IT'S MONDAY!! WHAT ARE YOU READING - 8/31/20

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I hope you had a great reading week.

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE! 

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Currently reading: THE LIES THAT BIND by Emily Giffin

Review to follow

BOOKS UP NEXT FEW WEEKS:

THE MOONLIGHT CHILD by Karen McQuestion 

Review to follow

THE BEST OF FRIENDS by Lucinda Berry

Review to follow

THE DARKEST EVENING by Ann Cleeves 

Review to come following.

BLUE STRING(Blue Mountain Book 4) by Tess Thompson

Review to follow

THE DAY I DISAPPEARED by Brandi Reeds

Review to follow

NO PLACE TO FAR by Kay Bratt

Review to follow

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE: Golden Isles Series #1 by Lauren Clark

Review to follow

Mailbox Monday 8-31-2020

  Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists!!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books, has a permanent home now at Mailbox Monday.

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Here’s a shout out to the administrators:
Leslie @ Under My Apple Tree 
Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha @ Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf 

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THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive.

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I hope you had a good mailbox.

I had an AMAZING mailbox!!

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Monday August 24th I received:

1: THE GIRLS IN THE SNOW by Stacy Green, Courtesy of Bookouture and NetGalley

Tuesday August 25th I received:

2: THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS by Susan Meissner

3: RUNAWAY JUSTICE by Chad Zunker, courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley

A LIFE WITHOUT FLOWERS by Marci Bolden

 

 

This is the second book in a series. It's a heart wrenching story that continues where the first book, A Life Without Water, ended. A woman, Carol, who has lost so much. She's endured more tragedy than any one person should have too. The pain of losing a child is enough to send a person over the edge. Add to that the loss of two husbands and a childhood filled with lack of caring and understanding from her parents and you have a woman who could be at her breaking point. Carol went on a road trip in the first book with her ex-husband to try and put the past to rest and to make peace with him over the loss of their daughter. She had also lost her second husband who was the true love of her life to an accident that she partly blames herself for. 

Carol now is trying to make peace with her mother and learn how to forgive her father. Her dad was a man who pushed her to always do better. No matter how good she did things it was not enough for him. He wanted nothing less than perfection. My opinion is she was way to forgiving of both of her parents. She was a child when they pushed her most of the time. She wasn't allowed to have a childhood like other children. Through interactions with others is how she would learn to grow. To be a wife, mother and daughter. But they didn't allow it. She was made to practice everything that her dad wanted her to do until she had it to perfection. I would not forgive him even in death. I would not have been so eager to forgive the mother either. It's ok to make peace but her mom allowed the things to happen. She never took up for Carol and never treated her like a normal child. I loved her in-laws. Her mother in law from her second marriage is more than just a friend. She's a mom that Carol never had. She gives her great advice. I really liked her so much.

This story is very sad in places and will make you weep. It goes back to the first book a lot and talks about the things that happened in the past that got Carol to where she is now. The many losses. The fears. The loves. All the things that she needs to find a place for and to be able to move on. I recommend you do read the first book or in my opinion you will be a tad lost in this one. Or at least you will truly appreciate this one way more if you read the first one. I strongly recommend that you do.

This book had great characters. You will feel their loves and losses. The scenes are exceptional and draw you right in. The story is sad in so many places. When it goes back to the past you feel the pain that Carol feels. The tears will flow not doubt. It's a great story though. It will keep you wanting to read. You will want to know how she deals with everything. If she forgives her dad and mom. If she can make peace with the loss of her child. 

There is another book coming in this series. It will be the final I believe. Will Carol find closure for all and be able to move on with her life? Will she find happiness in a world of pain and hurt? She sure should. She deserves it completely. Time for her to take "one step at a time."

Thank you #NetGalley, #PinkSandsPublishers, #MarciBolden for this ARC. This is my own review.

A 4/5 stars and a high recommendation.

