His novel reminded me of The Karate Kid but at an older age. Just like The Karate kid, David, too was bullied by kids in school. Always coming back injured. Then, David’s life takes a turn for the better. He has an aunt and he discovers about a fighter in his family. The aunt has him trained. Soon, David goes on a new journey. The transformation was great. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece of fiction by Bill Vincent. His main charcater was well-developed. Emotionally entertaining. Engaging to read. Overall, I recommend The Angry Fighter’s Story to all. 

Review: Skyward

Synopsis:

E.R. nurse Ella Majors has seen all the misery that she can handle. Burned-out and unsure of her next step, she accepts the temporary position as caregiver to Marion Henderson, a frightened five-year-old who suffers from juvenile diabetes.
But Ella soon realizes there is more sorrow in the isolated home than the little girl’s illness can account for. Harris Henderson, a single father, seems better able to deal with the wild birds he rehabilitates in his birds-of-prey sanctuary than with his own daughter.
Then something magical begins to happen: the timeless beauty of the South Carolina coast and the majestic grace of the wild birds weave a healing spell on the injured hearts at the sanctuary. But a troubled mother’s unexpected return will test the fragile bonds of trust and new love, and reveal the inherent risks and exhilarating beauty of flying free. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Skyward by Mary Alice Monroe is an enjoyable read. Unlike other women’s fiction novels, this one focused on the bird species. The predators. It was cool learning about them. The story seemed interesting but lacked that deep connection I was expecting. This was my first novel read that was written by Mary Alice Monroe. Her cover intrigued me. The pain explored inside, was believable. The relationship between father and daughter…was realistic. The themes of love, trust, and healing were engaging. I wasn’t familiar with the little girl’s diagnosis but I think the book came out great. Overall, Skyward is a raw and open read. I recommend it to others. 

Review: Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove

Synopsis:
A second chance by the sea?

When Kiki Jackson’s marriage falls to pieces, there’s only one place that she knows she can escape to – her sister’s little guesthouse in Butterfly Cove.
But she’s worried that turning up on bride-to-be Mia’s doorstep, especially with her two adorable children in tow, will spoil her sister’s imminent wedding plans!
Luckily, handsome neighbour Aaron Spenser offers to share his new cottage with Kiki until she’s back on her feet. And as the wedding draws closer, Kiki realises that Butterfly Cove may be offering her little family more than just a new home…
Maybe this is where her new life begins…?
An uplifting and heartwarming read, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett is a delightful and engaging read. I was impressed with the writer’s talent. I laughed so hard and felt sympathy for the main charcater, Kiki. Kiki is a fictional charcater but one that readers like myself can relate to…I never went through some of the things Kiki did but I totally understood the family and relationship issues. Sarah Bennett created a hilarious, sweet, but believable tale. Her plot holds a lot. A divorce in the works, a lying slash cheating husband, kids who were sad, and a broken family. Plus, broken hearts that needed healing. Kiki’ children are the sweetest. My heart instantly melted for them. Then, with her bravery of leaving the abusive relationship behind, I applauded her. She went from being abused to being independent and strong. The transformation was slow but beautiful. Then, there was the handsome stranger working for Kiki’s sister, Aaron. Aaron, instantly let Kiki and her kids live in his cottage. He never met them yet what he did won me over…a blossoming romance on the horizon, a meddling older sweet woman, and a family that might just get mended. Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove has it all. It was an emotional journey I’ll never forget. Overall, I highly recommend Sarah Bennett’s novel to all. 

Review: The Dream Keeper’s Daughter

Synopsis:

An archaeologist discovers her presumed-missing boyfriend is trapped more than a hundred years in the past—a love story that transcends time and place, from the author of the New York Times bestseller The Memory Thief.
Eight years after the unsolved disappearance of her boyfriend Max Adair, archaeologist Isabel Griffin has managed to move on and rebuild her life with her young daughter, Finn, her last tie to Max. But after a series of strange incidents, Isabel begins to wonder if Max might still be alive somewhere, trying to communicate with her. She has no idea that the where isn’t the problem—it’s the when. Max has slipped through time and place, landing on his ancestral family plantation in 1816 Barbados, on the eve of a historic slave uprising. As Isabel searches for answers, Max must figure out not only how to survive the violence to come, but how to get back to his own century, the woman he loves, and the daughter he has only ever met in his dreams. 

Rating: 3.5-stars

Review: 

The Dream Keeper’s Daughter by Emily Colin is an enjoyable fantasy. The pacing is a bit slow at the beginning but otherwise a great read. Time-travel, dreams, and an engaging plot line kept me reading this book. I was intrigued by the archaeologist’s journey to finding answers as well as her boyfriend’s situation. Max Adair is stuck trying to figure his way back home to Isabel Griffin and their daughter. The suspense slightly builds into a climax causing an edge of the seat moment. Romantic, entertaining, and charming. The Dream Keeper’s Daughter is an emotional fascinating tale. I recommend it to others. 

Review: No One But You

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes you to Silver Springs, a picturesque small town in Southern California where even the hardest hearts can learn to love again… 
Struggling to make ends meet after a messy divorce, Sadie Harris is at the end of her tether. Her waitressing gig isn’t enough to pay the bills let alone secure primary custody of her son, Jayden, a battle she refuses to lose. Desperate, she accepts a position assisting Dawson Reed—the same Dawson Reed who recently stood trial for the murder of his adoptive parents. Joining him at his isolated farm seems risky, but Sadie is out of options. 
Dawson has given small town Silver Springs plenty of reasons to be wary, but he’s innocent of the charges against him. He wants to leave his painful past behind and fix up the family farm so he can finally bring his dependent sister home where she belongs. 
As Sadie and Dawson’s professional relationship grows into something undeniably personal, Sadie realizes there’s more to Dawson than the bad boy everyone else sees—he has a good heart, one that might even be worth fighting for.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Brenda Novak is one of my favorite writers. Her work is amazing. Each book has a unique story that grabs my heart. This latest novel, No One But You, is part of a new series. Inside, readers will find that it houses many themes. Ranging from marital problems to domestic violence. Plus, a character has been arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. As readers dig further they’ll find demons everywhere. A town so ready to torture an innocent man, another man who is violent to his wife, and a mother trying to survive…

No One But You pulls at the heart. Sent me on an epic emotional journey. One that I won’t ever forget. The charcaters were believable. As for the plot, it was a bit slow in the begging then sped up as the action took over. Dangerous, intriguing, and a bit sad. Brenda Novak creates another opportunity for readers to explore real world issues in a fictional setting. Brilliant and well-told. I recommend this new novel to all. 

Review: Under a Desert Sky

Synopsis:

There comes a time in life when we find ourselves in the desert place of burning questions. Why? Why me? But even as we shake our fist heavenward, the heart whispers another question. Who? Who are you, God? It is a question of relationship, a question we all murmur in the hardest places. 

Against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, Lynne Hartke asks her own hard questions as cancer arrives like a thief with one goal: to take it all. Hair. The contents of a stomach. A marriage. A life. As her days become a blur of doctors’ appointments, treatments, and surgeries, she wrestles with a tumble of tangled emotions, a shaken faith, and self-doubt. Cancer is now not only threatening her own life, but, in a surprising twist, the lives of both her parents as well. 

Through her raw, lyrical words, Hartke invites fellow sojourners to discover that in life’s hardest places, they are not alone in their fear, they are not foolish to hope, and they are never forgotten by a loving, pursuing God. Never. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Under a Desert Sky by Lynne Hartke is an inspiring memoir of one woman’s journey with cancer. Cancer is the toughest path one finds in life. It takes hold of us, crushing us under its pressure. Sometimes, we feel like we’ve lost the battle and want to give up. However, this book, redefines hope, beauty, and faith in the hardest places. Lynne Hartke’s words grabbed my attention immediately. Her words made me cry and feel that hope never dies. Pain only makes one stronger. Beautifully written by a survivor, who went through it all. Pain, grief, and hope. Overall, I deeply recommend this memoir to all. 

Review: Coping with Death and Destruction

Synopsis:

This is a collection of twelve, high concept, multi-part short stories reflecting on and inspired by the death and transformation of the year 2016. It serves as an elegy for that period of time, submerging into its dark themes of loss, extracting what irreverence and hopefulness it can, and reflecting it through a prism of an eternal universe. Sorted astrologically, the stories sometimes span generations, depicting conflict based around such themes as apocalypse, dreams, aging, dying, ghosts, the afterlife, animals, nature, global politics and pop culture. Location also varies, taking the reader through several American states to North Korea, Africa, the Philippines and beyond – often peppered with heavy doses of Southern Gothic sensibility. Here you can read about religion based on science fiction and fantasy, a 1960’s lounge singer marginalized by the Beatles, or a mixture of drugs that allows the user to summon the dead. Several of the tales blend fact into the fiction, nodding to the cultural giants whose deaths loomed over the year 2016: David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Prince, Carrie Fisher and others. These are detailed and developed stories, intended to instill within the reader a sense of timelessness and a comfort in the notion of infinity. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Coping with Death and Destruction by Arrison Kirby is an epic collection of short stories. Each one has a different plot. Every plot gives off another emotion. One that takes my heart and pulls and tugs until it sets me free. Sad, haunting, and dark. The tales told, captivated my attention with every page. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened this book. However, I am thrilled to have done so. This was a path full of multiple journeys that I won’t be forgetting. There’s a variety of unique characters and stories to suit the taste of readers everywhere. The emotions hit me hard and square. I loved it. Coping with Death and Destruction not only entertained me but left me to feel things…that’s when I knew this was a book I would recommend to all. One fantasy after another can be experienced by each story told. Well-written. 

Review: Goodbye Days

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

What if you could spend one last day with someone you lost?

One day Carver Briggs had it all—three best friends, a supportive family, and a reputation as a talented writer at his high school, Nashville Academy for the Arts.

