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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

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This book hits home for those who have lost someone unexpectedly. Catherine Keely, a very distraught mom is trying to understand what happened to her daughter. No one seems to “know” what happened to her. Catherine does her best to find out what happened and doesn’t believe that her daughter just fell because she was intoxicated. I am not a mom so I can’t relate to losing a kid, but I have lost my mom and feel like there is something missing. Does she find out what really happened to her daughter, You have to read to find out.

And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book hits home for those who have lost someone unexpectedly. Catherine Keely, a very distraught mom is trying to understand what happened to her daughter. No one seems to “know” what happened to her. Catherine does her best to find out what happened and doesn’t believe that her daughter just fell because she was intoxicated. I am not a mom so I can’t relate to losing a kid, but I have lost my mom and feel like there is something missing. Does she find out what really happened to her daughter, You have to read to find out.

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Jerricka Brown

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a very heartfelt book. I felt a connection to the main character. There were times I found myself drifting into the story while reading this. The author really drew me in and kept me hooked. I will be reading more from this author.

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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC Book 1) by D.M. Earl – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Tink (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book One)Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This author writes gritty darker tales that are not for the faint of heart. She covers difficult subjects with honesty and sometimes gruesome details. This one is no exception.

We briefly met a few of these females in the last Grimm Wolves MC book. They were highly impressive and made me curious about them so I was excited to pick this up.

I loved that this is a all female MC. How different! It was interesting to see how hardened some of these women are but yet they have that softer side. Tink’s tale is tragic as she has suffered much in the past. Her story is deeply involved with her family so we see a lot of then. Noodle is a guys guy who takes a fancy to Tink. He doesn’t only have Tink to gain favor from but a few others as well. That dies cause a few scary moments as well as a couple chuckles or smiles.

The secondary characters are just as involved as the main. We learn a lot about of few others as the tale is told from different POV. I enjoyed this one and really look forward to the next.

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Michelle Troyer

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Peggy is a mom of twins who are fast approaching adulthood. She has been a stay-at-home mom and has raised them alone since they were babies, as her husband died in a plane crash. Now that they are heading off to college several hours away from home, what is she to do with herself? The book is a story of how Peggy consumes her time while the kids are at college. She enrolls in a boot camp and meets what becomes her best friends. It is an entertaining story of how they meet and get along and hang out all together. It’s an easy read and kept me wanting more. I highly recommend this book.

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Rosanna Ingram

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Peggy has spent so much effort on being a single-mom to her twins, that she has lost herself in the process. As the twins are getting ready to leave for college, she has to find out how to spend her days. Currently, those days are spent watching a show about a woman connecting with deceased loved ones while eating Pop-Tarts. When her children give her a gift certificate to a boot camp, she is hurt and angry…but, with the motivation of being part of the studio audience of her favorite show (and maybe connecting with her late husband) and all the free-time she has since she doesn’t have to be a mom all day long, she starts going to the classes. What happens during these classes is not only a transformation of her strength and body…but also of her own identity.

I enjoyed all the characters in this story. I could feel the resentment between her and Carmen…and how that evolved throughout the book. As she bettered her health, she also bettered her relationships and outlook. While she may have lost her sense of self, she is slowly finding it through her bootcamp classes (and the relationships she is building along the way). It was a good story of how your life can change when you start putting yourself first.

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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC Book 1) by D.M. Earl – Review by Cindy Mayberry

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Tink (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book One)Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow this is my first all female MC. I Loved it! Tink and her club The Devil’s Handmaiden MC are out to stop human traffickers. After living in her fathers MC her entire young life, she is no stranger to the MC world. She has one goal more important than the human traffickers. Something you will need to read the book to find out. Ellington, a former navy seal, finds himself in a fog. Living life from one day to the other. But when Tink walks into the bar his whole life changes. Now he has something to live for. As the two get close, secrets start coming out, a whole new journey could change everything for the couple. Can they stay clear of the angel of death? Can L keep Tink safe? Does Tink find what she is looking for? This author is not new to me, but this is a whole new world. This story will capture you on the first page and keep you reading. Be ready for the roller coaster you will embark upon. The female characters are just as independent as the men. As this MC story has opened a whole new world, I for one can’t wait for book 2.

Review@cinful

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Shea Gilkerson 11/21/22

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW! After reading the blurb, I knew I’d be engrossed in this book. The idea of multiple potential stories told throughout the book captivated me, and so did the book itself. Dramatic, emotional, a wonderful psychological thriller.

Catherine’s daughter Susie fell to her death in an accident in Crete. Nothing has ever felt right about it to her, and so Catherine decides to travel to Crete herself and see if anyone can remember anything that may help her “solve the case” and gather some closure. After speaking to several employees of the different areas in Crete, Catherine has gained the courage to approach Susie’s friends and boyfriend to help her piece together what could have happened.

As Catherine winds her way through the events, she comes to a startling realization – she didn’t know her daughter as well as she thought she did. Was she ignoring Susie’s shortcomings because she was blinded by love? Was she not aware because she was neglectful? This is an emotional journey and brings to mind “be careful what you wish for.” There are unpleasant discoveries and revelations, some things better left unknown.

The 10 possibilities weaving known scenarios together was an awesome approach and I found them each to be coloring my opinions on who was responsible. Even with all of the well written suggestions of what happened to Susie, the end surprised me. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Bravo!

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily – Review by Lucy Machard

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn RanchThe Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was interesting. It honestly took me a while to fully get into it. The writing style seemed a little stiff and formal, and to me personally didn’t feel like it flowed well. The book seemed really drawn out with a rushed ending. It’s a great story though, and I wish we got more from the romance with the two leads than what we had in the book. Hopefully, there’s a sequel coming soon and we can follow along with Emma’s story even more!

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Mandy Ott

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

More Than was much more than I was expecting! This book was so beautifully written, with a touch of humor, lots of emotions, and a will to push yourself. The characters are so realistic that I found myself rooting for Peggy as she started her journey through boot camp workouts, and continued rooting for her throughout the book. Her inner dialogs with herself are too close to reality (I found myself wondering if someone had tapped into my own thoughts). Peggy constantly questions whether she is raising her twins well, carrying guilt over the death of her husband, all while being ridiculed for her weight. Diane Barnes does a wonderful job creating a realistic setting for the reader; I could feel the heat in boot camp room, heat the labored breathing of the other “campers.” A well-written, powerful story of a woman’s journey to find herself again. I can’t wait to read more by Diane Barnes.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Ayla Eddy

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How far will a mother go to find the truth behind the death of her daughter? Catherine showcases the answer to this question as she delves deep into the unknown to solve the mystery to her daughter’s death. Learning things she never knew while finding the reality of how hard it is to know who to trust anymore. It is a roller coaster of twists and turns that keep you turning the page. A top notch psychological thriller!

It shows the lengths a mother will go for their child. As a mother myself it definitely hit close to home on the distance I would go for my own. I highly recommend this book. It will keep you glued to the pages to find out how it all ends.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Heather Watson

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I haven’t read anything by Dreena Collins before and this was a different book then I’m used to. The author choices to the audience to write to. I wasn’t used to this, and it was a little weird at first but as the book went on, I understood why she used this tactic. I really liked this story by Dreena Collins, and I will be looking for more books by her and I hope that she uses the audience as she did in this one. I wanted to see what Susie really did to fall. I had to keep reading until the end to find out. This is an author I will definitely be keeping an eye out for.

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by La Toya Lewis

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More Than by Diane Barnes is a very relatable story about a mother who finds herself as her children leave home. Peggy is the stay-at-home mom of twins. She is still grieving the loss of her husband 14 years later. As her twins prepare to leave home for college, they give her a gift certificate for a 12-week boot camp. We go along with Peggy as she goes on the journey to lose weight and rediscover herself. While Peggy can come off as selfish and judgemental at times you can see that it’s all about her insecurities. It is a good look at what happens when you allow yourself to wallow in self-pity. Peggy was incredibly relatable and you want to see her win. I greatly enjoyed rooting for this character. I highly recommend this book!

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Devon Pulliam

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a good feel good, read in one sitting book!

Peggy raised her twins on her own for 14 years after losing her husband in a plane crash. She was consumed by taking care of the kids and like many moms neglected to take care of herself. That changed when her kids left for college and got her a gym membership.

Peggy was consumed with this TV medium, and wanted to re-connect with her late husband. Her and 2 of her new gym friends were able to get tickets. However she had many doubts during the show. Which the truth is later revealed to her in the most unsuspecting way.

The best part wasn’t Peggy finding herself and transforming, it was finding a new happy ever after!

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Kayla Kearney

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the very beginning of the book I could tell I would be hooked, and I wasn’t wrong. I understood on a deep level from the start of the book the grief of Catherine Keely, who spends the book trying to better understand her daughter’s death. As someone who is not a mother, I finished the book with a better understanding of how far a mom will go to protect and support their children, as Catherine proves time and again while investigating.