Mailbox Monday 8-24-2020

 

 Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists!!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books, has a permanent home now at Mailbox Monday.

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Here’s a shout out to the administrators:
Leslie @ Under My Apple Tree 
Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha @ Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf 

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THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive.

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I hope you had a good mailbox.

I had an AMAZING mailbox!!

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Wednesday August 12th, I received:

1: CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 By Lisa Unger, courtesy of Harlequin Park Row and NetGalley

2: WRONG ALIBI by Christina Dodd, courtesy of Harlequin Romance and NetGalley

3:ALL THE CHILDREN ARE HOME by Patry Francis, courtesy of Harper Perennial and NetGalley

Monday August 17th I received:

4: NOT MY BOY by Kelly Simmons, courtesy Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley

Books I have read and reviewed

 

Each of these books were very good. 4/5 and 5/5 star ratings. I recommend them all.

THE LAST OF THE MOON GIRLS by Barbara Davis

 

 

This book left me breathless. In tears, but not sad tears. Though it is a very emotional story and one that will make you cry in many places. It will also make you laugh out loud and in other places make your skin crawl. There is a lot going on in this story that will keep you turning the pages and wondering who did what. It’s a fiction with a mystery and some thriller all combined to make a story that is actually filled with true “magick.” From the first page to the very last word you will believe in magick. 

This is the story of Elzibeth/Lizzie Moon, her grandmother and her mother. It’s also the story of two girls who were murdered and put into the Moon Girl’s pond. Althea, Lizzie’s grandmother was the one blamed for these teenaged girls death. Lizzie’s goal is to prove her grandmother didn’t do this. What she goes through to prove this will leave you one the edge of your seat. You will be holding your breath and at the same time filled with anxiety for her. Lizzie is on a mission and will not let anything stop her. 

This book is about many emotions, love, sadness, loss, life, murder, mystery and magick. Throw in a few laughs and you have the perfect story. One that will keep you wanting more. You won’t want this one to end. It’s a heartfelt story of many women and the magick each one has. The story of a mother and daughter trying to find their way to each other. Of a grandmother who has the power to give them a push even from beyond. It’s not a paranormal by any means. It’s just the story that needed to be told now. One that will make you believe in things you never thought possible.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #LakeUnionPublishing, #BarbaraDavis for this ARC. This is my own heartfelt review.

A big 5/5 stars and a very high recommendation.. Read and enjoy.

LITTLE DISASTERS by Sarah Vaughan

 

 

This book started out strong and seemed to be one that I was going to really enjoy. Though it is not a thriller in any sense of the word, it is a mystery/women’s fiction. The writing is very well developed and the characters are all pretty likable. My problem is that it started dragging and didn’t pick back up until close to the end. This book could have been cut down and really been so good. It has great promise but way to much detail. I don’t usually say anything negative about a book but this one in my opinion needs it. It’s really a good story but just way to much detail. I understand you have to know all the characters and their background stories, but this one went a bit to far. It took away from this story. It’s a good story but needs to be a bit less. Sometimes less is more.

This story starts out with a woman losing her mind because her newborn baby won’t stop crying. She’s tried everything and nothing seems to work. It then goes right into the story of four women. One, Liz, works at the hospital in the UK as a Pediatrician doctor. The setting is 2018 and it’s a cold January night. She’s called to the ER to check on a baby girl who was brought in. When Liz finds out who the baby is she is a bit concerned. Jess is a wonderful mother who dotes on her children. She’s a good person and would never do anything to harm her children. She has two boys and this baby girl, Betsey. After checking Betsey Liz concludes that there is trauma to the back of her skull and wants more tests. She questions Jess about it by Jess is very vague in her answers.  After finding that Betsey has a fractured skull she tries to get Jess to tell her something. Anything to explain how this happened. She finally has no choice but to call children’s services. 

