Book Review: Here One Moment - Liane Moriarty

 

published September 10, 2024

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If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate?

Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.

Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”

Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?

Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.

MY REVIEW:

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The story was great but I felt it dragged a little bit and each chapter is a different POV but you don't know whose it is until you are reading. They should have had a title of whose POV with the chapter number.
An elderly lady gets up during a flight in Australia and points to each person telling them when they will die and from what. Some people are pleased and some horrified.
When the flight is over some of them start dying but the lady doesn't remember doing this and the ending was great. I wanted to give it a 4 star but like I said it dragged just a little bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ebook to review.

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Liane Moriarty

Born Sydney, Australia

Website

http://www.lianemoriarty.com

Genre

Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary

Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

Book Review: The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer

 

First published May 7, 2024

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Eddie Grant is happy with her life and her work as a personal assistant to Dinah Lavender, one of the most famous and renowned romance authors in the business. But being a spectator to notoriety and glamour isn’t as fulfilling as she once thought. Thankfully, Eddie has the perfect excuse for a Her hardworking younger sister, Barrett, is opening her gift shop on Memorial Day weekend, and could use all the help she can get.

But going home to the beautiful island of Nantucket means facing the family’s difficult past. Shortly after the death of Eddie and Barrett’s brother, their mother left them and their father made the spontaneous decision to buy a small farm. Eddie stayed there for only a year before her family’s grief threatened to consume her as well, and had been living in Manhattan ever since. Now that she is back, Eddie must face all she left her father’s increased eccentricities, which has led to a house bursting at the seams with books; her sister’s resentment over Eddie’s escape; and a past love connection, one that is still undeniable and complicated, all these years later. But the Grant sisters are nothing if not resilient and capable, opening a used bookstore in their father’s abandoned barn to manage his hoarding, and navigating the discovery of a long-buried family secret that will change all of them forever.

MY REVIEW:

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eddie is a personal assistant to a romance author. Her sister, Barrett is opening a store in their hometown. Their father had become a recluse and book hoarder after their brother died and their mom and dad got divorced. Going back to Nantucket is not something Eddie had planned on but her sister needed her. It was only supposed to be for a short time. Then the man she loved and left came back into her life complicating things. Also the author came to visit as well.
I loved all of these characters, flaws and all. I wanted to be in Nantucket as well. It sounds so beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ebook to review.

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                                                                        Nancy Thayer


Born in Emporia, The United States

Website
http://nancythayer.com/

Genre
Literature & Fiction, Women & Gender Studies




Nancy Thayer has published 35 novels, including Family Reunion and Secrets in Summer. She has lived on Nantucket Island year-round for 38 years with her husband Charley Walters. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Book Review: Escape to the Rome Apartment by Kerry Fisher

 

Published April 11, 2024 by Bookouture

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Sara’s eyes fill with tears as she reads the letter, her last words from her dearest ‘I’m buying you your freedom. You don’t need to ask your husband’s permission and you have to put yourself first for once. Have an incredible adventure before it’s too late for both of us…’Sara has lost her zest for life. Trapped sharing a house with her soon-to-be-ex-husband, with grown-up children who still need her but take her for granted, working in a job where her boss bullies her, the final straw is the heartbreak of losing her beloved best friend Lainey. But Lainey’s death could be the beginning of Sara’s new life… as the last gift Lainey gives to her friend is a sum of money and Sara travels to Italy, the scene of the pair’s youthful adventures, and scatters Lainey’s ashes on the beach at Portofino. For once, Sara decides to be brave. She quits her job, tells her family they can manage without her, and sets off on the trip of a lifetime. Swept up by new friends and relishing the freedom of being away from home in beautiful Florence, Sara finds herself drawn to Carlo. Handsome and charming, he is everything Sara finds it so hard to be carefree, impulsive, living in the moment without worrying about the future. And then Sara sees something she shouldn’t… and discovers a secret about Carlo that makes her question everything she thought she knew. Stuck at a crossroads in her life and her travels, she can’t face returning home yet, but nor is she brave enough to continue the challenge that Lainey set her. And then she meets an English woman who tells her about an apartment in Rome, that could just be the answer to everything…Return to the sunny streets of beautiful Rome with this heart-warming and romantic story about discovering your true path in life

