Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester

 

My thoughts

I have to admit this is one of my favorite books. From the first page to the last. Yes it made me cringe in so many places and parts were pretty sickly. The thought of what was happening was truly sickening. Not just the things that were happening to some of the women inside themselves but how the so called religious men treated them. 

Three time frames. Three women. All interconnected by blood. The horrors of what happened. This book is not for the faint of heart in any way. But it's so good. I devoured it. From 1750, 1953, and 2007. The women in each time are expected to be so obedient and godly. Wifely. Motherly. To be just what their husbands want them to be. 

In 1750 there was Anna Bolton and her daughter Florence. They had to flee their home for a new place because of being accused of being witches. Florence was so angry at her mother. The land they called home began to flourish. Some others came there and they all seemed to do good. Until something happened. Then it was darkness and dread to be passed down for ages...

In 1953 you meet Mary. Mary was a descendent of Anna and Florence. Mary fell in love with the wrong person. She was married and had a child. A little girl. Her friend Vera also had secrets. The men made the rules and women had to abide them or face the consequences. 

In 2007 there is Camilla. A young lady who wants more. She has always been the obedient preacher's daughter. A good girl. Her mother was a descendent of Anna and Florence also. And of course of Mary. This era was about Camilla though. Anna's daughter. Anna was a resilient and courageous young lady. She tried to do what was right but when she reached her limit things happened.

Through this whole story there is a tree. A mighty Walnut tree....

Thank you St Martin's Press and Brilliance Audio for this ARC. Also thank you to St Martin's for the beautiful hardcopy they sent me. 

Five stars 

About

Three women. Three centuries. One legacy of fury, love, and a power that refuses to die

In this fiercely captivating novel, horror meets historical fiction when a curse bridges generations, binding the fates of three women. Anne Bolton, a healer facing persecution for witchcraft, bargains with a dark entity for protection—but the fire she unleashes will reverberate for centuries. Mary Shephard, a picture perfect wife in a suffocating community, falls for Sharon and begins a forbidden affair that could destroy them both. And Camilla Burson, the rebellious daughter of a preacher, defies conformist expectations to uncover an ancient power as her father’s flock spirals into crisis. 

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

 

My thoughts

Another winner from one of my favorite authors. 

How do I begin. This book took me completely by surprise in many ways. A lot of people were killed writing this one. In a manner of speaking. I didn't figure it out. I didn't figure out which sister was the murderer. Maybe it was both. 

Two sisters. Both accusing the other of murdering their father. He was not just murdered, he was demolished. Shredded. Picturing the scene was gruesome indeed. Each sister called the police. Each blamed the other. Could they have been working together to get the millions that awaited them. Or was one just greedy enough to want it all for herself...

There were a few times I gasped out loud reading this book. It felt so real. The speed of the motorcycle. The rush of the wind. The plunging of an ax into a person or person's head. The howl of a dog. The opening of the doors and holding your breath until you find out who was taken out. The reason you already know. No lose ends. Tie it all up. Set up your sister. Inherit it all. You are set for life. And you have one of the best lawyers there is; Eddie Flynn. 

This book kept me turning the pages. I found it to be both heartbreaking and making me hold my breath. How can two sisters be so filled with hate. What happened to cause that. One seemed to be emotionless in so many ways. The other maybe a bit to emotional. Maybe.

Thank you Atria Books for this ARC.

4.75 stars 

About

Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other. Who do you believe?

“911 what’s your emergency?”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one? 

The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini

 

My thoughts

First thing you need to know about this book is that it's so good. 

It also has a few triggers. Miscarriage, though it's only talked about lightly. Also the death of a baby. Not elaborated on but mentioned. 

I listened to the audio and it was great. The three narrators kept this story going at a great pace and gave much emotion. Brought it to life. Made it feel more realistic. I appreciate that. 

When Lauren is confronted with the suspicion that the little boy she has was taken from another couple she is distraught. It can't be happening. She has his birth record. His passport. He is hers. Or is he? She does the only thing she knows to do.... She runs. With the help of her very understanding neighbor Gabe, Lauren has a place to go. To hide. To come to terms with what is about to happen.

Hope and Drew are new parents. After three miscarriages they are finally going to have the baby they dreamed of. What more could they want. Drew it seems wants other women. Or another woman. He has an affair but confesses to his wife. Hope of course is devastated. She is also way more understanding that most women would be. Especially when it came out. When Drew told her. He wasn't to bright. But then was it truly over. When Hope goes into premature labour then their baby has to have surgery they have to work together. For the sake of their baby they put everything else aside. Some very big secrets.... 

