The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter - 5 Stars - Suspense From Beginning to End!!

Loved the book!  Suspense from beginning to end.  You never know what is going to happen next!  I read a lot of romance, this wasn’t my normal genre although I’m wondering now why not?  I have to read another book by this author, it’s an absolute!  The book is character driven from beginning to end. It centers around lawyers rather than police, or detectives which I love as this family the book is centered around are all lawyers. Father and daughter live in the city of Pikesville, the last daughter has moved away never wants to return. Until she receives an email your sister needs you!  The book just doesn’t stop as far as action and suspense and I can’t recommend this book and author enough.  If you like your action on the dark side this one is absolutely for you!  See description below I didn’t see the need to repeat it!  I would have given it 6 stars if I could have!!

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of Good Reads and that is where I entered a drawing for the book and won one!! #GoodReader #TheGoodDaughter

Description as found on Good Reads:
Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind.

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father—Pikeville's notorious defense attorney—devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, Charlotte has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself—the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again, and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized, Charlotte is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress--because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever. Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.

The Sweetest Thing by Barbara Freethy – 5 Stars!

I’ve read a lot of Barbara Freethy’s books, she never disappoints!  Each of her books are very different and they are always so interesting that you can’t or don’t want to put them down.  This book has a bit of paranormal included which only pulled me in further.  I had to see how things were going to work out.  Of course, there was an attraction going on between two of the characters, one that the gentleman had a hard time dealing with.  He doesn’t want to be involved with a woman in any shape or form…..he also finds himself saddled with his Father whom he doesn’t always get along with and a young girl who shows up on his doorstep saying she believes she is his daughter.  He absolutely doesn’t want to believe that.  Then there is the paranormal stuff that is going on for which I am not going to speak of I don’t want to spoil things.  The characters are well written, well developed, very interesting and the interaction between them is very compelling.  This book is one you must pick up.  I would say that of anything Barbara Freethy has written though because I think I’ve read four books of hers now and they were all very good!!  #Barbara Freethy

I received this book through #BookFunnel in the hopes that I would provide an honest review of the book.  I received it in kindle format.

Description as found on Good Reads:

#1 NYT Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy delivers an emotional and poignant story with touches of humor and a cast of quirky, lovable characters. A touch of mysticism adds an extra layer to this story of love and family. 

Alone in the world, Faith Christopher had always yearned for love ... and a man who'd make her heart pound. But her dreams of a place to call home were getting harder to hold on to ... 

Alex Carrigan liked fast cars, fast women and fast deals - then a tough-talking teenager arrived on his doorstep claiming she was his long-lost daughter, and his meddling grandfather decided to move in. Suddenly, Alex has to face the family he never expected. 

Enter Faith. Little did the outspoken and beautiful baker know that deep inside Alex was a well of tenderness ... and that she might have the recipe to bring him true love - the sweetest thing life has to offer. 

Reviews... 

"The Sweetest Thing is a heart-tugging tale of family and the healing power of love. Barbara Freethy has created a delightful cast of quirky yet lovable characters and brought them to full life. The Sweetest Thing is a story as enjoyable and richly satisfying as one of the heroine's chocolate eclairs!" Romance Fiction Forum - AOL 

"Freethy has crafted an entertaining and moving contemporary romance. The paranormal elements are well handled and enrich the story. But ultimately, The Sweetest Thing is about the importance of love and family, for it is love that makes family sweet." The Romance Reader 

"Ms. Freethy has again done a wonderful job of crafting an intriguing plot line and peopling it with fully developed characters that have all of the flaws and foibles common to human beings." Bookbug on the Web 

The Reluctant Warrior by Mary Connealy – 4 Stars!

I liked this one by Mary Connealy.  I got a little slowed on the story while she told the back story that was from her previous book. For me it didn’t flow as well as her previous books in those sections…..but she got into the story eventually without having to tell any more backstory.  I like her writing and I do love reading about the old west and how the people who traveled into Indian country in covered wagons managed with very little to prove claims and live with very little and build homes with even less.  The story line picked up and I finished the book in very little time. I did enjoy the book and there was a bit of suspense throughout the book, a romance, etc. 

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of NetGalley. #TheReluctantWarrior #NetGalley

Description as found on NetGalley.com

Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He's come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children.

When danger descends on the cabin where they're huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection--and in the process he might just win her heart as well.

The Lady Of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller – 5 Stars!!

I loved this book!  I did read it in one day.  It was very interesting.  In addition to having a romance thrown in there is a very real history of diving off boats for sponges.  I knew nothing about this business or how it came to be.  Although the story line is fiction, there was actually a group of over 500 Greeks that moved to Tarpon Springs to live and work diving for sponges.  I enjoy reading about Greek families as I lived with a Greek man for 13 years.  Back in 1905 there was a thriving sponge business and also many came to that area to use the mineral springs that were thought to be beneficial.  The Greeks that came to that area used some of the first diving gear, really quite a process to keep themselves from getting sick or dying while going down or coming up in these suits.  A lot of research went into the writing of this book in regard to diving, the sponge business, and Tarpon Springs in that time period.  The story line is also built around a Greek woman who studies and passes the bar to become a lawyer without her Father’s permission, which was a very big deal in those days.  She ends up running the sponge business for her friend who inherited it from her Father who died suddenly.  Her friend works as a doctor another career not taken up by ladies by many in those days.  The Greek men didn’t want lady doctors taking care of them, nor do they want to do business with ladies and are superstitious about having a lady on any of their boats.  This book was so interesting and the love story and the mystery built into the story line made up for a great read.  Hat’s off to Judith Miller for another very interesting read!

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of "Bethany House and Chosen Books Reader Crew".  #Bethany House. #BakerPublishingGroup. #ChosenBooksReaderCrew.

The description as follows of the book was found on Good Reads:

Much to the dismay of her Greek family, Zanna Krykos makes a living as a lawyer in Tarpon Springs, Florida. When her friend Lucy needs legal advice about the business she inherited upon her father's passing, she ends up asking Zanna to run the business instead so she can focus on her medical career.

Nico Kalos is a Greek diver who has worked on sponging boats in the Aegean Sea since the age of 14, giving him a vast knowledge of the trade. When he hears of an opportunity to lead a group of spongers to the United States, he seizes it. But his excitement is quickly quelled when he arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience in the business will be in charge of the new crews. 

But as Zanna and Nico face even more complications than they could have imagined, they must learn to work together or risk everything they've worked so hard for.