It’s already a short story and the synopsis practically sums up the entire thing!
Lucy is recently divorced, and mostly happDon’t read the synopsis!!
It’s already a short story and the synopsis practically sums up the entire thing!
Lucy is recently divorced, and mostly happy in the cozy, plant-filled house she shares with her 12 year old daughter, K.C. Sure, she is sometimes lonely, but she doesn’t fit in with the other divorcées—who seem to be busy looking for their next relationship.
So when Lucy meets Elle, a woman who shares her same passions, they form a FAST friendship. They quickly become inseparable which fills the void.
But, will Elle be a person who enters Lucy’s life for a reason? A season? Or a lifetime? (Referring to that poem by the unknown author)
You”ll find out in one sitting! (About 44 pages)
This novella is the BONUS READ if you subscribe to Amazon Prime and select an AMAZON FIRST read in September. An Amazon original story publishing on October 1, 2024. ...more
Katy Sweeney is looking for her younger sister Phoebe- a vivacious blogger who disappeared while traveling solo in her van. Her journey was sup3.5 ⭐️
Katy Sweeney is looking for her younger sister Phoebe- a vivacious blogger who disappeared while traveling solo in her van. Her journey was supposed to take her on a complete loop of Australia, starting and ending in Perth.
Pheebsinwonderland Day 6- Besides the “necessities� all you need is common sense, Phoebe assures her followers-“Trust your gut and if something’s off-just leave!� She posts along with her TOP TWENTY SAFETY TIPs. #solofemaletravel, #womenwhowander
And, yet, just three weeks later, her BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS and CHEERFUL POSTS completely stop.
It’s been a year, and the case has gone cold, but Katy believes that people don’t just vanish into thin air-everyone leaves a trace-you just have to find it.
So, using Phoebe’s social media accounts as a map, Katy retraces her sister’s steps, searching for any clues the police may have missed.
Her first clue comes when she finds a Bobby pin, painted with nail polish-in the dirt at one of the campsites-which is a unique item that Phoebe always wore in her hair.
Teaming up with Katy is Beth (Lily) who also found trouble while living a van life and literally ran into Katy while on the run from an abusive boyfriend.
The story alternates between the POV’s of Katy, Beth and Wyatt-a sick, young boy whose Mom also disappeared after leaving their home one day.
I have mixed feelings about this book.
The author captured the dark side of Women’s Solo travel brilliantly, with descriptive prose and nothing is scarier to me than reading about or imagining the awful things that some humans are capable of.
The story started out strong but the pace became too SLOW by the midway point and 384 pages began to feel too long. Despite mostly enjoying it, the book took me longer than usual to finish.
And the book took a turn in the end which disappointed me. It was a unique story but there was a missed opportunity to really make this an EMOTIONAL crime novel, and I felt cheated by the ending. How you feel about it may determine your final rating too.
I paired my reading with the audiobook, narrated by Maddy Withington, who did a terrific job voicing all three characters.
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title....more
On Friday night, July 15, 1994, ten year old, Ethan Marsh, and his best friend, Billy Barringer crawl into a tent in Ethan’s backyard for their weeklyOn Friday night, July 15, 1994, ten year old, Ethan Marsh, and his best friend, Billy Barringer crawl into a tent in Ethan’s backyard for their weekly camping sleepover.
On Saturday, July 16th, Ethan wakes up alone.
The flap remains shut, but there is a thirty eight inch gash along one side of the tent, and Billy is gone. Apparently, Ethan slept right through the whole thing.
No signs of a struggle and no clues.
It’s been thirty years and Billy is still listed on NamUs ( The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System ) as MISSING.
Ethan’s parents have retired to Florida, and at 40 years old, he finds himself unexpectedly moving back into the family home on Hemlock Circle-the last place he expected to be living at this stage of his life.
He struggles with Insomnia, something he developed after the abduction, so when the motion detectors of the neighboring houses are tripped, ONE BY ONE-he is awake to see them all!
But, he can’t see WHO or WHAT is setting them off.
The next morning, a baseball ⚾️ is in his yard-the secret code the two boys had which meant, “Billy wants to play�.
Could Billy be back? Or is this a GHOST story?
Alternating between the PAST and the PRESENT, the mystery of what happened to Billy will finally be solved.
I actually guessed MOST of the reveals this time-the CLUES are all there if you pay close attention-not all of the little details but definitely who had played a part in Billy’s disappearance.
