Synopsis

 

This is a collection of true life stories that together share the life of a young girl and her walk with God including how far she ran away from Him. Follow her through the valley to the other side!

By reading this three part series in one complete collection, all readers should walk away with a greater faith than what they began with.

This book is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry and laugh again! After all, isn’t that one of the reasons we read to begin with?

 

 

 

 

Review

 

An in-depth look at one woman’s journey in life and with God.

Wendy found herself in a place she didn’t think she wanted to be at a young age, but sometimes that is where you are meant to be and there is a journey planned out for you that you don’t think you want until you are traveling down that path.

While I haven’t made it through all of her stories yet, each one that I have read is raw and gets to the heart of Wendy’s journey, her feelings, and what she wants from life.

I enjoyed reading about her childhood and she had some pluck as a child! No matter what life threw at her, she persevered and made the best of things. Not every moment was beautiful, but each event taught her something about life and herself.

This is a book you will want to take your time reading and think about how you might react to certain situations and reflect on what have been teaching moments in your own life.

 

 

About the Author

 

My name is Wendy Glidden. I am a Mom of 10 and a Grandma of 7. God spoke to me at a young age and informed me that I would be a mother to many. I ran from that promise with a vengeance! However, despite my best attempts, I could not outrun God. He delivers on His promises for He is faithful! My childhood dreams were to be a famous author. As a child, I informed God how I did not need much; material possessions have never been a hang-up for me. Thank God for that! I promised God I would use all my riches to help others. I had dreams to say the least! When you start out life on your own at 16, unwillingly married and with child, your dreams have a way of falling to the wayside. Little did I understand that God was just thickening my story and adding immense color!! It’s funny what happens when you come to the end of yourself. Everything changes. This is what happened to me. My ministry is just developing. My focus is on total wellness. I love how well God has prepared me for my ministry. I love how God has been there for me even when I thought he wasn’t. I was blogging before I even realized fully what was going on. It amazes me that in less than 4 years, I have had over 62,500 page views. Even cooler to me than that is where I have been read. My stories have been viewed in places I did not even know existed until they showed up in my stat report. This journey has been quite exciting and I am looking forward to moving to the next step. This year I am republishing my trilogy in e-book format with West Bow Press. Alongside publishing books, I blog for my ministry ‘You Are Worthy Too’. If that wasn’t enough, I am currently pursuing my Biblical Studies Degree through Colorado Christian University and in my spare time, I market for a wellness company that is a just in time manufacturer of everyday needs. No fancy packaging but tons of value! Not often can you spend less and end up with more! This side business fits perfectly with my theme of total wellness and helping others. Often others ask me how on earth I manage to do so much. I reply, “Only by the grace of God do I do what I do.”

 

Website * Twitter

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Sometimes all you need is one person to really see you.

Piper Parrish’s life on Frick Island—a tiny, remote town smack in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay—is nearly perfect. Well, aside from one pesky detail: Her darling husband, Tom, is dead. When Tom’s crab boat capsized and his body wasn’t recovered, Piper, rocked to the core, did a most peculiar thing: carried on as if her husband was not only still alive, but right there beside her, cooking him breakfast, walking him to the docks each morning, meeting him for their standard Friday night dinner date at the One-Eyed Crab. And what were the townspeople to do but go along with their beloved widowed Piper?

Anders Caldwell’s career is not going well. A young ambitious journalist, he’d rather hoped he’d be a national award-winning podcaster by now, rather than writing fluff pieces for a small town newspaper. But when he gets an assignment to travel to the remote Frick Island and cover their boring annual Cake Walk fundraiser, he stumbles upon a much more fascinating tale: an entire town pretending to see and interact with a man who does not actually exist. Determined it’s the career-making story he’s been needing for his podcast, Anders returns to the island to begin covert research and spend more time with the enigmatic Piper—but he has no idea out of all the lives he’s about to upend, it’s his that will change the most.

 

 

 

Review

 

This story filled me with hope, laughter, sorrow, and joy.

Piper loses her husband way too soon in their young marriage. I can’t even imagine the grief she felt learning to live without him. Then something odd happens, everyone acts as if Tom is there with her, hence the invisible husband. I loved how this small community rallied around Piper and tried to ease her grief in this way. While it wasn’t logical, they were doing what they thought was right at the time.

