Tag: fiction

American Housewife

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American Housewife is an interesting journey back in time to an era when a woman’s work was never done…. at home. Cooking and cleaning, having children, making drinks before the husband arrives home sums up what a “working woman” was expected to do in the 1950s. It didn’t matter if that is what she really aspired to do. The story which is witnessed through the eyes of a progressive 1950’s woman who notices the restlessness of some housewives which begins as an itch to being a husband’s trophy wife/cook/cleaner instead wanting to be treated as their husband’s equal.

Maggie Lane is a radio personality who has just been offered the job of hosting a TV show. The Maggie Lane Baking Show is her ultimate dream job. The problem is she’s not married and in this particular era you had to be married to discuss cooking topics to other women, but also know a thing or two about baking, both of which she knew nothing about.

But Maggie, who never really wanted to get married but is dating a very wealthy war hero who had been asking her to marry him for months, decides with his support to quickly marry and hesitatingly accepts the job.

But life as a married couple is quite the adjustment. With Maggie’s long hours and sudden popularity, her new husband’s horrible dreams at night and unwillingness to talk to her about them, they discover the beginnings of cracks in their already not so honest relationship. Her stardom begins to interfere with the marriage as well. You see, no matter what, it’s still a man’s world and Maggie is not a man.

As their problems grow deeper and although they try to hold each other accountable in their marriage and as Maggie who herself holds secrets from her past afraid to open up about, secrets we learn in flashbacks, is terrified that if she tells him he will divorce her.

Part of Maggie’s job is answering letters from viewers, mostly housewives. She does it with honesty as opposed to expectation. Through the letters she begins to understand the advantages she has and the rules some of these married women must follow and the burden they carry. She even sees it in her best friend who is desperately in love but fears she is not good enough for her boyfriend.

But when Maggie’s past becomes her present it could not only impact her career but more importantly her marriage which is already hanging by a thread. Being a 1950’s housewife should have been easy but for Maggie who always wanted more and will not stop until she’s succeeded in her dreams desperately must decide what to sacrifice as she sees her husband slipping away.

American Housewife is a wonderful impactful story about a woman’s past meeting her present a woman emerging as a celebrity in an era when most women were not even allowed to voice their own opinion. But, as women began to find their voice one word at a time, it certainly could be said it was the start of the feminist movement as housewives began to dip their toes into their backyard pools while becoming their own person.

Thank you #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing #AnitaAbriel #AmericanHousewife for the advanced copy.

Blood In The Water by Casey Sherman

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Author Casey Sherman who has compiled a long list of nonfiction New York Times best sellers, with one closest to his heart a book called A Rose For Mary about his aunt who was the final victim of the Boston Strangler, has once again delved into another true-life murder mystery case in the New England area in which a man on a fishing boat trip with his mother is found floating alone in a life boat no boat or mother in sight. Was this an accident or intentional? Well, it depends on who you ask. This story is tragic in so many ways as it shows a very dysfunctional very wealthy family and a past murder which opens their lives to chaos, greed and secrets with an ending you couldn’t make up.

Nathan Carman came from a very wealthy very dysfunctional family. But it was his grandfather who was rich and made sure his children knew it. Nathan as a child was diagnosed with Asperger’s and was bullied at school, had no friends except for his horse and kept to himself. At one point as a young child, he even ran away and was found states away from their Connecticut home.

He had a tumultuous relationship with his mother, a love, hate, jealous relationship. His parents divorced, his father in California he lived with his mother in Connecticut and was never really happy. He was though, the apple of his grandfather’s eye and was financially supported by him much to the dismay of his mother and her siblings.

Sadly, his grandfather was murdered in New Hampshire and Nathan was left to fend for himself even though he was bestowed a trust, but having never worked or had to manage money needless to say didn’t understand the concept of spending. So, Nathan decides to buy a fishing boat and fixed it up even though it was in fairly good shape. He had never had any interest in boats up until now.

And this is where we are introduced to Nathan on the first page of this very sad yet extremely mysterious story on a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean alone where he is picked up by a ship and his first question is where’s my mom?

But what the reader will discover is that this one sentence he uttered will not only lead him to being arrested by the police for the murder of his mother, a woman who was extremely wealthy in her own right but will also open the door to his past life and all that it encompassed. Nobody really ever knew the real Nathan Carmen.

The questions in the book to answer if we can… Did Nathan intentionally kill his mother? Did Nathan have other nefarious secrets? Did he know exactly what he was doing and plan murder. Sherman expertly takes the reader step by step into the evidence which seems to mount against Nathan. As the trial is set one can only wonder will he be found guilty with only circumstantial evidence? Will we ever know?

Blood In The Water is a wonderfully written true crime story which if it had been fiction no one would ever believe. But unfortunately, the story and all the mystery surrounding what happened is sadly true.

Thank you #NetGalley #Sourcebooks #CaseySherman #BloodInTheWater for the advanced copy.

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.

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

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.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

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Needy Little Things is a wonderfully suspenseful, mysterious story which will keep you reading and on the edge of your seat the whole time! Although a young adult novel, this adult was engrossed from the first page. It’s imaginative, poignant and heartfelt. But also filled with peculiar characters and relatable family issues.

Sariyah Lee Bryant is a “hearer”. What does that mean? Well, she is able to hear what some people need by somehow listening to their thoughts. For example, as she walks by a school mate she may hear pencil, candy, tissue. She actually carries a bag she calls the Santa Claus bag in which is packed with things she feels she will need to distribute.

She can read most people, except for her family and best friend Malcolm. She does not understand this. But feels it’s perhaps for the best. Her family life is difficult. Her younger brother is ill, and her single mother is always depressed. Sariyah tries desperately to keep the family together. That is her main goal. She worries about everyone but herself. But suddenly her mother has lost her job and won’t come out of her room which now Sariyah feels she must once again become the mother and provider.

Worst of all her friend Deja disappears at an outdoor concert which Sariyah was supposed to be watching her friend knowing she had asked her for pepper spray. This hits too close to home for her and Malcom as his sister Tess disappeared years ago never to be seen again. She was Sariyah’s best friend whom she still dreams about.

Now Sariyah feels she must figure out what happened to Deja as the police are not very interested, as well as make some extra money as her mother has taken to her bed. She begins to sell her services in a bad part of a bad city.

As she begins to put the pieces together as to what could possibly have happened to her friend, what she discovers makes no sense. This information will put her life in jeopardy. But she will not allow what happened to Tess to happen to Deja.

The ending is shocking but will make Sariyah realize what is important in life as well as reevaluate herself and her future plans.

Needy Little Things is an inventive, creative story with a wonderful mystery, which addresses many present-day issues but also takes a somber look at life and family issues but gives a spark of hope, togetherness and friendship.

Thank you #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #ChannelleDesamours #NeedyLittleThings for the advanced copy.