Review: Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

Goodreads Blurb

Do we change or does the world change us?

Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise.

Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect “Dick and Jane” house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life.

But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women’s lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after?

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

A stellar novel that revolves around two Jewish sisters’ lives, downfalls, strength, and forgiveness. The story begins in 1951 and ends in the future 2022. It shined a light on the expectation of women in society at that time. The timeline evolved slowly, seeing the characters freeing themselves from being a housewife by standing up for what they love. This story touched so many touchy topics lesbian relationships, rape, drugs, abortion, body image, and racism. This book had so much emotion. You wanted to fix each character’s flaws, but this is what made the story feel real. What I got out of this book is the resilience it takes to fight back for love, equality, fairness, forgiveness, and rights for women. Society has evolved, and women now have careers, are getting married, and having babies later in life. We also have the strength to be single with children and make it all by ourselves. We still have so much more to do in order to feel like equals among men, but together fighting as one and standing up for our rights, we will succeed. This was a wonderful novel with real-life family drama

Author Biography

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

Review: Addressed to Kill by Jean Flowers

Goodreads Blurb

Third in the Postmistress Mystery series by Jean Flowers, following Death Takes Priority and Cancelled by Murder…
Love is in the air for postmaster Cassie Miller and the residents of North Ashcot, Massachusetts. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and the town is gearing up for a special dinner dance at the senior center. With the local musical group performing at the dance displaced from their regular practice location, Cassie is all too happy to host them during off-hours at the post office.
But not everything is coming up roses. When one of the musicians, Dennis Somerville, is found shot in his home, rumors swirl over who might have wanted him dead. Cassie must determine if there is a link between a string of recent break-ins and Dennis’s murder before another victim winds up with more than a broken heart.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I was happy to have won a book that mixes mystery and the postal service. This is the first book I have read where the main character was the postmistress, and she has her nose in a murder mystery, while her best friend is a detective. It was a fun book to read. Cassie is very adventurous and is very well known in town since she is the only worker at the post office in the small town of North Aschcot, Massachusetts. She kept me on point, thinking of all the possible suspects with motives.

Review: The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Goodreads Blurb

Reminiscent of Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale , this sweeping, entrancing story is a must-read for fans of remarkable women rising to challenges they could never have predicted.

It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.

In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene’s life had been decided for her—she’ll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.

Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.

Illuminating the story of these two women separated by generations and experience, Julia Kelly transports us to World War II London in this heartbreakingly beautiful novel through forgotten antique treasures, remembered triumphs, and fierce family ties.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It is a fantastic novel of love in wartime, loss, secrets, betrayal, and strength. Cara and Louise both went through heartbreak and betrayal. They might have been from two different time periods, but they both were determined and strong-willed. Cara found a diary that sparked her curiosity to find out who the writer was and how her life continued after her last journal entry. Cara had lost her parents and had a horrible divorce. Her grandmother had a secret that kept the readers speculating what that might be. I fell in love with both Cara and Louise’s story. It was great to read through each page, unraveling truth and secrets. I highly recommend you get swept off your feet with this wartime romance.

Author Biography

Julia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical mystery novels about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 13 languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia has called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home. She now lives in London with her husband.

Review: Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land

Goodreads Blurb

Good Me Bad Me is dark, compelling, voice-driven psychological suspense by debut author Ali Land.

How far does the apple really fall from the tree?

Milly’s mother is a serial killer. Though Milly loves her mother, the only way to make her stop is to turn her in to the police. Milly is given a fresh start: a new identity, a home with an affluent foster family, and a spot at an exclusive private school.

But Milly has secrets, and life at her new home becomes complicated. As her mother’s trial looms, with Milly as the star witness, Milly starts to wonder how much of her is nature, how much of her is nurture, and whether she is doomed to turn out like her mother after all.

When tensions rise and Milly feels trapped by her shiny new life, she has to decide: Will she be good? Or is she bad? She is, after all, her mother’s daughter.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A story that will bring you chills, nightmares, and surprises. What you are taught is what you will learn and do. Annie had been abused at an early life, and when she thought that she left the torment at home, it turns out that a new one has begun. This is a story that the readers will never forget. Will Annie, who is now called Millie, make it through trial, school, and living in a new home with a tormentor? You will have to endure the torture page by page. Do you see the Good Me or the Bad Me?

Author Biography

After graduating from university with a degree in Mental Health, Ali Land spent a decade working as a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nurse in both hospitals and schools in the UK and Australia. Ali is now a full-time writer and lives in West London.

Follow Ali on Twitter @byAliLand

Review: Bubba Done It by Maggie Toussaint

Goodreads Blurb

Amateur sleuth and dreamwalker Baxley Powell is called in on a stabbing case. She arrives in time to hear the dying man whisper, “Bubba done it.”