The next day he lost it all when he sent a simple text to his friend Mars, right before Mars, Eli, and Blake were killed in a car crash.

Now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident, and he’s not the only one. Eli’s twin sister is trying to freeze him out of school with her death-ray stare. And Mars’s father, a powerful judge, is pressuring the district attorney to open a criminal investigation into Carver’s actions.

Luckily, Carver has some unexpected allies: Eli’s girlfriend, the only person to stand by him at school; Dr. Mendez, his new therapist; and Blake’s grandmother, who asks Carver to spend a Goodbye Day with her to share their memories and say a proper goodbye to his friend.

Soon the other families are asking for a Goodbye Day with Carver, but he’s unsure of their motives. Will they all be able to make peace with their losses, or will these Goodbye Days bring Carver one step closer to a complete breakdown or—even worse—prison? (less)

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner is a stunning YA novel. Instantly, the plot dragged me into its depth. Deep, emotional, and troubling. As I read further, I wasn’t sure of what the outcome would be. Intrigue, sheer curiosity, and the intensity of the tale hooked me. Friends, death, loss, and uncertainty are major themes found on every page. The main character, Carver Briggs, has a way of luring me further into his life journey. Blame, angry, and heated moments are sure to follow…overall, Goodbye Days has the effect of breaking me into a million pieces and pulling me back together. That kind of epic adventure is truly one worth reading. I recommend this title by Jeff Zentner to readers worldwide. Whether one is a teen or an adult, the pages will send you falling into the book.

Review: Finding Our Forever

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes readers to the town of Silver Springs, where surprises wait around every corner!
The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch’s owner, that she’s really her daughter? Cora’s not sure she can do that, not unless she’s confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner, Aiyana’s adopted son and ranch manager, that decision becomes even more difficult.
Although Elijah can’t deny his deep attraction to Cora, he’s always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there’s something about the ranch’s newest employee that isn’t exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he’s long been waiting for. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Finding Our Forever by Brenda Novak is the beginning to a new series. Talk about a starter…this novella is packed full of emotional journeys. In this tale, I met a young woman who was adopted. Luckily for her, her adoptive mother and father were good people. That doesn’t happen much for orphans. Yet, Cora lucked out and she’s about to luck out further. Cora is a twenty-eight year old woman who hired an investigation into who her birth mom was and where she could find her. Finally, she has her answers. Little did she know that she would not only met her mom but her future husband, too. I was ecstatic. Neverous, happy, and sad. The intensity of the story kept building up to where it could end badly…I wasn’t sure which way the news would swing. 

Brenda Novak has once more impressed me with her writing. This writer is a pro at coming up with plots that are engaging. From the beginning to end, I was tailing after Cora every second. Left in suspense as to what will happen next and what Cora might decide to do. I was happy to have read this new novella by Brenda Novak. She truly, knows what her readers want and expect. I have read many of her books….and I love them all. There’s always some form of an emotional attachment that has me connecting immediately with the main charcaters. There’s either a dilemma that has me on edge of my seat guessing or a romance that has me hooked. Either way, I’m always left feeling satisfied having read each of her works. Finding Our Forever had a theme of adoption and family. I thought it was brilliant. A believable tale with all its craziness just like the real world brings. Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers worldwide. 

Review: Luxe 2

Synopsis: 

In Luxe Two: A LaLa Land Addiction by New York Times bestselling author Ashley Antoinette, there is only one thing more powerful than anything…the love of the high…
Bleu is addicted…addicted to the luxe life and it has led her down a road of self-destruction. She knows what it feels like to be turned out by the game. With a crack cocaine addiction that she can’t seem to escape, she is desperate for a savior. Her problem is she has two great loves that want to come to her rescue. When her best friend, Noah comes searching for her she is faced with a dilemma. Will she let him save her? Or will she stick with the kingpin, Iman, who has loved her since their first encounter? Or will both men lose her to a love she can’t get rid of…one that abuses her…and one that will be the death of her… 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Luxe 2 by Ashley Antoinette is an urban fiction tale that nailed my attention. Immediately, the main charcater’s life was hitting rock bottom. The life of drugs over taking her. Luckily, Bleu had two men in her life and several friends to help her. One man is a kingpin the other is a best friend who wants to rescue her. But only if Blue lets him. Noah is the man that is good for the main charcater. I can’t say too much without giving away the plot…next, there’s Iman. He loves Bleu but her heart says Noah. Yet he’s still a major part of life in more than one way. Bleu is a strong heroine that will need to make major decisions soon before it’s too late for her. Surprises and plot twists are ahead for readers. I enjoyed reading this African American novel. It portrayed real lives in a fictional sense. Everything was believable. Overall, I recommend Luxe 2 to readers. 

Review: The Significant Other by Nicole Strycharz

Synopsis:

Adam: I swore off men years ago to protect myself. I don’t trust guys. Guys break hearts, they take, and they don’t give like women do. That’s why for the past ten years I’ve entrusted my heart to a tattooed, multi-hair colored, vixen named Trix. Trixie is my safe haven. She doesn’t just back up my voice in our band she backs me in life. 
Sadly, I don’t reciprocate like I should. My phobia of PDA and my over-protectiveness are hard to put up with. It might be because I need more than I let on. More than I would dare to admit to. 
We moved to NY to grow as a band but then I met ‘him’…our boss; a sexy as hell, bad boy with a convict’s past and a talent for breaking men and women’s hearts alike. He’s bad news… An urban beast with too much edge and he’s prowling around my comfort-zone relationship. 
Now I’m not sure who my significant other is… my girl or the man determined to remind me who I really am and what I truly want. 

Trixie: Coming to the city was our ticket to fame. It was me and Adam against the odds of notoriety but since we arrived in the Big Apple, we’ve also been made aware how small our bubble of safe love is. 
I know what my boyfriend probably hasn’t admitted to himself… that I’m not enough for him. We both are just too chicken to do anything about it. 
New York is changing us. The people we meet here, the emotions we face, even our music… and if there is anything you learn from these streets, it’s this… 
Traffic and life, they both wait for no one. You have to go with the flow, ride the current, and keep up the pace. Both Adam’s love and mine is being tested, or it’s about to end. 
Hopefully we can figure it all out. Oh and add that to my list of to do’s like keeping my twin away from a dangerous drug lord, struggling not to fall from a stranger, keeping the band from falling apart and not becoming a bumbling idiot in front of our criminally hot boss. Yeah…criminal…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Significant Other by Nicole Strycharz is another brilliant masterpiece. Striaght and the LGBT community will love this book. Once more, I got another taste of the heart and soul the writer puts into her words. Emotionally, tugging on my heart strings. I cried, I laughed, and I fell in love. Frustrating, stunning, and well-told. The entire tale was nothing but epic. 

Nicole Strycharz created her first novel featuring a gay couple. A man who likes other men. That was until he had his heart broken. Then, he went and fell for Trixie. A female singer. But despite her loving him…something just was missing. Both knew it. Adam just didn’t want to face it and neither did Trixie. Adam is a sexy hot alpha male who easily gets under readers skin, like he did to me. His has a big heart. I noticed that from the beginning. Adam hid himself with Trixie…keeping his heart guarded. Until, they meet their new boss. A boss that is more alpha than Adam, sexy hot too, and has a thing for Adam…

Trixie is a submissive kind of woman. Made her great for Adam. But she wasn’t meant for him. That’s thought love. She knew Adam’s real love and it wasn’t for her. Trixie too, has the biggest heart anyone has read in fiction. Despite her sexy tough looks, lies a sweet engaging woman looking for love. Trixie finds love but it fails…then she has a sister that made me want to hug Trixie. Trixie goes out and beyond for her sister. A sister who will never change…

Overall, The Significant Other is a book I can easily see made into a movie for 18-year-olds and above due to its content. Sex, drugs, and other things. Life is messy, complicated, and unfair. I really enjoyed this novel, because it brought out real life issues that people battle with each day. Believable, intriguing, and well-written. Nicole Strycharz has done it again with her latest piece. I applaud Nicole for her astounding job in creating three-dimensional characters whose stories I’ll never forget. So readers, yes, I highly recommend this talented writer’s book, The Significant Other to all. 

Review: Cozzi Cove (New Beginnings)

Synopsis:

Cozzi Cove, Book 4
Welcome back to the romantic and magical place called Cozzi Cove, seven guest bungalows on the New Jersey Shore.
This summer, Cal and his new husband, Michael, along with sister, Taylor, and her wife, Carla, prepare for the first in the next generation of Cozzis. To add to the action: Cal finds his great-grandfather’s diary, exposing a shocking surprise; Michael and Taylor weigh new job opportunities that could take them far away from Cozzi Cove; red-letter Christian and new houseboy, Billy Dean, gets his wish when meeting Jesus and John at the cove; summer guest, Nijad, can’t decide which sibling he prefers—Annabel or Andrew; and Jonathan, an occult enthusiast, encounters a sexy vampire.
As usual, nothing is as it seems when romance blossoms once again at Cozzi Cove. What secrets, mysteries, and passions lie waiting to unfold? Find out in Book Four of the Cozzi Cove series.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings by Joe Cosentino is the fourth best gay romantic comedy I have read. The entire Cozzi Cove Series is perfect thus far. Each book represents new events, political agendas, sexy characters, and happy endings. Plus, Joe Cosentino has once more added his brand of humor to this book. I can’t decide which book within the series is the best. Because each one is unique and ties together. The writer has a flare for creating the juiciest plots, unexpected twists, and a romance that sizzles with passion. The heat is a amazing…

Inside this latest novel, readers will find out just how close Cal’s family is and how it’s growing. A baby to come. Michael is once again having some sad moments where he feels like an outsider. He Issue of finding a job has him feeling out of sorts. But he and his husband Cal are close. Their romance made me blush. So bold and strong…felt believable. They each compliment the other. Joe Cosentino has sprung an interesting plot with the new title. Of course, the story follows as the title suggests, new beginnings. I loved how the woman carrying Cal’s and Micheal’s baby was while pregnant. Her comments made me laugh so hard. The struggles women go through while carrying a baby for nine months…can be crazy. Then, the interesting set of charcaters add spice and variety to Cozzi Cove. There’s never a boring moment at the Cozzi Cove place. Buzzing with cool people, new budding romances, and more surprises lie ahead. I have read many gay fictional pieces, but none of them have as much life to them as Joe Cosentino’s Cozzi Cove Series and Nicky and Noah Series have. It’s like Joe pours his whole heart, soul, and mind into each character, scene, and plot. I feel an array of emotions from the pages that hit me hard and good. It a book doesn’t provoke an emotional response than it’s not worth reading. I could feel and almost see the charcaters as they went about their lives. Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings is a definite must read. I know with a doubt that readers worldwide will fall in love with this book as much as I have. Overall, I highly recommend it. 