This didn’t detract from my enjoyment because the author’s last two books were too twisty and OTT for my tastes, and this one was much more plausible which is my preference. I enjoyed reading to see if I was right�
The middle dragged just a bit, when we spent a lot of time in the past, so I will go with 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
I also love the cover depicting the ominous Cul de Sac, where those shocking things happened in the “middle of the night”�
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title. AVAILABLE NOW!...more
I have read (and loved) everything that this author has written, with “The Invisible Husband of Frick Island� being an all time favorite. So when offeI have read (and loved) everything that this author has written, with “The Invisible Husband of Frick Island� being an all time favorite. So when offered a VERY early copy of this book, I jumped at the chance to read it, and moved it ahead of several others which are publishing much sooner-I just couldn’t wait!
So, nobody is more surprised than I am that this was a bit of a MISS for me, despite the fun and clever premise!
Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, (or is it twenty?) but Jane isn’t sure they will make it another year. She decides to ask for a Divorce during their Anniversary dinner at the renowned, upscale and very OVERPRICED restaurant “La Fin du Monde�.
But before they can even finish the second course, (which didn’t sound even remotely appetizing to me!) an underground CLIMATE activist group bursts into the dining room and takes everyone hostage. Their “target� had reservations at the restaurant for that night-and it appears to be a case of “Wrong Place-Wrong time� for Jane and Dan.
OR IS IT?
Could it really be a COINCIDENCE that nearly everything that the activists SAY and DO seems to be right out of the pages of Jane’s one and only published book, “Tea is For Terror�?
How can that be when less than 500 copies were ever sold?
Not liking the main protagonist isn’t a problem in a psychological thriller but it is a problem in a story like this one, and I really didn’t like Jane! I didn’t enjoy spending time with her-and the HUMOR didn’t resonate with me either.
This was reminiscent of Fredrik Backman’s very popular “Anxious People�, another book I didn’t care for-so, if you enjoyed that one, you just might love this one too!
Be sure to read a sample of reviews as no book is for every reader and this just may be a better fit for you!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Was it a fit for her?
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!...more
I’m not surprised that Lisa Unger’s short fiction has been nominated for the Edgar and ITW Thriller Awards or that it has been anthologized in “The BeI’m not surprised that Lisa Unger’s short fiction has been nominated for the Edgar and ITW Thriller Awards or that it has been anthologized in “The Best American Mystery and Suspense�. Only a few authors can write short stories which feel as complex and complete as hers do.
Jules is still mourning her husband when she meets Kirin, and falling in love again was the last thing she expected to do. But, she and her teenage daughter, Scout are now moving into his old family home, “The Winslow House�. He has thoughtfully updated it to be a SMART HOME, with “Vivi� taking care of your every need.
Despite her beautiful new room, Scout still feels like an outsider until she finds a beautiful, handmade doll which belonged to Kirin’s late sister, Emma. Perhaps Kirin can understand her grief after all?
Yet, there is a sense of foreboding which lingers�
And, why does Jules continue to see a blue eyed girl in the torn jeans, with mascara running down her face, in the beautiful “grief garden� out back?
This is a perfect AMAZON ORIGINAL short story (96 pages) for Spooky Season. It has both a SUPERNATURAL vibe, and a CONTEMPORARY feel (the author incorporates some interesting new APPS that I had only recently heard about into the story). And, it will be released on September 12, 2024.
I can’t decide what was most creepy-the Smart House, the dolls that Kirin created, or the girl in the garden!
And, if you haven’t already read it, don’t miss reading another of her short stories-“The Sleep Tight Motel� too!
I received a gifted copy through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!...more
Alex is an “old soul� trapped in the body of a depressed 25 year old.
When asked for three interests oFanciful and Farcical....in all the best ways!!
Alex is an “old soul� trapped in the body of a depressed 25 year old.
When asked for three interests on the carshare.com website, he thinks of Herbal tea, camels and American soul music. But, he can’t say that! So, he goes with Museums, traveling and literature-hoping to attract a young lady to accompany him on his trek to Brussels.
Max is age “none of your business� and enjoys mechanics, whisky and the Tour de France.
In reality, Maxine is a spry nonagenarian, who claps like a little girl when she gets excited, and who loves to make an entrance! She thinks that she has Alzheimer’s and needs to get to Brussels. Alex sounds dull, but since SHE seems to be the only one offering a Carshare to Brussels, Max accepts the offer and pays the fee.
