My friends at Penguin-Random House/Berkley Publishing asked if I’d like to be part of the tour for Nalini Singh’s new thriller: There Should Have Been Eight and of course I said yes! This is a super suspenseful, slow burn of a read, where long time friends come together as they remember one of their group who supposedly committed suicide a few years before the story starts.
Description
In this chilling thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh, a remote estate in New Zealand’s Southern Alps hosts a reunion no one will ever forget.
Seven friends. One last weekend. A mansion half in ruins. No room for lies. Someone is going to confess. Because there should have been eight. . . .
They met when they were teenagers. Now they’re adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others—none more so than to Bea, the one they lost nine long years ago.
They’ve gathered to reminisce at Bea’s family’s estate, a once-glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies, and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they’re snowed in at the edge of eternity, there’s nowhere left to hide from their shared history.
As the walls close in, the pretense of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness, and rage. Underneath it all, there’s the nagging feeling that Bea’s shocking death wasn’t what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed—no matter the cost. . . .
This was a great read and I really liked the uniqueness of the main character, Luna, who had no partner and axes to bury, but who was also losing her sight. I kept wondering if it was a metaphor (along with her name) while I was reading.
If you like psychological suspense with a slight paranormal twist, don’t miss this one!
If you know me, you know I love a good psychological thriller that keeps me reading late into the night! My Husband’s Lies was a fast-paced, suspenseful read. I thought I had it figured out – but I was wrong! This one was a definite “can’t put down” experience.
Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the Bookouture Tour!
Book Description:
The police are coming, they’re going to arrest me.’ My blood runs cold at his words. My husband is accused of murder. He swears he is innocent – so why won’t he tell me where he really was that night?
I feel so lucky to have my handsome husband Mark and our blue-eyed little boy. Everyone says we’re the perfect family. I used to believe them.
But everything changes when Mark comes home from a work trip with dark circles under his eyes. That night I jump at a hammering at the door. The police want to question him about the murder of a beautiful, blonde young woman. Mark swears he had nothing to do with it, that she was a colleague, nothing more.
Mark is a respected airline pilot, and the model husband and father. It seems impossible that he would be involved in something like this. But he won’t say a word about where he really was. I believe that he’s not a killer – but I know he’s hiding something. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Then my husband is attacked. I sit by his hospital bed praying for him to wake up, tears streaming down my face. The police say it’s an accident. But what if someone has done this to him?
I go rigid with fear when I see someone hidden in the garden, watching the house. Are they coming to hurt us too? I’ll do anything to protect my precious little boy – and I have to start by uncovering my husband’s lies…
An unbelievably tense and twisty psychological thriller that will leave you breathless for more! Perfect for fans of Kathryn Croft, T.M. Logan and Ruth Heald.
Liz Lawler grew up sharing pants, socks, occasionally a toothbrush, sleeping four to a bed. Born in Chatham and partly raised in Dublin, she is one of fourteen children. She spent over twenty years as a nurse and has since fitted in working as a flight attendant, a general manager of a five star hotel, and is now working with trains. She became an author in 2017 when her debut novel Don’t Wake Up was published by Twenty7.
I love Laura Morelli’s novels, historical fiction which usually ties into art, especially in Italy. This one was so interesting, telling the stories of two women, an American woman sent to Italy to help itemize and protect the great works of art, and a German woman, working for the Reich as they “protected” the art of Florence as well. Their paths cross, of course! There are so many interesting details and facts in this novel that I felt like I learned a lot while reading. Laura Morelli has a blog where she shares interesting facts about Italy, art, and art history, too, if you are interested!
In a race across Nazi-occupied Italy, two women—a German photographer and an American stenographer—hunt for priceless masterpieces looted from the Florentine art collections.
In the summer of 1943, Eva Brunner is taking photographs of Nazi-looted art hidden in the salt mines of the Austrian hinterland. Across the ocean in Connecticut, Josephine Evans is working as a humble typist at the Yale Art Gallery.
When both women are called to Italy to contribute to the war effort, neither imagines she will hold the fate of some of the world’s greatest masterpieces torn from the Uffizi Galleries and other Florentine art collections in her hands.
But as Italy turns from ally to enemy and Hitler’s plan to destroy irreplaceable monuments and works of art becomes frighteningly clear, each woman’s race against the clock—and against one another—might demand more than they were prepared to give.
The Last Masterpiece takes readers on a heart-pumping adventure up the Italian peninsula, where nothing is as it seems and some of the greatest works of art and human achievement are at stake. Who might steal and who might save a work of art—and at what cost?
Inspired by the incredible true story of the Monuments Women, the Fifth Army WACs, and the looted Florentine art collections during World War II, the latest historical novel by USA Today bestselling author and art historian Laura Morelli plunges readers into the heart of war-torn Italy.
Oh I’m always so happy to see when Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse) has a new novel out! The books are always engaging and touching and they never disappoint! This one was perfectly timed as it has a Christmas theme. Protagonist Henri returns home to get her parents to sell their Christmas store (in Frankenmuth ,MI) and Henri has to deal with family and old boyfriends and her cutthroat job – while being reminded of the old saying “you can never go home again”. Of course I had NO idea that Frankenmuth is a real place! And it’s Bavarian (almost like Solvang in CA but Bavarian not Danish). And Christmas is a HUGE deal there! There is even a huge Christmas store there in real life like in the book!