This is a heartfelt book. I didn't find it to be a thriller but a who is who. Who was this woman that took Sam. Why did she take him. Whose child is he. Was he the product of a surrogacy or is it the mental derangement of a women who has nothing left to lose. Who truly believes he is hers. Or is this a punishment for something way more sinister. Still not a thriller. But a heartbreaking story of two mothers, one father, and a little boy. 

I cried my eyes out in the last few chapters. It was a very good story. From start to finish. Even when things started coming out it was surprise after surprise for me. I had no idea. This story was truly easy to follow. It was a very quick read for me too. 

Thank you Harper Perennial and HarperAudio Adult for the ARC.

4.75 stars 

About

The internationally bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge returns with a twisty thriller about a missing child and three adults whose shared secrets and hidden history could prove deadly.

“I need to report a crime. My baby has been stolen.”

All Lauren wants is a new life in Spain. She’s suffered an unimaginable loss, but at last she has found a home in the pretty seaside town of Mantilla de Mar. Everyone deserves a new start, and Lauren needs to put her past firmly behind her.

Hope has an interesting career as a therapist, an attractive husband, a dream home in the countryside - and, finally, the baby she always longed for. Sam. Her beautiful boy.

But Sam has gone missing.

So when the police tell her that a woman has been found in Spain with a child matching Sam’s description, Hope thinks that her nightmare might be coming to an end.

But Lauren is insisting Sam is her baby. She even has his passport and birth certificate to prove it.

So what really happened to Baby Sam? And who still has secrets to hide?

One child. Two mothers. And a past that won’t let them go.

The Devil's Glove by Lucretia Grindle

 

My thoughts

I’m not sure what to say. I was expecting a story about witches. No mention of witches until the last couple of chapters. I’m not saying this book was bad though. It was just not a book about witches. Witch trials. Accusations of witches. Anything witches. The last few chapters brought out talk of the main character and her mother possibly being accused of being witches. 

I was going to go right into the second book and may still. At this point maybe it will be what I expect. 

A story of a girl who lives with her mother in the 17th century while it seems her father is abroad working. Maybe he just left them. Who knows. Not a whole lot about him. 

I’m really at a loss as to what to say about this book. It was good but not a story about witches or trials or witchcraft. No accusations of witchcraft really. Talk of it near the end is all. It was good but left me with a lot of head scratching. I’m hoping that when I do read the second book I’ll be able to give a better review. I can’t even remember names in this one. Well except Abigail. Abigail was somewhat of a wild child. Possibly even a murderer. And Thaddeus. He was Abigail’s older brother and a love interest to the main character. 

I gave this one 3 stars. It will not be a memorable read for me. 

About

Northern New England, summer, 1688.

A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.

Salem started here.

Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They're known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.

Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when they are summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.

As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.

THE DEVIL'S GLOVE is a meticulously researched tale of supernatural suspense and intrigue, based on the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Will Resolve be able to uncover the truth before the town tears itself apart, or will she become the next victim of the village's dark and mysterious past?

The Haunting Of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

 

My thoughts

This book is so good. A bit over the top, but still so good. It has just enough family drama, inheritance info, creepy vibes, scary and thriller effect, to keep you wanting to know the truth. Is it really a family curse, a family gift, a folklore, or just someone playing a mean cruel trick?

Samantha inherits nothing when her grandfather dies. Well she can inherit quite a bit if she stays in the family home for a month. Just one month. Other family are upset over this. They think they should inherit this. So Sam does along with her aunt. Almost immediately Sam's aunt goes missing. The local sheriff is called and things go from there. The caretaker is a man who Sam knows. His younger brother was killed on this land. By Sam's dad. Or at least that is what Sam always said. Her grandfather was angry over this. He insisted that Sam was wrong and he wants her to stay on the land in hopes of her finding the truth.

This book is another great by Kelley Armstrong. One of my favorite authors. She writes in a way that you begin to believe in things that are in no way possible. Or are they? This book kept me on edge in a few places and had me questioning everyone. I had so many suspects that I may have invented a few. I was wrong on every account.

Sam needs this inheritance to help her mother stay in an assisted care facility. For herself to be able to go back to college. And to help Ben, the one whose brother was murdered. Or to continue with the helping of his dad. Sam and Ben work together to solve the mystery of what happened to Sam's aunt and maybe what really happened to Ben's younger brother.

I enjoyed this book. It would be a perfect Halloween read. Maybe even a book group read. All the mystery and edge of your seat thrills. Along with a glimpse into the legend of the headless horseman. Only he is on this land now. And he will hurt anyone who hurts "HER."

Thank you St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. It was my BOTM choice last month ago also.

