BLOG TOUR - The Marriage Secret

DESCRIPTION:

He married me despite my darkest secret. But am I safe now that I know his?

From the outside, my marriage to Zach was perfect: dream home, a perfect baby girl and passionate, all-consuming love. When we met, I confessed my darkest secret to him and he never judged me for it. Instead, he vowed to always protect me whatever the cost.

But as I cradle my gorgeous baby, I have to accept that the husband who used to be my everything, has changed. At first it was little things: expecting me to keep to a strict schedule, picking out my clothes for me. Now, he controls every aspect of my life: from how much money I have, to when I leave the house and who I can see.

One fateful night, a young woman is found murdered and Zach is a potential suspect. Turning towards me, a look of warmth returning to his eyes, he swears he’s innocent, and I realize there is only one solution. If I agree to be his alibi, he will keep my secret and our daughter can grow up in a loving home. In that moment, I do what any faithful wife would do: I stand by him.

But I know deep down, only one of us will make it out of this marriage alive.

A completely unputdownable and twist-filled psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling author Carey Baldwin. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Marriage and Gone Girl will be totally addicted to The Marriage Secret.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09M79VMSKsocial           

Apple: http://ow.ly/onLU50HB94c

Kobo: http://ow.ly/4Crc50HB94g

Google: http://ow.ly/L07x50HB94e

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Marriage Secret

Author:  Carey Baldwin

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Psychological Thriller 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:   302

Date of Publication:   February 11, 2022

My Rating:   4 Stars

The Marriage Secret is about a marriage based on threats as a result of a devastating secret. Holly and Zach Bancroft seem to have it all, including a gorgeous home and a delightful new baby. He is a very successful doctor, and has earned quite a bit of respect. Holly had a fabulous career herself as a speech pathologist but was more than happy to be a stay-at-home mother, at least for the time being. However, nothing is as it seems with the couple. 

This book just might remind readers of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or even the film Gaslight. Despite outward appearances, Zach makes it his aim to keep Holly exactly where he wants her, using more than one method of control, even to the point of her doubting her ability to care for their baby. In fact, Zach's control grows by leaps and bounds in this book, something that might make readers cringe on Holly's behalf. Zach has been written as an utterly vitriolic character, unlikeable to the nth degree. When Zach becomes a person of interest in the murder of a young colleague, he calls in the cards. Holly will alibi him or he will tell her secret.

What brought this couple together in the first place? What is the ugly secret that Zach is holding over Holly's head to keep her in what is most certainly an unhappy marriage? While every lasting marriage starts with a firm foundation, Holly's agreeing to marry Zach had the writing on the wall. With Zach being alternately caring and cruel, Holly is forced to walk on eggshells, never knowing what next Zach has in store. Her wardrobe, her finances, even her mentality - Zach holds it all in his hands. Told entirely from Holly's perspective, events continued to unfold in disturbing fashion.  

While this book proved to be a page-turner, with Holly struggling to show backbone, there was a point when the plot almost seemed predictable. In fact, there was one plot line that more than one reader might guess, and although the story was intriguing, guessing a major twist might take away some enjoyment of the book. Even so, the tension was kept at a high rate. With just a few principal characters, this story is full of drama and angst. All delivered with excellent pacing.

Carey Baldwin spun a compelling tale of who could possibly win in this disaster of a marriage. Any reader would know that Zach and Holly's marriage did not have a strong basis and it was very interesting to see what the end result would be. Inasmuch as possibly recognizing a major plot twist seemed to wrap everything up, Baldwin took readers on an exciting ride, which will no doubt leave most readers shocked by the impossible to predict ending. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

By day Carey is a dedicated pediatrician. By night she's a USA Today bestselling and award winning author of edgy suspense. In addition to her MD, Carey also holds a PhD in clinical psychology. She loves reading and writing stories that keep you off balance and on the edge of your seat. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and chasing wildflowers.

