This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

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This is Not About Us is heartbreaking, uplifting, funny yet painful and sadly, extremely relatable. The story explores the aftermath of a family member’s death and how others cope with their sorrow, some learning and adjusting, others unable to move on or forgive. I bet no one reading this paragraph cannot somehow relate to this family’s situation. This story is powerful.

As the book opens, we discover that one of three sisters, Jeanne is in the hospital dying. We hear her thoughts on other members of the family as well as what she thinks of her two sisters, Syliva and Helen. She can’t let go because she worries. Finally, she lets go not knowing what the future holds for those left behind.

But immediately something goes terribly wrong. Slyvia and Helen have an argument. It was caused by an apple cake. As other members of the family try and get them to understand it’s not really about the cake, both stubborn, they refuse and stop speaking, leaving all those in both families shaken and of course having to take unwanted sides.

As life goes on within the families, we see vignettes through chapters of those caught in the middle as they live life. We hear their thoughts, see their tragedies, feel their divorces, insecurities, worries and troubles. But we also see the good. How they pick themselves up, finally, how they move on, and how worries actually become proud moments. They all seem to look back at Jeanne’s passing in different ways. Except of course for Sylvia and Helen, who just like Jeanne in her last moments, can’t let go. But all their lives move on in different ways, and both families even come together when there is joy. Of course, the death of Jeanne was not the only death of sorts they have all had to deal with throughout the next few years.

This is Not About Us is a poignant forceful relatable story told with humor, sadness but most importantly, with love. Which of course we all can understand.

Thank you #NetGalley #TheDialPress #AllegraGoodman #ThisisNotAboutUs for the advanced copy.

Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks

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Our Beautiful Mess is a gripping, messy story about perfectly imperfect families, bad choices, secrets and pasts coming back to haunt them. But don’t worry…it’s a thriller and will have you on the edge of your seat with the ending an out of the park homerun!

Connie and her husband Luke are preparing for their Christmas Holiday. With all three girls coming home, Connie is going to make sure it’s the perfect merry time between now and the New Year. Everything Connie does is perfect. Flora, the eldest is coming in, Fran who is away at college will be there and their youngest, in grade school Sophie of course is looking forward to whatever drama is going to unfold.

But what Connie and Luke had not prepared for was when daughter Fran arrives, she has her boyfriend, unknown to them with her and they discover she is pregnant and keeping the baby. Connie is flabbergasted and doesn’t understand why Fran had not told her. She thought she had not only a great relationship with her girls, but they were comfortable enough to tell her anything and everything…apparently not.

As Connie begins to contemplate how this pregnancy will impact not only Fran and school, but the family, she also can’t get over this feeling that Zac seems a bit familiar. She can’t put her finger on it yet…

This is when the perfect holiday and the perfect family begin to crack. Zac has secrets, Connie figures out who Zac is and the upcoming holiday season becomes a holiday mess like crumbling Christmas cookies!

But Connie is the strong matriarch of the family, and she will do anything in her power to fight for them, no matter what that means. She will not allow her beautiful family to be destroyed.

Our Beautiful Mess is captivating in more ways than one, with many moving parts, but it’s the fight for family and the love and care and the determination to let nobody come between them is the impetus to it all. Family first!

Thank you #NetGalley #ParkRow/HarperCollins #AdeleParks #OurBeautifulMess for the advanced copy.

Out Of The Loop by Katie Siegel

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Out Of The Loop is an interesting story with a unique twist on how to solve a murder/mystery in which the main character has spent the past two years in a time-loop. She doesn’t understand how or why but when a murder occurs at the bookstore near her apartment and the victim lives in said apartment complex as does her friend, a quirky neighbor who becomes the prime suspect, well she feels she must try and use the loop to help him. Intertwined in the plot is a love story, but more important how our heroine learns to empower and figure out how to become an adult.

For two years Amie Teller has been in a time loop, waking each morning and recreating the same day over and over. She visits the local breakfast cafe hoping this time they have her favorite muffin, a woman in the park and the evening always ends with her having dinner with her ex-girlfriend, Ziya whom she still cares about. Then out of the blue she wakes us and is shocked to discover her life is back to normal…well not really normal but close.