4.5 stars

About

From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a nail-biting supernatural horror about a haunted lakeside property and twisted family secrets.

When Samantha Payne’s grandfather dies, she figures she won’t even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn’t seen him in fourteen years, not since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakefront cottage. Her grandfather always insisted her father was innocent, despite Sam having caught him burying the child’s body, his clothing streaked with blood.

But when she does attend the reading of the will at the behest of her aunt, she discovers that her grandfather left her the very valuable lakefront property where the family cottage sits. There’s one catch: Sam needs to stay in the cottage for a month. To finally face the fact she was wrong and her father was innocent, in her grandfather's words.

Traveling to Paynes Hollow, Sam is faced with the realities of her childhood and the secrets kept hidden in the shadows of her memories. When her aunt goes missing a couple days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything again. Plagued by nightmares and paranoia, she begins hearing sounds in the forest and seeing shapes crawling from the water as the rippling waves of the lake promise something unspeakably dark lurking just below their surface.

Fallen City by Adrienne Young

 

My thoughts

To say that I enjoyed this book is not even close to realistic. I loved it. I devoured it. This one captured me and now I have to wait for the sequel.....

A boy and girl fall in love story and so much more. Told from the before and the now. By Maris and Luca. As their love story unfolds. As a war begins. As they are torn apart.

Maris and Luca are both being used. Maris's mother and Luca's uncle only need them in a political way. Maris will carry on after her mother dies and Luca after his uncle. They are from different places and not suppose to be together. But they are. They fall in love. They are meant to be together despite all that stands in their way. 

This story keeps you turning the pages. Keeps you wanting to see Maris and Luca end up together. For each to be able to do what is needed for their people. But some things are just destined for a different outcome. 

Well written and with so much love. So much meaning. There is a lot of action in this story. A lot to take in. Quite a lot of characters, but not where you have to keep them straight. They are just there. In the fighting. In the friendships. In the play. In these two fall in love even though it was very much forbidden. From two different worlds and on opposite sides in a battle raging on the horizon, they fall deeply in love. But will they be able to hold on to that love. Will it work out for them or against them. I guess we will find out in the sequel. 

The ending or last few chapters had my heart breaking but hopeful. 

Thank you St Martin's and Saturday Books, Macmillan Audio, for this arc. 

5 stars 

About

In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

 

My thoughts

This author is an automatic go to for me. I read her first two books and grabbed this one as soon as I could. It is her best yet. Though the other two were so good too.

I listened to the audio along with reading an ARC. The narrator did a magnificent job. She gave this story so much life and depth. Made it come alive. 

Living in this timeframe had to be so hard for women. The 1950s. It's before I was even born so I wonder how the women in my family dealt. The best they could I suppose. 

The women in this story are all neighbors. Friends. All mothers and wives. They had schedules. Actual schedules that they were expected to adhere too. A layout for their days. Cleaning, primping, cooking, laundry, visiting each other. And yes they judged each other. Why women never have stood together is more than my fickle mind can comprehend. Together possibly we could make it a much nicer place. But that was not how it was nor is it how it is now....

When the huge twist is reveal, and I mean huge, I actually gasped out loud. I also broke out in tears. After that what happens is beyond barbarrick... A woman's biggest fear I suppose. Back then anyway. As I was reading I tried to picture what was going through this person's head. I mean really going through it. Not what I read but if she had been real just exactly how scared she must have been. How scared any woman was back then when threats of being institutionalized seemed to be normal. And they did lobotomies. Actually did them. And electro shock. Good grief what it mush have been like. Please don't let us go back to a time like that....

This author wrote a story that will pull you in and make you turn the pages. It was sad but lyrical. Haunting but real. A gut wrenching story of how things were for women back in the 1950s. 

You really need to read this book. It's beautiful in a scary sort of way. Jaw dropping. Heart melting and heartbreaking. The prose is spot on. One that will definitely stick with me. 

Thank you Source Books and RBmedia for this ARC.

Five big stars and will be in my top twenty for the year.

About

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.

Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu's carefully crafted life begins to unravel.

When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman's constant smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew—and soon, others begin questioning her sanity. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?

In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won't want to put it down. 

Her One Regret by Donna Freitas

 

My thoughts

This book left me speechless. It was truly one of the best I've read. 

I read some of the reviews and was flabbergasted at the a couple of very low stars and saying hardly anything other than "it's not a thriller." Or that it was flat. I so disagree. Yes most of the way it was more mystery. But it did have some parts that kept me on the edge. Parts that shook me to my core. This is a subject that needs to be talked about more. Women go through a lot after giving birth. Yes some have big regrets. I believe most of us do to an extent. That doesn't mean we don't love our babies more than life itself. It's just something that happens. Being a mother is hard. The hardest job we will ever face. And yes there are times when a woman can feel regret at becoming a mother. Just like she might regret becoming a wife...