Review: The Memory of You

Synopsis:

Thirteen years ago, Natalie lost a part of herself when her twin sister died. Will traveling back to the family winery finally put the memory to rest, or will it completely destroy her?
When Natalie Mitchell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she’s forced to return to their family-owned winery in Sonoma, something she never intended to do. She’s avoided her grandparents’ sprawling home and all its memories since the summer her sister died—the awful summer Natalie’s nightmares began. But the winery is failing, and Natalie’s father wants her to shut it down. As the majority shareholder, she has the power to do so.
And Natalie never says no to her father.
Tanner Collins, the vintner on Maoilios, is trying to salvage a bad season and put the Mitchell family’s winery back in business. When Natalie Mitchell shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed. Natalie intends to close the gates, unless he can convince her otherwise. But the Natalie he remembers from childhood is long gone, and he’s not so sure he likes the woman she’s become. Still, the haunted look she wears hints at secrets he wants to unearth. He soon discovers that on the night her sister died, the real Natalie died too. And Tanner must do whatever it takes to resurrect her.
But finding freedom from the past means facing it.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Memory of You by Catherine West is a haunting read. One that breaks my heart. Losing a sister is like losing half of oneself. Readers can easily relate to the main character’s pain. Now, that same character has to return home. It is there that I followed Natalie Mitchell to where she grew up…her grandfather needs her. Despite all the dark and nightmarish memories of what home brings to Natalie she still makes her way back there. I loved that about the main character. She was brave and loyal. My heart tore at her pain as the story continued. Mesmerizing and engaging to read.

The Memory of You takes readers to California. There I got to visit a family owned winery. That’s the full focus of Natalie’s pain. Loss, grief, and heartbroken. Complex, intriguing, and entertaining. This was the first novel I have read by Catherine West. I definitely recommend it to readers worldwide. Adventure, family, and an emotional journey waiting to be read by all. 

Review: Follow Me Back

Synopsis:

Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts Follow Me Back is the first book of a new duology. Written for the online generation this thriller will keep you guessing right up to the shocking end.

Tessa Hart’s world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape is the online fandom for pop sensation Eric Thorn. When he tweets to his fans, it’s like his speaking directly to her…

Eric Thorn is frightened by his obsessive fans. They take their devotion way too far. It doesn’t help that his PR team keeps posting to encourage their fantasies.

When a fellow pop star is murder at the hands of a fan, Eric knows he has to do something to shatter his online image fast—like take down one of his top Twitter followers. But Eric’s plan to troll @TessaHeartsEric unexpectedly evolves into an online relationship deeper than either could have imagined. And when the two arrange to meet IRL, what should have made for the world’s best episode of Catfish takes a deadly turn…

Rating: 3-stars

Review: 

Follow Me Back by A. V. Geiger is an intriguing YA read. Dark, sinister, and crazy. There’s a few moments of sweetness by both characters. But their actions are spontaneous. Readers won’t know what to expect especially towards the end. So, there’s this popular guy who wants to escape his current life and then there’s this girl who suffered greatly. She puts her energy into writing about the popular guy, Eric. Tessa seems normal but she’s really not what readers think she is. Major plot twists are everywhere. Surprises are found throughout this read. 

I love being in suspense and being kept on my toes at all times but this novel left me more confused than anything. These two characters communicate via Twitter. Eric falls for Tessa whom he has never met before…and Tessa is obsessed with him. Eric has a fear he’ll be next in line for death…and that to me seemed like a foreshadowing insight. Because the unexpected and totally not fully played out ending was an outcome of his greatest fear. 

At first, I was like, wait did she really kill him or injure him enough that he’s almost dead but still alive…but I guess someone has died at this horrible ending. One moment they’re in the car talking, Eric loves Tessa, but she pushes him away. Then out of nowhere she’s like, okay,  come on in with me, everything is okay. The next scene…the ending was shocking and cut too short. However, many have found this perfect. I have never read a novel where I was so confused…and this book, Follow Me Back did just that. Other than that, I think the plot sounds great, just needs to be rewritten. Has a promising ring to it. Overall, I was disappointed…as a reader. 

Review: The Dangerous Billionaire

Synopsis:

Money doesn’t always change the man in this new standalone romance from Jackie Ashenden.
Navy SEAL Sullivan “Van” Tate has been called home to reluctantly inherit an empire and finds himself facing the most difficult mission of all: love.
“Sinfully sexy.”–Opal Carew on Mine to Take
Nothing about Sullivan “Van” Tate is what it seems. A Navy SEAL raised among the New York City elite, Van prefers heart-pounding action over a Wall Street corner office. But when his adoptive father dies and his business rivals move in to overtake his empire, Van must suit up to save the company and protect the one woman most forbidden to him…and the object of Van’s most dangerous desires.
Chloe Tate is as ambitious as she is gorgeous. With a newfound independence, Chloe is no longer a prisoner on her father’s ranch. But everything changes when losing her father may also mean losing her life. Even with her survival on the line, Chloe can’t deny the burning attraction she feels the moment she locks eyes with Van, her rich, rough and ready, foster brother and the new head of her father’s company. Tall, dark, and muscled, he’s the one man who she has no business being with. But how can she resist a Navy Seal Warrior when he’ll do anything to protect her?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Dangerous Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden was brilliant. A family torn apart by a dead father’s secrets. A man who couldn’t have kids adopted and accepted four children to raise as his own. His heirs. The father is a rich man who made his money from oil. After his death he wrote a will. Stating that his eldest adoptiveson, Van Tate, is the sole heir of both the Tate oil company and the ranch. But there lies the problem…the ranch was to go to the youngest. Chloe Tate was told by her father that’s she would inherit the ranch. However, he’s dead now, and he left behind more problems than promises kept. 

Chloe is called out to New York by Tate. She soon learns that he has inherited everything…including the family ranch. Chloe is frustrated at how Tate makes her feel. Tate, too, has deep feelings for his adoptive sister, Chloe. They both try to push the feelings away. But neither succeed and now, the stakes are high as well as the danger. Secrets…Chloe and Tate both find out her real parentage. Shock isn’t the only emotional released after the news. The emotional journey from beginning to end was intense. Powerfully written and engaging in every way possible. Tate soon becomes exactly as the title suggests, The Dangerous Billionaire. Jackie Ashenden has thoroughly impressed me with her applause male heroes and stubborn heroine. The plot twists were unexpected but very good. Enticing, hot, and sweet. I loved reading this contemporary romance novel. Overall, I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Pillowtalk

Synopsis:

In this heartfelt romance from the author of the All About Love series, two people who thought they’d given up on passion turn to each other for emotional support—and maybe something a little more physical.

 

Kennedy Walters has had a tough year. Now she’s come to the lakeside town of Lyra Valley to finally say goodbye to the memory of her first love. But while she’s staying at his sister’s B&B, Kennedy is shocked to find herself undeniably drawn to a handsome local heartthrob—especially since she isn’t sure if she’s ready to move on.

 

Aaron Sheppard returned to Lyra Valley because he was fed up with the big city and everything it didn’t have to offer—like the beautiful, down-to-earth girl staying at the B&B. Aaron’s enjoying a little flirtation until he realizes that she’s Kennedy Walters, the girl who was dating his best friend. But after a power outage strands them together, Aaron and Kennedy wind up sharing some intimate conversation. And over the course of a night that neither will ever forget, they learn just how compatible they could be—if only they knew how to let go and fall into each other’s arms.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Pillowtalk by Cassie Mae is a beautifully told romance. A young woman deeply in love with a man ends up losing him…he was a man who didn’t believe in marriage yet even until the end he didn’t want to let go of Kennedy. He loved her. She loved him so much. A year after losing her first love, readers follow her back to a small-town. The small-town her love was from…to spread his ashes. From loss to sorrow, then to love and happiness…I was instantly impressed with Cassie Mae’s writing. Her charcaters carried a heavy burden, a load that weighed them down from moving forward. Kennedy would hold the silver canister filled with her love’s ashes. She proved to be a strong character. Aaron was strong too. He felt like he wasn’t a good man and that he didn’t deserve love. Then, Kennedy comes and instantly something about her fills him with joy. But first they both need to let go, and love again. Pillowtalk is a heartfelt, sweet, and sexy tale. I couldn’t stop reading it. The plot was engaging and the characters were believable. Their pain was easy to relate to as well as understand. I can see this novel being a big screen picture. Beware, readers will cry just as much as they laugh when following Cassie Mae’s latest story. Overall, I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Some Small Magic

Synopsis:

She whispers, “I’m supposed to take you home.”
“Not yet,” Abel says. “Please, just not yet.”
All Abel wants is a little bit of magic in his life. Enough money so his mom doesn’t cry at night. Healing for his broken body. And maybe a few answers about his past.
When Abel discovers letters to him from the dad he believed dead, he wonders if magic has come to the hills of Mattingly, Virginia, after all. But not everything is as it seems.
With a lot of questions and a little bit of hope, Abel decides to run away to find the truth. But danger follows him from the moment he jumps his first boxcar, forcing Abel to rely upon his simpleminded friend Willie—a man wanted for murder who knows more about truth than most—and a beautiful young woman who was already on the train. 
From Appalachia to the Tennessee wilds and through the Carolina mountains, the name of a single small town beckons: Fairhope. That is where Abel believes his magic lays. But will it be the sort that will bring a broken boy healing? And is that the magic that will one day lead him home? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Some Small Magic by Billy Coffey is a heart breaking read. I wanted to cry and hug the characters. I felt the need to help, sympathize, and care. The entire read was an emotionally deep story. One that takes readers into its core and never lets go. Captivating, well-written, and stunning. Each character had an issue that pulled at my heart. I would love to see this book on the big screens everywhere. 

