Monthly Archives: March 2019

Coming Soon…..

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…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In April  I hope to read….

Publication Date: April 1, 2019
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

 

Goodreads: It’s never too late for revenge in this thrilling novel by New York Times bestselling and award-winning crime master Max Allan Collins.

In a small Midwest town, twenty-eight-year-old Krista Larson has made her mark as the youngest female police chief in the country. She’s learned from the best: her father, Keith, a decorated former detective. But as accustomed as they are to the relative quiet of their idyllic tourist town, things quickly turn with Krista’s ten-year high school reunion.

With the out-of-towners holed up in a lakefront lodge, it doesn’t take long to stir up old grudges and resentments. Now a successful TV host, Astrid Lund, voted the “Girl Most Likely to Succeed”—and then some—is back in town. Her reputation as a dogged reporter has made the stunning blonde famous. Her reputation among her former classmates and rivals has made her infamous. Astrid’s list of enemies is a long one. And as the reunion begins, so does a triple murder investigation.

Krista and her father are following leads and opening long-locked doors from their hometown to the Florida suburbs to Chicago’s underworld. They just never imagined what would be revealed: the secrets and scandals of Krista’s own past.

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

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

Out Now

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Do you like RaeAnn Thayne?
Do you like Women’s Fiction?
This one is out today!

Goodreads:  New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne invites readers to Cape Sanctuary, where she weaves together the stories of three women–two sisters and the young aunt who raised them–each facing her own crossroads. Can they let go of past mistakes and welcome joy and love into their lives?

Thank you Sarah and Claire at Little Bird Publicity.

The Cliff House

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Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Publisher: Hqn
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source:  Claire and Sarah at Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads:  New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne invites readers to Cape Sanctuary, where she weaves together the stories of three women–two sisters and the young aunt who raised them–each facing her own crossroads. Can they let go of past mistakes and welcome joy and love into their lives?

Ope’s Opinion:  I really enjoyed reading about three strong women, who had careers that were important to them.  These women each had a man they were interested in, but not at the cost of their independence.

This story just flowed from one character to the next, how they were intertwined felt real and made it more interesting.  I liked the twists and secrets – I liked when they came out and how they came out.

I have read a lot of RaeAnne Thayne books – this is one of the best ones.

Press Start: Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy!

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This is a guest post from my granddaughter.

Author: Thomas Flintham
Publisher: Branches
Source:  Library

Goodreads: This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Uh-oh, Animal Town is in trouble! Meanie King Viking has created a dreaded robot army to spread No Fun across the land. On top of that, he has stolen the happiest and most fun animal ever, Singing Dog. There is only one person who can save the day — Super Rabbit Boy! Super Rabbit Boy is super fast and super brave, but he’s also a video game character living in a video game world. What will happen when Sunny, the boy playing the game, loses each level? Will it be game over for Super Rabbit Boy and all his friends?

Emma’s Thoughts:  This book is about a boy who plays a game as the character Super Rabbit Boy. In this game, King Viking, an evil viking living on Mount Boom who hates fun, built an army of robots and steals Singing Dog who is the happiest and funniest dog in Animal Town. Super Rabbit boy then tries to find ways to defeat King Viking to get the fun back in Animal Town.

My favorite parts were when Super Rabbit Boy went to Boom Boom Factory on Mount Boom and kept dying from the Smasher Boys because I thought it was really funny. I also liked when the Boy who was playing Super Rabbit Boy kept showing pictures of him losing the game over and over and over again. I thought it was funny because that happens to me when I play games too. I also liked when Super Rabbit Boy defeats King Viking he dances really funny with his arms waving in the air.

With a rating of 1-10, I give this book a 10 because the graphics are really good and it’s really funny. This is a great quick easy read comic book. Boys and girls who like video games would love this book.

Thank you Emma for sharing your thoughts!

The Three Beths

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Author: Jeff Abbott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Gere: Mystery
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

Goodreads:  My mom would never leave me.

This has been Mariah Dunning’s motto. Her compass. Her belief. So when she glimpses her mother–who’s been missing and presumed dead for the past two years–on the other side of a crowded food court, Mariah’s conviction becomes stronger than ever. Or is she losing her mind?

Her mother disappeared without a trace and–even without a body or any physical evidence–suspicion for her murder immediately fell upon Mariah’s father, leaving both father and daughter ostracized from their close-knit community.

Until one day, Mariah stumbles upon the fact that two other women have also disappeared recently from Lakehaven. And all three women had the same name: Beth.

Is it merely an unlikely coincidence? Or is there a deeper, sinister connection between the three Beths?

Mariah would give anything to find out what happened to her mother. But the truth may be worse than she could have imagined…

Ope’s Opinion: This had an amazing start, then took a while to take off for me.  There were a lot of people to meet and a lot of clues to figure out – which ones lead somewhere and which ones were dead ends. 

This book is a who done it – not graphic gore or unnecessary details.  Just a constant move in the direction of the person responsible for the death.  The path has twists and I did not figure it out much before it was revealed – even then I wasn’t totally positive.

I am not a fan of civilians doing the detective work that the police could not figure out. It doesn’t feel real for me.  The ending wrapped things up, but I am not sure I liked how they ended.

 

The DNA of You and Me

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Author: Andrea Rothman
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Fiction
Source: William Morrow Paperbacks

 

Goodreads:  A smart debut novel—a wonderfully engaging infusion of Lab Girl, The Assistants, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine—that pits the ambition of scientific discovery against the siren call of love.

How does smell work? Specifically, how do olfactory sensory neurons project to their targets in the olfactory bulb, where smell is processed? Justin McKinnon has hired fresh-faced graduate student Emily to study that question. What Justin hasn’t told Emily is that two other scientists in the lab, Aeden and Allegra, are working on a very similar topic, and their findings may compete with her research.

Emily was born focused and driven. She’s always been more comfortable staring down the barrel of a microscope than making small talk with strangers. Competition doesn’t scare her. Her special place is the lab, where she analyzes DNA sequences, looking for new genes that might be involved in guiding olfactory neurons to their targets.

To Emily’s great surprise, her rational mind is unsettled by Aeden. As they shift from competitors to colleagues, and then to something more, Emily allows herself to see a future in which she doesn’t end up alone. But when Aeden decides to leave the lab, it becomes clear to Emily that she must make a choice: follow her research or follow her heart.

A sharp, relevant novel that speaks to the ambitions and desires of modern women, The DNA of You and Me explores the evergreen question of career versus family, the irrational sensibility of love, and whether one can be a loner without a diagnostic label.

Ope’s Opinion: I don’t think I was the right audience for this book.  It had a lot of time in the science field and the lab.  I really enjoy strong females, who have a balance between work and life.  I felt like the main character had more invested in her job then her life. 

I hope people who enjoy the science world and a little love story will enjoy this book.

A Summer in Somoma

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Author: Robyn Carr
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Romance
Source: My friend Mary Ann

Goodreads:  They’ve been best friends since seventh grade. But this summer, on the threshold of thirty, four women are going to need each other more than ever.

Cassie has sworn off romance. Yet deep down, she’s still looking for Mr. Forever. A long-haired biker doesn’t figure into her plans, so where’s the harm in touring the back roads of Sonoma on a Harley with Walt Arneson?

Julie married her high school sweetheart—who can get her pregnant with a mere glance—too young and now wonders how her life became all about leaky faucets and checkbook balances. Maybe love isn’t enough to sustain the hottest couple in town.

Marty’s firefighter husband has forgotten all about romance, and an old flame begins to look mighty tempting.

Beth, a doctor trapped in a body that’s betrayed her yet again, is becoming a difficult patient and a secretive friend.

Life can change in an instant…or a summer. And having friends to lean on can only up the chances of happily ever after.

Ope’s Opinion: This story has four strong women that have a wonderful friendship. They support each other through thick and thin.  They each have their story in this book, they each have issues – men, money or health.  Although, I had my favorite story line, all of the stories were fun to follow. 

One of these women is probably someone you could relate to as you read their story.  The difficulties these women faced are things a lot of people face.  It is enjoyable to see them solve their issues.

The ending was satisfying – it was positive.

 

Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s

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Author:  Julie Wright
Publisher: Shadow Moutain
Genre: Romance
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: 

The Lie
Women in Hollywood are just pretty faces. But Silvia Bradshaw knows that’s a lie, and she’s ready to be treated as an equal and prove her worth as one of Hollywood’s newest film editors.

The Love
She and Ben Mason had worked together as editors before Silvia got her big break, so he’s the perfect person to ask for feedback on her first major film. But even as their friendship begins to blossom into something more, a lawsuit surfaces, jeopardizing both Ben and Silvia’s jobs—as well as their fledgling romance. Audrey Hepburn once said: “The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.” Silvia agrees. Or she used to. It’s one thing to risk her job and her heart, but can she really risk Ben’s, too? Does she have the right to make decisions for her own happiness when they affect so many other people?

The Breakfast
With everything to lose, Silvia meets Ben for breakfast at his favorite diner, Tiffany’s, for one last conversation before the credits roll on true love.

Ope’s Opinion:  At the beginning of this book you learn that Silvia looses an eye to cancer  ( not ruining the story ).  I understand the cancer coming into her life – it has a lot of impact and influence in her life.  I do not understand why the author chose to have Silvia loose an eye.    It never became clear to me what that had to do with the rest of the story.

Putting that aside, I loved the rest of the story.  I liked hearing about the editing of movies, I liked hearing a women’s fight to be seen and heard in a man’s world, and I liked that Silvia made her career a priority.  I also really, really liked Silvia and Ben’s relationship – their miscommunications and banter were fun to read.

Two-thirds of the way through the book I thought I knew where the story was going, then there was a breath taking twist, then a couple of more twists.  I thought the author made the relationships feel real.  The ending brought it all together and was very satisfying.

Thank you Kristin for sharing another great book with me.