Goodreads Blurb

The Dry meets Silence of the Lambs in this intoxicating tale of literary suspense set in the relentless Alaskan landscape about madness and obsession, loneliness and grief, and the ferocious bonds of family …

It’s 1941 in small-town Alaska and Elisabeth Pfautz is alone. She’s living far from home, struggling through an unhappy marriage, and she spends her days tutoring her precocious young daughter. Elisabeth’s twin sister disappeared without a trace twenty years earlier, and Elisabeth’s life has never recovered. Cryptic visions of her sister haunt her dreams, and Elisabeth’s crushing loneliness grows more intense by the day. But through it all, she clings to one belief: That her sister is still alive, and that they’ll be reunited one day.

And that day may be coming soon. Elisabeth’s world is upended when Alfred Seidel — an enigmatic German bush pilot — arrives in town and murders a local man in cold blood. Sitting in his cell in the wake of his crime, Alfred refuses to speak to anyone except for Elisabeth. He has something to tell her: He knows exactly what happened to her long-missing sister, but he’ll reveal this truth only if Elisabeth fulfills three requests.

Increasingly isolated from her neighbors and imprisoned by the bitter cold and her own obsession, Elisabeth lets herself slip deeper into Alfred’s web. A tenuous friendship forms between them, even as Elisabeth struggles to understand Alfred’s game and what he’s after.

But if it means she’ll get answers, she’s willing to play by his rules. She’s ready to sacrifice whatever it takes to be reunited with her sister, even if it means putting herself — and her family — in mortal danger.

My Review

Debut thriller with secrets that unravel as you slowly drift through the story. I was hoping the story was going to keep me at the edge of my seat because the title gave you that sense, but I felt it dragged. I liked some parts of the story while others went super slow. Elizabeth was the most annoying character. She knew what her sister was planning and she did nothing to stop her. She was utterly obsessed with her sister, the thought of her and finding her. She couldn’t open her eyes and stay away from danger. Is Jacqueline truly alive or is Elizabeth at a dead end? Alfred is a creepy hidden stoker who made you feel like you’re trapped and need to give in to his demands in order to move closer to the truth. I’m not sure who between Elizabeth and Alfred is the craziest. I was hoping for an explosive revealed truth and we got nowhere. False hope’s for character and readers. To be continued!!!

Author Biography

Raymond Fleischmann’s debut novel, How Quickly She Disappears, is forthcoming in January 2020 from Penguin Random House (Berkley Books). Fleischmann has published short fiction in The Iowa Review, Cimarron Review, The Pinch, and Los Angeles Review, among many others. He earned his MFA from Ohio State University and has received fellowships and scholarships from Richard Hugo House, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and others. He lives in Bloomington, Ind., with his wife and three daughters.

Goodreads Blurb

An irresistible story from Kasie West that explores the timeless question: What do you do when you fall for the person you least expect?

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her.

Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye.

As he and Autumn at first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

My Review

Wow so much emotion, I don’t even know where to start. I felt so many different emotions throughout the book. There was fear, anxiety, hope, love, determination and calmness. I don’t know about you, but being locked up in a library with a hot guy sounds like a brilliant idea. The story was very touching and I loved that Dax was portrayed as a bad boy but he truly had a wonderful heart. Was happy that Autumn was able to figure out her feelings and accept her condition. The story had a great plot twist and kept me engaged from the very first sentence. It’s a great story of love when you least expect it. I rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, and BY YOUR SIDE. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.
She write’s YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, and BY YOUR SIDE. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson. Taken from Goodreads.

Goodreads Blurb

As a storm rages across the Mediterranean Sea, a terrifying distress call is made to the Italian Coast Guard. Days later, a body washes ashore.

Identified as a high value terrorism suspect (who had disappeared three years prior), his name sends panic through the Central Intelligence Agency.

Where was he headed? What was he planning? And could he be connected to the “spectacular attack” they have been fearing all summer?

In a race against time, the CIA taps an unorthodox source to get answers: Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative, Scot Harvath.

Hired on a black contract, Harvath will provide the deniability the United States needs, while he breaks every rule along the way.

Packed with pulse-pounding action, fascinating characters, and electrifying intrigue, Brad Thor does it again and proves why he is known around-the-world as the “Master of Thrillers.”

My Review

This action pack thriller will keep readers wanting more. The clock is ticking and Harvath and his team needs to find out what the terrorist are planning against harming human life. This book was filled with dangers, fear and war fights. There was never a dull moment. Brad Thor gives you full blown details of what soldiers go through in there operations against terrorist. I love how Brad is very detailed in his books. I rated out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

My new thriller, BACKLASH – which The Real Book Spy calls “The best thing Thor has ever written” and “The book to beat in 2019” – is available now. 