Author social media

Twitter: @careybaldwin 

Instagram: @authorcareybaldwin

Website: https://www.careybaldwin.net/

BLOG TOUR - A Perfect Equation

Title:   A Perfect Equation

Author:  Elizabeth Everett

Series:  The Secret Scientists of London #2
Publisher:  Berkley Books

Genre:   Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   February 15, 2022

My Rating:  4 Stars   

DESCRIPTION:

How do you solve the Perfect Equation? Add one sharp-tongued mathematician to an aloof, handsome nobleman. Divide by conflicting loyalties and multiply by a daring group of women hell-bent on conducting their scientific experiments. The solution is a romance that will break every rule.

Six years ago, Letitia Fenley made a mistake, and she’s lived with the consequences ever since. Readying herself to compete for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics, she is suddenly asked to take on another responsibility—managing Athena’s Retreat, a secret haven for England’s women scientists. Having spent the last six years on her own, Letty doesn’t want the offers of friendship from other club members and most certainly doesn’t need help from the insufferably attractive Lord Greycliff.

Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff cannot afford to make any mistakes. His lifelong dream of becoming the director of a powerful clandestine agency is within his grasp. Tasked with helping Letty safeguard Athena’s Retreat, Grey is positive that he can control the antics of the various scientists as well as manage the tiny mathematician—despite their historic animosity and simmering tension.

As Grey and Letty are forced to work together, their mutual dislike turns to admiration and eventually to something...magnetic. When faced with the possibility that Athena’s Retreat will close forever, they must make a choice. Will Grey turn down a chance to change history, or can Letty get to the root of the problem and prove that love is the ultimate answer?

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Letitia Fenley has a lofty goal - to win the Rosewood Prize for Mathematics, something actually denied to women. However, the brilliant young woman has more than that on her plate. Tasked with managing a retreat that is for England's women scientists, Letitia certainly has her hands full. More than that, she has been dealing with the consequences of an uncertain past.

Letitia soon finds herself working with Lord William Hughes, Viscout Greycliff. Either the pair are knocking heads, they discover a different type of tension, that of a shared attraction. As things turn out, their conflicts grow exponentially when it is made clear that Grey could prevent Letitia from reaching her goal. 

What an excellent second book in an already delightful series. I love reading historical fiction books set in the Gilded Age and this book reminded me of some of those. One thing readers might appreciate are the less than perfect protagonists, especially Grey with his history of seizures. In addition, these forward-thinking women in this series pioneered in fabulous ways and although this is a fictionalized story, readers will enjoy the setting, the characters, the experiments and the mathematical and scientific advancements. I look forward to reading the third book in the series, Love by Design, set for release next year. 

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy the following excerpt:

