Friday, December 20, 2024

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan


How do you know if the person you are talking to is really who they appear to be?

You didn’t know for sure in occupied France.


We meet Paulette who found out you couldn’t trust a German officer she had fallen in love with, and then her sister forced her out of their home.


Luckily Paulette had a place to go.  She went to a Paris fashion house headed by her mother’s best friend.


The fashion house was a busy place and one filled with Resistance workers.  Paulette became involved.  


Did she get too involved?  Could her mother's friend protect her?


THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS is another fabulous read by Ms. Ryan where we follow Paulette as she grows in confidence and helps save French citizens but at risks to herself and her fellow Resistance workers as well as friends. 


We also get to learn about the fashion industry and how it survived during the war.  


Historical fiction fans and fashion fans will not want to miss Ms. Ryan’s newest, well-researched gem.  5/5


Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

FEATURING: His Loving Wife by Miranda Smith

We meet Andrew, Kate, Willow, and Noah who were the victims of a home invasion and whose effects are still with them.

HIS LOVING WIFE has twists, turns, lies, and surprises.

The ending is a HUGE surprise.

FULL REVIEW:   https://tinyurl.com/27yyh27p


Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Three Books I Will Never Forget

THREE books I will never forget.  :) 

Any books that YOU will never forget?

ANNELIES by David R. Gillham - was reviewed on 1/15/19

THE RED ADDRESS BOOK by Sofia Lundberg - was reviewed on 1/2/19

THE GIRL FROM BERLIN - was reviewed on my blog on 10/8/18

Many more books could go on here, but these are STANDOUTS.


Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Spotlight of I Died on A Tuesday by Jane Corry


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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I DIED ON A TUESDAY
 JANE CORRY
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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF DANIELLE LESAGE | MANAGER, PUBLICITY & MARKETING | PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE CANADA
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From the internationally bestselling author of Coming to Find You and My Husband's Wife comes another edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a harrowing crime, the long-buried secrets surrounding it, and the explosive uncovering of the truth.

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December 17, 2024

Doubleday Canada

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PRAISE FOR I DIED ON A TUESDAY:


I Died on a Tuesday is a thrilling, intricately woven mystery about a twenty-year-old tragedy that continues to haunt everyone involved. With twists at every turn, this story about long-buried secrets and surviving trauma captivated me from the very first page to the absolutely explosive ending.” —Ashley Tate, #1 bestselling author of Twenty-Seven Minutes

“A gripping and emotional thriller about dark family secrets coming back to haunt you. I loved it!” —Claire Douglas, author of Local Girl Missing and The Wrong Sister

“Gripping and multilayered, I couldn’t put this novel down.” —Sarah Pearse, #1 bestselling author of The Sanatorium

“A clever, twisty story of unravelling secrets, with a huge heart at its core. A joy for crime lovers.” —Andrea Mara, author of Someone in the Attic

“Jane Corry has done it again. A page-turning, intricately woven plot full of colourful characters that was too hard to put down.” Heidi Perks, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Whispers

I love how this three-stranded thriller is woven together. It’s so cleverly written. Jane Corry knows how to infuse her stories with warmth and humanity.” —Emma Curtis, author of Keep Her Quiet and Invite Me In

“Captivating, atmospheric and so cleverly constructed, I Died on a Tuesday is a pitch-perfect, gold-standard suspense thriller.” —B.P. Walter, author of Notes on a Murder

“This is a classic Jane Corry—nerve-wracking, spine-tingling and heart-warming in equal measure.” —Nicci French, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Favour

“Utterly compelling. The multi-stranded suspense kept me completely hooked.” —Jane Shemilt, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter

“A gripping page-turner that tugs at the heartstrings.” —Penny Batchelor, author of My Perfect Sister

“A masterclass in slow-burn tension. Fans of Wrong Place Wrong Time will devour it in one sitting.” —Celia Walden, author of Payday

“An absolute scorcher.” —Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners

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ABOUT I DIED ON A TUESDAY:

18-year-old Janie has the world and her bright future ahead of her. 

