As the journey and mystery continue, I found myself not enjoying this book at all. I felt like this particular book focused more on Julie, and the fact that she whines and throws fits like a teenager especially where Lacey is concerned instead of a grown adult. I disliked that Julie acted more like a “high school” bestfriend who was jealous and didn’t know how to handle her feelings. This book also didn’t have much more to the mystery until the last couple of pages. I’m hoping that the author will redeem herself in the sixth and final part. I do like the budding relationship of Thomas and Lacie.
With each new book a new mystery unfolds within the big mystery itself. Lacie is starting to question who she really can and cannot trust. Are the people who have been helping her truly there to help her or is there something mysterious going on behind their show of support? Each person in the town of Southport seems to have something to hide, and when the whole town appears to turn on Lacie you have to wonder how she might make it through. As she continues to unravel, each thread more and more comes into view, as well as more hurt, frustration, and even a little devastation.
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, for Lacey McNeil that picture could be worth a thousand heartaches. Lacey, is a recent empty nester with her twin boys off to college. She is at a crossroads of what is next when a mysterious photo shows up at her doorstep. Desperate to prove what she sees can’t be right she starts a journey that may turn her whole life upside down. This first short book is the start of what is looking to be a great little set.
Right from the beginning of part two we get to see just how much of a narcissistic jerk Robert is, and how much Lacie has put up with, and given up for his every demand and whim. He apparently thinks the vow “obey” is literal.
The way that he acts and treats her throughout this entire book is frustrating. She’s trying desperately to figure out the secrets and mystery that is going on and then gets hit right upside the head with his next move. As the secrets unfold little by little you start to get a sense of where it’s all going.
Being a 40-year-old woman who is a recent empty nester and now having to deal with the huge secret cannot be easy. As Lacie and her two friends, Julie and Thomas embark on their investigation to find out just what is going on you get to see the sweet side of the camaraderie that they have built.
You start to learn more and more just how much damage Robert has done to Lacie over the course of the 21 years of marriage. It’s hard to read and watch the self destruction and low self-esteem that she has at this stage in her life. I’m hoping that as each book goes on, we see her find some type of strength and inner self worth. The lies continue to pile up and you wonder how how did she not know?
Military man John Griffin is stationed in Afghanistan when he receives an innocent letter with a box of Twinkies from who he thinks is a kid. Little does he know that it is from Lily Hogan, a school teacher in the United States. This was my first book by Ginny Sterling and I found it to be sweet, romantic, and tear at your heart strings. I could feel how lonely John was and how each letter he received from Lily meant so much to him. You could feel through the authors words that it gave him some light in a dark situation. Lily is a kind loving insecure woman who doesn’t think she could ever matter to anyone. To watch their friendship and then love blossom made me smile. The addition of John’s 4 legged buddy Radar and John’s mom was a nice touch. I enjoyed how this story unfolded and it was a quick read. If you like clean contemporary military romance than this book is a perfect one to grab.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-04 15:04:182023-08-04 22:23:00Remember Home by Ginny Sterling – Review by Colleen Noyes
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn is a prequel to a new series. This was hands-down, one of the best short prequels. I have read to a new series in a long time. First, let’s just start off with the fact that the cover is absolutely gorgeous so I was immediately intrigued to grab the book. The main characters of Riley and Cole pull you right in from the start. I enjoyed the fact that from the beginning it kind of shows you that while there have always been cliques in high school and they always feel that they are so much different than the other that no matter what everybody has problems. Riley is a scrapper that comes from a dysfunctional mother at the very least, and you are welcomed into her life of mess. Just when she starts to think that maybe she can stay in one place and settle down, as predicted her life seems crazy at the hands of her mother. She doesn’t come from money and has to do whatever it takes to survive and that must bring an immense amount of stress. Cole on the other hand obviously comes from money and you would assume has the perfect little life however, you learn very quickly the old saying that money doesn’t buy happiness. He is forced into an adult role that comes with its own price. There are parts of the story that are dark so be warned but man I cannot wait to see where it goes. This book to me is very reminiscent of the high school dramas from the 90s and early 2000s like “one tree hill “, “90210 “,“gossip girl “. If you were someone who enjoyed those dramas then I think you were very much enjoy this book.
I started this series back in 2015 and then life happened and now I’m finally able to get back to reading on a regular basis so couldn’t imagine not returning to the series. Liliana Hart is hands-down, one of my favorite authors, especially when it comes to a crime/mystery book. Not having picked up one of these books in several years I wasn’t sure how much I would remember or how it might feel. This truly felt like sitting down and having coffee with an old friend, I was able to pick up right where I left off and because the author does such a great job of putting past important things in each book it immediately helped me remember things that had happened previously.
