I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Author: vicklea
I love to read! I’m a retired teacher with a spouse of 45 years, three amazing children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I am blessed!
I really enjoy a good romantic suspense book and when it’s a Love Inspired book, that is even better because faith becomes a focus of the characters as they work to resolve their problems. This is the second book in a series, but it is the first one that I have read by this author so I can attest to the fact that it can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Mara Castillo and Levi Duke. Levi has partnered with Mara’s brother Seth to purchase a failing ranch in the desert outside of Las Vegas. Furnace Falls is not a paradise by any means but Levi and Seth hope to turn the ranch around and raise horses. Unfortunately, before Seth can even arrive, he is seriously injured and in a coma, leaving Mara to fill in the gaps on the ranch. I really enjoyed how responsible Levi was, to Seth and to Mara and to his own obligations. I read intently as Mara’s character developed from one who was bitter about what she has had to give up into one who accepts things the way they are. The plot is complicated by the fact that Mara’s sister Corinne disappeared about five years earlier and now it seems that Mara has received a text from her. So, in addition to finding out what happened to Corinne, visiting her seriously injured brother in the hospital, dealing with her feelings for Levi and working on the ranch, Mara is trying to discover the secrets that seem to be threatening her life. There were surprising twists along the way to the end of the story and a lot of back-and-forth romance between Levi and Mara. The suspense never let up and the romance was a light one, in the background but always there. The animals were my absolute favorites of the story! There was Banjo the intuitive dog, a kitten named Tiny whom Banjo seems to adopt as his own and a Rabbit living under the porch. Plus, of course, there were lots of horses on the ranch. I enjoyed the story, the characters, the themes of family and persevering and the intrigue of a good mystery. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A clean romantic suspense that can be read by all who enjoy a good mystery and a light romance.Four stars foragood book that left me wanting to know more about the characters and the storyPhoto from the author’s website at http://www.danamentik.com
About the Author
Dana Mentink is a national bestselling author. She has been honored to win two Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion, and a Reviewer’s Choice award. She’s authored more than thirty novels to date for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Harlequin Heartwarming. Dana loves feedback from her readers. Contact her at www.danamentink.com
For well over a year now, God’s Spirit has been speaking to me to focus on what is important. Today puts a real point on this Scripture. It is my oldest grandson’s graduation day from high school. Isaac has always been a blessing, a shy creature who prefers solitude to company but who will gladly debate points in the Scripture about which he needs clarification. I got up at 4 this morning so that we can drive to his graduation, but before I could start getting ready, the Spirit spoke to me and told me to gather photos of his childhood. I know that many will have slide shows with all of the bells and whistles, but I’m using what I have and hope that these photos of how much he has been cherished will be enough. You see, Isaac is joining the USAF. He has excelled in school and could go to college on a scholarship. But what he wants most is freedom. He has worked hard and should be able to pursue whatever dreams he has. I am wishing him all the best, but mostly, I want him to know that life is short. Life is a shadow and God is eternity. Throughout his childhood and young adulthood, his grandfather and I have sowed those seeds. Now we want them to be brought to fruition in the best possible ways. I will miss the boy, the young man and now I will miss the young adult. But he will forever be in my heart, and I pray that I am in his.
This book is contemporary fiction and could be considered a beach read, but it is by no means “light reading.” Set during the Covid-19 pandemic in the picturesque Isle of Palms, this book captured me via the plot, although all of the details about the pandemic were off-putting for me. There is the uncertainty, the worry, the quarantines, mask-wearing and social distancing, all included in the pages of this novel. Fortunately, the author managed to include a plot about choices, family relationships and love relationships that were interesting enough to keep me reading regardless of the Covid-19 hovering throughout the book. Linnea Rutledge is furloughed from her job at the Charleston Aquarium due to the pandemic and has no plans for what to do with her time since her boyfriend Gordon is stuck in England because of Covid-19. Her former boyfriend John is quarantined next door but is sending her missives in the form of notes in paper airplanes. This part was somewhat humorous and I did look forward to the new ways that John kept finding to communicate with Linnea. The descriptions of the setting and characters are vivid and each character is portrayed in a three-dimensional way that allowed me to get to know them well as I read the book. The theme of getting closer to the ones you love during the pandemic runs throughout the book and touched my heart. But the underlying angst caused by Covid-19 made it difficult for me at times to pick up the book and continue reading. However, I found that like most people, I do enjoy a story involving love, family, a beach house and sea turtles. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Told with the signature wit of the author as well as her understanding of and sympathy for her characters, this book delved deeply into the broken family relationships that seem unable to be repaired. Daisy is a trust fund baby with a big home, the undying love of her father and a job that she enjoys. Sage is beautiful, well traveled and has already looked for love in all the wrong places so she has returned home. And Cassidy, the adventurer, returns home unexpectedly and reluctantly when she has an accident on one of her adventures. All three stepsisters are thrown together into a book that reads like a movie. With plenty of romance and family drama, this book captured my imagination and my heart. I think that anyone who reads it will have a character with whom they can identify. For me, it was Daisy, the one who is misunderstood and who just wants love and acceptance in a world where judgment seems to come first. I liked all of the main characters, actually, even Cassidy who is the youngest but who also spouts gems of wisdom at the most unlikely moments. These siblings didn’t get along growing up, but they seem to bond together when another is threatened by anything and that just touched my heart. When Daisy’s husband Jordan leaves her, her world is upended and she seeks solace in a bottle but finds it in her sisters and their advice. Sage is stuck with her self-centered mother who has no love for Daisy and little love for Sage. She just wants to find a rich man and ride off into the sunset with him. Cassidy, meanwhile, is terrified of committing to any kind of relationship and needs to see for herself how families really work. She forms a bond with Daisy’s two children and helps Daisy in surprising ways. I loved the well-written story, with all of its many little side trips to explain the relationships. But mostly, I loved the humor in the story that was just what I needed. Yes, there was plenty of drama, too, but the humor made the story so much fun to read. The book was engaging and totally entertaining and I look forward someday to seeing a movie featuring this title and these characters. Fans of family, romance and a theme of forgiveness will definitely want to pick up this book and will enjoy its journey to restoration. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this a definite PG-13 because it does have some extramarital sex scenes as well as some expletives. About the Author:#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.
Daisy Bosarge felt the fear that was universal in the parenting world when Krissa uttered those eight little words. Even more concerning was the fact that her son was already home with stomach flu.
She’d known better than to let her daughter go to school this morning, she thought ruefully, but Krissa had begged and Daisy had been late for work and it had just seemed easier to say yes. A decision that was getting ready to bite her in the butt as she drove as fast as she could, given the traffic on the road.
“Ten more minutes,” she said, glancing at her eight-year-old in the back seat. “We’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“I don’t feel good.”
“I know, sweetie. I’m going to get you home.”
At least cajoling her daughter was better than trying to avoid looking at the ominous Check Engine light that had popped on right before Daisy had arrived at the school to pick up her daughter. Yet another problem she didn’t have time to deal with.
Priorities, she told herself. Get Krissa home and in bed, look in on Ben, then make an appointment to take her Mercedes to the dealership. After that, she would—
“Mommy, I’m going to throw up now!”
Daisy held in a moan. She carefully checked her mirrors before pulling to the side of the road.
“Just a second,” she murmured, knowing at this point there weren’t any words in the world that would keep the inevitable from happening.
Seconds later her day took yet another unfair turn as her daughter threw up all over herself, the back seat and the carpet. The smell and the sound of Krissa bursting into tears hit her at the same time.
She put on her flashers and raced around to the passenger side, where she helped her daughter out onto the sidewalk. Cars drove by so close, Daisy felt the whoosh of air as they passed. She kept hold of her daughter as she circled to the trunk, where she kept her emergency tote filled with paper towels, wipes and a shirt for each of her kids.
She cleaned off her daughter’s face, then reached for the hem of her T-shirt.
“Let me get this off you,” she said. “I have a fresh one right here.”
But Krissa stopped her, tugging the shirt back in place.
“No!” she shrieked, looking around frantically. “I’m outside. Someone will see.”
Someone who? Krissa was eight and the car was between them and the traffic, with Daisy blocking their view.
“Can you change in the front seat?” she asked, trying to sound reasonable, instead of close to losing it.
“No.” Tears spilled down her daughter’s flushed cheeks. “Mommy, no!”
The headache that had started a little before noon clicked up a level or two, with a steady pressure building right between her eyes. She ignored the pain and put her hand on her daughter’s forehead, feeling the heat there. Before she could figure out what to do, Krissa threw up again, this time down the front of Daisy’s scrubs and on her shoes.
Krissa’s tears increased and at that moment, Daisy really wanted to join in. She’d had a bad day at work, both her kids were sick, she was never getting the vomit smell out of her car and just because there wasn’t already enough crap in her life, her husband had moved out two days ago. To “give them both space to think,” as he’d phrased it.
In a text.
Jerk, she thought, feeling the familiar fury tinged with a hint of panic. Although the real word was closer to asshole than jerk. How could he have done that to—
One step at a time, she told herself. First, she had to get Krissa home, then the car, then—
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark blue BMW slow as it drove past. She wanted to yell out something vulgar to the voyeur, but knew that would set a bad example, so she instead forced a smile.
