Saturday, May 30, 2020

Book Spotlight #Giveaway! The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers #TheComfortOfLies

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I have sooooo many books! The Book Spotlight Giveaway feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves, to share some of the many books I have, and to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy these treasures.

I read this book in 2013 when it came out and loved it. We also read it later for one of my book clubs. Randy Susan Meyers is one of my must-read authors. You can read my thoughts HERE


Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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The Comfort of Lies

The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers
Hardcover, 323 pages
Published February 12th 2013 by Atria Books 

Five years ago, Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. Married, and the father of two boys, Nathan was unavailable in every way. When she became pregnant, he disappeared, and she gave up her baby for adoption.

Five years ago, Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. She prayed her misgivings would disappear; instead, she's questioning whether she's cut out for the role of wife and mother.

Five years ago, Juliette considered her life ideal: she had a solid marriage, two beautiful young sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan's affair. He promised he'd never stray again, and she trusted him.

But when Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband from Tia that contains pictures of a child with a deep resemblance to her husband, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? And if he's kept this a secret from her, what else is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl.

And before long, the three women and Nathan are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted. Riveting and arresting, The Comfort of Lies explores the collateral damage of infidelity and the dark, private struggles many of us experience but rarely reveal. 


About the author

Randy Susan Meyers

Randy Susan Meyers' internationally bestselling novels are informed by years working with families impacted by family violence— and a long journey from idolizing bad boys to loving a good man.

After years working in social service and criminal justice, Meyers published her first novel, The Murderer’s Daughters—a story of the aftermath of domestic violence—a Target Pick for the country. Her novels have twice been chosen by the Massachusetts Center for the Book, as ““Must Read Fiction,” who wrote, “The clear and distinctive voice of Randy Susan Meyers will have you enraptured and wanting more.”

Meyers and her husband live in Jamaica Plain, Boston, where she teaches writing at Grub Street Writer’s Center. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Randy

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Salt Air Secrets by Joanne DeMaio ~ My Thoughts #SaltAirSecrets


Salt Air Secrets by Joanne DeMaio
Series: The Seaside Saga #11
Print and e-book, 336 pages
May 12, 2020 by Joanne DeMaio

New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio returns to The Seaside Saga and her New England beach town, where secrets carry on salt air breezes.

It's been a long, hot summer in Stony Point. As temperatures rise on the Connecticut coast, so do the secrets. Everyone's got one. Jason and Maris, Celia and lobsterman Shane, the beach commissioner, and especially innkeeper Elsa. With the passing summer days, each secret--sad, shocking, and sweet--unfurls like a breaking wave.

Can you keep the beach friends' Salt Air Secrets? Just turn beneath the stone railroad trestle, walk past the shingled cottages, and hear the whispering marsh grasses. In this novel, rumors are likely to drift your way on that salt-soaked air by the sea.


Find the whole Seaside Saga series HERE on Goodreads.

My thoughts about Salt Air Secrets ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"If it's true that salt air cures what ails you, Shane Bradford hopes everyone he knows is taking a good ling breath of it."

What can I say? I absolutely love this Seaside Saga series and I love it when I get to take a trip back to Stony Point and visit the whole gang again.

Salt Air Secrets delivers just what this title indicates—the story is full of secrets. Everyone has a secret that they tell someone else and then they ask them to keep it. So many secrets. But I was left with the thought that, in that close-knit, caring community, how safe are those secrets? People care too much not to get involved and draw their friends in to help.

But by the end of the book, there were still so many secrets being held close to the vest, with one of them being a big one that no one knows.... yet. I can't wait for the next book to find out what it is and to find out how everyone's complicated lives unfold.

Seriously, if you haven't read this series yet, what are you waiting for? You will love Stony Point and all of the wonderful friends who are such an important part of this community. I can't recommend it enough!

I received a copy of Salt Air Secrets from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Joanne DeMaio

Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She enjoys writing about friendship, family, love and choices, while setting her stories in New England towns or by the sea.

