Mailbox Monday

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:
Emma @ Words And peace

Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha @ Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf 

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                THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive.

1: THE FAVOR by Adele Griffin

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

From National Book Award finalist Adele Griffin, an insightful and warmhearted story of two very different women who make an unexpected connection when one decides to carry a baby for the other.

2: THE STARS DON'T LIE by Boo Walker

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

A man who thought he put his shattered past behind him embarks on a reflective journey home in a heartfelt novel by the bestselling author of The Singing Trees and A Spanish Sunrise.

3: THE LAST ONE by Will Dean

Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

An unputdownable locked-room thriller about family, trust, and survival from the acclaimed author of the “utterly thrilling” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author) First Born.

4: A MATCH FOR A RELUCTANT BRIDE by Tess Thompson

     Courtesy of the author

An ugly duckling and a charming scoundrel have nothing in common. But fate has a different plan.

5: THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

In 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, pouring fresh fuel on old grievances in this dazzling standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the “expansive, atmospheric American saga” (Entertainment Weekly ) This Tender Land.

6: THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS by Lisa Matlin

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley 

A social media influencer buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this deeply psychological gothic debut thriller.

Mailbox Monday

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.

 ************

Here’s a shout out to the administrators:
Emma @ Words And peace

Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha @ Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf 

************

                THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive.

1:THE QUIET TENANT by Clemence Michallon

    Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NOVELS OF 2023 - "A bravura feat of storytelling...daring and completely satisfying." --James Patterson, #1 best-selling author

A PULSE-POUNDING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER NARRATED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM: HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, HIS GIRLFRIEND--AND THE ONE VICTIM HE HAS SPARED.

2: BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS by Kate White

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

A woman receives a bewildering inheritance that may have something to do with her past in this twisty and addictive psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Entertainment Weekly calls “impossible to outwit.”

3: LILITH by Nikki Marmery

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

In the tradition of Madeline Miller and Claire North, Lilith is the story of the first woman, who was expelled from Paradise for disobedience. In this retelling of the Hebrew myth [NM1] that justified and explained woman's subjection to man, Lilith will have her revenge - however long it takes.
In the Garden of Eden, at the beginning of time, an outrageous lie is born: that women are inferior.

4: LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON by Liv Anderson

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

Perfect for fans of Wendy Walker and Samantha Downing, in this thrilling domestic suspense novel, a woman fights to hide her secrets as her life's idyllic façade begins to fall apart.

BOOK MAIL

1: WEYWARD by Emilia Hart

     Gift to self Hardback copy1

NSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"A brave and original debut, Weyward is a spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft." ––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

THE CUBAN DAUGHTER by Soraya Lane

Author social media

 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor

Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor

Website: www.sorayalane.com

 

MY THOUGHTS: 

I read the first book in the Lost Daughters series and absolutely loved it. It left be breathless. This one is just as good. Another one that will make you cry for the characters. Cry for the women and the babies. The family. The connections that are found. This series is about finding families. Finding mothers who had to give up their babies for various reasons. This one was so tragic. But it was also so beautiful. I loved every single minute of this book.

You meet a young couple in this story who meet and fall deeply in love. A young woman who is adored by all of Havana. Who makes heads turn when she enters a room. Esmeralda Diaz is the oldest daughter of the sugar king of Cuba. He takes her to London where he has a business meeting with a young man that will make him even richer than ever. Make both of them much money. What he doesn't know is his much adored daughter will fall madly in love with this young man who's name is Christopher Dutton. 

When Christopher meets Esmeralda his life changes in ways I'm sure he never expected. He spends as much time with her as possible considering he would never be able to marry her. Her father would never accept him as he is not Cuban. She's to marry a good Cuban boy. But Christopher falls for Esmeralda and even travels to Cuba to seal the deal with her father just so he can see her again. They sneak off one night and spend it together. When he returns home to London both are very unhappy. But Christopher writes to Esmeralda. Her father finds out and locks her in her room. 

You meet Claudia. Claudia finds out that her grandmother was adopted and never knew it. Her grandmother had died and Claudia missed her awful bad. She has a tiny box that contains a business card and a drawing of a family crest. Her dad helps her find out as much as possible about both. Seems the drawing is of the Diaz family crest so Claudia goes to Cuba to find out what she can. She meets the dashingly handsome Mateo and they fall madly in love. Mateo helps her find as much information about the Diaz family as possible. 

Mateo is a hard working young man and dedicated to his family and to Cuba. He helps Claudia find out what he can. His mother finds an address for one of Esmeralda's sisters in the United States so Claudia goes there and finds out so much. She meets family that she never would have known about. You learn so much about the Diaz family and Esmeralda. 