Anders has always wanted to be a journalist and his first job is with a smaller paper. You can imagine his disappointment expecting to work for a big name paper right off the bat. But everyone has to start at the bottom and work their way up. What he doesn’t expect is to find this small community on Frick Island and Piper. He is sent to this island to cover their annual cakewalk. It seems odd to have it on a Thursday, but as someone tells him, it has always been on a Thursday. Small communities find change harder than others. While on the island, Anders feels like he is thrown back in time with the lack of technology, a small community with large hearts, and a weird situation with Piper and her invisible husband.

Don’t take everything you think to be true at face value. There is the mystery of who sent an email to Anders that he was missing a bigger story? Is Piper insane or having a psychotic break? Is global warming and climate changes affecting the island and what do the citizens think about losing their island? Will Anders’ podcast become a success? How will he spin what he is experiencing on Frick Island that will capture everyone’s attention?

There are many parts that tickled my funny bone like the islanders thinking that Anders is a Mormon missionary because of what he is wearing that first day. Piper setting Anders up when giving him the island experience, and so many more.

There are some twists in the book that was unexpected and has the reader rethinking their original assumptions. One of these is actually kinda funny but you will have to read the book to discover the truth. There is also a situation where Anders has to face his own fears and past and come to terms with his own life.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch, and Before I Go. Her books have been named best books by People, Us Weekly, Library Journal and Real Simple, and have been long-listed for the Southern Book Prize. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, four kids, and the world’s biggest lapdog.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Pinterest

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Dakota Kilroy, a 28-year-old investigative journalist, is haunted by the unsolved disappearance of her best friend, Maddy Montgomery who went missing at the age of fifteen. When financial difficulties force her to move back home to Santa Monica, CA, she cannot take the unanswered questions anymore. Determined to find out what happened to Maddy, Dakota starts ShadowCast, a true crime podcast to publicize the case. But little does she know the man responsible for Maddy’s disappearance all those years ago is listening in and tampering with her investigation.

SHADOWCAST is a psychological thriller with page-turning suspense, a story that praises the value of friendship and the fearless pursuit of justice.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Black Rose Writing

 

 

Review

 

I have been on a psychological thriller kick over the last year and this one does not disappoint. It is a little different because we know all those involved, including the killer, and the story is told from his POV and Dakota’s, the protagonist. It is eerie reading the killer’s POV but it is also fascinating to see how a serial killer might think. There is more to his story than meets the eye.

Dakota is an investigative journalist that has been laid off and ends up going back home to CA from NYC much to her chagrin. Her parents are not 100% supportive of her career path and possibly even less so once she is out there and decides to start a podcast to try and find out what happened to her best friend Maddy. I don’t feel like we get to know Dakota’s family very well and I feel like they are shallow and only care about appearances.

While I don’t list to podcasts, I find the concept interesting. I know many listen to true crime podcasts and this would fall into that category. She is very matter of fact when sharing her findings and that draws attention to her show. But like anything on the internet, there are creepers out there and those that are willing to throw rocks at anyone and everyone from the perceived safety from behind a computer.

The story has a nice even pace and I was riveted to the story wondering what was the connection, would they figure out who he was, and how would that impact Dakota. The clues and details of what happened and parsed out at a good pace that keeps the story hopping. The revelation about the history of the killer and how long this has been happening is amazing. Goes to show you there are all kinds of weirdos about there.

There is even a bit of romance to this book between Dakota and Sean. Sean is about 16 years older than Dakota and is heavily invested in her search for Maddy’s killer. You will have to read the book to learn why he cares so much.

Overall this was an intriguing read and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

V.P. Morris is an award winning horror and thriller writer. She is also the creator of the fictional podcast, The Dead Letters Podcast. Her interest in true crime and criminal psychology inspired her debut novel, ShadowCast. When she is not reading or writing, she is sending time with her husband, son, and rescue dog in their Connecticut home.

 

Twitter * Instagram * GoodReads

 

 

Synopsis

 

What if the Darkest Minds on Earth Discovered How to Subdue Future Generations?

 

When Californians start getting sick with flu-like symptoms, traumatized engineer Jake Bendel is once again forced to work with the FBI to discover the cause. With his new desalination plants behind schedule and searing pressure from the California Governor, Jake uncovers a secret network of vengeful terrorists planning catastrophic genetic modifications.

