REVIEW: If I'm Dead by Marcia Clark

Title: If I’m Dead (Rachel Knight #1.6)
Author: Marcia Clark
Narrator: January LaVoy
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: April 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: It started with a haunting image: a Ford Explorer, iridescent in the moonlight and alone on a desolate stretch of beach. Its owner, Melissa Gibbons, has gone missing. Her husband says she flew the coop. But Los Angeles Deputy DA Rachel Knight is convinced otherwise: Melissa Gibbons has been murdered.

So begins the confounding case that Rachel must present before a disbelieving jury. A dissatisfied heiress and her philandering husband-- what really happened? The husband has a fiendishly convincing case that Melissa faked her own death and fled. But with the support of her trusty sidekick, Detective Bailey Keller, Rachel pieces together a much more sinister truth.

In this short, standalone Rachel Knight thriller, readers follow our savvy and riotously entertaining heroine through the surprising world of LA crime.

My Thoughts: You know that old saying be careful what you wish for? Well, it certainly applies here as I have been hoping that I haven’t seen the last of Rachel Knight when I finished The Competition. Marcia Clark fulfilled my wish…in a sense. However, instead of another full-length book, she has given her readers several filler novels that are part of the series, but as I learned If I’m Dead is a standalone.

Taking place between the events of Guilt by Association and Guilt by Degrees, this story involves a case of a missing woman who is likely dead and the resulting murder trial with the woman’s husband as the defendant. Pretty standard Rachel Knight without any surprises or twists that grabbed me the way the other books did.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this book to fans of the Rachel Knight series, which, for me, really showcases Marcia Clark’s talent as an author. Rachel’s success in the courtroom clearly shows to me that Ms. Clark certainly knows her stuff and can hold her own. I’m still holding out hope for another full-length story, but until then there are two more filler stories.

REVIEW: The Broken Hearts Book Club by Lynsey James

Title: The Broken Hearts Book Club (Luna Bay #1)
Author: Lynsey James
Publisher: Carina
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance / New Adult / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Secrets never stay buried for long...

Lucy Harper has always been good at one thing: running from her past. But when her beloved Nana Lily passes away she has no choice except to return to the one place in the world she most wants to avoid...

Luna Bay hasn't changed much in the eight years she has spent in London. The little Yorkshire village is still just as beautiful, but the new pub landlord is a gorgeous addition to the scenery!

Lucy only intended to stay for a day, yet when she discovers that Nana Lily has not only left her a cottage but also The Broken Hearts Book Club, Lucy is intrigued. Her Nana never have mentioned the club and Lucy can't wait to get started, but walking into her first meeting she is more aware than ever that her past is finally catching up with her.

One way or another, Lucy must finally face the secrets she's kept buried for so long-or spend the rest of her life on the run...

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book on so many levels! This book is expertly character and relationship driven and I found myself finding it difficult to not like anyone. Even the odious Maggie and Rachel garnered some sympathy from me. This book touches on so many topics that pulled on my heartstrings so hard. Obviously, there’s grief, as the title alludes to and our protagonist Lucy knows a lot about that, having just lost her Nana as well as the horrible thing that happened to her best friend, Vicky, eight years ago.

There’s also forgiveness. Forgiving others is part of moving on, but often we forget to forgive ourselves and that is crucial to healing. There is an immense amount of forgiveness needing to happen in Luna Bay.

Letting go and opening ourselves up to another kind of life with another kind of happiness does not always mean forgetting the past, especially when you’re grieving the death of a loved one and I loved that Lucy wants the members of the book club to do that and even though her intentions aren’t all met with a spirit of acceptance or succeed as planned, Lucy doesn’t give up. Her flaw is that she gives up all too easily on herself, doesn’t open herself up to risks or chances when it deals with matters of the heart and is likely to sacrifice her happiness and run away. With the book club inheritance from her Nana, Lucy learns that she can open herself to second chances and new beginnings.

I loved all the characters, OK most of the characters. The ones I didn’t love, I had compassion and empathy for. The members of the book club were all so diverse and their grief journeys got me right in the feels.

The relationships in this book were fantastic to watch unfold. Lucy’s relationship with her parents, her best friend Elle, her roommate George and the members of the book club were lovely. I really loved Lucy and Jake both individually and as a couple and the fact that he’s a single dad added a great twist that was handled beautifully.

Lastly, I loved the book club’s reading selections and I wouldn’t be a true bookworm if I didn’t admit to wanting to be a part of this book club. Instead, I had to live vicariously through Lucy and join them in spirit, however my to be read pile is taller now, thanks to the books they chose to read. I want to read them too. I also want to read the other books in this series.

Lynsey James is an author you should add to your must-read authors list. This was my second book by her and I have one other on the list with the rest of her backlist on my wish list. Honestly, it’s authors like Lynsey James who are the reason why I will never get all of my books read, and that’s a good thing.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that touch your heart, make you laugh, make you cry and make you want more.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Broken Hearts Book Club from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Violent Season by Sara Walters

Title: The Violent Season
Author: Sara Walters
Narrator: Jorjeana Marie
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: October 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Teen
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: An unputdownable debut about a town marred by violence, a girl ruined by grief, and the harsh reality about what makes people decide to hurt each other. The Violent Season is a searing, unforgettable, and thrilling novel that belongs on shelf with Sadie and Girl in Pieces.

Every November, the people in Wolf Ridge are overwhelmed with a hunger for violence--at least that's the town rumor. Last fall Wyatt Green's mother was brutally murdered, convincing Wyatt that this yearning isn't morbid urban legend. but rather a palpable force infecting her neighbors.

This year, Wyatt fears the call of violence has spread to her best friend Cash--who also happens to be the guy she can't stop wanting no matter how much he hurts her. At the same time, she's drawn to Cash's nemesis Porter now that they're partners on an ambitious project for lit class. When Wyatt pulls away from Cash, and spends more time with Porter, she learns secrets about both of them she can't forget.

And as the truth about her mother's death begins to emerge from the shadows, Wyatt is faced with a series of hard realities about the people she trusts the most, rethinking everything she believes about what makes people decide to hurt each other.

