Book Review: "Till Murder Do Us Part" By James Patterson

Double Life! Double Wife! Double the Fun!

Imagine if you will your husband leaves for work, never arrives, a car full of blood and bullet holes, using an alias name.

Talk about a lot to unpack in one day.

As this story heats up we uncover an entire facade that goes back to high school days in which everyone knew him by Eric Wright not Steve the mysterious con who was on the run breaking hearts and telling bs stories to any gullible lady who'd believe his sob stories.

At least he got half the story correct- he's on the run- not from CIA -as he told his wife but from his family.

Here comes the 12th anniversary and Kathi starts to address the odd ends that don't add up and seeks divorce stat!

Just one problem- he's facing time after being accused of murdering Lester from 13-14 yrs earlier.

Pass those gold bars and get 'em the hell out of the bathroom.

We may need them after all. Fool's gold never sparkled so much! Fake deaths are so not fun!
Enter Brandi and bestie Jessica who run into skateboarder Mark who desperately wants to make it big league.

First, he must prove himself but he took this the entire wrong way and instead is facing rape and murder charges.

The second story revolves around the Ramp Up Murder with an abusive, possessive, jealous filled boy who can't take no for an answer.

Men build houses boys play house. Ladies come on!

Who sneaks into a gated community to steal relationship gifts from an ex girlfriend?
Talk about low blows here-Mark - needs more than just couples therapy.

Mental illness is no laughing matter and I hope this fella gets help.

He's facing 27 years behind bars so perhaps he'll get some much needed assistance while in lock down.

The first story for me felt more involved and for me became more invested with the latter not really capturing my interest as deeply as the first.

Thank you to my local library for this 6 cd snowstorm fun.

Book Review: "The Betrayal" By Terry Lynn Thomas

What does every wife whose ever been cheated on wish to say- Terry Lynn Thomas - help us out here: "Find yourself a nice young wife who will stroke your ego and put up with your relentless bullshit."

Alrighty Then- Enter sarcasm- Olivia has just been charged for the murder of her husband Richard's mistress- Sandy.
Are you kidding me?? What? How?

Surely, she has the video of them in the sheets but why would she kill a woman she's never met?
Why not just divorce his pitiful self?
Clearly, she's being set up right Brian-Attorney for hire?

Wait-What? Olivia's credit card was used for the purchase of a beach rental property in which the body was found?
Bull crap.

Now, we fight like hell because someone clearly wants Olivia to suffer.
But, who and why?

Or is this anger misdirected her way for a completely different reason?

Speak of the devil, where's Richard?
I realize he's busy (hell they always are) but he has to know something more?
By the way there's something else mixed up here with a pregnancy and more than one...One is a grandchild but the other is....

Oh, no you don't....
"I was blind with love and full of optimism."

Well, that never lasts now does it?
"Never again would Olivia make that mistake."

I should hope not -we ladies do live and learn.

Which brings me to my next discussion Claire vs. David (Denny's partner). He seems to follow the lead of the others. Do these men have a playbook or what?
Denny is Olivia/Richard's daughter who now finds herself in familiar territory. Luckily, family comes first in more than one way and so too does support.

Thankfully, she exits out but not without some fireworks within her own failed relationship with David (Mr. Sociopath) who thinks rules need not apply.

"Listen, you bitch, that's blackmail. You don't know who you're messing with." Isn't this what they all say. Oh, but Claire (hired attorney) does know and she's not backing down.
You Go Girl!
Here comes Richard.
"You won't like it. Trust me. You should consider-"
No, thanks.
"Okay. I'll sign."

And with that for the first time in her life Olivia was free without a grand plan but with love in her heart for what the future holds.

My only regret readers is that I didn't read this sooner.

I have over 200 ARC's and I try to get to them all prior to pub dates and this one fell through the cracks but it wasn't because I didn't want to read -just that I was overwhelmed with requests for reviews this past year and into the New Year.

This was so good I honestly wouldn't mind reading it again -perhaps with a buddy this time.

It's a must read thriller!

Thank you to Terry Lynn Thomas, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "The Ex Talk" By Rachel Lynn Solomon

We are coming live to an audience near you!

Welcome to a new form of chatter -live radio shows- with your hosts and lovers - Shay and Dominic!