A PERFECT EQUATION by Elizabeth Everett Berkley Trade Paperback Original | On sale February 15, 2022 Slipping through the crowd, Letty approached the building as a thin wail rose from the doorway. A beady-eyed man with a pinched mouth and spidery fingers had grabbed the shopgirl by the wrist, halting her escape. "Don't bother trying to go to work. We're shutting this place down until they stop employing women in their factories and hire the men back," the man said. A tinkling of broken glass punctuated his threat as someone launched a sign at the ground-floor window of the shop. The atmosphere turned in an instant from hectoring to predatory. With a foreshadowing of violence, the group of individuals molded into a single organism-a dragon ready to pounce on whatever threatened. This monster's hoard consisted of power rather than gold. "Oh, no, you don't," Letty said through gritted teeth, clenching the straps of her heavy reticule in one hand. "Letty!" Sam called after her. "Letty Fenley, you come back here this instant. I know you don't listen to me, but for goodness' sake, will you listen to me?" Fear set her stomach to churning, but Letty allowed nothing to show on her face. Instead, she stuck her chin out and her shoulders back. Never again would she suffer a man intimidating her into submission, and she'd be damned if she watched this happen to any other woman. As Flavia Smythe-Harrows always said, sexual dimorphism does not excuse bad behavior. What a pity Letty didn't have that printed on a banner. Without benefit of a rival sign, she used what was available in the moment. Swinging her reticule around twice to achieve maximal momentum, Letty brought it down, hard, on the wrist of Beady Eyes. "You let go of that girl, right now, you weasel-faced, onion-breathed . . ." Letty's stream of insults was drowned in the crowd's protest at the sight of their fellow man being assaulted by what someone deemed "half a pint-sized shrew." "Half a pint indeed," Letty shouted back. "I'm less than an inch shorter than the median height for a woman of my weight, based on-Oy, stop waving that sign in my face." Before Letty could take another swing at Beady Eyes, the sound of horses whinnying and men shouting from somewhere at the edge of the crowd broke the tension; a decrescendo from taunting voices to garbled protests heralded the arrival of authority. Jumping up for a better look, Letty spied two well-dressed men on horseback. "On your way," a clipped, aristocratic voice shouted to the crowd. "Disperse at once." The crowd buckled, its mood shifting from dangerous to frustrated. Letty protected the girl as best she could from the sudden shoving around them. Most of her attention, however, fixed on the familiarity of those crisp, clean syllables echoing in the air. She would know that voice anywhere. Their rescue rode toward them in the form of Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff. A traitorous wave of relief that he would put an end to the danger was quickly followed by a cold dose of shame. Six years ago, she'd believed him the epitome of nobility and elegance until that voice had delivered a verdict upon her head. The words he'd said and the pain they'd caused were etched into her memory forever. "I don't care if you're Prince Albert himself. Move your arse, man!" A deeper baritone, the voice of Greycliff's companion, now carried over the crowd. "Put down the signs, or I'll put them down for you." "Are they here to rescue us?" the girl asked. Visions of Greycliff riding up on a snow white steed flashed before Letty's eyes. A handful of years before, such an image would have set her heart to racing and put roses on her cheeks. She would have caught her ruffled skirts in one hand, ready to be swept away by a hero, lit from behind by a shaft of golden sunlight. Not anymore. The dirty grey-brown reality of working-class London remained solid and smelly before her eyes. These days, romantic scenes remained between the pages of a well-thumbed book. "Never wait for someone else to rescue you," Letty advised. "Especially a man. They'll ride away on those fine horses afterward, and where will you be? Still here, cleaning the mess, having to work for an owner who couldn't even be bothered to come out here after you. Rescue yourself, my dear." "Shall we run for it?" "We could, but I've a better idea." Letty turned to Beady Eyes and held up her reticule. The man flinched, but she had other plans. "Want to get rid of two troublesome women?" she asked him. Pouring out a palmful of coins, Letty made an offer. "Here's your chance."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Everett lives in upstate New York with her family. She likes going for long walks or (very) short runs to nearby sites that figure prominently in the history of civil rights and women's suffrage. Her series is inspired by her admiration for rule breakers and belief in the power of love to change the world.

BLOG TOUR - Death in Disguise

DESCRIPTION:

Francesca Eve thought she was prepared for anything at the events she caters for in her pretty little Shropshire village. Missing canapes? No problem. Burnt brownies? A piece of cake… But a dead body? Now that’s a recipe for disaster.

Francesca is nervous about catering her first ever murder mystery party, but it’s clear from the clink of champagne flutes and piles of empty plates that the evening is a roaring success. The guests look spectacular in their disguises, whispering and giggling as they try to identify who killed beautiful young Becky. But days later the game takes a sinister turn when Becky is found poisoned, and all the signs point to the culprit being a party guest.

From the woman having an affair to the guest hiding her true identity, everyone had a secret – and it turns out that Becky knew them all. As Fran finds herself centre-stage in a real-life murder mystery, the finger of suspicion points at each guest in turn. And Fran starts to wonder, were any of these secrets dangerous enough to kill for?

Then the body of a second guest is found, and it becomes clear a deranged killer is going off-script. It seems anyone who was involved in the game that night is in their sights, even Fran. Can she unmask the murderer before the final curtain falls?

A page-turning cozy mystery packed with twists. If you love Clare Chase, M.C. Beaton and The Thursday Murder Club you’ll absolutely adore this unputdownable whodunnit.

