Review: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Two families, generations apart, are forever changed by a heartbreaking injustice in this poignant novel, inspired by a true story, for readers of Orphan Train and The Nightingale.

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize that the truth is much darker. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together—in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions—and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or redemption.

Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Before We Were Sisters by Lisa Wingate is an emotional rollecoaster ride. It has sad, sweet, and hopeful moments that tug at my heart. I loved how the cast of characters were portrayed and brought to life. They felt so real. I can only imagine what children like the siblings mentioned here, went through in times like those. Even today, children face the same issues. Danger, risks, and a heartbroken journey are found inside the pages. But the adeventure ahead also leads to hope. The depictions of an orphanage are so detailed it was hard to believe a I was reading a piece of fiction. Being an older sister, I was easily able to relate to the characters. I too, spent time in an orphanage. This story both broke and stole my whole heart. The plot was engaging, steady, and realistic. Overall, I would recommend this to readers everywhere.

 

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Review: Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have decided to put life’s disappointments behind them. At least in theory. Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, while Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget the longing for motherhood set deep in her heart. But when Betsy’s free-spirited younger sister Jenna drops her young daughters off at the farm to attend a two-week art retreat in Florida, Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

As those two weeks stretch much farther into the hot Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world and revel in a home that’s suddenly filled with the sound of laughter and life. Meanwhile, record heat promises to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

Four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She’d once been free to travel and pursue a career in photography, but all that changed with the appearance of two pink lines on a plastic stick and a boyfriend who hit the road. At Halcyon art retreat, she finally has the time and energy to focus on her photography. As the summer continues, she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home with her two children.

When Hurricane Ingrid aims her steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that could affect both her and her children’s futures, and Betsy and Ty find themselves protecting their beloved farm as well as their own hearts.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton is a fascinating women’s fiction piece. Here, are two sisters with different lives. One wants children the other feels pulled down by her children. As one sister and her husband deal with two girls in their home, a season of storms brews ahead. This season of storms is both a physical and emotional journey. Both sister are experiencing storms in their personal lives as well as the physical ones threatening their lives. I found interesting. The story was realistic and heartfelt. I felt sorry for the sister and her husband who were trying to have children. The characters and their struggles tugged at my heartstrings. Overall, I recommend this beautiful engaging tale to all readers.

Review: Living Dead in Dallas (book 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

When a vampire asks cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to use her telepathic skills to find another missing vampire, she agrees under one condition: the vampires must promise to behave and let the humans that are involved to go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blond and one small mistake for things to turn deadly.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Quirky, deadly, and mysterious…

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris is the second novel in this series. Vampires are usually romantic. Yet in this book, the vampires seems demanding, powerful, and geeky. There really isn’t a sexy hot image of being with the vampires in this series. Humans can end up dead unlike other novels. Charlaine Harris combines the vampire and human world into a murder mystery series. I found it intriguing. The plot is completely different and kept me guessing. There is some romance, sex, and other adult things.

 

Review: Billion Dollar Cowboy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A Billionaire Can Buy Anything…

Colton Nelson was twenty-eight years old when he won the Texas Lottery and went from ranch hand to ranch owner overnight. Now he’s desperate to keep the gold diggers away. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a pretty girl and hire her to pretend to be his one-and-only.

Or Can He?

Laura Baker’s got mixed feelings about this–she’s on the ranch to work, not to be arm candy. On the other hand, being stuck for a while in the boondocks with a gorgeous cowboy isn’t half-bad.

What neither Colton nor Laura expects are the intensely hard lessons they have to learn about the real cost of love…

Rating:  4.5-stars

Review:

Billion Dollar Cowboy by Carolyn Brown is a heartfelt tale. Hot, charming, and hilarious…The teenage girl featured in this story made me laugh out loud a lot. She helped bring together the new couple. One is her older brother and the other is her brother’s employee. Both suffered loss and grief. They are stubborn as hell and sparkle any room. Their personalities made me fall in love with them. Their flaws made them feel real. I loved how Carolyn Brown captured the true cowboy ways and family life in this novel.Sibling rivalry, addiction, facing fears, and finding love were some of the major themes featured inside this book. It was funny, sweet, and engaging from the start. Overall, I recommend this story to those looking for a romance featuring cowboys and happily ever after.