My Thoughts: The Violent Season by new to me author Sara Walters is dark and disturbing, but predictable in that I figured out early on who was behind the death of Wyatt’s mother but surprised at some of the twists near the end I never expected. For some reason, I kept expecting the entire town to sprout fur and fangs and go on a murderous werewolf rampage or something with the way Wyatt kept bringing up the sickness that infects Wolf Ridge every November. No werewolves were found in this story, but plenty of secrets and death.

I liked Wyatt. She is a typical teenager dealing with the angst of teenage life and being in love with Cash. She’s smoking, doing drugs, having sex and dealing with the brutal murder of her mother the year before. I did not like Cash and if anyone could have been a werewolf, it’s him. He’s moody and his brooding personality grated on my nerves. I felt like his relationship with Wyatt was one sided with Cash on the receiving end of everything. I honestly was at a loss at what she saw in him, other than his mother also died. I liked Porter, Cash’s arch nemesis and when he and Wyatt are partnered for a project in their literature class, they have to spend a lot of time together and begin to get to know each other.

I did not like the way Cash treats Wyatt and every time she brought up her mother’s death and the sickness that seems to infect Wolf Ridge, Cash is quick to stifle her. It seemed to me that he’s not a supportive boyfriend and a little bit of a narcissist. Porter actively listens to Wyatt and her concerns and their banter was light and fun, which was a much-needed change from all the dark and evil lurking around the place.

I enjoyed the story and though I correctly guessed who killed Wyatt’s mother, the why came as a surprise as well as the details behind other deaths. The story moves at a good pace and kept me engaged. Several secondary characters are introduced, possibly to give the reader a plethora of suspects to choose from, but without confusing the reader as to who is who. I listened to the audiobook format and enjoyed the performance of Jorjeana Marie. I will be looking for more books by Sara Walters and audiobook performances by Jorjeana Marie.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is an enjoyable story that I recommend to readers of thrillers and mysteries, as well as readers who enjoy stories that feature characters who are still in high school.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Violent Season from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

Title: Confessions on the 7:45
Author: Lisa Unger
Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Publication Date: October 2020
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: From master of suspense Lisa Unger comes a riveting thriller about a chance encounter that unravels a stunning web of lies.

Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha and soon confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.

Then the nanny disappears.

As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder, who was Martha really ? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover…

My Thoughts: I don’t know where new to me author Lisa Unger has been hiding all these years and how I have never read anything by her before, but she is definitely on my list of authors that I really enjoy. Confessions on the 7:45 was a very good choice to begin with and, trust me, take this one to heart and don’t talk to strangers! I think if I had one gripe about the main character, Selena Murphy, it would be that she bares her soul and pours her heart to a stranger on the train. Why? You don’t know this person and maybe there is some comfort in sharing your pain, grief and problems with a stranger that you will probably never see again but get into a support group and share that! Especially when your husband is sleeping with the nanny! In fairness to Selena, the stranger, Martha, started it by confessing that she is sleeping with her boss, but that doesn’t mean we have to start playing true confessions here. Then when Martha alludes to how nice it would be if all your problems could just go away…major creeper vibes here. Who is this woman?

Then after confronting your loser bum of a husband and being faced with having to fire the best nanny you’ve ever had, and that sucks because your kids love her and she really is great overall if you look past the sleeping with your husband bit, your amazing nanny goes missing. She doesn’t show up the next day (to be fired) and has disappeared off the face of the earth. Of course, right away, Selena wonders if her husband had something to do with it and as the police begin investigating, it starts to feel like they do too. Or maybe Selena got rid of her. Or maybe the nanny knew her employment was about to come to an end and couldn’t face the looming confrontation she was likely to have with Selena and just ran away. There is so much more here than just a cheating husband and a missing nanny.

I enjoyed so many things about this story. Firstly, the author does an amazing job of weaving this story around and around all the characters, including Martha, the mysterious woman from the train. I kept trying to figure it all out but it’s just too complex and mind-blowing that I realized to just let that go and immerse myself into the story. Secondly, I really enjoyed how the chapters change points of view between Selena and Martha, which is a wonderful way to get to know the characters better, their personalities, their motivations, their triggers, their past, all of it. I highly applaud an author that can do this effectively and Lisa Unger is such an author. Thirdly, this author does a fantastic job of giving the reader just enough detail to keep them engaged without giving it all away. The surprise I felt as I learned how these two women are connected as well as the lives they both lead was jaw-dropping.

Lastly, I must give major kudos to the audio narration performer Vivienne Leheny. She does an amazing job of breathing life into these characters adding the perfect amount of emotion and tension. It really gives the reader a sense of being in the room with the characters.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers. I also recommend you add Lisa Unger books to your stack and if audiobooks are your jam, then you are sure to enjoy books narrated by Vivienne Leheny. This is a terrific book for any commute, it will entertain you and then you don’t have to spill all your deep dark secrets to strangers.

REVIEW: Zen and Sex by Dermot Davis

Title: Zen and Sex
Author: Dermot Davis
Publisher: Expression Unleashed Publishing
Publication Date: April 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Humor
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Martin is a 24-year-old guy who falls in love with a 38-year-old woman. He has to grow so fast emotionally that he feels like he just got hit by a speeding bus. Not only is Frances fourteen years Martin's senior, but she's all about putting Zen into relationship, which involves every guy's worst nightmare: talking about your feelings, being conscious of your thoughts and above all, unabashed, honest communication at all times. Martin has no idea what he is getting himself into and the sharp learning curve that's required of him especially when he's thinking sex but she's thinking Zen.

WARNING: This book contains irony, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm and heavy doses of wit. Not suitable for readers expecting a traditional rom-com where the male character is a billionaire or some other fantasy variation of an alpha male. In fact, when it comes to love, the main character, Martin, has been described as a bumbling idiot... so please be warned.

My Thoughts: Zen and Sex by new to me author Dermot Davis has been languishing on my Kindle since 2013. Thanks to an alphabet challenge, I needed a “Z” title so after digging deep, I found this little gem. Better late, than never, but I wish I had read this one sooner as it was enjoyable.

I also love it when male authors write romance novels, whether it’s contemporary or romantic comedy or straight up chick-lit. I often find their perception and voice refreshing and entertaining and Dermot Davis is no exception.

