Only Daughter

Posted on October 31, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Anna Snoekstra
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Thriller
Source: MIRA

Goodreads: In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.

She’d been enjoying her teenage summer break: working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen—blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched—though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.

Eleven years later she is replaced.

A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.

Soon the imposter is living Bec’s life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends’ names. Playing with her twin brothers.

But Bec’s welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the imposter dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter—and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.

Ope’s Opinion: This is definitely a thriller. It was a very intense read from the very beginning. If you like psychological thrillers this may be a 5 chair to you. It had a little bit too much gorey stuff in it for me. I am more of a “who done it” reader. The ending was very satisfying, my daughter Kristin at Kritters Ramblings, said that was how I would feel about the ending and she was absolutely right.

This Just In…..

Posted on October 29, 2016 by opesopinions

Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: HQN Books

Goodreads: Following in the footsteps of her critically acclaimed novel If You Only Knew , multi-bestselling author Kristan Higgins returns with a pitch-perfect look at the affection—and the acrimony—that binds sisters together

Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is for Eric to blindside her with a tactless breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her half sister, Kate, who’s already struggling after the sudden loss of her new husband.

Kate has always been so poised, so self-assured, but Nathan’s death shatters everything she thought she knew—including her husband—and sometimes the people who step up aren’t the ones you expect. With seven years and a murky blended-family dynamic between them, Ainsley and Kate have never been overly close, but their shared sorrow dovetails their faltering worlds into one.

Despite the lifetime of history between them, the sisters must learn to put their differences aside and open their hearts to the inevitable imperfection of family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.

It is awesome to see a book at my doorstep that I know it going to be
so much fun to read! Love the cover for this time of year too. Thank you
Little Bird Publicity!

Coming Soon…

Posted on October 28, 2016 by opesopinions

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In November I hope to read….

Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Goodreads: Art restorer Emily Price has never encountered anything she can’t fix—until she meets Ben, an Italian chef, who seems just right. But when Emily follows Ben home to Italy, she learns that his family is another matter . . .

Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—dreams of having a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.

But Chef Benito Vassallo’s relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s faded restaurant, Piccollo. Soon after their first meeting, he works to win Emily as well—inviting her into his world and into his heart.

Emily astonishes everyone when she accepts Ben’s proposal and follows him home. But instead of allowing the land, culture, and people of Monterello to transform her, Emily interferes with everyone and everything around her, alienating Ben’s tightly knit family. Only Ben’s father, Lucio, gives Emily the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily’s life and art begin to blossom, and Italy’s beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit.

Yet when she unearths long-buried family secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben’s world. Will the joys of Italy become just a memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are possible?

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Snowfall on Haven Point

Posted on October 25, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads: There’s no place like Haven Point for the holidays, where the snow conspires to bring two wary hearts together for a Christmas to remember.

It’s been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie’s friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who’s recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother.

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie’s gentle nature is a salve, and her kids’ excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all.

Ope’s Opinion: Reading RaeAnne Thayne’s book is such a pleasant trip back to where I have been before ( Haven Point ), catching up with old friends and meeting a few new people. Her books are one of my “go-to” reads – I always know I am going to enjoy it.

Snowfall on Haven Point put me the mood to get ready for the holidays ( I know it is early, but I am an early shopper! ). If you are looking for a book gift for someone – this one is coming out September 27th – pick it up and put it away for those cold reading days.

The Lovely Reckless

Posted on October 20, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Kami Garcia
Publisher: Imprint
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads: I’ve become an expert at avoiding things that could hurt me—which means I will figure out how to stay away from Marco Leone.

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.

Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?

Ope’s Opinion: Kami reminds me of Katie McGarry’s writing and subject matter. The nice girl who meets and falls for the guy who is rough and about to self destruct. If you like Katie, then add Kami to your TBR list. You won’t be disappointed.

New Book By Steven Manchester

Posted on October 17, 2016 by opesopinions

Publication Date: February 21, 2017
Publisher: Story Plant

Goodreads: Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life and death has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other s company. It s either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he s left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for. At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, ASHES puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.”

If you have read Steven Manchester before then this one should be added to your TBR list. If you haven’t read him before, then try this is one as your first!!