She's about to leave behind the small, seaside town she's known all her life to embark on a career in London in book publishing and couldn't be more excited. She'll miss home—especially her dad. They've only had each other since her mother died years earlier. But she's about to start her life and she can't wait.

She's on her way home after her last early dawn swim in the bay when the peaceful stillness of the quiet Tuesday morning is suddenly shattered. A white van careens around the corner and onto the quiet street Janie is riding her bike along, and in one swift moment, her life is forever changed, and her dreams of a new life destroyed. She's brutally run-down by the van and left for dead on the street. 
     
Twenty years later…

Robbie Manning, international pop superstar and all-around good guy, answers the front door of his palatial home to a pair of police officers who inform him that he's being arrested for the attempted murder of Janie White. Everyone knows the horrifying story of Janie and what happened to her, and the mystery of who could have done such an awful thing has rattled the world for the last twenty years. But as word of Robbie's arrest spreads, no one—including Robbie's family—can believe it; Robbie is upstanding, a model citizen and family man. He couldn't possibly have committed a hit-and-run that left a young woman paralyzed and unable to speak.

Robbie doesn't deny the accusations. He's been waiting for the truth to come out for the last two decades, and he's ready for his punishment. He deserves it after what he did to Janie . . . 

 . . . But what if there's more to the story?  What if someone else knows what really happened that day? 

 Janie may be the only one who can reveal the truth—if they can get her to tell her side of the story..

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JANE CORRY is a prize-winning author and journalist (Daily Telegraph and women's magazines) who worked for three years as the writer in residence of a high security male prison. 

This experience helped inspire her Sunday Times bestsellers My Husband's WifeBlood SistersThe Dead ExI Looked AwayI Made a MistakeTo Tell the TruthWe All Have Our Secrets and Coming to Find You

She has now sold over 1.2 million copies of her books world-wide.

Jane worked as an RLF Fellow at Exeter University and is a former creative writing tutor at Oxford University. 

She also writes short stories as well as a weekly digital column about being a granny for My Weekly

In addition, she is a regular contributor to The Daily Telegraph and speaks at literary festivals all over the world. Many of her ideas strike during morning dog-jogs along the beach followed by a dip in the sea—no matter how cold it is!

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SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Website

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Monday, December 16, 2024

SPINE POEM

THE SILENT SISTER "TOLD"

NECESSARY LIES "TO KEEP"

ALL THE DANGEROUS THING "AWAY!"

It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 12/16/2024

                              http://bookdate.blogspot.com/

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I hope you had a great reading week.
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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.
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Books Completed:

THE LOST PASSENGER by Frances Quinn - review will be on February 25, 2025.

EXCELLENT - great storyline and a lovable main character.

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TO SICILY WITY LOVE by Jennifer Probst - review will be on February 20, 2025.

LOVED IT!!  Wonderful characters and mouth-watering food.

It's #4 in the series, but you can read as a standalone.

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COME FLY WITH ME by Camille Di Maio - review will be on February 19, 2025.

A lovely read about Pan Am Airlines and the lives of the flight attendants.

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EVERY PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE THING by Barbara Davis - review will be on February 18, 2025.

A beautiful read with wonderful characters you will bond with. 

Don't miss it - another gem by Barbara Davis.

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TARTUFO by Kira Jane Buxton - review will be on February 3, 2025.

Great characters, but not a book for me.  Slow and too many characters.

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NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE by Seraphina Nova Glass - review will be on February 12, 2025.

Not a book I enjoyed even though a lot did happen.

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THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict - review will be on February 11, 2025.

Disappointed in this one - gorgeous cover, but not one I wanted to get back to.

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LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS by Pam Jenoff - review will be on February 4, 2025.

Another FABULOUS Pam Jenoff book - don't miss it if you love her books and historical fiction.

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THE GIRLS OF THE GLIMMER FACTORY by Jennifer Coburn - review will be on January 29, 2025.

Well researched and informative.  

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THE FAMILY INSIDE by Katie Garner - review will be on January 28, 2025.

A bit bizarre, but a twisty storyline.