These books can easily be read as standalone books, but I highly recommend starting from book one so that you get the full picture. Dirty Laundry begins with the murder of an older woman and watching J. J. and her husband Jack put together all the pieces was exciting. This couple is absolutely hysterical with banter back-and-forth like the following:
“I’m at a loss on how to open it. Unless you wanna blow it up.“
“I’ll have the team come in and cut it out of the wall. Once it’s back at the station, I’ll call the manufacture and send them the warrant. They’ll have an override code we can use. “
“Huh, “I said. “I can see why they pay you the big bucks. That seems a lot simpler than blowing it up. But not near as much fun. “
“We can blow up stuff another time, baby. You do bring a whole new level of excitement to date night though. I always feel like I need to up my life insurance.“
“A little fear is healthy, “I said.
I absolutely love them as a couple and can see my husband and I in them quite a bit through these kinds of interactions.
In this town and on this street, everyone is a suspect. You were drawn in to each of their personalities, but you can also see how each one could have a motive. The author does a wonderful job of pulling at the strings, and just when you think you know who the killer is and what happened she flips the script on you.
I loved the complex ending with who the murderer was, and how it was pieced together. I was also stunned by the ending. I can’t wait for the next book.
Elijah is the third and final book in the series and one I have been very much looking forward to. I really enjoyed Elijah’s story and how it all came together. I found it funny to picture all of these women constantly throwing them self at him. To see the “playboy” of the brothers finally have to struggle and come to terms with real emotions was a joy. I loved catching up and seeing where Levi, Amos, and their significant others are at. The added bonus of specifically what Amos is encountering, and how that tugged at my heart strings was beautiful. It was very nice to see the whole family, all three brothers and sweet Allie plus all the other women and the level of camaraderie, family, and heartwarming moments. Every time I pick up one of these books, it feels like coming home and that is a wonderful feeling. I did feel as if Elijah’s story was a little bit rushed, and it is obviously quite a bit shorter than the first two books , but that didn’t take away from the fact that I love this authors stories and writing. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store in the future and I’m actually planning on going back and reading books that she has written previously.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 22:21:022023-08-03 22:21:02Elijah: A Clean and Wholesome Medical Romance by Edith Mackenzie – Review by Colleen Noyes
“Safety is an illusion.” Let me just say this one quote could not be any more accurate. You learned so many secrets about Keegan that I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what was coming up. This book felt like I was watching one of the best action movies out there from beginning to end it never let up. It’s always the strong silent type characters that tend to bring so much joy in a great, romantic suspense book. Kara having to protect some thing that money can’t buy, brings a different type of intense level to the story. Watching as Keegan and Kara both have a push and pull relationship and why or sometimes even brings some tears as you were reading. You are encompassed by some pure, illicit evil. The bad guys throughout the story, will give you the heebie-jeebies and will make you feel so much rage that you want to jump in to the book and slap them silly. I am so sad that this particular series is over, but it will forever be one of my favorite series, especially when it comes to romantic suspense novels. I highly recommend reading from book one to the last which is this book to get the full effect of everything this author has to offer as well as getting to know each and every character intimately in the family that they have built up and continue to grow.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 22:09:022023-08-03 22:09:02Marked for Death by Amy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! I love a book that has romance, mystery, and action, especially if the main catalyst isn’t sex. I thought the author did a great job of introducing us to these characters and gave us just enough to be intrigued to hope to see them in more books. I feel like we got to see just the tip of the iceberg with them as I would expect in a short read. I can tell that this author has a way with words, and can weave a story. I can’t wait to read some of her full novels to really get a sense of her writing and the characters she creates. She left me wanting more. If you like a very quick read that is romantic suspense then you will enjoy this one very much.
I have been patiently waiting for Trev’s story. This book grabbed you from page one, and it never let go of you. This series has continued to get better and better and the authors writing has come so far from book one. I found that this particular book had so much immense action in it, and adventure that I felt as if I was on a roller coaster. The twists and turns will keep you captivated, in awe, and wondering what is right around the bend. Jules, it’s a beautiful, complex, wonderful character, and watching the interaction between her and Trev play out had my head spinning. While, I was able to figure out the main mystery, it did not take away from the story at all, and made it that much more exciting. If you are looking for a high octane story that has love, mystery, suspense, secrets, and so much more, this is definitely a book you would want to pick up. This book can easily be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the series from the beginning so that you get to know each of the individual main characters it helps tremendously with the amount of connection you continue to feel from book after book.