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B09KWVBVRFsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Death in Disguise

Author:  Emma Davies

Series:  Adam and Eve Mystery #1
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:   357

Date of Publication:  February 9, 2022 

My Rating:   4 Stars

In this clever start to a new series we meet two delightful protagonists, Francesca Eve and Adam. Despite the name of the series she is called Fran for the remainder of the book. As the story begins, Fran is working at her latest catering job. It is a murder mystery party with just a few guests and things go reasonably well, although one of the guests makes Fran feel somewhat uncomfortable. In fact, this is how she surprisingly meets Adam, the son of the host. However, the person who played the role as the murder victim soon ends up dead. Is there a connection to the party or is this some coincidence?

The likelihood that it is not a coincidence comes into play as the host quickly becomes a likely suspect. Adam is very worried for his mother and is determined to prove her innocence. As he had briefly met Fran during the murder mystery party, the two become an unlikely pair of amateur detectives.

Cozy mysteries have always been one of my favorite genres and I love this pairing of Fran and Adam partly because of their differences. She is a middle-age happily married woman and he is a young man half her age, still living at home with his mother and is a brilliant software designer. One other thing about Adam is he does not feel comfortable with a lot of people, and it is this very fact about him that really connects him to Fran, as she is also socially awkward. They come up with a plan to investigate the murder even though one of the things that bothers Adam is that they are keeping things secret from his mother while she also keeps things secret from her husband. However, they are united in their goal to prove his mother’s innocence and also find the actual killer. 

This is an enjoyable cozy mystery that will no doubt appeal to lovers of this genre. Readers will be kept guessing until the very end while Fran and Adam leave no stone unturned in their determination to find out what happened to the victim after the dinner party. With excellent pacing throughout as well as expected tension regarding the nature of the investigation, this book proved to be a page-turner from beginning to end. The characters are engaging and the pair made a perfect match when it came to solving this murder. This delightful series continues in May with The Dinner Party. I look forward to seeing what is next in store for Fran and Adam. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a varied career, Emma Davies once worked for a design studio where she was asked to provide a fun and humorous (and not necessarily true) anecdote for their website. She wrote the following: 'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well the job in the design studio didn't work out but she's now a forty something mother of three and is happy to report the rest of her dream came true.

After many years as a finance manager she now writes full time, and is far happier playing with words than numbers. She lives with her husband, three children, and two guinea pigs in rural Shropshire where she writes in all the gaps in between real life. It's a county she adores, her love of its beautiful people and landscapes providing endless inspiration for her books, and in fact the only thing that would make Shropshire more idyllic is if it were by the sea.

Pop over to her website www.emmadaviesauthor.com where, amongst other things, you can read about her passion for Pringles and singing loudly in the car. You can also wave to her on twitter @EmDaviesAuthor or find her on Facebook (a little too often than is good for her).

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmadaviesauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmDaviesAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoremmadavies/

Website: www.emmadaviesauthor.com

BLOG TOUR - The Child I Never Had

 

DESCRIPTION:

If you had to make an impossible choice to save your long-lost daughter, you would… wouldn’t you?

It’s a warm early summer’s evening when Mia’s doorbell rings. She opens the door to see a teenage girl standing in the shadow beyond the porch light—and in an instant she knows who it is. Daisy, the daughter she gave up as a baby. Daisy steps forward, as she says tearfully “I’m sorry I didn’t call first. But something happened. And I really needed… you.”

Seventeen years before, knowing she couldn’t possibly give her beautiful little girl Daisy the future she deserved, Mia made the hardest decision of her life—to give her up. And Suzanne seemed the perfect adoptive mother: calm, stable, and full of love for the daughter she’d always dreamed of having.

The two mothers promised to keep communication open, so Daisy could have Mia’s love and support along with Suzanne’s. But as the years passed, Mia moved away, and their visits happened less. Now Daisy is almost a stranger to Mia—angry, closed and broken—nothing like the tiny girl she once couldn’t bear to say goodbye to.

But now Daisy has arrived on Mia’s doorstep, and she says she has a terrible secret. One she can never tell Suzanne. And she believes the only person who can help her is Mia. Her birth mother.