Billy Coffey has a talent for providing a fictional world that drags readers instantly inside and change everything they feel. A mother who is single and ones what she cans for her and her son.  A son who has a condition that makes readers like myself connect immediately with him. Then there’s others with other conditions that are just as sad. Some Some Magic is about a boy looking for the magic he believes exists. It’s up to readers to find out if he finds it or not. Once I picked up this book and read it, there was no returning from the tragic tale. Brilliantly woven for readers’ entertainment…Some Small Magic is a must read for all. I highly recommend it. 

Review: Love’s Dark Door

Synopsis:

Charlotte is going through the normal difficulties that follow graduation from college: finding a life of her own and a place to work. It is complicated even more when her parents tell her they are going to get a divorce. The divorce makes Charlotte feel depressed, and it seems as though no one can help her at all… until she meets Lane.

Rating: 4-stars

Review: 

Love’s Dark Door by Julia Bailey is a contemporary romance that is easy to relate to as well as understand. The character’s situation is one that can happen to anyone. Coming home from college, Charlotte finds her parents fighting. They are getting a divorce. That puts pressure on Charlotte. She thoughtby coming home, she could fix their situation. But she soon realizes that she can’t. She soon applies for an interview…and her dad just barely gives her the time of day. Then, upon the interview she reacted in a way that most people wouldn’t for fear of losing a job. But considering the stress she was under it felt right. From there Charlotte gets more than she thought she would. Love’s Dark Door is complicated, messy, and emotional. The ending felt a little cut off…like it was too short or neededa bit more before ending…other than that the book was great. Charlotte goes through a rollercoaster ride as her life changes from negative to positive to negative again. 

Review: Coping with Ash

 

 

Synopsis:

Ashton Taylor was a hypochondriac—justifiably so—with multiple and sometimes self-diagnosed issues that turned him into a bit of a misfortune teller. Always knowing he would die young-ish, and anticipating what would otherwise have been an unorganized and messy affair for others, he had thoughtfully left behind a step-by-step post-mortem plan. Choreographing circumstances and conveyors, Ash had arranged for his cremains to be distributed to the places he cherished in this world, by the people who meant the most to him—especially his patient and tolerant partner of the past twenty years, Rich Dreadfulwater.

Rich, who is known by his family as Limping Rabbit, on account of a childhood tumble from a moving pickup truck, is a Seattle-based Native American defense lawyer suddenly grappling with grief, his caseload, and the task of divvying up the four pounds of his ash-rendered boyfriend into nineteen pre-labeled black plastic 35mm film canisters.
Struggling with everything he’s lost, he finds himself coping with a whole lot more than his partner’s ashes. In honoring the final wishes of the man he never imagined he could live without, the mourning lawyer embarks on a quest to find his Inner Indian … and the destiny that has always been his birthright to seize.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Coping with Ash by Michael Scott Curnes is a sad and emotional read. It instantly wrapped its way into my heart. Tears felt like spilling. Losing a loved one is never easy. Coping with Ash is a story told by the dead character. His death left his lover in a terrible state. A lover who wasn’t ready to let go. Ashton Taylor died with a wish to be cremated. He wanted his ashes spread out to his favorite places. His lover, Rich Dreadfulwater, is a successful lawyer with Indian roots. Rich was not prepared for the loss of Ashton. In fact, he completely fell apart the day Ashton went in to be cremated. Heart breaking, devastating, and realistic. The journey of one trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. The stages of loss, grief, and anger felt so real. I don’t believe anyone reading this book will not feel saddened by it. I enjoyed reading this novel. Michael Scott Curnes has a talent for sucking readers into his characters’ lives. Overall, I highly recommend Coping with Ash to all.

Review: A Thousand Letters

Synopsis:

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision. 
I’ve spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn’t follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them. 
But now he’s back.
I barely recognize the man he’s become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid. 
Maybe if he’d come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. Maybe if I’d said yes all those years ago, he’d look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance. 
One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey brought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.
*A contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion*

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Wow! Staci Hart knows how to write well. Her story immediately dragged me deeper into the lives of her characters. A Thousand Letters is about an engaging tale of loss, love, and new beginnings. Deeply emotional…readers beware you will cry and fall in love. 

A love so strong that it literally digs into your soul and doesn’t release you until the ending. Epic. I found myself feeling the raw but bold desire radiating off the two main characters. Their sparks are electrifying. Zapping me each time they were near each other. 

Death can do a lot. Elliot has her reasons and so did Wade. But what tears them apart can also bind them. Family life is complex that is can take a toll on who the characters become and how they live their lives. The book almost had a Dear John kind of vibe but more spectacular. Heartfelt, realistic, and a romance that I couldn’t ignore. My heart tore and stretched throughout the piece. Overall, A Thousand Letters is a must read for all. 

Review: Truly Madly Guilty

Synopsis:

Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?

Sam and Clementine have a wonderful, albeit, busy life: they have two little girls, Sam has just started a new dream job, and Clementine, a cellist, is busy preparing for the audition of a lifetime. If there’s anything they can count on, it’s each other.

Clementine and Erika are each other’s oldest friends. A single look between them can convey an entire conversation. But theirs is a complicated relationship, so when Erika mentions a last minute invitation to a barbecue with her neighbors, Tiffany and Vid, Clementine and Sam don’t hesitate. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger than life personalities there will be a welcome respite.

Two months later, it won’t stop raining, and Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: What if we hadn’t gone?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm.

Rating: 4-stars

Review: 

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty is a suspenseful read. Edgy, dark, and gripping. It grabbed me and took me on a journey. The characters’ lives seemed pretty normal until one event that changed everything. Emotions leak out everywhere. The intrigue is so intense that once the wave comes…the relief wasn’t as spectacular. I felt something missing. However, there was humor written inside…and it was good. I haven’t read any of Liane Moriarty’s previous books, so I can’t compare to her normal standards of writing. This book moves slowly, then builds, only to come crashing upon everything readers think might happen. Curiosity is a killer. Overall, Truly Madly Guilty was great. 

Review: Wishes at First Light

Synopsis:

Starting over, one wish at a time… 

Gabriella Chance has devoted her life to helping others overcome traumatic events. Now it’s her turn. Gabby’s come home to Heartache, Tennessee, to finally face her past. She finds solace in an unlikely ally, her high school crush, Clayton Travers. But while Clay wants to be Gabby’s refuge, he’s returned to Heartache to confront his own demons. With so many painful secrets in their past, can they hope to wish for a happy future…together? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Wishes at First Light by Joanne Rock is full of dark moments as well as sweet ones. Immediately, I was drawn into the characters’ lives. Each one has a dark past that sends shivers down my spine. Families that didn’t love them back and the past that’s holding them from moving forward…

Joanne Rock showed me a young woman thinking she was meeting her life crush only to meet a monster who would take advantage. Luckily, she had a friend who came to her rescue. Her brother and his friend went with her leaving behind their only home. Now years later, she returns back home. She is determined to face her past. But to do so, she,it’s also face her crush. I loved how Joanne Rock brought two characters who secretly seem to have fallen for one another only to be separated. Each one can’t love freely u til the past is over…but will it ever be? 

Clay has parents who were not good. He ended up in foster care and his siblings weren’t that lucky. One of them died and Clay feels responsible. He’s working hard to get his siblings together as a family should be. Then, his father is super ill and the love of his life is back in town….life is complicated and messy all over again. 

Wishes at First Light by Joanne Rock is thrilling to read. The plot moves by quickly. Before I knew, I was finished. Compelling, addictive, and heartfelt. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Co-Parent

Synopsis:

Brianna: My life has always been a little ironic. I’m afraid of the dark, and I’m blind. My parents were my world, but they died in 9/11. I wouldn’t mind a relationship but men perceive me as a burden. So it shouldn’t have been a shocker that the guy I fall in ‘like’ with ends up being a top of the line player from the UK. 
It also shouldn’t have shocked me that the guy that was meant to be a sexy fling; just an erotic encounter to reminisce over, left me more than just a memory. He left me with a bump. 
That’s okay, because when life bitch slapped me into being blind, pregnant and single…I just called ‘plot twist’ and carried on. 
Besides, this little surprise in my belly is relying on me to get it all right. 
So do we really need him? 
Gabriel: Party, drink, sex, work, repeat. Sometimes I’ll throw sleep in there. Aside from that the life of a millionaire has brought me everything, but in the night is when I realize I still have nothing. Being a party animal might be frowned upon but it led me to her. 
She’s the most fascinating woman I’ve ever met and her body and flaming hair make me wild. Can’t trust women, though. That’s why I left. Best not to give women power, but now she’s carrying my child. 
Brianna’s unique, though. She doesn’t want my money, she wants my partnership. She wants to ‘co-parent.’ 
What the bloody hell is a man like me supposed to do with a child? I still live like one. 

So here’s my options. 

Persuade her to forget it.

Walk away or Stay. 

But can I stay? Can I be the co-pilot she needs and the father our child deserves?