Joanne’s books include the New York Times Bestseller Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans, the first in her ongoing and groundbreaking Seaside Saga. These eleven (and counting) novels journey with a group of beach friends, much the way a TV series does, continuing with the same cast of characters and their storylines from book-to-book.

Joanne’s winter novels have also received much acclaim. These heartwarming standalones are set in the same snowy New England town. Snowflakes and Coffee Cakes became a USA Today Bestseller, and has been featured in national magazines and Six Flags theme parks.

In addition, Joanne’s debut novel, Whole Latte Life, won first place in a competition at BookExpo America and was named a Kirkus Reviews Critics’ Pick. Her other novels have appeared in Redbook, First for Women magazine, Southern Living, USA Today and more. ~ Author's website

Connect with Joanne


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Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Release Day! Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev #RecipeForPersuasion #TallPoppyWriter

Happy Release Day!

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Congratulations Sonali
on the release today of
Recipe for Persuasion!

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
The Rajes #2
Print and e-book, 464 pages
Published May 26th 2020 by William Morrow Paperbacks

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another , clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen?

Rico Silva, that’s what. 

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster.

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her.

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…?

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy. 

  

About the author

Sonali Dev

Sonali Dev’s first literary work was a play about mistaken identities performed at her neighborhood Diwali extravaganza in Mumbai. She was eight years old. Despite this early success, Sonali spent the next few decades getting degrees in architecture and written communication, migrating across the globe, and starting a family while writing for magazines and websites. With the advent of her first gray hair her mad love for telling stories returned full force, and she now combines it with her insights into Indian culture to conjure up stories that make a mad tangle with her life as supermom, domestic goddess, and world traveler.

Sonali lives in the Chicago suburbs with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Sonali

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

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Monday, May 25, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 25, 2020


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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Memorial Day Party 2020 at The Texas Pool, Plano

Take care. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
And remember to wash those hands!!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

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Salt Air Secrets
(The Seaside Saga #11)
by Joanne DeMaio
I love this series!

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Becoming
by Michelle Obama
Narrated by Michelle Obama

What I recently finished

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A Week at the Shore
by Barbara Delinsky

What I am going to read next

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The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season
by Molly Fader
Pub date 6/9
Doesn't this cover look yummy?

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Book Spotlight #Giveaway! Night Road by Kristin Hannah #NightRoad

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I have sooooo many books! The Book Spotlight Giveaway feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves, to share some of the many books I have, and to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy these treasures.

I read this book with my book club and we all absolutely loved it! Be ready with some tissues, this one was definitely a tearjerker for me. You can read my thoughts here.


Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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Night Road

Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Hardcover, 385 pages
Published March 22nd 2011 by St. Martin's Press

Jude Farraday is a happily married, stay-at-home mom who puts everyone’s needs above her own. Her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill enters their lives, no one is more supportive than Jude. A former foster child with a dark past, Lexi quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. But senior year of high school brings unexpected dangers and one night, Jude’s worst fears are confirmed: there is an accident. In an instant, her idyllic life is shattered and her close-knit community is torn apart. People—and Jude—demand justice, and when the finger of blame is pointed, it lands solely on eighteen-year-old Lexi Baill. In a heartbeat, their love for each other will be shattered, the family broken. Lexi gives up everything that matters to her—the boy she loves, her place in the family, the best friend she ever had—while Jude loses even more.

When Lexi returns, older and wiser, she demands a reckoning. Long buried feelings will rise again, and Jude will finally have to face the woman she has become. She must decide whether to remain broken or try to forgive both Lexi…and herself.

Night Road is a vivid, emotionally complex novel that raises profound questions about motherhood, loss, identity, and forgiveness. It is an exquisite, heartbreaking novel that speaks to women everywhere about the things that matter most.


About the author

Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, Winter Garden, Night Road, and Firefly Lane.

Her novel, The Nightingale, has been published in 43 languages and is currently in movie production at TriStar Pictures, which also optioned her novel, The Great Alone. Her novel, Home Front has been optioned for film by 1492 Films (produced the Oscar-nominated The Help) with Chris Columbus attached to direct.

