THE STARTER WIFE by Nina Laurin

Just when I think I have this story figured out it throws another wrench in the mix. A story of a love so strong that nothing or no one will stand in its way. A woman so bent on having her perfect life, perfect husband that she will do anything to achieve it. Nothing is going to stop Claire from what she truly believes is hers. Hers to do with as she sees fit. Hers to attain at any and all cost.

Claire fell so in love with Byron Westcott that she lost all reasoning. All common sense. She was young and dumb for sure. She completely redid her life for him. She went from being a dowdy teen to being a ver good looking young woman with a college education on top of it.

Byron Westcott loved only Colleen. Colleen was his world. His entire existence. His reason for being. He would have done anything for her. They had a love that was meant to last a lifetime. But it was not to be. Colleen went missing and that almost destroyed Byron. No body was ever found and it was presumed she committed suicide. Byron will always mourn Colleen even when he finally moves on to a life with Claire. But will things be good between them. Will he be faithful to her? Will she be enough to help him get over his loss?

This book is one that has so many twists and turns you may get lost. You may think things are heading in one direction and find out you was so far off base that you are totally shocked. I sure was. I thought I had things figured out. I really did. I was so wrong. This book is full of some very shocking twists and turns but it will keep you wanting more. You will want to know what happens next. You will want to know what exactly happened to who and why. Each time you think you have it something else will happen. To the very end you will wonder...

Who is Claire. What happened to Colleen. Who is Byron and what has he done. Who is who and what is happening. I really enjoyed reading this book. It sure kept me on the edge of my seat for almost two days. It’s a great psychological thriller. It’s one I highly recommend to anyone that loves a book with many twists and turns.

The characters are likable in a love/hate kind of way. Each one playing the part beautifully. This author was new to me and I definitely look forward to reading more of her books. This is a page turner for sure.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of this book. This is my complete and honest review.

A big 5 stars. I loved it.

THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE by Kristin Harmel

This book took me away. Away to a life that thank goodness we don’t have to live now. But of course that is what Inès, Céline, Michel, and Theo thought at the time too. They never expected that the war and the Germans would affect them the way it did. There is also Edith, Inès’s best friend and her husband Eduard. They play a fairly big part in this book and in the resistance during the war.

This book is told from Liv’s life in the present and then between Inès and Céline during the war in the late 1930s-1940s. Each has had much upheaval in their lives. Things happened that they didn’t expect.

Liv, newly divorced and without a job is newly divorced. Her ex has already moved on, even before the divorce started. Her grandmother, Grandma Edith, comes and takes her to France to get away from her life in NY and help her move on with her life.

Grandma Edith is one of my favorite characters with the exception that she is not a very loving or patient person. She loves Liv and will do anything for her now. She’s had a very hard life and much of it will come out in this book. The things she did and the guilt she fells follow her to her very last days. Despite her many failures she did a lot to help during the war. She helped many people but never felt like she truly was a good person. I thought she made a grave mistake when she thought Michel treated her inferior and like she couldn’t do anything right. I didn’t agree with some things she did but it pulled the story together to make it what it was. Also Celine and Michel were wrong in things they did. But again it was part of the storyline and set it up for what it was.

A book about love, betrayal, murder, cruelty, war, fear, sadness, loss and through many tears, this book takes you from present day to the past during WW2. To the winemaking houses and the business in town where the Germans took over and destroyed so many lives. To the resistance and the deaths of some good people. Mistakes that were made and loyalties that were broken. To the sorrows that follow when huge mistakes are made during a time when someone is hurt deeply. From the birth of a child who is part Jewish and then disappeared, to the mother who was thought dead. From public executions to the people left behind that relive these things their whole lives.

This was a very good, very touching story of such deep loss. A story of how a group of people helped save France after it was torn apart by an evil group who wanted to rule the world. How anyone can think they are so much better than another boggles my brain. How the Germans can think they are superior to the Jewish people was so cruel yet we see these things in everyday life even now. Prejudice is so awful. So horrible in fact.

