Favorite March Reads

Did you have any favorite March reads?

THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND - reviewed on March 25.

MY LOVELY WIFE - will be reviewed on April 7.

LITTLE LOVELY THINGS - will be reviewed on April 10.

Happening This Week

I hope to see you this week!!

Books Read in March

My March reads were mostly thrillers.

What about your month?  

How many books did you read, and did you read one particular genre?

Books By Kate White

I always enjoy Kate White’s books.

These three have been reviewed on my blog.

I have listened to a few on audio as well.

What are YOUR favorites by Kate White or what have YOU read by her?

Infinite

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt:

#LITERARYLUCK

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

@Vkois88

Today’s Prompt:  INFINITE

LOVE Beatriz Williams’ books, and this one was FABULOUS as always!!

Review Here:  https://bit.ly/2Fp8oUB

ALONG THE INFINITE SEA has beautiful descriptions, wonderful characters, secrets that everyone likes to hear, and amazing characters.

I enjoyed the back and forth in time and the way Ms. Williams knows how to tell a story. 

If you haven't read any of Ms. Williams' books, you definitely want to take a look at them.  I know you won't be disappointed.​

 

Books With WIFE or WIVES In The Title

Which have you read?

What titles can you add to the mix?

All are reviewed here on my blog.

BELIEVE

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt:

#LITERARYLUCK

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

@Vkois88

Today’s Prompt:  BELIEVE

Review Here:  https://bit.ly/2urk5oI

A SIMPLE FAVOR is an excellent psychological thriller that kept me guessing and wondering what really was going on in the lives of the characters.  ​

The characters were authentic, but it was difficult to “believe” someone could act that way and think of ways to hurt others.

The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner

A friendship made in an internment camp during WWII that lasted only eighteen months, but bonds and memories that lasted a lifetime.

Elise and Mariko met during WWII while attending school in an internment camp for Japanese and German Americans.

We follow both girls through their eighteen months in the camp as well as after even though the friends never saw each other again until they were older adults. They tried to connect with each other, but they never were able to.  

At this time in their lives, Elise was suffering from dementia, and she found out Mariko was dying from stage four breast cancer. 

Even though Elise had trouble remembering things, she remembered enough to find Mariko, to get on a plane, and to find her before they both were no longer alive.

THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR is a marvelous history lesson and a testament to enduring friendship and learning lessons and making decisions. 

The subject matter wasn't light, but it was wonderful learning more about this time in history.  I actually wasn't aware of all that happened.  It is very obvious that Ms. Meissner did extensive research and perfectly fit the facts into her book.

If you enjoy historical fiction and Ms. Meissner's books, you will want to make room on your bookshelf for THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR.

As all of her books, the beautiful flow of Ms. Meissner's writing and her attention to detail make the book a treat to read.  5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Happy Pub Day!!

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!! 

Three terrific reads!! 

The Library of Lost and Found is reviewed on my blog today.

The Perfect Girlfriend was reviewed on my blog yesterday.

My Lovely Wife will be reviewed on my blog on April 10 for a blog tour.  I reviewed it on Amazon today.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

A package for Martha? What a nice surprise.

Could it really be for her?  No one does things for her.  She is the one who never says no and does things for everyone else.

When Martha sees what is in the package, she can’t stop asking herself questions about it. 

Does this book actually have copies of  Martha’s stories that she would write because of her Grandmother's prompting?  

Martha always was interested in writing stories because her grandmother encouraged her to write them. Her hopes went up, but then went down again thinking it couldn’t be possible that she found a book with her stories in it.

What about the note scribbled on the front page that was dated years after her grandmother had died?   Could her grandmother have written that note in hopes that Martha would eventually see the book and see that the childhood stories had been published?

Could Grandma really be alive after her parents told her she passed away 30 years ago?  If so, what made them say that?

We meet lovable, helpful, selfless Martha who works in a library and only has her critical sister left so she can’t ask her about the book or Grandmother because Lilian's answer will be completely negative about Martha's findings and her questions just like her father.

Martha finds out that Owen a book store owner found the book and the note and left the book for her because she was the only Martha Storm that he knew of.

We follow Martha on her quest to find about the book, her grandmother, and how all of this could be possible. 

We also find out how she changed her life, trusted people, tried to forget her father’s negativity, and came out of her shell.

THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND is another heartwarming GEM by Phaedra Patrick with lovable characters you would want to have in your life and is a book you won't want to end.  

The cover is very welcoming as well.

Absolutely LOVED this book.  Be sure to add it to your to-be-read stack.  5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton

Leaving me?  How can you want to end this relationship, Nate?  I am the perfect girlfriend.

Juliette and Nate had been together for a short while, but Nate wanted some space. 

Juliette couldn’t get over how Nate wanted to end what they had so she decided to train as an airline stewardess and be close to Nate since he was a pilot.  She had to remember, though, that their parting rules were to have no contact.

Juliette knew how to stay close to Nate yet remain apart.  Juliette would stop in at Nate’s apartment when she knew he was on a long distance flight and pretend she still lived there. 

Juliette did some other things not so benign simply because no one can have Nate if she can’t have him because she is the perfect girlfriend.

THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND was a bit slow to start, but once Juliette started with her "plans," the pages flew by because you won't be able to believe the extent she went to making sure to keep an eye on Nate and his current life.

You won't want to miss reading THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND if you enjoy a steadily paced thriller that reveals Juliette and her past and especially her current plans to keep Nate.

She actually made my heart race with the things she did and with her boldness.  It is also difficult to believe how she thought of the things she did.