But before the engineer can find a way to cure the masses, he himself is injected with the virus, forcing him to dig deep to track down the leader of the terrorist group. Using strength from recent losses in order to save the lives of millions, Jake overcomes drone strikes and bunker bombs to discover the mastermind behind the plot, but not until the very end does he realize he’s been chasing someone who can’t possibly be caught.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Indiebound

 

 

Praise

 

“The breakneck pace will surely thrill and delight many.” — Sarasota Magazine

 

“Bennecke was able to create a suspenseful story that was driven by an action-packed plot. The book pulled me in and left me eager for the next installment.” — OnlineBookClub.org

 

 

Review

 

This fast-paced thriller intrigued me, frightened me, and kept me on the edge of my seat. How would this virus affect the population and crops?

The crux of this story takes place over a few days but the whole book spans about two weeks from the initial chapter until the end. The story begins with Jake kidnapped leaving a diner and injected with a drug that made him susceptible to coercion but won’t remember anything that he said or did afterward. That is until weeks later when his project with a water plant starts to go awry. That is when everything starts unraveling.

While it isn’t necessary to read the first book by this author, Civil Terror: Gridlock, I think it would be very helpful. I will admit I was a bit confused at the beginning not understanding the relationship between Jake and Viktor and how their lives intersected and why there was such animosity between the two. However, I did finally put the pieces together, but had I read the first book I wouldn’t have felt discombobulated in the beginning.

The book does have some technical jargon peppered throughout, but I didn’t find it to be overwhelming or take away from the story. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their relationships with one another. There are some surprising twists in the story, so don’t think you have it all figured out! We do know who is behind everything early in the book and there is a surprise near the end that has me intrigued and ready to read the next book to find the answer.

This book hits a range of emotions and is well done. Sure some of it may not be realistic, but that is the great thing about fiction, you can make anything possible and in the future, it just might become a reality.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

J. Luke Bennecke is a native Californian and veteran civil engineer. His first book, Civil Terror: Gridlock, became an Amazon Bestseller. Bennecke currently resides in Southern California with his wife of 30 years, whom he enjoys traveling with, and three spunky cats. Waterborne is his second novel.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

Facebook * LinkedIn * BookBub

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the steamy first novel in her new adrenaline-fueled Richter series.

As an employee of MacBain Security and Solutions, Claire Kelly can certainly hold her own. Armed with an impressive set of covert skills, she’s more than prepared to tackle any job that comes her way…except one involving Cooper Lockman.

Cooper and Claire used to work together before his feelings for her sent him packing to Europe for six long years. But now he’s back and determined to ignore the still-smoldering heat that lingers between them.

Their current mission: go undercover together at a California high school to root out the mastermind behind a prostitution ring targeting young girls. The closer they get to the truth and the closer they get to each other, however, the deadlier their task becomes. As Claire and Cooper risk their lives to bring down their target, will their hearts be the final casualties?

 

 

 

Review

 

This is the first in a new series but the backstory for many characters can be found in other books/series. There is enough information to fill in most of the holes other than what Cooper was doing in Europe before coming back to the US, other than staying away from Claire.

This book hits on a sensitive topic, human trafficking and selling young women (primarily) as sex slaves to others. I appreciated the light that was shed on this topic and what happens to these young people when they don’t think they have anywhere else to turn especially if their home life isn’t supportive.

Claire is 24 in this book but apparently looks younger for her age, enough so to go undercover and pose as a high school senior. There is a reference to the 80s show, 21 Jump Street, and that is what I thought of as I read this book. Claire is one tough young woman and we get some of her backstory about her life at a boarding school in Germany, her fluency in 6 languages, her speed on the track, and her attraction to Cooper.

Cooper and Claire have a past that is rekindled in this book. Enough time has passed since they were last on the same continent that she has matured past her 18 years and has had time to grow and experience life. I enjoyed watching their relationship unfold, although there are times where it almost got them in trouble and might have revealed their true identities. There is a little bit of steam later in the book but it isn’t over the top and adds just the right amount of romance to the story.

This team has been called into two high schools in the area at the request of the police but only the captain is aware of their infiltration into the school. He believes he might have some dirty cops involved and needs them flushed out. There are several possibilities and I wasn’t quite sure who to suspect of being involved in the trafficking. I started to suspect one character and was glad to be proven wrong. The tension mounts as the book progresses and clues are uncovered about the perpetrators. The team, outside of Claire and Cooper, helps round out the story and add dimension to the plot.

