Breakneck Bay is adaptly named. It's an amusement park that is a little run-down and the place to be for teenagers in the summer. Warning signs are poBreakneck Bay is adaptly named. It's an amusement park that is a little run-down and the place to be for teenagers in the summer. Warning signs are posted everywhere in the park.
"Ride at your own risk - thrills aren't for wimps!"
It's 1982 and the summer is hot. Kit is newly married to Mitch, the Manager of the park. One day an ugly crime scene is found in Mitch's office. There's blood splattered everywhere and some missing teeth found at the scene. Also one of the teen girls that works there has not shown up for her shift. This one will keep you guessing! There are some chapters that go back in time.
There's plenty of 1980's nostalgia and it's quick paced. I was entertained! I did want more from the theme park aspect though. The best part was buddy reading this with Darlin' Darla. Be sure to check out her review and thoughts.
If you sign-up for the author's newsletter you will get access to an epilogue from a certain character's point of view. I'm excited to read that.
Published July 24, 2025
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Mirror House Press for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy....more
Don't let this beautiful and carefree cover fool you! This book is heart-rending. I was engrossed from start to finish.
The story centres around women'Don't let this beautiful and carefree cover fool you! This book is heart-rending. I was engrossed from start to finish.
The story centres around women's soccer ⚽️ and two sisters. Mia and Cricket Lowe are raised by a single mother who unfortunately gave up her budding soccer career. She teaches her two young girls to play soccer. While Mia begins to emerge as a star she has to stop playing in order to help raise Cricket. She makes many sacrifices for her while Cricket becomes a star player. The story also goes back in time as we learn about their mother Liz and her backstory.
What the girls face is heartbreaking and thought provoking. It's a story of sisters, mothers and daughters and how the ties bond them all together. It's a good one!
This book is the July 2025 selection for Reese's book club.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy....more
This is my, "Christmas in July" book. What a treat reading a Christmas story right smack in the middle of a heatwave This is my, "Christmas in July" book. What a treat reading a Christmas story right smack in the middle of a heatwave ...more
This was charming! It's the first book of a 2 book series originally published in 2013 and now updated and re-issued in print and audio by a new publiThis was charming! It's the first book of a 2 book series originally published in 2013 and now updated and re-issued in print and audio by a new publisher. I listened to the audio and was thoroughly entertained. Great narration!
Daisy McCrae has lost her job in the financial world in DC. Her family bakery in Alexandria is struggling and she goes back to help. She's a little lost in the world and has always felt a little out of place with her Irish family. She's adopted. There's a story to her adoption and when one day an elderly customer and long standing Alexandria resident passes away she leaves a journal for Daisy. What could it mean for her? Perhaps finally she will have some questions answered about her heritage.
I enjoyed every bit of this story and could easily see it turned into a tv series. It has a little bit of everything. Some history, mystery, hint of romance, and a loving family. One of the best parts - at the end there are recipes included! The Union Street Bakery sugar cookies, carrot cake cupcakes, biscuits and chocolate espresso torte. I've copied the recipes and the first one I'll make will be the sugar cookies! Mmm can't wait! ...more
I previously read this author's debut, "All is not Forgotten" and enjoyed it quite a bit. At the time I rated it 4 stars. This Another kindle backlog!
I previously read this author's debut, "All is not Forgotten" and enjoyed it quite a bit. At the time I rated it 4 stars. This one started off with a great premise but just did not quite take off for me.
Two sisters, Emma and Cassandra have disappeared into the night. Now, three years later the younger one, Cass has suddenly re-appeared with an unbelievable story. Dr. Abby Winter was working with the FBI when the sisters had first disappeared and this case has haunted her in more ways than one. Now she's working hard to piece together Cass' story and find out where exactly Emma is. Is someone hiding secrets?
It was a great premise but parts of the story started to confuse me with a lot of going back and forth in time for the sisters and Dr. Winter. Sometimes I wasn't sure who or what was being referred to. The twists didn't really excite me all that much.