She soon realizes that Alex isn’t a young lady, nor the “drug addict� she feared he might be, when she buckled into her seatbelt, but rather a shy lad lacking in confidence who needed to be coaxed out of his bell. (Or is it, out of his shell?) Maxine is always getting the words in common phrases confused!
You never know what might come out of her mouth, or her enormous handbag!
If you enjoyed last year’s “Anxious People� by Fredrik Backman, about a bank robbery gone wrong, you will definitely want to hitch a ride on this road trip, gone awry!!
It is just as humorous and uplifting!
Merged review:
Fanciful and Farcical....in all the best ways!!
Alex is an “old soul� trapped in the body of a depressed 25 year old.
When asked for three interests on the carshare.com website, he thinks of Herbal tea, camels and American soul music. But, he can’t say that! So, he goes with Museums, traveling and literature-hoping to attract a young lady to accompany him on his trek to Brussels.
Max is age “none of your business� and enjoys mechanics, whisky and the Tour de France.
In reality, Maxine is a spry nonagenarian, who claps like a little girl when she gets excited, and who loves to make an entrance! She thinks that she has Alzheimer’s and needs to get to Brussels. Alex sounds dull, but since SHE seems to be the only one offering a Carshare to Brussels, Max accepts the offer and pays the fee.
She soon realizes that Alex isn’t a young lady, nor the “drug addict� she feared he might be, when she buckled into her seatbelt, but rather a shy lad lacking in confidence who needed to be coaxed out of his bell. (Or is it, out of his shell?) Maxine is always getting the words in common phrases confused!
You never know what might come out of her mouth, or her enormous handbag!
If you enjoyed last year’s “Anxious People� by Fredrik Backman, about a bank robbery gone wrong, you will definitely want to hitch a ride on this road trip, gone awry!!
In 2023, I “spilled the tea� on “Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers�. See review: /review/show...
So is this f4.5 ⭐️
In 2023, I “spilled the tea� on “Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers�. See review: /review/show...
So is this follow-up as funny as the first?
Well, YES-for the most part! In fact, I think the first half of this installment may be EVEN FUNNIER, than the first book, with MANY of the “laugh out loud� moments-arising from the fact that Vera’s first language is Mandarin, so sometimes when she speaks English, something gets lost in translation�
Or does It?!
And, although she knows that �60 is the new 40�, she doesn’t hesitate to use her “helpless old lady�...more
By the end of this story, there will be a house for sale on Nassau Court in East Bethesda, a Suburb just outside of Washington, DC.
You sHOUSE FOR SALE
By the end of this story, there will be a house for sale on Nassau Court in East Bethesda, a Suburb just outside of Washington, DC.
You see-there is a newly released book of auto fiction about three families who lived on this Cul-de-sac. It’s called “You Deserve To Know� and it’s a tell-all about what happened there-
But how much of it is true?
Gwen and Anton Aimee and Scott Lisa and Marcus
The book opens with a transcript from NBC’s Dateline, but we don’t know the identity of the author being interviewed�
And, the story opens with one of the three husbands, Anton whispering “You Deserve to Know� into the ear of one of the three wives, Aimee, earlier in the evening on the night that he is killed.
Neighborhood Suspense stories are one sub genre that I never seem to grow tired of-and the SECRETS and LIES in this one are as JUICY as the burgers being cooked in the backyards, where the three couples gather every Friday night. ...more
There is NEVER a wrong time to read a book about books-or bookstores!
The oldest mystery specialty bookstore in the world, The Mysterious Bookshop, is There is NEVER a wrong time to read a book about books-or bookstores!
The oldest mystery specialty bookstore in the world, The Mysterious Bookshop, is an actual place, and Otto Penzler is an actual person.
And, for most of its forty-five-year history, he has commissioned an original short story as a holiday gift for its customers, written exclusively for the store and never published elsewhere. The stories were given out to customers as a holiday gift to thank them for their business, and were either handed out or mailed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
The prompt for these stories requires three things-that it be set at Christmastime, that it involve a crime of some kind, or the suspicion of one, and that it be set at least partially in the bookstore.
This is a collection of 12 of these short stories, compiled in one book!
Since the Mysterious Bookshop only sells Crime and Mystery books-these aren’t your typical Christmas stories-Hallmark writers need NOT apply. Here is a HINT of what to expect:
Black Christmas by Jason Starr-nothing cozy about this story about “soulmates�.