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Co-Parent by Nicole Strycharz has hit it off the charts for me like everyone of her previous novels. This story, is a heartfelt and deeply emotional read. I couldn’t get enough of these characters. Once more, this superb writer, has deeply kidnapped me inside of her plot. Fast-paced, thrilling, hilarious, and sexy. It’s difficult to put down this book. Once I poen d it up, I could not let it go. Talk about a high that gets you so addicted…that your only thoughts are…got to have more….and that’s how Nicole Strycharz left me. Her characters are literally out of this world. I laughed, cried, and felt every e option known to humans. Plus, I would hug this writer. Every plot, can have similarities to other fabulously good stories I have read in the past, however, Nicole takes her plot to the next level. Imagine hitting a baseball out of the park and your baseball team ends up scoring more than one homerun…well, that’s what happened here. I can’t describe how amazing this romance novel truly is…but I can say it’s the best of the best. Here, inside The Co-Parent, I have meet a blind woman who lost her family, and is smoking hot. Her personality is like a sugar craving you can’t resist…apparently neither could the player…Gabe. Gabe has his flaws, but beneath all of that he’s the man every mother wants for their girl. There’s more to him than beats the eyes. Together they hit it off and create a phenomenal tale. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide. 

Review: Onyx Webb (Book 8)

Synopsis: 

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Eight. (Episodes 22, 23 & 24) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

The timelines – the web – is more tightened than ever. Although the connections are clear, suspense reigns as always.

Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.

The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of your favorite tv series (think: supernatural soap opera like American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Eight: Onyx and Alistar’s grandson Noah grow close as they create a “life” together with exciting new projects. The Mulvaney mansion is crawling with ghosts as a big event looms. Stan Lee continues to make mistakes without consequences, for now. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz have once again, outdid themselves in their latest book. Onyx Webb, book eight, is a closer piece to this stunning yet mysterious series. Onyx Webb is the lead character as always. She is my favorite. I loved where the writers have left me wondering on how Onyx Webb’s life may or may not come together. I love the romance part. But the other parts have a darker and more intense feeling and they too make me happy. I can’t find any reason not to love this book or its series. I have read every book up til this one, and it just lures me deeper into the fictional drama. This enchanting tale is like a soap opera but so addictive. There’s plenty of action and complex situations that will capture audiences from everywhere. Truly, a page turner. Onyx Webb is the best. Realistic characters, real life drama, and emotional rollercoaster rides to keep all entertained. Overall, I highly recommend book 8 as well as the entire series to readers worldwide. 

Review: Here I Am

Synopsis:

In the book of Genesis, when God calls out, “Abraham!” to order him to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham responds, “Here I am.” Later, when Isaac calls out, “My father!” to ask him why there is no animal to slaughter, Abraham responds, “Here I am.”
How do we fulfill our conflicting duties as father, husband, and son; wife and mother; child and adult? Jew and American? How can we claim our own identities when our lives are linked so closely to others’? These are the questions at the heart of Jonathan Safran Foer’s first novel in eleven years–a work of extraordinary scope and heartbreaking intimacy.
Unfolding over four tumultuous weeks in present-day Washington D.C., Here I Am is the story of a fracturing family in a moment of crisis. As Jacob and Julia and their three sons are forced to confront the distances between the lives they think they want and the lives they are living, a catastrophic earthquake sets in motion a spiraling conflict in the Middle East. At stake is the very meaning of home–and the fundamental question of how much life one can bear. 

Showcasing the same high-energy inventiveness, hilarious irreverence, and emotional urgency that readers and critics loved in his earlier work, Here I Am is Foer’s most searching, hard-hitting, and grandly entertaining novel yet. It not only confirms Foer’s stature as a dazzling literary talent but reveals a mature novelist who has fully come into his own as one of the most important writers of his generation.

Rating: 4-stars

Review: 

Here I Am is the first novel that I have read by Jonathan Safran Foer. Jos writing style is completely new to me so, I can’t compare this to his other works. But based on what I have read, this book is worth reading. It shows a dysfunctional Jewish-American family that many can relate to…plus, the characters come off as realistic. I may not understand the full content of what the writer wanted to show me…but I got the gist of it. The plot surrounds a family. Parents with marital problems, frustrated son, and a religious upbringing. The oldest son is the one character that really pulled me into the book. His journey is full of bumps. More bumpier than his parents. He sees, hears, and experiences that he may or may not want to experience. He’s growing up and his view on things are sad, rebellious, and frustrating. I can sympathize with him at times. The novel, Here I Am, is definitely an emotional rollercoaster ride that was believable even if it was hard to follow at times. Definitely different than what I normally read. Overall, it was good. 

Review: Today Will Be Different

Synopsis:

A genius novel from the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, about a day in the life of Eleanor Flood, forced to abandon her small ambitions when she awakes to a strange, new future unfolding. 

Eleanor knows she’s a mess. But today, she will tackle the little things. She will shower and get dressed. She will have her poetry and yoga lessons after dropping off her son, Timby. She won’t swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe. But before she can put her modest plan into action-life happens. Today, it turns out, is the day Timby has decided to fake sick to weasel his way into his mother’s company. It’s also the day Joe has chosen to tell his office-but not Eleanor-that he’s on vacation. Just when it seems like things can’t go more awry, an encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir whose dramatic tale threatens to reveal a buried family secret. 

TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT is a hilarious, heart-filled story about reinvention, sisterhood, and how sometimes it takes facing up to our former selves to truly begin living. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple is an interesting women’s fiction piece. I was instantly curious about the main character’s life. Eleanor has a husband and a son. Both a wife and mother. I got to travel through her daily life sometimes mundane, hilarious, and embarrassing. But it’s life. Maria Semple has caught the realities of life on every page. I felt like the scenes and characters were real rather than just black words on a page. Eleanor  is a character with many flaws. But that’s what makes her great. The plot had its highs and its lows. There were moments I could laugh along or understand what the character was going through…the pacing was okay. The way that the main character constantly fell throughout the tale was were the entertainment was lost on me. There should be a balance and or a climb to her getting better before the ending.  Today Will Be Different is one woman’s life, troubles, and revelations. Overall, it was quirky, different, and good. 

Review: Reaper’s Claim

Synopsis:

In my motorcycle club I’ve earned the name ‘Reaper’ and now I have my claim on Abby Harrison. 

Reaper:

I didn’t know what love was, but I knew what want was, and I wanted Abby. When I walked out of the club and saw her I was stone cold sober. She was quietly beautiful and unlike any other woman I’d had before. But she was the daughter of the president of Satan’s Sons MC and completely out of my reach.

Abby:

Everyone knew The Reaper and how he got his name, so I never expected him to be my salvation when my sisters drunk boyfriend wanted to lay hands on me. I thought my innocence would be lost in that alley, until he showed up and saved me. I know being with Reaper will lead to trouble, but I don’t know if I have the strength to stay away. 
Being together might be dangerous, but outlaws are meant to break the rules. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Reaper’s Claim by Simone Elise is outstanding. It has everything one needs a hot action packed novel. Heat, sexy characters, and an emotional rollercoaster. The family situation is not normal but it works out for Abby and her sister as well as their dad. Being a single parent to raise his kids, he brought them to live in his biker bar. All the bikers know to respect the girls. Abby and her sister are 16-years-old and compete opposites. Abby is the studious good girl type while her sister is outgoing, moving from man to man and sucks at school. All it takes is for one moment outside and Abby meets Reaper, aka Kade. Everyone calls him Reaper. But Abby calls him by his real name. He is the biker son of another biker gang. Yet for some unknown reason fate has spiraled out of control and brought him face-to-face with a blue-eyed angle. Abby. But her age keeps him at bay. However the pull towards her is one he can’t resist. Their attraction and relationship goes up and down…definitely a realistic telling. I felt that the characters were real rather than just fictional. Simone Elise has susprised me with this romantic tale. Hot, raw, and bold. Reaper and Abby are entwined forever. But then something happens and their world falls apart…

Reaper’s Claim is a must read for all. Simone Elise kept me hooked. Every page was engaging. Drama, trouble, and danger…all hanging in the air. Plus, the raw attraction happening with two new couples and the novel takes on an explosive side. I enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read the next book featuring what happens next…the ending was amazing. Overall, I highly recommend this to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Weight of Him

Synopsis:

In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all.

At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food’s colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy’s beloved son Michael takes his own life.

Billy determines to make a difference in Michael’s memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention–his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy’s dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.

Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.

Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review: 

The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan was a heartfelt read. I felt the deep connection to the characters pain. An overweight father stressing over the loss and pain of losing his son. His wife seems to have pulled away from him completely. No touching her for pain of her moving away from his touch. The father is determined to lose weight and make it a memorable thing for his dead son. There are others who have lost someone due to suicide. The father isn’t alone. The tale carries the heavy weight of the dead son on every page. Loss, grief, blame, denial, and then finally admitting the feelings of having lost the child. His wife opens up…his other son is still alive. Life will move forward. Slowly but memory of their son stays with them forever. The loss of a child is something we all can relate to as well as losing a loved one to suicide.  Eating ourselves up for the death of that loved one. Thinking we could have done something different to stop it. Then, the question as to why the son killed himself plagued the father. Why…

The Weight of Him is a steady paced novel. Full of darkness overshadowing a family. They’re struggling with the death of a son and brother. The father’s journey of overcoming the darkness was powerfully told. I enjoyed watching him take on the pain and trying to keep his family together. Death has a way of breaking things. Hearts are broken. Readers take on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Ethel Rohan has masterfully created a realistic telling of the sad reality of life. It’s not always picture perfect not a happily ever after. It’s a scale whose bad days sometimes out weigh the good ones. Overall, I recommend the book to all. 

Review: The Little Teashop of Broken Hearts

Synopsis:
A deliciously charming romance, perfect for fans of Caroline Roberts, Jane Linfoot and Debbie Johnson.

From fairy cakes to first dates!

Maddie Lamington’s dreams are crumbling around her. If she doesn’t come up with a plan to save her little teashop on Sweet Street soon, it might be too late…

So when she sees how the perfect apple crumble brings together her lonely father and faithful customer Birdie, inspiration strikes: she’ll set up a dating night involving all her sweetest bakes.

