Review of Frame 232 by Wil Mara

Frame 232 by Wil Mara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fasten your seatbelts! Wil Mara’s Frame 232 is a full throttle ride taking the reader back in time to the moment when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Fast forward to the present when Sheila Baker is given a key to her now deceased mother’s safe deposit box which contains a film reel that shows new details of the event, as well as new, but unidentified, players. Someone with a stake in the outcome cannot and will not allow these new facts to come to light. Sheila enlists the help of Jason Hammond, a billionaire whose hobby is getting to the bottom of mysterious events. Luckily, he has the resources that Sheila will need in order to get out alive. With assassins on their tail, Sheila and Jason must discover the truth and report it to the right people, before someone disposes of them. This book had my adrenaline pumping and I could not put it down until I found out the truth!


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Review of America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie was an exceptional and epic read! It has surpassed Gone With The Wind as my favorite novel ever. It is a beautifully written historical fiction novel about Thomas Jefferson’s beloved daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph. Patsy is audacious and lives an adventurous life, following her father from Virginia to his diplomatic post in France after her mother dies. She meets loads of interesting characters along the way and finds and loses love. In addition, she is tasked with bolstering her father’s sometimes wavering confidence as well as keeping his, and other family member’s, secrets. Although she revels in the richness of Paris life, she returns to Virginia and a much harder way of life. She faces traumatic situations and ultimately sees the family’s fortune lost due to means beyond her control. This book will take the reader through a vast array of emotions, leaving them better for having known the characters.


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Review of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book broke my heart into a million pieces. It is a stunningly well written fictional account of child trafficking and the illegal adoptions that occurred at the hands of the Tennessee Children's Home Society. This orphanage ripped children from their parents and placed them in less than desirable homes. The author takes us back in time when a group of siblings was torn apart and adopted out to different homes (or worse). They suffered abuse and psychological trauma. In present times, Avery determines that her grandmother was somehow involved but suffers from dementia and cannot, or will not, answer Avery's questions. Avery's father is a well-known politician and she fears that the scandal will devastate her family. As well as being a heartfelt read, the narration of this book on Audible is first rate!

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Review of Grace Greene's The Memory of Butterflies

The Memory of Butterflies by Grace Greene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Memory of Butterflies is a heartfelt novel. Author Grace Greene takes the reader into the mind of a mother who has a dark secret that involves her daughter. Someone knows her secret and she anguishes that it is not brought to light by this person, who also has a stake in her daughter's life. Having been a single mother who feared that one day her child would be taken, this book really spoke to me. Greene does a fabulous job of transporting readers into her story so that they feel the emotions that the characters are going through. This book will speak to readers who enjoyed Karen Katchur's THE SECRETS OF LAKE ROAD and Eldonna Edwards' THIS I KNOW.

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Review of I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a creepy good read and Teresa Driscoll provides that in her latest, I Am WATCHING YOU. Ella is on a train observing two teenage girls interacting with two young men. She overhears the men saying they are coming out of prison to start new lives. Ella feels that she should intervene to keep the girls from danger, but decides better of it upon overhearing one of the couple's interaction in the train bathroom. Later, Ella hears that one of the girls has gone missing and she is now a witness to a potential crime. A year later, Ella is receiving threatening postcards and feels that she is being watched. The girls' family secrets begin to come to light, casting other people as suspects. The roller coaster ride continues, leaving the reader perplexed as to who caused Anna to disappear. This book is perfect for readers who enjoyed Paula Hawkins THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, Jessica Strawser's NOT THAT I COULD TELL, and Catherine McKenzie's FRACTURED.

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Review of Good People by EJ Runyon

Good People by E.J. Runyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is so relevant for these times! E.J. Runyon takes the reader into the heart of Latin culture through the eyes of main character, Bernie. Bernie is escaping from an abusive marriage, living on her own for a trial period. She meets her neighbor, Meg, a transgender woman who is attempting to be approved for surgery to become female. One gets a glimpse into the struggles that transgenders go through to become who they wish and know themselves to be. Kudos to Runyon for bravely writing about and putting these issues to the forefront!

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Review of Forks, Knives and Spoons by Leah DeCesare

Forks, Knives, and Spoons by Leah DeCesare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You will be missing out if you do not read FORKS, KNIVES, and SPOONS by Leah DeCesare! Leah takes the reader on a journey into college life and beyond during the late 80’s and early 90’s. Her descriptions of hairstyles (Aqua Net, anyone?), products (Noxzema), music (REM, Divinyls, Stone Temple Pilots), colognes and perfumes (Drakkar Noir, Love’s Baby Soft), and news stories (Pan Am crash), will vividly transport you to the college scene with the main characters. After a talk with her father, Amy has begun to classify men into the categories of forks (smooth operators), knives (guys with potential), and spoons (geeks with no edge). Every girl is seeking their steak knife (the perfect guy). Amy thinks she has found him in Andrew. But is he on the up and up? Her best friend, Matt, is always there for her, but she has labeled him a spoon, and he is in the friend zone. Veronica is Amy’s best friend and has her own share of guy troubles until she meets Joey. But will their upbringings be their undoing? Readers will laugh along with the girls’ shenanigans, want to scream at their bad decisions, and root for the guys that should be the steak knives. This book will definitely speak to the Generation X’ers but is relatable for all generations.