MY REVIEW:

Escape to the Rome Apartment by Kerry Fisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sara lost her best friend, Lainey to cancer. Lainey left a note for her to go to Rome and scatter her ashes. They had gone there is young adults and always wanted to go back.
Sara's marriage is over and her boys are graduating from high school. She quit her job and so she packs and goes.
I couldn't stand her ex. It was all about him and his needs. Her sons weren't any better. All 3 of the men needed a kick in the butt.
Once Sara gets on the plane she meets a women and this woman tells her about her friend with enough room in his apartment and all the fun they will have.
I enjoyed getting to see Rome through her eyes and the people that she met and maybe even a relationship. I enjoyed this book very much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc to read.

View all my reviews

Kerry Fisher


Website
http://www.kerryfisherauthor.com

Twitter
kerryfswayne

Member Since
January 2013

Blog Tour: My Stepmother's Secret by Emma Robinson

 

Today is my tour date

Published April 3, 2023

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It’s in that moment, I realise – I have nowhere to turn. If my precious daughters and I are going to have a roof over our heads, we have to return to my childhood home. The one I’ve not felt welcome in since my father died. The one where the woman who destroyed our family still lives…

Today marks the end of my life as I know it. I have absolutely nowhere to go, no-one to turn to. My husband’s lies have ruined our family and wrecked our marriage. And now he’s disappeared, leaving just a promise to make it all right.

My daughters, Olivia and Alice, need me like never before. I will do whatever it takes to stay strong, to keep them safe and loved. So I turn to the one place I hoped never to return to. When my dad died, he left me his house, with one proviso. His second wife, my stepmother, was to be allowed to live there for as long as she wanted. She hasn’t welcomed me there, or shown a single sign of leaving, since.

But I have no choice. I need to ask for her help.

Little do I know that everything I thought I knew about the woman who destroyed my life when I was a child is about to come crashing down. Living together now, the secrets that have kept us apart for all these years are finally revealing themselves. Will our fragile bond break completely, or could it be the only thing that saves me and my daughters…?

An emotional story about family secrets and lies, and the lengths a parent will go to, to protect their children. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.

MY REVIEW:

My Stepmother's Secret by Emma Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gabbie finds out her husband has been lying and everything she has will be taken from her. So she leaves with her 2 daughters to go and stay with her Stepmother. The woman she never got along with since she was a child.
We leant that she was sent to boarding school because her dad wanted it but not her mom. Her stepmother was her mom;s best friend and ends up marrying her dad.
But what we think is not exactly what really went on as we find out things from the Stepmother. I really enjoyed this book although sometimes I wished that Gabbie would get a backbone.
I was expecting a psychological thriller but it isn't and is a woman's fiction.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the book to review.

View all my reviews

Emma Robinson is the author of several women’s fiction novels. She also blogs about the funny side of parenting and has contributed to podcasts such as Funny Women. Whilst her early novels are humorous, her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming. Emma enjoys writing stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances.

Emma currently lives in Essex with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

https://motherhoodforslackers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodforslackers/

https://www.instagram.com/emmarobinsonuk/

https://twitter.com/emmarobinsonuk

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Emma Robinson here: https://www.bookouture.com/emma-robinson

Book Review: The Challenge by Danielle Steel

 

                                                     Kindle Edition, 272 pages
                                                    Published August 16th 2022
                                                    Buy on Amazon

In this thrilling novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a small community is tested when their children go missing while exploring a dangerous local peak, forcing them to band together during the crisis.

Fishtail, Montana, is home to Anne and Pitt Pollock, local royalty, high school sweethearts, and owners of the successful Pollock ranch. The sprawling foothills of the Beartooth Mountains surround the town, overlooking the Pollocks’ property and the nearby ranch belonging to Bill and Pattie Brown. The two couples have known each other since childhood.

Their sons Peter Pollock and Matt Brown are also the best of friends. When they and two other local kids meet Juliet Marshall, new to town after her parents’ bitter divorce, the five of them are soon inseparable, spending their summer days swimming, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing.