Ok, wait one second- I'm lying through my teeth-actually these two are highly unlikely to be romantic but are forced together or wither away w/o employment. However, they may just find more than common ground venturing out together. Anxiety can wait. A future is at stake!
This seems to be a last ditch effort for ratings between the Masters journalist grad and his beautiful co-host and producer of the Seattle based radio station.

So, how it started was with two individuals despising one another and then joining forces to fall in love.

Shay and Dominic know their careers are on the line. The show must go on. Yet, would they be able to convince a live audience that they are in love?

Could you play with fire and not get burned? Could you build a house of cards upon lies?
Would the audience they built stand by them when they learned the truth?
What was the truth?

I absolutely adore the way the author decided to showcase these two mutually exhaustive yet explosive personalities and somehow bring them to a central point. In bed ain't a bad place to be...

While it's true there's plenty of orgasmic material, cosmos, universal language and healthy libido's there's also plenty to get invested with and what a joy to go along for the ride.
Heck, I'd listen to them live via radio, podcasts, or whatever talk show they hosted.
Cute, fun, entertaining, adventuresome and more!

Thank you to Rachel, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Circle Of Doubt" By Tracy Buchanan

This book should come with a warning: Assume Reading at Your Own Risk! YIKES!!

Imagine being caught in the fake news scandal but this time it's between your own parents -Poor Isla!

What will she become when everyone keeps fighting to maintain control over here? After all, she's only 11 years old with her whole life ahead of her.

Capturing this dangerous slippery slope of doubt, betrayal, lies, and hypocrisy is several masterminds who are skilled craftsmen at gaslighting with manipulation.

Enter Emma and Dele who are simply loving and living life with their beautiful daughter.
That's until Tatjana comes on scene with striking resemblance to Isla their girl.

Now many wonder is she the birth mom? Could she be back to take her daughter away from her loving family?

What part of Jade Dixon needs dissecting is complex and multi-faceted with numerous sideways motions. She's quite the gal with plenty of secrets and more than enough pain to last a lifetime and now she's missing.

What?? What does Jade and Tatjana have in common? Could one of these two be the real mother?

Fake emails, missing letters, rumors galore, with some dead birds in the front of the car's grills have now become common place. Are these gals nuts?! WTH??
Perhaps it's a scare tactic?

As readers are enticed to learn more Tracy Buchanan throws many road blocks and gates that need to be hurdled.

For example there's another reason Emma may not want to pursue too much all at once. That reason wraps around one central individual who is no longer with us and was deeply embedded part of this family unit.

The family seems to be sworn into secrecy on behalf of Emma to keep the trouble -low key!
She could face prison time if the truth becomes exposed or if one of these other two gals finds out and exposes reality.

Lawrence is Tatjana's main squeeze but he's not romantic whatsoever and is quite the opposite-he's abusive. He's been abusing her for some time and everyone including Emma is trying to persuade her to get out and get help.

Will she take the advice and leave him once and for all?
As the truth is exposed the ending of this story picks up steam and goes full throttle.
Drug addiction is awful!

Yet, love is the perfect medicine!

From an addiction to a successful business woman and now married mother. Who knew?!

Good for her and good for them. Justice is on the good side! Let Justice Prevail!
Thank you to Tracy, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Single Mother" By Samantha Hayes

Bloody Brilliant!

It's not often that I'm left totally depleted without words but this was a hair raising experience on a wild train that veered off course into Moreton Inn with a garden full of skeletal remains plus one frightening story to tell.

Call me crazy but folks this one blew me away! It all begins innocently enough with this vast inheritance set aside for Mel (Melanie) whose on the run from her ex (Billy) with Kate (daughter).

The world is cruel and heartless and Mel knows this all too well but apparently she's not alone in this revelation. As it turns out Miss Sarah is part of this inheritance package.

A resident of the homestead who's silent in her thoughts but speaks volumes in her mind.

Kate and Chloe were out playing as friends do on a lovely day when they came across some baby skeletal remains in the garden of this inn.

Needless to say investigations were conducted resulting in information that was pertinent to the case that continued to build.

When a missing relative claims ownership with Mel it's alarming to not only her but those closest to her as they had no clue she had an extended family. Or did they? DNA never lies!

Ok, well her best friend and as she says-partner- is a gay male- so it probably won't go anywhere- is holding on with hope to this newest development because he too knows a lil secret or two.