Return to Willow Lake

Posted on October 14, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Susan Wiggs
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Romance
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramlbings

Goodreads: Sonnet Romano’s life is almost perfect. She has the ideal career, the ideal boyfriend, and has just been offered a prestigious fellowship. There’s nothing more a woman wants – except maybe a baby.sister? When Sonnet finds out her mother is unexpectedly expecting, and that the pregnancy is high-risk, she puts everything on hold – the job, the fellowship, the boyfriend – and heads home to Avalon. Once her mom is out of danger, Sonnet intends to pick up her life where she left off. But when her mother receives a devastating diagnosis, Sonnet must decide what really matters in life, even of that means staying in Avalon and taking a job that forces her to work alongside her biggest, and maybe her sweetest, mistake – award-winning filmmaker Zach Alger. So Sonnet embarks on a summer of laughter and tears, of old dreams and new possibilities, and of finding the home of her heart. At once heartbreaking and uplifting, Return to Willow Lake plumbs the deepest corners of the human heart, exploring the bonds of family, the perils and rewards of love, and the true meaning of home.

Ope’s Opinion: This is Lakeshores Chronicles #9. This is the first one I read and I did not feel like I missed a thing. Lakeshores #11 is on my shelf and I plan to read it soon.

Susan Wiggs writes such full characters with a lot going on in their lives. Her books always keep my attention from the beginning until the end. This book is no exception. I like that her female characters are not only looking for love, but they are busy doing other things. There is very little steamy sections in this book – which is a positive for me.

The mother – daughter relationship in this story is strong and reminds me of myself and my girls. It was awesome to see Sonnet put family before a job and other things pulling her in other directions. Her mother needed her, but wasn’t whiny about it and actually didn’t want to ask her daughter to give things up to be beside her. The whole relationship felt real and strong.

I am looking forward to more of Susan Wiggs.

All I Want

Posted on October 11, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Romance
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads: From the “awesomely, incredibly talented”* New York Times bestselling author of Still the One, comes a sexy new Animal Magnetism novel set in Sunshine, Idaho, where the sky is the limit when it comes to love.

Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.

Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going…

Ope’s Opinion: This is a very cute, easy read with a predictable ending. All that being said, it was also fun to read about these two finding their way to each other.

The beginning of the book was funny, it made me want to see where the rest of the story was going to go. Going on the journey was enjoyable way to spend my time. The dog was a great added bonus too.

This book was a great escape for me. Some times you just need a get away and that is what this book was for me.

The Goodbye Year

Posted on October 6, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Kaira Rouda
Publisher: Sparkpress
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: Melanie, a perfectionist mom who views the approaching end of parenting as a type of death, can t believe she has only one more year to live vicariously through her slacker senior son, Dane. Gorgeous mom Sarah has just begun to realize that her only daughter, Ashley, has been serving as a stand-in for her traveling husband, and the thought of her daughter leaving for college is cracking the carefully cultivated facade of her life. Will and his wife are fine as long as he follows the instructions on the family calendar and is sure to keep secret his whole other life with Lauren, the woman he turns to for fun (and who also happens to have a daughter in the senior class).
Told from the points of view of both the parents and the kids, The Goodbye Year explores high school peer pressure, what it s like for young people to face the unknown of life after high school, and how a transition that should be the beginning of a couple s second act together empty nesting is often actually the end.”

Ope’s Opinion: It helped to see what the parents were going through to understand the student. The parents drama was too much for me. They were worse then their teenage counter parts!!

I love seeing a student try to find their next step after high school. It is fun to see them find themselves. It is helpful when the parents see their student realistically – which did not happen much in this book.

I was a little disappointed you didn’t see a parent who was excited for the empty nest. I love my girls, but I was excited for the freedom of being spontaneous. My empty nest meant my girls became my friends – it has been fun!

Secret Child, Royal Scandal

Posted on October 3, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Cat Schield
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Romance
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads: The prince must produce an heir. Little does he know, he already has…

Christian Alessandro lives life in the fast lane. But royal duty calls, and the bachelor prince must settle down and sire the future king of Sherdana. That’s when a chance encounter with former flame Noelle Dubone yields a bombshell discovery: Christian’s already a father! Marrying Noelle will make his boy the legitimate heir. It’s a rocky reunion. The determined dressmaker refuses to fall in love—or in bed!—with Christian again, even as old, intense feelings return with a vengeance. But what the prince wants, the prince gets…

Ope’s Opinion: This is a quick easy review. The book is short and predictable and worth reading. Even though I knew where the story was going, it was fun to go with it! It did not need anymore pages or words – it was exactly as it should be.

Ope's Opinions

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Monthly Archives: October 2016