A Rainforest Adventure by Sharon C. Williams

 

Summary

Jasper is no ordinary parrot. He lives in the rainforest, which secrets he’s eager to explore. Jasper loves his home and his family, and he's also in charge of his younger brother Willie - a responsibility Jasper takes very seriously.

When he meets Charlie - a spider monkey with a penchant for food and a laid back attitude - he realizes he’s in for an adventure he never thought possible.   Even if this means getting into danger and worrying his mother to no end.

Exploring the boundaries of the forest, Jasper understands that there is more to the world around him. Who are the strange new creatures that have come there? With Willie and Charlie by his side, he will soon find out.

My Thoughts

This was a cute book, fun adventure, and a few laughs!  The relationship between Jasper and Willie is great and I love the new friendship relationships with George and Charlie.

Children will love the fun story and learning things about the animals and the rainforest!  This is a great book for children who are just getting into "chapter books."

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Watch Her Vanish by Ellery Kane Blog Tour

 

Watch Her Vanish Blog Tour

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The beam from the lighthouse slices through the dawn sky as she runs down the rocky stairway to the beach. She tries to take it all in—the waves crashing against the cliffs, the whip of salt grass in the wind—before finally dragging her eyes down to the innocent girl’s blonde hair, strewn across the bottom step like seaweed…

Returning home to Fog Harbor, California, to be closer to her little sister, Olivia Rockwell is struggling to adjust to life in a town so small she can hardly breathe. That is, until the sound of a scream leads her to the body of a local teacher in the shallows nearby. All the evidence points to Olivia’s most threatening criminal psychology patient, Drake, who is safely locked up behind bars…

Convinced of Drake’s innocence—and desperate to believe in the system that’s keeping her murderer father in prison and away from her sister—Olivia gets to work on her own suspect list. All her life she’s run towards trouble, but this time she’s treading on the toes of Detective Will Decker, whose past mistakes mean this case is his last chance to make amends.

Then a second woman’s body is discovered, strangled while out on an evening jog. The strip of blue material used to choke her implicates Drake once again, forcing Will to admit he needs Olivia’s special talent for understanding the minds of killers. It’s clear more innocent women will die if they don’t get one step ahead of the murders, and Olivia knows she will need her estranged father’s help to get close to Drake. 

But when Olivia’s profile leads them to believe Drake could be masterminding murders from within the prison walls, a message written on a scrap of paper found in the latest victim’s car leads them to a terrifying realization: Olivia’s little sister will be next…

An addictive and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Mary Burton.

Readers love Watch Her Vanish:

‘PERFECTION! Be prepared to skirt your responsibilities because you won’t want to put this book down… keeps you guessing until the end. I cannot wait for the next installment!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘A taut fast-paced thriller in every sense of the word. Dark and oozing with suspense. Well plotted and stunningly written. Loved it!’ Kelly Russo Reviews, 5 stars

‘WOWZA!!!… I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in this series!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Absolutely fantastic… I couldn’t put it downonce I started.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A scream!…  Grabs a hold of you and keeps you reading till the end!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Loved!! Everything about this book was spot-on!…  I was pulled in from the beginning and it didn’t let up once! Can’t wait for book 2.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A fantastic book. Like wow! I really got into this read… This book will draw you in and you won’t be able to stop.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Grabs you by the heart, then grabs you by the throat and shakes up all your cells.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Author Bio

Forensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing–professionally and creatively–for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery’s writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she’s heard her fair share of real life thrillers.

Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don’t find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way–at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.

Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition, and she recently signed a three book deal with Bookouture for her new Rockwell and Decker mystery thriller series.
If you’d like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery’s newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.

The Dating Itinerary by Brooke Williams

 Summary

As if it wasn’t bad enough to be deemed the “most single person” at her magazine’s office, budding reporter Penny has now been tapped to write a series of features called “The Dating Game.” From speed dating to Tinder, old-fashioned matchmakers to up-and-coming “dark dating,” Penny now has to go on a lot of dates. Silver lining: meeting new people should be fun, right? But running into her old rival, George, at her first dating event is decidedly not. Not only does the arrogant know-it-all have zero trouble attracting women, wherever Penny goes, somehow he just. Keeps. Showing. Up.

