First Wives Shadow by Adele Parks

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First Wives Shadow is a twisted, diabolical psychological thriller which will make you gasp, be shocked and surprised with each and every warped turn. This can’t put down book is a creative heart palpitating adventure you will never want to end. The ending itself, the fireworks.

Emma is a wealthy single older woman who never married. An executive at a company and wealthy due to her hard work, she loves her life. Very routine oriented you could set your watch by what she does and when she wakes up every day. Although her two best friends are married with children, they are as close now as they were when they met years ago in college.

Matthew is a widower who lost his first wife Becky in a tragic accident. Although they seemed to not have much in common, perhaps that’s why the flirting began. After accidentally meeting at a convention where Emma was speaking, she finds herself attracted to Matthew. He is a photographer and although they do exchange numbers, they work and live and travel in different areas, so nothing happens. Until it does.

Their romance advances very quickly. Although Matthew is not afraid to talk about his late wife Becky, Emma believes he still has feelings for her. He brings her up subtly and she understands that is to be expected. For the first time in a very long time Emma is happy!

When her two best friends are introduced to Matthew one of them gets a bad feeling. This sadly causes a lot of stress and anger, but Matthew and Emma not only move in together but decide to marry against her friend’s wishes.

There’s something else going on with Emma. Strange occurrences begin to happen in her house where they are living. Things she can’t figure out such as finding items shattered, doors locked which were not supposed to be, and other unusual occurrences which make Emma feel like there might be something wrong with her. Unfortunately, with her friends alienated from her she starts to become paranoid and begins drinking a bit more than usual which concerns Matthew.

Emma starts to question whether she made the right choice in moving so quickly with Matthew and whether or not he truly has gotten over his first wife. Then things take an even darker turn one which neither of them will ever be able to come back from. That, I will leave the reader to discover, enjoy, and be shocked at.

First Wives Shadow has so many crazy, and I mean crazy moving parts with mysteries, and secrets some we don’t even discover until much later just as the reader will think they’ve figured out what’s going to happen and then be turned around in another direction and find yourself rattled. A great beach read, this is just another fascinating story in Adele Parks amazing devious style.

Thank you #NetGalley #MiraBooks #AdeleParks #FirstWivesShadow for the advanced copy.

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans

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The Christmas Cookie Wars is a very funny, enjoyable Hallmark Channel type love story about a widow with two young middle school twins and the principal of the same school who is divorced and has a daughter. The two are very different in how they see the world, and how they parent. What they do have in common is their love for their children, learning how to let go of their pasts and taking a giant leap into what could be their future together. But there will be certain forces who will try and prevent this.

Melody Monroe has young twin boys. Her husband passed away only a few years ago. Her boys are her life. But she sees and realizes that they are beginning to grow up and grow away from her. Although her heart is broken, she understands this is part of the growing process. But it’s Christmas which is such an important time of year for them all as they try to preserve the memories and the traditions of the past.

Jonathan Braxton is the principal at her son’s school. He is very rigid and unfortunately her boys know him for all the wrong reasons. Let’s just say her boys know his office very well and so does she and leave it at that.

So, when Melody learns the school cookie committee has been disbanded thanks to its unpopular/popular chair, which also happens right before their famous Christmas cookie adventures, a great fundraising season, she decides in a moment of insanity to become the new chair.

Thus begins the relationship between the overworked and overstressed Melody and the by the book take no gruff cookie baker extraordinaire Principal Jonathan. Now Melody must work side by side with Jonathan to make sure all the fundraising dates go well which won’t be very easy as it seems someone is not very happy with her taking this position and is trying to make sure she does not succeed.

As Melody and Jonathan discover their attraction to each other, Melody is unsure of her feelings because of her late husband. But as they begin the holiday season and all the activities there becomes a spark neither of them can resist.

Chaos ensues but when something happens and her boys are blamed this may be the final straw for Melody. Can they overcome what seems to be a deal breaker?

The Christmas Cookie Wars is more than just a falling in love, love story. It includes lessons in learning how to deal with loss, change, opening your heart, letting your children grow and begin to learn life lessons on their own. It’s an enjoyable quick read and a very feel-good story.