Liv’s grandma Edith had a story to tell her but she had so much guilt on her that it was almost impossible for her to say the words. The ending of this book was told perfectly. It was a beautiful yet tragic story of love, loss and heartache. Death, life and moving on. For 99 years Grandmother Edith held on to a story that would change Liv’s life forever.

It’s also got a bit of a love story thrown in. Both in the 1940s and in the present. Love does not always prevail but it can. During a war it’s hard to keep the love strong. There are to many betrayals and lives lost. In the present there is a new love happening for Liv and the grandson of someone that Inès helped back when things were at their worse.

This is a book about war. A book about love. Betrayal and guilt. But it’s a book that will make you want more. It will make you appreciate the freedoms you have and hope we always have. Life was so hard during the war times. More than my mind can imagine without the help of a good book and this was an excellent book. Told in a way that makes you feel the things that are happening both in the present and the past. The past broke my heart. I shed many tears reading what happened to people during that war in that country in that house where the wine was made and the Germans took what they wanted when they wanted.

A must read by anyone who loves a good yet tragic story of love, loss and then found again in many ways. Forgiveness, moving on and finding the history of a family in a time when things go terribly wrong.

I received a copy of this book via #NetGalley and #Gallery books for my complete and honest review.

A 5 star and high recommendation from me.

THE PERFECT WIFE by J.P. Delaney

This book surprised me. A lot. I’m not into Sci-Fi at all.... usually! But, this book was a Sci-Fi kind of book and was excellent. From the very beginning I wanted to know what was happening and why it was happening. I wanted to know exactly what happened to Abbie. Why was there a need to bring her back from whatever happened to her? Who is Tim besides being her husband?

They have supposedly been very happily married for a long time and have a son who is autistic and the light of their eyes. Tim would do anything for him and Abbie. The best school for their son to help him live as normal a life as possible. A beautiful home for them and a beach house he had built for Abbie that was beyond anything she ever dreamed of.

But what happened? Why did Tim tell her she was a “cobot?” Cobot, a companion robot for someone who can’t handle grieving for a lost family member. That is what Tim told Abbie she was now. It was his field of expertise and he loved her so much he could not move on even after she had been gone five years.

Something sinister is going on though. Abbie is finding things that are not exactly as he said. She wants him to love “her” but he still can’t let go of “Abbie”. There is more to this than meets the eye.

This book was well written and you won’t look at Abbie the cobot as anything other than human. Her thoughts and the way she interacts with others and their son is phenomenal. She seems like a real person with somewhat real feelings.

Tim though is a very sick man. Things he does are so perverse. Not to Abbie but to other women. He seems to treat women like they are nothing. He put Abbie up on a pedestal to not be touched after giving birth to their son. Things changed after they had their son, Danny. It was like he only needed a son then their sex life was over. Theirs but not his... He was a sick sick perverted man.

This book goes from present day Abbie the cobot to past Abbie the woman. It’s the story of how the cobot came to be and why. It’s a very good book indeed.

It kept my interest very well and I loved the characters. Even Tim for a while. But he did finally make me love to hate him. He treated everyone like they were so stupid and inept. Like he was the only person who had any sense at all.

This book truly is a good read. You will not think of it as a Sci-Fi except when you think about Abbie the cobot. The ending was truly amazing. I thought I had this one figured out but I sure did not. That ending truly blew me away. I was shocked. I would love to have read a little bit more but the ending was done in a way that fit this story perfectly in my opinion. It all comes together. All of your questions are answered at the end but one..... Which one would that be???

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Random House publishers for this review copy. These thoughts are mine and mine alone.

I have to give this book a huge 5 stars. It was well written. The characters well developed. Questions you will have answered. It was just an all around good book.

Well done J.P. Delaney. I will be reading more of your work!

LITTLE COMFORT by Edwin Hill

Edwin Hill is a new to me author. I am fortunate enough to be friends with him on facebook and received a copy of this book from him.

Sam and Gabe both lived in the same small town. Sam with his sister, Lila, after the death of their parents. Gabe was a foster kid whose parents were drug addicts and only cared about themselves.

