My Niece's Graduation

I drove to my sister's house in Maryland yesterday for my niece's graduation party.  :)

We have been preparing food and setting up for the party on Saturday!!

We are having sister fun and bonding.  All three of my sisters live in Maryland.  :)

CONGRATULATIONS,  ELIZABETH!!!

And before you ask, yes...she was named after me.  :)

We are hoping that the rain stays away for our celebration. 

I was going to wait to post where I have been when I got back home, but decided to share tonight.   :)

Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

Two Sisters, one jealous sister, and a trail of unbelievable acts.

Could you really be that jealous of someone and have such a desire for revenge t​hat you would go to any lengths ​t​o ruin that person's life?

​We meet Allie as she is released from prison after​ ​ten years for a crime she didn't commit, Emma, Allie's sister who raised Allie's daughter, and Caroline, Allie's 15-year-old daughter.

Allie was released from prison and returned to her home town in hopes of reconciling with her daughter, but all wasn't easy especially in the small town of Brunswick where the residents didn't forget what happened ten years ago and wouldn't change what they believed.

Allie knew she hadn't killed a man, but the jury and the town still accused her and shunned her.

Being a felon in her small, home town wasn't working out too well for Allie.  Emma subtly and cruelly made things difficult for her sister and niece and would stop at nothing to keep Caroline as her own.  Caroline was embarrassed to have anyone know her mother was out of prison and back in Brunswick.

All of the characters had a lot of baggage to deal with along with the jealousy factor that definitely did a lot of personal damage.

The characters in SISTER DEAR were for the most par​t ​not trustworthy.

Emma was a sister that I am glad was not mine.

The sheriff was not likable at all and definitely a ​sheriff who had some secrets. 

I liked Allie and Caroline, though, because they seemed genuine.

SISTER DEAR is unmistakably a tension-building page turner that keeps your interest from the opening sentence.

Be sure you have a lot of time when you begin SISTER DEAR because you won’t be able to stop reading.  

The last 20 pages became even more suspenseful...I was nervous.  :)  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and Litfuse Publicity in return for an honest review.

ARMCHAIR BEA Day 5

Wrap-up

Share your overall thoughts on the week, list your posts for the week, and/or share your highlights or favorite posts from fellow participants, then link up!

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ARMCHAIR BEA 2016 was wonderful.

The TEAM beautifully organized each day, and had terrific topics for us to share our thoughts with other bloggers.

Every blogger had wonderful answers, and I met new bloggers that I will keep in touch with.

Thank you to all the bloggers, the TEAM, and sponsors. 

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Here are the links to my posts for the week:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4  - Giveaway Day!! The Blue Bath!!

ARMCHAIR BEA DAY 4

Surviving Fictional Worlds & Giveaways

Today we'll talk about surviving fictional worlds. We all know that sometimes, the worlds we love in fiction can be dangerous. Which fictional worlds would you want to live in? Which worlds do you never want to dive into? Which worlds are you content to stay behind the glass, so to speak, rather than wishing to dive through the page? And once you get there, what would you do?

Interesting question.  I would love to live in a fictional town where everyone is helpful and kind.

A book I read, and where I would love to live is Mill River.   The town is in a book by Darcie Chan and is titled Mill River Redemption.

An excerpt from my review about what I thought of the town is below: 

"Mill River is a town that I would LOVE to live in.  It seemed to be the perfect place to grow up, the perfect place to raise your children, and the perfect place to return to." 

If I were there, I would interact with the characters and enjoy the warmth of the small town.

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Towns I wouldn't want to live in are the towns in Twilight or The Hunger Games.  No thanks would be my reply to living there.

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It's also a day of giveaways.  This is your time to post and share your own giveaways, hosted on your own websites.  

Blogger giveaways are separate from our own sponsored giveaways, and the link will be filled with opportunities for you to win even more goodies!

I ALWAYS have giveaways going on at Silver's Reviews.

In fact, I just chose a winner for THE SECRET CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra Patrick.   Check out the review, and I highly recommend reading the book.  It is adorable and "charming."

Luckily I still have a giveaway going on for The Blue Bath by Mary Waters-Sayer.

Review and Entry form are in the book's title.

Best of Luck.

ARMCHAIR BEA DAY 3

Day 3 has Armchair Bloggers moving our focus beyond the traditional format of the media we consume and create!
 
