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The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan

~🔍~👣~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ 🔍~👣~
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
Genre – Women’s Suspense Fiction
Page Count – 225
Cover Designer – Colbie Myles
The boys are determined to break out of prison, but they don’t consider the frightening consequences of making a run for it. When Tarvis arrives at Alpha Correctional Center, he ignites a plan that ringleader Jesse Allen has been cooking up. Rick is making shivs out of school supplies, and Julius fuels the hate with his disastrous choices. As the plan rolls out, their teacher, Caroline McBride, knows something is up, but she doesn’t know what. The air is tense. At odds with the cruel deputy staff, she and William Bonner, the counselor—and her lover—hear the rumblings, but they can’t stop the inevitable. The big blow up. The escape. But freedom is as elusive as a dream.

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Click here to view the Book Trailer for The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan

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Nancy Nau Sullivan is the author of memoir, mystery, and a novel—THE BOYS OF ALPHA BLOCK. She wrote for newspapers in high school and college and later worked as an editorial assistant in New York. She’s a former journalist and teacher.

Born in San Francisco, Nancy grew up outside Chicago and often visited Anna Maria Island, Florida. She returned to the island with her family and wrote an award-winning memoir, THE LAST CADILLAC, about the years she cared for her father while her children were still at home–a harrowing adventure of travel, health issues, adolescent angst, and hurricanes. She went back to the Florida setting for her first cozy mystery, SAVING TUNA STREET, creating the fictional Santa Maria Island for the Blanche Murninghan mystery series, now in its fourth installment with A DEATHLY IRISH SECRET. She based THE BOYS OF ALPHA BLOCK on the years she taught in a boys’ prison in Florida.

Nancy is a graduate of the University of San Francisco (San Francisco College for Women) in Spanish and political science and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Marquette University. She lives in Northwest Indiana. Find her at www.nancynausullivan.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @NauSullivan.

Author Interview with Nancy Nau Sullivan

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Angela Hayes

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

4.5 Stars

 

Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker is an emotional women’s fiction story, and the first book that I have read by her. The title grabbed my attention as soon as I saw it, and when I read the blurb I became intrigued by the promise of a touching story- so much so that I found myself putting aside the book I had been reading to leap into this emotional tale.
I found Ms. Barkers writing to be captivating, warm, and inviting- while also tugging on my heartstrings and giving me all the feels. Her characters are really well-developed with their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. The whole ‘lap baby’ aspect of the story added an extra element of interest, and angsty emotion- and proved to be quite thought-provoking as well.
We meet Paige, Marie, Terry, and Marie who all survived a horrific plane crash. This tragic event has made a massive impact on each of them, and we follow as they navigate their lives and deal with the issues the crash has caused- such as survivor’s guilt, heartache, trauma, grief, and self-doubts. But this story isn’t doomy and gloomy- it has some real heart-warming and inspirational moments- making this a very memorable read for me.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Ms. Barkers work in the future.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Amy Q. Barker!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Jenni Bishop

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
Lap Baby is an original, unique, engrossing and refreshing read. Lap Baby was inspired by a segment of a TV show making the story that more intriguing not to mention I actually learnt something. I have not read any of Amy’s work before and I am glad I picked this book up.
Amy carefully entwines the stories of three women who find themselves connected and experiencing love, pain, loss and forgiveness and the harsher realities of life. The characters are wonderfully developed that felt real, relatable, likable and easy to connect with. They may be surviving but they aren’t living, they are much stronger than they think.
It is an emotional read that will tear at the heartstrings. Tissues may or may not be needed. But a good strong drink will be.
I would highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Kerry Baker

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really found this book to be so emotional and utterly gripping. I connected with this story from the moment I started reading. I loved watching how it all unfolded and getting to know about the characters involved. Each were unique and interesting and their interconnecting journeys were fascinating to read.
This story really hit home as I could not help but to compare it to when I travel with my children. The whole situation is unthinkable and yet the author does an amazing job at navigating the differing emotions. This was a gripping and well written story and I would highly recommend it.

