Tag: fiction

I Am You by Victoria Redel

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I Am You is a passionately heartbreaking, complex love story set in the 1600’s in which two women’s lives one whose social status is higher, evolve and revolve around each other. Their need to be together prevails on so many different levels and yet they sometimes appear to be like oil and water, a desperate need to be separate. But in the end, they can’t resist the love and need they each feel which will last their whole lives. This wonderful story although fiction, is based on the real Maria van Oosterwijck, who was the only female painter at the time.

In Amsterdam, back in the 1600’s a young woman must disguise herself as a boy in order to survive in the house she is a servant. An orphan, she has nowhere to go. Her name is Gerta Pieters, but they all know her as Pieters, a young boy. Except for one person. The young daughter of the esteemed family suspects what Gerta is doing. Her name is Maria van Oosterwijck and she is a painter.

When it is decided that Maria must move for her career, she insists that Gerta accompany her as her servant. And thus begins the story of these two women as they try to exist in a male dominated society with Maria attempting to break through the men’s monopoly in art as a painter.

But their lives will become even more tangled as Maria treats Gerta as her servant but also her teacher and shows Gerta how to use colors and paint. But teacher and student become entangled even more so as they begin to get closer and fall in love.

As time goes on and Gerta’s progress in art begins to shine, Maria begins having physical problems which make her unable to work without Gerta’s help. But this must be kept hidden, as is most of their relationship. Gerta must hide her talent for the sake of her employee as well as their love story. Unfortunately, jealousy is a silent green-eyed monster.

Gerta finds it difficult to maneuver all the moving pieces of their complicated lives which is made even more complicated by Maria’s nephew who Gerta is resentful of and dislikes. But Maria too is envious as Gerta begins to become known in the art world.

I Am You is a mesmerizing love story, set in a time when this love could never be known, when a woman painter was unheard of and whose relationship was so much more than what anyone would ever have suspected. Where one of them begins, the other will be there with love and their secrets for an eternity.

Thank you #NetGalley #SJPLit #VictoriaRedel #IAmYou for the advanced copy.

Pre order now. Book comes out September 30.

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson

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The Busybody Book Club is an enjoyable, cozy, funny mystery with so much heart and soul. You will fall in love with the characters, warts and all as they try and play amateur sleuths to solve a terrible crime, find a missing person, keep their community center open and most importantly learn so much about themselves and each other and the secrets they all carry that they will be friends for life.

Nova Davies has just moved from London to a little village with her fiancé. His parents live here, and they are staying with them until their wedding which is in just a few short weeks. Nova was fortunate enough to get a job working at the local community center thanks to her best friend. Although new at this job, she was a social worker back in London and is pretty good at handling people. Or so she thought.

On this night, the book club is gathering to discuss the book, Where the Crawdad Sings. The regulars are filing in. We have elderly Phyllis and her faithful companion Craddock, a bulldog. An Agatha Christie specialist, Miss Marple being her favorite, she would prefer to read something different. She is a bit of a curmudgeon. Then there is Arthur who is also elderly and takes care of his wife. He reads romance stories to her as she is blind. He enjoys getting out and the book club is one of his favorite activities. He sees the good in everyone and everything! Ash is a teenager who rather enjoys science fiction and is quite shy. Although he normally doesn’t participate, he’s trying to learn how to be more outgoing. There is a reason for this!

As they begin their discussion, a man walks in. He seems a bit sketchy. His name is Michael, and he seems nervous. Not really participating, he suddenly gets a text and shoots up and leaves. Needless to say, the group don’t know what to make of this.

The next day when Nova comes in she discovers someone last night stole the money which was set aside for the new roof for the community center. She realizes she accidentally left the office door unlocked. She is beside herself. And of course, they blame her.

Well, the book club group with Phyllis as their leader decide to investigate. They all believe it had to be Michael who stole the money. But when they finally find out where Michael lives, they discover he has disappeared, and his mother has been murdered.

Thus begins the most adorably well crafted, funny yet charming mystery. All of them trying to figure out who took the money and especially how to save Nova’s job. But be careful what you wish for because there are people who will try and stop them.