Beyond the traditional form of the novel, what are your favorite alternative forms (graphic novels, audiobooks, webcomics, etc)? 

Do you have any favorite works within these alternate forms? How do you think the changing format affects the reading experience? 

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I am not sure what graphic novels are, but I don't think I have read any.  :)

I have started listening to audiobooks.

I still like a print copy of a book the best.  Audios are good, but too difficult to go back and find something you missed.

For me, e-books and audios just aren't the same.

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Our secondary topic, beyond the blog could focus on the ways you engage in talking about books outside of your blog. 

Do you participate in book clubs, take classes, meticulously maintain your goodreads profile? Let the world know!

Oh....I definitely let the world know about books I have read.  :)

Everyone knows that when I am on the scene, books will be the main topic of discussion. :) 

I normally have folks asking me what I have read, but I also start the conversations.

I belong to a book club and keep my Goodreads profile up-to-date.

Whenever I post a review on my blog, it also goes on my Goodreads page as well as Amazon, LibraryThing, BookBundlz, Reading Room, BookMovement, Riffle, BookLikes, Leafmarks, and Pinterest.  

This way no one misses what Silver's Reviews has to say.  :)

I recently found Leafmarks, and I like the site.  Take a look at some of those other sites if you aren't familiar with them.

Happy Reading!!  Happy Armchair BEA!!

ARMCHAIR BEA - DAY 2

Day 2

Yesterday was such fun meeting new bloggers and finding more about them and their blogs.  Loved it and the TweetDeck Chat.  I never knew about it.

Thanks for the prize and awesome questions the TEAM presented.

Today's topics and my answers are below.

The Books:  

How often do you judge a book by its cover?

I do judge a book by its cover, and the cover usually pulls me in.

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How often are you surprised by what you find?

Surprised by the cover design?  Sometimes I am surprised how someone could design such a gorgeous cover and one that represents what is inside.

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Do you strategize and make sure every book in your series has the same cover design (as far as you are able to) and type?

Not really on stragegizing.  I actually do not read book series, but if I did, I would expect to have them to be similar.

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How important is it for the visual art on the outside of the book to  match or coordinate with the literature art on the inside?

I think it is important to reflect what is inside.

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The Blog: 

As a book blogger, in whatever form that takes, branding is important. 

Your colors, your fonts, your style of review, all of these things come together to make the "brand" of your blog - something that makes your reviews and posts and websites, all your various content, immediately recognizable to the people looking for you.

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What do you do to create a brand on your site? Do you think about these things?

Both my brand and trademark are my header.  It identifies me across the Internet on every site and blog.

My colors are important and reflect my style.  I love how the gray coordinates with my header and the polka dots add a bit of nostalgia.

My reviews and posts are very organized and need to be a certain style. By a certain style I mean that my posts have to be neat with spaces between each different section and free of typographical and grammar errors.

I like uncluttered and neat. 

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Can you tell I am/was a business teacher?  :)

I think my career definitely is reflected on my blog and the way it appears to the public.  

Neat, organized, and always on time with reviews is how I view it.

ARMCHAIR BEA

I can't make it to Chicago this year, and am going to try the ARMCHAIR BEA.  

Looking forward to participating.

1.  What is the name you prefer to use? 

Elizabeth 

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2.  How long have you been a book blogger? 

I have been blogging since 2010 so it will be 6 years in July. 

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3.  Have you participated in ABEA before? 

No I have not participated before.  I usually am at the BEA. 

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1.  What is your favorite genre and why? 

My favorite genre is historical fiction.  It is my favorite because I always learn something that I never knew before. 

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2.  Which day of ABEA are you looking forward to the most? 

I am most excited about the first day...I love meeting other bloggers.  

I am also excited about Thursday's Book Cover topic - I LOVE covers.

And Friday's Beyond The Blog topic sounds awesome.

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3.  How do you arrange your bookshelves? Is there a rhyme or reason? Or not at all? (#ABEAShelfie) 

I have my shelves arranged in the order of completed books.  

I like to keep the books according to the date I read them just because.  :) 

The books waiting to be read are arranged by size.  :)

I also have a separate shelf of books that are waiting to be read for publishers.  :) 

Really no rhyme or reason except I like to be organized and know when I read the book. 