Luckily, seriously gorgeous Caleb is on hand to help sprinkle a little magic – and a lot of sugar! Could one night of scrumptious first dates fix Maddie’s heartbreak and save her beloved teashop, too?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Little Teashop of Broken Hearts by Jennifer Joyce is a fascinating tale. I highly recommend this novel to all women, everywhere. One young women has had her heart broken. Later on, she finds the courage to open up her own business. The Little Teashop. However, the sales are not going well and she may just lose it all. With the help of friends and family, she creates a baking speed date fundraiser. Couples come to meet other singles and taste her delicious bake goods. Maddie hopes the couples find love and most importantly love her baking. If they love her baking, she may have enough customers to stay open. But then, complications set in…like a man name Caleb. His mom is friends with Maddie’s dad. Lately he’s been helping Maddie with her plan to save her business. He comes up with names that make Maddie want to tease him, but there’s the power of attraction that will make Maddie dizzy. Caleb is a good looking man that she could easily love. Only he doesn’t love her back or so, she overheard him say. That’s fine. She wasn’t looking for love, anyway. Then, fate comes bringing them closer and these two plus, their friends, may find cupid’s arrows after all. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Full of laughter, frustrations, and love. Second chances and new beginnings are found within the plot. Steady but addictive. Overall, I highly recommend this sweet romance to all. 

Review: Surrender to Me

Synopsis:

Jacob:

I’d said my goodbyes to Damien, my ex-lover, two and half years prior and had moved on, or so I thought. Willow, my girlfriend, was the perfect woman, submissive and lover to me and I loved her unconditionally but something was missing in my life. For as much as Willow gave to me, I felt incomplete, undone, and to make matters worse, for the past several months I’d been dreaming of Damien and calling out for him in my sleep. Can I put Damien back in the past where he belongs before Willow gets hurt?
Willow:

I fell in love with Jacob the moment he walked into my coffee shop and we’d been inseparable ever since. But, I knew I wasn’t enough for him, he needed more, he needed something…or someone other than me to be happy and content. I wish I was enough but I know what he truly needs is Damien St. James. Can I give him Damien and still keep him or am I destined to lose the man I love? Will it even matter when my past comes back to haunt me and I may need to go on the run again?
Damien:

I’d chosen my career over Jacob and had regretted it every day since. I thought, believed, that being involved with a man would ruin me. Now, I have a new career and a new understanding of what it means to have loved and lost. I was determined to get Jacob back, the one true love of my life, but then a red haired beauty with big green eyes enters my life and turns it upside down. Will I need to choose between them or can we make a very unconventional, unusual relationship work? 
Disclaimer:

This book contains male on male sex scenes, threesomes, and BDSM components. If you find these subject matters offensive, please consider one of my other works. Thank you for considering Surrender to Me.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

G.J. Cox has brilliantly created another masterpiece. Another adult romance that creates tears, frustration, and lust. I was wowed from the beginning. Instantly, I felt Willow’s pain of not being enough for her man. Then, there was Jacob’s pain of needing his former lover, Damien. Last, Damien who let the man of his life go and now, wants to do everything possible to bring him back. What neither man expected was for the gorgeous redhead woman to walk I to their lives reuni ting them one more time. Willow is sacred of losing her man to another man. Jacob is scared of losing Willow due to his need for Damien. Damien ends up falling for Willow and fears he will have to choose his past lover or her. Drama, danger, and love. Three lives will forever be changed. Both physically and emotionally. Love has the power to heal and to create. Only time will show if these three find a happily ever after. Surrender to Me is a sexual yet raw piece that will find its way deep into the hearts of its readers. Deep, engaging, and beautifully written. However, due to the scenes and adult content inside, I highly recommend it for only adults. Overall, I loved reading this latest romance novel by G.J. Cox. She is truly a talented writer. Surrender to Me is definitely a must read for all. 

Review: Life After

Synopsis:

          Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

     A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest. 

     Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake.  

     In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Life After by Katie Ganshert was amazing. Beautifully told. Her story lasts with me even after reading it. The stunning characters and the emotional plot. Being a survivor is a common story. But being the only survivor out of a dreadful nightmare situation…and the story changes direction. Sad, heartbreaking, and intriguing. I was immediately drawn to the main character. She woke up wanting answers. The pain and rollercoaster ride was one that hooked me. I have never read a tale by Katie Ganshert, but after reading this one, I’m tempted to read her other books. Powerful story. The pages went by quickly. Life After tells the story of one woman surviving a deadly train accident. No one else lived. Only her…it was hard to not want to know more. Curiosity got the best of me. I couldn’t stop reading this Christian/ women’s fictional piece. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: Hometown Cowboy

Synopsis:

NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A COWBOY 

Jessa Mae Love is done with relationships. No matter how tempting he might be, she cannot–will not–fall for a man like Lance Cortez. The outrageously handsome cowboy is practically a living legend in Colorado, as famous for riding bulls as he is for breaking hearts. What would a big-time rodeo star like him see in a small-town veterinarian who wears glasses, rescues animals, and cries when watching rom-coms? Turns out, plenty. 

Raising bulls, riding the circuit, and looking after his ailing father–Lance never stands still for long. Yet Jessa catches his attention, and the more she tries to resist him, the more he wants her. When she agrees to move to the ranch to keep an eye on Lance’s dad, Jessa tells him they have to keep it professional: no flirting, no sweet talk, and definitely no kissing. But with Jessa now living under his roof, that’s easier said than done . . . 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Hometown Cowboy by Sara Richardson is a must read for all. This romantic tale is full of hot sexy cowboys who can make any woman swoon. Their stories come alive with every page. Deep, sad, and emotionally charged. Sara Richardson has created an unforgettable story. Her characters are charming, funny, and believable. Themes of forgiveness, love, and family are represented from beginning to end. I remember just opening the book and before I knew it, I was done. The reading went by fast. I got lost within the lives of the characters. I loved reading it.

Sara Richardson brought a tale about one small-town family. Cowboys. A father was a bull rider. His wife couldn’t handle the pressure of losing him…and knowing her boys wanted to do what their father did…only pushed her further away. One day she left. Never returning. It was that day foreword that the lives of three boys and their father changed dramatically. Secrets kept since childhood come tumbling out…as all four men are reunited under sad circumstances. The oldest son, took over as parent to his younger brothers. It not long until fate comes knocking his world completely upside down and inside out…Jesse Mae Love. A woman who is dumped once more and ready to give up on romance and love. That was…before she got tangled up further into the lives of one family. Especially with the eldest son. Fates are entwined and it’s only a matter of time if they both come out healed or completely destroyed. Hometown Cowboy is definitely Italy a page turner. So much action, drama, and love to lure readers within its depth. Overall, I highly recommend it to all 

Review: Back to Your Love

Synopsis:

An exciting new contemporary romance series from Kianna Alexander featuring successful men and the women they’re determined to win

What would you give for a second chance?

Xavier Whitted has a lot on his plate. As a hardworking businessman, mentor to troubled teens, and aspiring politician in his Southern hometown, the daily demands never let up. A weekend at the beach for his best friend’s wedding is exactly what he needs, especially if it gives him the chance to see the woman he lost ten years ago.

Imani Grant is more beautiful, confident and intelligent than ever, and their connection is still sizzling. But Imani harbors a secret that could destroy both their blossoming careers. She knows she has to keep her distance, but Xavier is determined to win back her heart—consequences be damned.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Back to Your Love by Kianna Alexander is one rollercoaster ride. Epic in every way. Two former lovers are reunited. Brought together at a friend’s wedding. It’s there and then, that both of them will feel the magnetic pull to each other. Their love never ended. It will take everything they have to get over the past and into the future. Kianna Alexander has created a perfect steamy Read with deep emotional attachments. It’s hard not to fall in love with the characters. Their crisis became mine and soon, I was lost within their story. Back to Your Love is all about mistakes, overcoming the past, and second chances. Forgiveness is a huge part of the tale. Impressive writing by this talented writer. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Overall, I recommend it to everyone. 

Review: The Night Mark

Synopsis:

She has nothing to live for in the present, but finds there’s something worth dying for in the past…

From Tiffany Reisz, the international bestselling storyteller behind The Bourbon Thief and The Original Sinners series, comes an enthralling new novel about a woman swept away by the tides who awakens to find herself in 1921, reunited with the husband she’s been mourning for four years. Fans of Kate Morton and Diana Gabaldon will fall in love with the mystery, romance and beauty of an isolated South Carolina lighthouse, where a power greater than love works its magic.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz was superb. It made me cry so hard, I needed a box of tissues. Loss, grief, and love. All of these entangled into one marvelous read. Imagine finding a love that works, then losing a child. Soon afterwards, losing that husband. For Faith, she seems to go about this round of loss again. Only she lets her husband go. Her heart really wasn’t for him. She still longed for her dead husband. He made her laugh so easy. The past consumed her whole. Over took her life. Faith was drowning in her sorrows. One day she decides to divorce and accept a job photographing. Her life soon turns for a different route. Maybe, just this once, she will be happy again…

The Might Mark is stunning. Every page was more intense than the previous. Engaging me to read further. Entertaining in that a modern woman goes to live with a man from the past. A love that swallows her whole. I couldn’t stop reading this book. I finished it within an hour. The plot was so entertaining, I didn’t dare put it down or stop. Tiffany Reisz is indeed a talented writer. She dragged me deep into her world of fiction and I loved every moment. Tears and all. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers worldwide.

Review: The Hope Chest

Synopsis:

The Hope Chest is a deeply emotional novel about three people who have seemingly lost all hope until one woman’s heirloom hope chest is rediscovered in the attic, along with its contents and secrets.