But one August afternoon, their latest adventure takes a dangerous turn—and quickly escalates into a battle for survival—when they find themselves trapped on Granite Peak. Fear reverberates through the town as their parents grow ever more desperate to hear word that their children have been found. They must place their own trials aside amid a massive search-and-rescue operation. As they come to lean on one another for support, a media frenzy ensues, heightening tensions and testing some already fragile relationships.

In the aftermath of this one fateful event, devastating secrets are revealed, new love appears on the horizon, and families are forced to reconsider what they once held dear. In The Challenge, Danielle Steel deftly weaves a story that is a portrait of courage and a striking tale of the bonds of love and family.

                                                            MY REVIEW:

The Challenge by Danielle Steel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tom, Beth and their daughter, Julie, live in NYC and Tom does not like living there anymore or his life. He wants them all to move to Fishtail, Montana. Beth is all for the fast life and thinks he needs to grow up. They decide to divorce and Tom moves to Montana. It's a simpler more laid back life and he loves it there.
When Juliet comes to visit him for a few weeks, she also loves it and makes fast friends.
Anne and Pitt Pollock, local royalty, high school sweethearts, and owners of the successful Pollock ranch.
Bill and Pattie Brown own the nearby ranch and the 4 of them are friends.
Their sons Peter Pollock and Matt Brown are also the best of friends. When they and two other local kids meet Juliet Marshall, new to town after her parents’ bitter divorce, the five of them are soon inseparable, spending their summer days swimming, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing.
But one August afternoon, their latest adventure takes a dangerous turn—and quickly escalates into a battle for survival—when they find themselves trapped on Granite Peak.
Wow! For young teenagers they are very smart and have to learn to survive. The whole community comes together to find the kids. I sat and read this as fast as I could since I wanted to know if they were all going to make it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the book to review.

View all my reviews

                                                                     Danielle Steel

Born in New York, New York, The United States
August 14, 1947

Website
http://daniellesteel.com

Twitter
daniellesteel

Genre
Fiction, Romance


Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

daniellesteel.com
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Twitter: @daniellesteel
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Book Review: The Lost and Found Girl by Maisey Yates

 

                                                    Kindle Edition

                                                    Published June 28th 2022
                                                    Buy on Amazon

Ruby McKee is a miracle. Found abandoned on a bridge as a newborn baby by the McKee sisters, she’s become the unofficial mascot of Pear Blossom, Oregon, a symbol of hope in the wake of a devastating loss. Ruby has lived a charmed life, and when she returns home after traveling abroad, she’s expecting to settle into that charm. But an encounter with the town’s black sheep makes her question the truth about her mysterious past.

Dahlia McKee knows it’s not right to resent Ruby for being special. But uncovering the truth about Ruby’s origins could allow Dahlia to carve her own place in Pear Blossom history.

Recently widowed Lydia McKee has enough on her plate without taking on Ruby’s quest for answers. Especially when her husband’s best friend, Chase, is beginning to become a complication she doesn’t want or need.

Marianne Martin is glad her youngest sister is back in town, but it’s hard to support Ruby’s crusade when her own life is imploding.

When the quest for the truth about Ruby’s origins uncovers a devastating secret, will the McKee sisters fall apart or band together?

                                                         MY REVIEW:

The Lost and Found Girl: A Novel by Maisey Yates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this full of 2 mysteries that I just could not help wondering who, what and why?
Ruby McKee is found abandoned on a bridge, as a baby. No one knew who she was but was deemed a miracle.
She’s become the unofficial mascot of Pear Blossom, Oregon, a symbol of hope in the wake of a devastating loss. Ruby has lived a charmed life, and when she returns home after traveling abroad, she’s expecting to settle into that charm.
Dahlia McKee knows it’s not right to resent Ruby for being special.
Recently widowed Lydia McKee has enough on her plate without taking on Ruby’s quest for answers.
Marianne Martin is glad her youngest sister is back in town, but it’s hard to support Ruby’s crusade when her own life is imploding.
They are 4 sister's, one by adoption and each one is very different from the other.
Some hide their feelings and some don't.
Another mystery in town is of a missing girl from 20 years ago and her boyfriend was always to blame no matter how much he denies it. He is the black sheep of the town and is back.
The end will have you saying I did not see that coming.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the kindle to review.