What they don’t realize is this mystery will not only bring The Busybody Book Club closer to each other but change their lives forever in the best way possible! The characters are entertaining, the mysteries a complete surprise! Hopefully they will be back to solve another whodunit!

Thank you #NetGalley #Berkley #FreyaSampson #TheBusybodyBookClub for the advanced copy.

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda

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Daughter of Mine is another nail-biting, shocking, twisted mystery by the amazing storyteller Megan Miranda. With so many questions seemingly not answered and no idea where the plot is going, the reader will be lulled into just enjoying this rollercoaster but hold on tight for each surprise!

Hazel Sharp is an architect who has come home to Mirror Lake to bury her father who died suddenly. She does not come home often as she does not particularly get along with her brother Caden. Her other brother Gage has always been the one to referee the two. But now she must face not only the death of her father, a police officer in the town, as well as her brothers who have followed in his footsteps, but also her past which includes her mother’s abandonment of her years ago leaving her only a note.

At the same time, the town is experiencing a drought like no other. It’s been over 60 days since there has been any rain. The lakes have receded including the one their own house overlooks.

Suddenly, a car emerges from lake a few miles from their house. As her brother Caden goes to investigate, she must now deal with another reason she left years ago. Her best friend Jamie from childhood decided to go and marry her brother Caden without even mentioning to Hazel while she was away at college they were dating.

So, Hazel decides she will stay at their house which was her father’s, and some chilling things begin to happen. Motion sensor flood lights go on for no reason in the middle of the night and batteries seem to have been taken out of the fire alarms in the house when she was asleep.

Then another car is unearthed from the lake only this time it is their lake, and Hazel knows whose it is. Her best friend Jamie disappears after looking at some old pictures, and her brother Caden doesn’t seem all too concerned; only they have a young daughter who wants to know where her mother has gone.

Does she really want to know what happened all those years ago? As she begins to try and figure things out, she is being stopped by her father’s own co-workers who tell her to let sleeping dogs lie. But she can’t and she won’t, and this determination will open a can of worms which could possibly kill her.

What happened all those years ago and why now is this all coming to the surface?

Daughter of Mine is a twisty, warped mystery with page after page of shocking revelations. Your head will begin to spin. And of course, the always unexpected Megan Miranda ending you never would have seen coming and all you can do is gasp!

Published by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books. Thank you Bookreporter.com for the advanced copy.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

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Put a lifejacket on before diving into Jamie Day’s new thriller, The Lake Escape! It’s a haunting story of loss, mystery and murder which spans decades. Follow a trio of best friends from childhood now adults with their own children who take their annual vacation together at their lake houses which have been passed on to them from their parents. But when something unexpectedly happens which will reek havoc on all their lives forever, what can they do to save themselves? The lake knows…

Julia, David and Erika grew up coming to their family’s vacation houses on a lake in Vermont since childhood. They have kept that tradition alive with their own families. Over the years their lives have changed both for the good and bad. They have also all grown up with secrets not shared with each other. That is about to change.

This vacation is different right from the start because David who has come into money has decided to expand his lake house and unfortunately Julia and her husband’s view of the lake is impeded. Erika, a lawyer decides to stay out of this fight.

Joining the friends are their children and David’s new nanny, Izzy who was extremely eager to get the position and come to the lake. Also, there is David’s new girlfriend, Fiona a young spitfire no one can figure out.

But after a night of heavy drinking (and other things) they awake to find Fiona missing. David is not too concerned but the others know the secrets of the lake. For the past thirty years every ten years someone has disappeared with no trace. Folklore is that the lake who hungers satisfies itself by taking someone. Is it a coincidence it is exactly 10 years since the last victim?

As the search begins for Fiona, we see the real personalities of the friends who all have secrets, some dark. Their facades and relationships begin to explode in front of our very eyes.

Once the pieces of the puzzles begin to surface like sludge from the deep lake they have always enjoyed, they begin to discover no one really knew the other and the one thing they all seem to have in common is death.