A Midnight Clear by Lyndsay Faye-In a seedy apartment close to the Mysterious Bookstore, a man mourns a woman.
Wolfe Trap by Loren Estleman-a locked room (locked drawer) mystery.
Secret Santa by Ace Atkins-a “has been� author keeps up the facade of annual book signings at the Mysterious Bookshop on Christmas Eve.
The Gift of the Wiseguy by Rob Hart- a stakeout at the Mysterious Bookshops for an author’s mob father.
Snowflake Time by Laura Lippman-an offensive author’s rant about everything including ŷ reviews that deduct points for the killing of cats.
The Christmas Party-Jeffrey Deaver-a nurse at an assisted care senior center who really goes the extra mile for her patients.
Here we come A Wassailing by Thomas Perry- Takes “regifting� to a whole new level!
A Christmas Puzzle by Ragnar Johasson-a clerk at the Mysterious Bookshop agrees to help an 80 year old widow solve a puzzle after the shop closes on Christmas Eve.
Hester’s Gift-Tom Mead-an amateur sleuth named Hester Queeg helps Police solve an unusual double murder.
Sergeant Santa by David Gordon-a pickpocket must find a way to return an item!
End Game by Martin Edwards-a ghost story for Christmas that involves “The Mystery of Edwin Drood�.
Who knew a bookstore could be so dangerous?
My favorites were “The Gift of the Wiseguy�, a “Christmas Puzzle� and “Sergeant Santa� (all 4 star) and my only two star story was “Snowflake Time� with most of the others earning 3.5 stars, so I will round up.
AVAILABLE NOW if you like to start shopping early for Christmas Stocking Stuffers!
Thank You to the Mysterious Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts....more
Terri Parlato brings back Detective Rita Meyers in the third installment of her Domestic Suspense/Police Procedural series, though you can definitely Terri Parlato brings back Detective Rita Meyers in the third installment of her Domestic Suspense/Police Procedural series, though you can definitely read this as a stand-alone.
Psychiatrist Eve Thayer never intended to get married or have children but a car accident led her to Nathan’s collision shop and she now finds herself trying to balance a high pressure career with marriage and a new baby.
She seems to have found the perfect babysitter in Barbara, until her daughter Rosewyn is abducted while under her care.
Then there is a break-in at the empty house being renovated which backs up to Eve and Nathan’s property.
Coincidence?
Detective Rita Myers doesn’t think so, although she hasn’t yet figured out how the two crimes in this usually quiet neighborhood are related - or whether Eve is a Suspect or the target-and WHY?
The story unfolds through the alternating POV’s of Rita, Eve and Nathan, and I enjoyed having the third POV of the husband included as I particularly felt his anguish while his daughter was missing. All three characters are well developed and bring something to the story which focuses more on the crumbling marriage than on the missing baby.
I picked up on a few clues (which I enjoy doing) but other twists caught me completely by surprise, though maybe a bit OTT�
And, I felt the chill of the New England Winter as the secrets were spilled over the many cups of hot coffee consumed during the long, cold nights that Rita and her team spent searching for clues.
I am not a reader who always enjoys reading books which are a part of a series, but this is one series that I would like to see continue, which is a compliment to the author!
This was a buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to watch for her review to find out if this case held her interest as well!
Expected Publication Date: December 24, 2024
Thank You to Kensington Books for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!...more
Scientia-labore-integritas (Knowledge, Hard Work and Integrity)
So reads the crest of Civitas-one of the country’s top private day schools, located in Scientia-labore-integritas (Knowledge, Hard Work and Integrity)
So reads the crest of Civitas-one of the country’s top private day schools, located in Atlanta, and run by headmaster Jerry Armstrong. But does he practice what he preaches?
Scandal is about to rock this community
Jerry encourages his soft spoken wife Anna to volunteer for the fundraising committee for the schools annual Gala-the MOST important fundraising event of the year, along with Rhea Connelly-the Parents Association President who knows the Texas secret for a killer grilled cheese sandwich and its other volunteer, Maggie Reed, a semi famous relationship therapist an author of best-selling book-“Reconnecting Between the Sheets�.
At first glance, it would appear that the three women would have nothing in common, but as it turns out-there is something that they do share-EACH ONE is hiding a secret.
And, if exposed, their marriages may NOT survive.
