BORROWED TIME by Kay Bratt

 

My Thoughts

Book four of the Hart's Ridge series and the best one yet. The most emotional one for me by far. It hit me in my heart.

Taylor, Jo, Anna, Lucy and their mother Cate are the women in this series. They are the reason I keep reading these books. They are a family who are so dysfunctional yet so there for each other you'll meet. Each has a story to tell and at the head of their family, Taylor, does everything she can to see that they are all doing good. She takes care of everyone including their dad Jackson. 

Anna's husband is not a good man. He's one to watch out for. He has his little side piece that seems to be more important than his family. Anna now will get to know her sisters better, as an adult. They each have their own problems but are dealing in positive ways finally. Or so it seems anyway. You never know what is just around the corner. I hope nothing bad is coming up. lol While I utterly despise Pete, Anna's husband, he does play an intricate part in this story right now. I believe Anna will come through a much stronger woman that she ever thought she could be. Maybe more like their mother Cate. 

There is a mystery in this book that just about did me in. It involves Sissy who is a waitress at The Den where Taylor has lunch quite often. Sissy seems to have fallen off the face of the earth and no one knows where she is or what happened to her. Though someone does know. Someone you might never suspect of knowing. That part of this story was very hard for me for personal reasons. This author did a great job of making it so realistic too. I literally wept. My eyes are so swollen from crying while reading this book. Silently I was praying that this was headed in a different direction. It is what it is and it has such deep feeling. This book is the best in this series yet and each has been fantastic. I felt like I was there in the court. In the woods. In that apartment. It felt so realistic. 

Another great addition to this series. Another book that will have you holding your breath until the very end and then wanting the next in the series. I can't wait for the next book. I want to know if Cate will find love. If Jackson might find love again too. What happens in Anna's life and how her children will handle things. What will happen to Lucy and Jo. And last will Taylor and Sam fall in love and raise Diesel together. There is a lot going on in this series so be sure and grab them. Devour them as I have done. They are great.

Five big huge stars for this heartfelt book. 

Synopsis

Do you ever really know the person you're in love with? In the quaint small town of Hart's Ridge, Deputy Taylor Gray is about to find out. When her close friend goes missing, Taylor sets out on a mission to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. But the more she investigates, the more she realizes that even the most picture-perfect relationships can hide deep and dark secrets.

Anna Chambers is living the all American life she's always dreamed of, but when things suddenly spiral out of control, she struggles to keep up the facade and piece things back together. But when the person who has loved her the longest offers to help, will she be able to accept it?

Join Taylor Gray and Anna Chambers on a thrilling ride through the twists and turns of Borrowed Time, the fifth book in Kay Bratt's gripping small-town mystery series. TW // suicide ideation

Borrowed Timeis book four of the new Hart’s Ridge mystery series, written by Kay Bratt, Million-Copy Best-Selling Author of Wish Me Home and the By the Sea series.

THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth

 

My thoughts

Another good thriller from Sally Hepworth. 

There are two couples: Pippa and Gabe. Amanda and Max. Two, not timelines exactly, but times. Before and after. From Amanda's prospective and from Pippa's. These two couples are on a collision course that may do so much harm. Or it may help some heal. Move on. Find happiness. Either together or apart. Whichever way it all starts at the jumping off place. Literally....

Pippa and Gabe love each other so much it is crazy. Pippa can barely breath away from Gabe and he just can't seem to cope without her. Their's is a love story for the ages. Soulmates if you will. But what about all the secrets. All the lies. All the things that are not what they seem. When the trust is tested. Limits are broken. What happens then. Do you bury your head in the sand and pretend all is well.... Maybe you do. For the sake of your daughters. But what about for your sake?

Amanda and Max have a more conventional marriage. It was not really a marriage of love but more a marriage of necessity. For them both. Yes they care about each other. Very deeply. They are friends. They get along and they make a promise. Always be faithful. This fits for Amanda after the life she's seen her mother go through. Until it's not. Until she is looking at things from the other side. Until that day on The Cliff... 

Gabe has many issues and Pippa deals with them very well. She helps him in every endeavor he starts. He does ask a lot too. I was all set to dislike this man but he grew on me. I felt bad for him for some things. But I like Pippa too. Even though I thought she was crazy to put up with Gabe at times I still like her. She just needed to find what truly made her happy. 