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #TheChristmasCookieWars #ElizaEvans for the advanced copy.

Kate & Frida by Kim Fay

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Kate & Frieda is a wonderfully beautiful empowering story about two women who accidentally meet by correspondence in 1991. Who would have thought one woman living in Paris who mailed a letter to a bookstore in Seattle requesting a book would lead to a friendship which will last till eternity. Written by the author of Love & Saffron, another story I highly recommend (with tissues!), you will fall in love with Kate and Frida, these two women who root for each other who give advice to each other and yes who cry with each other as they go on separate life journeys together although having never physically met.

Kate Fair has just started a job at a local bookstore in Seattle when she opens a letter from Freda Rodriguez who is living in Paris. Frida has requested a book. They are close in age. And as Kate sends the book to Frida one simple sentence she writes opens the door to the start of a deep friendship.

Frida is in Paris hoping to become a war correspondent in Bosnia. Kate wants to be a writer but believes she has already failed as she did write a book and stares at it on her home shelf every day. As they correspond, they begin to tell each other stories of their lives things that are happening at this moment in time. Kate tells Frieda she seems to be experiencing terrible panic attacks. Frida tells Kate she desperately wants to go to a war zone and write about it but fears she won’t be good at it.

As Kate is falling in love with a coworker who is a serious writer, and her best friend, her grandfather begins to have issues, Frida goes to Bosnia. But Frida can’t seem to write because of the terrible atrocities she witnesses. She sends her work to Kate who believes it’s amazing. Both these women will begin to learn hard life lessons which they will share by letter. They give each other advice; they let each other vent. They learn so much about what their lives were before they met and the impacts on their present friendship.

For both, the journeys and each of their destinations in life and the consequences of the decisions will always be championed by the other. As they both question where their lives are taking them, they lift each other up although not physically near and give advice, love and solace.

Kate and Frida is an homage to any deep friendship anyone has ever had. A friendship where you can tell someone anything about a loss, feeling ready to give up, being scared or being in love. And because of one simple letter two women embrace an eternal friendship without even seeing each other in person. How fortunate is that?

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #KimFay #Kate&Frida for the advanced copy.

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi

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Claire, Darling will startle you! Its story a combination of mystery, romance, childhood abuse but especially surprising secrets! You will fall in love with Claire and sympathize and empathize with her to get her happy ending.

Claire has never really been in love. She spent her childhood being abused by her mother a single parent, and narcissist, as well as being bullied by quite a few girls from school. But even though she had a turbulent childhood Claire has always been a hopeful romantic thinking someday…

So when she meets Noah an investment person and they begin to date she falls madly in love and so does he! The relationship moves quickly and they decide to move in together although in the back of Claire’s mind she continues to hear her mother’s terrible voice always making her feel as if she’s not worthy to be loved.

And then unbelievably Noah proposes to Claire! She never imagined her life could be so happy! She’s finally found the love of her life. Her happy ever after.

Until on their anniversary of meeting when she goes to Noah’s job to surprise him with a lunch and discovers there is no one there with that name. She is shocked and doesn’t quite understand. She’s called him there many, many times. She thinks it’s a mistake but suddenly realizes as she tries to call his cell phone and he doesn’t answer that something has gone terribly wrong. She’s being ghosted.

Then, she finds out the painful horrible truth about the man she loved. He has a girlfriend. A beautiful one and a very rich one. Why on earth did he do this to Claire? Was this a sick terrible joke? To hurt her as she has been hurt in her past.

Claire then begins to go down a terrible rabbit hole which she can’t get out of and starts to make irrational decisions she never thought she could imagine. Now, Claire feels like she must delve deeper into their relationship. She becomes obsessed.

Are there really any winners when lies are told? Claire’s abusive past suddenly merges with Noah’s horrible deeds. What good could ever come from this type of bad relationship. Well, none.

Claire darling is a story of emotions, heartbreak, innocence and revenge! It will have you on the edge of your seat as you learn the outcome and many other hidden secrets. Oh, Claire darling!