I recently finished Caitlin Weaver’s excellent debut “Such a Good Family�, and this book proves that the author definitely has a knack for creating well developed, relatable characters and a natural ability to write entertaining domestic suspense stories which cover a wide range of “challenges� that marriages and families might face.
Sharing more about what these women will encounter would ruin the surprises for you, so I won’t say more, but suffice to say that things are not as perfect as they seem behind closed doors.
At 394 pages, I thought the pace could have been tightened in the first half, if a few pages had been trimmed and secrets exposed a bit sooner, but regardless, the author is now 2 for 2 for me, and I am looking forward to what she writes next!
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Storm Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!...more
I've been meaning to read a book by Barbara Copperthwaite for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read "The Perfect FrienI've been meaning to read a book by Barbara Copperthwaite for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read "The Perfect Friend" (Available on July 5th!)
Alex is suffering from Anorexia, and no longer has a relationship with her husband or twins.
Carrie has been diagnosed with terminal Cancer.
They meet in a support group, and Alex feels almost maternal towards Carrie. She makes it her mission to make the rest of Carrie's life, all that it can be.
But, Alex is a self proclaimed liar. Does she have an ulterior motive or is she the "perfect friend"?
I have to admit that I was NOT fully invested in this story till about the 50% point.
Having read a LOT of thrillers this year, I am finding it challenging to decide on a fair rating for this book...
The first twist was also the twist in an earlier read this year.
The second twist was in a different book, also recently read.
I won't mention those books, here...so that other readers can be surprised when I was not.
If you have not read those same books, I believe that YOU will enjoy this book more than me, because YOU will have more jaw dropping moments than I did.
At the 50% point, the pace picked up and I began to enjoy the story more.
I did want to find out if either of these women could be considered a "perfect friend" and if the ending could surprise me. (some of it did!!)
For that reason, I am going to go with a 3.5 star rating (rounded up) as I think that readers who don't guess the first two reveals WILL find this book satisfying.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC I received in exchange for my candid review!
Merged review:
I've been meaning to read a book by Barbara Copperthwaite for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read "The Perfect Friend" (Available on July 5th!)
Alex is suffering from Anorexia, and no longer has a relationship with her husband or twins.
Carrie has been diagnosed with terminal Cancer.
They meet in a support group, and Alex feels almost maternal towards Carrie. She makes it her mission to make the rest of Carrie's life, all that it can be.
But, Alex is a self proclaimed liar. Does she have an ulterior motive or is she the "perfect friend"?
I have to admit that I was NOT fully invested in this story till about the 50% point.
Having read a LOT of thrillers this year, I am finding it challenging to decide on a fair rating for this book...
The first twist was also the twist in an earlier read this year.
The second twist was in a different book, also recently read.
I won't mention those books, here...so that other readers can be surprised when I was not.
If you have not read those same books, I believe that YOU will enjoy this book more than me, because YOU will have more jaw dropping moments than I did.
At the 50% point, the pace picked up and I began to enjoy the story more.
I did want to find out if either of these women could be considered a "perfect friend" and if the ending could surprise me. (some of it did!!)
For that reason, I am going to go with a 3.5 star rating (rounded up) as I think that readers who don't guess the first two reveals WILL find this book satisfying.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC I received in exchange for my candid review!...more
I have been waiting for the next “OVE� to love-and I just found him in Frederick Fife! An EASY 5 STARS! ⭐️
Frederick Fife lost the love of his life-hisI have been waiting for the next “OVE� to love-and I just found him in Frederick Fife! An EASY 5 STARS! ⭐️
Frederick Fife lost the love of his life-his wife Dawn-and all of their money-trying experimental treatments with the hope of beating her Cancer. And now, after months of being unable to pay his rent-he has also found himself homeless.
Perhaps it’s fate that intervenes, when he witnesses an elderly man in a wheelchair, fall while feeding seagulls, during a group outing of the Wattle River Nursing Home. He attempts to assist but the man, clearly deceased, falls into the river, and is washed away along with Frederick’s wallet.
Remarkably, he resembles this man, Bernard Greer, closely enough to pass for him-and despite his protests and explanations-the staff chalks off his ramblings as dementia and he is whisked into the wheelchair, onto the bus, and into the man’s room and pajamas.
He can’t really remember when he last had a warm meal, and the bed is so comfy-surely being Bernard for one night couldn’t hurt�
Fred soon discovers that Bernard seems to have no family left either and maybe, just maybe, he can borrow his life and have a place to live out his days? He has been so lonely, and the staff and some of the residents are already starting to feel like “found family� with each passing day.