Add to this mountain of evidence is a man named Tom who has been rather helpful around town with his father Walter. Walter is an older gentleman with a failing mind or perhaps his mind is sharper than a tack and others don't yet realize how on key he truly has become.

He may be vital component to this mess as it continues to unravel right before our very eyes!

I'm still recovering from the initial shocker of the remains when more twists come out from behind the woodwork to throw a monkey wrench into everything.

Keep in mind Billy is an ex-con -released not long ago from prison-out there running around and possibly targeting Mel and Kate.

Could Mel or Kate be in danger ...Could Billy be closer than they think? ...

THIS JUST IN...We Break with LIVE News!
Oh, wait one sec...

Ok, it turns out Kate is missing-MIA- and everything points to her crazy father but why would he suddenly add to this monstrous dilemma?

If only Joyce the former owner of this place could give us some clues from beyond the grave???

What if Miss Sarah could finally find her voice?

Surely, someone knows more than they're revealing.

The tension could be cut with a knife-it's mind blowing!

As we read and encounter undue hardships and constraints we uncover the truth behind this family of lies.

Sarah plays a vital key to this story as well as a man named Donald Bray who we come to know as a former boyfriend of one of the ladies in question.

Good grief -my heart is pounding-my breath is labored-my knees are shaking!

Ok, wait --more news just in!

There's more than one skeletal remain, there's more than one adoption, there's more than one way to skin a cat -as they say.

OMG!

What does Sarah know, what happened to Joyce, what does Angus (the newcomer on scene) know, and what connection do they all present to this amazing twist and shocking ending?

I'm not telling you anymore as you have got to read this the second you're able too!

Thank you so much -Samantha Hayes, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this thrilling new work.

Book Review: "The Day My Husband Left" By Amy Miller

Second Chances! An entire life has come down to a single meeting! Will it all come to fruition or will the pain of the past be unbearable to behold?

The Day My Husband Left has been on my TBR for some time and I had to literally set everything aside knowing this was a thriller that I couldn't pass up.

This family was much like the cover -BROKEN- yet the love was the glue that held them together.

Would that love be enough to win over the hearts and minds and overcome addictions and scars that cut deep into the soul via the actions of one couple?

Could they weather the storm even after losing the most crucial member?
Meet Heidi our main character after her husband Johnny who left behind one picture that held the story of a century revolving around William.

Who is William you might ask?

It's a hidden secret that stemmed from a young couple in love...

They were so young, so unprepared, so nieve...

How could they deal with the pressures of daily life while raising a son?

Amy Miller is a new author for me but one I'll be sure to watch from this point forward.

Thank you to Amy, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Housewife Chronicles" By Jennifer Snow

"But Sometimes, there's collateral damage for following your heart."

Now where was that little blue pill? Where's that rat poison? What was her number?
This is the name of the game, cheat or be cheated upon, fight or flight, stay or settle!

What's up with the ability to be single, stay true to self, and live happily ever after- SOLO?
Guess, that's not an option- so I will repeat-been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.
As a matter of fact the scene on vacay, tropical pool setting, hubby texting, or hubby absent always working, always busy, always elsewhere -two ships passing in the night-YES!! HELLO!! ME!

The jilted wife has arrived but it's ok because just like Beth we have to pick up, dust off, and create art in some form. Infidelity 101 may we now graduate at the head of our class. Dunce cap is now upon our heads.

I get it and so too does Gina (mistress) married to Ralph but perhaps it took some time to know sloppy seconds isn't all it's cracked up to be and hey, they all see the light eventually. Trust me.

Sometimes it takes an act of Congress for these gullible and nieve women and men to understand you can't steal what wasn't meant to be.

Beth isn't a kosher dill pickle either. Heck, the affair with the guy in charge probably blew everything else out of the water. The legal maneuvering wet your whistle-that's for sure!
Keep in mind there's multiple twists with chronic born drama weaving its way throughout the scenes. First it's the daughter, then it's the wife, then it's the other wife.... My word it's like -Pull it together-Ladies!

Seriously, everyone has personal dilemmas that are mounting. Pregnancy gone wild is a better name for this one! Who isn't pregnant -Please stand>??

Ok, well I can't help these folks as we must all learn as we go. Play and be played.
Heck, I'm just thrilled to be out of this nightmare.

However, this book is going places. It's taking you by bus, train, and plane. It's faster than the speed of light. It's moving you to not shack up. It's creating boundaries.