I loved most of the characters in this book. Most were so good and so caring. I didn't however like Esmeralda's father in the least. He was ok at first but then he turned on her so quickly. He was a very cruel and controlling man. I also didn't much care for Christopher. To me he should have come and fought for Esmeralda. Not just sent a few letters. No, he should have fought. I absolutely adored Mateo. He just seemed perfect. He and Claudia were meant to be together. No doubt about that. 

This is a very heartfelt book. It will make you shed a lot of tears. When I read the end and how Hope felt I had to take a break. I couldn't stop weeping. That was just sad. I love Hope. She has the perfect name. She helps young ladies who are left with pregnancy. Left pretty much alone and ostracized by society because they are pregnant. Good grief. Get over it. Anyway she is their last "HOPE." I love her so much.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SorayaLane, #Bookouture, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. 

Five huge stars. I can't wait for the next book in this series. Have tissues handy when you read this. You'll need them.

SYNOPSIS:

The Cuban Daughter: A totally unforgettable and heartbreaking page-turner full of family secrets (The Lost Daughters Book 2)

 

 

Cuba, 1950: As Esmeralda moved past Christopher, her breath stilled as he caught her finger in his. It was only a split-second, their fingers intertwined in a hold so brief that no one could have possibly noticed, but it told her everything she needed to know. He didn’t just come to see Cuba. He travelled all this way to see me.

 

London, present day. When Claudia discovers that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers, everything she thought she knew about her family is shattered in an instant. Looking down at a faded family crest, she is determined to discover how it can possibly relate to her grandmother. Soon Claudia learns that the crest belongs to the Diaz family, once one of the wealthiest dynasties in Cuba. Impulsively Claudia books a ticket to Havana, feeling sure in her heart that she will be able to uncover her family’s true story.

 

Arriving in the bustling and vibrant city she meets a young man named Mateo, a chef who loves nothing more than to cook his family’s recipes. As they get to know each other over dinner, Mateo says that his grandfather worked for the Diaz family and he too wants to uncover what happened.

 

But when they arrive at the Diaz family home, they find it completely abandoned as if preserved in time from the 1950s. It’s not long before they uncover a heartbreaking story about Claudia’s family and of a young woman who was forced to leave behind everything she’d ever known in search of true love.

 

As Claudia becomes closer to Mateo, will her family’s story of bravery and sacrifice inspire her to follow her own heart to Cuba? Or will the tragic love story force her home?

 

An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching novel about family secrets, lost loves and new beginnings. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

About the author

Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn't the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women's fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind. 

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she's not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

Newsletter sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/soraya-lane-email-sign-up/

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BGQGC7YBsocial

A CRY IN THE DARK by Jessica R. Patch

 

My thoughts

This was a real page turner of a thriller. From the very beginning it grabs you and pulls you into the story of a young woman who was conceived in the most horrible way. From a life that is not filled with any kind of love. But from a fear. A fear that she will be just like "him."

Violet is a detective with a group who goes all over the place to solve the strangest of cases. A lot of them are serial killer/religion based crimes. She's working hard to prove that she is a good person despite everything she's been taught. Her life was not a good one and she was constantly reminded of her background. Where she came from. Who her father was. That she was just like him or would be. Can she prove that to be false? Can she make herself believe that she deserves to be loved. That she is not a monster. 

John is working on the Blind Eye Murders with Violet and the whole team. They are called to the hills of Kentucky. To the Night Hollows(hollers) after three young women are found in a cave brutally murdered with their eyes removed. John is convinced that his wife was killed by the same murderer. He also is very attracted to Violet. 

There are many secrets in the Hollows. They take care of their own. At least that is what they say. I think some do and then you have the ones that are only out for themselves. The cold hearted ones. Those you better look out for. They will hurt you. They will stop you at all costs. They are the "religious" ones. While I don't believe in all the religion aspects of this book it did make it way more interesting when trying to figure out who did it. Who the killer was. I was way off. I really thought I had it all figured out but I was so wrong. I was shocked when I finally read who it was and what he had done and why. 

There are quite a few twists and turns in this book and quite a lot going on. Drug runners. Prostitution. Murder. Serial killing. Rape(though not explicit). Even a love story in the making if you will. John and Violet. I rooted for him to break her icy exterior. Melt her heart. Help her see that she was so worthy of love. 

Thank you #NetGalley, #JessicaRPatch, #Harlequin, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five huge edge of your seat stars. 

Synopsis

Deep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered.
But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws.
And they’re not talking…

Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda. With locals refusing to reveal their secrets, Violet’s only ally is Detective John Orlando. But even John has an ulterior motive—he’s convinced this case is connected to his wife’s murder. 

As they dig deeper, Violet uncovers a link to her own unresolved past. For years she’s worked the cold case of her mother’s abduction, which had led to her birth. The need to look into the eyes of the sinful man who fathered her consumes Violet. Until she can, she’ll never have peace. Because she’s terrified she might be exactly like him.