This is by far one of the best psychological thrillers that I have ever read, as it kept me changing my mind as to what actually happened very frequently. It didn’t take me long to reach the end of the book, which ended in a way I was not expecting in the slightest. This is the first book that I have read by the author but it certainly will not be the last!

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily by May Leadstone

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn RanchThe Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I thought I would try a different novel than the ones I have been reading recently, and I’m glad I did! The author does a beautiful job of describing the feel and looks of Texas! We see this through Emma’s love for her state is how many people in Texas feel and its own unique beauty. We follow Emma through significant life decisions at The Thorn and how she handles them; which is like all Rosales women before her: head on! However, not all things can be dealt with this way which leads our heroine to take several missteps. The familial connection is one of my favorite things in the story as well as Emma’s grit in harrowing situations. (Texan women to the core!) Though the only thing that was a little underwhelming was the ending. I was hoping for a more explanation of the outcome. I truly enjoyed this book; otherwise, if you want to explore Texas and its culture, I recommend it!

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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC Book 1) by D.M. Earl – Review by Michelle Collier

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Tink (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book One)Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What is better than a great MC book? Well an all girls MC of course. The women in the Devil’s Handmaidens are strong and determined to wipe out human trafficking. Maggie/Tink is the president and on a mission that is way more personal then anyone knows. Ellington/Noodles has relocated to Montana and has definitely met his match in Tink. Can they work together to solve the strange things going on that seem to point to the past that is still haunting so many. This book is pretty intense so be warned if you are easily triggered.

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Trista Priest

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing well written book. This one sucked me in more than most, because it was so relatable. I’m a mom of two kids, whose father was killed in a work accident. I’ve struggled with many of the obstacles Peggy does throughout the book. Diane did a fantastic job with developing everyone of her characters and truly making this an amazing story of a woman’s transformation.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Dessalynn Acosta

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great, sad, realistic tale of a mother’s grief, after the shocking death of her only daughter. As Catherine navigates the world without Susie, she reminisces and vigorously keeps her daughter memory alive! Buttt did Susie fall? Was she pushed? Great read!

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Felicia Bates

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And Then She Fell was a five star read that had me on the edge of my seat with my wheels turning from the first page. I liked the narration from mother to daughter, though deceased. As well as the flashbacks keeping the intrigue and helping you try to piece the tragedy together. I really felt like this book was incredibly well written and each chapter that passed made it harder to our the book down. I can not recommend this book enough and I’m anxious to read more from this author.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Mercedes Jones

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What’s worse than losing a child? Losing one and not knowing exactly what happened to her. The mother, Catherine, has accepted the fact that her daughter is gone, but she hasn’t accepted that nobody knows the details. She visits the place of her daughter’s untimely death, questions the employees, her friends. There is no way her daughter, Susie, just fell due to being intoxicated.
This book was a such a well written psychological thriller. Trying to piece together what really happened to Susie that night, with experts from “Susie” after each chapter retelling of what happened, could have happened, or maybe it really did happen one of the ways she describes, but which one is the truth? I loved the way this story was written and I cannot wait to read more from Dreanna Collins.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Christine Baranek

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And Then She Fell
By: Dreena Collins

Every once in a while I pick up a book that is so well written, so convincing that I find myself thinking about it long after I finish reading it. And Then She Fell is one of those books. It is the story of a mother who doesn’t trust her daughter’s death. She doesn’t believe what the reports are saying. She can’t believe that it was just an accident. There must be more, doesn’t there? The author does a fantastic job illustrating the grief and despair a mother faces in this situation. The characters are amazingly well written and there is so much drama! This is a fantastic book written for anyone who loves crime stories, especially those with an air of mystery surrounding them.

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily – Review by Kylean Sprosty

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn RanchThe Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG! This was such an amazing book. Emma is such a strong and fiery character, although I would have to say I loved Josie more. She was so tiny, yet commanded attention and never let anyone take advantage of her. When Emma disappears from her family’s ranch in Texas, her mother Josie never stops looking for her. She even takes one of the ranch hands to court to have him charged with Emma’s disappearance. Meanwhile, in what seems to be another time period on the ranch, Emma is being held captive by a tribe of secret cave dwelling people. She becomes one of their medicine women and adapts to their way of life, until a terrible disease runs through the tribe. What will happen to Emma? Will Josie ever find her? Will Emma want to return home or will she stay with the tribe?

