Beth and Frank have a loving relationship and they own and run a sheep farm with Frank's younger brother Jimmy whom Beth adores. One day a strange dogBeth and Frank have a loving relationship and they own and run a sheep farm with Frank's younger brother Jimmy whom Beth adores. One day a strange dog runs onto the farm and attacks the sheep and Jimmy had no choice but to put the dog down when a young boy runs up to them screaming and crying "You shot my dog" over and over. Beth runs over to care for the boy when his father walks up and Beth realized it's none other than Gabriel, her teenage love of her life that she spent the most romantic and passionate summer of her lifetime. They thought they were soul mates during that time and Beth has never gotten over Gabe but she never thought she would see him again since he happened to become one of the most well-known novelists of the 1960's. What happened to this couple when they were teenagers and what will happen when Beth learns Gabriel lives less than several minutes walking distance from her farm and what about Frank, the most gentle, loving, patient man who may have ever walked this earth! Frank has endured many storms in his lifetime but will he be able to weather this tornado which is about to be unleashed on him without the security of having a shelter to protect his heart and soul.
This story has wonderful dual timelines that stem from the years 1955 -1968 .and will carry the reader on a passionate journey revolving around a love triangle. The writing was beautiful with colorful but not overdone descriptions of the picturesque English countryside and the small country village where everyone knows everything about their neighbors so there aren't many secrets that are able to be kept hidden. Unbelievably good character development without the feeling of being bogged down so the story flows wonderfully from each timeline so the reader won't get lost or confused. The prelude about who was shot, why and who did it will carry through to the end with some heart wrenching court scenes as well. This novel had so many emotional. components, since every character came with their own set of history or baggage. For myself the realism of the storytelling is what drew me in and I could visualize everything as if this story was a movie playing in front of me. There was so much love and passion from these flawed characters that many readers will relate to it especially if they had ever experienced such strong feelings of being in love and the pain of relationships abruptly coming to an end.
'Claire Leslie Hall' wrote a magnificent novel of love, loss, grief, forgiveness and misunderstandings. The atmospheric beauty of the scenery and village was breathtaking at times and it was wonderful to read a story taking place in these older decades where the author depicted lives being lived in a time so alien to our past twenty to thirty years with all of modern technologies and home and public conveniences yet it was so easy to picture what life might have been like in those days. Superb writing and storytelling. This novel " BROKEN COUNTRY " may be unforgettable for many of us especially if the reader allows themselves to be carried away on the waves of emotion within the writing without harboring harsh judgements towards any of the characters actions. Mistakes will be made, relationships tested, pain and suffering will be felt and remember there will always be consequences for actions whether right or wrong. This is not the genre of book I would normally read so I most strongly recommend this novel to all readers and I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from this talented author.
I want to thank the publisher 'SIMON & SCHUSTER' and NETGALLEY for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 STUNNING AND HEARTFELT ...more
Liv and her best friend Will are travelling a whole semester on the cruise ship named Eos where Liv received an all expense paid scholarship along witLiv and her best friend Will are travelling a whole semester on the cruise ship named Eos where Liv received an all expense paid scholarship along with seven other students from other universities. Liv is normally a quiet girl with many insecurities which increase ten-fold when she meets the others in her travel group. The girls are stunningly gorgeous and the guys are unbelievably hot never mind that everyone happens to come from ultra rich backgrounds which make Liv feel self conscious of her own humble family background. The group is allowed to drink alcohol although they are all under twenty-one so of course everyone drinks too much especially Will who happens to get into a nasty argument with Liv where he becomes very cruel and spiteful to her the rest of the evening so Liv leaves the party and goes to bed.
Liv has many disturbing dreams during the night and the next morning she finds out that after she left the night before, apparently Will became violently ill and was placed in quarantine with no further explanation. Liv becomes friendly with a couple of the others but can't seem to enjoy herself without Will on her mind and she also notices that her group and a few others seem to be the only young people on the ship. All the other guests appear old not older but elderly (Can that be right?). Liv feels a wrongness about the cruise ship's guests and almost every staff member on board where she daydreams certain images of strange creatures taking the forms of humans while her nightmares about Will and a few others become so twisted that her sanity is being compromised because she sees things that no-one else can see and her visions or whatever they are absolutely incredulous so that no one believes her stories. After several struggling days without any factual updates about Will and dealing with her living nightmares, Liv just wants to get off the ship and go home. No matter what she's been told, Liv knows something insidious has.been creeping within the passengers and there have been many unseen threats toward Liv which she finally realizes that her entire group is in danger and all their lives may be in jeopardy unless some people are involved in being part of a most incredibly, heinous and evil plan that is unimaginable by any normal human being. Where and what has happened to Will? Can Liv find anyone to believe her and help her to get off the ship? Is this luxurious cruise ship haunted or is it one way cruise to hell through the water leaving no survivors during this doomed voyage?
