Giveaway and Spotlight of Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgans

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All information in this post is courtesy of Roxanne Jones of Penguin Random House.

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Celebrating The Release Of

 GOOD LUCK WITH THAT
BY
KRISTAN HIGGANS

On Sale August 7, 2018
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Kristan has recently joined the Berkley family and we are thrilled to launch her first women’s fiction book this August!

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With GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, Kristan offers readers an issues-driven, poignant, and heartwarming piece of women’s fiction that is perfect for fans of the novels of Jodi Picoult and Jane Green. 

Her beautifully written storytelling has already captivated the entire Berkley team. We know readers will be as deeply touched by the novel’s brave characters, message of self-acceptance, and the enduring power of female friendships as we are!
New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins is beloved for her heartfelt novels filled with humor and wisdom. Now, in her newest novel, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, she tackles an issue every woman deals with: body image and self-acceptance.

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About The Book:

Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults. 

For each of them, that means something different. For Marley, it's coming to terms with the survivor's guilt she's carried around since her twin sister's death, which has left her blind to the real chance for romance in her life. For Georgia, it's about learning to stop trying to live up to her mother's and brother's ridiculous standards, and learning to accept the love her ex-husband has tried to give her.

But as Marley and Georgia grow stronger, the real meaning of Emerson's dying wish becomes truly clear: more than anything, she wanted her friends to love themselves.

A novel of compassion and insight, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT tells the story of two women who learn to embrace themselves just the way they are.

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About the Author:

Kristan Higgins is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly twenty novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children and dogs.

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Giveaway:

I am partnering with Penguin Random House for this giveaway.

CONTEST HAS ENDED. OUR WINNER IS:

Rebecca of Texas

USA ONLY

August 9 - August 16

Enter here
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Spotlight of Four Funerals and Maybe A Wedding by Rhys Bowen

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All information in this post is courtesy of Tara O'Connor of Penguin Random House.

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Celebrating The Release Of

FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING
BY
RHYS BOWEN

On Sale August 7, 2018

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rhys Bowen spins a delightful addition to her Royal Spyness mystery series with FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING (Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; August 7, 2018; $26.00) as Bowen’s most darling couple is finally ready to say “I do.” 

But what happens when the weeks ahead of the wedding find the bride caught in a royal mess?

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Praise for FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING:

Another stiff-upper-lip novel full of charm, romance, and a smidgen of mystery that's altogether delightful.” – Kirkus Reviews

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About The Book:

The date is set and arrangements are being made for royal amateur sleuth Georgie Rannoch’s wedding! At last, she will wed the incredibly charming, always mystifying Darcy O’Mara. With a dress in the works and a royal wedding party ready to waltz her down the aisle, Georgie’s next affair is finding a place to live with her betrothed after the big day.

But alas—house-hunting is harder than it seems! After visiting a series of less-than-glamorous lodgings, Georgie’s luck finally turns around when she’s invited by a close family friend to live in his grand estate in the English countryside. Georgie expects a life of luxury and elegance, but is met with a very different reality…

At Eynsleigh Manor, Georgie finds a gaggle of incompetent servants and a run-down estate. And when she wakes up in the middle of the night to find a gas tap running in her bedroom, Georgie suspects something rotten is afoot…will she have the chance to walk down the aisle, or will death get in the way of her happy ever after?

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About the Author:

 PHOTO CREDIT: 
“Rhys Bowen, Photo © John Quin-Harkin”

Rhys Bowen, a New York Times bestselling author, has been nominated for every major award in mystery writing, including the Edgar®, and has won many, including both the Agatha and Anthony awards. She is also the author of the Molly Murphy Mysteries, set in turn-of-the-century New York, and the Constable Evans Mysteries, set in Wales. She was born in England and now divides her time between Northern California and Arizona.

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The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

 

What would an art school teacher and an information booth attendee have in common besides Grand Central since the women lived 50 years apart? You would be surprised.
 
Clara taught illustration at the art school when it was in its hey day, and Virginia needed to work since she had been recently divorced.  Since Virginia had no skills, the information booth was the best the temp agency could do for her.

The connection Virginia had to Clara was a drawing she found in the abandoned art school on the seventh floor of Grand Central.  We, the reader, move back and forth from both time periods and learn about both women’s lives, their secrets, and Grand Central.

Virginia found drawings all over the school’s rooms and found one drawing in particular that was of interest and signed by Clyde. This particular drawing had some odd characteristics, and someone didn’t want Virginia to have it. 

THE MASTERPIECE was focused on the artists of New York and the history of Grand Central.  Ms. Davis did impeccable research about Grand Central’s history as well as characters based on real people and others fictitiously portrayed.

Both the history of Grand Central and the characters wove a pull-you-in story line.  Did you know that Grand Central had been in jeopardy of being torn down at one point in history?
 
New York is a fascinating place historically, and I always enjoy going back in time to learn of bits and pieces of its hidden history.  

I also enjoyed the descriptions of the life styles, the parties, and the clothing.  I am a nostalgic at heart.