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                                                            Maisey Yates


Website
http://www.maiseyyates.com

Twitter
maiseyyates

Genre
Romance



URL
https://www.goodreads.com/maiseyyates


New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Book Review: Suspects by Danielle Steel

 

  

                                                                           Kindle Edition, 272 pages

                                                                   Expected publication: June 28th 2022

                                                                              Buy on Amazon 

A dedicated CIA agent becomes an unexpected ally to a woman haunted by the kidnapping of her family, in this thrilling novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

Theodora Morgan is fashion royalty. Founder of a wildly popular online shopping service, she is one of the most successful businesswomen in the world, although she prefers to keep a low profile, especially over the last months. It was a year ago when the unthinkable struck her family, and her husband, industry mogul Matthieu Pasquier, and their son were kidnapped and held for ransom—a nightmare that ended in tragedy.

The case has gone cold, despite evidence linking the crime to Matthieu’s Russian competitors. Theo has reluctantly gone back to work running her company. On the flight to a launch party for one of her highly anticipated pop-up shops in New York City, she crosses paths with high-society networker Pierre de Vaumont. Theo politely invites him to her event—unaware that Pierre has been flagged by the CIA.

Senior supervising CIA operative Mike Andrews investigates Pierre’s suspicious Russian contacts and clears him to enter the country, but when he realizes that Theodora Morgan is on the same flight, he becomes concerned for her safety. Posing as a lawyer, Mike begins a covert mission—starting with Theo’s opening party. When Mike and Theo meet, their connection is instant, but Theo is completely unaware of Mike’s true objective or identity… or that the life she is rebuilding is in grave danger.

                                                   MY REVIEW:

Suspects by Danielle Steel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Theodora Morgan is a high fashion businesswoman. She doesn't like to be in the limelight and keeps a low profile. A year ago her husband and 13 year old son were kidnapped and held for ransom. Things did not go well and they were killed.
It is still an ongoing investigation where there doesn't seem to be any leads. Theo has decided she needs to get back into work and goes to NY and a few other places to open up pop up stores.
She crosses paths with high-society networker Pierre de Vaumont. Theo politely invites him to her event—unaware that Pierre has been flagged by the CIA.
Senior supervising CIA operative Mike Andrews investigates Pierre’s suspicious Russian contacts and clears him to enter the country.
Posing as a lawyer, Mike begins a covert mission—starting with Theo’s opening party. When Mike and Theo meet, their connection is instant. He doesn't know why he is drawn to her and she is really nice to him.
The friendship these 2 make seems instant but natural and they start seeing each other. He is very concerned though for her safety and has people checking up on her and about the case involving her husband and son.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the Ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Danielle Steel

Born in New York, New York, The United States
August 14, 1947

Website
http://daniellesteel.com

Twitter
daniellesteel

Genre
Fiction, Romance


Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

daniellesteel.com
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Twitter: @daniellesteel
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Book Review: Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper

 

Paperback, 320 pages
Published January 25th 2022 by Forever


Kindle Edition, 294 pages
Published December 7th 2020 by Bookouture

Buy on Amazon 

All Zoey’s happiest childhood memories are of her great-aunt Ivy’s rickety cottage on Dune Island, snuggling up with hot chocolate and hearing Ivy’s stories about being married to a sea captain. Now, heartbroken from a breakup, Zoey escapes back to the island, but is shocked to find her elderly aunt’s spark fading. Worse, her cousin—next in line to inherit the house—is pushing Ivy to move into a nursing home.

With the family clashing over what’s best for Ivy, Zoey is surprised when Nick, a local carpenter and Ivy’s neighbor, takes her side. As Zoey finds comfort in his sea-blue eyes and warm laugh, the two grow close. Together, they make a discovery in the attic that links the family to the mysterious and reclusive local lighthouse keeper…

Now Zoey has a heartbreaking choice to make. Nick’s urging her to share the discovery, which could keep Ivy in the house she’s loved her whole life… but when Zoey learns that Nick and her cousin go way back, she questions if the man she‘s starting to have feelings for really has Ivy’s best interests at heart. Will dredging up this old secret destroy the peace and happiness of Ivy’s final years—and tear this family apart for good?