Geo knows he’s right on the cusp of writing success with the chance to have his own syndicated column. All he has to do is follow his agent’s ideas for showcasing different dating avenues, and he’ll pull in enough to help his sister’s non-profit women’s shelter get off the ground. Sure, his itinerary is starting to look strangely similar to his old rival Penny’s, but all’s fair in love and syndication, right?

The more they look for love in all the wrong places, though, the more they start to wonder if it was right in front of their noses all along. Still, the brutal dating scene just might end them, if these two don’t kill each other first.

My Thoughts

Okay, this was cute!  I have actually been in the mood to read a cute little rom-com type book.  You know what I'm talking about, the kind that is a little cheesy like a Hallmark movie.  Well, this is exactly what The Dating Itinerary is!

Was it a bit predictable? Yes.  Did it make me roll my eyes and sigh once in a while? Yes.  Was I totally and completely here for it? Yes!  Was it exactly what I wanted? YES!

Can you tell I liked this book?  I flew through it and it set me on a reading roll!  Loved it!

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Asking For Truffle by Dorothy St. James

Summary

 When Charity Penn receives a letter saying she won a trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina complete with free cooking lessons at the town's seaside chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, she's immediately skeptical. She never entered any contest. Her former prep school friend offers to look into the phony prize--only to end up drowned in a vat of chocolate. Struck with guilt, Penn heads to the southern beach town to investigate why he was killed. But as wary as she is of the locals, she finds herself lured into their eccentric vibe, letting her defenses melt away and even learning the art of crafting delicious chocolates. That is, until delight turns bittersweet as she steps straight into the midst of a deadly plot to destroy the seaside town. Now, only Penn's quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she's learning to love. Rich and decadent, Asking for Truffle, the first in a new cozy series by Dorothy St. James, is sure to be a delectable read for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke.

My Thoughts

I have really been into cozy mysteries lately.  I'll read one, read another genre, and then go right back to a cozy mystery.  Sometimes I don't even read a different genre in between!  So, when I had the opportunity to read and review this book I was ready for it!

There are so many things to like about Asking For Truffle.  First of all, chocolate!  A book set in a chocolate shop definitely sounds good to me!  Once again, I was more than ready to read this book!

While I did enjoy it, I can't say that I was sucked in and blown away.  I struggled a bit with actually getting in to the story.  I'm not sure why exactly but it just wasn't working for me.

The main character, Penn, wasn't mu favorite.  She honestly kind of got on my nerves.  Penn was a bit whiney and constantly assumed people were after her money.  And, another thing that drove me crazy was that she came to the area to investigate her friend's murder but didn't check into anything for like four days!  She just kept taking cooking lessons!  Lol!

I'm definitely not saying that this was a bad book.  It wasn't!  It was still pretty good.  It just wasn't the best I've ever read.  It was simply ok.

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

More Book Spotlights!

 

Book Spotlights of the Day

Against the Wind by Ann Nolder Heinz

Dr. Gwendolyn Pickering has a fierce passion for helping society's most vulnerable, a passion that led her to become one of America's earliest female physicians. The same protective instinct has prompted her to accept the marriage proposal of a sensitive but damaged artist whose self-destructive actions have brought him to the brink of ruin and back again. Now the Civil War is raging, and he is fighting in Virginia as a first lieutenant in the Union Army. When she receives word that he has been captured and is being held as a prisoner of war in Richmond's notorious Libby Prison, she vows to rescue him and bring him home.

