The First To Lie by Hank Phillipi Ryan

What a tangled web of characters in this book.​

You won’t know who to trust or who is who in this twisty book that takes us into what power and money can do and what being an undercover reporter involves. ​

We get a glimpse into what people will do to save themselves, make money, reveal the truth, and keep the truth a secret.

A few of the characters were quite unlikable....well quite a few were.

​​Ms. Ryan did another marvelous job of keeping you guessing and wondering what is going to happen next.​​

Be prepared to stay up late as you near the end...it is GOOD is all I can say, and VERY clever.​​

Great story line once you have all the characters and their names straightened out.  ​​:)

Be sure to make THE FIRST TO LIE part of your summer reading plans. 4/5​​

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

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

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A library is a home for everyone, and the New York Public Library was home to the superintendent and his wife.

Jack and Laura Lyons lived in the library in 1913.  How fun would that be?

The library in 1993 is the workplace of Sadie who is the granddaughter of Laura and Jack.

When rare books go missing, Sadie is accused simply because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and because her grandfather was accused of stealing rare books back in 1913.

We go back and forth in time and find out family secrets as well as get treated to the hidden rooms and fun facts about the New York Public Library.

Ms. Davis did marvelous research and weaved interesting facts into the book.

Historical fiction fans and those who have visited the New York public library will be fascinated with this book and again get to enjoy the pull-you-in writing style of Fiona Davis.

THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE is another fabulous read that you do not want to miss. 5/5

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

LAUNCH DAY - The Orphan Collector - 8/4/2020

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Happy Publication Day!!

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Information in this post other than my review is courtesy of Vida Engstrand of Kensington Books.

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It’s launch day for The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman, a moving and timely novel set during the 1918 influenza pandemic!

The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman offers a vivid portrait of life in America during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. You’ll be amazed to read about how things have – and have not – changed since the last time a global pandemic brought the world to its knees!

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*Order your copy anywhere books are sold: https://bit.ly/2DmTKjc

*Autographed copies are available from @RiversEndBookstore too! https://www.riversendbookstore.com/orphan-collector

*Order your copy https://bit.ly/BuyIndieTheOrphanCollector and download the free discussion guide and excerpt booklet here:
https://bit.ly/OrphanCollectorExcerptDiscussionGuide

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LINKS:

*More Information about THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR: https://bit.ly/2DmTKjc

*Bookshop.org (buying the book here supports indie bookstores): https://bit.ly/BuyIndieTheOrphanCollector

*Amazon: https://amzn.to/314pPEF

*Autographed copies: https://www.riversendbookstore.com/orphan-collector

*Add to your Goodreads shelf: https://bit.ly/GRorphancollector

*Download a free discussion guide and extended excerpt: https://bit.ly/OrphanCollectorExcerptDiscussionGuide

*Listen to an interview with Ellen on The Professor Buzzkill History Podcast: http://bit.ly/PBOrphanCollector

*Visit Ellen Marie Wiseman Online:  https://ellenmariewiseman.com/

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MY REVIEW:

It’s 1918, and the Spanish flu is running rampant. Family members are passing away right in front of their loved ones' eyes, food is scarce, and the living conditions in the tenement and slums are deplorable.

The flu took Pia’s mother, and then Pia is left with the care of her twin infant brothers since her father was fighting in the war. Pia was doing well until she needed to leave the house to find food. She didn't take her brothers because they would be too much to carry, but she wouldn’t be gone long.

We then meet Bernice. Bernice is a distraught mother in another building whose baby had passed away from the flu and who saw Pia leaving without her twin brothers and decided she would take them for her own.

We follow Pia as she struggles with her life and the guilt about leaving her brothers. You will feel sorry for Pia. 

You will not feel sorry for Bernice because of her deceitful, unethical, uncaring ways.

Ms. Wiseman's description of the plight of the people of Philadelphia during the pandemic is exceptional.  You will feel every emotion the characters are feeling.

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR is an outstanding novel that touches on human empathy as well as people taking advantage of others.  

 

You will see the similarities to the pandemic of 2020 but hope something good happens to Pia.  

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR is heart wrenching but will have you glued to the pages as well as have you wondering what evil deed Bernice will do next.

A highly recommended book for historical fiction and suspense fans. 5/5 

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

Someone's Listening by Seraphina Nova Glass

Finally successful and happy, but then Faith’s life fell apart.

One of her teenage clients accused her of sexual assault, her husband, Liam, disappears and then is found dead with a gunshot to the head.

She knows she is a suspect because she was the last one to see him alive.

But...what about all the things Liam did like taking out a large sum of cash, taking his passport, and leaving a cryptic email that was to go to no one in particular but could have been for any number of people.

Many things happen that have Faith questioning what really happened and how it happened.

Then one day Faith opened her mailbox and found something unexpected - actually shocking.  It was a page torn out of the book she wrote giving advice about safety. 

These pages kept showing up in random places.  Just what is going on?

The only good thing is that the things that are happening should take the focus off of Faith as a suspect in her husband’s death.

SOMEONE'S LISTENING is filled with twists and pretty much unlikable characters that have bad habits.

You will be confused about everything happening just like the main character, but that is what makes SOMEONE'S LISTENING a good read.

The book has a slow buildup, but an edge-of-your-seat ending as it all comes together and the stalker/murderer gets his plan to completion. 4/5

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

This Week at Silver's Reviews - 8/3 - 8/8

Look at this week!!

August 4 is a HUGE publication day!!

Happy Pub Day to all authors!!

The Last of The Moon Girls by Barbara Davis

What is it like to be the last of the Moon girls?

​Lizzy ​wasn't sure, but she WAS the last of the Moon girls.

When her grandmother passed away and Lizzy found a journal from her, she knew she had to go home to settle the estate.

It turns out that along with the estate, she is going to try to settle the rumors that her grandmother had something to do with the deaths of two teenage girls eight years ago.

The farm Lizzy lived on with her grandmother when she was a child brought back so many memories when she returned. 

It also gave us a glimpse into the life Lizzy lived and the love that was there. 

There was a love from way back but not the love of her family. It was a love that Lizzy had always resisted, and his name was Andrew. 

We follow Lizzy as she tries to solve the mystery of who really did kill the Gilmore sisters. 

Ms. Davis outdid herself with THE LAST OF THE MOON GIRLS. 

We are treated to her beautiful pull-you-in story telling skills and storyline, a strong female character, a mystery, family ties, and love. 

THE LAST OF THE MOON GIRLS is a sweet read that includes suspense and a little bit of magic. 5/5

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

TODAY'S PROMPT: SIMONE ST. JAMES

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt:

#AUGUST AUTHORS

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

@OriginalCyn620

Today’s Prompt:  SIMONE ST. JAMES

The books pictured here are two that I have read by the talented Simone St. James.

The Broken Girls - review here.

Sun Down Motel - review here.