                                                     MY REVIEW:

Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first part of the description of the book is very wrong. Zoey did not find the journal in a trunk in the attic so don't believe that part. And Nick did not know about what was in the diary.  Also this book is published by Forever and Bookouture and so I can say I reviewed it for both publishing companies since I received it from both.
Zoey lost her job and her boyfriend and goes to Dune Island to take care of her Aunt Ivy. While there she also finds out that her niece needs to come live with her for a short time.
While Zoey is taking care of her Aunt we meet Zoey's cousin, Mark who is a POS from the beginning. I had to stop reading at one point because his character made me so mad that I wasn't sure I could finish the book. He is the one inheriting the house and is already trying to make plans to restore it . He also keeps trying to put Ivy down and saying she can't live alone, her mental and physical well being is bad and she needs to go into an assisted living place.
Meanwhile Nick is the one doing renovations and Zoey thinks he is friends with Mark and doing all his bidding instead of what Aunt Ivy wants.
Secrets do have a way of coming out though and a diary is found in a weird way that will clear everything up.
Thanks to Forever, Bookouture and NetGalley for the books to review.

View all my reviews

Kristin Harper

Born The United States
Website
https://www.kristinharperauthor.com
Genre
Fiction, Romance, Contemporary


Website: kristinharperauthor.com
Twitter: @KHarperAuthor

Book Review: I Let Him In by Jill Childs

 

                                                     Kindle Edition
                                                Expected publication: August 17th 2021
                                                     Buy on Amazon

Last night I dreamt about the past for the first time in years. I thought I was over it. I thought I’d finally learned to block it out. But I’m right back there, all over again, inside the house, and I’m afraid...

When Louise Taylor is hit by a car as she cycles home in the rain following a fight with her boyfriend, she’s left hurt, confused, and housebound in her cramped apartment while she recovers. And worse, something tells her it wasn’t an accident.

Desperate to keep busy and distract herself from the flashbacks to her childhood that are beginning to resurface, she hires Edward – a friend of a friend – to repaint her shabby living room and, hopefully, keep the past at bay.

But when Edward arrives – quiet, considerate and handsome – Lou instantly feels like they’ve met before, that she can trust him. Tired of carrying the guilt alone after all these years, Lou tells Edward her secret. And to her surprise, he doesn’t pull away. He doesn’t gasp, or grimace or preach about what she did. And Lou is so relieved to finally be free of this burden at last.

Until she learns that Edward has a secret of his own. One he’s been waiting a very, very long time to tell...

                                                        MY REVIEW:

I Let Him In by Jill Childs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Louise Taylor is hit by a car, while cycling home, at night. It came from behind her so she didn't see the car or who was driving. She woke up in a hospital bed with a broken leg and her head hurt. Her sister takes her to her apartment to recover. she is the type of person always on the move and is a journalist who always lives dangerously so she has a hard time being layed up. She had just broken up with her boyfriend also, to the dismay of her sister.
She meets Ed , who is going to paint her apartment and they spend a lot of time with each other. They are also keeping a secret from years ago. During their exchange we do find out each other's secret. Neither one thinks they deserve to be happy or be in a relationship.
Just when you think they can be together then something happens to tear them apart. Then bam we are hit with something new going on which leads to a twist that I never saw coming.
This book is my favorite for this year. I could not put it down and read it in 1 sitting.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC to review.

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                                                           Jill Childs

Twitter
author_jill





eJill has always loved stories - real and imaginary. She's spent 30 years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She's now made her home in London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does.

Although she's covered everything from earthquakes and floods, riots and wars, she's found some of the most extraordinary stories right here at home - in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets, just like yours.

Book Review: Nine Lives by Danielle Steel

 

                                                     Kindle Edition, 272 pages
                                              Published July 6th 2021 by Delacorte Press
                                                        buy from Amazon

A woman who longs to avoid risk at all cost learns that men who love danger are the most exciting in this moving novel from New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

After a carefree childhood, Mary Margaret Kelly came of age in the shadow of grief. Her father, a dashing daredevil Air Force pilot, died when she was nine. Maggie saw her mother struggle to put their lives back together. As the family moved from one city to the next, her mother warned her to beware of daredevil men and avoid risk at all cost.