“Sweetie, let me clean the back seat so you can get in. You can change your shirt in there, and no one will see. All right?”
Krissa nodded reluctantly.
Daisy planted her where she could see her, then cleaned up the mess as best she could. In the eighty-plus-degree weather that was spring in Los Angeles, the interior of the car was already heating up. The smell nearly made her gag. Blood she could handle just fine. Open up a body and she was okay with that, but this? A nightmare.
She finished her work and coaxed Krissa closer to the car only to notice the BMW driving by again, but with the sun hitting the side window, she couldn’t see who was driving.
Better to ignore them, she told herself, slipping off her daughter’s school uniform polo shirt and putting on a T-shirt with Elsa from Frozen on the front. Sadly she had nothing for herself to change into. She wiped up her pants and shoes and was about to try to buckle Krissa in when the BMW pulled up to the curb behind her car.
Daisy told herself not to panic, even as she wished for lethal training in some kind of karate. Or a can of pepper spray. Was that legal in Los Angeles? Before she could decide, the driver’s door opened and a tall, beautiful blonde woman stepped out.
Daisy silently ran through all the swear words she knew, created a few unique combinations, then wanted to know why God currently hated her because there was no other explanation for Sage Vitale to be walking toward her, looking as fabulous as only Sage could in skinny jeans and a flowy top that made her appear sexy and ethereal at the same time. Four-inch-heel boots completed the look. Daisy, on the other hand, had been up since four, hadn’t showered since yesterday and hey, the vomit.
Last she’d heard, Sage was in Italy, married to a count. Because that was Sage’s life. Race car drivers and counts and being tall and skinny and beautiful. Daisy was smart and had a sparkling personality. It just wasn’t fair.
Sage looked from her to her daughter. “Daisy? I thought that was you when I drove by. Are you okay?”
No. No, she wasn’t. Any idiot could see that. Her kid was obviously sick, Daisy had puke on her pants and shoes, so no. Not okay.
“We’re fine,” Daisy said, trying not to clench her teeth. Her dentist had told her that if she didn’t learn to relax, she was going to have to wear a mouth guard at night to stop herself from grinding her teeth. She felt her bedtime routine already lacked a certain sex appeal and she sure didn’t need a mouth guard adding to the problem.
“You don’t seem fine,” Sage said, her nose wrinkling, no doubt from the smell.
“Who are you?” Krissa asked.
“I’m, um, I’m…”
“This is Sage. She’s my stepsister.” Or at least she had been, once.
Krissa rubbed her suddenly running nose. “So you’re my aunt?”
“No,” Daisy said firmly. “Please buckle up so we can get home.”
For once, Krissa didn’t complain or talk back. Instead she buckled her seat belt, twisting her head to keep looking at Sage. Daisy thought about warning her of the danger of that. Sage was like the sun and if you stared at her too long, there was permanent damage.
Later she would think about what quirk of fate had her former stepsister driving by at the exact moment she was at her lowest. LA had a population of what, eight million people? What were the odds? Although she supposed they did live close. Sort of. But still!
She forced a tight smile. “Thank you for stopping. It was very kind.”
“I couldn’t believe it was you, standing there on the side of the road,” Sage admitted. “I knew you had kids, but seeing you with your daughter… It’s just strange.”
“We haven’t really kept in touch,” Daisy said, inching toward her door.
“Right. We haven’t seen each other since your wedding.”
Daisy stared at her stepsister. Really? Sage had gone there? “Yes, my wedding twelve years ago, where you announced to everyone in the room that you were still in love with the man I was marrying. It was great.”
Sage flushed. “It wasn’t exactly like that.”
Oh, yes it was, but Daisy didn’t want to stay and chitchat. “Thanks again.” She waved and ducked into her car.
“She’s really pretty,” Krissa said admiringly. “I like what she’s wearing.”
“It’s jeans and a shirt,” Daisy snapped before she could stop herself. “Sorry. I’m tired. Let’s get you home.”
In the rearview mirror she saw Sage get back in her car. Their eyes met briefly in the mirror, then Daisy focused her attention on starting her car. She pushed the button to engage the engine…and nothing happened. The dashboard lights came on, along with the red Check Engine light, but the engine stayed silent.
Daisy grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and tried not to scream. She didn’t want to scare her daughter and possibly herself by giving in to the crazy building up inside of her but why did this have to happen?
Someone knocked on her window. She rolled it down.
“You okay?” Sage asked.
“Not really. My car won’t start.”
“Want me to take you home?”