Vantage point by Amy McKinley is so far my favorite one in the series. Stella “Red” it’s such a fun character. Her sass, humor, and unapologetic love of family first makes her one heck of a character. While, I found some of her choices to not be smart, I appreciated the fact that it was done out of love, and not because she wasn’t intelligent. I had been waiting to find out more about Hawke and his past, and this author did not disappoint with such a torturous background. I was glad to see Jack get some closure from his past. This series and this author continue to grab onto me and keep me interested, and desiring much much more.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 21:59:542023-08-03 21:59:54Vantage Point by Amy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes
Where the Flowers Bloom is the debut book from D.L. Darby and I felt as if it was a very solid debut book.
Let’s start with all of the positive things, Daphne is a very well written, strong, heartfelt character, that I really enjoyed. I love that this book showcases that women can have an amazing friendship that last years without a bunch of cattiness. So often women are portrayed as being hateful and nasty to each other, and those of us who are fortunate enough to have wonderful, female friendships can appreciate the way that happens in this book. The author did a great job with the plot, keeping the book moving, and you can feel so many of the same emotions as the characters. I additionally, enjoyed Henry for the most part, although there were many instances that I felt , he was a bit judgmental and quick to jump to conclusions which I thought he had some nerve doing given all of the secrets that he was keeping.
The way that Daphne dealt with the loss of her mother and grieved hit home as I lost my mother this past year. The author did a very nice job of describing how some people feel and what goes on in your mind after the loss of a loved one. You could tell that she had been through this, and that really came out in the story. Some of my favorite quotes were these below, because one was a great reminder of the fact that lots of us deal with it, and lots of different ways, and the other because it was so pointed and brilliant.
“Grieving for a little while is one thing; taking years to get back to living life is another.“
“The important thing, I think, is never to hold someone accountable for their actions when they are grieving. People can be harsh and volatile even, but they lash out because they are in pain. It’s your choice how you deal with that. You can be there and not allow yourself to get close enough to get hurt. You can walk away and let them figure it out on their own. You can even hit them with some tough love and tell them to suck it up cause life goes on, and you have to keep living. But when you’re both in pain, when the tragedy affects both of you, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself as well.”
I honestly felt that this was much more a woman’s fiction novel than a romance novel. The only part I felt that made it jump to “romance “is the amount of sex scenes in the book. I think that the book could’ve stood very much on its own as a brilliantly written book with a few less sex scenes and the main focus, being the grief, the secrets, and how each person deals with those emotions differently. Don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with a book that has hot scenes in it, I just felt that this book was so much more than that and not in anyway a typical romance book. This is meant as a complement to how well the author writes, and is in no way saying that this is not a good book. Having said the above, I still fully believe that this is an author, you should take a chance on reading, and I think that overall you will find yourself grateful that you did.
Having lost both of my parents, and my mother in the past seven months this last quote brought me immense comfort, and I look forward to being someone else’s survival guide in the future.
“Brenè Brown to me, “One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.”
Carnations and Hot Toddy Kisses (Heart of the Family Book 4) is the conclusion to the series and man am I sad. I wished we had “seen” Chris and Robin in the conclusion, but over all it was a great way to end the series. My heart melted at how every one got a happy ending and how it all cultivated. It was heart warming to see a family torn apart reunited. Great job!
Let me just say that this series is getting better and better and I’m so sad that there’s only one book left in it. The authors writing and writing style has continued to grow tremendously. After dumping Autumn at the altar, Rye decides to go on his honeymoon alone. While, at his lowest of his life, he encounters a stranger Amy, who he decides to have a little fun with. Not knowing where this could lead to made for great enjoyment. I really liked, the character and my heart felt a tug given her situation back home. The way that the series intertwines with each other makes it that much more enjoyable, and the surprise discovered in book 3 (which I figured out) gave all of the characters a boost, in more ways than one.
I can’t wait to see how the author ties up the series and where everybody is left standing at the end. I’m glad that I gave an author I have never read before a try and try past book one. My recommendation would be if you read book one and don’t find it as wonderful as you think it could be don’t give up on the series because book 2 and 3 more than make up for it. Now on to book 4.