Following her mother's advice, and forgoing the magic of first love with a high school boyfriend who was too wild to feel safe, Maggie instead sought out all the things her mother had lost--a predictable partner, a stable home, and a regular paycheck. She chose to marry a dependable, kind man who was a reliable husband and successful accountant. Together they had a son and found happiness in a conventional suburban life. Until tragedy struck again.

Now on her own, feeling a sense of adventure for the first time, Maggie decides to face her fears, setting off on a whirlwind trip from San Francisco to Rome, Paris, and Monaco. But when her travels reconnect her with the very same irresistible, thrill-seeking man she's spent thirty years trying to forget, Maggie becomes terrified that rushing into love and sharing his life may very well end in disaster. But ultimately, while Maggie tries to outrun her fears and painful memories of her past, fate will surprise her in the most astounding of ways, as she walks the tightrope between danger and courage, and between wisdom and love.

                                             MY REVIEW:

Nine Lives by Danielle Steel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great read from this author. Full of feelings, anger, hurt, sad, happy.
After a carefree childhood, Mary Margaret Kelly came of age in the shadow of grief. Her father, a dashing daredevil Air Force pilot, died when she was nine. Maggie saw her mother struggle to put their lives back together. As the family moved from one city to the next, her mother warned her to beware of daredevil men and avoid risk at all cost.
She chose to marry a dependable, kind man who was a reliable husband and successful accountant. Together they had a son and found happiness in a conventional suburban life. Until tragedy struck again.
Now on her own, feeling a sense of adventure for the first time, Maggie decides to face her fears, setting off on a whirlwind trip from San Francisco to Rome, Paris, and Monaco. But when her travels reconnect her with the very same irresistible, thrill-seeking man she's spent thirty years trying to forget, Maggie becomes terrified that rushing into love and sharing his life may very well end in disaster.
Maggie meets up with her past, an ex boyfriend, and is scared by her feelings and wants to keep it just being friends, but her heart has other ideas and so does he. She is the one he could never get over.
This takes you all over the world and the descriptions of the places they went to is out of this world and I wanted to win the lottery so I can go and travel all over and see these amazing places.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.


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                                      Danielle Steel

Born New York, New York, The United States

Website
http://daniellesteel.com

Twitter
daniellesteel

Genre
Fiction



Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

daniellesteel.com
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Twitter: @daniellesteel
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Book Review: The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry

 

                                                             Kindle Edition
                                                          Published March 16th 2021
                                                             Buy from Amazon

In this intimate debut novel, a woman returns to her small Southern hometown in the wake of her mother's sudden death--only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets.

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father's untimely death when she was a child. Both she and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives and relationships of their own, steeped in art and culture. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain in Georgia to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet, despite their years-long independence, Lila and Henry both know they've never quite reckoned with their upbringing.

Now, when their elderly mother dies suddenly and strangely, found among the dense vines of the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, they must travel back to the town that raised them. But as Lila and Henry uncover more about Geneva's death, shocking truths are revealed that upend the Bruces' history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives.

With deep compassion and sharp wit, Pamela Terry brings to life the culture and expectations of a small Southern town that values appearance over authenticity--and where the struggle to live honestly can lead to devastating consequences.

                                                          MY REVIEW:

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines: A Novel by Pamela Terry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father's untimely death when she was a child. Both she and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives and relationships of their own, steeped in art and culture. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain in Georgia to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva.
Geneva has died and the siblings come together to mourn her death. Abigail has never had much of a life as she has always taken care of their mother.
But as Lila and Henry uncover more about Geneva's death, shocking truths are revealed that upend the Bruces' history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives.
I love how the siblings were all there for each other and how close Lila and Henry are. Then they goon a quest, without Abigail, to find out some secrets from their past.
This is a debut novel and I was hooked from the beginning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC to review.