This book is about three women. Three mothers. Three wives. Each has a story. Each has a child or children. One goes missing and you won't know what happened to her until almost the end. There are actually two mysteries going on. One is the next door neighbor. What might he be hiding. The other is, what could have happened to Lucy. Was Lucy really taken or did she run. 

This is a very touchy subject. One I really never gave much thought to. I think in many ways we all have some postpartum going on after giving birth. I mean your body goes through so much and what happens to your brain is just unbelievable. Hormones going nuts. And a crying baby that is totally dependent on you. But it seems you can't really talk about it or you get crushed. The judgement is awful. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford therapy it might help. 

Having a best friend to talk to is the best. Even when what you have to say is not what she wants to hear. Such is the case with Lucy and Michelle. They have been friends since college. The best of friends. They know everything about each other. Almost... 

This book is about Lucy, Michelle, and Julia. What each women is dealing with. What secrets they have. How they feel about being new mothers. About being a wife too. The book gives you a fairly deep look at how some women feel about being a mom. How other women judge them if they feel it was a mistake. 

Julia was, in my opinion, the one going through the most. She didn't have anyone to confide in. No one to talk to about how she was feeling. No one to give her any relief or time to just be herself. Her son was with her all the time no matter what. And boy did he cry. That didn't mean she didn't love him. Julia really needed someone...

No woman should be shamed for what she deals with being a mother. You have no idea what she's going through or gone through. Every woman is different. What may appear to be the perfect life could be one you would never imagine...

Thank you RBmedia and BOTM for this book/audio. So worth reading.

4.85 stars 

About

From the author of the book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano comes a riveting feminist thriller that tackles an unspeakable taboo: regretting motherhood.

When successful Rhode Island real estate agent Lucy Mendoza vanishes, leaving her baby behind in a grocery store parking lot, the news quickly makes national headlines. Lucy’s best friend, Michelle, is devastated, and terrified that Lucy’s life is at stake. But she knows something that could complicate the police investigation. Lucy had confessed something unspeakable: She regretted becoming a mother so much that she’d fantasized about faking her own kidnapping. If the police and media were to find out, Lucy would become a monster in public opinion. Michelle is sure Lucy would never abandon her daughter. But could she be wrong? Could Lucy have been so desperate she chose to escape her life?

Bestselling author Donna Freitas has drawn from ground-breaking research to bring readers this unforgettable novel. Her One Regret is at once a pulse-pounding feminist thriller, a moving depiction of the realities of motherhood, and a rich exploration of a subject our culture and society have rendered nearly verboten—the possibility that for some women, motherhood is an unfixable mistake.

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan

 

My thoughts

This is a debut book and it's so good. Very well written and puts a whole new spin on witchcraft and WW2. 

Could Witches have help to make or break WW2. Could Hitler have taken over the world if they would have helped him?

This isn't really a book that goes into what happened during that time period. It's a story of what might have happened had witches been involved. Had some of them been followers of Hitler. Had they wanted to help him take over everything. The fallout that would have caused. 

History is an amazing thing. Writing is also very amazing. When an author writes a debut that keeps you wanting to know more then you can bet it's a good book. But thank goodness it is only a story and not what happened. This book will keep you turning the pages. 

A coven of witches are tasked with finding a book. A book called Grimorium Bellum. It's a book of what I'd call horrors. Not a good thing by any means. And it's up to Lydia to find this book. To bring it back with her so the Nazi witches can't use it's power for evil. Or destroy it. Whichever way is best. 

Lydia is on a mission to save the world. She has some selfish reasons for doing what she does too. The loss of her best friend being one. 

When Lydia Polk, Rebecca Gagne, and Henry Boudreaux all meet this story is on a whole other level. They go through a lot of fighting and pain. Henry also has some magic. He and Lydia seem to like each other. They fight to help each other until the very end. 

A story that will make you laugh out loud and cry hard ripping tears. A lesson in trust. Friendship. Family. A lesson steeped in magic and bloodshed. 

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was very good and as a debut this author has to feel very proud of her work.

Thank you Penguin Group Viking Penguin for this ARC.