Roses and Champagne Kisses is book 2 of The Heart of the Family Series and let me just say I am so glad that I never stop reading an author based off of one book. Book 2 was so much better than the first book. I felt like the authors writing style really grew, I was much more connected to these characters, and I appreciated how she slowed down the instant love atmosphere. This book felt much more realistic and charismatic. I absolutely positively loved the character Finley, as well as Roan, their connection was palpable from the get-go, and I felt like the story telling was superb. I very much enjoyed all of the little twists, turns, and secrets. The connection between Roan and his brother Rye warmed my heart and made me laugh. It was nice to have Robin and Chris back from book one and see how their relationship had grown.
It’s truly not often that a second book in a series is every bit as good or better as the first book. However, I found myself loving book 2 every bit as much. This series truly is so sweet, romantic, and very endearing. Megan and Noah were once best friends many many years ago, but find themselves in a precarious situation with so many mixed emotions, irritation, and complications. Meg feels like the outsider in her own family and feels like Noah has taken her place. Watching their story unfold, I found myself, smiling, crying, and laughing out loud. Every character in the story is once again, a very strong character, and I feel as if the author does a unique job of giving everybody equal footing in her books. There were many times throughout the story that I felt strongly I wanted to slap Matt, so I love when a book makes me feel something so passionately. This author grabbed me right from the beginning and I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for the future I’m just hoping I don’t have to wait until next Christmas for the next book in the series. This is easily a series that should be made into a holiday romance on a certain network.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 14:36:032023-08-03 14:48:17Her Christmas Movie Kiss by Grace J. Croy – Review by Colleen Noyes
This is my first book by this author and I am so glad that I picked it up. I wanted to read some Christmas stories in December and the cover on this book let me just say OMG it is one of the prettiest covers I’ve ever seen. Imagine my delight when the story was every bit as good as the cover. I’m not usually an Insta love story kind of person, but this author did an absolutely amazing job of making everything so realistic. While, there was that instant connection I loved how the characters were written as mature adults throughout the story who while they had an attraction also realized That there were other things in play and that those things needed to be handled.
Jay is a single dad who is struggling in more ways than one with his daughter, and I loved the relationship that the two of them had. I enjoyed how this author portrayed the difficulty it can be for a man to be the single father of a 13-year-old girl, and that he may not understand how to communicate with her. I felt like they had such a special bond, and I often found myself with tears in my eyes, watching the struggles and how things unfold.
Livy felt like such a genuine, sweet, compassionate, caring person. She felt like that friend that you have in your life that tries to take care of everyone and everything, and makes an effort to take into account other peoples feelings and emotions.
This author did such a wonderful job of creating strong characters that I found myself feeling like I was in one of those “Hallmark” movies. I found such joy in Livy, finding herself in all of these clumsy, hysterical, silly situations. I felt that the author did a very good job of not over analyzing or overdoing any character in the entire story, including Jay’s family. The characters just felt real. Of all the Christmas books I read this year Her Christmas Rescue was hands-down, my favorite, well written, emotional, and 100% a feel good story that will leave you happy and satisfied.
“Good men are always complicated, but they are worth the effort. Trust me.”
This was my favorite line from the book, which was my first by this author. I chose it because we’re in the holiday season and I liked the title. It immediately starts out a little intense and we’re not sure what’s going to happen or which way it is leaning. Initially I was a little hesitant about the storyline because I’m not a huge Insta- love reader. I like the romance to build up and get more intense and realistic in the process. I found some of it to be implausible like Robin just immediately kind of settling in with a complete stranger and Chris taking a chance and letting a stranger come into his home, especially a home he shares with young children. Having said that, I’m glad that I stuck with the story, because by the end I felt the author had very much redeemed herself and some of the actions in the final chapters. I thought that this author had a very nice writing style, the story flowed smoothly without any gaps or issues. The characters are all realistic and lovable, even if their actions sometimes weren’t. My only suggestion would be for there to have been a little bit more build up, but overall I was pleased with the story as a whole and the outcome. I fully intend to buy the next book in the series.
So, I’m not sure how I never read this book before or have seen the movie, but I was missing out. This is the story of two families and how different their lives are, but more importantly you see the struggles of each in their own way. This story had me crying from very early on and I never stopped until the end. I found it heart wrenching what one family had to endure, but realized that the other family was dealing with their own mess. It made you think about what is truly important in life and that being rich or poor doesn’t have much to do with it. We often take for granted those little things. One of the things that made me cry the most was Nathan’s mom explaining what was happening to her and that she could be so positive in the face of pain.