Lastly, it's living large. Being proud and not taking life for granted. Yoga, mediation, business women, mothers, wives, husbands, cheaters...Name the label -attach it here!
Just make it a good one!

Jennifer Snow gave me a ride for my money- I held on tight, took it for a spin, wouldn't let it go, and felt relieved in a good way when it ended. Peace and joy be with you all... And to all a Good Night!

Captivating, breathtaking, momentous, and exhilarating!

You'll enjoy this one! 

Book Review: "Faye, Faraway" By Helen Fisher

Oh, Magic Eight Ball please tell me there's more to come....

Transporting from one life to the next is quite the big deal for Faye as she goes back in time to save the day.

Her mother was her pride and joy and she simply wants to know how she died- Is this too much to ask?

Was it a mere sickness? Was it suicide? Was it drowning? Did she fall off a cliff? Was she saving the life of another?

So many questions are we tag along on this epic journey of a lifetime full of emotional appeal and high stakes poker in which someone sadly will lose.
Define lose? Is it losing one's life? Is it losing in the game of life? Is it losing a friendship or family member?

Good question - What I have found here is Faye has visited her dead mom, was struck by a car and saved her 6 year old self, and then lived with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em.
Uncle Henry is up in age and never did acknowledge what happened to Jeanie.

So now it's a trek to uncover the missing pieces by jumping into this time warp to the next frontier and joining forces to end this nightmare with family and friends being left behind.
Speaking of which the 'paternal revelation' was damning but also shed light unto the importance of finding a connection to her mother's past.

The way in which this teleported us between the two thoughts and timelines was dully important as it's not easy to make it believable or credible.

Going along to get along takes on an entire new meaning but with several twists.
That bonfire, the box, the ashes, the water...It's all coming to light.

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust...something happened-it's BIGLY!

Thank you to Helen, the pub, Netgalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. 

Book Review: "Mr Right Across The Street" By Kathryn Freeman

Hot Guy extraordinaire meets Mia the Website Developer of his dreams!

Ok, well hot flashes be damned-we're here to party and enjoy life.

Now, before I let the cranky reviewers complain again -I will note I loved this because it's so full of energy, companionship, and romance.

Do you really care whether or not a character is likeable, relatable, or even believable?

What more do you need if the author takes you places in your mind that you wouldn't ordinarily go? If you think about the storyline long after finishing the book than the author has done his or her job. If you venture to go where you've never gone be it reliable, miserable, or likeable than you still expressed some type of reaction which is all that's required in my book.

Mr Right Across the Street was a rather convenient segway to getting into a romantic venture. After all how hard is it to spy on your neighbor just across the way?

Mia is falling for the hot guy bartender but he's also a womanizer who has had more than his fare share of failed relationships.

In fact, he's walked out on his former partner when he was a teen and left the mother fending for herself with their daughter Grace.

Should we just ignore this and move on?

Speaking of moving on what's up with this new information being received? What do you mean he just slept with his ex-wife not once but twice in the past 4 years? Who wants to be with a guy like this? Freya didn't deserve that mistreatment nor did their daughter Grace. What kind of message does this man send to his own child about responsibility when he himself walked away from his own responsibilities?

Keep in mind he never told Mia about this part of his past so she obviously should be informed if she plans to move forward with their relationship not that she's in his daughters life-don't you think?
Settle down folks...

It's all going to work out for the best. If you meet the parents, the friends, the family -how could it not work?
We have to have faith in the process and I adore this couple.

Sure it's entertaining, delightful, and full of innuendos but it's fun, perky, cheerful, and full of passion that invigorates life.

Life is what you make of it- get out and have fun!

Thank you to Kathryn Freeman, the pub, NetGalley, Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Perfect Little Dolls" By Karen Long

Bizarre yet tantalizing -this novel goes where no one dare go before!

It's a unique set of circumstances that we find here as we embark on this weird sensation that something is truly off.

Why would someone take a young boy's trains? Where is Tommy? Who would take a child playing in his room?

Add this crazy display with the fact that DI Eleanor is recovering a kidnapping and torture while her partner (Whitefoot) requested a transfer (unable to deal with it all) and you got yourself one heck of a story.

This felt to me as being a little too out there and far fetched. I couldn't really get into the plasticized human remains found lying around (embalmed) nor the skeletal skulls.
Why?