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lap Baby tells the story of three women who survived a plane crash twenty years prior. Each woman has coped with the crash in a different way as they try to move forward and overcome their grief. Paige was a baby, a lap baby, when the event occurred and was adopted after the accident. She is happy and just wants to forget that it ever happened. Marie has never gotten over the loss of her son who died in the accident and needed to blame someone for the crash. She has decided that it was Julie’s fault and wants revenge as the anger and hatred eats away at her. Julie was the flight attendant on the plane who had had to live with the choices she made during that day. She lives with the guilt and the consequences of her decisions. Each woman has learned to cope in a different way as they try to heal. They struggle with issues like alcoholism, PTSD, and self-doubt, that have a ripple effect through their lives.

This author was new to me, but I know that I will be looking for more of her writing. This book was based on a true story, which I did not know when I started to read it. It was compelling, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and hard to put down. The author did a beautiful job of sharing the stories of the survivors of this horrific plane crash and how it affected their lives even years later. The characters are beautifully written and relatable, so it is easy to get invested in their individual lives and story. This is an emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings and have you reaching for the box of Kleenex. I highly recommend this book!

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. One of the things I enjoy most about this author is their ability to pull me into the story and keep me engaged throughout. The characters are connectable and had me coming back for more. This is an emotional story about three women and one plane crash. How will they rebuild their lives and find themselves after a tragedy. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout. Their story is one of emotion and one you don’t want to miss. I enjoyed what they brought to the story and how they made it easy to read. This is a fast paced story that is hard to put down. You don’t want to miss what happens with these three women. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Shelly Kittell

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, let me say that this is a truly beautiful story. It is so well written. The story of 4 survivors of a plane crash. It follows them through their struggle as they adjust to life after the crash. The emotions they feel as they try to live their life will be felt as you read. I found the characters worked their way into my heart. I kind of felt that they had become my family as I read further into the book. This a book that you truly engage with. It is based on a true story. It is one of my favorites for 2023.

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker

..••°°°°••.. BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ..••°°°°••..
Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker
Genre – Women’s Fiction
Page Count – 276
Cover Designer – BespokeBookCovers
Twenty years ago. A plane crash. Three women survivors inexorably connected by fate, destiny, and a cause.

Did you know that lap babies (children under the age of two) are instructed to be placed on the floor of a plane during an emergency? Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Julie Geiger, a flight attendant, told five sets of parents to do just that. Now she must live with the consequences. Will changing the rules bring her healing and forgiveness? And where does love fit into her life now?

Marie Stanley lost her baby boy on that flight. And she knows exactly who to blame. Julie. The problem is that vindictiveness festers. And eats into your soul. How will Marie learn to move past her hate and save her marriage in the process?

Paige Montgomery, the lap baby who survived the flight, would love to forget it ever happened. After all, she’s happy. And she’s on the cusp of a new relationship. How will she learn to forge her own path, one that integrates all the elements of her past, including the crash, the loss of her parents, and her subsequent adoption?

~ AMAZON ~ APPLE BOOKS ~ BARNES & NOBLE ~ KOBO ~ GOOGLE PLAY ~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker

Amy Q. Barker is a #1 Amazon best-selling author of women’s fiction as well as a nature lover. She writes books about extraordinary women who inconveniently fall in love during a major life crisis. Amy was raised in a small town in Western New York and now lives miles from anywhere on a lake in Indiana with her husband.