I have also created an array of terrific bonus material for you at my web site BradThor.com and hope you will visit. While you’re there, you can enjoy videos as well as sign up for my exclusive newsletter with its special subscriber-only content, contests, and GREAT prizes.

Thank you for all of your support. Happy reading!

Goodreads Blurb

This version of the Bennet family and Mr. Darcy is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray. 

Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches. 

Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend, neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy, reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . . And yet, first impressions can be deceiving. 

My Review

Truly a remarkable book. When reality hits close to the heart. Loved that the author has brought topics and issues that we all currently encounter in our society today. It made the story feel like anyone of us are part of the Bennett’s family. I was so happy to be able to read another story that reminded me so much of Pride and Prejudice, each character had a flaw unlike the original. I was in love with the original but this book made life so much more real, colorful, powerful and enlightening. Hoping to see this book turned into a movie. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Curtis Sittenfeld is the author of the new novel Eligible, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice(due out April 2016) as well as the bestselling novels Sisterland, American Wife, Prep, and The Man of My Dreams, which have been translated into twenty-five languages. Curtis’s writing has appeared in many publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Vanity Fair,Time, Slate, Glamour, and on public radio’s This American Life. A graduate of Stanford University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she currently lives in St. Louis, MO.

Goodreads Blurb

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

My Review

Magical tales filled with mystery, love, revenge and power. Each tale leaves you with a lesson to learn. I loved how the illustrations kept on being built as you read. Made you really see the true picture of the tale. Each story was filled with magic and weird scenarios you usually do not see. Leigh truly has a magical imagination with creatures that seem scary and dangerous but truly are kind and powerful. The one thing that I saw throughout this book is that bullies come in different forms. That even in fairy tales bullies take power, but at the end they are the ones that lose. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse. With over three million copies sold, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars—with more to come. (To hear about new releases, tour dates, and giveaways first, sign up for Leigh’s newsletter here.) Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and the forthcoming Ninth House. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern California, graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and even makeup and special effects. These days she lives and writes in Los Angeles.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her at web site, and fairly giddy if you liked her selfies on Instagram. 

Goodreads blurb

Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.

First love has lifelong consequences, but Paul doesn’t know anything about that at nineteen. At nineteen, he’s proud of the fact his relationship flies in the face of social convention.

As he grows older, the demands placed on Paul by love become far greater than he could possibly have foreseen.

Tender and profound, The Only Story is an achingly beautiful novel by one of fiction’s greatest mappers of the human heart.

My Review

This is the first time I read a book by this author. I had some difficulties staying with the story and felt is was boring and took forever to read. It was written in a narrative of Paul in his early life with Susan. I liked that the story was with two characters who are over 20 years apart. I can relate to this story. Age is only a number, but one of them is married which causes many issues throughout the story. I was upset that this love story didn’t end the way they wanted. Sometimes love is difficult and people cannot move on from their pass. The ending could have been written better. That last sentence ended this book abruptly. I rated 3 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Julian Patrick Barnes is a contemporary English writer of postmodernism in literature. He has been shortlisted three times for the Man Booker Prize— Flaubert’s Parrot (1984), England, England (1998), and Arthur & George (2005), and won the prize for The Sense of an Ending (2011). He has written crime fiction under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh.

Goodreads Blurb

It’s 1924 and there have been many changes at Downton Abbey since the family and their servants first welcomed us there twelve years ago. A generation of men has been tragically lost at the front; children are once again breathing new life into the great house; a chauffeur now sits at the Grantham dinner table; and skirt hems continue to rise.

Still, in the midst of all this upheaval, many things at Downton remain largely unchanged. Nanny still holds sway in the nursery, and there are still summer fetes to be organized, menus to be planned, and farms to be run.

This gorgeous book explores the seasonal events and celebrations of the great estate—including house parties, debutantes, the London Season, yearly trips to Scotland, the sporting season, and, of course, the cherished rituals of Christmas. Jessica Fellowes and the creative team behind Downton Abbey invite us to peer through the prism of the house as we learn more about the lives of our favorite characters, the actors who play them, and those who bring this exquisite world to real life.

A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey is packed full of exclusive new photographs, with a delicious array of traditional British recipes adapted for modern kitchens: kedgeree, orange marmalade, asparagus tarts, cream of watercress soup, Irish stew, lemon barley water, meringues with red berries, parmesan straws, Christmas pudding with brandy butter and more. From the moment when the servants light the fires against the chill of January, through the last family game of charades and the servants’ Christmas ball, this magnificent book invites us to take part in twelve months in the life of Downton Abbey.