Meanwhile, the commander of Union troops in Virginia, General Benjamin Butler, is seeking to establish secret communications between him and a network of Unionist sympathizers led by Miss Elizabeth Van Lew, a Richmond lady of impeccable social credentials who has communicated her willingness to act as his spy. Miss Van Lew is also known for engineering escapes from Libby Prison. Gwen agrees to undertake General Butler's dangerous mission as long as he gives her the freedom to also enlist Miss Van Lew's help in freeing Carl.

What begins as a straightforward rescue mission soon transforms into a struggle for Gwen's own freedom. With the war raging around her, she is forced into hiding while inimical forces seek to hunt her down. She must utilize every last ounce of her intellect and determination to navigate the seemingly endless barriers that appear before her. In the process, she discovers some important lessons about her own flawed nature as well as what it means to love truly and completely.

The Secrets of Immortality by C.J. McKivvik

"An incredibly paced action/adventure tale that will take you on a mind-bending journey." - Rabia Tanveer - Readers' Favorite

What would you do if you discovered how to be immortal? Tom Carrott's life turns into chaos when the director of his university research group drops dead while giving a speech, leaving the group unexpectedly bankrupt. Tom stands to lose everything he cares about - his job, his credibility, his girlfriend Eloise - until an ancient Egyptian chest arrives on his doorstep, with a note from beyond the grave.

Tom embarks on a dangerous and life-changing adventure in pursuit of the secret of immortality, with a fake researcher, the CIA, a beautiful Mossad agent named Eshe, the Theory of Everything Important, and a ruthless billionaire who will stop at nothing to obtain the secret.

Lies, friendship, love, danger, and greed are intertwined as Tom and Eshe race to solve the mystery before they lose everything, including their lives.

Hope Is A Dangerous Place by Jim Baton

Award-winning author Jim Baton believes revival is coming to America. This is what it might look like--

Seventy-five years ago, fifteen-year-old Hope McCormick disappeared. To remember her, the newly incorporated town was named “Hope.” When high school friends Kelsey and Harmonie begin looking into this unsolved mystery, they discover that someone will do anything to make sure the town’s secrets never come to light. Which neighbors are allies, and which face masks a violent enemy? And what will it take for their struggling town to fulfill its original destiny of hope?

Book Spotlights!

 Today's Book Spotlights!

The Chosen Ones by Lisa Luciano

Somebody has to do something. One of the world's top male skaters is in danger. He will be dead before the end of the Olympics.

"If you can't stop it, at least find out why it happened. For once, tell the real story."

Brody Yates has fallen on hard times. Fired from his job as a sports reporter for a major newspaper, he decides to go undercover as a trainer in order to infiltrate the backstage world of figure skating. He has one chance to save someone's life and to turn his around by breaking the story of a lifetime.

The Chosen Ones, though fictionalized, reveals the secrets behind the sequins against the backdrop of the high pressure sport of world class figure skating. In this non-stop thriller, only one person can win. Not everyone will survive.

The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen by Ray Smith

So begins the story of Molly Valle, who at forty-eight thinks she knows all that life has to offer a single, middle-aged woman - namely, men’s dismissal and disrespect. But when handsome activist John Pressman arrives in her Mississippi hometown, he challenges her self-doubt along with nearly everything else in her world. Soon, Molly discovers a strength and beauty she never knew she had—and a love so powerful, it can overcome the most tragic of consequences.

The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen is a love story, an adventure novel, and a self-realization journey. It reignites the truth that many women—and men—have unconsciously extinguished: you are special and worthy of love, and it’s never too late to make your dreams come true.

Changing the Subject by Kate Abley

Welcome to the first comic contemporary novel from Kate Abley. Sue, a nice lady from Chingford, was 18 in 1979. Now, thanks to an Alzheimer’s Drugs trial gone wrong, or right, she is 18 again. But she soon remembers that youth isn’t all plain sailing; she’s in the dating pool with her daughters, the political waters are stormy and the public-private octopus wants her mental capacity. Are Somali pirates the only people she can trust? Can she navigate herself to freedom?
Sashay, stride, and scuffle in great boots and brave hat choices, with Sue and her friends as they do battle with Big Fat Pharmas, off-piste agents and the DNA lottery.

