Book Review: "The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club" By Faith Hogan

Riveting! Dynamic! Powerful!

Faith Hogan has managed to fulfill every emotion within one book.
Honestly, I don't know how she check marked every box with honesty, love, devotion, faith, and humility but she has and was able to consistently bring the compassion, empathy, and riveting characters to life with every turn of the page.

WOW!

The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club is an absolute must read as it tackles many difficult and life altering subject matters. Whether it's an alarming health issue as Jo is facing, a life altering event that her daughter Lucy now faces after divorcing Jack, an alarming after-the-fact problem presented with Eric and Elizabeth's past relationship or a simple matter of speaking one's truths to find one's freedoms.

Every bit of it is relevant, timely, and on-point and it hits your hard without even being aware it's coming at you like a full blown train wreck.

It's not often I find a book that can drain me emotionally while fulfilling me at the same time with that tug-and-pull of uncovering one's zest in life.
What will be your legacy?

How will you live out your life?

Will you be happy in your current state? Are you really living the life you're meant to live?
So many questions that are posed for discussion that will make this a lovely book club discussion read for those seeking a book that stirs up plenty of invigorating and inviting topics.

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

Book Review: "Family Reunion" By Nancy Thayer

Nancy Thayer has proven time and time again why she deserves all the praise and glory.

Family Reunion was a wonderful new read that was full of excitement, family tensions, and exhilarating romances.

I've read many books over the years in this genre of women's fiction, romance, chick lit and I have to say that Nancy Thayer is one of my all time favorite author's in this category.
It's not easy to paint constant perfection upon paper. Many want a beach read but don't prefer flawed characters. The reviewers I've read prefer 'easy street' as compared to the 'life of hard knocks.'

Luckily, for you I'm not into likeable characters nor would I rate a book on whether or not the characters are likeable. For me, I stress the fact that I rate based on emotional appeal, quality writing, skills and talent that come across on paper but more importantly in my thoughts, feelings, and overall book appeal.

Would I select a book based on the cover? NO!
Would I select a book based on characters alone? NO!

Family reunion is about life's struggles. It's about romance. It's about pain. It's about heartbreak and everything one can expect to find in a 'not -so-perfect-world.'

It begins with the granddaughter Ari trying to find her place in the world. Will she be ostracized or accepted in life once the truth of her 'full' actions have been revealed.

 It's one thing to be on 'top of the world' in one's twenties but it's entirely different to face challenges head on and she literally must do that in more ways than one with Peter in her life.

This breakup was just the tip of the iceberg as her entire career, life's ambitions, and her education are all on the line.

With this noted, Eleanor was our main character, and mother of Alicia and Cliff. These family dynamics are powerful. The fact that adults are trying to convince her to sell her property for a cut of 15mill is just part of the downtrodden mean and rotten game that she must endure.

When you find that you're capable of standing on your own but want the world to give handouts you uncover that perhaps you're not cut out for adulthood.

While I've read more comments about another similar author in this genre I think it's awful that anyone would compare and contrast.

We are all given talents and you must use those talents to your greatest abilities.
I'm absolutely honored to have received an advanced reader copy in exchange for this honest review.

I'm in love with this author's writing style, her sense of compassion, her ability to portray rough edges as eloquently as perfection, and her talent in showing that diamonds are forged from glass.

Amen! Carry on! 

Book Review: "The Siren" By Katherine St. John

This is just an excerpt as I was declined for the full version on Netgalley.

So, therefore I can't say a whole heck of a lot based on a few measly pages but what I can say is that this may turn out to be a good solid read.

There's multiple pov's with a tropical breezy feel to the plot so the interest is certainly present and the characters seem to have a strong grasp on the concepts.

From what I hear there's plenty of sun, sex, and fun but there's a storm brewing in the horizon. In fact, it's more of a hurricane. So best be safe out there.

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

Book Review: "It Had To Be You" By Georgia Clark

Love is in the air. However, you may want to get ready because this is a 'catch all' scenario in which someone's going to have their heart broken while others may just laugh all the way to the bank.