Jess is a wonderful mother but also one who needs sleep. With a baby and two older boys she is running on fumes. When her husband, Ed, finds Betsey in her crib crying and sees she has vomited he becomes very concerned. He insists Jess take her to the ER right away. Jess is very afraid of what is going to happen. Is her baby girl going to be ok or is something terribly wrong. She’s having thoughts that scare her also. Like what if she hurts her baby. She is suffering with postpartum depression and doesn’t know it. No one does. She keeps her feelings in, afraid to tell anyone the sinister thoughts that come to her mind.

There are several characters in this book and none see that Jess has any problems. Not even her best friend, Liz. Either they are not paying much attention or Jess is able to hide her postpartum from them all. Even her husband. Everyone thinks she is the perfect mother. Until she takes Betsey to the hospital. Then it seems they all have something to say. Typical of a group of women I believe. Instead of standing up for their friend they think the worst. 

While this is going on there is another side story going on. It’s about Liz’s mother and another baby girl. It’s easy to follow but to me unnecessary to this story. It’s interesting but still I could have done without it. It didn’t seem to attribute to the story except to shed some light on Liz’s life, though I still don’t understand what the baby had to do with it. Just another story of a baby I guess. It would be a good start to another book. I’m sorry but it just didn’t help me at all. 

The friends could have been there for Jess during this awful time. Most thought she was a great mom but when asked they sure loves putting their two cents worth in about things. Even Liz seemed a bit evasive about Liz. She was very close to the mom and baby so she had to step back but still... I did love who Liz finally got to the root of what happened and then another twist is thrown in that to me was just unbelievable. I can’t believe any child would do what the main on in this story did or said. When afraid most children do whatever it takes to make things better. That is my opinion and I didn’t believe how things played out about what really did happen. It was just to out there. Like it was thrown in to keep the story going.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SarahVaugh, #Atriabooks for this ARC. This is my own feelings and review.

I gave it 3/5 stars and say read if for yourself. You may see something I didn’t and may love it. It’s a good story, just to much about each character for me.

THE FIRST TO LIE by Hank Philippi Ryan

 

 ... everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story. PATRICK ROTHFUSS, THE NAME OF THE WIND

Without any sneaky fine print and knowing everything you know, if you could start your adult life over as someone else, would you do it?

Mirrors make such false promises. They tell you: Look here, and you’ll see yourself.

But that’s the first lie. You see a face and a boy, sure. But a mirror doesn’t show your TRUE self.

This book will definitely keep you on edge. Guessing. Wanting to know who did what to whom and why. It’s told primarily from three perspectives. Nora, who works for a pharmaceutical company, Pharminex. Ellie, who is a new to the area news reporter working on a story involving Pharminex. And Meg, Ellie’s assistant who has some pretty crazy ways of getting info. Then there are side stories that go back to an earlier time. Lacey who marries into the Vanderwald family and Brooke who is the daughter to the Vanderwalds. The Vanderwalds own Pharminex. 

This book started out a bit slow for me but it did pick up and take off with a bang. It’s a definite page turner and will keep you guessing. Until a certain point. I did figure out who was who and why they were doing the things they did. But that didn’t deter from the story at all. It’s a story about a pharmaceutical company who does some pretty unethical things. Like most in real life do daily. The main plot in this story is centered around Pharminex and a drug called, Monifan. Monifan is suppose to help women who can’t get or stay pregnant. But it has some side affects that are horrible. It can make a woman not be able to conceive or carry a baby at all. It ruined several women’s lives and thus the story Ellie is working on comes to light.

This book has several characters and if you keep them straight that is great. It’s done well. In a way that you should find easy to follow. The beginning, Epigraph, will pull you right in. Then it will alternate between some of the characters. It really is a great story that will keep you wanting more. You will want to know how Nora, Ellie and Meg are woven together. You will want to know if or how Lacey and Brooke are going to play out. Even the characters, Guy, Gabe, Liam and Trevor, all play very important roles in this story. It’s well written, well developed and the plot is spot on. The intense scenes will keep you holding your breath and wanting more. It’s really a good, very good story.  You will feel like you are right in the middle of things and can’t escape. In the lives of a very rich and powerful family. In the heart of a young girl on the brink of becoming a woman, who’s life is turned upside down. In the mind of a mother who thinks she knows what is best for her daughter. For a wife who only wants to become a mother.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #HankPhillippiRyan, #Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this arc. This is my review.

