The Girl Friend by Michelle Frances – What a Riveting Read! 5 Stars

Great read! I couldn’t put the book down once I got a second chapter into it.  It starts out slowly but then builds fast.  There is romance, mystery and suspense….

Girl meets boy, then she meets his Mother.  Mom doesn’t make her feel welcome in their rich pretentious life, she tries, but she just can’t warm to this girl.  She really wants to keep her boy who is now in a program to be a doctor, to herself.  This girl keeps coming between them.  She starts snooping amongst the girls belongings while they are visiting their home in France……she finds the girl has told some little white lies.  She soon finds out this girl will do anything to hold on to her son and then she must do anything to keep her from him, the son has no clue for a while what is going on!  Warning Will Robinson, this girl is dangerous but then there is his Mother also!!  Pick this book up I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!

I won a copy of this book through Good Reads, and for that I’m giving it an honest review…..I Love It!!!

Description as found on Good Reads:

The addictive Number One bestselling thriller, perfect for fans of Into the Water.

A girl. A boy. His mother. And the lie she'll wish she'd never told.

The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller, based on the fall-out following an unforgiveable lie. It looks at the potentially charged relationship between girlfriend, boyfriend and his mother, which most women can identify with, and locates it in an extreme but believable setting.

Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three-year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn't had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura's life.

Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she's not all that she seems. 

When tragedy strikes, an unforgiveable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.

Serendipity's Footsteps by Suzanne Nelson - 5 Stars - Awesome book!

Serendipity’s Footsteps by Suzanne Nelson

Suzanne Nelson takes you on a journey that covers the past, Berlin 1940’s and present day, three women whose lives will intersect.  This book is about shoes, but so much more, it is the journeys one takes in them and how our lives come together with these journeys.  She takes us on a fabulous journey that will make you forget your present-day obligations and make you want to stay with the journeys of these women to see what is going to happen next!  How will she ever get these three women to come together and where in their journeys will it happen?  This is an awesome book with true history woven in with fiction, I learned some more about the camps that the Jewish people were forced to live in that I didn’t know until I took this journey it was a piece of history!  You really need to pick this book up and let it take you on your journey with these three women and the people that they meet, it is definitely a five star book.  I want to follow this author and see what she comes up with next because the way her mind works is worth waiting for the next book and I’m sure it will be as wonderful as this book was!  A fabulous writer!  The book was supposed to be geared toward the young adult but that didn’t make it any less interesting for me. 

I won this book through Good Reads; the author hopes that winners will write an honest review of the book which I did!

Description of book as found on Amazon: From Nazi Germany to a modern-day orphanage in the American South, three girls separated by decades and thousands of miles are about to give up when a single pair of shoes binds them all together.
 
Dalya is the daughter of a cobbler in 1930s Berlin, and though she is only fifteen, she knows she will follow in her father’s footsteps. When she is forced into a concentration camp one violent November night, she must leave behind everything she knew and loved.
 
Ray is a modern-day orphan, jagged around the edges in every possible way. She sees an impulsive escape to New York as her only chance at happiness; there, she knows she’ll be able to convert her sorrows into songs.
 
Pinny is an unwavering optimist and Ray’s unintended travel companion on her passage to a new life. She inherited from her eccentric mother a fascination with shoes as a means of transformation and expression.
 
A single pair of shoes entwines these lives. How these women connect across different times and places is an unforgettable story of strength, love, bravery, memory, and the serendipity that binds us all together.