Kristin is a former-lawyer-turned writer who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Her novel, Firefly Lane, became a runaway bestseller in 2009, a touchstone novel that brought women together, and The Nightingale, in 2015 was voted a best book of the year by Amazon, Buzzfeed, iTunes, Library Journal, Paste, The Wall Street Journal and The Week.  Additionally, the novel won the coveted Goodreads and People’s Choice Awards. The audiobook of The Nightingale won the Audiobook of the Year Award in the fiction category. ~ Author's website

Connect with Kristin


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Tuesday, May 19, 2020

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe ~ My Thoughts #OnOceanBoulevard #NetGalley

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On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe
Beach House #6
Print and e-book, 384 pages
Published May 19th 2020 by Gallery Books


The New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests returns at long last to her beloved Beach House series in this breathtaking novel about one family’s summer of forging new beginnings against the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world.

It’s been sixteen years since Caretta “Cara” Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South Carolina. Over those years, she has weathered the tides of deaths and births, struggles and joys. And now, as Cara prepares for her second wedding, her life is about to change yet again.

Meanwhile, the rest of the storied Rutledge family is also in flux. Cara’s niece Linnea returns to Sullivan’s Island to begin a new career and an unexpected relationship. Linnea’s parents, having survived bankruptcy, pin their hopes and futures on the construction of a new home on Ocean Boulevard. But as excitement over the house and wedding builds, a devastating illness strikes the family and brings plans to a screeching halt. It is under these trying circumstances that the Rutledge family must come together yet again to discover the enduring strength in love, tradition, and legacy from mother to daughter to granddaughter.

Like the sea turtles that come ashore annually on these windswept islands, three generations of the Rutledge family experience a season of return, rebirth, and growth. “Authentic, generous, and heartfelt” (Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author), On Ocean Boulevard is Mary Alice Monroe at her very best. 


My thoughts about On Ocean Boulevard ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The Lowcountry was spread out far below as she soared in the sky."

Well, you know summer is right around the corner when there is a Mary Alice Monroe book to read. I haven't read all of her books..... yet, but I have loved the ones that I have read. And this one was fabulous. I loved my trip back to the beach house. It felt a little bit like being on vacation but then I was also there among friends who needed to work through some things.

I also enjoy learning about the sea turtles, which is a passion of the people on the island and Mary Alice herself. Their life cycle is fascinating to read about.

On Ocean Boulevard will definitely put you in the mood for summer and the beach, with the interesting story-line and the great cast of returning characters. It's like catching up with old friends, and at the  perfect summer vacation spot. Check it out! 

I received a copy of On Ocean Boulevard from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of 23 novels, including On Ocean Boulevard, which is the sixth installment of the Beach House series.

More than 7.5 million copies of her books have been published worldwide, and she’s earned numerous accolades and awards, including: Induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; the Southwest Florida Author of Distinction Award; South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction, and the prestigious Southern Book Prize for Fiction. Her bestselling novel The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie.

Monroe is captivated by the beauty and fragility of the wild habitat around her. In particular, the coastal southern landscape became a strong and important focus of many of her novels. Monroe immerses herself in both academic research and hands-on/volunteering to learn about a species or conservation issue. Then, she uses the knowledge and experiences working with animals and the wildlife experts to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds, and loggerhead sea turtles are among the wild species she has worked with and woven into her novels.

Monroe is an active conservationist and serves on the South Carolina Aquarium Board Emeritis, The Leatherback Trust, The Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, Friends of Coastal Carolina and Casting Carolinas Advisory Board. She is especially proud to be a twenty year plus state-certified volunteer with the Island Turtle Team, the group that first sparked her love for loggerhead sea turtles, and is the inspiration of her Beach House series.