I enjoyed this book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total, she has written thirty-six beloved books that have collectively sold more than 8 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned The Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, The Most Likely To series, and The First Wives series.

 

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Swirling rumors forced Cecilia White out of the teaching job she loved. She vowed not to get involved with a man again—no matter what. But when the term begins at a new schoolhouse in a new town, disaster strikes. No matter what she does, she can’t seem to escape the handsome, single chairman of the school board.

 

John Morgan has a secret. He’s not who he says he is. He’ll do anything to protect and provide for his young sister—including cozying up to the prickly schoolmarm.

 

Sparks fly and Cecilia must deny her heart if she hopes to keep her job. But what’s more important? Duty or love?

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This was a fun read and took me back in time when teachers couldn’t be married (for some crazy reason) and courting wasn’t about how fast you could get someone into the sack.

Cecelia has come to this small town after a “scandal” at her last job. By today’s standards, it was no big deal, but at that time it could ruin someone’s reputation. John has his own past that he is running from but no one in town knows what happened except his sister. Will he be able to keep it a secret?

I really liked Cecelia and her dedication to teaching and even trying to bring John’s sister around. Ruth is persnickety and a troublemaker partially because that is how she was raised before her parents died, and partially because no one has taken her to task to be a better person. I like how Cecelia doesn’t let Ruth get to her and eventually breaks through to her.

John’s past is about to catch up to him and there is remorse on his end for what he did in the past and he has worked hard to change who he is inside. It shows a lot for his character when he does own up to his past and while people are shocked and back away, they realize that people can change and become better citizens.

The love story between John and Cecelia is slow but for a reason. They both are afraid of their past and do not want to move too fast.

Overall, an enjoyable story and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see on Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published fifty books in almost a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * VIP Readers

 

BookBub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

A WALL OF BRIGHT DEAD FEATHERS

 

By Babette Fraser Hale

 

 

Publisher: Winedale Publishing

Pages: 216

Pub Date: March 1^st, 2021

Categories: Short Stories / Literary Fiction

 

Scroll for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Most are newcomers to the scenic, rolling countryside of central Texas whose charms they romanticize, even as the troubles they hoped to leave behind persist. Twelve stories highlight “the book’s recurring theme of desire—for freedom, for clarity, for autonomy, and for personal fulfillment … When women are alone, unencumbered and unbeholden to anyone, they engage in intense internal reflection and show reverence for nature—and during these scenes, Hale’s language is luminescent” (Kirkus Reviews).

 

 

Winedale Publishing | Brazos Bookstore | Amazon

 

 

Praise

 

“Hale shows a great respect for her characters and for the difficulty of their deceptively ordered existence, as well as for the problems they suffer because so much cannot be spoken.” — Francine Prose, on “Silences”

 

“A vivid set of tales about connection to other people and to the natural world…Hale’s lovely prose shows a keen eye for detail…” – Kirkus Reviews

 

 

 

 

A story doesn’t have to be lengthy to have an impact on the reader’s thoughts and emotions. That holds true with the short stories that are found within the pages of this book.

These stories are not intertwined other than the hopes of the various characters for a better life in one way or another. Set in south central Texas and covering a wide timeframe, we meet various men and women that have dreams and desires to improve their situation or to bring their family back together. As I read these stories, I could feel the various emotions, especially the pain, desperation, guilt, loneliness, and heartbreak they endured in the various situations.  The author was able to draw me into these stories in a way I never expected and I feel like that brought the stories alive as I read them. Some of the stories have hope embedded throughout which is a lift to the reader to understand that not all is lost.

I don’t think I can choose a favorite story since each touched me in a different way. There were several stories that I wanted to more about and wondered how situations might have played out. Would the family heal? Would they survive the war? Would they regain mental health? Would they find their new path?

The following lines spoke to me either because of the situation in the story or the description of the setting.

“Prisons don’t need walls, your head is a prison, your skull is a prison.”

“Today, it’s an entire end wall, a crazy quilt of bright dead feathers.”

“…she likes the way the soil feels, the smell of fertility and hope that surrounds her…”

“The slanting amber light of fall is sad. That’s all. It makes her sad.”

“He believes he has allowed no one to see the full scope of his desperation. Any sigh of confusion or uncertainty, and the fragile triangle of his small family will fragment.”

“But freedom requires more than an absence of abuse and ownership.”

“For a moment, breaking through, the sun spills glittering coins across the formerly leaden waves.”