Daisy thought about saying she would call an Uber or Lyft or something, but figured that fate was messing with her and she might as well simply surrender. The sooner she got through whatever hell this was, the sooner it would be over. Later, when the kids were in bed and she had showered, she would review her life and try to decide where she’d messed up so much that she had to be punished. But for now, she had a sick kid and someone willing to give her a ride.
“Thank you,” she said through clenched teeth, looking into the beautiful green eyes of the one woman on the planet she hated more than anyone. “That would be great.”
Excerpted from The Stepsisters @ 2021 by Susan Mallery, Inc., used with permission by MIRA Books.
This is a book that is humorous and that teaches good life lessons. Get it today! Thanks so much to MIRA Books for the ARC to read and review and for the invitation to the blog tour!
Okay, so I confess that lately I have been in what my grandmother used to call the mulligrubs. Yes, my friends, that is a real word and it means that I have been bad-tempered and grumpy. Most people who don’t know me well would not have noticed because I hide my feelings, but I am certain that my poor husband has felt the brunt of my dissatisfaction with life in general. Anyway, this morning started as most do, with morning meds, feeding the cat and then sitting down with a heating pad against my back while I start reading my devotionals and my Bible. Zing! Right between the eyes!
Well! This verse really spoke to my heart today! I have been in the mulligrubs since I found out two weeks ago that once again I have to give up foods that I enjoy because of a health condition. This time, I have to eat only low potassium foods and believe me, from one who reads labels constantly, that is no easy thing. Gone…all of the canned soups that I enjoy, even the low sodium ones that I have eaten since my stroke. Gone…the clementines that I had daily just because I like their sweetness. Gone…all tomato products, including tomato sauce and catsup. And gone…milk chocolate! You get the idea. I was feeling bad for me. Poor me! I have a kidney that is not cooperating and as a result, if I want to continue to live (which at points during the last two weeks I was not sure I did, to be honest), I have to follow these new restrictions. I’m sure that God has tired of my whining, and in His grace and mercy He spoke to me this morning with this verse.
I may not get to enjoy certain foods, but God is still right there with me. God is carrying me through this current valley and one day I will be delivered from it. I personally think that day will come when He carries me to Heaven to be with Him eternally, but the Scriptures don’t really say. I just needed the hope that comes from believing that all in my life may change, but God does not. You would think that after almost five decades of walking with Him I would have already known this. In my heart of hearts, I’m sure I have known it, but I needed a reminder, a gentle push in the right direction, if you will.
This was an eye-opening verse for me. I wanted things to stay the same. After all, I had gotten used to my low sodium diet and was almost content with it. Then I was zapped with the new diet and the complaints began. Nothing tasted good or enticed me to eat much. But God tells me in His Word that He is doing a new thing. My wilderness right now is a new diet and I sincerely believe that God is going to create something good and new in this situation, like rivers in a desert. I don’t know how He is going to do it; I just know that He is because He loves me and wants me to know that He is right there with me, in my wilderness, taking care of me through this valley.
My question to you, my friends, is what wilderness are you in today that you need to trust God to supply water for you? In what way does God need to carry and deliver you? God supplies our needs: physically, spiritually and emotionally. I may not like where I am, but that is just what it is. Did the fact that my kidney function is going down surprise God? Of course not! Did He already know that I would need to change my dietary habits in many significant ways? I’m sure that He did, but He wasn’t at all bothered by it or by the fact that I have been in the mulligrubs. He has brought me out of the mulligrubs into a place of new thankfulness for His loving care and provision. As I eat my blueberry cheerios with almond milk today, I will be thankful that there are things that I can still eat. Perspective changes when God gets hold of you; instead of thinking of all that I can no longer eat or drink, I am thankful that I can eat or drink some things and that God has provided us with enough funds to buy those things.
I never thought in my wildest dreams that a pandemic would strike our nation and that we would be unable to go to church for almost a year. But then it happened. My soul desired fellowship with other believers, a time of prayer and a time of praise. But all we had were the TV shows that we found that fed our thirst for more about Christ but which lacked the personal touch that I craved. Finally, in February of this year, I had had enough of this lockdown and my husband and I wanted to find a new church. I had been discontent in our previous one for many months, but my husband had been serving as a deacon and wanted to fulfill his commitment there before we moved on. So, how do you go about finding a new church? Do you make a list and check off the boxes to make sure that it’s a good fit? No! I suggest to you that you wait for God’s timing and He will show you where He wants you to be.