This was a fun and entertaining young adult horror story although I think it will appeal to a mature audience overall. The writing and storytelling were wonderful. Liv was a fun character and could be nerve wracking at times but then I'd have to remember she was a teenager without any life experience behind her so it would be.normal to continually create chaos and make impulsive and poor decisions most of the.time. The visual aspects of the creatures were scary and horrifying and just perfect for being in the middle of the ocean. All the characters were completely detailed and so expressive that I was truly surprised and impressed with this author's "Amy Goldsmith" writing creativity. This was a unique shocker of a well-done horror novel and I hope to read more of this writer's books in the future. The humor imbued into the story was spot-on to break up some of the most frightening situations and it was definitely a solid horror book with many science fiction elements so it will not be for everyone but I highly recommend it to all horror readers if you're interested in some teenagers as the main characters and their experiences throughout the story.
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Children's" Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this scary book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have give a rating of 4 SPOOKY AND UNSETTLING ...more
Kelly and her boyfriend Mike are planning to be married but they are in the midst of the pandemic and starting to go stir crazy from being together alKelly and her boyfriend Mike are planning to be married but they are in the midst of the pandemic and starting to go stir crazy from being together almost twenty-four hours a day. Kelly then makes a huge mistake in their relationship so they decide to take a break for a week or two with Kelly moving in with an old high school friend and her husband that she's recently reconnected with over the internet.
Unprepared for the lavish life in a magnificent mansion in a severely, secured gated community in rural Virginia, Kelly experiences many mixed feelings plus she really doesn't know Sabrina very well, who was a wallflower in high school and now she is one of the most gorgeous women Kelly has ever seen and her husband Nathan is equally charming and attractive. Before long Kelly is seduced into the lifestyle and wasn't quite prepared to fall for both of her generous hosts. Soon after they begin a threesome, but what about Mike? Everything is wonderful until Kelly finds out that there was another roommate who mysteriously disappeared and that she has been surrounded by many ugly lies and deceit which will drag her down more dark roads that lead to murder and more!
This book was certainly entertaining and I wasn't quite prepared for the storyline since I went into it blind. The premise of the story was very good although the threesome caught me a little off guard. I must say that the author "Andrea Bartz" handled all the sexuality taking place in a more sensitive way so I wouldn't quite call this erotica yet to be forewarned there was plenty of sexual affections being shared throughout. The book was pretty much a slow-burn for sixty percent and then it got exciting with mysteries and deceit and maybe even murder.
At first I liked Kelly but as I kept reading I didn't care for her at all. I found her unpredictable, needy, demanding and always blaming others for her choices and insecurities. I think this book will have a great appeal to many readers although I did find there was too much repetition and jumping around in the second half off the story. I wish the book had been much shorter. The story taking place during the vivid lockdown was another enjoyable element which offered some realism to the story. With all that said, the novel was very unique, entertaining with several twists and I would definitely read another book from this writer.
A big A+ shoutout to Kelly's cat "Virgo". An adorable addition to the entire story!
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 KILLER AND DISTURBING ...more
Jane Stuart, now a best selling author of paranormal books for teens returns to her roots in the great Smoky Mountains to the home where she grew up aJane Stuart, now a best selling author of paranormal books for teens returns to her roots in the great Smoky Mountains to the home where she grew up and now has inherited from her grandmother. Jane lives in the city and must decide what to do with the home in the small town of Laurel Cove but the real reason she returned is to find some much needed quiet and rest to get her bearings back after a horrible, physical attack that has left her quite shaken and her self-confidence in pieces. Jane is also fascinated by some local legends and decides to follow up on a sixty-five year old murder case where it's said that there is a ghost still haunting the grounds where the tragedy took p!ace. Soon after Jane arrives back in Laurel Cove, named for the infinite beautiful laurel blooms growing throughout the valley and the mountains, she sees a mysterious woman in several different places and she can't seem to forget about the her while also experiencing other subtle, strange events along with haunting nightmares night after night destroying any chance of getting the restorative rest that she was so hoping for. There are other major situations occurring in town where Jane innocently gets involved in that soon become a threat to her safety and unknown to Jane someone else wants her out of their way permanently.