4.5 stars 

About

RESISTANCE IS MAGIC

“War II meets A Discovery of Witches…I raced through this one.” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club

“Historical fantasy at its absolute best.” —Alexis Henderson author of The Year of the Witching and An Academy for Liars

As World War II rages around her, a witch abandoned by her coven must journey to find a book of unspeakable power before it lands in Nazi hands

Stubborn, plain-spoken and from an unimpressive family, Lydia Polk never expected to be accepted into the Royal Academy of Witches. Now, with Hitler’s army rampaging across Europe, the witches of Britain have joined the war effort, and Lydia is key to the she must use her magic to track down magical relics before Hitler and his sycophants can. When a Nazi witch infiltrates the Academy with heart-breaking consequences, the coven is left shaken, exposed and divided. The elder British witches have no interest in further loss of coven life in service of a government that has forced them into hiding for decades, no matter the consequences to the world. But with the discovery of the Grimorium Bellum, an ancient book that leaves a trail of death and destruction wherever it goes, Lydia knows her mission has never been more urgent.

Alone and woefully outnumbered, Lydia makes her way to the heart of occupied France, where she finds allies in Rebecca Gagne—a fierce French resistance fighter chockful of secrets—and Henry Boudreaux—a handsome Haitian-American art historian with a little magic of his own. Together, they traverse the country, stalked by the natural and supernatural alike, in search of the grimoire. But, as Lydia soon discovers, finding the book is only half the battle—the Grimorium Bellum has a dark agenda all its own. Lydia must subdue it before the Witches of the Third Reich can use it—but she’ll have to survive the book herself, first.

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

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 My thoughts

Another excellent book by Chanel Cleeton. I loved her last book, The House on Biscayne Bay, very much. I look forward to more by this author. 

A book about a book. What could be better? Not much. This one is told in three timelines by three women. They are very different and at the same time so alike. How this book touches each woman is woven perfectly into this story. From start to finish I was captured. 

It starts out in London the year 2024. Margo is a very ambitious young lady who finds lost items for people. In this case it's a book. She is hired to find a book titled A TIME FOR FORGETTING by Eva Fuentes. 

Then we go to Havana in the year 1966. Pilar just lost her husband to the horrors of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro. He was taken into custody by the secret police. Her neighbor was getting out of Cuba but had a book that she wanted Pilar to take to it's author. The book was A TIME FOR FORGETTING.... Eva read the book several times. And she does go in search for Eva Fuentes to return this book.

Eva Fuentes lives in Havana. In 1900 she is a teacher who goes to the US to Harvard to study. While there Eva meets a man and falls hopelessly in love. Of course there is a man right... Things don't quite go as planned with him. Once she returns to Cuba she finds herself in trouble. Eva returns to the US and when she can't work things out with James she starts writing a book. A TIME FOR FORGETTING.

This book was so touching. Kept me wanting more and I hated for it to end. There are a lot of emotions in this book. A big mystery too. A little bit of a thriller in places too. A very well written book that kept me turning the pages. 

Be sure and read the Author's Notes at the end. A bit of good info there. An excellent book that I think anyone who loves a good historical will appreciate. 

Thank you @Berkley for this ARC.

4.5 stars 

About

London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds is renowned for her talent at sourcing rare antiques for her clients, but she’s never had a request quite like this one. She’s been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy—and her client isn’t the only person determined to procure it at any cost.

Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her life to books, and in the chaotic days

following her husband’s unjust imprisonment by Fidel Castro, reading is her only source of solace. So when a neighbor fleeing Cuba asks her to return a valuable book to its rightful owner, Pilar will risk everything to protect the literary work entrusted to her care. It’s a dangerous mission that reveals to her the power of one book to change a life.

Boston, 1900: For Cuban school teacher and aspiring author Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to study for the summer is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s a whirlwind adventure that leaves her little time to write, but a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger changes everything. The story that pours out of her is one of forbidden love, secrets, and lies… and though Eva cannot yet see it, the book will be a danger and salvation for the lives it touches.

The Widow by John Grisham

 

My thoughts

I throughly enjoyed this book. John Grisham has talent for pulling a reader in. This one seemed to be dragging until I realized that without all of it you had nothing. As the story shapes and molds, you have to know exactly who Eleanor Barnett truly was. To see who Simon Latch was. You had to know all the details.

This book had me holding my breath. Not a thriller but a what is going on here. Who did this awful thing. Will it turn out to be the lawyer? 

Greed pulled Simon in. Murder had him wishing he had never met Eleanor. This was a chance of a lifetime for Simon. He was in a horrible marriage. In the process of divorce. He has three children who he loves with all his heart. His law practice is barely keeping him afloat and he seems to gamble to much. But Simon is a good guy. Isn't he?

As this story progresses you find out a lot about Simon and Eleanor. Also about how many innocent people are wrongfully convicted in this country. You learn a little about the law and a lot about how prosecutors and cops consider a case closed once they find a defendant. Once they say you are guilty their jobs are basically over. Well not the prosecutor. They have a lot to do and will go to any measure to convict.