Mattie is a fiercely independent woman battling ALS; Don, her deeply devoted husband is facing a future without his one true love; and Rose, their struggling caregiver, is a young, single mother who feels trapped in her life. With each item that is discovered—including a beloved doll, family dishes, an embroidered apron, and an antique Christmas ornament—the hope chest connects Mattie, Don and Rose to each other and not only helps them find hope again in the face of overwhelming life challenges but also brings new meaning to family.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Once more Viola Shipman has stunned me with her characters. The plot is like a vine. It keeps growing until it has me wrapped itself around me…taking me deep into it’s story. The heart of it, is sad yet beautifully told. Life, love, family and most of all hope. A family passes on the words of hope to their daughter. Later on in her life, she passes it onto her helper and her husband passes it on the the helper’s daughter. The Hope Chest is more than just a title or suggestion. It has meaning. A purpose that draws more life into the lives of others. Viola has sucked me into her main character, Mattie’s life. She’s suffering from ALS. Her hope has vanished. Until the Hope Chest is found and once more the forefront of the tale. Mattie’s suffering brings tears to reader’s eyes. Her husband has to watch as his once strong wife grows weaker each day. So much hope and joy has vanished that it’s intense when Mattie looks at her old home. Remembering her life as it was. But then enter’s a new woman. Rose. She is a helper for those needing extra care. Mattie and her husband need Rose’s help. Don, Mattie’s husband is trying not to cry and trying to breathe. It’s hard for a man to keep strong around his wife. Her life isn’t the same anymore. With Rose, life becomes more joyful. Don once more has hope…even as Mattie is deteriorating. The ending made my heart break and mend with love and hope. Overall, I loved reading this book. Viola Shipman creates a world where readers lose the,selves completely. Getting caught up within the emotions brought on by the scenes on every page. Stunning, well-developed, and the most engaging novel, I have read. Truly, a masterpiece all should read. I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Restless in L.A.

Synopsis:

It was an innocent online flirtation…until it wasn’t…

Alexandra Hoffman thinks she has it all together. She lives with her work-obsessed husband Jason and their three challenging children in upscale Los Angeles. She never meant to “friend” her old boyfriend, Matt Daniels. She hasn’t seen him in twenty years. But as Alex’s fortieth birthday approaches, she finds herself re-connecting with Matt online—and re-reading her college journal, which details their intense connection and unresolved ending. But Alex’s hands are full with the kids, one of whom she just can’t help, no matter how hard she tries.

Lonely and alienated by the helicopter moms, and from Jason who is never around, Alex’s flirtation quickly moves from on-line to real-world. Alex realizes—too late—that she cannot trust herself. When she meets Matt for dinner, the attraction is undeniable. And when he touches her face, it’s electric. As her life spirals out of control, she clings to her free-spirited life coach, Lark, to make sense of the mess she’s made. But Lark’s advice is clear: Alex must confront her past and find the courage to face her future, even if it means risking everything.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Restless in L.A. by Robin Finn is a must read for all womne. It instantly took me deep into a married woman’s life. Complicated, complex, and adventurous. A full-time mom, battling the struggles of her marriage and children. One of her children has a lot of symptoms that make it hard for him to fit in within a normal classroom setting. His behavior and learning needs are hard. His school isn’t helping him and Alex knows it. Her son needs more. Something different. Alex tries to tell her husband but he doesn’t agree. It’s like a constant battle between them. Tense, messy, and unraveling. Just in case, Alex didn’t have enough to juggle in her life…there’s a photo of her old lover. A man who made her heart race and feel on fire. She ends up making a lot of mistakes, but she needs to really find herself. Life happens…and it can be both bad and good. Restless in L.A. is a contemporary romance that explores a restless married woman’s life. Funny, sad, sexy, and frustrating. Robin Finn writes extremely well. The first few pages were slow, but the plot build up quickly after that. I was hooked. This story was believable. Robin Finn captured real life in her novel. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere. 

Review: How to Mend a Broken Heart

Synopsis:

A compelling, heartbreaking tale that will make you laugh, cry and believe in the kindness of strangers. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Lucy Dillon and Miranda Dickinson.

Life is good for nurse Kat. That is until the man she intended to marry legs it, she’s unexpectedly promoted to a position with too much responsibility, and a patient arrives on her ward under strange circumstances.

Susan is a mystery. She refuses to speak or interact with anyone, she’s obsessed with a book of fairy tales, and the only name in her diary is that of Rhys – a plumber she barely knows.

Down-to-earth Rhys is trying to get his life back on track after the death of his beloved brother. His mum is his priority, and she needs him as much as he needs her. Or at least she did, until she starts disappearing, leaving him to find comfort in the form of his brother’s girlfriend.

Complicated is an understatement.

As the lives of these three lost strangers intertwine, will they find a way to lay ghosts past, present and future to rest? And when the chance comes to mend their broken hearts, will they be brave enough to take it?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

How to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Mansell is a tale for all. It’s about three people who dig through their lives finding a way to mend what’s broken. Happiness can only be found if determined to find it. Life is complicated and messy. Women everywhere can easily relate to the characters and their issues. Real world issues masterfully told in an entertaining way. Deeply emotional and thought-provoking. Mysterious, intriguing, and highly engaging to read. It was easy to follow along as the plot unfolded. Everything felt real. The pacing of the story is slightly slow but good. I haven’t read anything by Anna Mansell before, until now. I recommend her nove to all. Healing is an important themes that needs to be read and explored by everyone. 

Review: A Sister’s Place

Synopsis:

Sometimes the friend you’ve always needed is the sister you’ve always had.
Throughout the years, sisters Gracie and Juliette Bennett have let life’s changes pull them in opposite directions. But when their beloved grandmother Mimi passes away, they’re drawn back together in the most unexpected way. Set to inherit the family home, a charming Craftsman with an overgrown garden and lush fruit trees near the beach in Santa Barbara, the estranged sisters learn there’s a catch: the house can be theirs, but only if they agree to live in it for one year—together.
Suddenly Gracie, a pragmatic paralegal who’s always stayed close to home, and Juliette, an intrepid recent NYU grad in search of the next thrill, are living under one roof. Forced to reexamine their relationship, they find themselves confronting their pasts and bonding over love, heartbreak, and deeply held secrets. Soon they’ll discover whether a sister’s love is what they need to get them through their darkest hours—and if their grandmother’s clever plan can preserve more than just a piece of family history. It just might preserve the friendship of a lifetime…and reveal the sisters and women they were always meant to be.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Sister’s Place by Savannah Page is an interesting yet heart wrenching novel. Losing someone one loves dear is hard. Life does begin and end…and in this case it was time for a grandma to leave. Her family is brought together. Especially two sisters who were the best of friends when they were younger. Now, as young twenty-something’s they hardly speak or are there for each other. Their friendship hanging by a thin thread. However, with their grandma’s wish, both have to live together in the house for a year. Or else the family home will be sold. Neither wants to lose the family house. With no other choice they begin filling their late grandmother’s wish. 

Savannah Page has created a book that allows readers to re-examine life in a new way. Deeper, more emotional, and funny too. I loved following the two sisters. Their journey made me laugh and cry. Both are completely different. The younger one is taller and more of a wild card. The oldest is more calm and a ruler abiding punctual adult. Together, years and memories unfold as they learn to accept each other as sisters. Sisterhood as their grandma, Mimi, called it. It’s a special gift. After reading this novel, it makes me wish my baby sister was closer. As each day grows, I miss my own sister more. A Sister’s Place is realistic and heartfelt. I loved it. Overall, I recommend every woman and sister to read this book. 

Review: Tangled Up

Synopsis:

Storm chaser Max Grady can already feel it: there’s a tornado coming to his hometown of Chance, Nebraska. Max is going after it, and the only person he wants by his side is police officer Bree McDermott, fellow adrenaline junkie, his best friend, and the woman Max has secretly been in love with for years. But when a close call with a tornado leaves them lip-locked, Max knows that the danger is only beginning.

Bree is always up for excitement. Her close and sexy encounter with Max is unlike anything she’s felt before, and she wants more. As they work together to help clean up Chance, the air between them crackles with sexual tension. But Bree has a tendency to look ahead to the next thrill, and Max knows it. Now they’re all tangled up as they chase the strongest force of nature on earth: love.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Tangled Up by Erin Nicholas is red hot read. Her characters are bold, sexy, and irresistible. Both Bree and Max are the kind of people that others can trust in…and respect. Both care about their town, Chance. A tornado comes destroying it. Leaving both our heroes to clean it up…

There is a lot of heat. Max tries his best to ignore the way Bree makes him feel. Best friends for twenty-five years. Now, he’s super aware of everything Bree does. He’s doing his best to not take her on the spot. Chasing after the crazy weather leaves them both in danger. Not just physically but emotionally as well…both Bree and Max will have trouble storming it now. Max keeps Bree from being injured. She helps him…and then all bets are off. They make one choice they may finally affect the friendship they have had. It where it will take them is the mystery. Tangled Up is indeed perfect for this book. Both characters get tangled up in more than one way. Erin Nicholas has created the perfect romance. A contemporary that brings readers deep into their lives. I felt like I never wanted to leave. The novel was written in a highly engaging way. Entertaining and intriguing. The intimacy and tension of the relationship inside was powerful. Overall, Tangled Up is a definite must read for all. I loved it. 

Review: Home at Last

Synopsis:

Home is where the heart is…

In Lily Everett’s Home at Last, Marcus Beckett left Sanctuary Island after his mother’s funeral, and he hasn’t been back since. Until now. Needing a change from the high-risk, high-stakes life of a bodyguard, Marcus makes a solitary life for himself running the neighborhood bar in his hometown. His only mistake? Seducing and then dumping the town’s sweetheart, Quinn Harper. Marcus knows he did the right thing—a good girl like Quinn has no business with a broken man like him. But now no one will come to his bar, and he’s watching his last chance at a peaceful life go up in smoke. So when Quinn proposes a fake four-week courtship, he can’t refuse…even though he knows it’s a bad idea.