 

 

Review: One More Promise

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Dylan Anders is making amends
…to his family
…to the public
…to the woman who just walked into his life

Paige Walters must learn to forgive
…her busy father
…her bossy sister
…and the wonderful man she horribly misjudged

Ambitious Paige Walters is ecstatic when she’s hired to recruit musicians for a literacy campaign—it’s her chance to prove she’s got the chops to make it in the family business. When Dylan steps in, she immediately dislikes him and vows not to let the fallen idol screw it up. But as the work brings Paige and Dylan closer together, their attraction grows…and so do their challenges…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

One More Promise by Samantha Chase is a promising romance. Samantha Chase has cleverly created an atmosphere that appeals to all appeal people of different backgrounds. Whether one comes a conservative or rich family, the characters are nothing like their parents. They mess up a lot. But those mistakes make them who they are in the end…it was emotionally charged.

Here, I got to meet a sexy as hell rockstar who just got out of rehab. He drank so much he got into an accident. No one died. Yet, Dylan feels so guilty. Then, there’s a deep secret about his life that shocked me completely. With him coming from a good family, I just couldn’t believe it…but it felt believable. I can see how he got away with it for so long. And despite his issue with that secret, he still became a successful hero aka man. One that everyone could be proud of…

Paige Walters comes from a wealthy conservative family. She’s got the boho librarian style down right. Her passion about reading made me love her. Plus, she has a heart of gold. Works hard, goes all out to help others, and is an intense woman. She takes her job seriously…and her family doesn’t. Her dad underestimates her. He lets her do all the hard work then steals the spotlight from her. Yet, he never acknowledges her hard work. Then, there’s her sister who always steals her spotlight and takes over her projects after all the hard work has been done. Her sister is lazy and a complete bitch. She’s nothing but selfish and a liar. Whereas Paige is nothing like her older sister. Paige is easy to understand and love. She’s the hero.

One More Promise made me swoon all the way until the last page. Even when I finished reading it, I still awed over the characters. Their lives became messy and complicated. But they both survived their struggles and learned a lot along the way. Enticing, sexy as hell, and sweet too. Samantha Chase has successfully hooked me into her new world of fiction, easily. Overall, this is a must read for all romance readers.

Review: Slammed

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Not every goalie plays it safe…

As a publicist for the San Francisco Thunder hockey team, Dixie Braddock is too busy rescuing the players from trouble to get into any of her own. Except, of course, when it comes to the super hot new goalie. Because when a guy’s kiss curls your toes and sets your heart on fire, how the hell do you just walk away? But if anyone ever catches them together, she’ll lose her job faster than any slapshot.

Eli Casco is on the brink of having everything he ever wanted. He’s finally been called up from the minor leagues to play on a championship team. And he just had the most mind-blowing night with the woman of his dreams. But now that he’s an official Thunder player, Dixie is determined to keep her distance. None of the fame and fortune means anything to him without her to share it. If he truly wants Dixie in his life, it’s time to throw down his gloves and put everything on the line.

The San Francisco Thunder series: Score

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Slammed by Victoria Denault is sexy as hell. It’s funny, sweet, and charming, too. A publicist and a hockey player team up as a steamy duo. Their lust and attraction create a heady combination for this tale. But rules are required and one of them could lose everything…

Victoria Denault’s writing is superb. I was cheering all the way for both protagonists. I laughed a lot through these pages. The tension between the hot hockey goalie and the daring publicist, was intriguing. I couldn’t stop reading…they kept the story alive. It felt three dimensional. Their family lives are different and each one is suffering from their own issue. Eli’s parents are strict and unemotional. They never supported him or his brother. Then there’s Dixie and her big bold family. They’re loud and annoying at times but overall, a super friendly group. Dixie’s father’s health seems to be taking a nose dive…her career isn’t what she thought it would be, and her role model isn’t the person that she thought either. Then, there’s the stupid rule of no relationships with the hockey team…yet, she and Eli are breaking it anyway. Eli got cut upon the ice awhile ago and it haunts him. He hasn’t been the same college hockey guy since the accident. Dixie pushes his butt into accepting help from a sports psychologist. As their heat builds so does their secret relationship…there will come a time they have to let it out or break it off…

Neither Dixie nor Eli want to let go…

Slammed is one of the best sports romances that I’ve read in a long time. Victoria Denault knew how to draw my attention to the characters and their issues. She was a pro on hooking me onto the plot. It went by so fast, I couldn’t believe it. Overall, I highly recommend this sexy unforgettable novel to all.