I'd still read something else by this author as I've enjoyed her in the past. I just don't think this was her best work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this 2017 publication....more
This is another one from my kindle backlog! I rated, "Beartown" 5 stars when I read it. This is the second book in the series This is another one from my kindle backlog! I rated, "Beartown" 5 stars when I read it. This is the second book in the series ...more
I've waited too long to read a Catherine Ryan Howard novel! While digging through some old kindle ARC's I found this. Her debut novel. I was thrilled!I've waited too long to read a Catherine Ryan Howard novel! While digging through some old kindle ARC's I found this. Her debut novel. I was thrilled! Once again why did I wait so long to read it⁉️
This has many suspenseful and twisty elements to it. It's basically a cruise ship mystery/thriller ...more
I love Daisy Wood's writing. I've read all of her books except for one (The Royal Librarian..but I do want to read that one as well.) All her books arI love Daisy Wood's writing. I've read all of her books except for one (The Royal Librarian..but I do want to read that one as well.) All her books are so well researched. I was very excited when the publisher granted me an early copy. I was not disappointed!
It's a dual time line story. Freya's life is changing in 1930's Berlin. Her beloved mother has just died and she must take over her sewing business. It's not something she really enjoys. She loves the arts and writing in particular. She gets a job in a prestigious Berlin theatre and begins to sew the costumes and makes new friends. She's frustrated with her father and brother and leaves to live in the theatre. Times are changing in Germany and Hitler's regime is causing havoc for many people. Freya finds herself resisting the regime and doing things she never thought she'd have to do. In the present timeline Maddie is visiting her Grandfather in California. She's helping to cleanup his apartment and they find her Great-Grandmother's diary written in German. This puts Maddie on a quest to find out about her and her heritage. She will discover many things. I liked the twist at the end!
This book was a welcome change for me as it focused on pre WW II and Germany and when Hitler was fear mongering his own people. He was imposing curfews and trying to control freedom of speech through the banning and burning of books. Stories like this are still important today. This is a reminder to us all to never make these same mistakes again.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.
I did like the story. It just didn't completely grab me. The writing is good and the premise was very enticing.
Audrey Wade lives in Sheffield, EnglandI did like the story. It just didn't completely grab me. The writing is good and the premise was very enticing.
Audrey Wade lives in Sheffield, England. It's 1946 and the war has ended and she is dreaming about running away to Hollywood with her best friend Freddie. Unfortunately Freddie has a secret and is banished from her life by her strict Father. By early 1950 Audrey is distraught. She decides to run away to Hollywood by herself. She finds a job as a secretary for a popular talent agent. There she meets one of the biggest stars of the time- Rex Trent. She's immediately infatuated. Before she knows it she's married to him and living her dream life. Or is she?
The idea of this story is very loosely based on Rock Hudson and his marriage to a secretary. I enjoy stories about old Hollywood and all its glamour. There's also a dirty side to Hollywood and it's exposed in this story. It's sad for both parties. Audrey in particular was very naive and innocent but I'm happy she finally got a back bone by the end of the novel.
Published March 28, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for granting me access to this Advance Readers Copy....more
This one had so much potential but sadly didn't deliver for me.
It's a good premise that just didn't really go anywhere. Briar Rose is grieving. Her moThis one had so much potential but sadly didn't deliver for me.
It's a good premise that just didn't really go anywhere. Briar Rose is grieving. Her mother has recently died and she's gone to live back in her childhood home. She believes it's haunted. She's not sleeping well. Partly due to her mother's death and partly due to the house. Her dreams become meddled where she can't tell the difference between reality and dream. I felt the same way reading it. Perhaps the story was meant to be like that and leave you wondering.
There's a lot going on in the story besides grieving. There's the retellings (several) of, "Sleeping Beauty," curses and legends and there's a serial killer on the loose in the neighbourhood!
Perhaps it's my recent grief but I just couldn't connect to this story. I encourage you to read other reviews as many others enjoyed it more than I did. Just not my cup of tea.
Published March 11, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this Advanced Reader's Copy....more
There's no doubt about it. This debut novel is beautifully written. It's also bleak and sad.
The story begins in 1987 and Cora has given birth to a sonThere's no doubt about it. This debut novel is beautifully written. It's also bleak and sad.