Thank you #NetGalley #BantamBooks #CallieKazumi #Claire,Darling for the advanced copy.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones

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I Would Die for You is a twisted psychological drama told in both the past and present. But what will really draw you in to the story are the secrets. And there are so many! The anticipation in this thriller is palpable from the first page and the ending astonishing!

It’s 2011, Nicole Forbes is living a great life in California trying to not only save the seals but is happily married with a young daughter. Although she is a transplant from London, England, she has lived in the states for many years. Her life is perfect.

Until a woman shows up at her door who seems to know her from her past. A past she has intentionally kept hidden from everybody. Rattled, Nicole still does not want to believe someone knows what happened back in London all those years ago but when her young daughter goes missing and she tells her mother when they discover her, she was taken by her aunt, Nicole’s sister, she becomes fearful because Nicole has no sister.

As her family starts to spiral Nicole must now decide exactly what she should expose to her husband. Her first instinct is to still continue to lie. But things begin to go from bad to worse when he starts to turn on her. As her fear for her daughter grows and as we see her life in flashbacks from her days in London, we begin to have the realization that something very bad happened in her family all those years ago.

It all began in 1986 when we discover Nicole had a sister named Cassie who was 16 and became obsessed with an upcoming rock band called Secret October. Her sister became infatuated with Ben Edwards the lead singer. But unfortunately, Cassie begins to make very bad decisions and heads down a terrible path. This begins the destruction, and dark secrets which pulls them apart. But what was it that happened?

Who is this woman? What does she want with her family and why now. Nicole knows one thing and that is she is here to destroy her life.  She needs to understand what is going on and why before her life as she knows it shatters. Her daughter is her life and heart. She will never let anything happen to her.

I Would Die for You will be the obsessive beach read you will need this summer. The story leaves the reader craving the satisfaction of being in on the secrets. And then when all is revealed well, the ending is to die for.

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotourPress #SandieJones #IWouldDieforYou for the advanced copy.

Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez

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Saving Vincent is a beautifully touching and very empowering story about Jo van Gogh who was married to Vincent van Gogh’s brother Theo and how she worked tirelessly after her husband’s death to try and break into the male dominated art world to get her brother-in-law’s name and artwork out not only in his Dutch country but also into Paris and the world. The story shows her courageousness and fight as she battles these men who felt she had nothing to contribute because she was a woman. At the time, in the 1890’s there was no such word as feminism., but that too was about to change.

When Jo’s husband Theo dies suddenly leaving her with an infant son and barely any money to survive, she decides rather than go home to her parents she would start a boarding house to make some money. She also chooses to try and figure out how to sell the Van Gogh artwork she has in order to protect her son’s inheritance. The more she learns about Van Gogh through his letters, the more she begins to admire and appreciate his life prior to his death.

The story paints the men who worked in the art industry at the time as stubborn, petty, greedy and certainly not acceptable to women with ideas. It took years for Jo with an incredible amount of determination and failures before she was able to open the door for woman to become welcomed into this world.

The story also gives a glimpse into the emerging feminism as well as the barriers which women faced back then and how they were looked upon by men. But the heart of the story is the love Jo had for her son, late husband and especially for Van Gogh to make sure he is never forgotten in the world of art. The story also delves into her fear that mental illness perhaps ran in the van Gogh family and her anxiety over her son’s health.

Saving Vincent, with its stunning cover is an uplifting wonderful read which will have you clamor to an Art Museum to view some of these now famous masterpieces which are talked about in this wonderful heart-felt love story.

Thank you #SheWritesPress #JackieKarneth #JoanFernandez for the advanced copy.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

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You Are Fatally Invited is a twisted story with damaged characters, I would compare to Agatha Christie’s, And Then There Was None which will find you racing to the end to figure out all the sordid mysteries and hidden agendas.

As authors arrive on a secluded island, fortunate enough to have been graced with an invitation by the recluse author J.R. Alastor, whom no one has ever met, the feeling is that of the television show in the eighties called Fantasy Island. All six of the famous authors seem to try and one up each other as to their relationship with their host. They are met by the hostess or party planner for the weekend, Mila del Angel, herself a former unpublished want to be writer.

