Tag: fiction

The Reservation is a clever story about of a group of restaurant employees from a celebrated dining establishment who are preparing for an extremely famous writer’s reservation. Of course, as luck would have it, things begin to go downhill very fast on the day of the event including stolen very expensive steaks which are needed for the evening and someone posting horrible yelp reviews. Over the course of the day, we will get to know the staff, the owners and how they not only interact with each other, but how although they have worked together, some for many years, they really don’t know each other at all. This story is part mystery, part who is the culprit and why, and the misconceptions people have about each other without really knowing them.

When a famous writer books a dinner at Aunt Olsa’s restaurant, everyone is on a code red. The place must be in pristine shape, everyone on top of their game and the food must be perfect. But unfortunately, when Olsa’s nephew comes in the morning of the big dinner, he discovers someone has taken twenty-two rib eyes which were reserved for the big event. As the day wears on they all begin to see someone is sabotaging the restaurant as it is discovered very bad reviews are being left on their site. Strangely all this is happening in real time!

Thus begins not only the hunt for the stolen rib eyes, but a day of discoveries and secrets for those who have worked so hard at their jobs, not only about each other, but about what drives each of them and how they became who they are.

The suspects;

The Chef, The Lead Line Cook, The Busser, The Host, The Bartender, The Pastry Chef, The Wait Staff

Who would want to ruin this event and why?

Yes, the mystery will be solved. But more importantly the reader will get a peek at what all these laborers must endure not only at work, but how their lives outside the job formed them way before they ever stepped into the restaurant.

The Reservation was a wonderfully different read, with a bit of humor, warmth and sadness. Who is the important writer? Well, you just have to read this terrific book to find out!

Published by Counterpoint

The Reservation: A Novel: Kauffman, Rebecca: 9781640097483: Amazon.com: Books

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When You Loved Me is not just one, but two amazing love stories about two very strong women. Separated by centuries, yet intertwined by sorrow, death, mystery and most important forgiveness and love the story will grab your heart from the first page.

Lucy Cooper comes home from England with her young daughter Elise to unfortunately bury her father and settle his estate. As she looks over the dilapidated mansion she use to call home, she herself a recent widow can hardly believe her father is gone. She is also shocked at the way he died. By going into the ocean near their home on Winthrop Island and never coming out.

For her whole life, her father had been obsessed with a story passed down about a buried hidden pirate treasure somewhere on the land of their estate. He was so preoccupied he let everything in his life come second. The reason Lucy’s mother left him, and they both moved to England. But she was lucky. She got to spend summers with him and for that she will be forever grateful.

After the funeral, Lucy discovers her father was in debt. So much so there is no way she can pay it off, let alone be able to fix everything in the house which needs to be taken care of before she perhaps must sell. She understands his passion was this absurd pirate treasure and that is what he deemed most important. For years all she kept hearing was he was so close to the discovery.

But Lucy is also out of sorts as she has discovered her first love, Ben Ressler is living on the property of her ex best friend Laura Peabody. She thought he was going into football. The last she saw him was actually the worst heartbreak of her life other than the killing of her daughter’s father.

Then there is her brilliant young daughter who has spunk and speaks her mind. She truly believes the pirate story and has herself fallen in love with their neighbor, Ben Ressler much to Lucy’s chagrin.

But not everything is as it seems. A missing laptop, a fire in the house, and someone impersonating her. Why?

The other story comes in the form of a diary of a woman from 1717 named Hephzibah and how her family are invaded by pirates and one who is very sick comes to stay with them. And then they must fight a terrible winter called Great Snow of the Storm.

As the two stories become linked, Lucy must grapple with her past, her late father’s life and trying to put her love for Ben to bed, so to speak. And when the past and present finally collide well, that’s for you to dig into!

Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #BeatrizWilliams #WhenYouLovedMe for the advanced copy.

When You Loved Me: A Novel: Williams, Beatriz: 9798217094820: Amazon.com: Books

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The One Day You Were My Husband is another terrific psychological thriller from Rosie Walsh. With her adept handling of shocking twists, turns and surprises you will be kept on your toes while reading this amazing story.

Carrie is studying to be a surgical doctor and Johan is a diver. They met when he assisted an injured woman to the hospital Carrie was training at. It was instant attraction for both of them. But in her position, she was unable to date someone who was remotely close to a patient. But Johan made sure she did not forget him!

They end up going on a date and basically never leave each other. Johan sometimes has to go on work trips; Carrie gets anxious as sometimes he is unable to contact her but, in the end, they fall deeply in love. So much so that when they are on a vacation in Thailand, Johan proposes to Carrie even though it has been a few short months into their relationship and Carrie immediately says yes. They decide getting married on the beautiful beach in Thailand would be perfect. Even though no one would be able to come to the wedding.

But what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives ends up being the end of their relationship. While enjoying the food and drink on the beach after the ceremony, a group of officers come down and arrest Johan and take him away. For what? Carrie has no idea! How could this happen. She is confused, then heartbroken after finding out she will never see him again.

Fast forward to a little over a decade later, with the help of therapy and her family Carrie has healed, married a wonderful man named Robin who she knows she is the apple of his eye. They have six-year-old twins, and she has been a stay-at-home mom this whole time.

Carrie though is beginning to miss her job. She wants to get back to doing surgeries. With her husband’s backing she decides to begin the process of going back to work. The first step is going to Stockholm to meet with a former mentor. As she is planning her visit, she comes across a picture of a man living in Stockholm, an architect. The picture is Johan.

Of course, this begins to stir up memories and emotions which she thought had been laid to rest. If he had been released, why had he not gotten in touch with her? Without telling Robin what she has seen she ends up going to Stockholm and to her surprise sees Johan in person where she leaves with more questions than answers.

What happens next will throw Carrie’s life into a turmoil of shocking lies, betrayals, secrets and awful mysteries. You will not only devour this story but enjoy ever last second of The One Day You Were My Husband.

Thank you #NetGalley #PamelaDormanBooks #RosieWalsh #TheOneDayYouWereMyHusband for the advanced copy.

The One Day You Were My Husband: A Novel: Walsh, Rosie: 9798217060450: Amazon.com: Books

The One Day You Were My Husband | Goodreads