Low and behold a girl was found after a fire-but she was long dead before it happened- and Eleanor now feels she has something more to prove about her worth.

This part about DI Eleanor's worth and value rubbed me the wrong way and then when she's replaced it really went far South.

Will she now focus on fighting to stay alive or is the truth about fighting for the victims and gaining justice for them?

When we learn about a man named Toby (Museum Worker at Rom) taking home bodies as a keepsake for this make believe 'Family' it was just too much. The discussion into his M.O. and reasoning bordered insanity and how he handled the victims was sickening before and after death.

It will bring out the chills so read this with a good nightlight and a nice warm cup of hot cocoa. Lol!

Thank you to Karen, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Happy Singles Day" By Ann Marie Walker

Celebrating Single Day in Style!!

I started this journey with a bathtub full of hot water and I was so engaged that the water evaporated and I honestly couldn't care less to refill the tub, lol.
Is that wrong of me?

Oh, baby Kindle was cooking with this one on the burner.
Happy Singles Day has arrived with so much gusto that I couldn't turn away from the perky Paige who has become the perfect organizer of your dreams while the new candidate was a Bed and Breakfast heart throb complete with Maddie his beautiful 5 year old love of his life.

Yet, there's so much between the sheets as they say.
Paige booked the room but Lucas booked their future together.

My word, the relationship between these characters including Maddie, the puppies, the extended family members gave you a sense of personal belonging, an inclusion, a seat at the table that I literally felt like part of the family when it was finished.

I wanted to share in the fun, engage with their friends, partake in every festivity, and laugh till our hearts content.
From heartache to heartbreak to a fine blend of romance and pure enjoyment.

I can't speak for anyone else but when I read my fellow reviewers I see a common theme: complaints. Not likeable, too a-typical, too misogynistic, too forced, too opposite.

I've also noticed since the start of this year that many are just way too judgmental, too strict, too moody, and too uptight and I'm not sure if it's because of the world we live in, the pandemic, the stressors of the day, or the lack of sunlight in the winter months.

I've found if I go into a book without preconceived notions, without reading the blurbs, without reading the reviews, or even the intro, it goes much smoother and I'm able to enjoy the book that much more.

Respect is something I deeply admire in my fellow reviewer/blogger friends and I've often took their reviews with glaring positivity but lately I've not felt the same way they have.

Don't forget to enjoy life and just have fun and laugh it up! We can't change the world but we can be more empathetic, loving, and kind. These are book babies that take years to develop so remember this when leaving reviews.
Walk around, get some fresh air, go out star gazing, and love yourself.

With this noted, I had so many similar trains of thought with singlehood, motherhood, and loss of a loved one that I was taken back to a more peaceful time Pre-Covid.

The discussion about Paige's mom is where I shall go: "I think she underestimated the personal price she would pay when she agreed with my father's plan for her to stay home with the kids."

"It's also why I've promised myself that I will never rearrange my life for a man."

Ironically, been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.
I suppose you never thought you'd hear "Breaking in the bed" used to describe a situation with the boss riding a fiance but here we go...

YIKES!

I'm going to leave my readers with this to ponder and I hope my fellow reviewers take breaks from time to time to recoup, replenish, renew themselves:
"Maybe what you need is to let your guard down."
"Sometimes you just have to eat cake out of the box."
Life goes on my friends -make the best of it!

Sending love to all those who need it tonight.

Thank you to Ann Marie Walker, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Love one another-we out!

Book Review: "Agent Sonya" By Ben Macintyre

Tension Building! Suspenseful! Mind Blowing!

The life and times of a legendary spy agent has certainly changed over the years with Sonya aka Ursula leading the way.

Ursula Burton wasn't your typical housewife with 3 kids; dully married; nor an easily accessible woman. She was quite extraordinary with an intellect, wise beyond her years, with a powerful view towards courage lacking any and all constraint. She was a serial cheater, adulterer, a mother determined to make a name for herself, and quite frankly put her own brother to shame. She literally single handedly influenced the course of the Cold War and created a new buzz of excitement for the nuclear superpowers around the globe.

In fact as noted,"They didn’t know that she was a high-ranking Soviet intelligence officer. They didn’t know that her husband was also a spy, or that she was running powerful agents across Europe. Behind the facade of her picturesque life, Burton was a dedicated Communist, a Soviet colonel, and a veteran agent, gathering the scientific secrets that would enable the Soviet Union to build the bomb."