Obsessive, cunning, deceitful, unstable, and awful are the PERFECT words for THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND.  4/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This Week 3/24 - 3/31

A very busy week on my blog and social media.

Hope you can join me.

 

Teaser - Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON APRIL 25.

Have you read this book?  Do you want to read it?

Giving birth was traumatic enough for Lauren but to have a gypsy come to you while you are still in the hospital and tell you she wants to trade your twins for hers would be even more traumatic.

The book has a bit of paranormal and fairy stories as part of its theme, but it is more of a thriller and a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  4/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Whoo Hoo

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Jordan Hanley of St. Martin’s Press.

Look at this amazing influencer box she sent me.

A book for me and a book to share. :)

STRANGER ON THE BEACH looks like it is going to be a VERY good read.

Has anyone read this book yet?

What Are You Reading?

 

I am currently reading:  MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing.

My Favorite Books by Susan Meissner

Don't you just LOVE her books?

Books Read So Far This Year

Do you keep track on Goodreads?

Happy Spring!!

I hope Spring has arrived for you!!

Now on to Summer!!

ENJOY!!

Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward

Maddie and Joanna had been friends since they met in Spain.

What happened, though?

Joanna and Maddie have lost touch, Maddie married Ian, and now we come upon a 911 call as the first page of BEAUTIFUL BAD opens.

We follow from when Maddie meets Ian overseas and when Ian and Maddie are married.

The chapters are labeled in years as well as weeks before the 911 call.

As you read, subtle hints were given to the underlying tension and the situations that caused everything to fall apart and turn into murder.  

Joanna seemed pretty volatile, jealous, and dangerous.

Ian seemed to have some problems with women, had secrets, and seemed dangerous.

Fiona seemed as if she could fly off the handle for any reason.  She was also jealous of Ian.

Maddie seemed to be the weak character and the most gullible, or was she?

So many characters to wonder who made the 911 call and who the attacker was.

The BEFORE-the-day-of-the-killing chapters weren't that interesting to me even though they were the lead up to everything. 

There are some frightening situations throughout the book including details of the 911 scene, bizarre happenings, and abuse.

If you enjoy a many-chapter wait for the final scene, BEAUTIFUL BAD will be a book you will enjoy.  The ending did turn out to be a surprise.

BEAUTIFUL BAD was good, but I wasn't wanting to rush back to it.    3.5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.

Spelling MARCH with Book Titles

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt:

#LITERARYLUCK

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

@Vkois88

Today’s Prompt:  SPELL MARCH WITH BOOK TITLES

All of these books reviewed on my blog.

Books by Marie Benedict

Which have you read?

Books With LIFE In The Title

AWESOME covers - AWESOME reads!!
Which have you read?

Giveaway and Spotlight of A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn

Photo Source
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All information in this post is courtesy of Loren Jaggers of Penguin Random House.

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Penguin Random House is Celebrating The Release of:

A DANGEROUS COLLABORATION
by
DEANNA RAYBOURN


With a USA Giveaway!!

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Described as “a ruthlessly intelligent heroine” by NPR, Veronica Speedwell is one of the best written characters I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the last few years.

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PRAISE FOR A DANGEROUS COLLABORATION:

A lepidopterist by trade, Veronica has been up to much more than chasing after rare specimens of butterflies. Continuing on after the exhilarating adventures of A Curious Beginning, A Perilous Undertaking, and A Treacherous Curse (which was named by Suspense Magazine as one it’s best historical mysteries of 2018!), it’s difficult to imagine how the spunky and spirited Victorian-era sleuth could find herself caught up in even more thrilling and dangerous exploits.

Brimming with Raybourn’s trademark clever plot construction that readers have come to love, in addition to provocative storytelling and the smoldering chemistry between Veronica and Stoker, A DANGEROUS COLLABORATION is another great example of why readers keep picking up and continue to come back to this phenomenal series.

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ABOUT A DANGEROUS COLLABORATION:

After chasing down clues leading to her mysterious past, having quite literally run off to join a traveling circus, solving a murder mystery at a ladies-only social club, and an unraveling an ancient Egyptian curse, Veronica always goes back to her true love:  the butterflies. But as colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Veronica can't resist the allure of an exotic mystery—particularly one involving her enigmatic, frequently uncouth, yet ruggedly handsome colleague Stoker.

Veronica is whisked off to a remote island off the tip of Cornwall when Stoker’s brother, Tiberius, calls in a favor. On the pretext of wanting a companion to accompany him to Lord Malcolm Romilly’s house party, Tiberius persuades Veronica to pose as his fiancée—much to Stoker's chagrin. But upon arriving, it becomes clear that the party is not as innocent as it had seemed. Every invited guest has a connection to Romilly’s wife, Rosamund, who disappeared on her wedding day three years ago, and a dramatic dinner proves she is very much on her husband’s mind.

As spectral figures, ghostly music, and mysterious threats begin to plague the partygoers, Veronica enlists Stoker's help to discover the host's true motivations. And as they investigate, it becomes clear that there are numerous mysteries surrounding the Romilly estate, and every person present has a motive to kill Rosamund. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Deanna Raybourn is the author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Lady Julia Grey series, currently in development for television, as well as the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries and several standalone novels. 

Visit her online at www.deannaraybourn.com, on Facebook at DeannaRaybournAuthor, and on Twitter @deannaraybourn.

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GIVEAWAY:

CONTEST HAS ENDED.

OUR WINNER IS:  

DIANNE FROM ILLINOIS

CONGRATS, AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED THE CONTEST.

I am partnering with LOREN JAGGERS OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE FOR THIS GIVEAWAY:

USA ONLY

March 13 -20

Enter here

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