My Review

This was another amazing book that brought me back to Downton Abbey. Such vivid pictures, details, recipes and backstage sneak peaks. Downtown Abbey truly has been one of the best British series that many cherish, love and enjoy at home. Jessica did an amazing job of sharing wonderful images and history and character developments through out the series. All the characters were a huge part of why this series was so prosperous. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Downton Abbey Movie Trailer

Downton Abbey movie will be released on September 15, 2019. Here is the link to the official trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbV8LpEzYgQ

Author Biography

JESSICA FELLOWES is an author, journalist, and public speaker. She is the author of The Mitford Murders novels as well as the New York Times bestselling official companion books to the Downton Abbey TV series. Former deputy director of Country Life, and columnist for the Mail on Sunday, she has written for the Daily Telegraph, theGuardian, The Sunday Times, and The Lady. Jessica has spoken at events across the UK and US, and has made numerous appearances on radio and television. She lives in Oxfordshire with her family.

Goodreads Blurb

Puerto Rico Strong is a comics anthology that explores what it means to be Puerto Rican and the diversity that exists within that concept, from today’s most exciting Puerto Rican comics creators. All proceeds go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico.

Despite being a US territory, Puerto Rico is often thought of as a foreign land, if it’s even a thought in the mind of the average American at all. Its people exist in all corners of America; some of them have parents who immigrated from the home island, others are a part of families that have been on the mainland for generations. Then there are those who have come to the states in search of a dream but struggle to integrate into an unfamiliar culture, while there are those who have lived in the United States all of their lives but still have the same struggle because of the color of their skin or their sexual identity. These stories follow individuals from diverse walks of life but are all part of the culture that is Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Strong features art and writing by Rosa Colon, Vita Ayala, Naomi Franquiz, Javier Cruz Winnick, Sabrina Cintron, Ronnie Garcia, Fabian Nicieza, Joamette Gil, and many more!

My Review

Truly a powerful comic anthology that reflects what it means to be Puerto Rican. The moment I found out about this comic book and how the proceeds were going to support relief and rebuilding efforts in PR, I had to be part of this project also. I was born in Puerto Rico and most of my family lives there. It was a hard time trying to hear from my family. I loved the comics in this book. It is a book that will teach all who read it about PR’s history, culture, values, strong family support but it also goes over the number of events that made them vulnerable and caused hurt to my people. What is truly amazing is that even though their home was destroyed, no power, no lights or food they stood strong together and will continue to rebuilt the “Isla Preciosa” back to its glory. I learned so much from this book about the history that we here in the USA do not learn. I think this is a great book to bring everyone up to speed that yes Puerto Ricans are US Citizens since March 2, 1917, the Jones–Shafroth Act was signed. Lets stand strong with Puerto Rico!!!  I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Hazel Newlevant is a Portland-raised, Queens-residing cartoonist. Their comics include Tender-Hearted, Sugar Town, No Ivy League, and If This Be Sin. They are the editor and publisher of the anthologies Chainmail Bikini and Comics For Choice. Their work has been honored with the Ignatz Award, Xeric Grant and the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant.

Goodreads Blurb

From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes, comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.

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?

In her most ambitious novel yet, Jennifer Weiner tells a story of two sisters who, with their different dreams and different paths, offer answers to the question: How should a woman be in the world?

My Review

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 get 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. I rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, coming this June, Mrs. Everything. A graduate of Princeton University and contributor to the New York Times Opinion section, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

Goodreads Blurb

A secret shared…

But can she trust him?

In this Debutantes in Paris story, Diana Martin is thrilled to be a writer covering the Parisian Exposition. But her new role must be kept quiet—her parents would never allow it! When enigmatic Sir William Blakely discovers her ruse, he knows it could lead her into danger. With the sparks igniting between them, William realizes the only way to protect Diana is by staying as close to her as possible!

My Review

This was such a great story, taking me to my favorite city of lights, Paris. I loved that this story wasn’t just a love story, it also had a robbery of a jewel which made the story very engaging. Diana was such a wonderful character for this book. She was a strong women, who knew what she wanted to do, and went an did it. She was a great friend and someone truth worthy. William reminded me of Darcy. He harbored feelings for Diana, but tried his best not to show them, in hopes he can keep her safe from danger. The details in the description of Paris and the fashion at the time made this story come to life. You can sense, see and feel what the characters saw and felt. Thanks for the time in Paris and the happily ever after. I rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)

She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook.