Synopsis

 

The USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids returns with a tale of two generations of women reconciling family secrets and past regrets.

Life’s beautiful for seventysomething influencer Gloria Rose, in her Upper West Side loft with rooftop garden and scores of Instagram followers—until she gets word that her old flame has been arrested for art theft and forgery, and, knowing her own involvement in his misdeeds decades earlier, decides to flee. But that plan is complicated when the nieces she raised are thrown into crises of their own.

Willow, overshadowed by her notorious singer-songwriter mother, has come home to lick her wounds on the heels of a failed album and yet another disastrous relationship. Sam, prickly and fiercely independent, is on the verge of losing not only her beloved video game company but the man she loves, thanks to her inability to keep her always-simmering anger in check.

With the FBI closing in, Willow’s career in shambles, and Sam’s tribulations reaching a peak, each of the three woman will have to reckon with and reconcile their interwoven traumas, past loves, and the looming consequences that could either destroy their futures or bring them closer than ever.

 

 

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Review

 

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. That is what each of these characters does in this book. Each woman has her own trials and tribulations and all have an issue with trust, at least with each other.

Gloria hasn’t let life slow her down, even when her sister dies and she takes charge of her nieces, Willow and Samantha (Sam). She raises them in an apartment in New York that sounds amazing. Thankfully, it was purchased and not a rental..can you even imagine the cost? Gloria has traveled the world as a flight attendant and still has gatherings with those that she started with at the airline. Those are the kinds of friends to have, the ones that stick by you through thick and thin. Gloria is about to find that out when her past comes to light and she has to come clean about some of her actions that involve these friends. Art forgery and theft is nothing to sneeze at but there is more to the story.

Willow is a talented musician and she inherited that talent from her mother, a world-famous singer. I think that Willow isn’t as confident in herself and her talents and it takes a journey home to realize that maybe she does have what it takes once she grounds herself. I enjoy her interactions with Josiah and how he brings out the best in her, especially when it comes to her music. I know this is fiction, but anyone that can create music is amazing to me.

Sam is also a whizkid when it comes to gaming. She and her friend, Asher, wrote a game when they were teenagers that made them millionaires. However, an incident causes them to part ways and Sam’s business is floundering, so much that she is considering getting an outside investor. You know what happens when that occurs, nothing good. However, an illness might bring Sam to realize what she has lost or is on the verge of losing before it is too late.

These three women have grit but are also vulnerable in one way or another. Despite their differences in the past, they can come together to support one another and move forward with life. I liked all of these characters and could understand why they were reserved with one another at times. Even the best of relationships need work and can flounder when not tended. Because of their flawed relationships, I think many could relate to one of them in one form or fashion.

Overall, we enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up. I will be seeking out some of her other works to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Barbara O’Neal is the bestselling author of fourteen novels of women’s fiction, including The Lost Girls of Devon, When We Believed in Mermaids, The Art of Inheriting Secrets, and How to Bake a Perfect Life. Her award-winning books have been published in more than a dozen countries, including France, Great Britain, Poland, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Israel, Croatia, Russia, and Brazil. She lives in the beautiful city of Colorado Springs with her beloved, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent.

 

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Synopsis

 

Three women form a village to help a friend in need.

Becca has embarked on the most important mission of her life. She trusts no one, and she’s running out of time. On a whim, she rents a beach cottage on Palmetto Island for the summer. She’s searching for a solution to her problem. Help comes in an unexpected friendship with the young woman next door.

Hannah has three months to plan her dream wedding. While she’s eager to marry the man of her dreams, she finds the logistics of combining households and the details of organizing her event overwhelming. When she learns of a new friend’s crisis, she drops everything to come to her aid.

Sidney forges ahead with her successful career as a chef, while her heart remains in the past. On impulse, she reaches out to her old boyfriend on social media, and they rekindle their relationship. Chemistry between them still exists. But is it enough? Can she live with her secret? Or will she risk her happiness by revealing the truth?

Amelia is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She seeks therapy in order to put the past behind her. Do all her problems stem from her abusive marriage? Or is something missing from her life? Will she give up the possibility of a future with the love of her life to fulfill another dream?

The paths of these four women collide in a dramatic conclusion. Farley once again reminds us that family is more than blood ties.

 

 

This book releases August 3rd, 2021…pre-order today!

 

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Review

 

Such a great series set in the Low Country. This book in the series features, Becca and Happy (Harper), who are visiting Palmetto Island because Becca doesn’t have good news in her life and wants to give her daughter a memorable summer. There are also other main storylines featuring Hannah, Sydney, and Amelia.

The crux of this book focuses on PTSD, fear, sorrow, and joy. The phrase “it takes a village” could not be any more appropriate for this book. No one should have to live alone or without the help of others, but sometimes it takes the influence of those around you to help one realize that life isn’t meant to be traveled alone. We all need the support of friends and family to make it through.

I like that the characters deal with real-life issues. Anyone reading this book will probably be able to relate to one or more of the characters and their situation. Of course, there are also characters to not like or be frustrated with their actions. But it adds conflict and tension before everything is resolved.

We give this book 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique.

 

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Synopsis

 

Donna Warren is not who everyone thinks she is….

It’s no secret – to survive in a superficial town like Forest River, New York, where perfection is a requirement –a mom must follow the rules.

For the past five years, Donna has worked hard to exceed social expectations. She held the prestigious role of PTA treasurer, and her best friend, Jackie, is the most powerful woman at the elementary school.

But in a town where most mothers earn their black belt in backstabbing before their offspring enter pre-k, something was bound to go wrong…

And it did. Now, her former bestie has become her mortal enemy and destroyed Donna’s reputation. Eagar to believe the rampant rumors, half the elementary school mommies think Donna is a drama queen and the rest believe she is a vindictive witch.

As she and her children’s social standing dangles on thin ice, Donna is willing to try anything to fix her mistake. Unfortunately, all her efforts backfire, and she makes everything worse. Just when Donna is about to give up, she receives some shocking news. Forced to face the most difficult situation of her life, will she finally become the woman she wants to be?

 

 

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Review

 

This is such a wonderful series because each book features a different mom of the PTA and you see another side to a story in the previous books. I think that is what makes these books fantastic because you can hate a character in one book, but then you read her story and you realize that maybe everything isn’t as cracked up as it was in the previous book.

This book features Donna, Jackie’s cohort on the PTA. They have been the best of buddies for many years and then a misunderstanding tears them apart. I have to admit, that I didn’t remember why there was the tension but it all came rushing back. Donna has a good heart and only wants the best for her children, perhaps too much so that she acts like a friend vs a parent. Perhaps that is how she finds herself in these predicaments because she isn’t cutthroat like some of the other moms. A simple misunderstanding and Jackie’s refusal to hear the truth cause a rift that is not easily mended. But Donna’s life is not perfect and her relationship with her husband is on shaky ground and neither can be held blameless.

There are so many facets to this book and these women of Forest River. They can be petty yet caring, stab you in the back but come to your aid when you need a friend. It is a very dysfunctional relationship these women have with each other. But I suppose it might be similar to what we see in our own lives. That is one of the best things, despite the town and privilege some of these women have, they are very real and the reader might be able to relate to one of them.

While you don’t have to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one, I think you would really enjoy the series if you read them all and in order. You will root for the various women and at the same time want to smack them silly for their antics.

The only story I don’t think we have heard is Mia’s and I can only imagine what that might be like.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her “characters.” She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She’s been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball – she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.

 

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Synopsis

 

After a spate of terrible boyfriends, Jess is sure she’s found her perfect man in dependable – but occasionally dull – Tim. But when her grandmother, tasks her with retrieving a family heirloom from a local auction she finds herself face to face with a charming stranger, Guy.

Guy has already bought her grandmother’s precious necklace and whilst Jess desperately tries to buy it back from him, he somehow convinces her to go out on a date instead.

Ridiculous. But Guy has the necklace and Jess’s grandmother’s health is declining rapidly. Jess has no choice but to indulge Guy and go on a date with – if only to get the necklace back.

But when she and Guy hit it off on their date Jess’s dependable happily-ever-after is thrown off track…

 

 

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About the Author

Louisa Leaman is a writer. She was born, raised and lives in Epping Forest near London. She writes contemporary romantic fiction. Her debut, The Perfect Dress, published by Transworld Books is available as an ebook now and will be out in paperback FEBRUARY 2020. CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER! Rights have been sold to the US, Germany, Italy and Spain. She is currently working on her second book, Meant To Be, which will be published in October 2020. Louisa also researches and writes for the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world’s leading museum of art and design. She studied Art History at Leeds University, became a teacher working with children with special needs, then turned to writing after winning the Times Education Supplement’s new writer’s award. She has written a number of teaching guides and children’s books for Hachette. When she isn’t busy writing or rearing three lively children, she paints portraits, goes running and spends far too long browsing in vintage clothing shops.

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The Mixtape

by Brittainy Cherry

Release Date: July 1, 2021

Publisher: Montlake

 

Synopsis

 

Emery has never felt more alone. Raising her daughter is both her pleasure and her pain as she struggles to hold on to her job as a bartender and keep a roof over their heads. With no one to help them—no support system—any unexpected expense or late bill could turn their whole world upside down.

Reeling from the death of his twin brother and bandmate, rock star Oliver Smith is trying to drink his problems away. Apparently, he isn’t very good at it; they follow him wherever he goes. Also in hot pursuit are the paparazzi, who catch Oliver at his lowest low.

He could have walked into any bar in California, but he walked into hers. Emery helps Oliver lose the crowd, and they find themselves alone: two people whose paths are marked with loss and pain. However, they hold an unshakable hope for healing. They find solace together, but can their love withstand the world?

 

 

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Author Brittainy Cherry Writes Her Own Mixtape

 

Hi, Everyone! I’m Brittainy Cherry, author of The Mixtape, a contemporary romance novel. I am so excited to share Oliver and Emery’s story with you all. These two characters are both struggling through life in their own ways, and it is through music and love that they find their way back to themselves and each other.

The Mixtape could’ve never come together without my own mixtape of sorts to help guide the way to this novel. Music not only plays a huge role in the story, but also in my personal life, so of course I had to whip up my own mixtape as I wrote this story. For example, my playlist began with “Godspeed” by the extremely talented James Blake that set the mood of the story. His tones and lyrics wrapped me up into a warm hug and I allowed the song to move me as I crafted Oliver’s character.

Then, we moved into “Soldiers” by Rachel Platten which is a powerful song about taking moments to breathe in order to move forward for another day, like soldiers in the night. It’s a song that showcases the strength of our heroine, Emery, who is a single mother, trying her best to create a better life for her young daughter.

I had the best time tying in songs like “Slow Dance” by AJ Mitchell (feat. Ava Max) to show the slow burn between Emery and Oliver falling together, followed by their first kiss being written to the song, “Can I Kiss You?” by Dahl.

The whole story was wrapped up with a classic, “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” by the Spinners, which sums up what I hope you experience reading this novel: a mixtape of emotions which lead to you falling in love with the love story of Emery and Oliver. I hope this novel heals you the same way music soothes my soul.

 

The Mixtape Excerpt

 

Sometimes the world didn’t make sense. No parent should’ve ever had to bury their own child. I couldn’t even imagine that kind of pain that raced through her heartbeats on a daily basis. If I could offer up only one set of prayers for the remainder of my life, it would be for the parents who had to say goodbye too early on to their own.

Those hearts would always beat a little slower in my mind.

“I’m so sorry, Michelle.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” She reached out and patted my hand, and I knew it was because she needed a hand to hold. So, I wrapped both of mine around hers. “The mourning doesn’t get easier. It just get quieter. Some days, I still cannot get out of bed, but I’m blessed. Because Richard stays in bed with me and my quietness. Then, when it’s time for me to get up, he pulls me to my feet, and we dance. A piece of advice—find yourself a man who would dance with you even when your heart is broken.” Her eyes flashed with tears and she held my hands tighter. “You want to know a secret?”

“Yes.”

“I thought I was going to lose Oliver, too. He kept everyone so far away. So, when I flew out here, I prepared myself for the worst. I thought he’d be in a drunken slumber or, worse…so much worse. Last time I came a few weeks ago, he wasn’t doing too well. But this time? This time I came back and he’s smiling.”

“That’s so good.”

She smiled brightly up at me as tears freely danced down her cheekbones. “So thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I swore.

“You’re the only difference in his life since I came back. Plus, there’s the way he looks at you when you’re not looking. Now, sweetheart, I don’t know what you did, but I’m almost positive that you helped bring my son back to life after he was holding death’s hand. Call it my mother’s intuition. So, thank you for helping him. Even if it’s just by being his friend.”

Now I was tearing up, and I pulled her into a tight hug. “You’re an amazing mother,” I whispered, and she began to cry harder.

“You have no clue how hard it is to believe that each day.”

I think all mothers thought that. The ones who doubted her mothering skills, were sometimes the ones who were trying their best day in and day out. I didn’t expect the conversation with Michelle to go the direction that it had, but I was glad it had taken that path, because it was clear we both had some healing corners of our heart that had to be touched that evening.

“Oh, don’t tell me you two are wine drunk and emotion,” Richard cut in, walking in our direction. “We were just picking out a song for two seconds and we turn around to find you both moping.”

“Oh hush, Richard. Can’t us girls have a moment every now and again?” Michelle remarked, standing to her feet.

“Yes, but for now, we dance to The Spinners, my lady.” Richard reached out for his wife and took her into his arms as they began swaying to the song, Could It Be I’m Falling In Love. Richard serenaded Michelle as she smiled and melted into him like a perfectly fit puzzle piece.

Oliver came to stand beside me as we both watched his parents fall more and more in love with one another.

“This was their wedding song,” Oliver mentioned. “Dad recorded it, and they danced to it for their first dance.”

“Oh my gosh, how sweet is that,” I swooned. True romance.

“They dance to it every single night. On the good days and bad days. Especially on the bad days.”

“They’re what I want my love to look like,” I confessed. Oliver gave me a tight smile but didn’t say anything. I shifted around for a minute before looking toward him once more. “Do you want to dance with me?”

 

 

About the Author

 

Brittainy Cherry has been in love with words since she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts and a minor in creative writing. She loves to take part in writing screenplays, acting, and dancing—poorly, of course. Coffee, chai tea, and wine are three things that she thinks every person should partake in. Cherry lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her family. When she’s not running a million errands and crafting stories, she’s probably playing with her adorable pets.

 

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

A road trip can drive anyone over the edge—especially two former best friends—in bestselling author Ann Garvin’s funny and poignant novel about broken bonds, messy histories, and the power of forgiveness.

Widowed Samantha Arias hasn’t spoken to Holly Dunfee in forever. It’s for the best. Samantha prefers to avoid conflict. The blisteringly honest Holly craves it. What they still have in common puts them both back on speed dial: a mutual love for Katie, their best friend of twenty-five years, now hospitalized with cancer and needing one little errand from her old college roomies.

It’s simple: travel cross-country together, steal her loathsome ex-husband’s VW camper, find Katie’s diabetic Great Pyrenees at a Utah rescue, and drive him back home to Wisconsin. If it’ll make Katie happy, no favor is too big (one hundred pounds), too daunting (two thousand miles), or too illegal (ish), even when a boho D-list celebrity hitches a ride and drives the road trip in fresh directions.

Samantha and Holly are following every new turn—toward second chances, unexpected romance, and self-discovery—and finally blowing the dust off the secret that broke their friendship. On the open road, they’ll try to put it back together—for themselves, and especially for the love of Katie.

 

 

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Review

 

This book made me laugh and cry but mostly laugh.

This is the story of three friends from college and while they were dear friends then, something happened that caused a rift between two of them. The funny thing is that only one of them really knows why and the other can only guess. One of the three has a reoccurrence with cancer which leads to a road trip for the other two to get a dog she lost in a divorce. What ensues is hilarity especially with the addition of an unexpected addition to the crew, a B (or maybe D) list celebrity that sat next to Samantha on the plane ride to CA. However, Summer proves to be worth bringing along with her spiritual beliefs and uncanny ability to see through to the heart of the matter.

Holly and Samantha, while pushed into making this road trip together, are able to work through their differences. It takes a lot of time to get to the bottom of the situation, but when they do they realize that communication would have resolved these issues years before now. It is also a testament to us to not let a misunderstanding end a friendship and to push the issue if necessary. I do think that the miscommunication created the hardened personality that Holly had towards life.

I laughed through most of this book from the situations, the texts between Samantha and Drew, and Summer’s ditzy demeanor which I think was really a front. I will say that the ending was a gut punch even though we kinda knew it was coming. Some have said this could be like Thelma and Louise and I can see that in a way but no cliff.

I also appreciated the spotlight on Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. I didn’t know this place existed and I am in awe of what they do for the animals of the planet. If I am ever in Utah, I will be visiting their facility.

We give this book 5 paws and it was the right book at the right time when I needed a laugh but a good cry as well.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ann Garvin, Ph.D., is the USA Today bestselling author of I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK, I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around, The Dog Year, and On Maggie’s Watch. Ann writes about women, with a good sense of humor, who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. She teaches at Drexel University Masters of Fine Arts program and has held positions at Miami University and Southern New Hampshire in their Masters of Fine Arts program. Ann is the founder of the Tall Poppy Writers where she is committed to helping women writers find readers. She is a sought-after speaker on writing, leadership, and health and has taught extensively nationally and internationally.

 

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Synopsis

 

Willy Cherrymill and his stepdaughter Lacey are deeply bruised by a past brimming with unanswered questions. It’s been thirty years since May DuBerry, Willy’s young wife and Lacey’s mother, abandoned them both leaving Willy to raise Lacey alone.

Lacey Cherrymill is smart, stubborn and focused. She’s also a single mother to a young daughter recently diagnosed with a devastating illness. The last thing she needs to think about right now is the betrayal that rocked her childhood. Reluctantly, she has returned to her rural beginnings, a former dairy farm in the Maryland countryside, and to Willy, a man steeped in his own disappointments and all the guilt that goes with them.

Together they will pool their wobbly emotional resources to take care of Tasha, all the while trying to skirt the issue of May’s mysterious disappearance. But try as she might, Lacey can’t leave it alone. Just where is May DuBerry Cherrymill and why did she leave them, and how is it that they have never talked about the wreckage she left behind?

 

 

 

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Excerpt

 

“The stench of the burning leather seeps from the stove and Lacey has no choice but to breathe it in, recognizing that her mother’s secrets are now her own, that she has filled her lungs with the bitterness of it and the blood that courses her veins has oxygenated on a story that she alone bears the burden of, her heart pumping a tragedy through arteries, invading the threads of capillaries so that May’s story is both deep within Lacey and rising to flush her cheeks.”

–from A HAND TO HOLD IN DEEP WATER 

 

About the Author

 

Shawn Nocher (pronounced No-Shay’) is a mentee of Michael Glaser, Elise Levine, William Black, and Richard Bausch. Her compelling short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including SmokeLong Quarterly, Pithead Chapel, Eunoia Review, and MoonPark Review, and she won an Honorable Mention from both SmokeLong Quarterly and Glimmer Train. Having graduated with an MA in writing from Johns Hopkins, Shawn is currently working there teaching Graduate Independent Studies and Fiction Workshops. She is also currently at work on her second novel, THE PRECIOUS JULES.

 

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Synopsis

 

Childhood friends reunite in an explosive tale of family dysfunction and romance gone wrong.

Amelia has been plotting to escape her abusive husband for years. When her mama’s untimely death provides an unexpected opportunity, she hops on the next bus to the South Carolina Lowcountry. Her husband will eventually come for her. But she’s prepared. Her freedom has given her confidence to face her uncertain future. She settles in at her family’s oceanfront estate to await her destiny. But a visit from Amelia’s past presents danger in a different form.

After a string of disastrous blind dates, Max falls for the first guy who expresses an interest in her. As the weeks wear on, her attraction to Ron wanes. But he’s living in her apartment. And he won’t be so easy to get rid of.

Jump on board for a wild ride of adventure with the continuation of the bestselling Palmetto Island Series. Be sure to download Muddy Bottom, the series novella prequel, for FREE.

 

 

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Review

 

Palmetto Island is now one of my favorite spots and a place I would like to visit and maybe live. The people seem to be friendly, caring, and inviting. Well, most of them anyway.

We meet Amelia, a friend to Birdie and Max when they were in school, and she is back to bury her mother and escape an abusive relationship. But as we know, it is hard to escape an abuser and this keeps Amelia on edge. Not only does she have to worry about her husband, but there are also strange things happening at her mother’s home and she is seeing strange lights in the apartment over the garage. Then there is a woman that seems familiar that makes an appearance at the funeral. While you will be able to guess who this person is, the story takes an interesting turn as Amelia remembers more of her past and a certain situation that could change her life.

The story also focuses on Max and her attempt to revitalize her hotel. It is in disrepair and needs a major overhaul. This leads her to Davis via Birdie. He is new to the island and looking to build his reputation as a contractor. I like how they play off each other and build a friendship. This is a boon for Max because she tends to get involved with the wrong people and she has one of those “wrong” men in her life and he is hard to kick out. She will be in for some trying times thanks to the freeloader.

I have always loved this author’s books and this one added just a bit more suspense and mystery than some of the others. I think the last 10-15% really had me on edge wondering how the events would play out and would there be the happy ending I have come to know and expect?  You’ll have to read the book to find out.

We give this book 5 paws up and can’t wait for the next in this series to see how things continue for all those that have coupled up in this book and the previous ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique.

 

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Synopsis

 

From USA Today Bestselling Author Bette Lee Crosby comes a powerful southern saga based on a true story… Betrayal and secrets tore her family apart decades ago, now a lonely widow must search for the pieces of her broken childhood.

WHEN I LAST SAW YOU

GEORGIA, 1968 – Margaret Rose McCutcheon has just buried her husband and must now name a beneficiary for their estate in case of her demise. She is hard-pressed to do so because there is no one. No children. No family. At least none to speak of. At one time, she had two sisters and six brothers, but the lot of them were scattered to the four winds, with no one knowing where the others went. In the hope of finding at least one of her siblings, Margaret hires a detective and sets off on a journey to uncover the truth of why the family broke apart as it did.

WEST VIRGINIA, 1901 – When Eliza Hobbs gives birth to her sixth child, her husband is not there to welcome his daughter into the world. No surprise, because Martin is seldom there. He works in Charleston and returns to Coal Creek only when he has a mind to. Yes, he sends money on occasion, but seldom enough to make ends meet. Although Eliza believes each new child a blessing, he sees them as yet another responsibility on his already overloaded shoulders. When he discovers another child is on the way, he demands she get rid of it. he stops returning home and there is no more money.

Left with the children, a mountainside patch of land, and a house in sorry need of repair, Eliza seeks help and turns to someone powerful enough to hold sway over Martin and force him into providing for his family. Pushed to the brink, Martin does something unforgivable and the family is forever torn apart.

Now, after all these years, will Margaret be the one to find the pieces of her broken family?

 

 

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Review

 

There are a few authors that have the art of writing southern women’s fiction down to a science, and Bette Lee Crosby is one of those authors. Her stories blend together real world events, the past and present, and an array of emotions.

