Royal Wedding: A Princess Diaries Novel by Meg Cabot

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding—but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia’s gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn’t need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royaloui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother’s leaked “fake” wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia’s father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch.  Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she’s not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

my thoughts:

I am a HUGE fan of The Princess Diaries movie - they are so fun to watch!  So, when I heard about Cabot's latest book, Royal Wedding, I jumped at the chance to read it.  I had to find out who Mia was going to marry and how the Big Day would turn out.  And let me just say, I'm so happy that I read this book - it was the best way to reunite with Mia Thermopolis!

Now 25, Mia is living in NYC, running a teen community center, and enjoying her princess duties.  She's got her family, friends, and longtime boyfriend in her corner offering love and support.  Life is good.  And it gets even better when Michael whisks her away and proposes to her.  Talk about exciting!!  I guess his "foot popping" kisses are simply too good to give up - LOL!  Of course, once news of a fake wedding hit the papers, life gets a bit chaotic for Mia.  Of course it doesn't help that her father is dealing with the law over a traffic violation.  Oh, and then there's that pesky problem of somebody trying to take her father's rightful place at the throne.  Cripes!  Seems like life is getting even more complicated.  Yikes!

Luckily, Mia has the strength within herself to step up to each and every challenge thrown her way.  Plus, not all of the challenges are bad news - think new family member in the form of a half-sister.  Yep, Mia has a sibling!  I swear, this book is chock full of DRAMA and I absolutely loved it all.  Cabot has written a clever, funny story about that awkward teen with the frizzy hair we all grew to love, finally stepping into her role as an adult woman on the verge (of marriage, ruling Genovia, and finding herself).  Talk about a treat to read!  Royal Wedding was such a fun book!  I would happily recommend it to fans of Meg Cabot and her A Princess Diaries series - you will LOVE this book!!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Royal Wedding

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Wolf Border: A Novel by Sarah Hall

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

She hears them howling along the buffer zone, a long harmonic.
One leading, then many.
At night there is no need to imagine, no need to dream.
They reign outside the mind.

Rachel Caine is a zoologist working in Nez Perce, Idaho, as part of a wolf recovery project. She spends her days, and often nights, tracking the every move of a wild wolf pack—their size, their behavior, their howl patterns. It is a fairly solitary existence, but Rachel is content.

When she receives a call from the wealthy and mysterious Earl of Annerdale, who is interested in reintroducing the grey wolf to Northern England, Rachel agrees to a meeting. She is certain she wants no part of this project, but the Earl’s estate is close to the village where Rachel grew up, and where her aging mother now lives in a care facility. It has been far too long since Rachel has gone home, and so she returns to face the ghosts of her past.

my thoughts:

Compelling.  Beautiful.  Haunting.  The Wolf Border is a literary delight.  I absolutely loved losing myself in a story about relationships, familial bonds, and wolves (the grey wolf in particular).  Written without quotations marks, this story may frustrate some who find that distinguishing between dialogue and a character's musings to be rather difficult.  I found it to be rather freeing.  The lack of quotations felt in line with the character of Rachel who is rather an earthy, minimalist loner type who spends her days observing wolves.  Suddenly pregnant she takes on a new job that will bring her back to a home and family she's left behind - dying mother and estranged brother.  Talk about facing family issues head on (or at least trying to). 

Told at a slow and steady pace, the story unfolds rather passively.  You feel as if you are observing Rachel's life and dramas in real time, along with the mundane details of her job as a zoologist.  Its may sound boring, but truth be told, I was fascinated by it all.  As for Rachel, I found her to be the epitome of unlikeable.  Yet, I couldn't help but want to know what would happen to her and the wolves.  I wanted to know her story.  And that is what I loved about Hall's writing - it was spellbinding!  I absolutely loved The Wolf Border and plan on reading more of Hall's works in the future.

I would most definitely recommend The Wolf Border to fans of Hall's works and fans of literary fiction.  You will LOVE this book! 