She discovers her neighbor who owns the bookshop in the area has been murdered, and the last person she was seen with who was having a yelling match with her was her friend and other neighbor, David. Unfortunately, the police have set their sights on him as the killer.

Now Amie must try and figure out if she saw or heard anything while she was in the time-loop which could give her, David and her ex-girlfriend Ziya who wants to help them some clues as to what was happening prior to the murder. With many suspects, as the bookstore owner was not very well liked, and as the clues begin to add up Amie must figure out what she learned from the past and see where it fits into the present.

Out Of The Loop is a fun, compelling who-dun-it with many moving parts and an extremely engaging mystery!

Thank you #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #KatieSiegel #OutOfTheLoop for the advanced copy.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

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Steve Cavanagh is back with his ever-evolving main character Eddie Flynn in a cat and mouse murder mystery with dirty cops, a corrupt prosecutor and a very unstable woman. With so many dark secrets just waiting to be found out, this is truly a can’t stop-won’t stop can’t put down book.

It all starts with Ruby Johnson who is a maid and nanny in a posh Manhattan area. Ruby and her parents were once residence themselves on this same street until they lost it all. Now, thanks to the neighbors who knew her story, she is hired to clean houses and take care of children and then goes home to a small apartment to take care of her ailing mother.

One night as she is walking home, Ruby witnesses a murder in one of these fancy houses. Someone is shot to death. She knows who died. Ruby decides to keep what she knows a secret. You see nobody ever really notices Ruby even when she is in a room with them. Except for the red man in the painting in one of the houses, she works at. He knows her and talks to her.

Meanwhile lawyer, ex-con artist Eddie Flynn tries a slam dunk case in which a few people are not very happy that he won. But he is asked to take the case of John Jackson, the man who allegedly shot and killed the woman in the upper Manhattan area. Unfortunately for Jackson someone called in a tip and the police found the gun in his closet with his fingerprints. Coincidentally he lives across the street from the woman who was killed with his wife and son.

As for Eddie, unfortunately, some people did not like the decision of the case he just tried, and they decide to put a hit on him. So now he is navigating not being killed and trying to get a client not put away for killing someone. Oh, and trying hard not to be seen!

But his ace team is behind him trying to discover who the hitman is and how to correct the situation. As for alleged murderer Jackson, well, all he can do is hope and pray this lawyer will figure out why he was targeted as the killer. Then the trial begins… With so many moving parts and criminals in the area coming out of the woodwork, everyone just hopes this will not be Eddie’s last case.

Witness 8 is masterful in the art of surprise, shock and an I did not see that coming ending. But it also has great, funny dialogue, heart and clever clues. Such a great read!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #SteveCavanagh #Witness8 for the advanced copy,

Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan

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When two famous writers from different artistic arenas come together you are excited to see what blossoms from both of their imaginary minds. Remain is an extraordinary supernatural love story, shocker and mystery all rolled into one exciting read.

Tate Donovan, an architect, has just been released from a psychiatric hospital. Deeply depressed by the passing of his beloved sister, and encouraged by his best friend Oscar, he had checked himself in. Now, finally set free and feeling better he is headed to Cape Cod to repay his friend. He is set to help build the summer house of his friend’s dreams.

As he settles into the bed and breakfast he will be staying at, he meets a beautiful woman named Wren, the owner of the property. As they get to know each other, they discover not only do they have much in common, but they like each other. Tate has never felt this way about any woman he has dated. He is pulled to her in a way he can’t describe. But Wren has a few secrets which Tate needs to figure out. He knows someone hurt her and wants to discover why. And how.

Thus begins a love story for the ages, a haunting mystery and an amazing thriller. It’s a story of insights which needed to be learned, secrets which needed to be exposed, heartbreak and moving on from one’s past.

Remain is a beautiful dark love story, an incredibly imaginative tale which merges genres you can’t imagine ever would be able to come together, but yet when all is said and done is astonishing!

Remain is going to be a motion picture directed of course, by M. Night Shyamalan!