I gave it 4/5 stars and a high recommendation.. A must read.

UNTIL I FIND YOU by Rea Frey

CURRENTLY READING.

I’ll post a review when I finish it. 

This is the second of three books by this author that I have read and loved. It’s a very touching, loving, story of many losses and a love so deep nothing can stop it. Nothing can take it away. Nothing can stop the feelings of a mother who is looking for her child who has been taken. This is my favorite Rea Frey book.

Rebecca/Bec is a new mother. She’s also blind. She has had a year that is more than most could ever endure. She lost her husband, her mother, her sight and now her three month old baby boy. Who could do such a horrible thing. Bec always meets her friends at the park. Each has a child and each knows the love of a mother. It runs deep. Did one of them take her baby and leave a total stranger in his place. Do any of them believe her about her son being taken?

Rebecca goes through something that is so horrible. So unforgivable. So heartbreaking. She feels so alone. No one seems to believe her when she says that the baby in her home is not her son. But she knows. She knows her son. She may be blind, but she knows. On one can convince her that this baby is hers. But she’s not heartless. She worries about this little boy too. Why is he in her son’s crib. Who would do such a horrible thing to her.

When it seems all else has failed Rebecca does what she has to do to find her baby boy. She won’t stop until she has Jackson back where he belongs. Her friends help her as much as they can and a long ago love reappears. Jake was the love of Rebecca’s life until his job took him away. She had her reasons for staying behind. She had a promising career as a Cello player.

Crystal is Rebecca’s best friend. They met at grief counseling and immediately hit it off. They became fast friends. Both lost their husbands and both have a child. Crystal has a 10 year old daughter she’s raising on her own. She has a nanny to help but she misses her husband so much that she’s not totally there for her daughter. As much as Crystal wants to help Rebecca, she is not sure whether the baby is truly not Jackson or not. She’s never really looked at him. Never held him. She just doesn’t know. But she does know that Bec is a wonderful mother and that something is definitely wrong.

This story is told from two views. Rebecca’s and Crystal’s. Each has a story to tell too. Each has many things going on in their lives. Each has lost to much. They have friends that are there but do they really know them. Do they really know each other? There are many twists going on in this book. Two stories actually told. There’s Rebecca’s story and Crystal’s story. Of each of their lives and losses. Things going on that only they can understand. They have a close friendship. Rebecca is giving Crystal’s daughter Cello lessons too. Crystal’s daughter needs attention. Attention from her mother not the nanny.

This book is so good. It’s a heartfelt story of a mother’s love for her baby boy. What she is willing to do to get him back. The forgiveness she has in her heart for others. The kindness she has. It’s the story of several mothers. All with problems of their own. One knows what happened. I didn’t figure it out. Can you?

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ReaFrey, #StMartin’sPress for the ARC of this book. This is my own true review.

I gave it a 5/5 stars and the highest recommendation. A must read.

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR by Ellen Marie Wiseman

 

 This book is the best one yet by this author and she writes some very good books. It’s such an emotional and touching story. It will leave you breathless. It’s filled with things that really did happen and the young girl Pia was so likable. She never, ever, gives up. I loved her.

In 1918 the Spanish flu hit America with a vengeance, killing so many. Leaving so many children without parents and so many parents without their children. This book is a story of one place where it hit and hit hard. Where children were placed in orphanages after the loss of their parents. Where parents were given children after losing theirs. It’s fiction but will leave you wondering how often some of these things really happened. Reading this during a pandemic in 2020 is a bit scary. But I’m so glad I read this book. It touched my heart. Broke my heart. Brought tears to my eyes many times. 