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4.  What book are you most excited for on your TBR? What are you most intimidated by? 

I am excited about Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford.

I was super excited about A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams and just finished it this evening, but it turned out to not be a favorite until the end.  :)  Love all of her other books, though.

I don't feel intimidated by any books.  I love every book I choose to read.  :)

I read a book that came to me as a surprise and absolutely LOVED it.  It was The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.  A sweet read.  There is a giveaway for the book that ends today if you want to enter.

A book I just finished was a terrific read, and I think it is going to be the book of the summer...just my opinion.  That book is I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. 

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Thank you to THE TEAM for putting all your efforts into making ARMCHAIR BEA fun and possible for us.

What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan

Ben is missing, Rachel his mother is frantic as well as a suspect, and the police are doing all they can but have no good leads at first.

WHAT SHE KNEW is told in alternating voices...Rachel and Jim. 

Jim is the detective assigned to the case.  We find out that Jim has problems of his own that may have affected the case, but he is a good detective. 

Rachel also finds out that her sister has kept a family secret  since their childhood and once she reveals the secret, it adds more stress to the kidnapping situation.

WHAT SHE KNEW kept me glued to the pages.  

Ms. MacMillan turns the nightmare of a missing child into a thriller that had me suspecting one person and then another, but I still ended up not guessing who the kidnapper was.

The characters were portrayed exactly as I would suspect they would have felt and would have reacted in a situation such as this.  

Ben's mother continued to look for clues even though the police asked her to not do so.  A mother’s love and persistence kept her from listening and Rachel kept on with her own investigating.

As WHAT SHE KNEW continued, you are as edgy and anxious as the book's characters and hope that even the smallest clue will lead the police to Ben.

TENSE is the word I would use to describe WHAT SHE KNEW with it being more tense as the book neared its end.

WHAT SHE KNEW is a marvelous debut filled with intrigue, dread of the unknown, and which addresses a situation that would cause anyone to fear the worst.

Read and Enjoy!!  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Two minutes sooner, two minutes later....it would have made a difference.

Two minutes sooner, two minutes later....it would have saved the horrible pain.

Two minutes sooner, two minutes later....it would have saved Jacob's life.

Two minutes sooner, two minutes later....it would have kept​ ​J​acob's mother ​from seeing a car hit her son, kill her son, and see the driver run from the scene leaving her with this unending pain.

We meet Kate and Ray the detectives, Jenna who leaves Bristol after the accident, and a town in Wales where everyone would want to live and where Jenna goes.​
      
We learn about Jenna's life past and present, and we learn about the lives of the police detectives both personal and professionally. Jenna's past life was not a pleasant one.  

I LET YOU GO takes off like a speeding train and doesn't stop with the suspense until the last page. 
 
I LET YOU GO is a thriller ​with many twists and some unpleasant surprises and revelations.  It addresses domestic abuse and its disastrous effects.

Most of the characters were believable and likeable, but one of them was definitely evil.​  I flinched and feared for Jenna as she dealt with this evil character. 

I never guessed the twist at the end. 

Ms. Mackintosh wrote a brilliantly crafted, chilling debut that you won't want to put down.

Do not miss reading I LET YOU GO​, but be ready for some disturbing situations in this overall excellent thriller. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Review and Giveaway of The Blue Bath by Mary Waters-Sayer

Remodeling an old mansion, finding an old flame, ​having a very successful husband and young son, ​and dealing with it all.

THE BLUE BATH goes back and forth in time from when Kat was in Paris at art school, living with her lover, Daniel,​ then to present day with her husband, her son, and the resurgence of her lover.

​Kat sees Daniel ​20 years later ​at the opening of a gallery with paintings of her ​that Daniel had done ​from when they were together.  Would anyone recognize her in the paintings?  Kat needed to escape the gallery and she did, but would it be as easy to escape the memories and Daniel himself?

What did all this mean for Kat?

Can what you do during your younger years haunt you later in life?  This is a question Kat needed to consider since her life was definitely not what it was when she was young and in love in Paris.

THE BLUE BATH is a book that artists and art aficionados will enjoy and connect with.

THE BLUE BATH is for anyone who has experienced unending love​.​

THE BLUE BATH is for those readers who have been to London or Paris.