Martin is a very typical young adult who seems to be drifting through life trying to find his place in the world professionally and personally. As a photographer, he is often struggling to find gigs that pay well enough to live and survive in California, but often give him the free time to explore his craft. He hasn’t been successful in the relationship department and when he gets a wedding invitation from his ex, he decides to attend, but needs a knock-out on his arm as his plus-one. We all know this routine of showing up and getting a little dig in on the ex to prove that you have moved on in your life just fine without them. The only problem is Martin is currently unattached and his prospects don’t look good.

After signing up for online dating and taking several bad first dates to his favorite restaurant, he notices a beautiful, but older, woman there every time he is and after receiving all the right signals, he and Frances begin a relationship with all the highs and lows, excitement and insecurities that it brings.

Frances is fourteen years older than Martin, married and divorced twice with a daughter who is closer to Martin’s age than she is. She is also vibrant, fun and exciting and it doesn’t take long for Martin to fall for her.

I really liked Martin and Frances individually, but the jury is still out whether I think they belong together as a couple. They really seem to be on different planes of existence mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Having said that, I honestly didn’t see him compatible with anyone else, so there may be hope for these two.

Several supporting characters round out the story, including Martin’s roommate, Mike and his girlfriend, Gloria. Frances’s ex-husband and her daughter also brought an interesting twist, as well.

My Final Verdict: Don’t expect any closure with this book because relationships are a work in progress and anything can happen. There is a companion book written in Frances’s point of view but I haven’t read that one so I can’t be sure there will be closure with that one either. I recommend this to readers who don’t mind open endings and enjoy their relationships sprinkled with humor along with the angst, Zen and sex.

REVIEW: The Road Trip by Susanne O'Leary

Title: The Road Trip (Maddy and Leanne #1)
Author: Susanne O’Leary
Narrator: Melanie MacHugh
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Have you ever wanted to press the escape button?

Maddy and Leanne are in need of a miracle.

Maddy can't bear to wash another pair of her husband's Y-fronts and if he continues to drone on about golf she might just scream.

Leanne can't stand living with her overbearing mother for a second longer and she's one disapproving eye roll away from a nervous breakdown.

But their luck changes when they win the lottery.

Setting off from Dublin, Maddy and Leanne lease a red convertible, winding through Europe and heading for the sun-drenched French Riviera.

But the pair have their own reasons for their adventure. Maddy has never forgotten her summer romance of twenty years ago with a gorgeous Frenchman and Leanne plans to track down the father who abandoned her as a child.

Amongst glorious sunsets and buckets of bubbly, Leanne and Maddy are searching for answers after years of wondering 'what if?'. But there might just be some surprises in store along the way…

A hilarious and heartwarming story about friendship, living life to the full and making the most of every moment. Fans of Fiona Gibson, Carole Matthews and Lucy Diamond will adore this uplifting, fun-filled read.

My Thoughts: When we first meet Maddy and Leanne, we learn they are part of a group of schoolteachers who have hit the lottery and have each won GBP200,000, so how awesome is that? This windfall couldn’t have come at a better time in their lives. Leanne’s life is under control by her mother and Maddy’s life consists of children who no longer need mothering and a husband who values his bloody golf clubs over his wife. Both of these women need a fresh start in the worst way. They keep the win to themselves and decide to go on a holiday. Leanne is on the search for the father who left when she was a child and Maddy is searching for the man she fell in love with when she was a student in France over twenty years ago.

Along the way from Dublin to the French Riviera, they meet many interesting characters, secrets are revealed, truths are told, tears are shed and life is lived with many humorous moments.

I liked Maddy and Leanne and their decision to take off on a massive holiday adventure was very exciting. Blogging it as they go also holds great appeal to me. We’ve all entertained the question of ”What is the first thing you would do if you hit it big in the lottery?” and for these two ladies, the answer is simple and I really liked that.

I went with the audiobook format of this story and I absolutely loved the narration performance of Melanie MacHugh. The story starts in Dublin and Maddy and Leanne are Irish, so obviously, listening to this book, one would expect Irish accents and this one didn’t disappoint. Ms. MacHugh’s narration was excellent. The voices of each character were distinct and brought them to life, giving me a better understanding of their personality, which enabled me to connect with them.

This was the first book for me by this author and I have the second book in this series, A Holiday to Remember which sees Maddy and Leanne’s adventure continuing. I am looking forward to reading that one as there are several loose threads in this story and I am curious to see how it all comes out.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this story to readers of women’s fiction, chick-lit and stories that feature exciting locale settings.

REVIEW: The Queen's Man by Terri Brisbin

Title: The Queen’s Man
Author: Terri Brisbin
Publisher: Jove Time Passages
Publication Date: September 2000
Genre: Time-Travel Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: A man born an heir, but raised a bastard. . .
A woman with the proof to put him on the throne. . .
A love endangered by the intrigue of Elizabeth’s court. . .

Richard Granville, an illegitimate son of Henry VIII, has always wanted to be king of England, but a bastard cannot inherit that position. So, he contents himself by serving his half-sister Queen Elizabeth. When her enemies approach with claims of his rights to the throne and with a plot to put him there, he is tempted. . . oh so tempted. Sharon Reynolds, a museum curator on holiday in present-day England, discovers proof of a legitimate male heir to Henry VIII and is shocked to be thrown back through time with that proof. Believing she was sent back to right the wrongs done to Henry VIII’s rightful heir, she searches for the man who should be king. Unfortunately, by the time she uncovers his identity she has fallen in love with him. Giving Richard the evidence may bring his death if he fails. Giving him the proof will mean losing his love if he becomes king for a commoner is no fit wife for him then. Danger, intrigue, and deception surround them as they struggle to find the path that fate means for them. . . and their love.

Can their love help them survive in Elizabethan England or will Richard forever remain the queen’s man?

My Thoughts: If you are a fan of time travel romance like I am, you accept the certainty that you will have to suspend disbelief that the concept of traveling through time is real as well as the care the traveler must take to ensure their presence in the past doesn’t alter the future to the point of wiping out their own existence. Pretty big responsibility that I doubt I would be able to manage, but the idea in itself is thrilling…once you get over the complete shock and terror you feel at discovering your surroundings.