Mia, however, has secrets of her own. Ones she is afraid to let Daisy or anyone else know. And while Suzanne desperately seeks a way to bring her child home, can Mia overcome her past to help the girl they both call their daughter in her darkest hour before it’s too late?

Totally gripping emotional women’s fiction from the author guaranteed to make readers cry. Kate Hewitt’s story will grab you by the heartstrings and never let you go. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Jojo Moyes.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09LRCLZK3social
Apple: http://ow.ly/ptol50HLy7A 

Kobo: http://ow.ly/F6aB50HLy7y 

Google: http://ow.ly/jziE50HLy7z

Audio Links:
UK: zpr.io/SdNs8N3SNW2Q
US: zpr.io/DS29Hk57LzVP

Listen to a sample here:
https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-child-i-never-had-by-kate-hewitt-narrated-by-kate-handford

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Child I Never Had

Author:  Kate Hewitt

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Women’s Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   388

Date of Publication:   February 10, 2022

My Rating:   5 Stars 

Mia and Suzanne share the same daughter Daisy. Sort of. Mia got pregnant while she was a sophomore in college and was pressured by her parents to put her baby up for adoption. She chooses Suzanne and Mark and they agree on an open adoption, thus Mia will be in Daisy's life. 

Now Daisy is 18 years of age and she makes the decision to go live with Mia and Mia's husband Tom and their three daughters. Suzanne is beside herself as to why Daisy has made this decision. Meanwhile, Mia is not so sure she wants her family life changed as much as it just might by having Daisy move in.

Meanwhile, Suzanne and Mark are now divorced, and Suzanne is raising Daisy alone. What fractured in her relationship with Daisy that Daisy wants to move out? Meanwhile, Mia must adjust, all while she has a secret she is keeping.

What an incredibly emotional story. It was so hard not to feel for both Mia and Suzanne as mothers who loved the same child. Any mother wants the best for their child, no matter how they became parents. In this case exploration of feelings was handled so well by Kate Hewitt. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 

https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/
https://twitter.com/author_kate

BLOG TOUR - The White Rose Network

 

DESCRIPTION:

1943, Germany: “I won’t be able to live if anything happens to you,” she whispered into his ear as they said goodbye, not knowing if they would ever see each other again. The White Rose Network brings to life the incredible true story of Sophie Scholl––one of history’s bravest women, who risked everything to lead a revolution against darkness.

Sophie was born to be a rebel, raised by parents who challenged the brutal Nazi regime. Determined to follow in their footsteps, she leaves for university, defying Hitler’s command for women to stay at home.

On her first day in Munich, Sophie’s brother Hans introduces her to his dear friend. When she meets Alexander, with his raven-black hair and brooding eyes, she knows instantly that she isn’t alone. There are more courageous souls like her, who will fight against evil.

Together, and with others who also refuse to back down, they form the White Rose Network. In an underground vault, Sophie and Alexander conspire in whispers, falling in love as they plot against Hitler. Promising her heart to Alexander is the most dangerous act of all––with each risk they take, they get closer to capture.

As snowflakes fall on a frosty February morning, Sophie and her brother scatter Munich University with leaflets calling for resistance: “We will not be silent; we will not leave you in peace!”

But their lives hang in the balance, with the secret police offering a reward to anyone with information on the White Rose Network. It is only a matter of time before the Gestapo closes in… And when Sophie is imprisoned in an interrogation room, staring a Nazi officer in the eye, will she take their secrets to her grave? Will she sacrifice her freedom for love?

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Lilac Girls will be completely gripped by this heartbreaking and addictive page-turner. This inspirational tale shows that, in the face of evil, giving up is not an option…

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09LMG41YFsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The White Rose Network

Author:  Ellie Midwood

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Historical Fiction 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   252

Date of Publication:   February 9, 2022

My Rating:   5 Stars

In this inspiring book based on real life resistance fighter Sophie Scholl, readers are given the remarkable story of how she and her brother did whatever they could to fight the Nazi regime. In fact, they soon formed what was known as the White Rose Network. Even before this incredible fight began Sophie was one of very few women who went to university. Sophie did whatever she could to fight the regime and this included printing and distributing leaflets that told the truth of the tyranny that existed within the regime. She saw the truth behind the propaganda that turned many heads against Jews and other minorities during that time. She chose to take her stand no matter what how difficult her life would become. 