The characters were somewhat likable and some were definitely unlikable.

The story line was predictable, but overall THE BLUE BATH is a thoughtful, introspective book. 

The book has marvelous description, and the author has a beautiful writing style.  Ms. Waters-Sayer can vividly describe anything and pull you in.
 
The totally absorbing, gorgeous cover of THE BLUE BATH definitely pulled me in, but the story line needed a bit more pizzazz even though the book became quite intriguing as the ending neared.

ENJOY, and find out the significance of the cover.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

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GIVEAWAY: 

CONTEST HAS ENDED.

THE WINNER IS BARBARA from PENNSYLVANIA.

CONGRATS, AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.  

ENTER HERE

MAY 9 TO MAY 16

USA ONLY

So Close To Home by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O'Leary

A very well written and thoroughly researched historical account of The Heredia that was bombed and sunk by the Germans in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II that had civilians on board.

Mr. Tougias and Ms O'Leary detailed the military aspects and described all scenes so vividly that you could feel the cold and dampness and the fear all crew members and the Downs family was experiencing as they escaped from the wreckage.

You could actually put yourself with the survivors as they clung to a small makeshift raft, feared the sharks, suffered sun burn, craved water and food, and prayed for rescue boats to arrive.

The technical aspect was a bit too much for me to absorb, but the human element added in made for an excellent read.  If you are a military buff, SO CLOSE TO HOME will be a book you will want to read.

The personal aspect of the survivors, and especially the Downs family held my interest.

I normally do not read non-fiction, but I am glad I read this book.  It is an event in history that I knew nothing about.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Review and Giveaway of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

How could a charm bracelet stir up so many emotions and curiosity?

After Arthur's wife passed away and he was cleaning out her things, his discovery of a hidden charm bracelet had him curious about what each charm meant.  He also wanted to know ​why he never saw Miriam wearing it and why she had it hidden ​in the toe of a boot.

This charm bracelet pulled him out of his hermit slump and onto adventures he never dreamed of as he traced where each charm came from and what their meaning was to Miriam.  He had a few surprises.

Every adventure made him wonder what his wife's life was like before she met him. He couldn't stop searching for the meaning of each charm. These adventures also made him feel guilty he never took Miriam anywhere.

Arthur's finds and discussions with the people he met left him happier and more confident.  He also was helping those he met come to grips with what they were dealing with.

Arthur was an ​absolutely endearing, charming, sweet character for me.  I really enjoyed his antics and his thinking​ and especially the adventures he took us on.​  We traveled the globe with him.  I wanted to know the answers about the charms too and loved sharing Arthur's days.

THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER is an adorable, enchanting, uplifting read.  Be prepared to fall in love with Arthur Pepper.
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​THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER has a very clever, enjoyable story line that gives you a nice cozy feeling.  It felt like a big hug that you didn't want to end. 

Give yourself a marvelous treat, and don't miss reading THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER.  

There aren't enough delightful words to describe this book.  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

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Giveaway:

CONTEST HAS ENDED.

OUR WINNER IS:

Priscilla from Pennsylvania

CONGRATS!! 

USA ONLY

May 4 to May 11

Enter Here

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Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman

The famous Brandt family....could they do anything wrong or were they not able to because of their status? Or...did they do it anyway?

The Brandt family was made up of attorneys and secrets.​  Lu and her brother AJ were eight years apart with Lu admiring AJ and his friends.  The secrets kept all of those years of the night AJ saved someone's life along with another secret and how it affected their lives became apparent as the book continued.​

Wilde Lake tells the story through flashbacks.​  The flashbacks allowed us into the Brandt family's history.​

Lu Brandt tells of her motherless childhood, how she admired her older brother, and of her adult life raising twins alone and being the ​first female state's attorney of Howard County, Maryland,  trying a homeless man for murder.

​As this trial moved forward quickly and then ended quickly, things that had happened in the past slowly creeped up.​
    
WILDE LAKE seemed more of a family saga than a mystery.  ​I enjoyed the characters even though they all were a bit socially awkward.

WILDE LAKE dragged a little at times because I kept waiting for the mystery.  

I can’t say I didn’t like the book, but it took a while to get to the mystery, but it was worth the wait. 

ENJOY when you read WILDE LAKE.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.