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Wolf Border

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Find Momo: Coast to Coast by Andrew Knapp

(Thank you to Quirk Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

Look who's back!?! That adorable pooch named Momo!  Yep, Andrew Knapp is at it again - photographing his playful pup all over the the US and Canada.  This time round they head from coast to coast stopping off at some of the MOST amazing landmarks - think the White House and the French Quarter in New Orleans.  Plus, a lot of other quirky and cool spots off the beaten track.  Knapp's colorful and vivid photographs really capture the essence of each pit stop, along with providing a "Where's, Waldo?" experience - Momo is hidden in each photo.  How cool and fun is that?

I had an absolute blast flipping through this book and getting lost in these fantastic photos.  Searching for Momo in each picture was such a treat.  I have to admit that I couldn't find him in all of the photos - he's just really enmeshed in the scene or background.  Of course, that's the fun in the book - spending time poring over the photos and looking for Momo.  I know that I'll definitely be dipping in and out of this book for quite some time.

I would definitely recommend Find Momo: Coast to Coast to fans of Knapp's popular Instagram feed (andrewknapp) and his first book, Find Momo.  You will just LOVE this book!!

The Wrong Man: A Novel of Suspense by Kate White

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

She wanted to be more daring, but one small risk is about to cost her everything­—maybe even her life.

Bold and adventurous in her work as owner of one of Manhattan’s boutique interior design firms, Kit Finn couldn’t be tamer in her personal life. While on vacation in the Florida Keys, Kit resolves to do something risky for once. When she literally bumps into a charming stranger at her hotel, she decides to make good on her promise and act on her attraction.

But back in New York, when Kit arrives at his luxury apartment ready to pick up where they left off in the Keys, she doesn’t recognize the man standing on the other side of the door.

Was this a cruel joke or part of something truly sinister? Kit soon realizes that she’s been thrown into a treacherous plot, which is both deeper and deadlier than she could have ever imagined. Now the only way to protect herself, her business, and the people she loves is to find out the true identity of the man who has turned her life upside down.

Adrenaline-charged and filled with harrowing twists at every turn, The Wrong Man will keep readers riveted until the final page.

my thoughts:

Kate White has done it again - another great suspense-thriller!  This time round we have a woman named Kit whose on work/vacation in the Florida Keys.  She meets a man and winds up having a fling with him.  He's everything she would want in someone, so she's excited to see him again in NYC.  Except, when she knocks on his door, she finds herself face-to-face with a stranger.  Yep, she's been conned.  Apparently the guy at the door is the real Matt Healy and the man she met in the Keys is not.  Whoa Nelly!  How crazy and confusing is that?  Poor Kit!  She's gobsmacked and feeling so betrayed.  The only problem is that her life gets a bit crazier from then on.  I'm talking break-in at her apartment, illegal business dealings, and murder - oh my!  Talk about drama galore. 

The Wrong Man is chock full of twists and turns that will have you guessing whodunit left and right.  The writing is fast-paced, engrossing, and makes for the perfect beach read.  I absolutely loved getting to know Kit and following  her on this dangerous and suspense-filled mystery that became her life.  What a fun read!  I would most definitely recommend The Wrong Man to fans of Kate White and fans of suspense-thrillers! 

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Wrong Man

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Currently reading...

As a huge fan of the television show, The Walking Dead, it was only a matter of time before I sank my teeth into the comic books.  Luckily, I was able to get my hands on the first compendium, which contains issues 1 thru 48. Right now I'm in the middle of the book (which is over a thousand pages long!) and have just been introduced to the Governor over at Woodbury.  Suffice it to say, he is just as evil as the the character from the TV show (if not even more evil). As for Rick, I am just loving getting to know him and seeing how much he's changed from when he first found out about the "Roamers".   I have to admit to being surprised by some of the events in the comics and how much they differ from the TV show.  Makes me think that the show's creators are having fun with the direction they are taking the characters' and their stories - especially as Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead comic book) is a writer and executive producer on the show.  I honestly can't wait to see where the comic books take Rick Grimes and his gang.  I've already ordered the second compendium and wish listed the third (which comes out later this year). 