Sue, a nice light electricals designer from Chingford, has started wondering again, now she is back on dry land. She has a lot to wonder about. The Alzheimer’s drugs trial she volunteered for, because her best friend’s mum was suffering, has left her looking and feeling 18 years old again. Her DNA is now worth a great deal of money and she is worried that she can’t even trust the good ole NHS. She ran away from the mess made of her life by her rejuvenation only to end up chained to a hospital bed. Now she has escaped and is trying to get home again. She misses her daughters, who now look like her sisters and the only person who can help her get back is her ex-husband.

Into the Suffering City by Bill LeFurgy

Summary

Baltimore, 1909. The city is jumping with danger and excitement. New thrills are everywhere: cars, cocaine, ragtime music, moving pictures. Old troubles also thrive, including murder, corruption, and the painful divisions of gender, class, and race.

Dr. Sarah Kennecott is on the autism spectrum—a trait that is unidentified and unappreciated at the time. Her passion is justice for murder victims, and after getting fired for looking too closely into the killing of a showgirl, she refuses to back down from the investigation. Sarah forms an unlikely bond with Jack Harden, a tormented, down-on-his-luck private detective. Jack pushes the case into Baltimore’s seedy underworld, a vitally corrupt realm of saloons, brothels, and burlesque theaters.

When Sarah and Jack pull the pieces together, they discover a stunning pair of secrets, each of which is worth killing to keep.

"Into the Suffering City" is a fast-paced, emotionally immersive story that combines originality and historical detail to explore the lives of people living in Baltimore during the early 1900s.

My Thoughts

Definitely a book worth picking up!  I enjoyed learning about Historical Baltimore just about as much as I enjoyed the actual storyline!  Once again, this is a book that I may not have picked up on my own but I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to read it.

Sarah is great!  Jack is ok, Lol!  He's not my favorite but he's alright.  I will say, it took me a bit to finally get into the story.  You have to give it time.  It's not the kind of book that you fall into instantly.  Still good though!  I recommend reading this book!

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Flight of the Spark by Evelyn Puerto

 

Summary

Duty. Desire. Destiny.

How far would you go to be safe... to be free...to be loved?


Iskra doesn't question the rules. The rules are there to keep her safe from those who are deemed unsafe or unfair. Anyone who breaks the rules is taken, never to be heard from again. But that's the price everyone gladly pays for peace and safety. And no one wants to live like the Riskers--barbarians who reject order and justice, and could kill or be killed at any moment.


When a friend is taken because of Iskra, the guilt forces her to do the unthinkable: seek out the Riskers. Iskra's quest to save her friend quickly entangles her fate with a cryptic prophecy and a young Risker named Xico, who ensnares her heart and is willing to put it all on the line to win her.


With every risk Iskra takes, the closer she gets to true freedom. But every choice carries a consequence. The choices she makes set events she never imagined into motion, and the price of her freedom could very well be her life and the life of the man she loves.

My Thoughts

I haven't read a dystopian book in quite a while.  I guess I just haven't been in the mood for that genre.  So, when I picked this book up I was, as bad as I hate to admit it, dreading it.  Well, I soon realized that there was no need to dread!

I highly enjoyed this book and had a really hard time putting it down to get my work done.  I was so into it!  That is the sign of a good book!

I do have to say, while I understand the reason for the way this book ended, I did not like the ending!  I wasn't expecting it to be so abrupt!  And, like I said, I get it....but I don't have to like it! Lol!

If you enjoy dystopian books at all, you definitely need to pick this one up!  So good!

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Y, Bo Go Up, and Cat Egg by Larry Baum

Y

Summary

The first in the Bo Books series, using very short words in order to make it easier for children to learn how to read. "Y" uses only one-letter "words", "Bo, Go Up!" uses words no longer than two letters, and "Cat Egg" uses words no longer than three letters.