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Review of Sweet Lake: A Novel (Sweet Lake #1) by Christine Nolfi

Sweet Lake: A Novel by Christine Nolfi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet Lake was a sweet treat! This was my first Christine Nolfi novel and I can honestly say I have been missing out! Nolfi is a masterful storyteller who introduces the reader to Linnie, a daughter who has taken over her family's inn that is falling apart. She is beginning to turn the place around with the help of her two best friends and the positive juju of a feisty and hilarious group of the town's senior ladies. Linnie must endure the juvenile antics of her brother, who she learns, pursuant to a trust, will be given the right to full ownership of the inn. Muddying the waters, Linnie has fallen for her close friend, the town's sole attorney, who happens to be assisting her brother with a private legal matter. Things come to a head when a dire accident occurs that convinces Linnie to be strong and strive for what it is she really wants. Readers will fall in love with this eclectic mix of characters. I cannot wait to read the next novel in this series!

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Review of Meet Me at 10: A bittersweet story about love crossing boundaries by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney

Meet Me At 10: A bittersweet story about love crossing boundaries. by Vicky Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book in one day because I had to know what happened.The authors do a wonderful job of taking on social issues of the late 1950's, that are relevant even now, including a woman trying to earn her keep in a dominantly male workforce, the abuse suffered by a black man in the same all white company, and forbidden love between two people of the same sex. The reader’s heart will break as they become invested in the extremely likable characters, and stand with them as they endure torture at the hands of the more powerful. I applaud the authors for their directness regarding the issues and for showing that there is hope, even in a fallen world.


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Review of The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White

The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White is an amazing story that brings attention to the issue of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Maisie is a child character whose quirky personality the reader will immediately fall in love with. She is precocious and witty. Katie is the mother who left her shortly after she was born because her OCD convinced her she would harm her newborn. Maisie’s father, Callum, and his best friend, Maisie’s “Uncle J” have a myriad of issues themselves. Together, they have done their best to raise Maisie. Lilah Rose is Callum’s new wife who is expecting. All of the new situations in Maisie’s life are hurtling her toward a breakdown. Katie and Maisie unexpectedly meet and Katie recognizes that some of Maisie’s tics could be precursors to full-blown OCD. She is afraid for Maisie (whom she has not told is her daughter) and this fear propels her to get in touch with the Callum even though they have an agreement that she will never make contact with Maisie. This was an amazing story of the power of love and forgiveness, and the importance of seeking help for mental disorders. Readers who enjoyed Colleen Oakley’s Close Enough to Touch will love this book too!


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Review of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert (narrated by C.S.E. Cooney)

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert is a true gem! I had this sitting in my Audible account for months before I actually found the time to listen, and “wow!” what I was missing! This is a story of romance and decadent writing about food! I salivated at times! Lu is a chef who is going through the wringer with a wayward fiance and a failing restaurant, due largely to a scathing review she receives from a food critic. As her relationship ends, she meets a seemingly perfect man who wants to learn more about her city and she takes him on an adventure of fine dining. Her one rule is that they don’t get too personal and definitely do not discuss work. In fact, neither knows what the other does. This leads to a recipe for disaster. The narrator, C.S.E. Cooney, is on point and is perfect for this read!



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Review of Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak is a titillating read about the comedy of errors that befalls a family while they are quarantined in the family home for seven days during the holidays. Daughter, Olivia, has been treating a deadly virus in another country, leading to the quarantine. She finds out that she is at high risk for contracting the virus due to certain relations she engaged in abroad. Her sister, Phoebe, finds out her fiance may not be the man she thinks he is. Their parents are harboring secrets, as well, that threaten to surface during the family’s week together. I found myself holding my breath at each crazy turn the story took, wondering how this dysfunctional family would react. I was never disappointed!


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Review of This I Know by Eldonna Edwards

This I Know by Eldonna Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This I Know by Eldonna Edwards is superbly unique and touching. It is a read that many can relate to. Edwards’ protagonist is young Grace, one of five daughters born to a pastor father and a mother who suffers severe postpartum depression and other ailments. The author delicately and sensitively addresses these issues. Grace was supposed to be a twin, but her brother did not make it. She is awkward and finds herself in sticky situations. Grace has a gift of “the Knowing,” or being able to tell a person’s fate. Yet, she always seems to find herself in trouble whether through manipulation by her sisters, or in her quest to help save others. Her father believes she is “of the devil,” and she can never seem to please him which is all she really wants. The book comes to a climax when Grace is forced to use her power in the midst of crisis, risking her father’s fury. This book is so relatable that I think it will touch any reader!


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Review of I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I Was Anastasia shattered my heart into a million pieces like a well-written book should. Previously, I was not familiar with the story of Anastasia Romanov. The author takes one on a journey through the lives of Anastasia, a Russian tsarevna, and Anna Anderson, a woman who in the present, claims to be Anastasia. This is controversial in that Anastasia was assumed to have been killed, along with her family, by a firing squad years ago. The author captivated me by her personalization of the characters, including Anastasia’s beloved dog, Jimmy, who also stole my heart.


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