You all know how much Lotz' book The Three creeped me out - I couldn't sleep for days!  So, when I found out about her latest book, Day Four - well, I just had to kindle it ASAP!  It came out today and I've already started reading it.  I just know its going to keep me awake tonight, but I don't care.  I have to find out how she connects the characters from The Three with this new book, which is being referred to as the sequel.  I'm eager for all the chills and thrills that Lotz is going to throw my way with this new story.  I can't believe that I want to be creeped out again, but I do.  And, supposedly this story raises the creep factor to another level - YIKES! So what is this new book about?  According to Goodreads:

"Four days into a five day singles cruise on the Gulf of Mexico, the ageing ship Beautiful Dreamer stops dead in the water. With no electricity and no cellular signals, the passengers and crew have no way to call for help. But everyone is certain that rescue teams will come looking for them soon. All they have to do is wait.

That is, until the toilets stop working and the food begins to run out. When the body of a woman is discovered in her cabin the passengers start to panic. There's a murderer on board the Beautiful Dreamer... and maybe something worse."

Sounds pretty awesome, eh? I know I can't wait to read more of Lotz' book and find out what is really happening on the Beautiful Dreamer.  As for The Walking Dead - I'll dip into that again tomorrow.  I'm going to need something light to read after tearing through whatever dark and twisted tale Lotz has created this time round.  Happy reading!!

Books I want...

Here are a few of the books I've recently added to my TBR wish list:

about book (summary from Goodreads):
Heroic bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned handbag on a Parisian street. There's nothing in the bag to indicate who it belongs to, although there's all sorts of other things in it. Laurent feels a strong impulse to find the owner and tries to puzzle together who she might be from the contents of the bag. Especially a red notebook with her jottings, which really makes him want to meet her. Without even a name to go on, and only a few of her possessions to help him, how is he to find one woman in a city of millions?











about book (summary from Goodreads):
These nine globe-trotting, unforgettable stories from Mia Alvar, a remarkable new literary talent, vividly give voice to the women and men of the Filipino diaspora. Here are exiles, emigrants, and wanderers uprooting their families from the Philippines to begin new lives in the Middle East, the United States, and elsewhere—and, sometimes, turning back again.

A pharmacist living in New York smuggles drugs to his ailing father in Manila, only to discover alarming truths about his family and his past. In Bahrain, a Filipina teacher drawn to a special pupil finds, to her surprise, that she is questioning her own marriage. A college student leans on her brother, a laborer in Saudi Arabia, to support her writing ambitions, without realizing that his is the life truly made for fiction. And in the title story, a journalist and a nurse face an unspeakable trauma amidst the political turmoil of the Philippines in the 1970s and ’80s.



about book (summary from Goodreads):
Bluma Lennon, distinguished professor of Latin American literature at Cambridge, is hit by a car while crossing the street, immersed in a volume of Emily Dickinson's poems. Several months after her untimely demise, a package arrives for her from Argentina-a copy of a Conrad novel, encrusted in cement and inscribed with a mysterious dedication. Bluma's successor in the department (and a former lover) travels to Buenos Aires to track down the sender, one Carlos Brauer, who turns out to have disappeared.

The last thing known is that he moved to a remote stretch of the Uruguayan coastline and built himself a house out of his enormous and valuable library. How he got there, and why, is the subject of this seductive novel-part mystery, part social comedy, and part examination of all the many forms of bibliomania.

Charmingly illustrated by Peter Sís, The House of Paper is a tribute to the strange and passionate relationship between people and their books.

about book (summary from Goodreads):

Most Americans think that our country has done quite a lot to protect women and ensure gender equity in the workplace. After all, we have banned discrimination against women, required equal pay for equal work, and adopted family-leave legislation. But the fact is that we have a two-tiered system, where some working women have a full panoply of rights while others have few or none at all. We allow blatant discrimination by small employers. Domestic workers are cut out of our wage and overtime laws. Part-time workers, disproportionately women, are denied basic benefits. Laws are written through a process of compromise and negotiation, and in each case vulnerable workers were the bargaining chip that was sacrificed to guarantee the policy's enactment. For these workers, the system that was supposed to act as a safety net has become a sieve—and they are still falling through.