Who knew she was sneaking around putting transmitters in garden walls and yet at one point I recall reading how the plains flew right about her house yet still couldn't figure it out.

Fascinating to read her life while sending the kids to her nanny , leaving her own spy husband behind to fend for self in concentration camps, and later to learn he ended up working for the very people who nearly killed him.

The author further illustrates just how powerful of a spy she became, "Over the course of her career, she was hunted by the Chinese, the Japanese, the Nazis, MI5, MI6, and the FBI—and she evaded them all. Her story reflects the great ideological clash of the twentieth century—between Communism, Fascism, and Western democracy—and casts new light on the spy battles and shifting allegiances of our own times."

The ending was just mind blowing. To have numerous children raised quite frankly by a nanny who seemed to not carry any ill will against her for being a spy was spectacular. The end result of were those individuals are now and during the time of the encounter of this writing was beyond words.

I can't imagine even being afforded this opportunity to jot notes for a book on one of the most spectacular spies of our time.

A true diamond read for all those interested in such historical aspects during a Wartime era.

Book Review: "Shipped" By Angie Hockman

 

Sacrifices lead to promotion-Get it while it's HOT!

Ok, so Henley is one tough cookie who works her tail off for this dream job as she takes night classes for her MBA to pursue the ultimate in the cruise line industry.

Enter- HOT GUY- Graeme Crawford-Collins, also pursuing the same position (as luck would have it) and not the most easily accessible person to work with on boosting bookings.
You see- they're tasked via their boss- to set up this proposal together on the Galapagos Islands and report back to him with the results.

Loathing v. Liking is now in progress as these two finally hook up and encounter the trip of a lifetime.

Will happiness be on the agenda?
Will love be in the air?
Will they even care at the end who gets the promotion?
Will they both W-I-N?

Love is all you need because what's the point of work if you can't enjoy yourself and live?

The banter was not childish it was lovely and captured the essence of not only the charm but the excitement of being together and finding common ground.

An enjoyable read from every angle with plenty of entertainment to go around!

Book Review: "The House in the Cerulean Sea" By TJ Klune

The dangers of complacency, the moral norms of acceptance, the gracious approval of differences and the defeating norms of red tape surrounded by bureaucracy.

It's time we came together-Don't you think?

Not only is it time we had this discussion about a found family among the ruins of orphanages for supposedly troubled individuals but it's time we discussed openly our differences including our gender identity and what makes all of us God's children.

I'm not sure there's every been a book that made me laugh, cry, and love so deeply as this one has with The House In The Cerulean Sea.

When you stay true to yourself the world just falls into place. As an empath I feel things more than most and this book jumped off every single page with glamorous insight and insightful configurations to challenge acceptance.

Acceptance of one another, of our own differences, our own sexual gender orientation, and our own individual lives.

Life is what you make of it and these children such as the Anti-Christ (Lucy) or Linus the caseworker tasked with a devious cat and old records.
His life will change instantly by Extremely Upper Management with a Top Secret Classified arrangement.

That arrangement involves travelling to a island to meet up with six magical kids at this orphanage in determining how dangerous they are and whether or not they'll likely bring the end of days.

Armageddon be damned! These kids are staying and winning hearts all over the world.
Speaking of winning hearts- the master Arthur- finds more than just a lifeline but a partner for life and what could be more magical than that? The master will do anything to keep the kids safe and ironically even if everything burns he's still standing strong.

A love story fit for the ages, a masterful storytelling, a prompt show of unity, and a blessing to all.

Highly recommend this beautiful and powerful story that will fill your heart with joy!

Book Review: "An Accusation" By Wendy James

An overnight sensation! A powerful story of survival! A ton of alleged allegations powerful beyond words! A foster child named Ellie Canning that became aged out of a cruel system.

However, what if non of the above was true? What if there's more to this story than is being told?

What if a woman's entire career is on the line for simply being a fab teacher?
Authorities zero in on Susannah the teacher who claims her innocence. Ellie pushes the facts claiming she was abducted, kidnapped, taken to a basement, and abused.

Courts turn into media circuses as more evidence comes to light as the court of public opinion seeks blood.

Might we add that Suzannah is also the caretaker for her mother -Mary (dementia patient) as well as the new drama teacher at Enfield Wash High. Could something from her past cause others to doubt her better judgement? After all she's also a well-known actress during the nineties.