Sharon Reynolds is a typical twenty-first century woman, lives in Chicago and picking up the pieces of her life after a professional catastrophe calls not just her reputation but her entire career into question. She accompanies her friend, Mo, to England to an archaeological site where she can be of assistance with different fabrics and textiles. Upon entering a previously undiscovered room, she finds a trunk filled with fabrics and dresses from the Elizabethan period and upon closer inspection of one dress, a stack of parchment disclosing that the previously thought dead son of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn lived, making him the rightful heir to the throne of England and not Elizabeth I. After her initial shock and amazement dissipates, Sharon leaves the room, only to discover that everyone around her is dressed in Elizabethan era costume and she is assumed to be a lady of the court assigned to the Queen’s wardrobe. Like Sharon, I also would think that I had somehow wandered into a Renaissance Fair cosplay and marvel at how authentic and real everyone’s performances are. Luckily for Sharon, she realizes quickly that the impossible has happened and she has to figure out why she came over four hundred years into the past and how she will get back home.

Richard Granville is the master of the Queen’s stables and has quite a reputation for being a seducer of women. Growing up knowing he is the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, he has had to prove himself worthy, though he has always dreamed that he would sit on the throne and rule England. He is drawn into a plot to take the throne and he is the rightful heir in the eyes of the Church in Rome. He loves his half-sister, Elizabeth, and would not want to see her come to harm. When he meets Sharon, he begins to dream of a future away from court where he can live out his life breeding prized stallions on his own stable farm.

Can you just imagine the type of deceptions and intrigues that occur at the royal court? One whisper of a rumor about a plot to overthrow the current monarch could find you imprisoned in the Tower of London waiting to have your head removed. One whisper of a rumor that you are from the future could have you labeled as a witch and burned at the stake. Honestly, how anyone made it to a ripe old age in this time period is beyond amazing.

I thought this story was well researched and described with the perfect amount of detail, which gave me a better view of Sharon’s new surroundings. I also enjoyed the small details regarding the furnishings, clothing and the meals. It certainly made me appreciate the luxuries of indoor plumbing, central heat and air, motorized vehicles and electricity.

I liked Sharon and Richard quite a lot individually and as a couple. I felt enormous empathy for the situation they find themselves in and grave concern for their safety. I was on pins and needles at what would happen as well as when Richard learns the truth about his birthright and that the woman he has come to love is from the future. I felt that actual historical characters like Queen Elizabeth I and William Cecil were depicted as I expected, but with a few unexpected surprises that were wonderful.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to fans of time travel romance as well as readers who enjoy historical settings and time periods and aren’t bothered if there are a few liberties taken. My biggest regret about this book is that it took me so long to finally read it, but I’m not interested in going back in time to remedy that.

REVIEW: The Bloom Girls by Amy Pine

Title: The Bloom Girls
Author: Amy Pine
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik / Caitlin Davies / Fred Berman
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Gilmore Girls meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding in this humorous, multi-generational story about a mother and daughter who discover that life happens when you least expect it.

Gabi Bloom doesn't believe in signs. She believes in photographic evidence, the view through her camera lens, and the snap of the shutter. It's why she traveled to Europe—to satisfy her wanderlust and to kick off her photography career. But in Ireland, all of that changed when Gabi gazed into the impossibly blue eyes of an American bartender. She wasn’t prepared for their intense and immediate attraction, or the fact that she’d be bringing Ethan home with her . . . as her fiancé.

Gabi's upcoming marriage is the cherry on top of her mother's current predicament. Stumbling toward forty, Alissa is a pastry chef who raised her daughter single-handedly while Gabi’s father traveled the globe. Now her baby girl is getting married after a whirlwind romance and Alissa—well, Alissa is pregnant. Again. And not only is her ex the father, he wants her back. For good. Until she can figure out that part of the puzzle, Alissa is hiding her big little secret even as she helps Gabi plan a happily-ever-after wedding. But somewhere between disaster and hope, life might just bloom in a way that is breathtakingly unexpected . . .

My Thoughts: I really liked this story and will start by saying it was much better than I was expecting. Honestly, a story about a woman who after raising her daughter primarily on her own for 22 years finds herself pregnant again by her ex-husband seemed a little cliché to me and I was expecting it to be overwrought with emotions, tears and drama. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that this story centers on family, friendship, forgiveness, second chances and missed opportunities that had a little bit of weepy emotion but weighed much more heavily on humor and heartwarming moments.

This story is told from the two perspectives of Gabi Bloom and her mother, Alissa Adler. I really liked this because it gave me more a sense of each character’s personality and nature and I empathized with them both. Gabi is fresh out of college and goes on a trip to Ireland when she meets fellow American, Ethan Harris. After a whirlwind romance, they return to Chicago engaged to be married, with neither family knowing anything about it.

After a very brief marriage to Gabi’s father, Matthew Bloom, Alissa has been single and on her own for most of her life. She owns a bakery and her world is completely centered on her daughter, the light of her life. Gabi’s father has been a world traveler working in the conservation field and comes and goes. After Gabi’s college graduation, Alissa and Matthew spend a night together and surprise, surprise, she discovers she’s pregnant.

I enjoyed watching how each woman faces their lives and the situations they find themselves in, while figuring out what they are going to do. Is Gabi rushing into marriage before she’s ever had a chance to see the world and figure out what wants? Is Alissa ready to take on the challenges of starting over with another baby at this stage in her life? Will Matthew stick around for good?

The only issue I had with this story was the abrupt cliffhanger ending that came out of the blue. I have never been a fan of this and I didn’t feel it was needed in this story either. I really enjoyed this author and look forward to reading more of her work. The audio format for this story was fantastic too. The narration performed by Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies and Fred Berman was wonderful and gave me more insight into the characters, their thoughts, feelings and personalities.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy women’s fiction but also stories that are rich in character and relationship driven. I think, like me, you will find yourself rooting for these characters to find their happily ever after.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Bloom Girls from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: She's Having Her Baby by Lauren Sams

Title: She’s Having Her Baby
Author: Lauren Sams
Publisher: Legend Press
Publication Date: July 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Georgie Henderson doesn’t want to have kids, but her best friend, Nina, has wanted to have a baby for as long as she can remember. Sadly, Nina’s uterus refuses to cooperate. One drunken evening, Nina asks Georgie for the ultimate favor: would she carry a baby for her?
Georgie says yes and spends the next nine months wondering why. With intense bacon-and-egg roll cravings and distant memories of what her feet look like, Georgie tries to keep it all together in her dream job as the editor of Jolie magazine. Her love life’s a mess and sauvignon blanc’s off the menu, leaving Georgie to deal with twists in her life she never expected.