It’s a romantic charade that will buy Quinn time to distract her mother and father from their own marital problems—and will help Marcus welcome back some paying customers besides. But what begins as an engagement of convenience slowly transforms into a deeper connection, one that heals both of their hearts. . .and ignites the simmering passion between them. Could it be that pretending to be together is just what Quinn and Marcus needed to give their real love a second chance?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Home at Last by Lily Everett is a fascinating tale. The emotional journey inside is what really stands out to me. A young man’s pain. A past that has held him hostage even now. Then, there’s one woman who makes him want more in life. But he’s too sacred. Life is complicated, messy, and hard. He wants her to have the best. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s not only pushing her away forever but the town people as well. They love her. In their eyes, he’s the bad guy. Unless he changes…

Home at Last is beautifully written. Engaging, sweet, and knocks readers off their chairs into the to story. Never a dull moment. The intensity is shocking but good. I can feel the characters emotions coming off the pages. Their chemistry is there. But one chooses to ignore it. That only sends them both down a lonely miserable road. Unless fate intervenes…both will be unhappy. Lily Everett has once more sent me on an unforgettable journey. A chance for love. Second chances. A happily ever after is in the air. Only time will tell, if it will happen. I loved characters. A broken man and a strong hearted woman. The plot is exciting. The other characters only add to it. Highly entertaining and suspenseful. When they do open up…readers will fall deeeply in love with this book as much as I did. I can’t get enough of Lily Everett’s novels. She has talent in creating the perfect worlds where her characters feel so real. Overall, I highly recommend Home at Last to readers worldwide. 

Review: A Path Less Traveled

Synopsis:

From this bestselling small town series comes a heart-tugging love story about a single mom, her traumatized little boy, and the new attorney in town who longs to rescue and protect them.

A recently-widowed single mom is tired of being rescued. Though surrounded by friends and family, Trish is determined to blaze a path for herself and her daddy-starved little boy without outside help. Unfortunately, her attempts to run a small town bride business just doesn’t pay the piles of bills. Though the new attorney in town seems interested in both her and little Bo, the timing is all wrong. Will her current life circumstances mean leaving the hometown she loves?

When a world-weary attorney starts a new law practice in Miller’s Creek, he’s prepared for business challenges, but not for falling in love–especially with a woman and her son whose tragic life circumstances are heartbreaking. Can the new attorney romance Trish and get through the wall of stubborn hurt encasing her heart? Will Trish be forced to leave Miller’s Creek? And will they both learn to trust the Lord to take a path less traveled?
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant is amazing. It shows the human heart at its rawest moments. Trust, faith and love. Three of the toughest things to learn and earn from someone. For some, it’s easy to give. Others it’s much harder. Here, I got to watch a woman struggle with her trust issues. But with time, patience, and friends she was able to move forward to a happily ever after.

Cathy Bryant’s novel is a bestseller. I instantly understood why. After reading her women’s fiction title…I fell in love. Trisha is a a single mother. Her ability to trust is little to nothing. Her life was a huge mess. Until the day, a man walked into it. From that moment onward things got more interesting. However, Torah held the power to move forward or to stay backwards. Choices…life is full of them. Sometimes we need to jump in and risk our hearts. If we don’t try, we will never know what would have been. A Path Less Traveled was entertaining, believable, and well-written.  Anyone can easily relate to Trish and her issues. I found the book inspiring, sweet, and powerful. The messages were clear. Overall, I highly recommend this read to readers everywhere.

Review: A Merciful Death

Synopsis:

FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land—and off the grid—in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event. But the crime scene details are eerily familiar to an unsolved mystery from Mercy’s past.

Sent by the FBI to assist local law enforcement, Mercy returns to Eagle’s Nest to face the family who shunned her while maintaining the facade of a law-abiding citizen. There, she meets police chief Truman Daly, whose uncle was the cave man’s latest victim. He sees the survivalist side of her that she desperately tries to hide, but if she lets him get close enough to learn her secret, she might not survive the fallout…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot is stunning, cleaver, and suspenseful. Every page lured me further into the book. The plot is fast-paced, thrilling, and deadly. I was intrigued. FBI specialist, Mercy Kilpatrick, had me wanting to know more about her backstory. Her past is now colliding with her present life. Sent to work a crime scene in her hometown brings back so many memories. Mercy is tough, smart, and believable. She has a way of making me sympathize with her. Her family history is about to open up…and there’s a murder investigation that needs solving. Someone is killing survivors one-by-one. Mery’s partner, Eddie is also another fascinating character. A city boy who is beyond observant and a people person. His working relationship with Mercy is enjoyable to follow. Then, there is the police chief. He soon makes Mercy’s life more complicated than ever. Kendra Elliot has once again, brought another masterpiece to life. Her characters are brilliant. I enjoyed meeting each one as the story progressed. A Merciful Death has intrigue, romance, and murder. It has enough spookiness, romance, and emotions to drag readers into its depth. Overall, I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Girl in Pieces

Synopsis:

Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people do in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge.

A deeply moving portrait of a girl in a world that owes her nothing, and has taken so much, and the journey she undergoes to put herself back together. Kathleen Glasgow’s debut is heartbreakingly real and unflinchingly honest. It’s a story you won’t be able to look away from.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow is a phenomenal read. She has taken readers into a portion of humanity’s darkest moments to show what some go through in life. These kind of reads are frightening. Because they show what could and does happen to others. The greatest conflict ever is pain. Pain is the pressure life puts upon us. Here, we see what a young teenage girl has to take. Life pulled the rug from under feet more times then I or the character herself would like. Pain is that numbing sensation that eats at our souls until we can’t feel anymore. Kathleen Glasgow depicts a realtor protrait of suffering and survival. Emotional and physical pain. Life isn’t pretty nor easy. It’s a constant battle against our demons and the bad that comes our way.

Girl in Pieces is is deep. Keeps readers turning the pages. I found myself lost within Charlotte’s life. I was placed immediately into her shoes. I cried so hard. The frustrations and anger came off the pages until life situations took that away. Then, there was nothing. Yet, in that moment pain was at the core. Women everywhere think they have it hardest and that no one else knows…this read shows that not everyone has it well. Even thought it’s fiction the tale was so believable, I could have sworn it was nonfiction. Heart wrenching, beautifully told, and well-developed. Kathleen Glasgow has brought a masterpiece into the world.

Review: Dead is Dead and Other Stories

Synopsis:

‘Dead is Dead’ is a collection of twenty compelling stories which focus on the complexity of being human. All of the stories have already met with success: broadcast, appearing in magazines or doing well in international competitions.

The title story, Dead is Dead, is set in colonial Africa and is told from the point of view of a little girl. Her father’s gun goes missing and so does one of the servants. Events unfold and end in tragedy, and in the little girl coming to a new understanding.

In ‘This is not Miranda’s story’ a woman observes her neighbour’s wife becoming a mother and, at the same time, sliding into madness. Here’s a small section from it: ‘Tim came round the next Saturday. He brought the big pram with the baby at one end and Hayden at the other. When I asked how Miranda was, he said, “She’s convinced that this little one is a daughter, although it’s obvious he’s not. She calls him Eve.”’ 

‘The Sleeping Handsome’ retells the story of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ but with a male sleeper and set in modern times.

‘My Beautiful Dad’ is written from the point of view of the son of a man who is becoming a woman. Finally the boy meets the woman his father has become: ‘I push open the door to the café and there is ‘Rosalie; quite beautiful, long blonde hair, long slender legs elegantly crossed. She wears earrings that hang almost to her shoulders, silver bangles on each smooth arm, a short skirt, high-heeled shoes, a lacy blouse buttoned up to her cleavage, the hint of breasts. She holds her hand there, the long fingers fiddling with the top button, wanting to undo it .’ 

Matilda is dealing with writing a philosophical essay on the subject of free will and determinism, it is also her birthday and her mother, with whom she does not get on, is coming to stay, next door there is building work going on and bones are discovered. These are the themes for ‘Matilda, the Determined Woman’.

‘Polly’s Day’ is about the awfulness of war for the families whose men have gone to fight. It is set during the Second World War with flashbacks to the first. Here’s a section from one of those flashbacks: ‘Mum was in the kitchen. She was crying like she had been on the way to school, only worse. Gran looked up as Polly came in; her eyes were red and her face all wobbly. But it was Uncle Artie who said it, ‘Your dad’s dead. Killed. In action.’ 

‘When Mum came in from the bedroom, she had pink cream on her face but you could still see the other colours underneath, especially just below one eyebrow where there was a rim of black coming through. Her lips looked sore, too, swollen and bitten and when she yawned, it was almost as if she was trying not to cry. She walked through to the kitchen end of the living room.’ This is the opening to ‘One of Those Days’ a horrific story about a dysfunctional family, a battered wife and mistreated children. 

In ‘Dead Heading the Roses’ the narrator is dealing with an unwanted pregnancy and the request from her neighbour’s son, who has become a paraplegic, for her to help him die. It starts like this: ‘Three years ago, Dylan, who lives next door, slid off the roof. The fall didn’t kill him but now he is unable to walk or talk. He communicates by blinking. One for no, two for yes, several when the right questions aren’t being asked.’ 

And there are plenty more stories, all gripping, all beautifully written and insightful, all of which will leave readers wanting more.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Dead is Dead and Other Stories by Jane Seaford is a brilliant collection of stories. Each story has its own point of view of major issues. Issues readers know and can relate to…I found myself exploring the human nature. Raw, realistic, and complex. Relationships within members of our own family or outside of it..can be messy. Confusion, emotions tugging at war, and the moments that readers will never forget. I don’t know how the writer, Jane Seaford did it, but she captured life in a nutshell on every page of her stories. I was hooked, captivated, and stunned. Her writing style is clear, easy to follow, and powerful. The messages are deep, thought provoking, and will leave readers wondering what next. Dead is Dead and Other Stories is a fascinating anthology of fiction that all must read. Once, I began reading these, there was no stopping…overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.