View all my reviews

                                                                   Pamela Terry


A lifelong Southerner, Pamela Terry learned the power of storytelling at a very early age. For the past decade, Terry has been the author of the internationally popular blog From the House of Edward, which was named one of the top ten home blogs of the year by London's The Telegraph. She lives in Smyrna, Georgia, with her songwriter husband, Pat, and their three dogs, Apple, Andrew, and George. She travels to the Scottish Highlands as frequently as possible and is currently at work on her second novel.

Book Review: The Affair by Danielle Steel

 

                                                      Kindle Edition, 275 pages
                                                Published March 2nd 2021 by Delacorte Press
                                                       buy on Amazon

When Rose McCarthy’s staff at Mode magazine pitches a cover shoot with Hollywood’s hottest young actress, the actress’s sizzling affair with a bestselling French author is exposed. The author happens to be Rose’s son-in-law, which creates a painful dilemma for her. Her daughter Nadia, a talented interior designer, has been struggling to hold her marriage together, and conceal the truth from their young daughters, her family, and the world. But Nicolas, her straying husband, is blinded by passion for a younger woman—and not only that, she is pregnant with his child.

Nadia’s three sisters close ranks around her, flying to Paris from Los Angeles and New York to lend support and offer their widely divergent advice. Athena, a jovial celebrity chef with her own TV show in Los Angeles, is leery of marriage. Olivia, a stern conservative New York superior court judge, is haunted by a shocking secret of her own. Venetia, a zany fashion designer, happily married with three kids, has the gentlest, most realistic point of view. Despite their well-meaning advice, Nadia needs to figure out what she herself thinks, and what to do next.

The Affair is about the painful journey to discover who you are, what you want, and how much forgiveness and compromise you are capable of in order to be loved. It’s about finding yourself at the crossroads of life when everything is on the line. It’s about the hard lessons we are forced to learn about others and ourselves. Right up until its final twist, this gripping novel is full of powerful insights about who we love, how much—and even how much we love ourselves.

                                                  MY REVIEW:

The Affair by Danielle Steel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Rose McCarthy’s staff at Mode magazine pitches a cover shoot with Hollywood’s hottest young actress, the actress’s sizzling affair with a bestselling French author is exposed. The author happens to be Rose’s son-in-law, which creates a painful dilemma for her. Her daughter Nadia, a talented interior designer, has been struggling to hold her marriage together, and conceal the truth from their young daughters, her family, and the world. But Nicolas, her straying husband, is blinded by passion for a younger woman—and not only that, she is pregnant with his child.
I loved Rose and her daughters. They are always there for each other and brutally honest with each other. So when Nicholas has this affair and it is plastered all over the news media, Nadia's family is there for her.
I hated Nicholas from the start. He is a very selfish man. Wanting Nadia to wait for him while his fling runs its course, I was like oh Hell No. Nadia's emotions are all over the place, which I get but what he does and acts like is infuriating. She doesn't need him or his money since she has a great business of her own.
I enjoyed all of this book except for the end. I was not happy with what Nadia's choice was.
I received this ARC for review from NetGalley and Delacorte Press.


View all my reviews

                                                                  Danielle Steel

Born New York, New York, The United States

Website
http://daniellesteel.com

Twitter
daniellesteel

Genre
Fiction




Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

daniellesteel.com
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Twitter: @daniellesteel
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Book Review: Neighbors by Danielle Steel

 

                                                       Kindle Edition, 270 pages
                                                       Published January 5th 2021
                                                       buy on Amazon

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In Danielle Steel’s gripping new novel, a reclusive woman opens up her home to her neighbors in the wake of a devastating earthquake, setting off events that reveal secrets, break relationships apart, and bring strangers together to forge powerful new bonds.

Meredith White was one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her acting career short and alienated her from her family. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has been living alone in San Francisco with two trusted caretakers. Then, on a muggy late summer day, a massive earthquake strikes Northern California, plunging the Bay Area into chaos. Without a moment’s hesitation, Meredith invites her stunned and shaken neighbors into her mostly undamaged home as the recovery begins.

These people did not even realize that movie star Meredith White was living on their street. Now, they are sharing her mansion, as well as their most closely kept secrets. Without the walls and privacy of their own homes, one by one, new relationships are forged. For every neighbor there is a story, from the doctor whose wife and children fear him, to the beautiful young woman dating a dishonorable man, to the aspiring writer caring for a famous blind musician.