Caroline Fredrickson is a powerful advocate and D.C. insider who has witnessed the legislative compromises that leave out temps, farmworkers, employees of small businesses, immigrants, and other workers who fall outside an intentionally narrow definition of "employees." The women in this fast-growing part of the workforce are denied minimum wage, maternity leave, health care, the right to unionize, and protection from harassment and discrimination—all within the bounds of the law. If current trends continue, their fate will be the future of all American workers.

about book (summary from Goodreads):
Death and Mr. Pickwick is a vast, richly imagined, Dickensian work about the rough-and-tumble world that produced an author who defined an age. Like Charles Dickens did in his immortal novels, Stephen Jarvis has spun a tale full of preposterous characters, shaggy-dog stories, improbable reversals, skulduggery, betrayal, and valor-all true, and all brilliantly brought to life in his unputdownable book.

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, featuring the fat and lovable Mr. Pickwick and his Cockney manservant, Sam Weller, began as a series of whimsical sketches, the brainchild of the brilliant, erratic, misanthropic illustrator named Robert Seymour, a denizen of the back alleys and grimy courtyards where early nineteenth-century London's printers and booksellers plied their cutthroat trade. When Seymour's publishers, after trying to match his magical etchings with a number of writers, settled on a young storyteller using the pen name Boz, The Pickwick Papers went on to become a worldwide phenomenon, outselling every other book besides the Bible and Shakespeare's plays. And Boz, as the young Charles Dickens signed his work, became, in the eyes of many, the most important writer of his time. The fate of Robert Seymour, Mr. Pickwick's creator, a very different story-one untold before now.

How awesome do these books sound?  A man on a mission to track down a woman based on her musings in a red notebook - plus, it takes place in Paris! OMG! You know that I am going to love that one.  I think The Red Notebook would be a perfect read for Paris in July.  Alvar's book, In The Country, sounds like short story heaven to me.  Plus, I love the cover! As for The House of Paper - a book about people and their love of books - how could I not want to read that?!?  Under the Bus explores working class women - a topic that is relevant and relatable.  From what I've heard about Lean In's lack of diversity, I'm thinking that Frederickson's new book just might be a bit more reflective of the majority of American women in the workforce.  As for Jarvis' novel - I'm always up for a book described as "Dickensian".  So, what do you think?  Not a bad bunch, eh?  I'm definitely excited to add them to my ever growing TBR wish list.  I'm hoping to get to all of them, sooner rather than later.  Let me know if you've read any of these and which one(s) are must reads. And now I'm off to read Kinsella's latest, Finding Audrey - its her first foray into the YA genre.  I'm pretty excited to read it.  Especially after finishing All My Puny Sorrows, which made me cry way too much.  I need something light and fun - Kinsella is always the answer.  Happy reading!

Hush: A Novel by Kate White

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Four months after their separation, marketing consultant Lake Warren faces a tough legal battle with her husband, Jack, for custody of their two kids. Though the timing couldn’t be worse, she finds herself responding to the flirtations of Dr. Mark Keaton, her handsome colleague at the Advanced Fertility Center. But the morning after their one-night stand, Lake discovers Keaton with his throat slashed.

Afraid of losing her children forever, Lake lies to the police—and begins searching for the truth on her own before she can be charged with the heinous crime. She starts getting hostile treatment from her coworkers, and strange clues start appearing, quite literally, on her doorstep. Soon Lake is pulled dangerously close to the very dark secrets surrounding the slain man and the clinic where they worked. And suddenly the police are not the only ones hunting Lake Warren.

my  thoughts:

A mystery thriller at its best!  Hush was my first Kate White novel and let me just say how much I loved it - TONS!  This book was an absolute treat to read.  From the beginning I found myself easily caught up in Lake's world of divorce, custody battles, work, dating/sex after marriage, and murder.  Yep, murder!  Lake winds up mixing business with pleasure only to wake up to a never-ending nightmare involving her dead client/one night stand - the horror!! 

