The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis

 

What a fun, interesting place The Chelsea Hotel must have been.

Hazel was in a family of performers, but Hazel wasn’t a performer.  Hazel was a playwrite.

We meet Hazel when she was on tour with the USO during the war.  Hazel met many actors and became friends with them.

We follow Hazel as she moves out of her childhood home and into The Chelsea Hotel during the McCarthy Era. When her friend, Maxine, from the USO, moves in too their friendship is renewed.

The description of the hotel's decorations, the secret places and passages in it, and the furnishings was fascinating.  The impeccable research Ms. Davis had to do definitely shows.  I had do a bit of googling of the hotel myself.  :)

History buffs and theater goers will again be treated to a very descriptive story line that has Ms. Davis taking you back in time.

I do have to say THE CHELSEA GIRLS was a bit tedious to read for me, but I loved the history of the hotel and its inhabitants.  The characters in the book were believable and most were likable. 

The ending was satisfying and nicely wrapped up the story line..  4/5

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

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

A secret from her past and someone who happens to show up that may ruin everything.

During their regular, monthly book club meeting a knock on the door brings a new member who as the evening wears on definitely isn't welcome.

Roux knows something about Amy and innocently suggests they play a game called Never Have I Ever.



What dark secret could Amy be hiding, how does Roux know about it, and how did Roux find Amy?  

Roux demanded money, and Amy had it. 



Who would have thought after all this time someone would find out and take the time to look into what Amy did as a fifteen-year old?



Roux did just that, and she was pretty clever, but Amy was pretty clever too so the game gets intense for both of them, but who has the most to lose?



Both women are strong and determined.  Both know how to play games, but will the winner take all or will both players lose? 



A tiny bit on the slow side at first, but not for long.   Ms. Jackson took a nightmarish incident that could very well happen and turned it into a story line that will grab you and will have you wondering how someone would even think about doing something like this to someone and how they were able to acquire the information they found or how they even found the person.



You will be on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages and anxiously await how this game goes.

  5/5

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

Books Read in July

How about these GORGEOUS covers?

Have you read any of these books?

REVIEW DATES are indicated on the book's cover.

COMING UP THIS WEEK - 7/28 - 8/3

Will you be stopping by for this week's bookish posts?

I hope to see you.

Favorite July Reads

These three books were favorites because of the characters.

Which have YOU read?

Featuring The Cake Therapist by Judith Fertig

Have YOU read this book?

Just as ​cake and icing go together, THE CAKE THERAPIST blends generations and sweets and turns both into one heartfelt story.

THE CAKE THERAPIST​ is a wonderful treat for the senses, especially your taste buds, as well as feelings.

FULL REVIEW:  https://tinyurl.com/y62hxunb

Books by Randy Susan Meyers

Which have YOU read?

I have only read THE WIDOW OF WALL STREET.

They all look good.

Phoebe always was a girl who loved her books, and she found a husband who also loved his books, but a different kind than Phoebe loved.  Phoebe loved her school books, Jake loved his books that showed his money growing.

FULL REVIEW

Giveaway of THE LIBERTY GIRLS

Photo Source

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GIVEAWAY!!

LIBERTY GIRLS
by
FIONA FORD

USA Giveaway!!

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Linda Martin ended up with two copies of THE LIBERTY GIRLS and would like to share the second copy with another reader.

THANK YOU, LINDA!!

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Linda Martin for this giveaway.

NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE GIVEAWAY, BUT PLEASE FOLLOW MY BLOG - IN THE FOLLOWERS' SECTION.

USA ONLY

July 25 - August 1

Enter here

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Spotlight of Versions of Her by Andrea Lochen

WELCOME, ANDREA!!
Andrea Lochen is Announcing The July 23 Release of Her Book:

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All information in this post is courtesy of of the author, Andrea Lochen.

VERSIONS OF HER sounds quite good.

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PRAISE FOR VERSIONS OF HER: 

“Versions of Her is a captivating story, rich in description and characterization, about the complex relationships of and between two daughters and their mother. A beautifully written reminder of the significance of the choices we make, the memories we keep, and the love we share across time.”
-USA TODAY bestselling author Kelly Stone Gamble

“Lochen beautifully weaves the magical with the ordinary and believably portrays a family as layers are peeled away and secrets revealed. An engrossing and satisfying read.”
-Fern Ronay, author of Better in the Morning 

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ABOUT VERSIONS OF HER: 

On the surface, Melanie Kingstad-Keyes’s life is the picture of success. She’s a tenure track professor at a prestigious university and has a perfect husband. But a recent miscarriage has left her reeling and her marriage tenuous. Selling her family’s Lake Indigo summer home, which she hasn’t visited in fifteen years, feels like the perfect distraction from her problems. Now, she only needs to persuade her younger sister, Kelsey, to go along with her plan.