Monroe has also published two children’s books, which complement the environmental themes she’s known for in her novels. Monroe’s first Middle Grade book, The Island, will be a 2021 release. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Mary Alice
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Monday, May 18, 2020

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde ~ My Thoughts #BraveGirlQuietGirl #NetGalley

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Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Print and e-book, 300 pages
Expected publication: May 19th 2020 by Lake Union Publishing

From New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde comes a gripping and emotional novel about friendship, motherhood, and the journey toward finding a place to call home.

Brooke is a divorced single mom, financially strapped, living with her mother, and holding tight to the one thing that matters most: her two-year-old daughter, Etta. Then, in a matter of seconds, Brooke’s life is shattered when she’s carjacked. Helpless and terrified, all Brooke can do is watch as Etta, still strapped in her seat, disappears into the Los Angeles night.

Miles away, Etta is found by Molly, a homeless teen who is all too used to darkness. Thrown away by her parents, and with a future as stable as the wooden crate she calls home, Molly survives day to day by her wits. As unpredictable as her life is, she’s stunned to find Etta, abandoned and alone. Shielding the little girl from more than the elements, Molly must put herself in harm’s way to protect a child as lost as she is.

Out of one terrible moment, Brooke’s and Molly’s desperate paths converge and an unlikely friendship across generations and circumstances is formed. With it, Brooke and Molly will come to discover that what’s lost—and what’s found—can change in a heartbeat. 


My thoughts about Brave Girl, Quiet Girl ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"It started that day with just the normal levels of my mother driving me crazy. Which, don't get me wrong, is plenty bad enough."

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is an emotional story that will crush your heart before it's over, from the gut-wrenching scene where Brooke loses her daughter in a carjacking to the frightening life of 16 year-old Molly, living on the streets. This story will make feel all the feels.

Brooke and Molly are from different worlds. They have nothing in common, other than the love they both have for a sweet little girl, Etta. Is this love enough to overcome the divide or will it be what brings them together? 

All of Catherine's books are full of interesting, memorable characters—people who have troubles. But they are also full of good and caring people. In that crazy world, somehow they find each other and discover that they have something in common and can help each other. That is the beauty of her books, people helping people. 

Catherine is a must read author for me and her books are never a disappointment. They are wonderful, character driven stories that can teach us all lessons. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a beautiful story that will stay with me and I will be thinking about Brooke, Molly, and Etta for a long time. I loved this story and highly recommend it. 

I received a copy of Brave Girl, Quiet Girl from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Catherine Ryan Hyde

I am the author of more than 30 published and forthcoming books, including ALLIE AND BEA, SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW, LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER, ASK HIM WHY, WORTHY, THE LANGUAGE OF HOOFBEATS, TAKE ME WITH YOU, WHERE WE BELONG, WHEN I FOUND YOU, WALK ME HOME, SECOND HAND HEART, DON'T LET ME GO, and WHEN YOU WERE OLDER.

I'm an avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer, and have released my first book of photos, 365 DAYS OF GRATITUDE: PHOTOS FROM A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

I am co-author, with fellow author and publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE.

My novel PAY IT FORWARD was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. Simon & Schuster released PAY IT FORWARD: YOUNG READERS' EDITION in August of '14. It is suitable for kids as young as eight. A special Fifteenth Anniversary Edition of the original PAY IT FORWARD was released in December of '14. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Catherine
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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 18, 2020


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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Week 10—Things are pretty much the same. Things are starting open up but we are keeping our same routine, because we can. Only four more days of work and then I am retired! I was hoping to celebrate with a big party and then we were to be off on a wonderful vacation, part of it to include seeing the Grand Canyon, Both of those aren't happening right now. How about you, have you been to the Grand Canyon? What's it like?

Take care. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
And remember to wash those hands!!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

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A Week at the Shore
by Barbara Delinsky
Pub date 5/19

40786511. sx318
Becoming
by Michelle Obama
Narrated by Michelle Obama

What I recently finished

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On Ocean Boulevard
(Beach House #6)
by Mary Alice Monroe
Pub date 5/19
My thoughts will be posted tomorrow.