Four men named Bubba in Sinclair County, Ga., have close ties to the victim, including her goofball brother-in-law, Bubba Powell.

She dreamwalks for answers, but the dead guy can’t talk to her. Baxley sleuths among the living. The suspects include a down-on-his-luck fisherman, a crackhead evangelist, a politically-connected investor, and her brother-in-law, the former sweetheart of the new widow.

The more Baxley digs, the more the Bubbas start to unravel. Worse, her brother-in-law’s definitely more than friendly with the new widow.

Between petsitting, landscaping, and dreamwalking, Baxley’s got her hands full solving this case.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This book was invigorating. Couldn’t put the book down from the very beginning. This book was well written, with a great plot and mystery. As I read, I kept on trying to figure out all the possibilities of who killed Morgan and what exactly happened to June? What kept this story going was that every single Bubba that were suspects all had dealings with Morgan, and they all wanted him dead. Morgan was a wealthy man who didn’t think of anyone’s feelings but himself. I loved that Baxley is an independent woman who can go to the spirit world and be able to see what had occurred at a death scene. She was able to solve the case on her own even though she was warned to stay away from the case. I was very shocked to have known that Morgan’s brother was his killer. He definitely was filled with sorrow, pain, and anger to have killed him. I’m hoping to read another book with Baxley. Great read you don’t want to miss it.

Author Biography

A scientist by training, a romanticist at heart, Maggie Toussaint loves to solve puzzles. Whether it’s the puzzle of a relationship or a who-dun-it, she tackles them all with equal aplomb and wonder. Maggie writes romantic suspense, contemporary romance , and science fiction for Muddle House Publishing, cozy mystery for Camel Press, Henery Press, and Muddle House.

She has five published romantic suspense novels: House of Lies (won the 2006 Readers Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense), No Second Chance (won 2 cover awards), Seeing Red (LASR book of the week), Muddy Waters ( Beacon finalist), Hot Water (EPIC finalist, cover art winner), and Rough Water.

Her mystery titles include In For A Penny, On the Nickel, Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Dime If I Know, No Quarter, Gone and Done It, Bubba Done It, Doggone It, Dadgummit, Confound It, Dreamed It, All Done With It, Seas the Day, Spawning Suspicion, and Shrimply Dead. She also wrote a romantic mystery novella series, The Lindsey & Ike Mysteries.

Her next release, SNUFFED OUT, is tentatively scheduled for January 2023 under the pen name of Valona Jones.

Her works blend mystery and romance, often with a dash of humor.

She’s a member of Southeast Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime, and Guppies. She was awarded the WRW Magic Crystal Award in 2004. She also won Silver Falchion Awards, the National Readers Choice Award and the EPIC ebook Award. She’s been a finalist for Georgia Author of the Year three times.

Visit her at http://www.maggietoussaint.com

Review: As Red As Blood by Salla Simukka

Goodreads Blurb

In the midst of the freezing Arctic winter, seventeen-year-old Lumikki Andersson walks into her school’s dark room and finds a stash of wet, crimson-colored money. Thousands of Euros left to dry—splattered with someone’s blood.

Lumikki lives alone in a studio apartment far from her parents and the past she left behind. She transferred into a prestigious art school, and she’s singularly focused on studying and graduating. Lumikki ignores the cliques, the gossip, and the parties held by the school’s most popular and beautiful boys and girls.

But finding the blood-stained money changes everything. Suddenly, Lumikki is swept into a whirlpool of events as she finds herself helping to trace the origins of the money. Events turn even more deadly when evidence points to dirty cops and a notorious drug kingpin best known for the brutality with which he runs his business.

As Lumikki loses control of her carefully constructed world, she discovers that she’s been blind to the forces swirling around her—and she’s running out of time to set them right. When she sees the stark red of blood on snow, it may be too late to save her friends or herself.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This was a thriller, crime novel, and fairy tale all in one. Lumikki was a teenager who was constantly bullied by two classmates. She started to learn how to fight and was able to use scents, noise, and movements in order to hide from her perpetrators. I was shocked at the things she went through and how easy just changing her walk would make others not realize her. At times, she was like a ghost not seen but very much there. I enjoy the fairy tale of Snow White that was throughout the book. Was happy that she fought hard and was over to live. Can’t wait to see what the next book brings. She got herself involved in a crime that was committed, and she was the undercover detective that with smarts, strength, and will was able to figure out the whole scheme.

Author Biography

Salla Simukka is Finnish writer and translator who lives in Tampere. She has studied Nordic philology, Finnish language, general literature, creative writing and women’s studies at the University of Turku.

Besides books, Simukka writes book reviews for the newspapers Helsinkin Sanomat and Hämeen Sanomat.

Review: Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus

Goodreads Blurb

In San Bernardino, California, children are going missing.