The story begins in 1987 and Cora has given birth to a son. She lives in England and takes her young daughter with her to go and register his name. Her husband expects his son to be named after him - Gordon (which is a family tradition.) Cora herself likes the name Julian and her little daughter suggests the name Bear. This leads to a unique story. The author breaks down the story in 3 alternating scenarios of what she named her son. The first being if she chose, "Bear," the second, "Julian" and the third, "Gordon." Then all 3 scenarios keep telling the story of the son's life (and subsequently the family) every 7 years. This is where it got confusing a little bit for me. I might be in the minority but I would have preferred just one story of Bear, then Julian, and then Gordon. Not back and forth.
To me this story wasn't really about the names and if it shaped the child in any different way. It's a story about domestic abuse and how it effects the whole family from generation to generation. It didn't matter what the name of the child was. Each scenario was heartbreaking in its own way. Cora suffered in all three scenarios.
This is a story about things we can and can't control in life. I'm impressed with the writing and I can understand all the praise for this book but for me it ran a little slow in parts. It's a 3.5 story that I'm rounding up to 4 stars because of the beautiful writing and heartbreaking subject.
This is a Read with Jenna Book Club selection for the month of May 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy....more
I really enjoyed my first Martha Hall Kelly novel. This is a fictional story that is steeped in actual historical events during WW II on Martha's VineI really enjoyed my first Martha Hall Kelly novel. This is a fictional story that is steeped in actual historical events during WW II on Martha's Vineyard. First off I loved my cover. So eye-catching and mysterious! Historical Fiction WW II novels are among my favourites and this setting was quite refreshing.
The majority of this story is told in the 1942 timeline. There are only a few chapters set in the present day. Mari Starwood comes to Martha's Vineyard in the present day as she wants to meet the famous and elusive painter Elizabeth Devereaux. She has found her name among her deceased Mother's belongings. Mrs. Devereaux lives on a farm. She begins to tell Mari a story about the Smith sisters who used to live there. How this connects to Mari will slowly be revealed.
This is a family story that involves intrigue and mystery with a touch of light romance. This was a buddy read with Darlin' Darla and I very much enjoyed trying to put the pieces together with her. I can always count on Darla for an interesting discussion. Please check out her review as I know she loved this story!
The Author's note at the end is an extra treat. Ms. Kelly explains how some of the characters are based on her own family. Particularly her Mother who lived on Martha's Vineyard during the war years.
Published on May 27, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Doubleday Canada) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader's Copy....more
This is my first book by Jennifer Moorman and I enjoyed her writing style a lot! It's a good story with a dual-time line.
In the present day JosephineThis is my first book by Jennifer Moorman and I enjoyed her writing style a lot! It's a good story with a dual-time line.
In the present day Josephine Reynolds is recently widowed and trying to put her life back together. With help from her sister she decides to purchase her old historic family home just outside of Nashville. As she begins to organize and refurbish the home she finds a secret trap door in the basement and it surprisingly opens and there in all it's glory is a "speakeasy" from 1927. Soon she finds herself in that world and she needs to save her Great-Grandmother from a terrible fate.
This story has a good mix of historical fiction with time-travel and romance. I just found it a little slow-moving but it did entertain.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Harper Muse for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.
This was cute and entertaining. It kept my interest but it was a very slow build-up (hence the minus half a star for me) to the romance. Great ba3.5 *
This was cute and entertaining. It kept my interest but it was a very slow build-up (hence the minus half a star for me) to the romance. Great banter. If you like your romances clean and with no steam (I do prefer a little bit of steam ...more
London, Paris, Rome, Athens! Oh, the possibilities! ✈️ I just loved this Historical Fiction story about two Pan American Airways stewardesses in 1962.London, Paris, Rome, Athens! Oh, the possibilities! ✈️ I just loved this Historical Fiction story about two Pan American Airways stewardesses in 1962.
"Brains and beauty. That's what a Pan American Stewardess is, in that order."
It's a new age for flying and Pan American Airways is recruiting women of all cultures. They are striving to be a new future that is promoting permanent peace in the world. The ladies wear their uniform with pride because only the, "best of the best" are chosen.
It's 1962 and Judy needs to flee from an abusive marriage. Beverly, is leaving behind a world of privilege and longs for something more. These two women will meet during training and will form a deep friendship.
The writing is wonderful and the research is fascinating and top-notch. The book immerses you very quickly into the early 1960's. The fashions, foods, and music (yes Frank Sinatra's, "Come fly with me" has a special place in the story ...more