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CROSS MY HEART by Megan Collins - review will be on January 17, 2025.

Slow at first, but worth the wait - tense and twisty.

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THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessica Garcia - review will be on January 15, 2025.

Oh my - SO GOOD!!  You will need your thinking cap!!

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THE LOST HOUSE by Melissa Larsen - review will be on January 14, 2025.

Pretty slow until the last ten percent.   

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THE JEWEL OF THE BLUES by Monica Chenault-Kilgore - review is in the book's title.

A bit wordy, but entertaining and well-researched.

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THE CHAMPAGNE LETTERS by Kate Macintosh - review is in the book's title.

So good - It's about Veuve Clicquot, the Champagne Queen of Reims.

THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS by Renee Ryan - review will be on December 20.

Another well-researched gem by fabulous Renee Ryan.

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THE FRENCH WINEMAKER'S DAUGHTER by Loretta Ellsworth - review is in the book's title.

SO GOOD - LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the storyline and the characters.

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WHAT THE WIFE KNEW by Darby Kane - review is in the book's title.

Another good one by Darby Kane.

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Book Currently Reading:

THE YOUNGER WOMAN by Cate Ray - review will be on February 26, 2025.

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Books Up Next:

THE SECRET HISTORY OF AUDREY JAMES by Heather Marshall - review will be on February 27, 2025.

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BROKEN COUNTRY by Claire Leslie Hall - review will be on March 4, 2025.
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THE BOXCAR LIBRARIAN by Brianna Labuskes - review will be on March 5, 2025.
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A MAP TO PARADISE by Susan Meissner - review will be on March 18, 2025.
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BEACH VIBES by Susan Mallery - review will be on March 19, 2025, 2025.

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THE FISHERMAN'S GIFT by Julia R. Kelly - review will be on March 20, 2025.
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THE LIBRARY GAME Gigi Pandian - review will be on March 21, 2025.
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FOUR RED SWEATERS by Lucy Adlington - review will be on March 22, 2025.

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THE OTHER PEOPLE by C. B. Everett - review will be on March 25, 2025.

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I WOULD DIE FOR YOU by Sandi Jones - review will be on March 26, 2025.
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SALTWATER by Katy Hays - review will be on March 27, 2025.

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THE PAGE TURNER by Viola Shipman - review will be on April 8, 2025.
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THE MATCHMAKER by Aisha Saeed - revivew will be on April 9, 2025.
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CORAM HOUSE by Bailey Seybolt - review will be on April 15, 2025.
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FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith - review will be on April 16, 2025.

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THE MURDER SHOW by Matt Goldman - review will be on April 17, 2025.

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STRANGERS IN TIME by David Baldacci - review will be on April 21, 2025.

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THE KEEPER OF LOST ART by Laura Morelli - review will be on April 22, 2025.

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TOUGH LUCK by Sandra Dallas - review will be on April 29, 2025.

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SUCH A GOOD MOM by Julia Spiro - review will be on April 30, 2025.

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JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Leann Zhang - review will be on May 1, 2025.

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THE GIRLS OF GOOD FORTUNE by Kristina McMorris - review will be on May 20, 2025.

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MARGUERITE BY THE LAKE by Mary Dixie Carter - review  will be on May 22, 2025.

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THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD BEACH AND BOOK CLUB by Martha Hall Kelly - review will be on May 27, 2025.

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THE BUSYBODY BOOK CLUB by Freya Sampson - review will be on May 28, 2025.

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SHAW CONNOLLY LIVES TO TELL Gillian French - review will be June 17, 2025.
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PARTY OF LIARS Kelsey Cox - review will be on July 1, 2025.

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THE LOCKED WARD by Sarah Pekkanen - review will be on August 5, 2025.

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THE WRONG SISTER by Claire Douglas - review will be on August 6, 2025.

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HIGH SEASON by Katie Bishop - review will be on August 12, 2025.

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JOY MOODY IS OUT OF TIME by Kerryn Mayne - review will be on August 19, 2025.

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ONE DARK NIGHT by Hannah Richell - review will be on August 20, 2025.

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