My Thoughts: This book was utterly amazing, funny, heartwarming and got me right in the feels numerous times. We all could use a friend in our lives like Georgie Henderson. She’s a career driven professional, though she is behind the eight-ball when it comes to staying on top of the technological advances in the world and especially digital publishing. The thing I loved about Georgie is she doesn’t make any apologies for who she is and that kind of person is who we all need in our lives. She is open, honest, blunt and would bend over backwards for her friends.

Georgie doesn’t want children, the jury is out whether she wants marriage as well, but when her best friend Nina suffers another failure with fertility, Nina asks Georgie to be a surrogate. Not having children, myself, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that asking someone to carry a baby for you is a BIG deal and the decision should not be taken lightly. Surprising herself, Nina, and everyone around her, me included, Georgie agrees. She doesn’t bother to tell her live-in boyfriend, however so you know there’s a huge can of worms just waiting to open here.

Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us, especially when we think we are in control of our collective fates and destiny and Georgie is no exception. When she goes in for the embryo implantation, the doctor tells her it cannot be done because she is already pregnant! Yes, the woman who has no interest in having children of her own has a bun in the oven and it’s a huge understatement to say neither Georgie nor Nina respond well to the news.

What I absolutely loved about this story is we get to join Georgie on this detour that life has thrown her. Without adding any personal beliefs or preferences, the author gives Georgie the freedom to explore all her options. Georgie is in a state of shock and is newly single since the above mentioned can of worms was opened and the live-in boyfriend doesn’t respond well to Georgie’s decision to carry someone’s baby without telling him. Georgie is struggling with whether or not she wants the baby and, more importantly, can she do this? Can she be who this baby will need her to be? Can she love this baby enough? Can she manage the responsibility of another person depending on her 24 / 7 / 365 for their very survival? I honestly was on pins and needles wondering what Georgie would do.

My Final Verdict: The story was hilarious and the author was amazing. I absolutely loved Lauren Sams’s voice and look forward to reading more from her. I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that make them laugh and that feature characters that are easy to relate to and empathize with.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of She’s Having Her Baby from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrator: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction / LGBT / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

My Thoughts: "Heartbreak is loss. Divorce is a piece of paper.” ~ Evelyn Hugo.

With Evelyn Hugo, the reader is introduced to a woman who knows what she wants, will pull out all the stops to achieve her goals and makes no apologies. She’s brash, brazen, willful, secretive, interesting and painfully human. At seventy-nine years of age, Evelyn is still beautiful and breathtaking with the posture of a ballerina.

Monique Grant is the complete opposite. She’s a hard worker and talented writer. She’s the child of a mixed-race marriage, raised by her white mother after her black father died when she was a child. She is desperate to make a name for herself as a writer. She’s newly single after less than a year of marriage and nobody is more surprised than she is when the reclusive film star, Evelyn Hugo, requests her, specifically, to write her authorized biography. Right away, one can’t help but wonder what the connection is between the two women.

I absolutely loved this story and how it is told in flashbacks from Evelyn’s point of view as she is relaying it to Monique for the biography. Evelyn was born Evelyn Herrera of Cuban heritage and grew up in Hell’s Kitchen. Her mother died when Evelyn was young, leaving her with an abusive father. Evelyn will do anything to escape this life, even marrying Ernie Diaz at the age of fifteen. Together, they make their way to Hollywood where Ernie secures employment as a film grip. Evelyn knows she is not suited to life as a housewife and quickly learns how to use her looks and sexual prowess to her advantage.

This story follows Evelyn over sixty years, seven husbands, a daughter and navigating her way as a bisexual woman in a society where marriages are arranged and dismantled at the whim of the studio for publicity and where Evelyn and so many performers like her have to keep their sexual identity a closely guarded secret. Evelyn’s life, loves and losses are laid bare for the reader to see and I couldn’t help but admire this woman for her survival skills and mourn her losses and cheer her victories.

I also liked Monique and understood her fan girl awe meeting Evelyn for the first time. She obviously has so many questions for Evelyn and I felt her frustration at being stonewalled. When their connection is revealed at the end of the story, I understood the sense of betrayal and rage Monique feels and thought it was portrayed realistically and accurately.

I chose the audiobook format of this story and the narration performances of Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles was nothing short of brilliant. Their performances made the story and the characters come alive. It made the characters easy to connect to and empathize with.

Major kudos go out to Taylor Jenkins Reid. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was the first book I have read by this very talented author and I am most eager to read her entire backlist.

My Final Verdict: I suspect this story will stay with me for a very long time. Evelyn’s life and her seven husbands pulled me in and I couldn’t look away. I wasn’t sure what to make of her at first, but without even realizing it, she wormed her way into my heart and I was completely mesmerized by her, as most people around her were. I highly recommend this story to all readers who enjoy stories of real-world life and struggles involving people who are just like all of us, trying to find our place in the world and carve out a little slice of happiness that will last a lifetime.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publisher: Pottermore Publishing
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Children’s / Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: ‘Give me Harry Potter,' said Voldemort's voice, 'and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.'

As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy...

Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter stories never fail to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new listeners.

My Thoughts: My feelings while reading this book were very bittersweet. Even knowing how it would play out, I wanted to savor this last Harry Potter story. Knowing I would cry as some of the main characters are killed did not deter me. The same feeling of hopelessness I felt before came back, compassion for Harry to lose so many loved ones, anger on his behalf for the cruelties and evil committed against him for no good reason and lastly pride that in spite of it all, Harry continues to be a giver instead of a taker, a boy quickly becoming a man and putting the needs of others in front of his own. Even at the very end, knowing that one of them must die, he is willing to make that ultimate sacrifice.