Review: Perennials by Juile Cantrell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

When two estranged sisters reunite for their parents’ 50th anniversary, a family tragedy brings unexpected lessons of hope and healing amid the flowers of their mother’s perennial garden.

Eva—known to all as Lovey—grew up in Oxford, MS, surrounded by literary history and her mother’s stunning perennial gardens. But a garden shed fire and the burns suffered by one of her best friends seemed to change everything. Her older sister Bitsy blamed her for the fire—and no one spoke up on her behalf. Bitsy the cheerleader, Bitsy the homecoming queen, Bitsy married to a wealthy investor. And all the while, Lovey blamed for everything that goes wrong.

At eighteen, Lovey turns down a marriage proposal, flees from Oxford and the expectations of attending Ole Miss, and instead goes to Arizona—the farthest thing from the South she can imagine. She becomes a successful advertising executive, a weekend yoga instructor, and seems to have it all together. But she’s alone. And on her 45th birthday, she can’t help but wonder what’s wrong.

When she gets a call from her father—still known to everyone as Chief from his Ole Miss football days—insisting that she come home three weeks early for her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary celebration, she’s at wits end. She’s about to close the biggest contract of her career, the one that will secure her financial goals and set her up for retirement. But his words, “Family First,” hit too close to home. Is there hope for her estranged relationship with Bitsy after all this time?

Eva’s journey home, to the memory garden her father has planned as an anniversary surprise for her mother, becomes one of discovering roots, and truth, and love, and what living perennially in spite of disappointments and tragedy really means. Eva thought she wanted to leave her family and the South far behind . . . but she’s realizing she hasn’t truly been herself the whole time she’s been gone.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Perennials by Julie Cantrell is an interesting read. I found it intriguing. I couldn’t imagine having a distant and bitter relationship with my sister. The major theme  in this contemporary women’s fiction piece is forgiveness.

The main protagonist, Eva, has a great life away from her home and family. That past life is one she worked hard to get away from fast. Yet, now, her parents want her back home for their wedding anniversary. There Eva will have to face her past, her fears, and let go of her demons.

Overall, Perennials is a novel about letting go of the past and moving forward. A journey of hope, truth, and healing. Julie Cantrell can write well. Her characters were easy to relate to and follow. Their troubles were realistic. I enjoyed reading this. I recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: To the Duke, with Love

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

There may be times when a gentleman is desperate to gain a lady’s attention, but a gentleman would never resort to desperate measures to obtain it.

—A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady

Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn is guardian for his sweet, younger sister. Due to his misguided past as one of the infamous Rakes of St James, Hawk is hoping to avoid the Season by securing a match for her before it begins. He has the perfect gentleman in mind, but for one infuriating—and unexpectedly intoxicating—obstacle: the intended groom’s own sister, Miss Loretta Quick.

Having narrowly avoided her own arranged marriage to an unacceptable nobleman, Loretta is determined that her dear brother—a gentle, good-natured soul—should marry for love. Matching wits with Hawk may be her greatest challenge yet. . .until she realizes it may also be her greatest pleasure. For the young duke’s irresistible charm has not only begun to crumble her stubborn resolve, it has claimed her heart in true love as well. . .

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

To the Duke, With Love by Amelia Grey is an intriguing regency romance. Arranged marriages and refusal to be married to the wrong person…can create an irresistible plot like this one. Wow! So, the strong heroine is a bit biased on arranged marriages. However, as I discovered, she has some right to be biased. It happened to her and didn’t bide well. She ended up vowing to be celibate and forced to live alone in the country. But, she has a loving brother who dotes on her. He comes with her. Feeling like she finally accepted her fate…a Duke arrives. Causing chaos to her quiet lifestyle. Their banters are playfully wicked and charming.

I couldn’t stop laughing. They really are a couple to follow and love. Their siblings make it even more entangled and exciting. Temptation, isolation, humor, and sexy characters that have enticed readers like me, to read till the ending. What a perfect way to end this adventure…Amelia Grey has stunned me to the core with the level of depth from her characters and the visual scenes that are unforgettable. Overall, I recommend this historical romance to all.