Information on Author Suzanne Nelson as found on Amazon:

When she was in kindergarten, Suzanne Nelson jotted down in a school keepsake album that she wanted to be a “river.” Though she clearly had issues with spelling, she persisted, composing cryptic poems about rainbows, fairies, mud, and even "Star Wars" in spiral notebooks all through elementary school. When she was seventeen, she filled four journals with her handwritten first novel, titled “The Dream Keeper.” To escape her chores, she often lied to her parents about what time her shift started at the local fast food joint so that she could spend an extra hour writing in the parking lot in her mom’s faded Buick. Her first published novel was The Sound of Munich, followed by Heart and Salsa, The Ghoul Next Door, Cake Pop Crush, and Dead in the Water. She is a shameless fan of “The Sound of Music,” Hershey’s kisses, Charlotte Bronte, and Jane Austen, and can often be caught daydreaming of romping about gothic castles in lovely Victorian gowns. She was born in New Jersey, grew up in Southern California, attended college in Texas, and spent eight years as a children’s book editor in New York City. She now lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut with her family. (less)

No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert – 4 Stars

I did enjoy reading this book as I was involved in the first segregation of Pontiac I was bussed over to the other side of town.  I didn’t like it as the schools weren’t as clean and well kept up.  I didn’t really love getting mixed in with kids from that side of town at first but by the time I got the second school on my side of town with a mixed group I found that I had some friends in some of the classes that were black.  I remember that I didn’t feel as safe over at Eastern Jr. High as I did when I was at Kennedy.  I hadn’t been educated in a mixed crowd it was good to face my fears and find out that things weren’t going to be as bad as I thought.  In the book there are several women with children who have different problems and the stories revolve around them.  I thought that the book seemed to slow a little in different parts so that was why I didn’t give it five stars.  It wasn’t that I opened the book and wanted to read it all the way through and forget my responsibilities as I do with some books so this wasn’t a five on my scale.  It was eye opening as there were some things in the story line that I wouldn’t have thought about and I saw the bussing through their eyes.  It was a good read and some would enjoy it more than I, I am sure.  Not every book is for every person.

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

ABOUT NO ONE EVER ASKED:

Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district–and in their lives.

When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray–the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser–faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones–the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge’s top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she’s stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as “this” or “that”, when such complexity exists in each person?

ABOUT NO ONE EVER ASKED

Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district–and in their lives.

When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray–the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser–faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones–the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge’s top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she’s stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as “this” or “that”, when such complexity exists in each person?

SEE LESS

ABOUT NO ONE EVER ASKED

Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district–and in their lives.

When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray–the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser–faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones–the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge’s top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she’s stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as “this” or “that”, when such complexity exists in each person?

SEE LESS

ABOUT KATIE GANSHERT

KATIE GANSHERT is the author of several novels and works of short fiction, including the Christy Award-winning A Broken Kind of Beautiful and Carol Award-winner, The Art of Losing Yourself. Katie lives in eastern Iowa with her family.

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown - Five Stars!!

Wow!  I have always loved Sandra Brown’s books, but had forgotten just how fabulous a writer she is.  This book delivers a great mystery or whodunit, along with very well-developed characters, and spins and turns to the story until you are wondering who killed Paul before it’s over also.  Could it have been someone else other than the obvious?  What was the motive?  I love the characters in this book, Creighton is the sort of character you love to hate!  The story line is just rich with details and I love the interaction between Paul’s mistress Julie and the attorney she made sure couldn’t represent Creighton.  How she did that is a fabulous mile high story!  You won’t be able to put this book down until the end and even then, you’ll be sorry that it’s finished! 

I

 received this book as a gift from the author, through Good Reads (I was a giveaways winner) and am leaving my reviews of the book absolutely on my own, my own opinion and score of 5 Stars!  Had I been able to give more I would have.

Here is the description as found on Good Reads:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown comes this thrilling new novel full of jarring, cinematic twists and breathless suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat.

When millionaire Paul Wheeler is murdered, his family retains renowned lawyer Derek Mitchell to defend the victim’s nephew Creighton— although the police have not charged the young man with the crime. Wheeler’s mistress, Julie Rutledge, who is also a suspect, believes that Creighton is the killer, despite his rock-solid alibi, and she’ll do almost anything in her quest to prove his guilt—even ruin Derek’s career. But the more Derek learns of Creighton’s darker side, especially his bizarre fascination with movie murders, the more he comes to believe Julie is right. The clock ticks down to a shocking ending as Derek and Julie join forces to find the truth. Has Creighton begun reenacting cinema’s goriest scenes? And who will be his unwilling costars? They won’t know until the final SMASH CUT.