 

This book is perfect if you just want to read a little at a time without becoming wrapped up in a storyline. While some stories are shorter than others, it is easy to put this book down once you have finished a story and let the emotions wash over you as you contemplate the meaning.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Babette Fraser Hale’s fiction has won the Meyerson Award from Southwest Review, a creative artist award from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston, and been recognized among the “other distinguished stories” in Best American Short Stories, 2015. Her story “Drouth” is part of the New York Public Library’s digital collection. Her nonfiction has appeared in Texas Monthly, Houston City, and the Houston Chronicle. She writes a personal essay column for the Fayette County Record.

 

Website | Facebook | Blog

 

 

——————————————————————

 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS each receive a signed bookplate

 

+ $20 Brazos Bookstore Gift Card to buy the book

 

 (US only. Ends midnight, CDT, 4/2/2021)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

for direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

or visit the blogs directly:

 

3/23/21	Author Video	The Page Unbound
3/23/21	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
3/24/21	Review	Book Bustle
3/24/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
3/25/21	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
3/25/21	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
3/26/21	Review	Missus Gonzo
3/26/21	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
3/27/21	Excerpt	All the Ups and Downs
3/28/21	Guest Post	The Clueless Gent
3/29/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
3/29/21	Author Interview	Book Fidelity
3/30/21	Review	Reading by Moonlight
3/31/21	Review	Bibliotica
3/31/21	Guest Post	Librariel Book Adventures
4/1/21	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
4/1/21	Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Solve the murder or become the next victim…

 

When a ringer for her long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are found at the edge of town, Magpie MacKenzie can’t ignore what the universe is telling her…solve the mystery, or become the next victim.

Lawyer Zack Peartree’s life is orderly and entanglement-free until he visits purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona, and meets free-wheeling shopkeeper Magpie. Despite experiencing troubling visions and odd moments of déjà vu, Zack’s instantly drawn to Magpie and to the unsolved murder which troubles her so.

Using clues from her father’s past and Zack’s déjà vu moments, Magpie and Zack race to solve the mystery, avoid a murderous fate, and to discover their future…together.

 

 

 

Read for free with Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This small town in Arizona is not for the faint of heart especially if you don’t believe in ghosts or mystical traditions.

Magpie has lived in Joshua for many years and dealt with tragedy when she was a teenager, losing her mother and then later her boyfriend. She took on the role of surrogate mother to her siblings since her father was a mess after his wife died. These events shaped her life and here she is 28 years later blindsided by a man that came into town that resembles her missing boyfriend, Mark.

Zac is younger, 28, but has an immediate connection to Magpie that cannot be explained. They have chemistry and he doesn’t seem to mind the age difference. He is pulled into a search for Callie’s killer, Magpie’s father’s girlfriend that was killed when Mark went missing all those years ago. What he doesn’t expect, nor Magpie for that matter, is that they are putting themselves in a dangerous situation that might not end well should the killer decide they know too much.

This book has a lot going for it – interesting characters, a mystery to be solved, an attraction between Magpie and Zac, family drama, and so much more. I enjoyed the back and forth in time and between the characters and their memories of the past and the history of Joshua. I was on the edge of my seat when Magpie finds herself in a sticky situation and wonder if she will be able to survive. There is also the buildup of the relationship between Magpie and Zac as they search for a killer and protect those they love. I especially enjoyed the mystical aspects of the book and how it affected the characters differently.

Since this is the first book in a new series, I wonder if the future books will focus on the other members of the MacKenzie family.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure stories with a touch of romance. Mostly. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart, splitting their time between Central Arizona and the RV life. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter

She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-whiteside

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendawhitesideauthor/

 

 

Synopsis

 

Celeste Donovan, a high-powered finance executive, seems to have it all–the penthouse apartment, the supermodel physique with a mathematician mind, and a trail of beautiful men she has loved and left behind.

But when her boyfriend Theodore is killed in a mysterious accident, she discovers Omar, her abusive ex she had hoped would never resurface, is behind his death.

Now she’s caught in a game of cat and mouse, trying to anticipate Omar’s next move, as she realizes he will stop at nothing to get to her. She sets out alone on a whirlwind journey to entrap him, determined to put an end to Omar’s destruction.

Soon Celeste is thrust in the middle of the largest financial scandal in decades. This time, however, powerful government officials are in bed with some of the world’s most dangerous men.