You get to know the people in this story. Simon's children. His exwife. His girlfriend from college. And the Widow Eleanor Barnett. You also get a good look at her two stepsons. They are true pieces of work. There is a lot that goes on in hospitals that you learn about. Maybe more than you want to know.

I did enjoy this novel. It was an eyeopener for me in so many ways. I thought I had it all figured out but I was way off base. Of course maybe Mr Grisham planned it that way. ha ha

Thank you to the publisher for the ARCs. Both a hardcopy and an ecopy. This book was very good. 

4.5 stars 

About

Simon Latch is a lawyer in rural Virginia, making just enough to pay his bills while his marriage slowly falls apart. Then into his office walks Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow in need of a new will. Apparently, her husband left her a small fortune, and no one knows about it.

Once he hooks the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar. But soon her story begins to crack. When she is hospitalized after a car accident, Simon realizes that nothing is as it seems, and he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn’t commit: murder.

Simon knows he’s innocent. But he also knows the circumstantial evidence is against him, and he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. To save himself, he must find the real killer….

The Book Of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso

 

My thoughts

I'm at a loss here. Totally blown away. I don't want to give anything away so will have to say... This is a great book. It's so good. It will definitely be in my top 10 books for this year. It was a BOTM and I got an ARC. 

If you are looking for a book that will knock your socks off this is it. I highly recommend it. It's that good.

What happens to memories? We have memories. Memories that we accumulate throughout our lives. What happens to them once we are no longer here? Once we pass on to wherever it is we go too. This book tells a story of what may happen to them. A beautiful, touching, loving, story. 

Back when the world turned dark. During the times of the Nazi's and Hitler and death, murder, removal of a race of people. Or the attempt to erase said race there was a man. A man who made watches. He had a secret. They wanted to know his secrets. They wanted to know how he did what he did. How the watches worked exactly. So when they came to his door he pushed his young daughter through a door and pulled it closed. He would do whatever he could to protect her. 

That is how you meet Lisavet  Levy. She is living in what appears to be a library. But not your usual library. This one is a library of memories. Lisavet is only eleven years old and has no idea what to do or how she is to survive. But through many years she does learn. She doesn't have to sleep or eat. She meets people. Some not so good. Some who come to destroy memories. Memories that need to be saved. So begins Lisavet's journey of saving memories. 

Lisavet meets a man. A living man. They fall in love. They go through a lot. Ernest becomes someone she needs. Someone she loves more than anything. He was one that started out burning memories. Until he met Lisavet and she told him not to do that anymore. It's a bit more complicated than that but that is what this story is about. Lisavet and Ernest. When they are and when they aren't. 

Lisavet would have spent her whole life inside this book world. Filled with so many bookshelves that are filled with many books. Lisavet discovers a whole world that she had no idea existed. Things that happened. Things that the outer world want everyone to forget.... Lisavet is determined that no one will forget. 

The Book of Lost Hours is what I have to call perfection. Between the covers of this book is a story like none I have ever read. It's beautiful. It's inspiring. It's so full of hope and love. Yes there are bad things. There are tears to be shed. But this author did such a good job with this one. It's just beyond words for me. 

I enjoyed this book so much. I didn't want to put it down. It's a page turner filled with lots of emotion. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed reading this one. 

Thank you @BOTM, @Atriabooks, for this book. 

5 big stars 

About

For fans of The Ministry of Time and The Midnight Library , a sweeping, unforgettable novel following two remarkable women moving between postwar and Cold War-era America and the mysterious time space, a library filled with books containing the memories of those who bore witness to history.

Enter the time space, a soaring library filled with books containing the memories of those have passed and accessed only by specially made watches once passed from father to son—but mostly now in government hands. This is where eleven-year-old Lisavet Levy finds herself trapped in 1938, waiting for her watchmaker father to return for her. When he doesn’t, she grows up among the books and specters, able to see the world only by sifting through the memories of those who came before her. As she realizes that government agents are entering the time space to destroy books and maintain their preferred version of history, she sets about saving these scraps in her own volume of memories. Until the appearance of an American spy named Ernest Duquesne in 1949 offers her a glimpse of the world she left behind, setting her on a course to change history and possibly the time space itself.

In 1965, sixteen-year-old Amelia Duquesne is mourning the disappearance of her uncle Ernest when an enigmatic CIA agent approaches her to enlist her help in tracking down a book of memories her uncle had once sought. But when Amelia visits the time space for the first time, she realizes that the past—and the truth—might not be as linear as she’d like to believe.