This last year was a year of many firsts for many people, including me. This was the first year in almost seventy years of life that I had a problem with one of my teeth and ended up needing a crown. I was more than a little dismayed about this process, especially since it was also the year that I broke my foot and was in a huge boot when I got there. The dental tech got me settled into the chair and was asking me about my boot. I told her that I had a small bone broken in my foot due to a fall and she shared with me that her small son had been in a terrible accident with his own foot and almost lost it. She then shared with me that she had her whole church praying for the little tyke since the doctors were all telling her that he would have to have his foot amputated. She was praising God that he was healed and walking around just fine on his two feet. I asked what church she attended that believed in the power of prayer and she shared with me that it is Compass Christian Church.
My husband and I visited and both of us were impressed with the number of Scriptures shared during a service, with the humility of the two pastors and with the friendliness of the church members. They have communion every Sunday; they sing and praise God every Sunday and they have a sermon that lifts up God and teaches, every Sunday. We have been happy there and plugged into a small group that meets in a nearby community so that we are making connections. It was amazing to us how fast the church was growing, from 200 people pre-pandemic to over 600 in three different services. One of the things that was very different for me was that the church is not part of a Charismatic Movement. They don’t practice the gifts of the Spirit and I really had to pray about that. From the time of my salvation almost five decades ago until now, the churches that we have joined have been one that practiced Acts 2 vocally and regularly. So, instead of dismissing this church because of the lack of speaking in tongues, prophesying,etc., I prayed and God spoke to my heart that I can still use my prayer language, quietly, for my own edification and for God’s glory. That is what I have been doing. As we worship at church and enter into God’s presence, it is a natural thing for me to pray in my prayer language. But no one has to hear and know that I am praying in tongues except for God and me. I feel like I’m in a prayer closet, alone with God, feeling His touch and His presence. I must say that this is different for me, but in a really good way. My focus is on God, not on whether I speak in tongues that week or not. My focus is on worshipping my Creator, not on being used by Him to prophesy. This church may be for a season for us, since we may have to move next year, but however long we are here, we are content. It is a good fit for us since we were both hungry for the Word and for fellowship with Christians.
For those who are gasping that I am setting aside the gifts of the Spirit, I want to assure you that I am not. The Holy Spirit is still active in my prayer time, my worship time and at church. It’s just not something that I have to toot my horn about because it’s a private thing between me and God and I’m okay with that. In fact, I’m better than okay. I’m happy that God is still there for me, in spite of all my circumstances and failings.
When I contacted the church secretary recently to ask for prayer about my kidney problem and new diet, I was put on the prayer list for the elders to pray for in their weekly meeting. The next week, one of the pastors came by where I was sitting to ask how I am doing and if there is anything they can do for me. Pray! Just pray, was my reply, because God made me and He already knows that I have some physical challenges. The change to a new diet is nothing new really since I have been on a stroke diet for six years. Now I have to be on a special low potassium kidney diet and have sought the help of a registered dietician since I have so many restrictions. I have also sought the comfort of God as I once again have to give up so many foods that I genuinely enjoy, like tomatoes and bananas and oranges.
But God is there, my church is praying for me and I am working things out. This church fits me. It makes me feel good to walk into the doors and it makes me feel fulfilled when I leave. No more wondering and worrying if the commentaries that were used for the sermons were accurate because the Scriptures are preached, just the Scriptures, no additions to be wondering about. Contented…blessed and glorifying God that He sent the dental tech at just the right moment to give me a testimony that sent me to the church that I fit into. It’s a God-incidence! He was there and He saw my need and met it. Isn’t that just like God? Praise His Name, for He is always worthy and always there!
May you have a blessed week and I hope that each of you takes time to remember the sacrifices of those who gave everything so that we could have freedom!
Although this book is a part of a series, I have not read any of the other books and was able to thoroughly enjoy the story of Rosa and Wyatt as if it were a standalone. Rosa Galvez lives and works in the little beach town of Cannon Beach, managing the Brambleberry House apartments and running a little souvenir shop. She is totally content with her solitary life, letting into her heart her Irish setter Fiona. Then a new police officer needs a place to stay while his home is being repaired, so he takes at apartment at Brambleberry. Wyatt is recently widowed and has a young, precocious son names Logan. All of the characters were so realistically portrayed that I felt as though I could meet them on the street and instantly know who they were. I felt a great affinity for Rosa, a woman who has a lot of secrets in her past but who is determined to just hold them close and not let anyone touch her heart. Logan, however, could break a heart of stone and that is where Rosa begins to see that she needs to tell others about her past and let go of it. There is building suspense in this book which was unexpected for me since I was thinking this would be just a lighthearted romance. The romance was there, but the road to it was rocky and filled with intrigue. That kept me engaged and reading quickly so I could find out what Rosa’s secrets were and if she could overcome them in order to establish a lasting relationship with Wyatt. Two people with overwhelming hurts in their past discover love, so that was very heartwarming, if totally predictable. What was not predictable was all of the detours that they had to take to get to their happy ending. The plot was very well done, with some unexpected twists and even a sub-plot involving another tenant in the house, Jen and her daughter Addie. The multiple layers also added interest for me as I got to know more of the characters and felt empathy for them. The author did a masterful job of creating an engaging plot, characters with heart and soul, and an ending that wrapped everything up with a bow. Fans of romance will enjoy this journey to Cannon Beach! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.