 

Stuck in a dead-end job, Kelsey Kingstad bounces from one doomed relationship to the next as she struggles to jumpstart her adult life. Carrying the guilt of her mother’s untimely death, Kelsey is reluctant to let go of the Victorian house filled with memories of her mom and their childhood.

 

When the sisters find a mysterious hidden door, Melanie and Kelsey discover that they can directly view their mother’s younger years and learn all the secrets she never shared with them. Delving into her memories is fun at first, but Melanie and Kelsey quickly uncover difficult truths, throwing their own life choices into question and making them wonder if they ever truly knew their mother. Visiting the past may help them find closure, but the cost could be steeper than they realize.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 Photo Credit: 
Valo Photography

Though Andrea Lochen had dreamed of being an author since the third grade, she didn’t realize creative writing was “an actual thing” until she stumbled upon the program at the University of Wisconsin as a college freshman.  After graduating from college, she earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Michigan and later achieved her dream of becoming a published author.

Andrea is now the author of three novels: The Repeat Year, Imaginary Things, and Versions of Her.  She teaches creative writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha, encouraging young writers to learn the craft and pursue their own writing dreams.  She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two small children, and their adorably fluffy dog, Maddy.  In her free time, she likes to bake cupcakes and cakes, see musicals and plays, and read as much as humanly possible.

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HELPFUL LINKS: 

Author website: http://andrealochen.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrealochen.author 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndreaLochen

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6519007.Andrea_Lochen

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-lochen

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing,https://redadeptpublishing.com/product/versions-of-her/

Release Date: July 23, 2019

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Versions-Her-Andrea-Lochen/dp/1948051346/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1562375314&sr=8-1

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A Stranger On The Beach by Michele Campbell

 

Stranger Danger has never been a more appropriate term than for the situation Caroline found herself in. 

Caroline found out about stranger danger when she talked to Aidan, the stranger on the beach always staring at her house.

Caroline’s life was falling apart in more ways than one, but getting cozy with Aidan definitely added to what was happening in her life.  She made more of a mess of her life or did she?

STRANGER ON THE BEACH will have you rapidly turning the pages and also have you wondering who is telling the truth.  One character relays the events one way and the other relays it another way.

The twisty, turny events along with the twisted stories each character tells keeps you guessing and will keep the interest high.

You don’t know who is lying and who is telling the truth.  You won’t even know what events are true and what are not.

If you like to be in suspense and like to be surprised about what the characters will do and how they will react, STRANGER ON THE BEACH will be a good read for you.

An excellent, wild ride indeed and one you do NOT want to miss reading.  5/5

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

NetGalley

What is waiting for YOU in NETGALLEY?

This is what’s waiting for me.  😊

This Week

Hope to see you this week for more bookish fun.

Ireland

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt:

#LetsTravelJuly

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

@OriginalCyn620

TODAY’S PROMPT:  IRELAND

Could it be true?  Could Majella have inherited the "crazy" gene from her mother's ancestors?

THE CROOKED BRANCH takes the reader through the potato famine in Ireland to present-day New York.  

 

The book allows you to spend a day with Majella in New York and then back to a day in Ginny's life during the potato famine in Ireland.

FULL REVIEW 

 

Orange, Orange, Orange

Thanks to @sweetkokoro for this prompt. 

#ColorMePretty 

TODAY’S PROMPT:  ORANGE

How about this range of orange?

These all were good reads.

Which have you read?

What are YOU Reading?

I am reading MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE by Heather Webber.

ENJOY whatever book you are reading.

Author Event

Was delighted to meet the beautiful, talented REBECCA DRAKE and funny, talented DAVID J. BELL at MYSTERY LOVERS BOOKSHOP in Oakmont, PA.

Rebecca co-hosted with David as they discussed his newest book, LAYOVER.

Books Set in the 1920's

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt.

#LetsTravelJuly
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620
 
Today’s Prompt: 1920’s

Can you name any books set in the 1920’s?

I LOVED Dollface by Renee Rosen.

Books by Jessica Strawser

Which books have YOU read by Jessica Strawser?

I have read two of her books - both reviewed at the links below.

NOT THAT I COULD TELL

FORGET YOU KNOW ME

Featuring The Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson

FEATURING: THE SECRET OF MAGIC by Deborah Johnson

A year-old murder, a book paralleling events and characters, and the South in the 1940's after WWII.

You will melt into the pages and the comfort of Southern living, but you will also need to be prepared to shed some tears and feel fear for some of the characters.

Ms. Johnson is a master with words.

FULL REVIEW HERE.

Layover by David Bell

An airport, a chance meeting, an unforgettable, secretive woman, a woman who is actually missing, tells lies and doesn’t care who she involves or hurts.