As the murder makes headline news, Lake tries to distance herself from it by omitting where she was the night he was killed.  Except, strange things begin to happen and soon Lake is starting to wonder who she can really trust.  And once the murderer is revealed - talk about SHOCKER!  Hush is a terrific page-turner that will keep you reading late into the night.  I absolutely enjoyed the twists and turns, along with the red herrings that threw me off the scent of predicting who the killer was.  This whodunit was ace!  It had drama, mystery, suspense, danger, and so much more.  Kate White has written a story that I would most definitely recommend to fans of her works and to fans of mystery thrillers - you will LOVE this book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Hush

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Accidents of Marriage: A Novel by Randy Susan Meyers

Look what comes out tomorrow in paperback - the perfect summer beach read:

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

A powerful and engaging story about the darker side of marriage, Accidents of Marriage, explores the rarely discussed topic of emotional abuse within marriage.   

about book:
For Madeline Illica, the love of her husband Ben was her greatest blessing and biggest curse. Brilliant and charming Ben could turn into a raging bull when crossed—and despite her training as a social worker Maddy never knew what would cross him. When Ben was in a conciliatory mood, they worked on techniques for communication and anger management but on the day of the accident, nothing seemed to help. He was furious at having to drive Maddy to work, the road was wet, and that SUV was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ben never meant for them to go off the road or for Maddy to go flying through the windshield.
  

Now she’s on a ventilator in intensive care and no one knows if she’ll reawaken from her coma and, if she does, whether she’ll ever be her old self. Maddy’s family blames Ben. Maddy’s friends blame Ben. The children blame Ben. Ben blames Ben—and he is sick to the pit of his soul over the fear of losing his one true love.

Fourteen-year-old Emma sees things a little differently. She desperately misses her mother but misses being a teenager more as she’s forced to pick up the slack from Ben and parent her younger siblings Gracie and Caleb. On the cusp of coming of age, she needs Maddy so she can discuss the hard decisions she’s being forced to make. And her confrontations with her volatile father are growing more heated by the day.

my thoughts:  
Guess which book was just listed in the Massachusetts Book Awards”Fiction Must Reads for 2015" - Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers!  How awesome is that?! Especially, since I totally agree. Yep, Accidents of Marriage is must read!!

Filled with unforgettable characters, terrific writing, and an unputdownable story - this book has it all.  Told via alternating points of view, we get a full picture of the relationships between matriarch Maddy, husband Ben, and their eldest daughter Emma (she's fourteen).  What we learn is that Ben is abusive toward his wife.  He gets in these rages and lashes out at her with very loud and very mean words.  Maddy walks around on eggshells wondering what mood her husband will be in today.  And Emma is just trying to be a teenager and deal with the adolescent dramas that come with the territory.  Except everything changes the day that Ben's anger leads to Maddy lying in a hospital bed in a coma.  Yep, they wound up in a car accident and everyone knows that it was Ben's fault.  They all blame him for what has happened to Maddy and he knows they are right to do so.  Ben is consumed by guilt and worry about what will happen to him and his marriage should anything worse happen to Maddy or if she finally decides to leave him once she wakes up.  As for Emma, she's left to deal with the house and her younger siblings, which frustrates her and leads to arguments with her dad.  She just wants her life back to normal.  So much family drama! I absolutely loved it all!

What an excellent book!  I was fascinated by its exploration of a darker side of marriage.  No happy fairy tales here.  In this story we get reality at its ugliest and most raw.  Accidents of Marriage takes a close look at a topic that we often never hear about - emotional and verbal abuse.   In this story, we become privy to the inner dynamics of a relationship in which the wife is getting emotionally and verbally abused by her husband.  We learn about the feelings of unrest, fear, and despair that she experiences every day.  We learn about their children and the various ways in which they choose to deal with their parents' relationship, which bleeds into their lives.   Its heartbreaking to read, but so important in helping shed light on a very serious subject that needs to be addressed.  I think that Meyers does a terrific job at showing us the different sides to the story - that of the abuser, the victim, and the family who sees and hears it all.  I was absolutely captivated from start to finish.  Accidents of Marriage is such a smart and powerful story, that I can't stop thinking about it. 

I would most definitely recommend this book to fans of Randy Susan Meyers' works and to fans of women's fiction - this book is truly a must read! 

Disclaimer: A Novel by Renée Knight

Whoa, Nelly! Talk about a book that keeps you up all night.  I kindled this book Saturday and didn't stop reading until early Sunday.  I just could not put it down for anything!  It was the epitome of a suspense-filled, psychological thriller - which I am becoming a huge fan of lately.  Disclaimer had me hooked all the way through and I loved every minute of it - even when I started biting my nails in anticipation of what would happen next.  It was that good!