Could she be truly innocent of all charges?

The last thing Suzanne Wells expected was a knock at her door with announcement of being under arrest for the abduction and imprisonment of Eleesha Britney Canning.

It was like a nightmare that seemed to fit like a glove but yet the bigger they are the harder they fall.

Fall they did and in February 2019, Honor Fielding and Ellie Canning had some lengthy topics for discussion. David Lee , the self-styled soft-porn guy might also want to speak now or forever hold his peace.

Perverting justice...Criminal indemnity....Civil suits....

With the courts being full it's a happy day that Suzannah Wells and Chip Gascoyne were able to enjoy with their new bundle. A joyous February day as no further legal action is upon her and she gets to look ahead to the glorious new addition come March.

This was based on the Canning Affair according to the Author's Notes.
The Canning Affair involved an 18th century criminal case that captured a nation which remains unsolved.

Thank you to Wendy James, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Confessions of a Curious Bookseller" By Elizabeth Green

Loved it!! Quirky! Capricious! Fun!

The mannerisms, the competitive nature, the feisty encounters was splendid!
The Keystone State is in the house and I'm voting for Elizabeth Green to succeed.
It was this quote that helped seal the deal," Or the time our cousin from Wilkes-Barre (the smelly-one) took me to prom, and when he tried to kiss me and I called Father to pick me up, he didn't believe me and instead left me there with him." Enter sarcasm and sympathy as I currently reside in this small town that nobody knows how to pronounce. I'm trying to escape it all so bare with me.

So, now we know the author resides from the outskirts of Philly so she's got my vote.
Yes, this was quirky, entertaining, but also emotionally appealing with characters that you either love or love to hate. Either way it's -'Game On' with the competition against another bookstore that seems to constantly find successful ways to connive and steal alternative ideas to outnumber the opponents.

The way in which the email banter fell between Fawn Birchill-owner of West Philly used book store and the male owner of The Grumpy Mug.

The names of their bookshops are equally fitting as Fawn struggles to survive in a 'Dog Eat Dog' world.

If you're not from the area it may be hard to understand just how dire living here is but for me I found her narcissistic ways quite funny and her will to survive and protect her musty book store from faltering was exactly the suspense I needed -a depart from the thriller genre.
The ability to follow your dreams was experienced among the tulips but perhaps at times Fawn went outside what some would find the norm however after seeing what went on in our Capitol and around the world -what is normal anymore?

Surely, her demeanor has offset many of the positive reviews but I loved every bit of her fight or flight responses especially knowing her background with her family including her father.
The story is told through various emails, reviews, texts, and correspondence but that's where the magic resides so don't just gloss over them. The entire book is written using that correspondence so don't expect paragraph format.

In addition, the banter is exactly how two narcissists alpha type personas would have to go at it in this crazy world. In fact, I lived this love/hate relationship with my own malignant narcissist in which you have to tip-toe through it all without setting off the grenades. The gaslighting was part of the game along with the brainwashing. Anything you revealed would one up the competition and be used against you, so yes, I get it! It's the type of game in which you reveal just so much to see where the other stands. To find out what the other person is thinking you throw out some crumbs and bring them in. You tell a few extra white lies to see if they know what they're talking about. It's all mind games. The mood swings is also included free of charge, lol.

Harmless mind games and reverse psychology that made it interesting for me. However, the subsidence in the end wasn't what anyone could've expected.

The unseen side of Fawn comes out in the end with the sinkhole. She reaches out and extends that olive branch. She would give it all up to help which shows she does have a heart to some extent.

I'm not quite sure why so many low grade reviews on this one but I for one stand behind this debut and this review.

In the end, "as she wages her war, Fawn is forced to reflect on a few unavoidable truths: the tribulations of online dating, a strained relationship with her family, and a devoted if not always law-abiding intern—not to mention what to do about a pen pal with whom she hasn’t been entirely honest and the litany of repairs her aging store requires." That ending with the sinkhole, the truths to the pen pal, and the way in which she moves forward was perfect.

My best advice: Don't judge a book by its cover. Fawn is an example of the tug and pull we have to form opinions based on a few pieces of commentary without knowing the entire story. The side you see depends on your viewpoints. 

There are two sides to Fawn and you should embrace them both with the love, empathy, and compassion that's needed.
Carry on!