Sophie came by her stand quite easily as her parents resisted the brutal nature of the Nazis so this was what she knew. Sophie and her brother Hans were not alone in their fight. In fact they were joined by someone named Alexander as well as several others but during this time of the fight Sophie and Alexander fell in love. 

In the story that was unfailingly tragic, Sophie did whatever she could to deliver their message to as many as possible even with the Gestapo close on their tails. In fact, Sophie‘s life became at risk as well as many others. Her stand could mean her life.

While this was a story of courage, of strength, and of hope, it was also a story of great sacrifice. As the story came to a close, Sophie had one last chance to say to deliver her message. ”Such a beautiful, sunny day and I have to go… But what difference does my death make if our actions arouse thousands of people”. No doubt readers of this intense story will have tears pouring down their eyes while at the same time being filled with incredible pride for the strength that Sophie demonstrated.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 14 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their two dogs.

Author social media  

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/EllieMidwood?_rdr

Instagram: @elliemidwood

Website: http://elliemidwood.com/

Review - Abandoned in Death

Title:  Abandoned in Death

Author:  J. D. Robb

Series:  In Death #54

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Genre:  Mystery/Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

Date of Publication:  February 8, 2022

No. of Pages:  368

My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance—in the new In Death novel by #1 New York Times bestselling J. D. Robb.

The woman’s body was found on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong—like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child.

It seems clear the killer’s childhood was traumatic—a situation Eve is all too familiar with herself. Yet the clues point to a perpetrator who’d be around sixty, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge? When Eve learns that other young women have recently vanished, the case grows even more urgent—and to solve it she’ll need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the depths of a shattered mind.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

One woman dead. Two missing. Time is a factor if either of them will be found alive. Detective Eve Dallas is facing a very difficult case. As always, her attention is more than riveted to solving this latest murder. The fact that the woman's body was found at a playground near her dear friends Mavis and Leonardo's neighborhood presses Eve even more. There is one clue that is rather curious - a note that says "Bad Mommy."

What could that pertain to? Well, between Eve and her team, as well as resident Dr. Mira, Eve begins to unravel events that took place decades previously. Actually. as the book opens there is a very sad case of a mother who was prepared to give up on life and this including taking her young son with her. What happened in that case, to the woman, to the child, and what does that have to do with the current case?

I have read thousands of books in my lifetime and for the life of me I could not come close to finding a similar plot line. A plot that took some time to unfold for Eve. Her skills of deduction, along with occasional help from her billionaire hunk husband Roarke, proved invaluable when it came to desperately try to find the other two missing women.

This 54th book in J. D. Robb's amazing series was a one-sitting read from start to finish. Impossible to put down, especially when the feeling of working alongside Eve as she connected the past with the present events. The sense of urgency never once let up. 

I have read each and every book in this series - including the novellas - and I must say that Robb never ceases to surprise me. To engage me. To keep my attention from beginning to end. It is with eager anticipation that I look forward to reading Desperation in Death, set for release in September, 2022.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. After a school career that included some time in Catholic school and the discipline of nuns, she married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland.

She worked briefly as a legal secretary. “I could type fast but couldn’t spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever,” she says now. After her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate.

Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn’t reading or making up stories. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981.

Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they’ve expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together

Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.

Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.”

BLOG TOUR - The Dust Bowl Orphans

DESCRIPTION:

The dust cloud rolls in from nowhere, stinging our eyes and muddling our senses. I reach for my baby sister and pull her small body close to me. When the sky clears, we are alone on an empty road with no clue which way to go…

Oklahoma, 1935. Fifteen-year-old Faith Wilson takes her little sister Hope’s hand. In worn-down shoes, they walk through the choking heat of the Dust Bowl towards a new life in California. But when a storm blows in, the girls are separated from their parents. How will they survive in a place where just the color of their skin puts them in terrible danger?