This is a POIGNANT DEBUT which is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. And, it had a better twist than some of the thrillers I have read this year!
If you enjoy character driven novels, which have you missing the “people� you meet, as soon as you turn the last page-this is a book for you! I needed tissues more than once!
I dare you to not fall in love with Mr. Frederick Fife! ❤️
MEET HIM TODAY! AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!...more
If you both LISTEN TO and read books-I highly recommend that you listen to this one, as each character is voiced by a differ5 star Audible! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you both LISTEN TO and read books-I highly recommend that you listen to this one, as each character is voiced by a different narrator! Spectacular! I paired my reading ...more
Wyatt Decker is a media friendly charmer with looks to match. But despite that, his home renovation TV show-“The Perfect Home� doesn’t rea3.5 stars ⭐️
Wyatt Decker is a media friendly charmer with looks to match. But despite that, his home renovation TV show-“The Perfect Home� doesn’t really take off until he marries Dawn. Her eye rolling, snark is just what the show needed to attract female viewers.
Together, they have reached D level celebrity status but Wyatt longs for greater fame. Children might help but Wyatt has a low sperm count so he orders experimental fertility drugs from Germany which did not earn FDA approval in the U.S..
YES-he will risk ANYTHING to have children including taking this controversial drug, which warns of some serious side effects,
But, having twins is still not enough to get the coveted interview that he feels will propel them to the NEXT level.
So, he devises a horrifying new plan to earn fame and fortune- one that, once discovered by Dawn, prompts her to flee with her two babies.
She is quickly reminded that Wyatt is the beloved star of their show, as he turns HER into public enemy #1.
It will be difficult to beat Wyatt at his own game but Dawn Decker will do ANYTHING for her twins.
The book synopsis shares too much so I will stop here and just say “PROPS� to the author for the ORIGINAL PREMISE set in the ALWAYS choreographed world of home renovation TV!
The story is told from the dual perspectives of both Dawn and Wyatt, and made for an entertaining, domestic popcorn ...more
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her3.5 ⭐️
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her love of rare books will earn her an apprenticeship in a bookstore called “Shakespeare and Company�, the perfect training ground for a young woman who is convinced that Bronte� wrote a second book, which is waiting to be discovered.
But, her happiness will be short lived and she will have to flee again to Dublin where she will be given an opportunity to run her own book store in a building with an extraordinary past�..for awhile.
Present Day: Martha is running from an abusive husband, and she will respond to an advert for a housekeeper, at #12, Ha’Penny Lane, placed by an eccentric former actress, who insists on being addressed as Madame Bowden. (I just adored her!)
Unexplainable things happen here but unexpectedly, it becomes the perfect refuge for Martha.
Henry is on a quest to find a book that was mentioned in a letter he found-a book that he needs to find for his PH.D research. IF he can find it hidden in a bookshop at 11 Ha’Penny Lane, he could make a name for himself and it could make his career.
He enters the shop but when he turns around, the shop has disappeared.
Buildings still stand at 10 Ha’Penny Lane and 12 Ha’Penny Lane but 11 Ha’Penny lane no longer exists. He seeks answers from Martha, the striking young woman at #12, and finds more than he bargained for.
Of course, Opaline’s story will be eventually be linked to the characters in the present day.
I am not a big fan of MAGICAL REALISM, but this time these elements of the book were actually my FAVORITE part!
The book is also labeled as HISTORICAL FICTION and it definitely reads as such-even the present day chapters read like they are taking place in the past-not the present-they lacked a contemporary feel.
Much was predictable with the exception of the magical realism elements, which is why this enchanting story earns 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down from me.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE June 22, 2023
Thank You to One More Chapter for the invitation to read this one. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Merged review:
3.5 ⭐️
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her love of rare books will earn her an apprenticeship in a bookstore called “Shakespeare and Company�, the perfect training ground for a young woman who is convinced that Bronte� wrote a second book, which is waiting to be discovered.
But, her happiness will be short lived and she will have to flee again to Dublin where she will be given an opportunity to run her own book store in a building with an extraordinary past�..for awhile.
Present Day: Martha is running from an abusive husband, and she will respond to an advert for a housekeeper, at #12, Ha’Penny Lane, placed by an eccentric former actress, who insists on being addressed as Madame Bowden. (I just adored her!)