Most of this story takes place away from Hogwarts, unfortunately. Though Rowling does an amazing job of drawing us into the world Harry is currently situated, I still found myself missing the days at Hogwarts, as I’m sure Harry did. Sadly, there was no Diagon Alley trip to buy school supplies, no boarding of the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ , no sorting hat ceremony, no Quidditch, no pranks by Peeves to contend with, no excursions to Hogsmeade on the weekends and no Halloween feast, just to name a few. After seven years, I had become so enamored of life at Hogwarts that not being able to be there bothered me a great deal. Instead, Harry is living in hiding with Ron and Hermione as public enemy #1. He is being hunted by Death Eaters constantly, so they are not staying in one place for too long. After a very near miss when Harry is being moved from the Dursleys and again at Bill and Fleur’s wedding, Harry’s only choice is to hide while hunting the Horcruxes. Luckily for him and Ron, Hermione foresaw this eventuality and planned ahead with supplies. Unfortunately, none of them know where to find the Horcruxes or how to destroy them.

Their quest takes them to several places as they try to decipher the clues that Dumbledore left for them. Tempers are short as well. They are all frustrated and I felt frustrated for them. Ultimately, the war comes full circle as Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts for the final showdown with Voldemort and his followers. Harry learns many truths that were kept from him until now and I felt that finding them out now made his resolve stronger. I don’t think he could have or would have appreciated the significance of the Deathly Hallows in his first or second year.

So now I have finished the series for the fourth time, breaking my own rule of never re-reading a book. I have thoroughly enjoyed this adventure with Harry, Ron and Hermione once again and I must say that this time around was even better. I am sad to see it end, however. This is a story that could have stretched into another 3 books, in my opinion. The audio narration performance by Jim Dale was both riveting and brilliant and makes the enjoyment of this series more pronounced.

I will miss Harry, Ron and Hermione but I know they are just a short distance away from me anytime I want to visit them again. And as Sirius said to Harry at the end of Azkaban, “the ones who love us never really leave us, you can always find them in here.”

My Final Verdict: As with every reading of the books in this series, there are things that stand out and resonate much louder for me than in prior readings that I somehow overlooked or forgot. In this reading those moments, in no particular order, were as follows:
1. Tonks and Remus get married and are having a baby, but Remus seems to be a reluctant father and Harry is angry and chastises Remus for not doing all he can to be with his family.
2. When Harry and the lookalikes all leave the house on Privet Drive, Harry’s destination is the home of Tonks’s parents before going to the Burrow.
3. Harry provides the hair for the Polyjuice potion willingly instead of Hermione yanking it out of his head.
4. Hermione wipes her parents’s memory and they go to Australia with new names. I don’t remember anything being clarified before about where or how they ended up.
5. Their departure from the Burrow is planned ahead instead of being a spur of the moment decision.
6. Ron puts out the story that he is ill with spattergroit to explain his absence from Hogwarts. Honestly, it never occurred to me in prior readings that their absence from Hogwarts would ever be an issue, in light of the events occurring in the wizarding world.
7. Hermione makes the connection of the ability of basilisk venom to destroy horcruxes before they leave the Burrow.
8. Harry uses Polyjuice potion to disguise himself at Bill and Fleur’s wedding.
9. Hagrid and Viktor Krum are both guests at the wedding.
10. Arthur Weasley sends his Petronus to Harry, Hermione and Ron to let them know everyone escaped and are fine.
11. Kreacher and Regulus went to the cave to switch out the lockets and Kreacher was ordered to leave and return to Grimmauld Place. Regulus was dragged into the water by the infieri. It was heartbreaking to hear Kreacher relating this to Harry and explained so much about why Kreacher was behaving the way he was up to this point. Kreacher’s attitude towards Harry, Hermione and Ron begins to thaw after he is shown kindness and when he tells Harry that he will have supper waiting for them upon their return from the ministry got me right in the feels.
12. Harry and Hermione use Polyjuice potion to disguise themselves as an elderly couple for their trip to Godric’s Hollow.
13. Phineas Nigellus Black reveals to Harry that the sword of Gryffindor destroyed the ring horcrux.
14. Rita Skeeter used veritas serum on Bathilda Bagshot to write her novel on Dumbledore. Honestly, she could give Dolores Umbridge a run for her money on which one I would love to slap into next week.
15. Bathilda is Grindelwald’s great aunt.
16. Harry realizes the resurrection stone is inside the snitch that was left for him by Dumbledore.
17. Harry, Hermione and Ron don’t get grabbed by the Snatchers right after leaving Lovegood’s house.
18. Griphook tells Harry that Gryffindor stole the sword himself and the goblins are the rightful owners.
19. A Deatheater confronts Harry, Hermione and Ron when they go to Gringotts to get into Bellatrix’s vault. Of course, I already knew that the bank had been warned of imposters but forgot that a Deatheater would be present.
20. Voldemort kills Severus Snape in the shrieking shack. The location didn’t really matter to me but I was surprised that I had forgotten something from one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the book. I will always wish that Harry and Snape could have mended their fences, but finally knowing the truth of everything and the role Snape played was therapeutic for Harry.
21. The gem in the ring worn by Marvolo Gaunt, that later was turned into a horcrux that cursed Dumbledore, was the resurrection stone. Has this book been edited and content changed? Did I read the same book the last three times? I honestly don’t remember this at all.
22. Kreacher makes an appearance at Hogwarts fighting alongside the elves.

REVIEW: Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards

Title: Seven Dirty Secrets
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Narrator: Natasha Soudek
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: Teen / Young Adult / Mystery / Thriller

Description: I know seven dirty secrets:

One caused the fall. One did nothing. One saw it all.

One didn't care. One used their head. One played the hero.

One was left for dead.

On her eighteenth birthday, Cleo receives a mysterious invitation to a scavenger hunt. She's sure her best friend Hope or her brother Connor is behind it, but no one confesses. And as Cleo and Hope embark on the hunt, the seemingly random locations and clues begin to feel familiar.

In fact, all of the clues seem to be about Cleo's dead boyfriend, Declan, who drowned on a group rafting trip exactly a year ago. A bracelet she bought him. A song he loved. A photo of the rafting group, taken just before Declan drowned. And then the phone calls start, Declan's voice taunting Cleo with a cryptic question: You ready?