Starving and forced to sleep on the streets, Faith thinks a room in a small boarding house will keep her sister safe. But the glare in the landlady’s eye as Faith leaves in search of their parents has her wondering if she’s made a dangerous mistake. Who is this woman, and what does she want with sweet little Hope? Trapped, will the sisters ever find their way back to their family?

California, present day. Reeling from her divorce and grieving the child she lost, Zoe Edwards feels completely alone in the world. Throwing herself into work cataloguing old photos for an exhibition, she sees an image of a teenage girl who looks exactly like her, and a shiver grips her. Could this girl be a long-lost relation, someone to finally explain the holes in Zoe’s family history? Diving into the secrets in her past, Zoe unravels this young girl’s heartbreaking story of bravery and sacrifice. But will anything prepare her for the truth about who she is…?

A devastating, completely captivating story of family torn apart, fighting to be reunited. Fans of Orphan Train, Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdads Sing will never forget this powerful story of survival. 

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09MFSDSJLsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Dust Bowl Orphans

Author:  Suzette D. Harrison

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   354

Date of Publication:   February 7, 2022

My Rating:   5 Stars

Last year it was The Girl at the Back of the Bus that proved to be my favorite book of the year, and so far this book, The Dust Bowl Orphans, is right up there filling that spot. In this book, families became refugees during the black blizzard of the night during the 1930s. For Faith Wilson and her family, they struggled to survive the most difficult of times.

This incredibly engaging read by Suzette D. Harrison reminded me of a book that I read last year by Kristin Hannah, The Four Winds. We have a different set of protagonists in this book, as our characters were Black and their drama seemed all that more intense considering the prejudices that pressed those in even harsher ways than other people suffering the effects of the dust storms of the 1930s. 

Faith and Hope lost their parents in the storm. The girls struck out on their own and headed to the land of plenty, California. Faith did whatever she could to protect Hope every step of the way. Although they started off with their brother and parents, they were seperated, leaving Faith and Hope on their own. Being Black at such a time only increased their trials. In fact, a hundredfold compared to what many went through.

The story shifted to the present with Zoe, an art curator who discovered an old picture of a child that could have been her twin. Who was in this picture and why does Zoe resemble her so much? Zoe is determined to trace her past, to discover the source of the picture, and to try and rebuild her life after experiencing great personal loss. 

This story slowly connects Faith and Hope's past with Zoe's present. Faith's story was utterly heartbreaking, and just so compelling, that this book was impossible to put down. As the story unfolded Harrison seamlessly blended these stories together, bringing in more than one surpise along the way. Some of the issues in this book were truly shocking, including the religious zealots that played a role in Faith's life. Strength, courage, drama and emotion all played pivotal roles in this powerful story. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suzette D. Harrison, a native Californian and the middle of three daughters, grew up in a home where reading was required, not requested. Her literary "career" began in junior high school with the publishing of her poetry. While Suzette pays homage to Alex Haley, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison as legends who inspired her creativity, it was Dr. Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings that unleashed her writing. The award-winning author of Taffy is a wife and mother of two teens, and she holds a culinary degree in pastry and baking. Mrs. Harrison is currently cooking up her next novel...in between batches of cupcakes.

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GOUDA FRIENDS is the second book in the Ponto Beach series by Cathy Yardley! Gouda Friends is coming out March 22nd–check it out and be sure to pre-order your copy today!

Title: Gouda Friends

Author: Cathy Yardley

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: March 22nd

About Gouda Friends:

Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe. 

Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word— goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home. 

Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor. 

Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.  

Pre-Order Today!

Catch up on the Series with Love, Comment, Subscribe.

 

About Cathy Yardley: 

Cathy Yardley is an award- winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and sometimes being a little wrong is just right. She likes writing about quirky, crazy adventures, because she's had plenty of her own: she had her own army in the Society of Creative Anachronism; she's spent a New Year's on a 3-day solitary vision quest in the Mojave Desert; she had VIP access to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Now, she spends her time writing in the wilds of East Seattle, trying to prevent her son from learning the truth of any of said adventures, and riding herd on her two dogs (and one husband.)  

Connect with Cathy: 

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