Author Interview with Amy Q. Barker

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Daryian Lucas

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5/5 Stars
This book hit very close to home as I lost my grandmother the same way. The display of realistic relationships and relationship complications made this a great read. It is a quick read, but it’s worth the read. The realistic display of faith is very refreshing. This isn’t a Christian book that’s corny and filled with fluff. It tackles tough situations and is very good about keeping it realistic.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a story of loss, grief and rebuilding relationships. It is not an easy read as it tears at your heart – knowing that sisterbond, and mother daughter bond can so easily be broken. I liked how the author shows us all sides of the story through the short chapters from each perspective. It helps to understand what all the characters are feeling, thinking and going through and it really shows that we don’t know deep down what someone else is going through – even our own sister. The setting of the story is beautiful – I especially liked the garden the visit in Canada.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Angela Hayes

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

4 Stars

 

The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson takes us on a journey of family, love, loss, grief, a mother’s last wishes, sister relationship/dynamics, reconciliation, hope, drama, angst, and secrets.
I recommend having a box of tissues close at hand before you dive into this emotional read. This collection of heartfelt and thought-provoking short stories strummed my emotions all the while pulling me further along on this relatable journey of sisterhood, loss, and final wishes.
Well worth the read!

Thank you, Sharon Hughson!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Kerry Baker

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a beauty story about grief, family and connection. It is such a moving story and emotional on every level. This book is entirely about the characters and their journeys – both individual and combined. Each of them were so different and yet their connection brought them together and forged a story so deep.
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I am impressed with the level and style of writing. This book drew me in entirely and I had to see it through to the end. It felt like I was there with the characters, going on the journey with them. I loved every minute of this book and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Jennifer Gordon

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An emotional and engaging read, which kept me captivated throughout. The storyline centres around a mother’s determination to help her daughters to reconcile, but her planned intervention never happens, and it becomes her dying wish instead. The story is told through a collection of connected short stories and poems. The plot explores a family’s journey through loss, death and grief, and so it does take you on an emotional rollercoaster whilst reading it. However, the characters are so well defined that I felt engaged with them. Main characters, Mercedes and Lacey Bloom, along with Krista White all go on a journey of discovery as they try and heal their difficult relationships. The setting, which was partially set in beautiful Victoria, BC, was brought vividly to life by the descriptive narrative, making me feel immersed in the story. I found this to be an inspirational story about loss and grief, but overall it’s a story of family relationships, and one which I would recommend.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Julie Johnson

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very emotional read but one that might help someone struggling with loss.

Krista and Lacey are sisters who’ve lost their way with each other. Life has dealt them a series of blows that have cost them a lifelong friendship, not to mention a family bond. When they are faced with the tragedy of losing their mother, this bond is even further apart.

Mercedes is the daughter of Lacey and made an agreement with her grandmother on her deathbed that she would see to it that the sisters make a trip that they’d been talking about for over a year.

When neither sister wants to make this trip, it’s up to Merci to get them to go. But then, Merci has some secret that she’s keeping that she does not want revealed either.

This is a story of love, loss, redemption, and forgiveness. Lacey and Krista are like fire and ice. They clash over so many things but they are ultimately just “things” that get in the way of a great relationship.

I recommend this book for anyone who is going through the fires of loss, disappointment, or feeling lonely/discouraged. This book will bring about a different perspective on life when it can be seen through the eyes of another. This is loosely based on a true story with the author and the way this was penned was just beautiful. There is a religious element that was such an important thread to this story!

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Tausha Treadway

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson. This is such a beautiful set of short stories that are absolutely heartbreaking. Its the story of 2 sisters who have become estranged and their mom makes a plan to reconnect them with her granddaughter but before she can see her plan come to fruition she passes away. The daughters just don’t know if they can reconnect but want to make their mom’s wish come true. Especially when their daughter/niece wants them to make up because she told her grandma she would help. Krista and Lacey are just like any family members that end up not speaking because of something and it hits home so much. They truly want to make their mom’s dying wish come true but its so much work and it just may be too much work. If they don’t reconcile they will end up hurting their daughter/niece Mercy and she will be devastated. Read these heartwarming stories to see if a trip can put this family back together.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Promised Plan is an interweaving of short stories and poems and tells the story of grief, loss, estrangement, and familial relationships. It is a gut wrenching read full of raw emotions and feelings that will leave you in tears. This is a story that I know many, including myself, can relate to. As a mother we all want for our children to be close so when an estrangement occurs between siblings it can be difficult for a mother.