The townspeople don’t believe the rumours of trolls, but fifteen-year-old Jim Jr knows that they’re a very real threat. At night, is anyone safe?

TROLLHUNTERS is a funny, gruesome and undeniably del Toro-esque adventure perfect for teen readers and fans of Pan’s Labyrinth.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

Wow, what an amazing book written from one of the best filmmakers ever. Book had an awesome beginning and ending. I just couldn’t put it down. Loved the whole troll story idea and having a human family being the trollhunters to keep all humans safe. Each character was very important in the book. They were all able to get together and do what was right to save everyone. The plot of this book was great, hoping it became a movie. What I loved most was that the story was being told by James, who is the son of Jim, who had lost his brother in a strange encounter. Fooled me at the beginning, thinking that Jim was telling the story. You don’t want to miss this amazing book with out of the box ideas, innovations, and thrilling.

Author Biography

Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican director mostly known for his acclaimed films Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devils Backbone, Crimson Peak and the Hellboy film franchise. His films draw heavily on sources as diverse as weird fiction, fantasy, horror, and war. In 2009, Del Toro released his debut novel, The Strain, co-authored with Chuck Hogan, as the first part of The Strain Trilogy, an apocalyptic horror series featuring vampires. The series continued with The Fall in 2010 and concluded with The Night Eternal in 2011.

Cover Reveal: These Family Ties

BOOK DETAILS:

These Family Ties: An Extreme Taboo Anthology
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:Weave your way through the Complex Taboo love that’s Thicker Than Blood. Lose yourself in the Wrath and Ruin of The Loveless, and always remember that Daddy Knows Best how to pull you out of The Chaos Between illicit emotions as you Double Down on everything you feel.

These Family Ties is an extremely taboo anthology that is not for the close-minded. Due to the nature of these stories, it’s best to leave your morals at the door.
Authors:
Jay Leigh Brown
Emery LeeAnn
Ayden Perry
Nicole Blackwood
W.P. Woodbine
A. Roux
Ally Vance
Yolanda Olson

Pre-order: https://geni.us/thesefamilyties

Review: Dreadfully Ever After: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Steve Hockensmith

Goodreads Blurb

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Complete with romance, heartbreak, martial arts, cannibalism, and an army of shambling corpses. Dreadfully Ever After brings the story of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to a thrilling conclusion.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Pride and Prejudice is very dear to my heart, and this book is my next favorite. I really enjoyed this book. Loved that there was so much action throughout the book. I was heartbroken after what happened to my lover boy Mr.Darcy but love and family are always there to support. I loved this book because of the action and that women fought just like men. They were trained zombie killers, utterly cool. It had a great plot and was written very well. I was happy with the action pack ending. Couldn’t stand Anne she got what she deserved and her mother. The book turned out in my favor. The bad guys got what they deserved, and my Darcy still survived. If you are looking for a book that will keep you at the end of your seat, you want to pick this book up.

Author Biography

Steve Hockensmith is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and several other novels, including the Edgar Award finalist Holmes on the Range. He lives in Alameda, California.

Review: The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy

Goodreads Blurb

In Benjamin Percy’s new thriller, a post-apocalyptic reimagining of the Lewis and Clark saga, a super flu and nuclear fallout have made a husk of the world we know. A few humans carry on, living in outposts such as the Sanctuary-the remains of St. Louis-a shielded community that owes its survival to its militant defense and fear-mongering leaders.

Then a rider comes from the wasteland beyond its walls. She reports on the outside west of the Cascades, rain falls, crops grow, civilization thrives. But there is danger the rising power of an army that pillages and enslaves every community they happen upon.

Against the wishes of the Sanctuary, a small group sets out in secrecy. Led by Lewis Meriwether and Mina Clark, they hope to expand their infant nation, and to reunite the States. But the Sanctuary will not allow them to escape without a fight.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Won this book from GoodReads. Really wasn’t feeling the book until the end. It was hell in the sanctuary and a bigger hell in the rest of the world. Benjamin’s writing is fabulous and very detailed. I loved that the lady characters were strong-willed and did what needed to be done. I loved the prologue it made the book capturing, but then I got lost with what was happening in the rest of the book.

Author Biography

Benjamin Percy is the author of seven novels — most recently The Sky Vault (William Morrow) — three short fiction collections, and a book of essays, Thrill Me, that is widely taught in creative writing classrooms. He writes Wolverine, X-Force, and Ghost Rider for Marvel Comics. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in Esquire (where he is a contributing editor), GQ, Time, Men’s Journal, Outside, the Wall Street Journal, Tin House, and the Paris Review. His honors include an NEA fellowship, the Whiting Writer’s Award, the Plimpton Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, the iHeart Radio Award for Best Scripted Podcast, and inclusion in Best American Short Stories and Best American Comics.