Now that the deed was done, Rosa was having second, third and fourth thoughts about Wyatt Townsend moving in downstairs.
Why had she ever thought this would work?
That evening as she pulled weeds in the backyard after leaving the store, she had to fight all her instincts that were urging her to call up Carrie right now and tell her she had made a mistake. The apartment was no longer available.
“There is no law against changing your mind, is there?” she asked out loud to Fiona, who was lying in the grass nearby, watching butterflies dance amid the climbing roses.
The dog gave her a curious look then turned back to her business, leaving Rosa to sigh. She yanked harder at a stubborn weed that had driven deep roots into the ground.
She would do nothing. She had given her word and could not back out now. Integrity, keeping her word, was important. She had learned that first from her own mother and then from her adopted parents.
Lauren and Daniel Galvez were two of the most honorable people she knew. They would never think of reneging on a promise and she couldn’t, either.
Yes, Wyatt made her extremely nervous. She did not want him moving in downstairs. But she had given her word to his sister. End of story.
Because of that, she would be gracious and welcoming to him and to his sweet son.
Thinking about Logan left her feeling a little bit better about the decision. He was a very adorable boy, with good manners and a ready smile.
It was not the boy’s fault that Wyatt made her so nervous.
She had almost talked herself into at least accepting the new status quo, when an SUV pulled up to the house a half hour later.
Fiona lifted her head to sniff the air, then rose and hurried over to the vehicle to greet the newcomers.
Rosa climbed to her feet a little more slowly, pulled off her gloves and swiped at her hair before she headed for the vehicle. She might be accepting of her new tenants, but summoning the same kind of enthusiasm her dog showed so readily would be a stretch.
When Rosa reached the vehicle, Logan was opening the back door and jumping to the ground, his little dog close behind.
Fiona barked a greeting, then leaned in to sniff the newcomer, tail wagging. The Townsends’ dog sniffed back, and a moment later, the two were circling each other with joy.
At least Fiona was happy to have them here.
“Hello, Logan,” Rosa said.
“Hi.” The boy beamed at her, showing off a gap in his teeth that she found adorable.
“Guess what?” he said. “We’re moving into your house! Dad says we can stay here until our house is done and I’ll have my own bedroom and won’t have to sleep in Aunt Carrie’s sewing room anymore.”
“This is so wonderful, no?” She smiled down at him, trying not to pay any attention to his father walking around the vehicle, looking big and serious and intimidating.
“What is the name of your dog?”
“This is Hank. Don’t worry. He’s nice.”
“I never doubted it for a minute,” she assured him. “Hello, Hank.”
She reached down to pet the dog, who responded by rolling over to have his belly scratched. Rosa loved him immediately.
“This is Fiona. She is also very nice.”
Logan grinned and petted Fiona’s long red coat.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if she only had to deal with the boy and the dog? Unfortunately, the boy had a father. She had to say something to Wyatt, at least. Bracing herself, she lifted her attention from the two dogs and the boy, and faced the man who always looked as if he could see through her skin and bones into her heart, and was not convinced he liked what he saw.
Available on June 29th, but you can pre-order now. Purchase Links:
This is a five plus stars book that had my mind percolating on the ending long after I had completed it. With the themes of amnesia, persevering love, evil that lurks and promises to destroy, this book was one that had me rooting for the underdog and gasping at some of the events in the plot. Well written does not begin to describe the plot. It was written in such a way that I became more than a reader or a spectator. I was waiting with bated breath until the villain was revealed and then I could not wait for the ending when the happy part came. When Jack disappeared from a beach in Maryland, Lily was determined to find him because she saw him as the love of her life, her second chance. Through happenstance, she finds him in Maine and follows him there, only to discover that he does not remember her at all. Lily befriends Jack’s sister Maya and is introduced to the real Jack, whose actual name is Ash. Unfortunately, Ash does not remember why he went to Maryland or anything really about his past. He does know that one of his former girlfriends disappeared and another died tragically, but he does not remember any details about either Celine or Kate. Lily accepts Ash as he is and wants to help him to remember. Maya is helpful, too, giving Ash a job to do while he recovers from his head injury. There are three points of view in the story and I found myself racing through each one, trying to find out what the truth was about Ash’s past and who Lily was and any secrets that Maya had. The action was fast-paced and non-stop, giving me time to take a deep breath before I plunged into the next heart-racing scene. With characters that were perfect for the parts they played, this book was like a play that I was watching unfold and I was sad when it ended. I cannot say more without giving away the shocking conclusion, but I will highly recommend this thriller to anyone looking for a book to entertain, enthrall and mystify. Wow! Just wow! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Caution: This book has content that could be disturbing to younger readers. I would rate it a hard PG-13.Author Bio: Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing, and is now the author of The Neighbors, Her Secret Son, and Sister Dear. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons, and is delighted by her twenty-second commute.