One of my favorite passages in the book was “Death’s power is limited– it cannot eradicate memories or slay love. It cannon destroy even a threadbare faith or permanently hobble the smallest hope in God. It cannot permeate the soul, it cannot cripple the spirit. It merely separates us for a while. That is the only power death can claim. — No more – Donna VanLiere”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 14:28:292023-08-03 14:48:57The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere – Review by Colleen Noyes
We read this book as part of our book club and holy sweet Jesus what an excellent choice. This story had you from page 1 and kept your head spinning non stop. The characters are very well written, they are equally likeable and scary. The key to a great mystery is making you believe the killer is 80 different people and this book does that. While I did figure it out, most folks in my book club did not and that’s incredible. Watching Nora have to fight so hard to keep her identity a secret while fighting her inner demons was exhilarating. Women once again are being murdered, but you know her father can’t be doing it (or can he), it leaves so many options. One of the things that impressed me about this book was that the author does a magnificent job of making each character feel like a main character and you find yourself second guessing each and every one of them. The twists, turns, and psychological warfare you will go through will leave you invigorated and exhausted. I can not wait to read more by this author as this was my first book by her. If you enjoy a true psychological thriller, run out and grab this story.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 14:26:092023-08-03 14:49:11The Locked Door by Freida McFadden – Review by Colleen Noyes
Plane crashes, Russian spies, ex military, heroes, and a love story. What more could you ask for? Jack and Hannah have a past. Neither one of them thought that they would see each other again, and believing that the future was dead. After Jack suffers the loss of his teenage love you can feel that in his mind his chance for happiness is gone. Hannah, having to grow up in such a rigid and difficult childhood that is overwhelmed by loss, has hardened her to everything around her, including a past connection with Jack. When these two encounter each other again , it’s in an unexpected and disastrous way. They have so many obstacles and trust issues to overcome that you have to wonder if there’s any hope at all. Seeing how much Jack has grown from Moments That Define Us, brings a new and refreshing light. Having all of the Gray Ghost guys back in the mix makes this book even more enjoyable. I appreciated the fact that this books time period was during the same time as Chris’s story. As all books that Amy McKinley writes in the series, this story had lots of romance, action, deception, and intrigue. The secret that Hannah discovers after so many years filled me with both anger and sadness. My heart ached for all the loss she had already endured, and then her realizing even more loss in a different way. This book had me from page one to the end and I can’t wait to see what the Gray Ghost guys encounter next.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2023-08-03 14:23:382023-08-03 14:49:25Beneath the Surface (A Gray Ghost Novel, book 3) by Amy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes
What a great prequel to the Mafia Elite Series. Getting to know the mafia princesses while they were younger was a real treat and especially getting to know Marissa. I’m so sad this series is finished but can’t wait to see them maybe show up in other places:-) or maybe a secret baby will show up. A girl can hope and dream can’t she? This author has easily become one of my all time favorites and will always be an automatic one click now.
Moments That Defined Us by Amy McKinley was a wonderful short story. This is the prequel to the Gray Ghosts series and I loved how much was squeezed into this book. You really got a feel for what the men had gone through in their younger days, how they ended up where they are, and there was even room for tragedy and pain which always helps make a great romantic suspense book. The backstory really helped me to understand these guys on a different level and I can’t wait to finish out the series. This book was an easy four-star read for me and this author never lets me down.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2022-11-28 01:13:402022-11-29 01:15:40Moments That Define Us (Gray Ghost, #0.5) by Amy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes
My first KG Fletcher book did not disappoint. This beautiful love story has everything that you would want in it, true love, companionship, some heat, and sacrifice. Teddy made a huge sacrifice many years ago while trying to do the right thing, leaving behind the love of his life Robyn. The story begins six years later, but has so much back story as it progresses. I loved his entire family and it reminded me a little bit of one of those cowboy shows you find yourself immersed in.
Robyn, was a very sweet character and I appreciated her devotion to Teddy. I didn’t necessarily understand her relationship with Anderson, but in the end that part of the story didn’t matter and didn’t take away from the main aspect of the story. I adored Sam and can’t wait to see what happens with her storyline. The father, Roy was such a strong Matriarch of the family and you could feel the love and protection that he had for his children and I just wanted to hug him.
