Tag: romance

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.

Saltwater is an eerie saga of a wealthy family whose secrets go back generations. Within the beautiful backdrop of Capris in Italy, it tells the tale of deception, greed, jealousy and death. The family, dysfunctional yet able to put on an exceptionally good act until suddenly it all falls apart when another death occurs.

In 1992, Sarah Lingate, writer and wife of wealthy Richard Lingate was discovered dead on a cliff in Capris. Was it suicide or murder? At the time, her daughter, just three years old witnessed the aftermath of the terrible situation. Suspicion immediately fell upon the family/husband of Sarah, but wealth has its privileges but only while it lasts.

Through the years, the Lingates would make a pilgrimage to Capris to go to exclusive parties and make a show that they are still there and even more powerful than ever. Now, thirty years later, with Helen an adult who unfortunately had a miserable childhood and was basically kept hidden and found no joy from her life. She has befriended the family assistant Lorna and they have decided to hatch a plan to figure out what exactly happened to her mother all those years ago.

But something goes terribly wrong, and Lorna disappears. Helen begins to see the cracks in her family…her father, uncle and aunt. She will soon discover the mystery of the Lingate family and all that it encompasses, one tragedy at a time.

The story which is told by Helen, Lorna and Sarah is mystifying and shocking. Family corruption and selfishness will erupt for what? To save a name.

Saltwater is a suspenseful story in which you can’t imagine the twists and turns coming, but when they come, they are paralyzing! Such a good ride!

Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #KatyHays #Saltwater for the advanced copy.

In Ellery Adams latest book, The Little Lost Library, she truly has outdone herself! Between the intriguing story, a mysterious book within the book you will be writing the clues down yourself on paper to try and solve the puzzle! In my opinion this is her best Secret, Book, and Scone novel to date!

It all begins when Nora arrives to drop books of at an elderly woman named Lucielle’s very dilapidated mansion in Miracle Springs. They have had an agreement for quite a while that Nora would bring her books in exchange for some Lucille had in her house. Although Nora has never stepped foot into the house, only being allowed to enter the mud room where over tea, they would chat just a bit.

But unfortunately, on this visit, Nora discovers Lucielle has passed away, at first thinking from old age. The mansion known as Wynter Mansion was involved in a terrible scandal years ago and whatever happened, Lucielle never left the house again. When Nora is able to see the inside, she discovers it is filled with books and papers with practically nowhere to move. Lucille was a hoarder. Within all the mess Nora discovers Lucille has left her a very special book, The Little Lost Library. Why? She makes the decision to take the book before anyone else shows up.

As Lucille’s children two of whom left the area as soon as they were able and one who unknowingly to Nora lived in back of the mansion, swoop in to discover the secrets the mansion holds because they truly believe something valuable is hidden inside.

While the house begins to become decluttered Nora starts to read the book and realizes it is a book of clues she must somehow solve and put the pieces of the puzzle together. But more importantly, she begins to believe Lucille’s death was no accident. That’s when she and her boyfriend who is the Sheriff of the town and her Secret, Book, and Scone Society, her valuable, loving network of friends assist in finding out just what is going on.

Unfortunately for Nora, someone does not want her looking into this mystery. She finds herself in a desperate situation as well as fearing for her life. The more clues which come to light points to not only a terrible dark secret from the past but to someone who wants to hurt her.

What mystery does this mansion hold? More important who killed Lucille.

The Little Lost Library will have you riveted! The twists and turns and clues extremely exciting! And of course, the Society of Women once again remain strong for each other! As in every book there are suggestions from Miracle Books, Nora’s bookstore so keep a look out for any you might want to read!

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ElleryAdams #TheLittleLostLibrary for the advanced copy.

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 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.

To Sicily with Love is a beautiful love story between a mother and daughter, a woman and a country and a woman who finds not only a family, but also a soulmate. The message of the story is so important…sometimes a woman’s greatest loss can become her greatest strength in life.

Aurora York is a superstar! She can do it all! She has a popular podcast, is a life coach, and is writing a book. She has a wonderful boyfriend Jason who is just as busy as she is, and they both treat their bodies like temples. An only child and with her father’s tragic passing, it is her responsibility to take care of her mother who continually tries to malign her lifestyle. She doesn’t care for her boyfriend and feels Aurora starves herself. She reluctantly makes the trek to her house alone as little as possible, not realizing this visit where she tries to convince her to stay for dinner would be the last time she sees or speaks to her.

She is devastated at the loss of her mother. Now she is truly alone with no family or relatives, only Jason who himself is constantly busy. At first, she feels she is holding it all together, but as her emotions and feelings get the best of her, she begins to have breakdowns one in particular which is on air.

She decides to put her book on hold and seek help. One of the suggestions is to do a DNA test to see if she can find any relatives, she was unaware of. What she discovers will change the trajectory of her life forever!

Unbeknownst to her, her mother was born in Sicily and left her family behind to come to America. But the family she left including her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all still live in a small seaside town in Sicily. Against the wishes of her boyfriend but encouragement of her therapist she decides to go meet them and stay for ten days.

She is of course overwhelmed by these people who pull her in and love her unconditionally even though they did not know she existed. Her grandparents, especially her grandfather does not have much to say to her still angry that his daughter abandoned the family all those years ago. But they refuse to tell her why.

Aurora’s light begins to shine as she spends time and many, many meals (and carbs) with her relatives, laughing, going to church and learning the language. The more time she is there, the more it feels like a home. And of course, there is a very handsome man who continually gives her sage advice.

As her time in Sicily draws to an end, she begins to feel a loss she never imagined. She still does not have the answers to all her questions, or even what the life she knew is even worth her time anymore, and there is the mystery as to why her mother left and never mentioned having a family to her at all.

To Sicily with Love is full of love and hope as well as guilt, but most importantly, it’s about finding out who you really are in so many ways, slowing down and looking around for the beauty which can be seen through yours and other people’s eyes as well, including the main character of this wonderful story, Sicily.

Thank you #NetGalley #Berkley #JenniferProbst #ToSicilywithLove for the advanced copy.