"Y" is about a little girl who asks her dad why the sky is blue and the grass is green. He doesn't know and gets frustrated, but she opens his eyes, literally and figuratively.

Bo Go Up

Summary

The second in the Bo Books series, using very short words in order to make it easier for children to learn how to read. "Y" uses only one-letter "words", "BO, GO UP!" uses words no longer than two letters, and "Cat Egg" uses words no longer than three letters.

In "Bo, Go Up!", two friends play with a ball until the ad on one of their t-shirts leads them to a hot air balloon ride.

Cat Egg

Summary

The third in the Bo Books series, using very short words in order to make it easier for children to learn how to read. "Y" uses only one-letter "words", "BO, GO UP!" uses words no longer than two letters, and "Cat Egg" uses words no longer than three letters. Three friends in "Cat Egg" play with a pet cat, which surprises them by appearing to have laid an egg.

My Thoughts

I read these books to my kindergarten class last school year but I forgot to post about them!
They are cute little stories that my class enjoyed.  The best part is that they were able to read them by themselves later!

Note: I received copies of these books in exchange for an honest review.

What's the Worst That Could Happen by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

Summary

What’s the worst that could happen? Easy for grandma to say. But Kayla could only imagine the worst-case scenarios as she tried to make friends at her new school. Will Kayla overcome her fear of rejection? Or will an overactive imagination get in the way?

'What's the Worst that Could Happen?' tackles the subject of social anxiety in children with a deft, yet gentle hand. Children with social anxiety will find Kayla very relatable. Adults that struggled with shyness as children will also see themselves reflected in this book.

My Thoughts

I read this book to my class and they certainly enjoyed it!  A cute book with a good message!

*Note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Today's Book Highlights!

Today I'm going to post a little book highlight.  I have been getting so many books to review and I'm getting quite behind!  I went through all of the books on my review tbr list and made some hard choices.  I decided to do a highlight post for some of the books instead of doing a review.  See, sometimes I receive books that aren't exactly ones that I would have chosen for myself.  And, in the past, I have even accepted books for review that I wouldn't typically choose because I just didn't want to say no.  The problem with that is that if I read the book and didn't enjoy it, simply because it wasn't my kind of book, I would not post the best review.  That is unfair to the author.  So, I have decided that I am going to be a lot more picky with the books I accept and with the books I already have I will choose which ones to read and review and which ones to post a highlight about.

So..... Time for today's highlights!

Rising Tide by Lynn Steigleder

Summary

Rising Tide depicts a world in which land is at a premium due to the advancing sea, where man’s attempt to adapt has led to a decay of morals into survival of the fittest. In the midst of the ocean, a crew of racketeers rescues a stranded diver, Ben Adams. Is the rescue just a fortunate coincidence for Ben, or has he been led to this rendezvous with fate for a common goal? A mysterious island inhabited by a primitive yet advanced race of people. A devious ship captain’s metamorphosis into the essence of evil and a ship’s container discovered by itself in a billion square miles of ocean all play a role in this tale of rebirth for a world corrupted by the collapse of morality.

Mission From Venus by Susan Plunket

Summary

The dark side has infiltrated many governments and much of the world of finance. The mission from Venus threatens their planned takeover of Earth. Failing a takeover, the dark lords will cause the planet's destruction through nuclear war, to prevent Earth from ascending to the fourth dimension on the path of light. The volunteer wanderers are all that stand in the way.

Why Didn't I Notice Her Before by Beth Cramer

Summary

In the fall of 2017, Beth Cramer went to a doctor for heartburn and came home with seven samples of Prilosec and stage 4 ovarian cancer. Over the next several months Cramer was in and out of hospitals and doctors’ offices with her three fearless sisters, parents, husband and son by her side. However, it was through her diagnosis and impending death that she was finally set free from an obsession and debilitating regret that had defined nearly a quarter of her life. Who would have thought that the journey towards purpose and peace would be achieved through the teachings of cancer?