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Brave Girl, Quiet Girl
by Catherine Ryan Hyde 
Pub date 5/19
My thoughts will be posted later today.

What I am going to read next

53300115
Salt Air Secrets
(The Seaside Saga #11)
by Joanne DeMaio

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

The Good Stranger by Dete Meserve ~ My Thoughts #TheGoodStranger #NetGalley

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The Good Stranger
by Dete Meserve

Series: Kate Bradley Mystery #3
Print and e-book, 284 pages
Expected publication: May 19th 2020 by Lake Union Publishing

From the bestselling author of Good Sam—now a Netflix feature film—comes another Kate Bradley story about the nature of generosity and finding unexpected connections with strangers.

TV reporter Kate Bradley arrives in Manhattan ready to take on a challenging new position as a national news correspondent. When a massive power outage plunges New York City into darkness, the disaster she expected to cover takes an unexpected turn. Someone is leaving thousands of mysterious gifts throughout the city, and the only clue to the giver’s identity is the occasional note from “A Stranger.”

Together with handsome TV series host Scott Jameson, Kate must make sense of these random generous acts, which quickly escalate in scale and capture the attention of viewers across the country. In early-morning stakeouts and late-night surveillance, they crisscross the city hunting down leads, but the elusive Stranger is always one step ahead.

Menacing letters and videos addressed to Kate threaten to derail the investigation, but she’s determined to uncover the identity of the benefactor. The closer Kate gets to the truth, the more clearly she sees that even the smallest act of generosity can bring about powerful change. And it just may take her own selfless act of kindness to solve the feel-good mystery of the year.


My thoughts about The Good Stranger ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The high-pitched alarm pierced my sleep, jolting me awake. Five more alarms screeched, squeezed on me from all sides, scrambling my thoughts."

Dete Meserve has done it again! She has created another world that is full of good people doing amazing, wonderful, and kind things for others—just what we need to see in these times. I love The Good Sam series and this latest installment is just as uplifting as the previous two books. 

The Good Stranger takes us to New York, where Kate is starting a new career and a new life. As she starts to cover her first story, unusual things start to happen in the city—people are getting gifts from strangers. Being the great reporter she is, Kate jumps into the story, trying to find out who's behind all of this generosity and kindness. 

I absolutely love reading Dete's books and I always feel good after reading one of them. They are always so positive and heartwarming, perfect examples of how we should all lead our lives. The Good Stranger is full of life lessons—you never know what someone else is going through, a little kindness goes along way, and it doesn't cost anything to be kind and friendly to others. Her stories make me think about my actions and make me want to be a better person. 

I highly recommend The Good Stranger as well as the whole Good Sam series. All of them are such uplifting, positive stories that will inspire you to do good.

I received a copy of The Good Stranger from the author via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Good Sam and Perfectly Good Crime

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Read my thoughts here and here.

Find the series on Goodreads.

About the author


Like her heroine Kate Bradley, award-winning and bestselling author Dete Meserve is always looking for people who are doing extraordinary good for others. Instead of tracking a killer or kidnapper, Meserve’s Kate Bradley Mysteries seek to uncover the helpers, the rescuers, and the people who inspire us with selfless acts of kindness. Good Sam is the first Kate Bradley Mystery, followed by Perfectly Good Crime and The Good Stranger.

Her first novel, Good Sam, was adapted into a feature film starring Tiya Sircar and is available worldwide on Netflix.

Kate Bradley also plays a pivotal role in Meserve’s stand-alone novel The Space Between, helping protagonist Sarah Mayfield solve the mystery behind her husband’s disappearance.

When she’s not writing, Meserve is a film and television producer and CEO and partner in Wind Dancer Films. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children—and a very good cat that rules them all. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Dete

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

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Saturday, May 16, 2020

The Perfect Secret by Steena Holmes ~ My Thoughts #ThePerfectSecret

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The Perfect Secret by Steena Holmes
Paperback and e-book, 344 pages
Expected publication: May 19th 2020 by SH Press Inc.