This story centers around a mother who devises a plan to reconcile her daughters but passes away before she is able to do so. As her dying wish she enlists the help of her granddaughter, Merci, to help her get her daughters to reconcile. Lacey attempts to keep estranged from her sister Krista, until her daughter intervenes. She risks disappointing and hurting her daughter if she does not try to forgive her sister. Can these women come together and reconcile after losing their mother? Or will hurt, anger, and hard feelings keep them estranged?

The author beautifully tells the story of how hurt, disagreements, and misunderstandings can occur between siblings. The result is not just estrangement between the siblings, but it causes a ripple effect through the family that can cause feelings of anger, betrayal, and sadness. After losing their mother Lacey and Krista must decide if they can push the hurt, guilt, and anger behind them and forgive one another in order to reconcile. The story hits home for me because of my relationship with my sibling so this was a difficult and emotional read for me. This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as the author navigates through the difficult topics of death, grief, loss, familial relationships, estrangement, secrets, lies, anger, betrayal, hurt, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews@tarab

The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Kerry Carr

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very moving and emotional read. It contains poems and is like short stories bit it all covers the same topic. It’s a story of one families way of dealing with the loss of their mother/ wife/grandmother. Such a huge loss in a family can make friction and arguments even worse as everyone tries to deal with their grief in their own way. Resentment can build and push people further apart at the time they should be the closest they have ever been.
When their mum passed Krista and Lacey were already not on speaking terms. These once close sisters have a wedge between them that needs to be fixed and before their mum passed she had a plan to do just that. However fate intervened and their mum didn’t make it to see her daughters reconcile. That is now down to the granddaughter to execute this plan and hopefully repair the damage.
This story is a story of grief, guilt, shame, dealing with all of these issues and some unresolved issues that have pushed the sisters apart.
This book is a very open and honest look at grief and dealing with loss. At times it’s not pretty as the sisters struggle with resentment towards God, the circumstances and even each other as well as feelings of guilt that they could have done more.
It is a beautifully open honest look into a family torn apart by loss and grief and the hope that no matter what things can become better and conflicts can be resolved.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Tonya Merritt

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are wonderful characters in this book. Each character shows you a different person. This story is very realistic and is very personal. A great story to read when you just need a pick me up and to know that you aren’t alone.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Bobbi Wagner

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this great emotional story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed and look forward to seeing what is next for them. I found this book to be well written and engaging. It is a shorter story but it sure packs a punch. The characters are strong and supportive of each other. They are relatable and took me on an emotional ride that just kept going. This is a story about a mother and her plan to reconcile her daughters. But what happens when the plan outlives the mother? This is a hard to put down story that is written with heart and soul. It will pull at your heart strings and bring reality to life. I really enjoyed this book and how much the characters added to the story. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Promised Plan is a few very short stories and poems by Sharon Hughson. It is an intriguing and heartfelt journey through death and loss, relationships. It’s every mothers wish for all her children to get along but being a realist you know that with very different personalities that it is not always the case.
One mother’s dying wish and last-ditch effort to reunite her family doesn’t go ahead as planned when her time comes up.
There is heartache and heartbreak, pain and sorrow, angst and hope, guilt and grief, redemption and reconciliation, secrets and lies, forgiveness.
Losing a mother will either make or break sibling relationships and often comes with the guilt of things left unsaid, things you wished you had done and the wish for things to be better.
Will they follow through and make one woman ’s final wish come together, or will the secrets and guilt keep them from mending boundaries?
The story is well written, and Sharon makes the characters feel real. It is easy to get lost in the story and feel their emotions.
Travel along with three women who struggle to open themselves up and regain what once was. You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an inspiration sent to bless lives. It is a book that will have you feeling many emotions. I will tell you to keep tissue nearby. I love good, clean writing that is meant to inspire. This novel brings two sisters together with the help of Marci, the daughter of one of the sisters and the help of their mother. We all have baggage and there is no shortage of it in this book. Issues have happened and feelings have been hurt. It’s time to fix things. I love the premise of the story. I love how it was written in short stories. Marci is a wonderful and strong character trying to make sure her grandmother’s wishes are carried out. I loved this story and it will be going in my personal library. It reminded me of my mom and was a wonderful read for Mother’s Day 2023.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson

..••°°°°••.. BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE  ..••°°°°••..
The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
Genre – Women’s Fiction, Family
Page Count – 186
Cover Designer – Covers by Kay
A determined mother plans a girls’ trip to help her daughters reconcile. What happens when the plan outlives her?
A dying woman’s final wish.
Mercedes Bloom’s deathbed agreement with Grandma to reconcile her mother and aunt threatens Merci’s secrets. Can a girl questioning everything keep her promise?
She has nothing more to lose.
Disillusioned after her divorce and the death of her mother, Lacey Bloom avoids her sister until their estrangement threatens to disappoint her daughter. Will a magical trip through a rose garden open her heart to the possibility of forgiving her sister?
Guilt holds her hostage.
Krista White has failed as a daughter and sister. She assumes her selfishness in earning her degree keeps God from blessing her with a dream. Is confession enough to bring peace and a dream fulfilled?
Even from Heaven’s shore, a mother’s plan unearths secrets and cultivates reconciliation.
Partially set in beautiful Victoria, BC, this collection of connected short stories explores a family’s journey through loss.

~ AMAZON ~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson

Sharon Hughson inhales words and exhales stories. If only it happened that easily. She thrives on telling stories she wants to read, hoping they offer an escape hatch from reality for her readers, too.

Sharon writes, edits, and coaches other writers at her home on the Columbia River in Oregon. She enjoys playing piano, walking, biking, hiking, crocheting, and traveling with her husband. With two grown sons living nearby, she often spoils her four grandchildren, much to the chagrin of her entitled cats, Cattin’ Hook and Tweetie Paws.

Author Interview with Sharon Hughson

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Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Erin DeRoma

Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MUST READ!

If you are a psychological thriller fan, you must read this one. Despite it’s almost 300 pages, it is a very quick read because you CAN’T put it down.

The details and writing is amazing, I was right there in the thick of it. I loved and hated the characters. I despised Dusty and I think that shows how well the writing is, because it came to a point where I truly despise a fictional character.

After reading this I jumped right into the next one.

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The Thieves by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Jennifer Crain

The ThievesThe Thieves by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second of the Millersville series, it can be read as a stand alone (it is set in same location but uses different characters).

Loved how the book is told in two different, intertwined stories (Jas who steals money to help her ailing father, and the thieves that “one-up” the original robbers). – The plot twists and turns, alternating narrators almost every chapter, that lead the stories to one concise conclusion. As far as morality, I enjoyed how the author makes you question what (if anything) is worth stealing for. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Shore Lodge, but it is still a worthwhile read because of the oddities of the characters and situations the author lands Jas in.

a

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Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Jennifer Crain

Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first time I am reading a book by Susan Oram, and it won’t be the last. Who doesn’t love a thriller which pits blood (family) versus friends? I sure don’t!

Read the book to discover how Jackie escapes from the psychiatric ward on an island, and along the way, be amazed at her cleverness of figuring out how to save herself. Remind me a lot of the book Behind Closed Doors, which I also really enjoyed reading. I can’t wait to read the other two books in this series.

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@bookworm1909

Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Shadel Ayerbe

Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram is book number 1 in the Millersville series and it is a thrilling experience.

She feared that her sorrow would engulf her. Jacklyn Stone is battling to maintain her composure. Still in shock at her husband’s passing, the grieving widow sees her usually effectively managing her garden store devolving into chaos. She goes to the isolated retreat when her son and daughter advise a quick getaway to hasten her recovery, only to find she can’t unwind there.

Jacklyn struggles to maintain her mental sanity as she feels her skin crawl as the retreat reveals its actual nature as a psychiatric clinic. She worries that the impenetrably gated grounds will serve as the backdrop to her later years because her child is determined to abandon her confined inside the gilded cage.