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Kerry Baker

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an intriguing and powerful story this is. I felt the emotions immediately and really felt like I connected with the main character. Her journey is heart breaking and yet you could feel a strength from her that I hadn’t expected.
This book really catches your attention. It is suspenseful, intriguing and has so many twists and turns that I honestly didn’t know how it was all going to turn out. As a new author to me I think this book does a great job at showcasing her skill and piquing my interest enough to want to read more. This is a fantastic story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Codi Parham

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Incredible writing. This is the first book I’ve read by Collins, and I cannot wait to get my hands on more! Suspense, intrigue, and mystery. This is a story of loss and the grief of losing a child under unusual circumstances. How far would you go to learn the truth?

And Then She Fell, Dreena Collins, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Crime, Women’s Fiction

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More Than by Diane Barnes – Review by Maisie Dickinson

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More ThanMore Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Diane Barnes’ ‘More Than’ follows Peggy Moriarty, a middle-aged single mother of two twin teenagers. The kids leave for school, she’s left alone, she’s unhappy and unhealthy. She joins a weight-loss boot-camp, which is the last thing she ever wanted to do. The best part about this is that the weight-loss story doesn’t encourage fat phobia or eating disorder behaviours, but encourages healthy living and self-confidence. Peggy not only develops her confidence but grows as a character. I liked the book from the beginning, even though I didn’t like Peggy at first. She starts off quite pretentious, judgemental, rude, and controlling, but the support of her new friends helps her come out of her shell. The story explores complicated feelings around grief as well as mental health and body image issues. The ending is so perfect that I cried. I couldn’t recommend this more.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Diane Sennett

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catherine Keely is in Crete at the hotel where her daughter Susie was; one year prior before falling from a balcony to her death. Susie’s death is ruled an accident from too much alcohol. Catherine, a mother who is still coping with the loss of her daughter, is there looking for answers.
And Then She Fell is a stunning suspenseful mystery. Dreena Collins had me reeled in with her writing. After each chapter I wanted to know more about Susie and that fateful night.
Catherine speaks to Susie throughout the book as she meets with Susie’s friends and learns more about her daughter than she thought she knew. Each story gives Catherine a different take on what happened on that balcony. This book had me wanting to know the truth and the ending surprised me!
I recommend this book!

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed their writing style as well as their attention to details that made the story come to life. This is a well written story about challenges, secrets and truths that are just waiting to come out. The characters pulled me into the story from the start. They are engaging, creative and really just made the story for me. They have great growth and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride in parts. I enjoyed what they brought to the story. This is an entertaining and easy story to read. A fast paced story that has twists and turns you don’t want to miss. I highly recommend reading this book.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Nakyshia Leger

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catherine is processing the death of her daughter. She wants nothing more than to find the truth behind the accident that rocked her world. But with conflicting stories, she has no idea what is truth and what is lies.

Raw. Emotional. Mind-bending. I could not keep up! As soon as I thought I knew what happened, I was quickly left spinning and guessing again. Catherine will do anything to learn the truth as every grieving mother would. She is strong and fierce but questions herself with every turn until the very end. Every scenario left me guessing. I was truly blown away!

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins Review by Darla Yocom

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This intriguing story follows Catherine Keely and her emotional journey after losing her 20-something daughter in a tragic accident.

While searching for answers, Catherine revisits the overseas location of the tragic accident, while chatting with some of the locals who recall seeing her daughter during her previous visit. Although she finds a bit of comfort speaking about her daughter with others, her preconceived notion’s about the character of her daughter’s friends/acquaintances creates havoc once she begins to receive conflicting accounts of her daughter’s lifestyle.

The author was extremely creative when describing the heartache a mother experiences after losing her oldest child under questionable circumstances. Some questions are never quite answered but perhaps that adds to the intrigue of the storyline leaving it up to the reader to come up with their own answers.

I loved how the supporting characters added more drama to the already emotional scenario.

If you enjoy drama and mystery, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

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And Then She Fell. Book Review by Jennifer Ramos

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. The way the author formats the chapters between the mother speaking to her daughter after her passing and flashbacks of her daughter’s accidents keep you guessing. I was definitely engaged in the story until the very end.
Story starts after the daughter, Susie, dies after a tragic accident during her trip to Greece. Her mother Catherine has been trying for the past year after Susie’s death to make sense of these turn of events. Was there something that the investigation missed or could someone be responsible for her horrific fall? As time goes on, Catherine reconnects with those she traveled with, her then-boyfriend and some old friends. She is able to reflect on the best moments of her daughter but she comes to terms with aspects of her daughter unbeknownst to her. The happy glowing face of hers fading in the last year. Her frail thinning figure is quite obvious. A controlling and dominating relationship. What could have happened to Catherine’s daughter who was so full of life and now just left with many questions.

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