Max was a hard one to like for a bit but he also grew on me. I liked that he was so involved with suicide prevention after losing his mother and brother do suicide. I felt for him after his wife fell from the cliff. There were times when I wanted to push him off but then this book gave me the thrill I was waiting for and didn't even see coming. The moment it happened I actually gasped out loud. I did not see that coming. I didn't see a couple of things but the big thing was a shocker for sure. Well played Ms Hepworth. Well played indeed.

My favorite line despite it all is:

"Pippa," he said, "I thought you'd stay forever."

My second favorite:

So, here we are. Finally, it makes sense, what I've been doing here-stuck in this strange space between life and death. I've been waiting for him; the love of my life. And now it's time to go....

Thank you #NetGalley, #SallyHepworth, #StMartinsPress. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five huge stars and I do highly recommend it.

Synopsis

Prepare yourself for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in this latest book from the bestselling author of The Good Sister and The Younger Wife.

Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.

Until one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral. . . .Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate . . . lie? As the perfect façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

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: IF WE'RE BEING HONEST by Cat Shook

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

For fans of We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange and All Adults Here by Emma Straub, Cat Shook’s debut novel If We’re Being Honest is the snappy, smart, heartwarming story of the Williams family, and the sweltering summer that rewrote their history.

2: ONE NIGHT by Georgina Cross

     Courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

One night. That’s all the time a family has to decide what to do with the man they believe murdered their daughter: Do they forgive him, or do they take justice into their own hands?

3: BORROWED TIME by Kay Bratt

     Courtesy of Author

Do you ever really know the person you're in love with? In the quaint small town of Hart's Ridge, Deputy Taylor Gray is about to find out. When her close friend goes missing, Taylor sets out on a mission to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. But the more she investigates, the more she realizes that even the most picture-perfect relationships can hide deep and dark secrets.

WEYWARD by Emilia Hart

 

MY THOUGHTS

It's so hard for me to believe that this is a debut novel. It was so good. Excellent. Took my breath away. Very well written. Kept me turning the pages and gritting my teeth at some of the horrible things that happened. Well done Emilia Hart. Very well done.

This book is about three women. All from different eras. Altha 1619. Violet 1942. Kate 2019. These three women are such strong women even though it takes them a while to realize it. What happened to each was horrible. Altha was accused of being a witch and put on trial for murder. Violet was raped by her cousin who her father brought there for a visit and I got the feeling he wanted possibly a marriage out of it. Gross right? Kate ran from a horribly abusive marriage after finding out she is pregnant. The last thing she needs is for her husband to have a child to hold over her forever and possibly abuse. 

This book is full of nature and things that will make you feel the strength of these three women. They are all Weyward women. All from a long bloodline. Possibly they are witches in a way. Or they are just gifted. . They are nature lovers also. Birds and insects respond to them in a way that is quite magical. Each has to find their way. The way to live and make peace with things that happened to them. Altha was tried as a witch. Violet was raped. Kate was abused in many horrible ways. They have to find their way to live and carry on. To raise their children to be better. To know of their heritage if you will. 

There are things that happen that will make your skin crawl. Make you want to smack someone. But these women find they can handle things. With the help of a crow they find their way about. Never underestimate the crow. If you see them flying around you just might look out for what may come. They seem to be very protective of women. 

While this book sheds light on some very abuse men we have to admit that not all men are cruel beasts. But when there are some out there hurting others, especially women, we might call on the insects and birds to help. You'd have to read the book to understand. I detested almost every male in this book. From the Drs to the dads in many cases. I did love Violet's brother Graham though. He was a good one. He cared. Kate had a great dad also. Only mentioned vaguely but you still know he was a great dad. 

I enjoyed this book very much. From start to finish it was perfect in my opinion. I think it was beautifully written. While sad in many parts, it was also happy in many. Things could be bad but they could also be beautiful. The cover of this book fits it perfectly. It sure grabbed my attention. 

I gave this one 5 big stars. It deserves that and more. I loved it.

SYNOPSIS

 

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

THE ECHO OF OLD BOOKS by Barbara Davis

 

MY THOUGHTS

From the author of THE KEEPER OF HAPPY ENDINGS and THE LAST OF THE MOON GIRLS comes a very endearing, heartwarming and heartbreaking story. A story of a love that should have been.