In the heart of the crisis, Meredith finds herself venturing back into the world. And thanks to the suspicions and the dogged detective work of a disaster relief volunteer, a former military officer named Charles, a shocking truth about her own world is exposed. Suddenly Meredith sees her isolation, her estranged family, and even her acting career in a whole new light.

Filled with powerful human dramas, Neighbors is a penetrating look at how our world can be upended in a moment. In a novel of unforgettable characters and stunning twists, acts of love and courage become the most powerful forces of all.

                                                    MY REVIEW:

Neighbors by Danielle Steel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meredith White was one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her acting career short and alienated her from her family. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has been living alone in San Francisco with two trusted caretakers.
When a massive earthquake hits Northern California that is when everything changes. Neighbors' houses are damaged and they need places to stay. Meredith opens up her home to several families. They didn't even realize that she lived there. Now they are all living in this mansion and getting to know each other.
1 is a family who the husband is a doctor and his wife and children fear him. Another is a beautiful woman who is dating a playboy and then we have a blind musician being taken care of by an aspiring writer.
Meredith is actually feeling whole again being around people and helping them. During all of this she meets Charles, a former military officer.
Meredith also has a family but they seem estranged from her.
I had a really hard time putting this book down. We get to know ll the characters and the friendships that are formed.
Meredith also has a couple that takes care of her and her mansion and they aren't to happy these people have all moved into the mansion and they aren't who Meredith thinks they are.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC to review.

View all my reviews

                                                              Danielle Steel

Born: New York, New York, The United States

Website
http://daniellesteel.com

Twitter
daniellesteel

Genre
Fiction


Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

daniellesteel.com
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Twitter: @daniellesteel
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Book Review: Desert Flower- Rose by Judith Keim

 

                                                      Kindle Edition, 247 pages
                                                    Published January 28th 2021
                                                     Buy on Amazon

Three talented women brought together by a man’s love…
When Rose Macklin is asked to help Alec Thurston, the one man she’s ever truly loved, by coming to Palm Desert, California, she doesn’t hesitate. He’s dying of cancer and needs her help overseeing the sale of his hotel, the Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. With her marketing skill and as the owner of a very successful blog, she’s his perfect choice to make the sale a smooth transition while ensuring the new owners will maintain the reputation and image of the upscale property after the sale. She arrives to find Alec has summoned two other women to help with the project. Lily Weaver was once Alec’s assistant, and Willow Sanchez was like a daughter to him. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels of TV fame.
When Rose is assigned to work alongside Hank Bowers, an independent consultant to the hotel company’s team, she shudders at his reputation as an outgoing guy who always uses sports analogies and is certain they won’t get along. But Alec counsels her to give Hank a chance and, later, as they work together as a team, Rose is left to wonder if falling for one another is part of Alec’s secret plan even if one of Hank’s grown daughters fights the idea.
A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way.

                                                      MY REVIEW:

The Desert Flowers - Rose by Judith S. Keim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Judith Keim did it again, Another great book that will leave you with some tears and wanting the rest of the books right away,
Three talented women brought together by a man’s love…
When Rose Macklin is asked to help Alec Thurston, the one man she’s ever truly loved, by coming to Palm Desert, California, she doesn’t hesitate. He’s dying of cancer and needs her help overseeing the sale of his hotel, the Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group.
Lily Weaver was once Alec’s assistant, and Willow Sanchez was like a daughter to him.
When Rose is assigned to work alongside Hank Bowers, an independent consultant to the hotel company’s team, she shudders at his reputation as an outgoing guy who always uses sports analogies and is certain they won’t get along.
This is the first book of her new series so go out and grab it now before the next one comes out, you won't be disapponted.
Thank you to Judith for giving me an ARC to read.

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                                                                          Judith S. Keim


Born in Elmira, New York, The United States

Website
http://judithkeim.com/

Twitter
judithkeim

Genre
Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Influences
Susan Mallery,Nora Roberts, Barbara Delinsky, Susan Wiggs





Judith Keim enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Winston and Wally, and other members of her family.

While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

A hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes, Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love. Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.

#judithkeim