I wrongly assumed this would be about Liv and Eliot who forged this wedding planner business in the heart of NYC.

Instead, we had multiple characters 'getting it on' and it was heavily weighed down with fluff.
Eliot dies and leaves the business venture to Savannah his girlfriend.

From that point on we have everybody messing with everyone else and sexual gender and identity comes into play.

It wasn't my thing but perhaps it may be something you'd be interested in.

Thank you to Georgia Clark, Atria, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Ocean Prey" By John Sandford

Well folks, what can I say other than to never double cross the Mafia or you'll get your arse killed.

Anyone should know this by now as John Sandford creates this alluring drug deal gone sour in the middle of the ocean.

Nothing is as it seems with Virgil on the prowl and his buddy U.S. Marshall Bob. No worries, Bob and his girlfriend are  caught up in the tangled web. They may or may not live to tell the story in the end.

The plot involves a three-some. The FBI, Marshalls, and this little well known ditty of assassins who are ready to take out more than a few key players.

Several of the good guys then go into disguise and play this one out as pro divers.
After all, we can't have a no-name picking up heroine at the bottom of the ocean floor -now can we?

Ok, all in all this was a bit out there for someone not interested in diving, drugs, or the like and it didn't really tickle my fancy as much as his past works.

Going after the top seed in this ring of crooks and cons is par for the course and it takes an army of men to get it done.

Surely, the name of the game is to capture your prey whether that is accomplished on land, by air, or by water.

Check it out. See what you think.

Book Review: "The Russian Cage" By Charlaine Harris

 

First and foremost I must note I read this on Cloud Library. I did eventually receive the Goodreads Giveaway that was won back in February roughly a week after finally getting to read this e-read through Bibliotheca.

Here is that information for those who might be interested:

You received your copy on Thu, Apr 22 2021.

Books shipped on Tue, Mar 23, 2021.

Format:
Print book

Availability:
100 copies available, 6295 people requesting

Giveaway dates:
Feb 08 - Feb 22, 2021

I'm also in possession of over 300 Arc's and trying to get out of a reader's slump for weeks. Therefore, upon reading this I forgot to even leave a review until today.

I literally had to go back to my history logs on Cloud Library to recall the date I read this one so I do apologize as I've forgotten much of what I read at this point.

This book for me was simply ok but it wasn't anything as noted earlier that I'd honestly remember days after reading.

I was interested in this selection because I have Ukranian and Polish ancestry and I thought this would be a perfect fit.

As others have noted the language was a bit too much for my taste and the plot didn't really stir up any emotions.

Apparently, Lizbeth receives a letter from her half sister Felicia. Within that letter is a hint of trouble. Action is needed to help her past lover Eli escape out of prison. The thought itself stirs some dormant emotions from Lizbeth as she realizes her past feelings are still present.
This had several characters ie. Felix with some magical powers but it was tedious reading to endure.

Thank you to Bibliotheca via Cloud Library for this read.

The Goodreads Giveaway will be donated to one of my local libraries.

Book Review: The Woman With The Blue Star By Pam Jenoff

 

Have you ever had a book that you couldn't wait to read but had to find enough quality time to provide to the author because you knew it required your undivided attention?

This is just such a book because it arises from the masterful storyteller -Pam Jenoff.

I'm absolutely in awe of this author because she writes so effortlessly yet the words literally jump off the pages and grasp you with tenacity unlike anything I've ever read before.

The Woman with the Blue Star was so heart-wrenching that it required an entire box of Kleenex.

Can you just imagine what this young Jewish girl Sadie endured while hiding in a sewer? While this may be historical fiction but this friendship is extraordinary between Sadie and her wealthy new friend Ella.

Both are in need of the other's support in more ways than one and both strive and survive because of that comradery.

It's a wonderful new piece that I cannot recommend enough. This should be required reading to understand just how powerful words can become when placed strategically on paper.

Empathy, compassion, and love is something we need more of in this world.

Thank you Pam Jenoff for this beautiful piece.