Published by Random House

Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke

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Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies is a very funny story about murder, romance with a cast of characters who it seems would do anything in their power to kill someone, unbeknownst to each other. With many suspects, a missing manuscript and a dead body how could this story be so entertaining? Well, you’ll see!

A failing publishing company whose only chance at survival is a salacious manuscript, rich, secretive suspects and an editor who will turn over every rock she can to save her job and also unknowingly fall in love, this makes for a terrific plot. Most important, who stole the manuscript? Wouldn’t you like to know!

When rich businessman Warren Ellingham dies suddenly at his own birthday party at his own Pacific Pines Country Club no one is as shocked as Juliette Winters, who was the editor a what was supposed to be his blockbuster tell-all manuscript, although she still had not gotten her hands on it. The cause seemed to be a heart attack, but Juliette isn’t feeling it. To top it all off, the safe where the manuscript was being stored had been opened and no manuscript was in it!

But Juliette is sure someone at the party killed Ellingham and took the manuscript because it was so raunchy, (she hopes)! So, on her own, with the help of two work friends and her very reluctant and annoying not really a friend, Dr. Charlie Hawkins, a heart surgeon, she begins to discover many people hated Ellingham and wanted him dead, and it seems one of them succeeded.

Then unfortunately, another murder occurs and it’s just Juliette’s bad luck that she was at the wrong place at the wrong time and is the prime suspect in this killing! For goodness sake, all she wants is the darn manuscript!

Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies is a wonderfully funny murder mystery which includes quite the romantic romp with the craziest suspects ever and a very surprising ending. You will truly laugh as you enjoy this can’t put down book…cross my heart!

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #JennyElderMoke #CrossYourHeartAndHopeHeDies for the advanced copy.

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The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

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Jessie Garcia, author of The Business Trip has once again written a spellbinding, can’t put down twisted thriller. A who-dun-it with many suspects, all with dark secrets themselves with a wife, husband and niece who try and discreetly solve a murder.

Faith Richards is “the” Detroit television meteorologist. She has a huge fan base, a Facebook page with many followers and her fans even buy jewelry which she wears on air depending on the weather forecast. Needless to say, known as the Fair Weather Friend to her fans she is adored. But unfortunately, not so much at the television station she where she works.

So, when Faith disappears while on her dinner break between broadcasts, everyone at the station is extremely concerned. Then sadly, her body is found the next morning. Who would do this to everybody’s favorite meteorologist? Well, unfortunately, it seems, a few people who work at the station and a few others Faith has deceived in the past. They include:

Tom a co-worker who knows too much about Faith, Linda a producer who doesn’t care for Faith, Matthew the weekend meteorologist who feels he should have been promoted to the weekday spot instead of hiring Faith, Steve, a stalker, Kelly a former college friend of Faith who knows some of Faith’s past dirty secrets.

But fear not! We have super fan Carol, her husband Jim and their niece Olivia who is an intern at the station and was the last person to see Faith alive. They too are on the case along with the police.

But the true question is which one killed Faith and why?

The Fair Weather Friend is a gripping story with surprising secrets, disturbed characters, and of course in Jessie Garcia style a very twisted ending! Watch out…you may never look at your favorite weather person the same!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #JessicaGarcia #TheFairWeatherFriend for the advanced copy.

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Asylum Murders: A Black Lady Mystery by Michael G. Colburn

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Asylum Murders is an amazing thriller set in the 1800’s which will have the reader on the edge of their seat. It’s story tragic, yet the main character, a woman named Lady Edith Black is a hero to those who have no voice. The other cast of characters, quite interesting. Although the second book in the series, I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone.

Lady Edith Black has been on the wrong side of the law, but now, she is someone who the Chief Inspector in Melbourne looks to when he needs a bit of help on a case, quietly, of course as a woman should not be a snooper. And he needs help!

There are simultaneous cases which need looking into. The first occurred at Parliament. A very expensive Mace has been stolen. It seems to have disappeared one evening when the men were entertaining ladies of the evening. So as you can imagine, no one will talk.