As the clock on the scavenger hunt ticks down, it becomes clear that someone knows what really happened to Declan. And that person will stop at nothing to make sure Cleo and her friends pay. Can they solve the hunt before someone else winds up dead?

My Thoughts: Told in first person point of view from Cleo, the reader is introduced to so many characters that I found it not only hard to keep it all straight, but started to get dizzy with all the who did what and to who merry-go-round.

In a nutshell, one year after her abusive boyfriend dies on a rafting trip, on her eighteenth birthday, Cleo finds a box in her home after she gets out of the shower. As she was the only person in the home, she has no idea who the sender is and the contents and clues are an invitation to a scavenger hunt. Sounds pretty interesting, right? Especially as the clues all point to her dead boyfriend, Declan, and the threat that if she doesn’t complete the scavenger hunt in time, this unknown person will ruin her life and tell everyone what really happened. Cleo ran track in high school and is looking to get into college to study forensics, so she has a lot to lose. Of course, I immediately assumed that Declan wasn’t dead, but has decided being the abusive jerk is fun and wants to torment Cleo, but that got old really quick and the only thing motivating me to continue was to just find out who was behind this and why.

There are several flashback scenes where the reader gets more than a passing introduction to Declan and the levels he would go to hurt Cleo, often without remorse. Major trigger warning for me and to be honest, pushed some hot buttons that nobody noticed what was happening to Cleo. It shouldn’t have surprised me as Cleo, her brother and all these so-called friends keep a lot of secrets, themselves. I didn’t rate this book higher than I am because I felt almost zero sympathy or compassion for any of them and when the identity of the person behind it is finally revealed, it wasn’t a surprise and really anti-climactic.

The narration performance by Natasha Soudek was well done. She demonstrated appropriate levels of emotion and tension to make the situation Cleo and her friends are going through realistic

My Final Verdict: This was my first book by this author and though overall, I found the book to be just OK, I would be willing to read more of her work. The premise of the story was amazing and is what drew me to the story in the first place, but the delivery left me disappointed.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Seven Dirty Secrets from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Her Sister's Killer by Michelle S. Smith

Title: Her Sister’s Killer
Author: Michelle S. Smith
Publisher: Joffe Books
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Description: A beautifully crafted psychological thriller that will have you hooked until the stunning conclusion.

How well do you really know your family?

You should never have left.

This is what Victoria Wharton’s mother tells her every time she calls.

But this time she’s calling to say that Vicky’s twin sister, Becky, has been murdered.

Vicky is one of Chicago’s best police detectives. She thought she’d never return to her tiny New England hometown. But she needs justice for her sister.

As Vicky is drawn inexorably back into her family’s dysfunctional relationships, she finds things aren’t quite as they seem.

When the death threats start, and a local man is beaten half to death, Vicky must look closer to home to find her sister’s killer.

A taut family drama unfolds in this chilling domestic thriller.

My Thoughts: Honestly, I don’t know where to even begin with the hot mess that is this book.

1. Victoria Wharton, a “highly skilled detective” from Chicago PD returns to her hometown after her twin sister, Rebecca, is found murdered and is working with local detective Steve McCade to solve the crime. 

• There is absolutely no way any reader can or should suspend disbelief on any level to think that any law enforcement agency would allow a detective to get anywhere close to an investigation involving a close friend or family member. Not going to happen and I find it highly insulting that the author would do this.

2. The author throws a bunch of characters at the reader in rapid succession without any rhyme or reason. Who are all these people and how do they fit into the story?

• Besides Victoria and Steve, who the reader is led to believe are the main characters and have history, the reader is given bits and pieces of Rebecca, Victoria’s mother, Vera, John Gardner, John Gardner’s mother, Victoria’s friend, Janet, Victoria’s father, the Jenkins family and on and on. How does the author expect the reader to develop any connection or bond with the main characters? When the reader is introduced to so many people it feels like I’m lost in Grand Central Station.

3. With so many characters to keep track of, no time is spent making these characters multi-dimensional.

• The reader is given brief glimpses into the characters and their past relationships and current situations but not enough time is spent developing these characters. They felt cardboard to me and as a result, I felt no connection with them.

4. The story structure is very choppy. The plot is all over the place, making it nearly impossible for me to follow, keep up or understand.

• Victoria turned her father in for… (seriously? The author can’t just tell us what he was turned in for? I have to wait several pages for Victoria’s inner monologue to tell me he used to creep into her bedroom?) At this point, if this book were in print format, it would have been a wall-banger.

• Victoria doesn’t like to be touched and demonstrates nervous apprehension around John Gardner. If she’s supposedly a highly skilled detective in Chicago, of all places, I find it completely unbelievable that being in close proximity to a man, even with her background, would cause her to react this way. How did she manage to pass her psych evaluation to get hired by Chicago in the first place if this is the case?

• At the 25% mark, Victoria tells her friend, Janet, that she thinks Steve might be interested in more than friendship, but nothing in the story up to this point remotely suggests this.

• Steve interrupts John Gardner in his veterinary operating room during a surgical procedure. Not only is this beyond inappropriate, but quite tacky and doesn’t fit. Additionally, the reader is led to believe that out of the blue, there’s bad blood and hostility between the two due to Steve attacking John prior to the story beginning. If the author wants to refer to previous events, then build up to it. Please do not throw it at the reader as an afterthought.

• Gavin Jenkins rats out his parents and the bogus lawsuit they filed against the hospital Rebecca worked at and then tells Victora that his father, Maurice, had a thing for Rebecca, and either one of his parents could have been the killer. I get that kids may not always like or even love their parents, but to go to the lengths that Gavin does didn’t ring true for me.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book did not work for me on any level, unfortunately. The choppy and uneven flow of the plot, one-dimensional characters and pointless red herrings made this book one I cannot recommend to anyone. The only character I did feel the slightest bit of empathy for in the beginning was Rebecca.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Her Sister’s Killer from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: My Sister's Wedding by Vicky Pattison

Title: My Sister’s Wedding
Author: Vicky Pattison
Publisher: Sphere
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: For better or worse, two families are about to become one . . .