Ms. Davis has created another beautiful “masterpiece” that historical fiction fans, New York City fans, mystery fans, and artists will love.  

Make it part of your "required" summer reading. 5/5

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

Our House by Louise Candlish

My house? Your house? Whose house is it?

Seeing someone moving in is no big deal in this neighborhood, but someone moving into YOUR house IS a big deal.

Fi had no idea that the morning she came back from a business trip there would be a moving van in the driveway and all of her belongings would be gone. 

Where did everything go and what was going on?  Another puzzling fact is that she was not able to get in touch with her husband.

We go back and forth in time and find out the circumstances leading up to the unknown sale.  Bram had a shady past and secrets, but how could this have happened?

The situation was very tense, and hopefully can’t happen.  Having your house sold right under your nose without signing anything or knowing anything about is frightening. 

Both the house situation and what the characters were doing was truly unbelievable and hopefully not something that could be done.

Each chapter leads us to more and more about what was going on with the situation and the characters.  I didn’t find one character that was likable in this book, but that didn’t take away from the excellent story line.

OUR HOUSE is one of the most creative suspense books I have read.

If you like to wonder what makes people do what they do,  and you like to keep guessing at it, OUR HOUSE is a must read this summer.

OUR HOUSE  is bizarre, nerve wracking, and unbelievable, but oh so good.  That last line is WOW!!

Enjoy if you read this book.  5/5

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

August Giveaways

Giveaways in August.

I will have a reminder post on the day of the giveaway or you can enter now by clicking on the GIVEAWAYS TAB.

1.  GOOD LUCK WITH THAT - 8/9

2.  FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING - 8/9

3.  UP FROM FREEDOM - 815

4.  THE HOUR OF THE FOX - 8/16

5.  VOX - 8/22

6.  MOURNING DOVE - 8/23

7. GUESTS ON SOUTH BATTERY - 8/29

Tiffany Blues by M. J. Rose

What had happened in Jenny’s past that kept haunting her and kept her shrinking into the background instead of taking all that New York could offer her? 

Was it bad enough to have to sidestep questions about it and fear that others were looking into her past?

Jenny moved to New York after her mother died and enrolled in art school, but she couldn’t accept the talent she had as her friend Minx pushed her forward and as Jenny protested.

We follow Jenny as we are made aware of the past that affected her life since the tragedy in Canada as well as the effect it had on her current life in New York and her decision about using her talent as an artist in a court room. The court room needed an artist, but a courtroom was the last place Jenny wanted to be.  

Jenny finally did accept the court room position, and we get a glimpse into what happened in a courtroom long ago for her. 

We also see how she continues to improve her skills as she is accepted into the art school at Laurelton Hall owned by Louis Comfort Tiffany - a school that changed her life.

TIFFANY BLUES is set during the Jazz Age.  I loved learning about the lifestyle during that time and seeing famous names being woven into the story line.

I especially enjoyed learning about Laurelton Hall in Long Island.  The description of the landscape, the mansion, and the grounds was breathtaking. 

TIFFANY BLUES is a beautifully written, lyrical history lesson with an engaging, memorable story line and wonderful, authentic characters.

Jenny was a well written, mysterious, but very appealing character.  I felt bad for her and her life’s circumstances as well as what was happening to her at Laurelton Hall. 
 
TIFFANY BLUES is a book whose pages you will want to turn back to and re-read the wise words and advice. 

Ms. Rose has done impeccable research into all aspects of this era and in marvelously portraying her characters’ emotions.  

Artists, mystery lovers, and historical fiction fans will adore this book.  5/5

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

When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

 

Finding out you have two other siblings and have a wealthy grandfather definitely was overwhelming news for Callie and had been very overwhelming for Keira two months ago.  Their step brother, Malcolm, had been with his grandfather since he was twelve and was used to the lifestyle and family.

Malcolm was already working in the family business and didn’t want to be bothered with a twelve-year-old and now he had another sister. At least this sister wasn’t a child.
 
The siblings were all children conceived when their father had affairs while on business trips.

Wealthy businessman Alberto Carlesso found out about his grandchildren after his son passed away in papers his son had kept hidden and was determined to find his newest granddaughters. 

WHEN WE FOUND HOME was an enjoyable read for me.   The characters were believable and most were lovable even though the wonderful situation seemed a little hard to believe.  The characters were what carried the story line, kept my interest, and had me wanting to be friends with the characters and the entire family. 

Keira was twelve, sweet, loveable, and a bit on the outspoken side. Callie was twenty-six, struggling financially and emotionally, and hiding a secret about her life.  

Keira was my favorite because she just KNEW the right things to say and do even though she had her own issues to deal with.

The book had heartwarming as well as funny moments.

Women’s fiction fans and Susan Mallery fans will not be disappointed in WHEN WE FOUND HOME.  

This book has something for everyone...family, food, secrets, surprises, and love.

ENJOY if you read it.  5/5

This book was given to me as an advanced reader copy by the publisher.  All opinions are my own.