A young lady, Ashlyn, runs a second hand rare books bookstore named THE UNLIKELY STORY. She has a gift that has caused her a lot of pain growing up. A gift of knowing the feelings of previous owners of the books she touches. Ashlyn has had a hard life. From her mother to her late husband she has had to cover her feelings. Had to fight for love. To give up on being loved. How sad. She calls her gift books "ECHOES." A very fitting thing to call it as it is the echoes of their feelings.

When Ashlyn gets a copy of two books that are unpublished, no author, not a lot of any info other than the two people's feelings and thoughts contained between the covers. A lifetime of love and sorrow. Happiness and pain. Two people who blame each other for life's choices each made. Where love once was only bitterness remains. How sad is that...

This book is told in three voices. Ashlyns and each of the books authors. Belle wrote FOREVER, AND OTHER LIES. Hemi wrote, REGRETTING BELLE. Each is very sad but contains their love story which was beautiful. So beautiful that it's hard to believe they went separate ways. You get to know them and then each of them. You get to know Ashlyn and all she went through and root for her to find love. You will also get to know Mirian. Mirian was a wonderful character. A bit stubborn at first but still wonderful. I adored her. I also adored Belle and Hemi and Ashlyn and Ethan. Ashlyn and Ethan are such a big part of this story. Another love story possibly.

I did figure out two things in this book way before they were revealed but believe me it did not take away from it at all. Just reinforced how much I adored this book. It's told from past to present with each chapter. It's one of those that make you cry so much your eyes get all swollen and red. Even the good parts make you weep. Tears of happiness and for sadness. This is a wonderful love story. I don't know how this author will top this one but I do look forward to her next book. Always.

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

Five huge stars and a three book of kleenex rating. Grab this one and let the journey begin.

SYNOPSIS

A novel about the magical lure of books and summoning the courage to rewrite our stories by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings and The Last of the Moon Girls.

Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.

With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story—and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.

THE LAST SAXON by Andrew Varga

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Last Saxon King: A Jump in Time Novel Book 1 by Andrew Varga
Category:  Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 361 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Middle-Grade/YA
Publisher:  Imbrifex Books
Release date:   March 7, 2023
Content Rating: PG + M

Book Description:

One Jump to Save All Time

​Life is progressing normally for sixteen-year-old Dan Renfrew when he accidentally transports himself to England in the year 1066. He soon realizes that he’s trapped there, and that’s not his only astonishing discovery. Dan learns that he’s descended from a long line of time jumpers—secret heroes who travel to the past and resolve glitches in the time stream that threaten to alter subsequent history. The only way Dan can return home is to set history back on its proper course in the Anglo-Saxon age. This is no easy task. A Viking horde is ravaging England in the north while a Norman army threatens to invade from the south. In between and desperately struggling to hold on to his throne is Harold Godwinson, the newly-crowned English king. Dan is fighting to ensure that events play out correctly when he finds himself plunged into an even more lethal conflict. To save history, Dan must battle a band of malevolent time jumpers whose lust for wealth and power threatens the entire future of the world.

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Meet the Author:

Ever since his mother told him he was descended from Vikings, ANDREW VARGA has had a fascination for history. He’s read hundreds of history books, watched countless historical movies, and earned a BA from the University of Toronto with a specialist in history and a major in English. Andrew has traveled extensively across Europe, where he toured famous castles, museums, and historical sites. During his travels he accumulated a collection of swords, shields, and other medieval weapons that now adorn his personal library. Andrew currently lives in the greater Toronto area with his wife Pam, their three children, and their mini-zoo of two dogs, two cats, a turtle, and some fish. It was his children’s love of reading, particularly historical and fantasy stories, that inspired Andrew to write this series. In his spare time, when he isn’t writing or editing, Andrew reads history books, jams on guitar, or plays beach volleyball.

​Andrew currently lives in the greater Toronto area with his wife Pam, their three children, and their mini-zoo of two dogs, two cats, a turtle, and some fish. It was his children’s love of reading, particularly historical and fantasy stories, that inspired Andrew to write this series. In his spare time, when he isn’t writing or editing, Andrew reads history books, jams on guitar, or plays beach volleyball.

connect to the author: instagram ~ goodreads 

THE LAST SAXON KING Book Tour Giveaway

 

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 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.