So, what it is about?  A book and a secret.  Yep, a book is the culprit of this story. Its pretty crazy how powerful words can be - to the point that they wreck a marriage, a family, a life.  In this story we have Catherine, a documentary filmmaker who lives with her attorney husband.  They have just moved into a smaller home, after giving their twenty-five year old son the boot.  Catherine felt he needed to be an adult, get a job, and move out - so he did.  And now she is unpacking their new house and setting it up.  She finds herself reading a new book she found at home and enjoying it until she realizes that the book is about her.  Its about a horrible secret that she has kept quiet for years.  A secret that she never wanted anyone to find out - especially her husband.  Except, now someone else knows her secret and they have written a book about it.  What can that mean?  Why are they doing this to her?  How can she keep anyone from finding out that she is the woman in the book?  The more she thinks about the book and her secret, the more she unravels.  Her husband thinks she's depressed and needs to get back to work on a new film to keep her busy.  Catherine agrees with him, but she's only pretending.  Inside, she is screaming with fear and anger.  And then one day her son stops by for a visit and sees the book.  He's read it.  Apparently someone left him a copy of it at his job.  Catherine is unsettled by this news and knows that she must figure out who is trying to ruin her life through this book.  The more we read about Catherine, the more we struggle to understand why she is adamant about keeping her secret. 

Alongside Catherine's story is her tormentor's story.  Through alternating chapters and time jumps we become privy to a man Stephen.  He's a retired teacher who has made it his mission to destroy Catherine's life - figuratively and literally.   Why?  Well, after his wife passed away he stumbled upon an old handbag of hers filled with provocative photos that shocked him.  Upon further investigation he finds a manuscript.  What he reads shocks him to the core.  So he decides to seek vengeance for the lives that Catherine ruined.  And that is how all of the DRAMA begins.

Talk about feeling torn!  I didn't know who to believe, who to root for.  I found myself conflicted.  Was Catherine really as innocent as she claimed?  Or was she guilty of some hideous crime? The more I read, the more I found myself guessing what type of secret was being kept in the dark.  I found myself bewildered at times and eager to find out what fate awaited Catherine.  And then the secret was revealed and I was horrified.  A rush of emotions surged through me and I couldn't stop biting my nails as I continued reading. Talk about the unexpected.

Disclaimer is a book that I could not stop thinking about after I'd finished reading it.  I kept thinking about secrets and lies - they really can destroy lives.  The ease with which someone can manipulate a story and bend the truth to their own liking - its rather twisted.  This book was such a thought-provoking read.  I absolutely LOVED it!  Knight has written a terrific mystery-suspense story with Disclaimer.  Its chock full of unlikeable and unreliable characters; a mystery that is unsolvable; and a story that is unputdownable.  It is a MUST-READ!!  I would most definitely recommend this book to fans of mystery-suspense novels - you will LOVE this book!

And now, I'm off to continue reading Finders Keepers by Stephen King.  Its such a good read so far - I'm loving it!  Happy reading!!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The Rhyme of the Magpie: A Birds of a Feather Mystery by Marty Wingate

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

For readers of Laura Childs, Ellery Adams, and Jenn McKinlay, the high-flying new Birds of a Feather mystery series from Marty Wingate begins as a British woman gets caught up in a dangerous plot when her celebrity father disappears.

With her personal life in disarray, Julia Lanchester feels she has no option but to quit her job on her father’s hit BBC Two nature show, A Bird in the Hand. Accepting a tourist management position in Smeaton-under-Lyme, a quaint village in the English countryside, Julia throws herself into her new life, delighting sightseers (and a local member of the gentry) with tales of ancient Romans and pillaging Vikings.

But the past is front and center when her father, Rupert, tracks her down in a moment of desperation. Julia refuses to hear him out; his quick remarriage after her mother’s death was one of the reasons Julia flew the coop. But later she gets a distressed call from her new stepmum: Rupert has gone missing. Julia decides to investigate—she owes him that much, at least—and her father’s new assistant, the infuriatingly dapper Michael Sedgwick, offers to help. Little does the unlikely pair realize that awaiting them is a tightly woven nest of lies and murder.

my thoughts:

As a HUGE fan of Wingate's Potting Shed Mystery series, I was super excited to find out that she had started a new series titled, Birds of a Feather.  How fun!  A new cast of characters to fall in love with and a whole new theme involving birds to get invested in - talk about a treat.  I couldn't wait to dive right in!  