Cold. Cold was the first word that came to mind. The first thing I noticed when I woke up. Not a slight, uncomfortable chill to give me the shivers, but a cramp-inducing, iced-to-the-bone kind of frozen. I lay flat on my stomach, my left ear and cheek pressed into the rough, grainy wet ground beneath me, my entire body shaking. As my thoughts attempted to assemble themselves into some form of understandable order, a wave of icy water nipped at my bare toes and ankles, my instincts pulling my feet out of reach.
I had a sudden urge to get up, a primal need to take in my surroundings and assess the danger—was I in danger?—but the throbbing pain deep in my head made the slightest effort to shift anything seem impossible. Lifting a finger would be too much effort, and I acquiesced, allowing myself to lie still for another few freezing seconds as the frigid water crept over the balls of my feet again. When I blinked my eyes open, I was met by a thick, fuzzy darkness enveloping me like a cloak. Where the hell was I? And wherever it was, what was I doing here?
When I lifted my head a fraction of an inch, I could barely make out anything in front of me. There was hardly a noise either, nothing but a gentle, steady rumble in the background, and the cry of a bird somewhere in the distance. I made my brain work its way backward—bird, rumble, sand, water—and the quartet formed the vaguely cohesive image of a beach.
Searching for confirmation, I inhaled the salty, humid air deep into my lungs as another slosh of water took aim at my calves. This time the discomfort was enough to push me to my feet, and I wrapped my arms around my naked torso, my sopping board shorts clinging to my goose-bump-covered thighs. An explosion of pain in my head threatened to send me back to my knees, and I swayed gently, wishing I had something to steady myself with, willing my body to stay upright. As I pressed a hand to the side of my skull, I let out a quiet yelp, and felt along a two-inch gash in my scalp. My eyes had adjusted somewhat to the lack of light, and my fingertips were covered in something dark that smelled of rust. Blood. How had I…?
Another low rumble made me turn around, shuffling slowly in a semicircle. The behemoth effort was rewarded by the sight of a thousand glistening waves dancing under the moonlight like diamonds, the water stretching out and disappearing into the darkness beyond. As my ears tuned in to the rhythmic whoosh of the waves, my mind worked hard to process each scrap of information it took in.
I’m definitely on a beach. It’s nighttime. I’m alone. What am I doing here?
Before I could answer the single question, a thousand others crowded my brain, an incessant string of chatter I couldn’t stop or get away from.
Where is everyone? Never mind them, where am I? Have I been here long? How did I get here? Where was I before? Where are my clothes? What day is it?
My legs buckled. Not because of the unfamiliar surroundings, the cold burrowing its way deeper into my core, or the pain in my head, which had increased tenfold. No. My knees hit the sand with a dull crunch when I realized I couldn’t answer any of the questions because I couldn’t recall anything. Nothing. Not the tiniest of details.
Including my name.
Chapter 2—Lily
A frown settled over my face as I put my phone on the table, pushed the bowl of unfinished berry oatmeal away and stretched out my legs. It was Saturday morning, and I’d been up for ages, too eager—too hopeful—to spend a day at the beach with Jack, but those plans had been a literal wash-out. The start to the summer felt capricious, with this second storm in the last week of June poised to be much worse than the first. I’d convinced myself the weatherwoman had exaggerated or got her forecast completely wrong, but clouds had rolled in overnight anyway. As a result, I’d been unceremoniously woken up at two thirty by a trio of bright lightning, deafening thunderclaps and heavy raindrops pelting against my bedroom window.
At first, I’d pulled my pillow over my head to deafen the noise, and when that didn’t work, I rolled over and stretched out an arm. The spot next to me was empty and cold, and I groaned. Jack hadn’t come over to my place as I’d hoped he would, slipping into bed and pressing his naked body against mine. I’d buried my face back into my pillow and tried to ignore the tinge of disappointment. We hadn’t seen much of each other this past week, both of us too busy with our jobs to spend more than a night together, and I missed him. Jack had called the day before to tell me he’d be working late, finishing the stain on the cabinets he’d labored on for weeks before his boss had to let him go. Apparently expensive custom kitchens weren’t in as high demand in Brookmount, Maryland as originally thought.