Irreverent, painfully honest and often hilarious, Why Didn’t I Notice Her Before? Is a beautifully observed memoir that finds courage and humor in the face of undefeatable odds. It questions the importance of regret and life choices, and it explores motherhood, marriage, friendship, and family while examining the elusive questions we all grapple with. Why me? What am I living for? And who can I negotiate with to make my life and legacy more meaningful than driving a carpool?

Ivy is a Weed by Robert Morse Roseth

Summary

Something funny is going on here!

Late one autumn evening, Mike Woodsen, the public relations director for a major Pacific Northwest university, is called by the campus police. A body has been found in central campus. It is Jeremy Ronson, a university vice president in charge of information technology. He lies four floors beneath his office window. The police conclude very quickly the fall was accidental and close the case.

Woodsen isn't convinced. He manages to get in to Ronson's office and finds stacks of paper everywhere -Ronson's "filing system" -- but only the stacks on the path from Ronson's desk to the window are disturbed. Woodsen decides to look deeper, despite his boss's admonition to suppress his investigative instincts.

Meanwhile, in his day job, Woodsen encounters the bizarre world of a public university in the 21st century. It is governed by suffocating and arcane bureaucratic rules, but at the same time its leaders dream of it achieving its rightful place as one of the most important, if not the most important, of society's institutions. Woodsen has a ringside seat for a major "rebranding" effort that is underway. The consultants announce the new "brand" is to make the university seem comparable to Harvard. They defend this lie by describing it as an "aspirational truth." They're slippery bastards. But apparently, in the current environment, they have the upper hand.

The university administration announces a series of cheesy television commercials to launch the rebranding project. Faculty react angrily. They regard it as a shallow effort that ultimately will devalue the institution as it moves down the slippery slope to becoming just another commercial product like soap or deodorant. They are pretty much ignored. Academic freedom, it turns out, is free but powerless.

Woodsen finds that the still-dead Ronson was responsible for the precipitate layoff of about 50 tech employees due to his mismanagement of the budget. But Ronson himself kept his title - apparently because he had a golden parachute built into his employment contract. He thought such deals were only found in the private sector among the mega-rich. So naive.

This is just the beginning of the seamy underside of the higher education business that Woodson unearths during his investigation. He has gathered a basket of facts about Ronson, his life, and the people who had reason to hate him. But he hasn't identified anyone with the combination of motivation and opportunity to hasten Ronson's exit from this world.

Just when he's about to give up he has a random encounter that sets his world on edge. The pieces of the crazy puzzle start to fall into place in a pattern that no one could have predicted. Even the jaded Woodsen is stunned by where his investigation has led him. The conclusion is both absurd and totally logical. Woodsen doesn't know whether he should be outraged or amused by the picture he has created.


My Thoughts

Before I started this book I read a review from someone and they described it to be cheeky.  That is such an accurate description!  Ivy is a Weed is definitely a cheeky mystery. 

This book is full of satirical charm and wit.  My son has the some kind of sarcasm so I really think that he would enjoy this book. I actually laughed out loud a few times!

Good book!  Pick up a copy for yourself!

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tell The Rain Goodbye by Jacqueline L. Sullivan

Summary

For the last couple of years I’ve been convinced I was being extremely noble dragging around my special load of guilt and sorrow. I mean, I thought I was the only person in the world who hurt so much. After listening to Lanie, I knew that, in fact, I was pretty much full of my own special kind of crap.

What could a troubled sixteen-year-old and an aging, homeless television actress, now living in her decaying Mercedes, possibly have in common? Plenty as it turns out. Tracy Cooper finds her life begins to change in ways she never could have imagined after a chance meeting with Alana “Lanie” Milner, once one of television’s most beloved stars. Tracy soon finds herself caught up in the heartbreaking life on the street. The experience becomes a defining one for her, and she uses her camera to record Lanie’s life and the experiences of the homeless women she meets. In the process, she learns to deal with loss and the value of letting go, and she realizes that being a family is more about love and acceptance than about blood.