She knows what is expected of her and she too has a hidden agenda, but as she explains what this weekend’s writer’s retreat will accomplish and the games which will be played the main concern of the guests is when they will finally meet the mysterious Alastor.

Unfortunately, immediately things begin to go wrong when the next morning one of the writer’s goes missing. At first, they think perhaps they had gone for a hike, but to everyone’s horror that seems to not be the case.

Mila who only communicates with Alastor via her watch gets no response from him. When she decides to look at the camera footage from the previous night, hours seem to be missing.

She soon begins to realize there is something else going on, something sinister. And when she announces the first game to be played by the authors, they too begin to see something is amiss. For all intents and purposes the “clues” to this game hit too close to home for each one of them and is about something they have hidden from their past.

When a second body is discovered they all decide they need to get off this island and Mila who feels she is being set up agrees. But with a storm coming up, that might not be possible.

As the writers begin to turn on each other and new games are added daily, they realize someone is taking great pleasure at scaring and killing them. Unfortunately, Mila looks to be the main suspect. What they don’t know is Mila herself has never met Alastor in person. Could one of them be the killer?

You Are Fatally Invited cordially invites YOU, the reader to try and figure out who the killer is and what past secrets for some reason are expected to be exposed. The cost of losing one of the games? Well, perhaps their life! You will be holding your breath to see who makes it to the end and finally discover all those sordid, shocking secrets!

Thank you #NetGalley #BantamBooks #AndePiegro #YouAreFatallyInvited for the advanced copy.

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

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Buckle up for the ride of your life in The Family Game! This book will have brides-to-be looking sideways at their soon to be in-laws. The story is an explosion of anxiety, shock, horror and mystery. The ending an amazingly surprising masterpiece.

When writer Harriet fell in love with financer Edward, who came from one of the wealthiest families in the United States, the Holbeck’s, although she had never met them, she never imagined what people with that kind of wealth would be like. Edward had kept them at a distance while they courted and yes, Harriet was curious as to why but was told there had been a bit of a rift. So, when Harriet and Edward got engaged and she received a call from his sister welcoming her into the fold she found herself agreeing unbeknownst to her (she is British and from England) that the meeting of the family would be on none other than Thanksgiving.

But right from the start she felt something was off. The family seemed very competitive and well, strangely odd. But she chalked it up to her own jitters until Edward’s father calls her into his office. Alone. And hands her a tape. Then explains to her she needs to listen to it and understand it and that he knows everyone makes mistakes and is well aware of her own hidden secret. Is this some sort of warning? How on earth could he know? What is on this tape? He also threatened if she told anyone including Edward about this revelation, he would expose her.

As she is on deadline, she puts the tape away and when she finally begins the process of listening to it, well, it’s time for another family gathering. This time it is called “Krampus” which has to do with a monster near Christmas time. Harriet and Edward attend without Harriet knowing the “rules of the game” and when she is picked to play, well it does not go well and turns out to be the most horrible experience of her life.

The tape which she reads in pieces is extremely disturbing and she can’t quite understand what is actually going on in the Holbeck family. She decides to do a bit of research and what she discovers is to say the least very, very disturbing and expanding over many years.

But Harriet and Edward must get through one last holiday, Christmas and Christmas Eve with the family. When she arrives at the estate in upstate New York, well once again she learns there will be a game on Christmas Eve and she must play, only this time Harriet knows she will be playing for her life. She somehow must try and outwit who she feels are a bunch of unhinged rich people. But what we shockingly discover is that there is much, much more to this family and the games they insist on playing.

The Family Game will have you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns. As for Harriet well, she must protect her own secret no matter what the cost. Who if anyone will survive the final family game? You MUST read this book to discover, and you will be happy you did.