When she discovers that those she thought she knew best are involved in a secret society warring with Omar and his coconspirators, she must decide how far she will go to avenge Theodore’s death and whether she is willing to risk her own life to save everyone she loves.

 

 

Amazon * B&N

 

Praise

 

“Eckles engages readers from beginning to end with this tale of betrayal, love, and international intrigue…” – The US Review

“Reminiscent of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Eckles’s complex thriller grips the reader from the opening prologue. A tale of high-stakes Wall Street espionage and manipulation, the hunt for the ultimate evil opponent, an around-the-world, whirlwind adventure and a journey into the heart and soul of an extraordinary woman. Trading Secrets is, at once, a spellbinding, heart-stopping thriller and an exploration of the complex nature and vulnerability of the human heart.” -Traci Medford-Rosow, USAToday bestselling author of Unblinded and Inflection Point.

 

Review

 

Who knew the financial world could be so mercenary and dangerous?

Celeste is the Ice Queen of New York. Rising to the top with a friend, they have created a top-notch investment firm through hard work and a little bit of manipulation. This group of friends has lived hard and fast but as they have gotten older, they are starting to mellow and settle down. However, forces beyond their control are coming fast and furious, and will they be able to survive?

This book took me on a fast and furious ride through the financial world of New York. Having worked in this field, I was familiar with some of the actions and attitudes of the characters, but some surprised me. The language in the book is rough (a lot of f* bombs), there is drug use, heavy drinking, and little concern for what might come next. But that changes for Celeste after a disastrous trip with her man of the moment, Omar. Fair warning, there is rape and abuse and it is amazing Celeste comes out of this alive. She is scarred emotionally but meeting Theodore changes everything for her. Until he is killed by Omar. That event sends Celeste spiraling and she is now a woman on a mission to take Omar down once and for all.

I have to admit, while Celeste was with Theodore, I honestly thought he was behind some things that were happening in her world. I didn’t read the synopsis to know what was going to happen. It is amazing what money can buy and that includes loyalties and can turn even the most loyal friend against you.

The book does start off slow but builds steam as events unfold and while Celeste is not a very likable character, at least in the beginning, I came to admire her spirit and her pluck. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it, even at the risk of her own life. Many times she was reckless in her pursuits and she was lucky to be alive at the end of the book.

Overall, this book kept me engaged and wondering what could possibly happen next. I also marveled at the various locations and can only dream of visiting some of them since I am not part of the super elite.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Trigger warnings – explicit sex, rape, abuse, foul language

 

About the Author

 

Rachael Eckles grew up in the Midwest. After graduating from law school, she followed her heart and moved to the east coast. Trading Secrets is her first novel. She currently lives in Manhattan with her puppy, where she is working on her next novel.

 

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The Disappearance of Emily (Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Independently Published (March 15, 2021)
Number of Pages 250

 

Synopsis

 

Hayden has settled into her alternate, magical new home of Destiny Falls. She’s learning about the people here and the enchanted place, but something is amiss. When too many things occur to call them coincidences, all signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother – way back when Hayden was just two days old. Could it be connected to the mysterious ferry? Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away?

 

 

 

 

Review

 

Welcome back to Destiny Falls. A magical town that you won’t find on any map, at least not one in the non-magical realm.

Hayden and Latifa are back, along with the rest of the gang and some new friends including a new 4 legged friend. The town is the same, ever-changing as the needs of the citizens change. We meet several new townsfolk and they are quite a motley crew. But this isn’t a bad thing because Hayden is now the editor of the town newspaper and can use the contacts. It wasn’t really a request by her grandmother since she doesn’t really ask but rather “orders” people to do things.

There is a murder in town and the details as to why are sketchy until Hayden uncovers some information that points the police in the right direction. Who killed this person isn’t too much of a mystery because there aren’t a lot of options, unlike the first book. But there are other mysteries just waiting to be solved – what happened to Hayden’s mom Emily? What is Gladstone? Where does the ferry go when it leaves? Will Hayden ever see her grandparents and friend Luna? Who is the witch in the cave and who is her sister (I have my suspicions so I can’t wait to see if I’m right)?

I felt like this book expanded my knowledge about Destiny Falls and the Caldwell family but it also left me with a few more questions than answers so I can’t wait for the third book to discover more about this little town.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book and we give it 4 paws up.  If you like magic and mystery, this is a series you will want to check out.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives near Seattle and is the mother of four and nana to one.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

 

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