The Lake Escape is as exhausting as swimming in the water for a long period of time, but as exhilarating as well as the shocking outcome will roll over the reader like a wave!

Thank you #Netgalley #St.Martin’sPress # JamieDay #TheLakeEscape for the advanced copy.

Eat Post Like by Emily Arden Wells

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Eat Post Like is a deliciously funny love story about loss, food and love, all of which are important to making a very heartwarming story with a strong woman as the main character. A woman who through trauma and sadness is able to pull herself together to become not only stronger but is able to decide what she truly wants in her life. And change her life she does.

Cassie Brooks is a workaholic lawyer who loves her life, or so she thinks. Although she works long hours her boyfriend James an accountant also puts in long hours, so he is not put off. He appreciates her hard work and instead of badgering, he takes to out for dinner to try new restaurants. He truly appreciates her life and she his.

Then tragically James dies. Cassie is lost. She can’t even go over to his apartment to figure out how to organize his things. When she finally does go, she discovers that James had a secret life she never knew about. How could he have kept something from her. Weren’t they soulmates?

James was not an accountant. He was actually a food critic with an Instagram account called @NewYorkSecretDiner, a beloved food account with millions of followers. Why did he not tell her?

Devastated at first, she decides to post on the account. Well, that does not go over very well…until Cassie decides to do something she never imagined she could. She accepts an invitation that @NewYorkSecretDiner had received. An invitation which will take her all over Europe tasting food and drinking wine at the most fabulous restaurants and visiting incredibly beautiful places.

But be careful what you wish for! As the trip begins, she never imagined the time and effort it took to research not only the dishes and wines, but the ingredients and locations. What a mess she feels she is making of Jame’s secret legacy.

So, she decides to create her own account…Eat Post Like. And well, you’ll just have to see what happens to Cassie next. But know there is delicious food, handsome men, very funny characters but especially, Cassie’s personal discoveries about herself, who she is and what she wants out of life. But it’s also about James who may have lived a secret life but loved a wonderful woman!

Thank you #NetGalley #HarperCollins #EatPostLike #EmilyArdenWells for the advanced copy.

Murder Takes A Vacation by Laura Lippman

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Murder Takes A Vacation is a wonderful combination of Agatha Christie and Jessica Fletcher from the Murder She Wrote series. It’s an enjoyable who-done-it with wonderful locations and tempting cuisine. But there is so much more to this mystery as our heroine, an older woman who is a widow now at a crossroads in her life with some regrets to come to terms with. Yet who would ever imagine that a murder could be so much fun!

Muriel Blossom is a senior whose husband passed away a decade ago. She lives for her daughter and grandchildren. But, through no luck of her own she won the lottery! Which should be great news but unfortunately, she has just found out her daughter and her family are moving to Japan! And she was not invited to go with them.

So, Muriel and her best friend Elinor decide to go on a European cruise! This should take her mind off of her sorrows…or so she thinks. Muriel used to work for a detective agency many years ago and looks at life and the world a bit differently than others. So, when she meets a charming man, Allan at the airport well, she is suddenly smitten, yet a bit reserved. Why on earth would he be interested in a frumpy old woman?

But she begins to see him differently and as they make their way to Paris where they will separate, Muriel decides to take a risk. Something she has never done since her husband’s untimely death years ago. And she finds she’s enjoying the attention. But as luck would have it once they arrive in Paris and go their separate ways Muriel discovers Allan has died. Muriel’s radar begins to see something is not right, but alas she will be leaving on the cruise in a few days.

Suddenly she meets another stranger named Danny who decides Muriel needs a makeover and talks her into buying herself a new wardrobe. But again, Muriel feels in her gut something is not right. When she discovers Danny is on the same cruise, well she firmly believes something is going on. But what?

What she discovers is there is a missing statue, a Pakastani jewel encrusted one. And now she believes Allan had something to do with its high jacking! So, Muriel begins to investigate onboard the ship and discovers no one is who they say they are, except for her best friend Elinor of course!

Was Allan killed? But why? And who is Danny? Why won’t he leave her alone?