“But you got laid off,” I’d said. “It’s your last day. Why do you care?”
“Because I made a commitment. Besides, it’ll help when I need a reference.”
Typical Jack, always keeping his word. He’d bought a lottery ticket once, and the clerk had jokingly asked if he’d give him half of any winnings. Jack had laughed and shaken the man’s hand, and when he won ten bucks on the ticket, had promptly returned to the store, and paid over the share as promised. His loyalty was one of the many things I loved about Jack, although part of me wished he weren’t quite as dedicated to his soon-to-be ex-boss.
“You could come over to my place when you’re done,” I said, smiling slowly. “I’ll leave the key under the umbrella stand. I don’t mind you waking me up gently in the middle of the night…or not so gently.”
Jack laughed softly. The sound was something I’d fallen in love with eighteen months ago after our eyes had met across a crowded bar, the mother of all uninspired first-encounter clichés, except in this case I’d been forced to admit clichés weren’t always a bad thing.
“It’ll be really late, Lily,” he said, his voice deep. His English accent was something of a rarity in our small coastal town, and still capable of making my legs wobble in anticipation of his next words. “I’ll go for a quick swim now, then finish up work. How about I come over in the morning? Around nine? I’ll bring you breakfast in bed.”
“Blueberry pancakes from Patti’s? With extra maple syrup?”
“This time I’ll order three stacks to make sure I get some.”
“Pancakes or sex?” I said, before telling him how much I loved him, and whispering exactly how I’d thank him for waking me with sweet weekend treats. I’d hoped it might change his mind and he’d come over earlier, except it was ten now, and he still hadn’t showed. It was odd. Jack detested being late as much as he loved being early. He often joked they set Greenwich Mean Time by his father’s old watch, which Jack had worn since his dad passed a little over a decade before we’d met, when Jack was only twenty.
I checked my phone again. Jack hadn’t answered either of my calls, another anomaly, but I tried to talk myself into believing he’d worked late into the night to make the final good impression he wanted, and overslept. Maybe there was a line at Patti’s—the restaurant was slammed every weekend—and perhaps his phone was set to silent.
I picked up my bowl and wandered to the kitchen. My place was the smallest of six apartments, a tiny but well-maintained one-bedroom in a building a few miles from the beach, farther than I’d planned, but the closest I could afford. I’d lived there for almost five years, had furnished it with an eclectic assortment of third-hand furniture, my favorite piece a royal blue microfiber sofa I’d bought for fifty bucks, and which Jack swore was the most comfortable thing he’d ever sat on. Whenever he sank down into it and pulled me on top of him with a contented sigh, I’d tease him about what made him happier; the squishy, well-worn cushions, or me.
Slow-paced at first and then quickly picking up the pace as the book raced to a surprise conclusion, this book showed the author at her best. The story of Alice and Leo’s move into a new home in an exclusive neighborhood was relatable and at times horrifying because of all of the secrets that the neighborhood held close to the chest. Alice had no idea that the reason Leo could afford the home is that a murder happened in it. When she does discover the truth, she wants to know more about the victim, more about the killer, just more. Her quest for the truth leads her down a dangerous path and twisted me into the story, too. As more was revealed, I got more and more invested in the story and in the atmosphere of mystery. Alice is a protagonist but not particularly strong since she falls for every ploy and kept frustrating me with her lack of wisdom. The theme of neighbors with secrets was captivating, but I especially liked Alice’s “friendship” with the deceased therapist Nina. Determined to find out more about Nina and her death, Alice becomes obsessed and so did I as she delved more into the past and discovered layers of secrecy. The genre is psychological suspense and the author is at her best game in this genre. Entertaining and intriguing, this was a propulsive mystery that held me captive for hours until I reached a stunning and unexpected conclusion. Think roller coaster ride that just suddenly goes over a cliff. I enjoyed the ride but was not a fan of the ending, but that could just be me. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this book a PG-13 because of the theme and content. Excellent and entertaining read for more mature readers. Photo from http://www.goodreads.com
BIO: B A Paris is the internationally bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, Bring Me Back and The Dilemma. Having sold over one million copies in the UK alone, she is a New York Times bestseller as well as Sunday Times bestseller and a number one bestseller on Amazon and iBooks. Her books have been translated into 40 languages. Having lived in France for many years, she and her husband recently moved back to the UK. (Bio from author’s website on Amazon)
Coming on July 13, 2021! Don’t wait! Pre-order now from one of the following retailers:
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review. This was a captivating book with an intricate plot, complex characters and a gotcha ending!
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