Everyone has secrets — some deadlier than others

She was on cloud nine after accepting an offer of a lifetime. A simpler life that what you she was accustomed to. What could go wrong?

Starla Bishop learned to survive in the foster-care-to-jail system in New York City. There she learned the tools and skills she put to work later to con jewel thieves, drug traffickers, and mobsters out their fortunes. Now fresh out of her latest stint in jail, she accepts a too-good-to-refuse offer—a perfect life on a silver platter. Starla has everything she ever wished for: a simpler life, a normal life, a new start with new job, a straight job—a receptionist for Soil and Springs Landscaping run by a famous botanist. And it got even better—a whirlwind romance and engagement to her boss’s charming ex-husband.

But everything comes with a price. When bodies start turning up in the gardens of her employer, Soil and Springs Landscaping, Starla and her fiancé are hauled into jail for questioning. The revelation of Starla's secret, previous life and her special skills make her a prime suspect.

How much does Starla want the perfect life, and did she use her special skills to keep it, or is this just her biggest con yet? The shocking truth is closer than anyone thinks?


My thoughts about The Perfect Secret ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"Premonition. Pay attention to that nudge of warning, and it can save your life."

To this day, I haven't read a book by Steena Holmes that I haven't just absolutely loved. And The Perfect Secret did not disappoint—loved it! And I love the new direction that she seems to be taking with her writing—a little darker, a little more suspenseful. 

Starla is a con artist. She was recently released from jail and landed a pretty good job. Things are good, right? Nope, not so much, especially when dead bodies start turning up. And it looks like she is going to have to take the fall for them and everything else that is going on at the company where she just started working. 

The Perfect Secret is full of secrets. Everyone involved has secrets. The fun part is seeing all those secrets being revealed, as the cast of characters start revealing their true selves. This is a story that will grab your attention and keep you guessing until the very end. 

On kind of a side note, sort of, I love the titles of this book. I don't usually pay much attention to chapter titles. My apologies to all authors, I know you probably put a lot of thought into those. When I turned to the contents page, these titles just jumped out at me and I was intrigued to read further to see what would be revealed in the chapters. 

I highly recommend this story! I loved everything about it, even the conniving, sneaky characters who had secrets that I couldn't even imagine when I started the book. You really must add The Perfect Secret to your TBR list. You will not be disappointed! 

I received an ARC of The Perfect Secret from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Steena Holmes

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author!

With 2 million copies of her titles sold world wide, Steena Holmes was named in the Top 20 Women Author to read in 2015 by Good Housekeeping. She continues to write books that deal with issues that touch parents heart, whether it is through her contemporary fiction or psychological suspense novels. ~ Amazon

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Book Spotlight #Giveaway! The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews #TheHighTideClub

The High Tide Club

I have sooooo many books! The Book Spotlight Giveaway feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves, to share some of the many books I have, and to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy these treasures.

I read and reviewed this book when it came out and loved it! You can read my thoughts here. Mary Kay recently released Hello, Summer, another great beach read. My thoughts about that book are here.


Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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The High Tide Club

The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews
ARC, 480 pages
Published May 8th 2018 by St. Martin's Press

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Weekenders comes a delightful new novel about new love, old secrets, and the kind of friendship that transcends generations.

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

The High Tide Club is Mary Kay Andrews at her Queen of the Beach Reads best, a compelling and witty tale of romance thwarted, friendships renewed, justice delivered, and true love found.


About the author

Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews is the pen name of American writer Kathy Hogan Trocheck, based in Atlanta, who has authored a number of best-selling books under the Andrews pen name since 2002.

Trochek graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree in 1976. She worked as a reporter at a number of papers, and spent 11 years as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before leaving to write fiction full-time in 1991. She published ten mystery novels under her own name between 1992 and 2000, and switched to the Andrews pen name in 2002 to author Savannah Blues, which marked a change in her style to more Southern-flavored themes. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Mary Kay 


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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

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