Murder Takes A Vacation is an exciting mysterious read, with clues galore. You will fall in love with Mrs. Blossom for not only her way of thinking, but all the lessens she will learn as well as secrets she’s been holding on to for years which will change her life forever!

Thank you #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #LauraLippman #MurderTakesAVacation for the advanced copy.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

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I know I say this every time, but once again, get your box of tissues out because you are certainly going to need them reading the final installment of the wonderfully heartwarming saga of our dear Molly Gray, the most loving, caring and real character who has ever existed in the character world. This story will fill your heart full as we finally get answers to Molly and her late Gran’s life and legacy. And my goodness, what an ending!

Molly Gray is preparing to marry the love of her life Juan Manuel. With very little money they are trying to keep the wedding simple. But a glitch in their plan has them beside themselves. Their landlord is selling the building and now on top of all the other stress they must now find another place they are able to afford to live.

Both are still working at their jobs at The Regency Grand Hotel, Molly as head maid and also manager of Special Events. Juan Manuel is still working on his desserts in the kitchen. And yes, even though they are stressed and struggling, their love always finds a way to keep them going.

When a television antiques appraisal show decides they want to do a live broadcast from The Regency, and with Molly in charge, Juan Manuel convinces her to take a couple of her grandmother’s trinkets to be appraised. One of course is her grandmother’s special teacup which Molly now uses, and the other an egg ornament which had been her Grans.

No one could imagine that live on television, Molly would discover one the items is worth a great deal of money, perhaps millions! How on earth did Gran get it and why did she not tell Molly about it? So many questions but without Gran here no answers. Molly and Juan Manuel decide, with a little pushing from the television hosts to sell the item to the highest bidder live on another broadcast. Who on earth would steal the item?

But when they go live to sell the item, after the final bid, and they go to get it, the item is missing. It was stolen right before their eyes! Confusion abounds, and Molly is heartbroken, but when a key is found which leads to a diary her Gran had been writing before her death well suddenly Molly’s story becomes Grans.

Although a surprising yet hard life, Gran lived with hope, understanding and of course a love for her granddaughter Molly which was unmatched except for one man. As Molly reads, she sees a side of Gran she never imagined and of course loves her even more than she ever imagined she could.

The Maid’s Secret is perfect. Yes, there is a mystery to solve, but more importantly we get to see why Molly and Gran’s love story was so important to each of them and those who loved both of them. Although I certainly did not want to say goodbye, I feel the wonderful circle of love was closed and know Molly and Juan Manuel will have their well-deserved happy ending.

Thank you #NetGalley #BallantineBooks #NitaProse #TheMaid’sSecret for the advanced copy.

Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman

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Last Dance Before Dawn is the riveting finale in the Nightingale Club mystery series. The stories take place during the 1920’s where speakeasys were popular and dangerous. A time in which cops could be easily paid to look the other way, and women were second class citizens no matter what job they had. Even when a woman was a nightclub owner. More importantly it’s about the way women were treated, and what they had to hide in order to exist. But there was one woman, Vivian Kelly who was street smart, had a day job as a seamstress, and a secret night job at the Nightingale where she danced with male customers. some of whom were very shady.

Over the years Vivian saw a number of dead bodies. She tried to hide her second job from her beloved hardworking sister Florence. But now, Florence is settled and it’s time for Vivian to make some hard choices in her life.

Once again there is trouble brewing at the Nightingale Club. A mystery man from Chicago shows up and begins looking for people. Vivian is frightened as she knows who he is looking for and doesn’t know why. One thing is for sure; he has killing on the brain!

So, Vivian goes to her boss and friend Honor, the extremely bright and savvy owner of The Nightingale. She is also intrigued but warns Vivien to stay out of the situation. Vivian thinks Honor knows more than she is saying, but Vivian must think about her sister and niece and keeping them safe.

But of course, she begins to quietly investigate and discovers a shocking story which unfolded a few years ago in Chicago in which people were killed and money was stolen and never recovered. It also has hints of a love story. On top of all that, questions about her parents especially about her father will come to light and be scandalous to both her and her sister.