Every page was exciting and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. It is a unique Thriller trilogy. The story really brings excitement into your life. I couldn’t put the book down. As the story progressed, it made me glad I got the second one to get started on it right away.

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White Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson – Review by Jennie M Bechtel

White Picket FencesWhite Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I especially loved the characters in this story. I could relate most to Julie’s character. Having experienced burnout as a mother and wife, I could sympathize with what she was experiencing. I was amused by her addiction to diet cola as caffeine and motherhood often go hand and hand. I had mixed feeling about Michael’s character. At first, I didn’t like him, but warmed up to him by the end of the book. The twin girls remind me of my own teenage daughter. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional roller coaster I experienced while reading this book. Sometimes I cried, sometimes I laughed, but always I wanted to read more of this family’s story. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

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..••°°°°••.. PREORDER ..••°°°°••.. A Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson

..••°°°°••.. PREORDER  ..••°°°°••..
A Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
Genre – Women’s Fiction, Family
Page Count – 186
Cover Designer – Covers by Kay
A determined mother plans a girls’ trip to help her daughters reconcile. What happens when the plan outlives her?
A dying woman’s final wish.
Mercedes Bloom’s deathbed agreement with Grandma to reconcile her mother and aunt threatens Merci’s secrets. Can a girl questioning everything keep her promise?
She has nothing more to lose.
Disillusioned after her divorce and the death of her mother, Lacey Bloom avoids her sister until their estrangement threatens to disappoint her daughter. Will a magical trip through a rose garden open her heart to the possibility of forgiving her sister?
Guilt holds her hostage.
Krista White has failed as a daughter and sister. She assumes her selfishness in earning her degree keeps God from blessing her with a dream. Is confession enough to bring peace and a dream fulfilled?
Even from Heaven’s shore, a mother’s plan unearths secrets and cultivates reconciliation.
Partially set in beautiful Victoria, BC, this collection of connected short stories explores a family’s journey through loss.

~ FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM ~ BOOKBUB ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ GOODREADS ~ YOUTUBE ~ NEWSLETTER ~

Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Mary Espinoza

Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! What a thrilling read! From the beginning till the end, I was hooked, even though there were a couple of times I had to reread a paragraph or two just to make sure I understood what the author was trying to say with her story. Other than that, this was very well written!

The story begins with introducing us to Jacklyn Stone, who has recently lost her husband, and as expected she is absolutely crushed and heartbroken. Nothing is working out how she had planned and imagined it would. The bank accounts aren’t adding up like they used to, she’s had a fender bender, misplaced her keys, and overall is having a good run of bad luck! She’s beginning to wonder if all of this has to do with the grief she’s experiencing or if something more is contributing to her newfound chaos.

Dusty Stone (Jacklyn’s son) is a contractor and has recently convinced his mom to give him power of attorney over her health and finances. He’s truly concerned that his mother is really losing her mind and Dusty just feels like his sister needs caring for their mother.

Rose Stone (Dusty’s sister & Jacklyn’s daughter) is a hard-working single mother doing everything she can to provide for her son and now has the task of also taking care of her mother. While she’s not trying to neglect her mother’s needs, she agrees with her brother that their mother needs to be assessed and admitted to Shore Lodge. This will help Rose tremendously with a much-needed break from the double duties she has recently inquired.

Now that Jacklyn has been admitted to Shore Lodge as a resident, there are many disturbing and horrific situations that come about. Jacklyn handles several different situations to the best of her abilities. Does Jacklyn come out of these situations ok, did Dusty and Rose make the right decision by having their mother admitted to Shore Lodge…the only way to find out is to pick up the book and read it on your own! I promise you will not be disappointed!!

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Mary Espinoza, May 2023

White Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson – Review by Stephanie Robb

White Picket FencesWhite Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a hard-hitting family drama, with well-developed characters that felt unbelievably real. The author has fantastic writing and world-building skills. The story is heartfelt and broke my heart. It studies, grief, love, and loss so realistically.

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