The Ashworth sisters couldn't be more different. Becky is focused, driven and about to marry her lovely fiancé, Daniel Balfour. Lizzie, on the other hand, bounces from one temp job to another, keeps falling for the wrong man and is a whirlwind of chaos in Becky's otherwise well-ordered life. But they love each other fiercely and the Ashworth way has always been family comes first.

As preparations for Becky and Daniel's wedding get underway, it soon becomes clear that the Ashworth way is not the Balfour way. Daniel's family have never thought Becky was good enough for him but he loves her and that's always been enough for the happy couple. But when Lizzie gets caught in the crossfire between Becky and the Balfours, Becky and Lizzie find themselves drifting apart at a time when they need each other the most. Will they be able to repair the damage before Becky walks down the aisle?

Warm-hearted, fun, witty and romantic, My Sister's Wedding will have you crying with laughter one second, and then crying with emotion the next. It's Vicky Pattison at her very best!

My Thoughts: I absolutely love it when I find a book where I immediately feel a connection to the characters. In this case, sisters Becky and Lizzie Ashworth are as close as sisters can be and then some. Their mother abandoned them when they were little and their father raised them. Lizzie was very young when her mother left, so Becky was the only mother-figure she had ever known.

Becky is a book editor, lives in Notting Hill with Daniel, who has finally popped the question. Everything is coming up sunshine and daisies. Unfortunately, Lizzie is a bit of a hot mess. After getting fired, yet again, she doesn’t seem able to hold down a job or even figure out what her life’s passion is beyond hitting the pubs and waking up with raging hangovers.

The proverbial fly in the ointment is Daniel’s family. His parents are complete snobs. Daniel’s sister, Nicole, is a total witch, who will stop at nothing to break Daniel and Becky up. She’s extremely competitive and wants her father to make her the head of their multi-million-pound company instead of Daniel. Her idea of charity is taking presents to a children’s hospital and sneaking out the back door without actually spending time with the children. She will use anyone to her advantage and for her benefit. She pays local paparazzi to be where she is so they take staged photographs that she will approve for publication. I kept hoping someone would push her into the path of a red double-decker bus.

Due to her imminent nuptials into one of the most prominent families in London, Becky finds herself at the center of a media frenzy, with her picture being taken constantly and companies sending her their products to try and promote. Things turn sour at Becky’s engagement party when a near brawl occurs between Lizzie and Nicole which drives a wedge between Lizzie and Becky. I was so taken in with the Ashworth sisters, I couldn’t put the book down, intensely anticipating what would happen next.

Meanwhile, Lizzie, who lied to her sister about having a job as a dog-walker, spends her days in the park taking photographs of dogs when she meets Justin, a singer she has had a crush on after seeing his band perform. As they get to know each other, things take a sudden turn when Lizzie and Becky’s mother turns up unannounced and the rift between the sisters gets wider.

I absolutely loved this story and the author had me laughing at so many moments in this book. I never sided with either sister but kept hoping they would find their way back to each other and clear the air. The story is told from alternating points of view from Becky and Lizzie, which made it easier to empathize with both of them. I honestly didn’t want it to end and really enjoyed some of the unexpected twists that the author throws in.

My Final Verdict: Readers who like a happily ever after without any cliffhangers should grab this book. Additionally, readers who like romantic comedies or books that feature characters the reader immediately feels a bond with will enjoy this and, like me, wish they were part of the Ashworth family. I will be on the lookout for more of this author’s work and am hoping I will get to spend time with these characters again.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of My Sister’s Wedding from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier

Title: Little Secrets
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: April 2020
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret....

Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They're admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son, Sebastian, is taken.

A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a PI to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.

Permanently.

My Thoughts: Little Secrets was my introductory ear-read to author Jennifer Hillier and it won’t be my last! This story was quite riveting and the lines between good and evil are definitely blurry here. After her four-year-old son is taken in broad daylight in a packed Seattle marketplace, Marin has lived her life just going through the motions. Video footage shows Sebastian leaving the area with someone dressed as Santa and no trace of him is ever found. She had one attempted suicide several months ago, but she had made a promise to herself that if Sebastian is found dead, she will be following him.

Fifteen months later, Marin is seeing a therapist, participating in a support group and has hired a private investigator to keep searching. Through the P.I., Marin discovers her husband, Derek, is having an affair. Though I do not condone Derek’s actions, their marriage is practically nonexistent. They rarely see one another or speak and for all intents and purposes are living separate lives.

The rage that Marin feels is so palpable and so blinding in its intensity it drives Marin to do the unthinkable and remove the threat to her marriage from her life. While I had a hard time with Marin’s decision, I certainly understood it and I felt massive quantities of empathy and compassion for her. It’s certainly easy for someone to Monday morning quarterback the situation, but how can any of us say, with complete certainty, how we would react to our child being taken and then having this bombshell land in our laps? I enjoyed that this story dives into Marin’s choices and her thoughts and feelings about it, which drive her to make other choices.

I really wanted to hate the other woman, Kenzie, but she elicited some empathy and compassion from me too once I got to know her backstory and understood what was driving her motivation. As with Marin, I didn’t approve of the choices Kenzie was making in life, but she is one of those characters that make an impact. She’s a survivor, she’s had loads of experience getting the short end of the stick and she knows that nobody is going to look out for her so she has to do it herself.

Marin’s best friend, Sal, was also an interesting character and his unwavering love for Marin was keenly felt. I also enjoyed the scenes with Marin and her support group, listening to their experiences and how they were coping with their own loss and pain.

This story packed quite a punch and Ms. Hillier does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into Marin’s life with all the feels. I began to feel anxiety whenever the private investigator reached out, terrified at what news she had to impart. Please, God, let Sebastian be found alive. I went with the unabridged audio format for this book and I think my enjoyment of this story was in great part to the wonderful narration by Kirsten Potter. Her performance brought these characters to life and their thoughts and emotions were portrayed realistically.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story was equally intense and convincing. At the heart of the story, my main concern was who took Sebastian and what happened to him. My need for closure was strong and Ms. Hillier delivered on all fronts. I highly recommend this story to readers who love thrillers and novels of domestic suspense. All the threads are neatly tied off with this story, though I can’t say it ends with a happily ever after, there is hope for healing.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Little Secrets from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.