This was an enjoyable, little ghost story that was not scary but it was very interesting. The author had a way with words with her descriptions of the Smoky Mountains so it kept the story very atmospheric which I appreciated. For romance lovers there is some light romance that seemed very compatible with the story. When I picked this book up I was hoping for something a little.darker with some tension and scares but that's just me but I still found the story entertaining and it had some surprises in the last quarter that were unexpected. The parts I didn't care for were that many clues to the mysteries were right in Jane's face and she wouldn't make the connections in many instances until much later and that would bother me because it made her seem too naive. Also she made quite a few silly, impulsive decisions for my taste, but that's just my opinion. Although I normally prefer darker crime and horror stories this book was a nice little change of reading for myself and I found the story enjoyable and well-written even with some of my peeves. I guarantee many readers will love this book! I recommend this novella to any reader who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of the paranormal with some romance thrown in.
I want to thank the publisher "Wild Rose Press, Inc" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
It is said that if a resident of Saiorse ever leaves the island that it will always find a way call you back!
There is a most unusual and beautiful islIt is said that if a resident of Saiorse ever leaves the island that it will always find a way call you back!
There is a most unusual and beautiful island named Saiorse set off the coast of Washington which is a busy tourist spot from spring through the fall and is the full financial support for the residents of Saiorse. All the quaint shops selling mystical teas plus magical herbal potions and remedies that anyone could possibly want from love spells to kidney cures which bring flocks of curious tourists to visit the island along with the special apples from the orchard which goes back a few hundred years and was the beginning and sustenance of the island life that has hardly changed throughout the generations. This will be a story of subtle magic, broken hearts along with profoundly deep love. There will be an unsolved murder at the root of the story sparking unresolved feelings of anger, hate, greed, revenge and murder while all surrounding a lovely young woman named Emery Blackwood who runs the ancestral mystical tea shop and happened to be an innocent victim of all the secrets and lies that were well hidden from her since she was a teenager although Emery now will find herself having to make the most heartbreaking and dangerous decisions of her life where there will be no turning back while finding the the people she trusted with her heart and well-being held nothing but darkness within their hearts and would want nothing more than to see Emery disappear as well as another individual named August Salt who is also the crux of the story.
What a wonderful and haunting story this was for me. Adrienne Young is a writer who certainly knows how to make simple words expressive and heartfelt without being too flowery and overdone. The atmospheric writing was beautiful and whimsical where the reader can envision the simple life and everyday functions on Saiorse. I found the characters very believable and felt all their emotions within each of their stories. I enjoyed that the book had several dark mysteries at it's core which will all be brought to light by the end of the book. Do not go into this book thinking there is a lot if magic and fantasy happening throughout the story or you might be a little disappointed. The mysticism is subtle and felt realistic which made the book so very entertaining. I'm so glad I was given the chance to read this novel as it was a wish book granted to me by the publisher.
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine" for the wonderful opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 MESMERIZING AND MAGICAL STARS!!...more
Natalie Lockhart is a detective in the small town of Burning Lake, New York which is famous for it's incomparable and special Halloween celebrations iNatalie Lockhart is a detective in the small town of Burning Lake, New York which is famous for it's incomparable and special Halloween celebrations in the U.S. and people come from all over to see and take part in all the festivities that Burning Lake has to offer with all of the uniquely charming and whimsical shops that are run and owned by real modern day witches. The town has many covens of witches who practice and deal in white magic magic with their healing herbs and potions etc. Natalie has gained unwanted notoriety with the last two cases she solved that has left her with a lot of emotional and psychological baggage and she has been seriously thinking of leaving the police department. Then, one day in March on a snowy and blustery cold day, a body has been found murdered in the most heinous way and the victim happens to be one of the most respected and gentle people in this town and Natalie knows she must stay on as a detective to get justice for this beloved and special person. Little does Natalie know that this case may be the one to break her if she lives long enough to find the vile killer.