Review: Just In Time

Synopsis:

For most of his adult life, the only place he felt at peace was at home in Silver Lake, Ohio with his parents–but after their sudden death, he is left on his own. Eager to help their brother, Steve’s siblings, Scott and Sylvia, who both live in Los Angeles, scramble to find someone reliable to live with Steve. The answer to their problem comes in the form of Sylvia’s sister-in-law, Nancy, who is desperate to find a place to live; within days, she moves in with Steve. 

This is the story of Steve and Nancy, who, as virtual strangers thrown together out of necessity, forge a way to live in fragile harmony. Sometimes dark, sometimes humorous, Just in Time is a hopeful, firsthand account of the day-to-day roller coaster of life with a schizophrenic.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Just In Time by Joan Jackson is a psychological tale that immediately pulls readers, like myself, into the story. A young man is suffering from schizophrenia. That is a difficult situation to handle even back when this story was talking place. Stigmas were easily placed on people like the young man who suffered from that illness. The emotional journey on all sides was heartfelt. The siblings strong yet protective bond. A brother who desperately needed special attention and struggled day-by-day. A rocky battle that changed their lives. I was hooked. I liked the characters instantly. Just in Time a realistic adventure that I recommend to readers everywhere. 

Review: Henry and The Hidden Treasure

Synopsis:

Henry and the Hidden Treasure is an imaginative adventure a young child has in defending his pocket money against his little sister. Henry constructs elaborate defensive measures that he is sure will stand up to the clever ambitions of Lucy. Little does he know, Lucy has a few tricks of her own.
With a focus on introducing children to the use of ordinal numbers, Henry and the Hidden Treasure also draws out some important qualities of being a kid – such as creativity, the value of listening to parental advice, and of course, being nice to your sister.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Henry and The Hidden Treasure by B.C.R. Fagan is educational, inspiring, and entertaining. I loved the colorful illustrations and meaningful messages. The plot is enticing. Engaging children to follow along as they read or being read to…the main theme surrounding sibling love was beautifully done. Overall, this is one children’s book that I recommend to readers everywhere. 

Review: Take to the Limit

Synopsis:

They are part of an elite unit. On task. Off grid. These are the men of the Shadow Ops task force. Be seduced and thrilled by Take to the Limit, the next Unbroken Heroes novel by Dawn Ryder. 

Holding out for a hero…
A hardened military machine, Bram Magnus is a tough, combat-ready, all-American hero who never surrenders. But the one thing he can’t fight? His smoldering, intense attraction to his girlfriend’s younger sister. He’s always kept his feelings locked deeply down. But when his girlfriend betrays him the night before he ships off to Afghanistan, Bram has one chance to show the woman he’s resisted for years that he wants her as fiercely as the first day he saw her.
Ever since her older sister first brought home the soldier with steely hard muscles and piercing eyes, Jaelyn has wanted Bram, and when her sister casts him aside the night before he leaves, Jaelyn can’t resist one steamy hot kiss with him. But danger is not far behind, and even as a deadly enemy hunts them, their relationship only grows more explosive. It’s all Bram can do to keep Jaelyn safe, but with a threat this powerful, will they pay the ultimate price for their passion?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Take to the Limit by Dawn Ryder is a sexy tale featuring alpha males. Males who think only about their work and nothing else. Or so they thought…Enter a beautiful woman and a Bram can’t let go. He’s leaving on a mission. Told to leave her alone. But his heart can’t. So, he does what he can. Writes letters to her. Not one, not two, but dozens of letters. Letting her know she’s all he’s thinking about while away. Hot sex. Instant chemistry. And fear. Jaelyn loves Bram. He is a sexy tall man who has her toes curling in the hot sand. Her dreams are filled with nothin glut him. She kissed him hard before he left. Her heart aches for him. Thinking she won’t ever see him again, she hardens her heart against him. When he arrives back to her, all hell breaks loose. His letters he wrote were never given to her….someone stole them. Jealousy. Jaelyn pushes Bram away. But he’s not giving up without a hell of a fight. Hell, she’s worth everything to him. Then, danger comes and knocks their world into a crazy space. No one knows where it will lead. But Bram is going to fight until he has Jaelyn safe again in his arms…and in his bed. 

Dawn Ryder knows how to heat up the pages. I blushed every time. The heat was scorching. The sex soon turned to love making. The characters each had their own fears and struggles. But somehow they keep moving forward and work through them. Friends who tease but also have their backs. Family that will always support them no matter what. I loved the granddaughter and grandfather relationships in this book. It was sweet, charming, and hilarious. Overall, I enjoyed reading Take to the Limit. It’s a perfect title for the scenes inside…a super solider and his strong yet bold woman. 