Unexplainable things happen here but unexpectedly, it becomes the perfect refuge for Martha.
Henry is on a quest to find a book that was mentioned in a letter he found-a book that he needs to find for his PH.D research. IF he can find it hidden in a bookshop at 11 Ha’Penny Lane, he could make a name for himself and it could make his career.
He enters the shop but when he turns around, the shop has disappeared.
Buildings still stand at 10 Ha’Penny Lane and 12 Ha’Penny Lane but 11 Ha’Penny lane no longer exists. He seeks answers from Martha, the striking young woman at #12, and finds more than he bargained for.
Of course, Opaline’s story will be eventually be linked to the characters in the present day.
I am not a big fan of MAGICAL REALISM, but this time these elements of the book were actually my FAVORITE part!
The book is also labeled as HISTORICAL FICTION and it definitely reads as such-even the present day chapters read like they are taking place in the past-not the present-they lacked a contemporary feel.
Much was predictable with the exception of the magical realism elements, which is why this enchanting story earns 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down from me.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE June 22, 2023
Thank You to One More Chapter for the invitation to read this one. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
“Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginnings End� from the song “Closing Time� by Semisonic.
“New Year’s Eve. Or in Scotland-Hogmanay- the las“Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginnings End� from the song “Closing Time� by Semisonic.
“New Year’s Eve. Or in Scotland-Hogmanay- the last day of the year, and one of enthusiastic celebrations and long held traditions-as one year ends and the new one begins.�
But, this could be the last year that Hogmanay will be celebrated at Gino’s Trattoria, a family business that never quite recovered after Covid. Dario has until midnight to secure new funds or sell to an Investment group in America.
Ailish’s 30 year marriage ended at Gino’s two years ago, when she caught her husband in a compromising position with his secretary out back. Will she finally have the courage to return or will she continue to hide and allow him to ruin one of her favorite traditions?
Ailish’s daughter, Emmy suspects that her boyfriend, Cormac might not be any more loyal to her than her Dad was to her mom.
And, Emmy’s grandmother, Minnie Ryan will be bringing a gift to Gino’s that she has waited all year to deliver.
A LOT will change in 24 hours-and the story unfolds in two hour increments starting with 8 a.m-10 a.m, until we reach midnight where we will begin the countdown to the New Year�
Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleve Narrated wonderfully by Claire Corbett 8 hrs 37 min at 1.0 speed 5 hrs 45 mins at 1.5 speed
I MIGHT kill to livLast Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleve Narrated wonderfully by Claire Corbett 8 hrs 37 min at 1.0 speed 5 hrs 45 mins at 1.5 speed
I MIGHT kill to live at the Villa Lucia in Tuscany!
The infinity pool, the surrounding Olive Orchards, and the vineyards of plump black Sangiovese grapes-it sounded like heaven on earth.
But, Cerys is just trying to keep her bed and breakfast/yoga retreat afloat and stay ahead of any potential bad reviews that can ruin her livelihood. And, to stay ahead of her dependence on alcohol which she is turning to earlier and earlier in the day, to get her through the stress-while hiding her drinking from her teenaged daughter, Lowri.
Today, Harry, the Director of A &R at Kismet Records will be arriving with his wife, Zoe and their teenaged son, Charlie, and he isn’t known for his patience. But, that will be the least of her concerns.
The book opens with a body floating face down in the infinity pool-
Breathe in for five seconds, hold for seven, and breathe out for eight-Cerys reminds herself�
The story is then told from multiple, alternating POV’s as Detective Saachi pieces together WHAT happened at the Villa and WHO is responsible for the MURDER.
I suspected just about EVERYONE at point or another which always makes reading a book like this fun-and the story is PLAUSIBLE as well as SURPRISING and SUSPENSEFUL-which is another PLUS for me.
No wonder this UK author who burst onto the scene in 2020, has become an Amazon bestselling author with over 2 million books sold. His DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia series (19 as of today) is currently in development as a TV series to be filmed in North Wales where the author currently lives. He also has another successful five book crime series set on Anglesey.
This is a STANDALONE and, I am really excited to have discovered Simon McCleave’s work! I paired the Audible with a written copy and enjoyed both.
Although the book contains references to Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, and Alcoholism, nothing is graphic in description.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Storm Publishing for both the Kindle and Audiobook versions-provided through NetGalley and NetGalley shelf, respectively. These are my candid thoughts!...more
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