I felt sorry for Sam in the beginning. But as the story progressed I truly did not like him. He was a user and didn’t care who he hurt in the process. He wanted to be something he wasn’t and never would be. Instead of trying to make something out of his life he ran away and used everyone that crossed his path. I think a part of him wanted to have a life but he was way to selfish to get that the hard way. Hard work and being good to others. Even to Gabe.

Lila, I didn’t care for her at all. She was very selfish also and in my opinion was a child abuser. Not once in this story did she become likable to me. She lied to get what she wanted. She used people and she had a cruel heart in my opinion.

Gabe, I felt very sorry for him. Despite the fact that he would do almost anything for Sam he had a conscience. He cared about others. But he felt so obligated to Sam. Like he owed him. Gabe was mistreated so bad. In ways no young guy should ever be done. He was exposed to things and experiences that were horrendous. But he still had a heart. I believe he truly wanted a home, wife, child and a dog. He wanted to have a life. But he also could not say no to Sam. He trusted Sam even when his mind told him not too. I did like him and a huge part of me felt so sorry for him. He had a heart at least.

Hester, she was something else. I loved her, Kate and Morgan. Hester was a wonderful character throughout to me. She fought hard when she needed too. She cared about others and loved Kate and Morgan so much. Kate is Morgan’s sisters child who Hester and Morgan are raising. Hester finds people. She is hired to find Sam and Gabe. It does not take her long to find them but it seems like it takes her forever to really “find” them. In mental sense. She goes the extra mile, even without her consent, for Gabe. She definitely a fighter and my very favorite character in this book.

This book is very intense in places. It will make you wonder just what is going on. It will make you shed a few tears. Maybe a lot of them toward the end. It will put a smile on your face in part and even possibly bring a chuckle. From the very start to the very end you will want to find out what is happening. Who is the true people in this story. Who is bad, real bad.

I think the characters are done great. The author did a fantastic job of making you feel what they felt. Of being about to picture each one and feel the tensions they felt. The fear some felt and the anger others felt. The love in some and the evil in others. It’s a well written book with lots of things going on to keep you turning the pages.

I gave this book a  5 star rating and look forward to the next book THE MISSING ONES. What will Hester be up to in that one.

Thank you #Edwin Hill for the copy of this book. I highly recommend it.

BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE by Rea Frey

WOW!! Just WOW! THAT ENDING!

I love Rea Frey’s books before but this one is one that is beyond just WOW! It’s so good you won’t believe it. It will take you in from the beginning and you won’t want to put it down until the very last word. It will completely blow you away. That ending is perfect. I never saw that coming. It was a complete shock to my system. So many books I do figure out when others say they can’t or didn’t but this one I honestly did not see it coming at all. No way. Great job Ms Frey. Great job.

I enjoyed this book so much. It has some parts that some people may find offensive but if you read it it’s beautifully written and I don’t mean in a poetic way but a way that sets you up for an explosive ending that you won’t expect.


Friends, honest close, best friends. That is what Lee and Grace are. Two single mothers who have very different sons. Lee’s son suffers from autism and needs help with his teaching and some physical therapy. She is not rich by any means but Noah, recommended by Grace, helps out and at a price Lee can afford. Grace knows Noah and has known him for many years. Lee trusts him to help her son and her son does great with him. He does great with Grace also.

Grace is a divorced single mother to Luke who is just a typical seven year old carefree child. Grace is Lee’s best friend and helped her get the teacher, Noah, for her son Mason. Grace is the best friend Lee needs. They know everything about each other. Or do they. Are they each hiding some secrets that they are not ready to reveal? And Noah, who exactly is he. Lee has feelings for him but he seems to pull away from her when she says something that lets him know how she may be feeling.

Noah, a kind, caring man who is great with Mason. A friend to both Lee and Grace. He’s got secrets of his own. He’s also had a terrible thing happen to him. He lost his brother years before. Grace lost her sister years before. Terrible losses for each of them. Both have their own secrets also. Who exactly are these to people and what do they mean to each other? If anything...

A two night, three day, vacation with just the girls. Lee leaves Mason with Noah who promises to keep in touch every day, hourly, to let her know all is fine. Four friends on a trip together, just the girls. Away from children and some away from their husbands. What could happen? All seems fine there and back home. But is all ok or will something horrible happen? Who will make it and who won’t. Is it an accident? Was alcohol involved? So many questions. Just who are each of these women and men? Three have deep secrets that they vow to take to their graves.