I found this to be a wonderful detective and police procedural story. The characters were interesting and well developed which made the book very enjoyable and entertaining. Natalie lives with her boyfriend but still has unresolved feelings for another man which I thought the author did a great job incorporating the romance into the story without it becoming a romantic novel and keeping the story focused on the mystery and suspense of the murder. This book does involve violence, blood and some very gory scenes that kept the story realistic in the descriptions of many crimes and killings. The only problem I had with book was the (Ugh) cliff hangar ending! I hate cliff hangars especially when I have no idea when the next book will come out and I want and need to know what happens now! I felt so frustrated and disappointed and just wished the blurb had stated that fact so I would have been more prepared for the ending. All that said I Can't Wait to read the next book in the series! This book can be read as a stand-alone since Alice Blanchard did a fantastic job of filling in any blanks needed from the previous books which now I can't wait to go back and read the first two books that shows how much I loved this story and the world of Detective Natalie Lockhart. I highly recommend this terrific detective story to all dark mystery readers!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the complimentary digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this creative and captivating book a rating of 4 1/2 BEWITCHING ...more
Five young teenagers from a school for the deaf along with a caretaker, a social worker and the president of the school have taken this group on a speFive young teenagers from a school for the deaf along with a caretaker, a social worker and the president of the school have taken this group on a special winter weekend trip to a lovely cabin in the woods with many outdoor activities planned for the excited students. Late in the evening on their first day a light snow begins to fall threatening to become quite heavy by the next morning and the children are feeling anxious and uncertain about what will now happen to their winter retreat unless weather conditions change for the better. During the night their are vibrations of people moving about in the cabins and one of the boys noticed that two beds in his cabin are empty and one bed belongs to his older brother. As he leaves his room in search of his brother he sees a light on in the kitchen and wonders why the head of the school has his arm around Leon's (the other boy) shoulder. Not wanting to be seen he creeps back to his bed and sees that his brother is still not back yet. The following morning Leon seems to missing and Steve (dept head) goes out to search for him because he didn't tell anyone he was leaving the cabin and it is now snowing very hard. A few hours later, Steve and Leon are both missing and everyone is worried and it is now time to call the police. The police have been out to this school before so they arrange to use a deaf interpreter named Paige Northwood who had previously worked with the detectives on another case. As Paige arrives at the cabins where the students are staying she sees an unusual snow covered lump and realizes it is a dead body. Why is there a dead body when this was supposed to be a missing persons case and Paige is not prepared to be involved in a murder case and whose body is lying in the snow and is the other missing person a suspect or another victim? How is one interpreter going to be handle many so people from the school and will Paige be able to communicate properly back to two detectives and several other police officers before other bodies start turning up?
This was a very well-written and enjoyable book. The mysteries continued throughout the story with many unexpected twists and turns. The characters were likeable, annoying and entertaining with solid backgrounds. There was some romance (not too much) and a lot of information on how difficult it can be for teens who are deaf in a world where everyone else can hear and and how it makes their struggles growing up even more difficult than a hearing teen and how important it is to continue to have schools for the deaf instead of just mainstreaming those children and letting them have the choice to be with other deaf children like themselves. I thought this was a great murder mystery and recommend it to any reader who would like to read something different from your regular mysteries. I am looking forward to reading more books by Nell Pattison..
I want to thank the publisher "Avon Books UK" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story!
I have given a rating of 4 Creepy and Sinister ...more
A beautiful and vibrant young, teenage girl is missing after a fight with her boyfriend and he becomes the major peA Tragic And Dark Romantic Mystery!
A beautiful and vibrant young, teenage girl is missing after a fight with her boyfriend and he becomes the major person of interest in her disappearance. Fast forward twelve years in Thailand a young man is waiting on a dock for a boat taxi when he suddenly sees or think he sees a young woman who looks just like Lizzie the girl who haunts his dreams and who has never been seen again after that disastrous night when she went missing.
This was a dark, fast read about an possibly doomed romance in beautiful Thailand with all the pain and anguish that goes along with the disappearance of a loved one. There are several key players in this romantic mystery and just when I thought I had all the answers, bam, a huge boulder knocked me off my feet with a crazy ending to the heartbreaking mystery that I never saw coming. There were many dark secrets within this story along with the beautiful, descriptive scenery and background settings which helped to hold my interest while reading.
I want to thank the publisher "Blackstone Publishing" and Netgalley for this advanced reading copy and any opinions expressed are unbiased and my own!
I have give this book a rating of 3 1/2 Tragic ⭐⭐⭐ Stars!!...more
Heartbreaking and Beautiful! The writing and storytelling are magical. I have never and will never forget this book and will always be one of my all-tHeartbreaking and Beautiful! The writing and storytelling are magical. I have never and will never forget this book and will always be one of my all-time favorites!!
I have given this fabulous novel 5 Outstanding ...more
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