This novel focuses on Margaret, a woman that has just lost her husband and discovers that he had originally searched for her family many years before. We are taken down a path that shares her upbringing at the turn of the century in a small rural town in West Virginia, where most men ended up working (and eventually dying) in the coal mines. Growing up in small quarters and with a large family wasn’t a hardship for Margaret and her siblings, but that is because they do not know any different because the most important thing was the love that they felt from their mother and each other.

The story flips back and forth between the past and the present and we learn more about her life growing up and the secrets that are kept hidden from her and several others. The journey she is on is one that is sad yet fulfilling as she rediscovers her siblings and family. Not every situation results in a happy ending, but Margaret is able to find closure in some situations and new life in others. She is able to do all of this with the help of a private investigator named Tom. There are many humorous situations (remember this is 1968 and morality standards were different) but their adventure brings them together and creates a new friendship.

While the crux of the story is about Margaret, the past focuses on her parents, Eliza and Martin. Martin is not a likable character and the way he treated Eliza and his children is heartbreaking, to say the least. I appreciated the positive light that was shone on Masons (Masonic Lodge) and that they watch out for their brother and his family.

If you are looking for southern women’s fiction that will pull at your heartstrings, then anything by Bette will fill that bill and I highly recommend this book or any of her others.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

 

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Synopsis

 

Based on true events, The Healing is the story of Cate Henderson who, after twenty-six years in an abusive relationship, sets out on a quest to find healing. Cate packs up everything she owns and leaves Calgary on an odyssey westward, to Vancouver Island, where her ever-present journal and the abundance of nature become the foundation of her self-recovery. She yearns for something deeper and then when she isn’t looking, she finds love with the solid and virtuous Ethan. Cate thinks his steadfast love is what she is searching for, but soon realizes she needs to do her own work, that love for herself is the key.

With echoes of Eat, Pray Love, The Healing is a raw and vulnerable exploration of human resilience. At times both painful and uplifting, it’s a story about love, examining motherhood, partnership, grief, expectation, and optimism, and the journey inward to self-love.

 

 

 

Indigo/Chapters (CA)

 

 

Review

 

This story follows Cate, a woman that has left an emotionally abusive relationship is starting fresh in another part of the country. She has support from her children and meets some wonderful people in her new adopted town including the man that shows her what life can really be like with the right person.

This was an interesting read for me. I felt for Cate but was happy to see her realize that a long unproductive relationship was not something she should stay in for her own mental health. In her quest to rediscover herself, she meets men that aren’t necessarily good for her until Ethan. He is a good guy but has some of his own baggage and it was refreshing to see them work through things together and learn more about themselves and each other.

Cate also shares her journal entries with us and her desire to heal and move forward. She makes many discoveries about herself which only benefits her in the end. I thought the interaction with her children and ex-husband was telling and gave us more insight into her thought process. I enjoyed watching her grow in her new relationship and feel more comfortable in her skin.

My only negative is that the writing felt stiff and I didn’t feel like the story flowed as smoothly as it could.

Overall, we give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lynda was born in a small prairie town in western Canada in the mid-sixties. She lived with her parents and older brother in a succession of small towns until a traumatic life event had them move to Calgary, Alberta.

When she found out she was pregnant at the age of sixteen, Lynda’s life took on a whole new direction. With the support of her family, as well as a stack of student loans and grants, she attended university. Lynda married and had two more children.

After more than twenty years trying to fix something that was broken beyond repair, Lynda left her marriage to embark on a new life adventure on Vancouver Island. There she met her soulmate, David. They fell immediately and deeply in love and married in 2014. Later that same year, she and David adopted his step-daughter.

Lynda’s life transformed once again when she and David moved to the Middle East. The expat gig has provided exciting travel opportunities and a myriad of new cultural experiences.

Now, Lynda’s days are filled with yoga, meditation, reading, writing, cooking, taking care of business and connecting with people she loves. In the future, she dreams of growing her writing career poolside from her home in Panama.

 

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