My Thoughts

Tell the Rain Goodbye is a really quick read at just over 100 pages.  And, while it's a short book, it still packs quite a punch!  There were definitely parts of this story that were unexpected and got to my heart.

There were a few things I did find a little problematic.  The part where Tracy says for Mr. Lewis to be her guardian would probably not really fly.  A single man taking in a teenage girl, while completely innocent, wouldn't really be accepted.  And, honestly, when Tracy's dad passed away, she more than likely would have immediately gone into foster care or something since her dad and Carole weren't married.

Even with the few things that I found to be somewhat unrealistic, I still found this book to be enjoyable and I definitely recommend that you read it.

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tell Me Why by Ruth O"Neill

Summary

Lauren Adams is just an ordinary single girl, until one split-second decision throws her life into crisis.
When she meets the handsome and intriguing Max Davies during a girls’ weekend away, she can’t believe her luck. But it soon turns out to be her biggest mistake.
Max gets accused of murder, a murder that allegedly happened on the same night he and Lauren met.
Is Max really the man she thinks he is? Is he really innocent of murder? And why does Lauren hear him late at night, building something in the basement – a basement he’s made clear is out of
bounds?

Tell me why follows a woman who just wants to be loved, but who instead ends up in a tangled web of lies, deceit, and terror.
A chilling read you won’t stop talking about.

My Thoughts

I have recently been reading and enjoying thrillers quite a lot.  So, this book coming up nest on my tbr list made for a good day!

Now, as I said, I have been reading a lot more thrillers lately than I used to so several are pretty fresh in my mind.  With that being said, there were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and kept me on my toes, and then there were some things I didn't love.

Normally I like it when stories move quick but I kind of felt like this one moved a little too quick.  I feel like maybe I would have liked everything better if the characters had a bit more development.  Not that I didn't like them, I just needed more.

Overall, this was a good book!  I just really think I needed more.

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Heartless Divine by Varsha Ravi

Summary

In this unexpected twist on mythology inspired by Sangam India, reincarnated lovers find themselves bound together, connected to their past by a centuries old tragedy that only one of them remembers.

In the ruthless martial empire of Naja, Suri is the crown’s unfailing blade. But the princess dreams of a life exploring the lands beyond the borders, unshackled by blood. The king and queen offer her freedom, at a price: marriage to a king she’s meant to kill, and the death of Athri, a kingdom her family once nearly destroyed.

Her only obstacle lies in the mountains above the Athrian capital of Marai, where a young prophet sees a world struck by catastrophe—a world where a girl lies dead in the temple of the fire god, and the city lies burning below.

Centuries later, Suri lives with no recollection of her past lives. Haunted by her family’s deaths eighteen years ago, Suri sees the boy bleeding gold on her doormat as an opportunity to unravel the mystery of the car crash that took their lives. But not all gifts are created equal, and the boy soon proves to be more trouble than he’s worth, a dangerous link back to a world of gods and wishes.


My Thoughts

When I first picked up this book I had a hard time getting into it.  I was on vacation and had brought it along to read while we were in the room or at the airport.  The problem may have been that I was too distracted to be able to get into and understand it well enough to really fall into the story.  So, I put it down and decided to read other books for a while.

A few days ago I picked it back up.  This time I was able to connect with the story and really become immersed in it.

It takes place in two timelines.   There is a historical timeline where Suri, the main character, is a princess turned assassin.  Her job is to marry and kill a prince.  Then, there is the present timeline where Suri finds someone bleeding on her doorstep.  This someone happens to be a god...

I absolutely love the main characters in The Heartless Divine.  Suri is such an interesting and relevant character and Kiran... he's great!  You fall in love with him instantly.

I do have to say that the other characters in this book weren't that great.  I didn't care much for any of them.  But that's really the only complaint that I have with this whole book.  The story, the world building, the mythology... all wonderful.

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.