Pia is only thirteen during the Spanish flu outbreak. She’s scared and trying her best to care for her baby twin brothers. She’s lost her mom and her dad is in the army so she has to do what she can to keep herself and her brothers alive. She leaves to go find food so they won’t starve but falls ill and can’t get back. When she finally does her baby brothers are gone. She will spend the next several years looking for them. She never gives up hope that they are alive and well. She’s taken from the hospital to an orphanage where she begs for help finding her bothers. The worse thing is the nuns in the orphanage seem so mean and cruel. I will never understand how anyone can be so cruel to children. They are our helpless little victims. They are the future. Pia is finally sent to work for a family and her life changes forever. 

Bernice Groves lost her child to the flu. I felt sorry for her for that but she is truly an evil woman who I ended up hating. I never ever, not once, felt sorry for her again. She took Pia’s brothers when Pia was in the hospital. But not for the right reasons. She needed them to help her. They gave her a reason to live. But she was truly a bad woman. She did things that will make your blood boil. She hurt people, children, families. She hated children of immigrants and thought they were less than human. Kind of like some people still are sadly. Bernice is a very selfish person who thinks the only people who count are Americans. Everyone else needs to leave.

This is a very good story of love, loss, death, devastation, heartache, love, family and much more. There are several characters you will truly love and root for. There are also some that you will want to see destroyed. Well maybe want to see them get what they deserve. Being cruel to any child is just unacceptable. There are lots of very kind people though and you will love them and the good things they do. You will cry at the loss of a child and rejoice at the life of another. Yes this is a very emotional book. But so worth reading. 

The author shares NOTES at the end that are so worth reading. It’s very obvious she put a lot of work and research into this book. I think it was so well done and the emotions are so real. It’s just an all around great book. Thank you Ellen Marie Wiseman for writing this story. 

Thank you #NetGalley, #EllenMarieWiseman, #KensingtonBooks for this ARC. This is my review as told from my heart.

5/5 stars and it needs to be more and a very high recommendation to all. 

THE NIGHT SWIN by Megan Goldin

 From the very start of this book you get the sense something sinister is about to happen. It’s a very intense and touchy subject. A story of a young girl who is raped. Then in many ways raped again by the very courts that promise to give her closure. Promise to make her world safe again. Promise that the man who did this to her will pay. 

THE TRAUMA OF TESTIFYING IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY SO MANY RAPE VICTIMS OPT NOT TO TESTIFY AND WHY SO MANY RAPES ARE NEVER PROSECUTED.

TWO RAPES. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS APART. IN THE SAME TOWN.

This is the story of a young girl, Kelly Moore, who was brutally raped by a boy who had it all. He was an athlete and on his way to becoming famous. One mistake is all it took for her life to be completely torn to shreds. Trusting one boy who promised to give her a ride home. Getting into his car would change her life forever. 

Rachel has a podcast called: GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY. She is in town to cover a rape case and bring it to people who listen to her podcast and let them decide if the boy in question is guilty or not. Many things happen in this story that will make you cringe. Make you feel so sad. Make you wonder exactly how someone can get away with things. Whether now or twenty-five years ago. Rachel is contacted by a woman who use to live in the town. Who’s sister was raped, over and over, then murdered. Who’s murder was covered up by everyone. Who’s life was ruined by the same boys who terrorized her over and over throughout that summer. Now Hannah is back and she wants justice for her sister. She wants Rachel to help her.