Review: The Best Possible Answer

 

Synopsis:

AP Exams – check
SAT test – check
College Application – check
Date the wrong guy and ruin everything you’ve spent your whole life working for– check

Ultra-high-achiever Viviana Rabinovich-Lowe has always had a plan—and no room to be anything less than perfect. But her quest for perfection comes to a screeching halt when her boyfriend leaks racy pictures of her to the entire school. Making matters worse, her parents are getting divorced and now her perfect family is falling apart. For the first time, Viv feels like a complete and utter failure.

Then she gets a job working at the community pool, where she meets a new group of friends who know nothing about her past. That includes Evan, a gorgeous guy who makes her want to do something she never thought she’d do again: trust. For the first time in her life, Viv realizes she can finally be whoever she wants. But who is that? While she tries to figure it out, she learns something they never covered in her AP courses: that it’s okay to be less than perfect, because it’s our imperfections that make us who we are.

E. Katherine Kottaras once again captures what it means to be a teenager in The Best Possible Answer.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Best Possible Answer by E. Katherine Kottaras is a young adult novel unlike any I have personally read. This book is just as epic as The Fault in Our Stars movie was. Mega sad. Actually is was sad all the way until the ending…the ending gave off an enormous feeling just as strong the weight of grief. I can’t ruin it and say what the new feeling was…but it’s one worth experiencing from beginning to end.

Inside, The Best Possible Answer, I like the main character a lot. I easily was able to connect with her frustrations, anger, grief and other feelings. Her reactions are completely normal for any teenage girl. Yet she handled every major life situation as maturely as possible. Okay, shouting at people isn’t mature but certain times do call for it. Working a summer job, she ends up offering her summer money to her mom. That’s shows she handles situations above her teenage years. Most teenagers roll their eyes, show awful attitude, and don’t want to do more than necessary. Here, however, Vivian is pressured into doing too much by both of her parents. This sets into motion the conflict that will hover over every scene.

Katherine Kottaras’s latest novel, The Best Possible Answer, shows readers a realistic side of being a teenager. Not only that but also how a teenager goes through a traumatic experience. Parents divorcing, failing AP exams, doesn’t get into the college of choice, a secret photo popping up everywhere and a health condition that lands her in the hospital. Could the life of Vivian get any worse? Yes. It does. But that’s for readers to find out and for me to keep top secret. I loved reading it. A great novel that captures everything brilliantly. I hope this makes it onto the big screens one day. Super good. Overall, I highly recommend this read to all.

Review: The Right Kind of Trouble

 

Synopsis:

Desire won’t take no for an answer in The Right Kind of Trouble by Shiloh Walker.

In the small Southern town of McKay’s Treasure, everybody knows that the handsome local police chief, Gideon Marshall, has been carrying a torch for Moira McKay. It’s also no secret that Moira has been rejecting Gideon since…forever. But after an attack from a mysterious stranger bent on taking down the McKay family, Moira becomes filled with distrust toward most men. Now she wonders whether she’s been wrong about Gideon all along―and if it’s not too late to admit him back into her life…and into her bed…

Gideon has finally convinced his wasted heart to give up on Moira, who he’s loved since he was sixteen years old. Moira’s attack changes everything, however―and he vows to protect her. But how much is he willing to risk for a woman who’s always kept him at bay…until now? And is it too late for Moira to tell him that her love for him has always been locked deep in her heart―and he holds the key?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Right Kind of Trouble is the perfect hot, sexy, romance that will leave readers breathless. Shiloh Walker is well-known for creating novels like this and has not disappointed her readers yet. The chemistry sizzles. A plot that is fast-paced and highly suspenseful kept me intrigued.This, contemporary romance goes much deeper than just hot sex and a past love that still continues to burn…It is here that readers will lose themselves between the characters’ struggles and the danger that is closer than they thought. The Right Kind of Trouble by Shiloh Walker packs everything readers want. I couldn’t be more pleased with the story. Satisfying…stunning, well-written and leaves readers will an ending that could trigger another beginning. Overall, I am a huge fan of Shiloh Walker’s novels and look forward to the next best adventure. I highly recommend this new romance to readers everywhere.