The Book of Lost Hours explores time, memory, and what we sacrifice to protect those we love.

The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf

 

My thoughts

I always enjoy this author's books. She has never let me down. 

The Perfect Hosts is another great one. Edge of your seat last few chapters and guessing all the way through.

This book is about a gender reveal party. A party for the rich, ultra rich, couple who are having a baby. Everyone is there. Even some that were not invited. The couple are Wes and Madeline Drake. It's also about a horrible thing that happened thirty or so years prior. When a teen girl went missing and her brother was beaten almost to death. So in a way it's two stories in one with the main focus being on the gender reveal...

Madeline and Wes have been married eleven years. They seem like the ideal couple... Until they don't. A lot of secrets come out. A few people show up after the explosion that have big surprises for the Drakes. One being Madeline's step sister Lucy. The other is a young women Mellie, who was hurt at the gender reveal explosion. She was a waitress at the event. She has secrets and intends to have what she wants no matter what. 

You get a sense of all the characters and why they do what they do. You pretty much know them pretty well by the end. At first I didn't much like Lucy but did understand why she might be angry at her sister. Until I found out what she was really intended. Then I kind of thought she was a great sister. 

This book is literally explosive. It holds your interest. It keeps you wanting more. To know who did what and why. 

There is spousal abuse in this one so be warned.

Another well written page turner from one of my favorite authors. 

Thank you @harlequintradepublishing & @harlequinaudio for this book.

4.75 stars 

About

A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest.

Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know…

Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.

As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.

The Wives of Hawthorne Lane by Stephanie DeCarolis

 

My thoughts

This book was great. It was a mix between a mystery/thriller and a soap opera. Through in a little Desperate Housewives and you have this book. It's a page turner. I started it one day and finished it the next. I didn't want to put it down.

You meet four women. Four very different women. They all live on Hawthorne Lane with their husbands. One is newly separated; Libby. One is newly married; Hannah.  One living a big secret; Audrey. One living a lie; her life is far from perfect; Georgina. 

And there is the other couple. Dean and Maggie. Maggie is a hard working young lady. Dean is a grumbler. He complains about the people living on the other side of town. The rich people. He hates them. Maggie works as a nanny there. Dean resents anyone doing better than him. Maggie has a secret. 

This book pulled me right in. It held my attention and I didn't figure out who did what to whom or who was whom. I tried. I had so many guesses. I was definitely surprised by two things. Two very big things. 

I loved the ending too. It was like icing on the cake. 

This book has several instances of domestic abuse. Horrible domestic abuse and some sexual abuse. It should have that in the beginning of the book. 

But it's still good. 

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse, @ballantine, for this ARC.

FIVE stars.... 

About

In this twisty tale of domestic suspense, four neighbors become the prime suspects in a murder investigation that reveals the sinister underside of their picture-perfect community.

Hawthorne Lane is the perfect place to live. Its tree-lined street and stately homes are the envy of the town. Every Halloween the residents of Hawthorne Lane come together to host their famous Fall Festival. But this year, someone won’t survive the night.

As a murder investigation ensues, it quickly becomes clear there’s more going on behind closed doors on Hawthorne Lane than meets the eye. And four women, each with secrets worth killing for, find themselves at the center of it all.

There’s Georgina, the perfectionist and reigning Queen Bee, who pays a high price for her elevated status. There’s Audrey, the bold and beautiful neighbor with the high-flying corporate career, but whose marriage is on the rocks. There’s Libby, the working mother who is struggling to come to terms with her recent divorce while parenting her teenage son. And finally, Hannah—the newcomer with a mysterious past that’s returning with a vengeance.

As the clock ticks down to Halloween, their lives will cross in the most unexpected ways. And soon only one question remains: Who will pay the ultimate price for the lies they all tried so hard to bury?

Over Yonder by Sean Dietrich

 

My thoughts

I read Kinfolk by this author and loved it. This one is even better, in my humble opinion. What this author brings out is such a story. It touches you in many ways. Leaves you breathless. This story captured my heart in so many ways and gave me ALL the feels of a great novel. I laughed, cried, cringes, got angry, and oh my when the ending came I wept. This book is so good. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I listened to the audio while reading. Sean Dietrich narrated it and he did a fantastic job. Of course it's his book so why wouldn't he right. He captured my heart in so many ways. Kept me turning the pages. 