In this chilling novel, when the present collides with Violet’s mysterious past and John’s tragic loss, they must unravel the warped, sinuous connections before the killer strikes again. But solving the case might not be nearly as terrifying as the possibility that Violet’s finally found her roots…

TO BELONG by Judith Pex

 

Synopsis

In this contemporary story of hope and compassion, an Israeli woman named Tamar is fiercely loyal to family, friends, and faith. But below the surface emotional scars fester from her childhood in a kibbutz children's home, separated from her parents. She dreams of fulfillment as a mother of a large family. When a group of Sudanese refugee children come to Tamar's nursing clinic, their predicament tugs at her heart. She becomes obsessed with thoughts of rescuing a small brother and sister abandoned by their mother at the desert refugee camp.

As followers of Jesus, Tamar and her family walk carefully as they live in community comprised of Messianic Jews, secular Jews, former Orthodox Jews, Holocaust survivors, and immigrants from various countries and cultures--all seeking an identity, to know "who they are." As this unlikely group of family and friends enfold the children and seek justice for them, new possibilities begin to open for healing of all kinds. Read this unique and refreshing story. You'll see:

• tradition both ancient and modern
• faith that is living and embodied
• even the intimate experience of the land itself

all molding and holding together a supportive, sometimes suffering but always hopeful, multi-cultural community. You'll be glad you took the journey, and you may never see the world quite the same after this "inside view" by multi-book author, Judith Galblum Pex.

Author info

Judith Galblum Pex was born in Washington, D.C. but has been living in Eilat, Israel with her husband, John, since 1976. Thirty-seven years ago they began the Shelter Hostel, a guest house for travelers from all over the world and a drop-in center for anyone searching for physical, emotional or spiritual support. In her free time, Judith likes to read, hike and camp in the mountains around Eilat, snorkel in the Red Sea, and spend time with family and friends.

Judith and John are the parents of four grown children and the happy grandparents of ten.

www.judithpex.com

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Buy Links

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A BOOK IN TIME by Mark Stibbe

 

Excerpt 1 A Book In Time

I was conceived in a hot bath in Deal and born, twelve months later, on a mahogany table in Holt. My mother was called Emily Swanson. She was eighty-seven years old when she finally delivered me. She was so overcome that from that day forth she often held me to her chest as she shuffled about the cottage. When she looked at me it was impossible not to notice the adoration in her eyes. Sometimes she would bow, her skin wrinkled like the pages of an antique book. Then she would kiss me.

Once, when a howling wind was buffeting the windows of the cottage, and the flames were trembling in the guttering candles, she held me so close I thought I was going to disappear into her heart. When at last she separated me from her heaving chest she stared and stared at me, her head shaking from side to side and her eyes filled with a melancholy beyond the reach of words. Then a tear formed in her left eye, filling the lens until it spilled from her cheek and fell upon my front.

I thought my spine would break.

My mother lived for just six months after she had brought me into the world. In that time visitors came to pay homage. Young lovers and old lovers and enough blue-stockinged women to fill a library. They journeyed through any weather. When they stood within our panelled parlour room, they strove to outdo one another with their praise.

“You are an emancipator,” one said.

“The bravest of women,” another added.

“A connoisseur of love,” a third exclaimed.

Author bio

Dr Mark Stibbe is the winner of the first ever Page Turner Award for Fiction Writing (2020). He has been described recently by the New York Times as “an acclaimed writer.”

Mark has been writing books since he was 16 and has clocked up over 50 titles since then. Mark's PhD on storytelling was completed in 1982 and published by Cambridge University press.

Mark was a Vicar for 25 years so most of his works have been religious nonfiction released through traditional publishing houses. He was awarded 'Christianity’s' book of the year in 2010.

Mark has ghost written over thirty books for clients of his company BookLab. Through this company, Mark and his team have helped hundreds of new authors to get published.

Lately, Mark has mostly migrated from nonfiction to fiction and has been writing novels in the magical realism genre. His novel 'A Book in Time' was picked as the overall winner out of hundreds of entries in the prestigious and popular Page Turner Awards.

Mark's twin sister Claire is also a full-time novelist. In 2021, she won the Page Turner Award one year after Mark won the same prize. This makes Mark and Claire a unique phenomenon in the publishing world - twins who have won the same literary award in consecutive years!

As adopted children, they had a huge advantage; their adoptive father was a star pupil and friend of CS Lewis. He was also at Merton, Oxford where J.R.R. Tolkien was professor of English.

Mark is now a full-time writer who lives in Kent with his wife Cherith and their Black Labrador Bella. In recent years, he has been a judge for literary awards and is a popular speaker.

Link to Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mtjxy795

Website: https://bookluver.com/author/mark-stibbe