Published by Ballentine Books

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai

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The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is the delicious second book of the translated into English Japanese series which revolves around a father and daughter (and their cat Drowsy) who own a diner called The Kamogawa Diner but are also known to be food detectives for people who have somehow learned about them and come to them to try and recapture a food dish with a memory, sometimes good and sometimes bad attached. It is up to Chef Nagare and his daughter Koishi to work their magic and try to discover and then cook the dish which their clients sometimes desperately need to continue on their journey or make peace with their past.

The stories are lovely and beautiful and are filled with delicious delicacies and mysteries. Nagare will scour the earth to help anyone who needs his special service and Koishi will take care of all the paperwork. And of course, Drowsy their beloved cat will always make their guests feel better.

Some of the stories in this book include Fried Rice in which a model who is engaged is desperately searching for a Fried Rice she remembers from years ago so she can present it to her fiancé and be proud.

Another is an Olympic Swimmer who is looking for the special Beto Box his father who he is estranged from use to make for him daily.

The most poignant story to me was Christmas Cake in which a married couple comes to the diner to look for a particular cake their late son used to love, but they never tasted as it was given as an offering at the time of his death and neither wanted to try it. This story shows the love of the parents for their lost son, but it also shows the love of the young son to his parents as past and present collide.

Every story has a beginning, middle, and moving ending the last few sentences always an homage to Nagare and Koishi’s late wife and mother.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is a feel good, gloriously happy read with mouthwatering delicacies and mysteries to be solved for those seeking answers through food.

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #HisashiKashiwai #TheRestaurantofLostRecipes for the advanced copy.

All The Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

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All The Other Mothers Hate Me is a humorous look at how sometimes school bullying doesn’t just happen to the children, but to the mothers as well. It’s a full-blown mystery when a child disappears during a field trip, but it’s also about how a woman who was living her best life, accidentally got pregnant, married and then got divorced and is now trying to cope with a 10-year-old son who likes to play with the elderly man across the street rather than children his own age. It’s also about how deep depression can impair said mother, but when a crisis happens involving her child, well them is fighting words!

The story is about a woman who finally picks herself up, decides to grow up and be as best a mother as she can, although completely flawed. It’s about a mother’s love for her son she never imagined she had. But trust me when I say it is so comical, and you will fall in love with her, warts and all!

Florence Grimes is a mess. A single mother of ten-year-old Dylan she can barely get out of bed to get him to school. When she got pregnant all those years ago the life she had in the music industry forever changed because of a one-night stand. Now Dylan who is in a private school in England (thanks to her ex) and Florence who is from the United States who because of a “situation” at said school last year was ostracized by the other mothers. Yes, Dylan is quirky and may not have many friends (except his turtle at home which Florence forgets to feed), but she tries, well, sort of…

So when she sends him off to school to go on a field trip and the child they paired him with Alfie Risby, a bully who dislikes Dylan and whose parents are so rich they just about own London what could go wrong? Well, Alfie disappears during the trip, well of course, they all think Dylan did something. Of course, Florence doesn’t believe this but when she gets home, she discovers the backpack Dylan took home was Alfie’s. Oh Lord…what should she do? He couldn’t do anything to another child could he? No… but…

So, Florence decides to attempt to investigate this mystery and decides to become “friends” with a new mother Jenny who doesn’t know her ahem, history and who is an attorney. Perfect in case Dylan needs one, right?

But Florence has so much going on, getting her nails done, picking a dress for a promising meeting, she sort of blows Jenny off and lets her take the lead. But, when Florence is unable to make this important career making meeting because well, she’s a mother, her depression really kicks in. And that’s when Jenny bails.

So now Florence is on her own and need to figure out what happened to Alfie before they discover it may have been Dylan. But of course, in the process makes very, very bad choices. And what she discovers and what she does will have a domino effect no one could ever imagine. If only she could find this bratty kid.

All The Other Mothers Hate Me is so witty and such a terrific mystery you will hope Florence gets into more trouble in the future. But that’s wishful thinking. Florence will learn many valuable lessons through this journey of lies and come out of it a better, stronger person but perhaps with a few less teeth!

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #SarahHarman #AllTheOtherMothersHateMe for the advanced copy.