Joshua saw a woman in the bar and knew she needed some help just by the way she was acting so he canceled his plans with his father to follow Morgan.

Is she really worth helping? After their meeting, Joshua thinks so.

Meanwhile, Morgan’s boss is also missing and not too long after Morgan had been visiting him to try to straighten out the reason she didn’t get a raise after making an app that made the company a lot of money.

LAYOVER moves along quickly, and I wanted to tell Joshua to stop being a good guy and stay away from Morgan who he never knew before this chance meeting.

Every time they would find each other and Morgan would leave, it had me wondering why in the world Joshua was being so irresponsible....just get back to your life, but he wasn’t listening to me.  :)

More characters, and I mean people who don’t think, come on the scene and each one has some connection to Morgan, but the only connection they all have in common is that no one knows where Morgan is or where her boss, Giles, is.

LAYOVER kept me in suspense, kept my blood pressure up, and had me shaking my head at the stupidity of Joshua.  Why go to these lengths and ruin your life?  Maybe he didn’t think he was ruining his life?

Mr. Bell has written another tense thriller with a very manipulative, not nice main character.

Are you intrigued?

ENJOY if you read LAYOVER!!  5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in print and NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.

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EVENT and BUY LINK HERE
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GIVEAWAY:

Giveaway has ended...thanks to everyone who stopped by and entered.

Our winner is:  Sandy from Ohio!!

Congrats, Sandy!!

I am partnering with Loren Jaggers of Penguin Random House for this giveaway.

Not a requirement for the giveaway, but please follow my blog after you enter.

USA ONLY

JULY 11 - 18

ENTER HERE

 

Spotlight and Giveaway of A Season of Surprises at the Villa de Violettes by Patricia Sands

Photo Source

Celebrating

The Release Of:

A SEASON OF SURPRISES AT THE VILLA DE VIOLETTES
BY
PATRICIA SANDS

With a USA Giveaway!!

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Information in this post is courtesy of Tonni Callan and Patricia Sands.

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PRAISE FOR A SEASON OF SURPRISES AT THE VILLA DE VIOLETTES:

“In a sequel that doesn’t disappoint, Sands again captures the magic of the Cote d’ Azur." Bette Lee Crosby ~ USA Today Bestselling Author 

"This book is a gem and one I will read again and again.”

Heather Burch ~ Amazon Bestselling Author

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ABOUT A SEASON OF SURPRISES AT THE VILLA DE VIOLETTES:

The Love in Provence characters are celebrating a glorious spring on the Côte d’Azur …

There are sweet-smelling blossoms, buds bursting into bloom, explosions of golden mimosa, dazzling sunshine, a shimmering sea …

And a worrying disappearance!

A hidden past is uncovered and shocking truths are revealed. But life goes on.

Kat and Philippe welcome their first B & B guests to the Villa and are busy with other demands, all the while keeping hope alive as police search for their friend.

A special request from Simone and an unexpected appearance turn a planned motorcycle trip on Corsica into so much more.

Springtime at the Villa des Violettes is filled with secrets and surprises.

https://amzn.to/2XBnEcc

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Credit: 

Graphics by Kate Rock

Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada, when she isn't somewhere else. An admitted travel fanatic, she can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere ... particularly the south of France.

Her award-winning debut novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010 and her second novel, The Promise of Provence was an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, a USA Best Book 2013 Finalist and a 2013 Finalist in Literary Fiction, National Indie Excellence Awards. In 2015, eLit Books Silver Award (Literary Fiction) ~ and ~ eLit Books Gold Award (Travel Fiction).

The Promise of Provence became Book #1 in the Love In Provence series. Promises To Keep ~ Book #2 was released in Summer 2014. I Promise You This ~ Book #3 was released in May 17, 2016. The series explores a mid-life coming of age and allows readers to lose themselves in the beauty of the south of France without leaving home.

Patricia was invited to join the Lake Union imprint (Women's Fiction) of Amazon Publishing in January 2015. Her fifth novel, Drawing Lessons, also set in France, was released on October 1, 2017.

Celebrating the rewarding friendships and bonds women share, her stories examine the challenges life often throws in our paths. Location features prominently in all of her novels.

Her philosophy is that it's never too late to begin something new, to seize each day and be a possibilitarian! As the saying goes, just do it! Hearing from readers (both men and women, from ages 20 to 84) is her greatest reward.

PHOTOS BY PATRICIA SANDS

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Tonni Callan and Patricia Sands for the giveaway.

NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE GIVEAWAY, BUT PLEASE FOLLOW MY BLOG - IN THE FOLLOWERS' SECTION.

USA ONLY

July 17 - July 24

Enter here

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