You meet Woody when he leaves prison. He has been there for ten years. You don't know immediately why he was there but you do know he was a priest. I adored Woody. I felt he was a great main character. He finds out he has a daughter by his first wife. His daughter, Caroline, is pregnant. Her boyfriend, Tater, was a hoot. He made me laugh so hard. They were not a matched pair by any means. You also meet Woody's dad. Woody is sixty and his dad is in his eighties. Caroline is only seventeen. Woody had another daughter, Rachel. Rachel was born while Woody was in prison and her mother is Woody's second ex-wife, Elizabeth. I loved all of these characters.

This book takes you on a wild ride from Alabama to Tennessee and back to Alabama. Bad people are after Caroline as her, Woody and Woody's dad. They think Caroline has something that belongs to them. Actually him. One guy who is bent of getting back what is his at any cost. 

The descriptions in this book were so good. I live in N. AL and could easily picture where he was taking about. Especially the Epilogue as the setting there is Huntsville, AL and that is where I was born and grew up. Still live actually, just out in the countryside. 

I highly encourage you to grab this book. If you love good southern novels with settings that will keep you wanting more this one is it. I will read anything this author writes now. He is definitely in my top ten favorites. 

Thank you @thomasnelsonfiction, @thomasnelsonandzondervanfictionaudio, for this ARC.

Five stars 

About

With the same dry humor and compassion for his characters as Fredrik Backman, Sean Dietrich's latest novel highlights the good of humanity and the light that's always just around the corner.

Ex-con Woody Barker lives on a houseboat (the Ship Happens) off the Gulf Coast and spends his days bickering/flirting with his ex-wife and attending doctor appointments about his malfunctioning ticker. He's already survived several heart attacks and is debating the merits of quitting smoking so he can get on the organ donor waitlist. But he gets the surprise of a lifetime when an old girlfriend reveals on her deathbed that Woody has a seventeen-year-old daughter he never knew, Caroline.

Caroline is pregnant and trapped in an endless loop of bad choices. Her good-for-nothing boyfriend, "Tater," is the only "reliable" person in her life. But when her estranged dying mother begs her to go back to her singlewide trailer to dig up the bathroom vanity subfloor to "get something that needs to be gone yesterday," Caroline finds herself at the center of a very dangerous plot that--if she survives--has the potential to turn her world upside down in a positive and seismic way.

While Woody and Caroline don't know or trust each other yet, they instinctively know they can't (and don't want to) go through the world alone any longer.

Beloved Southern writer Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, once again brings people and places to life in this lyrical song-turned-story about found family, second chances, and the poignant power of love and forgiveness.

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

 

My thoughts

I listened to the audio of this book along with reading it. I was not as happy with the person who narrated for Alice but the one for Jenny did great. Alice's narrator just seemed to list each sentence instead of making them flow smoothly. 

This is my first book to read by this author. I will be looking for more now. This was a very scary and very emotional story. My emotions were all over the place by the time I finished it. In a good way though.

When Alice and Tom head out for a trip to Canada to see the Olympics little do they know how much their lives will change. In the next few weeks they will help a young couple who seem to be struggling.

 

Simon and Jenny are on the road. Running away from things they would much rather forget ever happened. Jenny is pregnant and only eighteen years old. They seem to be so in love. 

When Alice and Tom give Blue and Ocean a ride the kids seem very grateful. They are young and seem deeply in love. What could go wrong?

When Alice sees a newspaper article with Blue and Ocean's pictures. They are wanted for murder. The murder of Ocean's, who is really Jenny, mother and stepdad. Blue is the name Simon had. Now what does she do? How can she tell Tom they are helping out two people wanted for murder. Cold blooded murder. 

These four go on a road trip no one wants. Simon seems quick tempered with others except Jenny. He is more kind and gentle with Jenny. But along the way to wherever they are going a list of beat and hurt people are left behind. Simon was fully capable of murder but Alice thought Jenny seemed way to scared and meek to be a killer. Could she be so wrong about a young lady?

When all of this comes to a head you get the real story. I never liked Simon. He just didn't seem like a good person to me. Though he did love Jenny. No doubt about that. Jenny I liked. I felt sorry for her. I felt she had more on her plate than just being pregnant and running. I had a feeling about her and what happened to her. I was right....

This book is a good thriller. No mystery as you know right up front who is who and what they are capable of doing. Except you might find out that one of these four does have a big secret. One may be more than they seem.

I loved how this book ended. It pretty much left no loose ends. It was one that I didn't want to put down. 

Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillanaudio for this ARC.

4.75 stars 

About

The open road beckons.
A chance for them to reconnect.
Then they make a fatal mistake.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

A chilling, twist-laden ride to the final page, THE HITCHHIKERS is that rare novel that will break your heart as well as hold you in suspense. The author of the classic thrillers STILL MISSING and THOSE GIRLS has delivered her next breathtaking novel.