Hannah was just a child when her sister, Jenny age 16, was murdered. Jenny went through something that would unforgivable. She was beaten over and over. Raped by several boys over and over. There was one boy who did not participate but to me he was still very guilty. He didn’t get her any help. He was afraid and that is understandable in a sense. But it’s not really unforgivable in my humble opinion. Hannah wanted justice for her sister and she sought the help of Rachel. You will hear what happened back then in Hannah’s words. The words of a nine year old child who doesn’t understand exactly what was going on. She will break your heart so many times. Her love for her sister is so strong and has not diminished one bit in the many years it’s been. With Rachel’s help will she find justice for Jenny. Will Kelly get justice for what happened to her. Will anyone pay for what happened those many years ago. Will justice truly be served or will a rapist go free? 

This is a very deep story that will have you hanging onto every word. It’s not graphic or I would not have been able to read it all the way through. It’s told in a way that will leave you turning the pages and wanting someone to pay for the things they did. Both now and twenty-five years ago. It’s not until about 75 percent of the way into this story that things get really compelling. Things are told that will make your skin crawl. The tears will flow for the pain that is caused to young women. No one deserves to be treated the way either of the young girls in this story are treated. It’s told in a way that you will feel like you are there. On the beach, in the woods, in the courtroom. You will root for the true victims in this book or you just are not human at all.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #MeganGoldin, #StMartin’sPress for this ARC. This is my own review.

It’s a big 5/5 stars and a very high recommendation. 

HIS & HERS by Alice Feeney

There are at least two sides to every story: Yours and mine. Ours and theirs. His and hers. Which means someone is always lying.
We are a species capable of horrific acts, and incapable of learning from the lessons our own history tries to teach us.
The truth is that life broke us, and when we finally acknowledge that we didn’t know how to fix each other, we stopped trying.
You are more than the worst thing you’ve ever done. 
There are at least two sides to every story: yours and mine, ours and theirs, his and hers....

This is hands down my favorite book by Alice Feeney. It pulled me in from the very first and didn’t disappoint anywhere throughout. It was told with such passion and beauty even though it’s a dark thriller that will keep you on edge and wondering who did it. I thought I had it all figured out but was in for a huge shock. Every guess I made was so wrong and that hardly ever happens. This book is great. Best of this series. Hands down the best book by this author.

This book is about a lot of things, mainly murder. The murder of someone that Anna, who is a reporter, went to school with. Who at one time was her best friend. Anna was raised by her mother who did everything she could for her after Anna’s dad left them. She worked hard to make things better for Anna. Anna didn’t always appreciate the things her mum did for her though. She just didn’t understand. Not until she became a mum herself. Even then she didn’t go see her mum like she should have. She had a busy life as a reporter and didn’t want to return to Blackdown for anyone. It held bad memories for Anna.

Jack, Anna’s ex husband, was the DCI on the case of Rachel, who was murdered. He lives with demons of his own and is surprised when Anna is the one covering the story of the woman killed in the woods. Things are not great for Jack. He’s living with his sister and her little girl and it’s not the best relationship. But he does the best he can. He’s never truly got over his love for Anna. He’s helped her mother who is suffering from dementia and tries to tell Anna how bad things are. Jack is a good man and you will root for him throughout this story. Almost always. 

This book is told from three different people. Anna, Jack and the murder. You will have many guesses but my guess is you will know figure it out. This is really a very twisted story that takes you places you won’t soon forget. The trip through the woods. It’s so realistic you will feel as if you are there. In the depths of the underbrush. The darkness that is common in thick groves of trees. The many twists and turns. From the young girls to the older women who know these woods well. 

I really did like almost all the characters in this book. Some more than others. I felt for some very deeply. My heart went out to them. Some I honestly wanted to smack hard. I didn’t like a few of them at all. Overall though you will root for most to make it. There are some twist that you probably won’t see coming.

I received an audio of this book and though I did love the voices on it, I had bought a paperback copy and read it from there. I’m not good at listening to books. I would much rather read it for myself. It was narrated excellently though for anyone that loves audio. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #AliceFeeney, #Flatironbooks for the audio of this story. This is my own review.

I had to give this a 5/5 stars and the highest recommendation. Grab it, read it, live it... if you dare.