Should've Been You (A Man Enough Romance) by Nicole McLaughlin

Wow this book had some hot love making in it!  Also, very creative.  Yes, I know now you are thinking I should read it to find out what she is talking about.  Yes, you should. I had sisters that were fraternal twins.  One was sunny and pretty and got more attention she was very outgoing. The other was not as pretty, more introverted and felt badly when she would be on the end of someone paying more attention to her sister for those reasons. I use past tense because I lost that sister this last summer at age 58.  Back to the book this book does have a similar set of twins.  Becca has always been attracted to the next-door neighbor Jase.  She has had a secret crush on him for years.  She’s done nothing about it because her sister has always been right there flirting and touching and hanging out with Jase whenever he was around.  When she gets engaged to someone who is not Jase, Becca and Jase find themselves spending more time together when she comes home over Christmas.  Secrets come out that change everything and involve Becca’s sister and a long ago lie regarding Jase and Becca.  Really good story line and this one kind of reminded me of my sister, which was a little sad for me.  It really is a good read and I believe as long as sexual encounters aren’t a problem with you and your reads, you really should pick this one up if you like a good romance!  Hot romance!

I received this book free from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. This book was in kindle format

Here is the description of the book as found on Net Galley:

Childhood neighbors get a chance at love in Should’ve Been You, an achingly romantic novella in Nicole McLaughlin’s Man Enough series!

National Guardsman Jase Beckford wants to live a quiet life raising cattle and taking care of his mother. His childhood friend and neighbor Hannah is still his best friend, but when he walks into the Walters house one morning and sees her twin sister Becca for the first time in five years, he wonders if he missed out on something special.

Becca Walters has nursed a secret crush on Jase since childhood, but he always preferred Hannah, so she buried her feelings assuming her sister and Jase would one day turn their flirtation into a real relationship. And this Christmas, she is anticipating a proposal of her own, so Jase’s reappearance in her life doesn’t mean anything. Much. Okay, maybe more than Becca would like to admit.

However, when Becca’s sister gets engaged to someone who’s not Jase, Becca and Jase find themselves spending more together. And when secrets are revealed, suddenly those dormant feelings come back to life; but is the possibility of something between them worth risking the happiness of everyone they love?

Holding The Fort by Regina Jennings - Five Stars!

Great book!  Historical information included in the story on the Fort Reno at the time of the story and the Indian problems along with the soldiers that were housed there.  Louisa Bell loses her job as a singer in a saloon (she only sings) and she finds out that her brother is once again in trouble at Fort Reno he’s been thrown in the Brig and she decides to go there to let her brother know that he has to straighten up she can’t help him anymore.  Once she has stopped for a lay over waiting for the stage coach she meets a woman who was supposed to be the governess for the Majors two daughters, and she can’t go there and take the job. She asks Louisa to take the box of books that he paid for and she ordered and deliver them to the Major.  Louisa agrees and the woman also gives her an outfit to wear, as the clothing that Louisa has was all for performing in a saloon…..nothing is suitable to be seen in at the Fort.  When Louisa arrives at Fort Reno she finds that she’s been mistaken for the governess that was expected, and she decides since she has no other way of supporting herself she’ll ride it out and do what she can to keep the job as governess.  Boy does she run into trouble!!  The book is humorous, very interesting, almost unbelievable but I went with it and read the entire book.  It was quite the romp. I did enjoy it and do recommend it!  You can easily polish off this book in one setting if you have the time.

I received the book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Here is the description as found on Good Reads:

When dance hall singer Louisa Bell visits Fort Reno to see her brother, she is mistaken for the governess that the harried Major Daniel Adams is waiting for. Between his rowdy troops and his two daughters, he has more responsibility than he can handle alone. Eager for the opportunity, Louisa sets out to show the widower that she is a perfect fit.