In multiple ways the story pulled at your heartstrings and one part of the story elicited such strong emotion for me I could literally see it playing out in my head when Teddy is injured. The authors writing style is smooth, sincere, and has just the right amount of surrounding detail. For my first book by this author I was pleasantly surprised and felt connected to the story. I look forward to reading previous books by her and the future books in the series.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2022-11-24 01:05:132022-11-29 01:06:38Faultless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 1) by KG Fletcher – Review by Colleen Noyes
I went into this book blind only knowing that it was a true crime book but no further details. We picked it to read this month for my book club and this book was a tragic emotional roller coaster. While I know that things like this happen it was so unfathomable what these children endured and how little anybody helped them. It was intriguing how one woman could abuse so many people both children and adults and get away with it for so long and have so much tragedy happened. This woman is what I consider the epitome of a monster I was equally disgusted with her final spouse. This book tugged at all the heartstrings and I found myself crying through several portions of it. The book is extremely well written and the authors writing style showed with a true story teller he is. This was my first book by this author and I intend to pick up the rest of his books as soon as I can. While this book is filled with so much tragedy and pain and I am giving a warning to that effect it is definitely a book worth reading.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2022-11-12 00:40:312022-11-29 00:47:31If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen – Review by Colleen Noyes
I can officially say that I am hooked on this series which is saying a lot because up until this series I have never liked historical anything. This historical crime book is packed with action to the hilt. Kember and Hayes are back working together to solve another serial killer. In addition Kember has other cases going on that coincide with the main story.
The story like the previous book takes place at a time when women were not allowed to do a lot of things and were thought to only be of use in the kitchen or barefoot and pregnant per se. I felt that the author did an incredible job of showing what women are capable of and was respectful in his portrayal of that.
The camaraderie between Hays, Kember, and Wright really brings out a strong effect of relationships in this story. I appreciated that Geraldine was brought back and hope in future books more of the other women from book one are brought back so that we can see a growth through all of them and their friendship with Hays.
I felt that the authors writing in this book had grown tremendously from book 1. The writing was much more connected and smoother giving the overall story much more to dive into. I found myself completely connected and enthralled beyond what I was in the first book and found this one hard to put down from the first page to the last page.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2022-11-11 00:30:192022-11-29 00:38:48A Silent Place to Die (A Kember and Hayes Mystery Book 2) by N.R. Daws
I borrowed A Quiet Place to Kill by N.R. Daws through Kindle Unlimited and it’s my first book by this author. I choose the book based off of the cover and dove right in. I will say that I almost gave up on this book because the first 40% of it seemed slow but I am so glad that I kept pushing through. By the time I got to 45% in, the book picked up tremendously and it seemed to really come together. I ended up enjoying this book significantly which says some thing because I generally am not a person who likes historical books. This Historical Thriller Crime book taught me so much and opened up my eyes to a whole new genre. I really enjoyed the characters of Kember and Hayes.
Lizzie is a woman before her time, I she was written wonderfully, I love how feisty she was especially for the time period and seeing the potential of what’s to come.
Hayes is also a wonderful character who doesn’t seem to have many hang-ups about the woman’s movement. I felt as if each character was written very realistic, very engaging, and with great purpose.
While the main premise of this book is about crime and murder I appreciated what a front burner it took in regards to the women’s movement and women not having to only be kept barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. I felt the author did a tremendous job of making it part of the forefront, but doing it with class and style.
This was an easy four-star read for me and I can’t wait to move on to book 2.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2022-11-01 00:18:332022-11-29 00:27:31A Quiet Place to Kill (A Kember and Hayes Mystery Book 1) by N.R. Daws – Review by Colleen Noyes
November 9 by Colleen Hoover takes you on a beautiful journey that lasts over several years. It makes you wonder if a love story like that actually exists and it makes you question would you be able to make the sacrifices that they did?
Fallon is a young girl who has suffered a tragedy that makes her question everything about herself. She has lost all self-confidence and I think in some ways has even lost her will to live and it makes you question how you would handle such a tragedy.
Benton seems to be too good to be true with his kindness, his confidence, and his saving the day personality. What you end up learning about him in the end was gut wrenching and you will feel it in your core. The tragedies that he suffers broke my heart and you come to realize just what those tragedies did to him.
This book threw me for a loop when encountered with shocking information. No spoilers but be prepared to have your mouth hanging open and saying to yourself what the heck did I just read.
This author always keeps me captivated and while I am new to her books this third one took me to a whole new level and I cannot wait to appreciate so much more of her work. She is clearly a brilliant and talented author and I was thrilled to know that she does such an extensive amount of charity work. I love reading a good fiction book but I hands-down adore reading a good fiction book from an author who gives back so much.
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The Southport Secret by Sage Parker