This book is so full of mysteries and twists you won’t ever figure it out. It’s written exceptionally well. It’s touching, sad, happy, a tiny bit funny in parts and tragic. The build up to the ending is so good. You will expel a deep breath when you find out exactly what happened and why.

The characters are great, likable, a bit mysterious in parts and so well developed. The plot is excellent. The whole book is so good. The ending is jaw dropping, unexpected and so good.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A definite 5++ stars from me. I highly highly recommend this book. WOW!! It’s that good I promise.

THE TWO LILA BENNETTS by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

I’ve enjoyed books by these two authors before but this one is nothing like those. This book was a huge WOW with lots of in between WOWS. I never expected this story. It is so well done that you won’t know what hit you. This was such a good book. From the very beginning to the explosive ending. Though I did figure out who was the bad person I still was surprised to actually read it. How could he...

Lila Bennett has it all. She’s a powerful attorney with a powerful law firm. She’s at the top of her game in all things. She’s married to the love of her life and has a best friend who can’t be beat. But was that enough? She has a mother who loves her unconditionally and always has. So why does Lila Bennett feel spit? What about her life is lacking?

This book will keep you guessing until the very end. It will have you turning pages so fast you won’t know what hit you. It’s definitely one that will have you going through ups and downs. You will love to hate Lila Bennett but you will also truly love her and feel so sorry for her. What she goes through in her life will have you rooting for her yet what she does to others will make you think maybe she deserves some of it. One part made me truly catch my breathe hard.

I cried, laughed, cringed, held my breath, crossed my fingers. Yes for her to make it I actually crossed my fingers. LOL This is one very well written thriller. A psychological thriller you won’t soon forget. It will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole book.

Well written, great characters, just the right amount of a tearjerker and the perfect ending to both Lila Bennett’s stories. I absolutely loved this book. 

Thank you #NetGalley and  #Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book.

A huge 5 stars and would be more if possible. I highly, highly recommend this book.

A STRANGER ON THE BEACH by Michele Campbell

A STRANGER ON THE BEACH by Michele Campbell

This was one fast paced thrill ride. It hooked me right from the start and didn’t let go or disappoint.

Michele Campbell did an excellent job of putting together a story that held my interest and kept me turning the pages. I was on the edge so much and had a hard time figuring out who was doing what. I usually figure out who is guilty and what happens and I admit I did in this book too. But it was in the last 10-20% of the story that it hit me what was going on. Well done. Truly well done.

When your life is on the line what will you do to live? Who can you turn to when no one believes you and it looks like the end for you? Caroline, Aiden and Jason are the three main characters in this story. They all have secrets and things that they don’t want anyone, each other included to know. Aiden has been in serious trouble before. Tommy, Aiden’s brother who was the police chief and has a secret of his own. Caroline is a rich, spoiled, use to getting her way woman that I didn’t like from the start. Jason is Caroline’s husband and one I didn’t like either. Though the husband and wife are both good characters in this book, you will learn to dislike and like all the characters. Even Caroline’s sister, brother in law and I even had some dislike for Hannah, Caroline/Jason’s daughter.

This is a very intense thriller that will make you second guess what you think throughout the book. It changes from each characters story. It’s told from Caroline and Aiden’s points and they are definitely different. One is telling the honest truth as they see it and the other is out for themself and no one else. To find out who it being honest you have got to read this book.

I felt sorry for some of the characters in this book at times. It even brought me to tears in one major scene. The love was so strong between the two characters and what was happening was so touching and honest. The characters are truly good at their part. Richly developed. You will love to hate some and hate to love some and love some without recourse. At least I did.

While the ending was one that I did figure out it took me a while. It didn’t jump out at me at all as lots of stories do. This one has enough twists to keep you guessing and possible never figuring out on your own. So well written in my opinion. A true psychological thriller. Just the kind I love to read.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #St Martine’s Press for the ARC of this book. This is my review.

A big 5 stars and a high recommendation.