In The Rhyme of the Magpie, we meet Julia.  She's just moved to Smeaton-under-Lyme and taken on the post of Tourist Manager.  She eager for a fresh start after quitting her last job as her father's assistant on his famed television show, A Bird in Hand.  Julia's upset with her dad for marrying her mum's best friend immediately after she passed away.  This quickie marriage makes her think that perhaps her dad was not as in love with her mum as she once thought.  When he comes to visit her at her new place, she rebuffs him.  And then the unthinkable happens.  Her dad goes missing. Ack!  Talk about father issues.

Feeling overwhelmed with guilt, Julia decides to investigate her father's disappearance.  She knows the coppers are working on it, but feels that she should be doing something as well.  So, with the help of Michael (her father's new assistant) the two get to working on gathering clues and figuring out who would want to harm her beloved father.  As the two work close together, they can't help but find themselves falling in love with one another.  Of course, Julia soon learns that Michael is not who he seems.  Drama!

Wingate has once again written a superb cozy mystery filled with suspense, red herrings, danger, romance, and magpies.  Yep, magpies do provide a clue or two.  This story draws on an old nursery rhyme involving magpies, so whenever Julia happens to see some it becomes a thing.  Makes sense since Julia and her father are obsessed with birds - hence the title of the series.  Apparently if you see two magpies that means joy and if you see four that means a new baby boy (Julia's sis is preggers!).  Pretty nifty, eh?  I absolutely loved this aspect of the novel and found myself looking forward to any mention of magpies - you never knew what they would mean in connection with the mystery.  As for whodunit - I won't say a peep.  Just know that you will love reading this story and meeting all of the quirky characters involved.  The Rhyme of the Magpie is a must-read for fans of Wingate's novels and fans of cozy mysteries.  You will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Rhyme of the Magpie

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Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book! 

Balm: A Novel by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The Civil War has ended, and Madge, Sadie, and Hemp have each come to Chicago in search of a new life.

Born with magical hands, Madge has the power to discern others’ suffering and ease it, but she cannot heal her own damaged heart. To mend herself and continue to help those in need, she must return to Tennessee to face the women healers who rejected her as a child.

Sadie can commune with the dead, but until she makes peace with her father, she, too, cannot fully engage her gift.

Searching for his missing family, Hemp arrives in this northern city that shimmers with possibility. But redemption cannot be possible until he is reunited with those taken from him.

In the bitter aftermath of a terrible, bloody war, as a divided nation tries to come together once again, Madge, Sadie, and Hemp will be caught up in an unexpected battle for survival in a community desperate to lay the pain of the past to rest.

my thoughts:

Balm is the perfect blend of historical fiction and magical realism.  Set in Chicago, following the Civil War, this novel introduces us to three unforgettable characters - Sadie, Madge, and Hemp.  Through this trio we are able to get a glimpse into the various ways people are "moving on" following the war.  Sadie is now widowed and monied.  She finds herself in a new place and home, attempting to adjust to her new life when she discovers a hidden talent.  A young soldier that passed away during the war can speak to and through Sadie - yep, she's a medium.  Madge on the other hand was born a healer - she can touch someone and heal them.  She grew up learning about the different herbs and remedies that can be used to help heal people.  And now she wants to learn more about her gift.  As for Hemp, he's searching for the wife and daughter he lost during the war - they were sold into slavery before he was declared a free man.  He's hoping to find them in Chicago.  Each character will struggle with their new life in a new city.  They will find themselves caught up in new dramas, new people, and new experiences.  And through these ups and downs, they will connect and wind up helping one another. 

Perkins-Valdez has written a beautiful story that is rich with vivid descriptions, engaging characters, and fascinating narratives.  It oozes with creativity, magic, and history. I absolutely loved it!  I would most definitely recommend this fantastic novel to fans of Perkins-Valdez' debut novel Wench (which explored life during the Civil War), fans of historical fiction, and fans of magical realism. You will be so glad you read this book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Balm

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!