On that same night a woman is found on the street in a coma. She has no name and is transported to Kew Asylum. It seems some of the nurses there have themselves fell victim to something and been placed there.

Lady Edith, who is desperately trying to find her best friend whom she lost track of Britina, is put on the Mace case discreetly.

But what she discovers is the two cases mesh together and Lady Edith now must quickly discover how to put all the clues together. Unbeknownst to her, some of the players want her dead.

Asylum Murders is a story which shows the glamourless seedy side of life in the 1800’s. It shows the lack of compassion and greed and abuse to those who were placed in an institution. But it also shows the strength of some who no matter what the cost will try everything to save those who can’t save themselves.

Thank you #JackieKarneth #BooksForward #I.P. Publishing #MichaelG.Colburn #AsylumMurders for the advanced copy.

Room 706 by Ellie Levenson

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Room 706 is a mesmerizingly captivating, can’t put down, heart stopping story which takes place in a hotel room which has been taken over by unknown terrorists. It follows the journey of a couple trapped in the hotel who have been having an affair for years as they now try to not only navigate what is happening inside the hotel, but also how they differ in reflecting on how their presence will be seen by their loved ones if they survive or if they die. The story is told in the present as they deal with explaining or not why they are here, but also explores not only how their relationship began, but Kate’s past and all that has happened in her life to somehow justify where she is and how she got there and what one does when dealing with preparation for the unpreparable.

Kate is happily married with two young children. She works, takes care of her children, the house and her husband. She has very little time for herself. Except for one secret. For years once every few months she meets James, her lover at a hotel. Just for sex. No talk of families, work, etc. This is something she does just for herself. A secret which not only satisfies but empowers her. It never crossed her mind that anyone would ever find out.

Until the unimaginable happens and they are trapped in their hotel room as they watch television and discover the hotel has been taken hostage as have all the people in it. Now Kate must text her husband and explain somehow why she is in the hotel when he thought she was at a meeting.

But what ends up happening is that Kate begins to reevaluate and explore her life and how she has lived. She starts to make lists, just in case, knowing her husband will need assistance. We learn of Kate’s life and heartbreaks. We also discover that Kate and James know nothing about each other and see life very differently. She ponders why this day? And the what ifs…they had gone to a different hotel or had finished earlier and left.

This story is about love, fear, death and forgiveness. It’s about looking back, evaluating and trying to move forward not knowing what the future could possibly entail. Room 706 is an incredible life journey which will jolt you.

Thank you #NetGalley #SJPLit #SarahJessicaParker #EllieLevenson #Room706 for the advanced copy.

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The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed

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The Matchmaker is an incredibly creative thriller with of course a love story sprinkled into this startling story. It’s imaginative plot, with a strong woman at the helm will keep you invested as we begin to learn (as she does) some dark secrets which were hidden from her. But this matchmaker will meet her own match when she discovers someone for some reason wants her dead!

Nura Khan is a third-generation matchmaker just as her grandmother and mother had been. She runs the business with her sister but make no mistake Nura has been the one who made it successful. She runs a very tight ship and has no problem telling a potential client they are not a fit for her agency.

But when one of the matches ends up falling apart on the day of the wedding, Nura can’t believe it was the agency’s fault. She’s not only confused but embarrassed. At the same time her best friend Azur who is her pretend fiancé at these weddings finds a real girlfriend much to her dismay.

Then another couple they matched has an even worse situation on their wedding day and now the agency begins to fall apart. And Nura starts to receive threats. Someone was able to break into her house. Someone is clearly watching her. Who’s trying to take her down and why?

But unfortunately for Nura this is only the beginning of what might be the end of her career when she learns some devastating family secrets. Then this stalker decides it’s time to kill her. Who has it out for Nura? A former client? A journalist who seems to know where she is at all times?

The Matchmaker is an enjoyable journey into mystery and suspense with a bit of romance and a great deal of danger. The race to the end is heart-stopping! You’ll never guess who Nura’s deadly match turns out to be!

Thank you #NetGalley #Bantam #AishaSaeed #TheMatchmaker for the advanced copy.