Last Dance Before Dawn is truly a heart palpitating conclusion to a wonderfully written series about the jazz era and what it was like to live back then as women, some of whom were on the good side of the law and others not so much. It will satisfy the reader with all the unanswered questions, and prove that even back then, women could be strong, smart and cunning.

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #KatharineSchellman #LastDanceBeforeDawn for the advanced copy.

The Language of Birds by K.A. Merson

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The Language of Birds is a unique, very exciting thriller incorporating mysterious puzzles into the twisty plot which serves as clues as to who could be the villain and what they are looking for. We will follow the quest of a teenage girl who has recently lost her father and now must deal with another shattering loss…her mother’s kidnapping. Never sure as to where the clues will take her (and us) this ingenious story will have you on the edge of your seat!

Arizona, yes, that’s her name, is a seventeen-year-old who has recently lost her father to a horrible motorcycle accident. Her mother decides they need to get away and regroup so they decide to take a trip in their camper and visit some of the places they as a family had been. Along with their dog Mojo, they begin the journey. Arizona is a brilliant girl, but extremely awkward in social situations. So much so she has been home schooled. She is well read and amazing at puzzle solving thanks to her father.

But, as soon as they reach their first destination in which they decided to split up and meet back later in the day, something goes terribly wrong. Her mother is not there to meet her. Suddenly she gets a call in which a mystery man informs her they have kidnapped her mother and need for Arizona to solve a group of puzzles which will lead to an unknown which they refuse to tell her. Only then will they release her mother.

The reader then goes along for the ride with Arizona and Mojo as they are given different types of clues in which she must try and decipher only to have to go from location to location and keep solving puzzles.

But Arizona is not stupid. She sees a pattern. A pattern she keeps to herself. Will she be able to solve the final puzzle in order to get her mother released but also solve the true mystery before the bad men can.

The story is a treasure quest, something her father prepared her for since she was a child. What he did not prepare her for was the fact that she cannot just rely on herself and she must try and learn to trust others and more importantly keep herself calm something she is not very good at. These skills she must learn and learn quickly in order to save her mother.

The Language of Birds is an exciting rush to the finish line not really understanding where the line is or why we are there. But be sure, the ending will shock, surprise and satisfy the reader.

Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #K.A. Merson #TheLanguageofBirds for the advanced copy.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman

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In my humble opinion, The Page Turner by Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse) is not only his best work, but the closest his fans have come to just how much his grandmother (the real Viola) meant to him. The story is a true heart and soul family love story! With a bit of mystery thrown into the mix.

Emma Page has just graduated from college. She wants desperately to be a writer. No surprise there, since her family owns a publishing company called The Mighty Pages. But Emma has always felt like an outsider on the ins and outs of the publishing world. She has always left that to her parents and her sister.

She has always identified more with her grandmother, Gigi who was her mentor. Gigi, with words of wisdom had an unheard-of work ethic. She would get up before everybody and work and cook and put in almost a full day before anyone was ever awake. Thus, making a vast fortune.

But Gigi is gone and now her parents are running the show, spending it seems way too much money. When her sister Jess and her parents ask her to join the company, Emma must make a decision feeling as if no matter what she decides, she will once again disappoint.

But when suddenly an author Emma thinks is very shady and sexist agrees to an imprint at The Mighty Pages, she decides she needs to intervene only to be told by her family that he is there to bail the company out as they are bleeding money.

But Emma discovers something which changes everything. Her grandmother had kept a secret from all of them. By signing this deal with the author, they will be headed for disaster. Now Emma must try and fight not only for her family but for her grandmother. How will she be able to convince them she knows what is going on and make them believe her?

Now is the time for the Page family to put all their arguments and jealousies aside and come together not only for their own good, but for Gigi.

The Page Turner is the essence of a family love story. Your heartstrings will be pulled at and will make you truly appreciate the beautiful dynamic of Viola Shipman and Wade Rouse. Please read the afterward by Wade Rouse for even more touching stories of his life with his grandmother.

Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #ViolaShipman #ThePageTurner for the advanced copy.