Here’s the scoop:
The Wishing Bridge Author: Viola Shipman On Sale: November 7, 2023 Publisher: Graydon House ISBN 9781525804861 Price: $18.99
VIOLA SHIPMAN is the pen name for internationally bestselling LGBTQIA author Wade Rouse. Wade is the author of fifteen books, which have been translated into 21 languages and sold over a million copies around the world. Wade writes under his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, to honor the working poor Ozarks seamstress whose sacrifices changed his family’s life and whose memory inspires his fiction. Wade’s books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, Michigan Notable Books of the Year and Indie Next Picks. He lives in Michigan and California, and hosts Wine & Words with Wade, A Literary Happy Hour, every Thursday.
Book Summary: Once the hottest mergers and acquisitions executive in the company, Henrietta Wegner can see the ambitious and impossibly young up-and-comers gunning for her job. When Henri’s boss makes it clear she’ll be starting the New Year unemployed unless she can close a big deal before the holidays, Henri impulsively tells him that she can convince her aging parents to sell Wegner’s–their iconic Frankenmuth, Michigan, Christmas store–to a massive, soulless corporation. It’s the kind of deal cool, corporate Henri has built her career on.
Home for the holidays has typically meant a perfunctory twenty-four-hour visit for Henri, then back to Detroit as fast as her car will drive her. So turning up at the Wegner’s offices in early
December raises some eyebrows: from her delighted, if puzzled, parents to her suspicious brother and curious childhood friends. But as Henri fields impatient texts from her boss while reconnecting with the magic of the store and warmth of her hometown, what sounded great in the boardroom begins to lose its luster in real life. She’s running out of time to pull the trigger on what could be the greatest success of her career…or the most awkward family holiday of her life.
With unabashed winter charm, The Wishing Bridge sparkles with the humor and heart fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Nancy Thayer and Jenny Colgan love most. Includes the bonus novella Christmas Angels.
Here’s a little something to get you in the mood!
And I found a book trailer video from the author!
Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!
My niece told me about this book so I used my monthly Audible credit to get it.
What a treat! I had no idea what to expect, but I found this story of Marjorie Post – whose father started the cereal company Post and from whom Marjorie took over the reins – fascinating, captivating, and unforgettable!
Here’s the scoop:
NATIONAL BESTSELLER “Marvelous . . . I just had to be there with the Post cereal heiress through every twist and turn.”—Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls
“New-money heiress Marjorie Post isn’t content to remain a society bride as she remakes herself into a savvy entrepreneur, a visionary philanthropist, a presidential hostess, and much more.”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine.
Marjorie’s journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father’s barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post’s Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy.
And yet Marjorie’s story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love.
Bestselling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process.
So, after reading, I ask myself: Why do I know nothing of this woman? I was so impressed with how she broke barriers, her creativity and fortitude in running not only a business but basically an empire, her passion for life, and her intellect and hard work. From her various marriages, to her building of Mar-a-Lago (yes, that Mar-a-Lago), to her friendships with Presidents, to her role as a mother, I enjoyed every moment of this story. This story will be in my top reads/listens for 2023.
Narration by Barrie Krienik was beautiful, as was the cover!
I enjoy Susan Meissner’s writing, so I was thrilled to get this book via Net Galley. I absolutely LOVED this story (will be in my top ten of 2023 I’m sure). It’s been a long time since a book has moved me to tears but the ending of this novel did. I loved the character of Rosie and I connected with her as she was growing up in Sonoma. (If you know me, you know I grew up in nearby Napa). Her story is so tragic and yet I don’t think it’s all that rare or improbable.
Here’s the overview:
Description
A Best Historical Fiction of Spring Pick by Amazon, PopSugar, AARP, and BookBub!
A heartrending story about a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the terrible injustice that tears them apart, by the USA Today bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things and The Last Year of the War.
California, 1938—When she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresser’s daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvert’s spacious house with a secret, however—Rosie sees colors when she hears sound. She promised her mother she’d never reveal her little-understood ability to anyone, but the weight of her isolation and grief prove too much for her. Driven by her loneliness she not only breaks the vow to her mother, but in a desperate moment lets down her guard and ends up pregnant. Banished by the Calverts, Rosanne believes she is bound for a home for unwed mothers. But she soon finds out she is not going to a home of any kind, but to a place that seeks to forcibly take her baby – and the chance for any future babies – from her.
Austria, 1947—After witnessing firsthand Adolf Hitler’s brutal pursuit of hereditary purity—especially with regard to “different children”—Helen Calvert, Truman’s sister, is ready to return to America for good. But when she arrives at her brother’s peaceful vineyard after decades working abroad, she is shocked to learn what really happened nine years earlier to the vinedresser’s daughter, a girl whom Helen had long ago befriended. In her determination to find Rosanne, Helen discovers a shocking American eugenics program—and learns that that while the war had been won in Europe, there are still terrifying battles to be fought at home.
Rosie ends up being brought to what is now called the Sonoma Developmental Center, but what was then a State Hospital for those with mental illness. And the whole storyline about eugenics and forced sterilization is true and so disconcerting. I was oddly reminded of a movie I watched once on a flight to Europe about the Magdalene Laundries and from which I don’t think I have yet recovered. The absolute lack of respect for Rosie’s intellect, her wishes, her baby, and her body was quite unsettling. Additionally, Rosie has synesthesia, where she “hears in color”. This trait causes others to be suspicious of her.
Rosie’s story is so terrible and yet I know that it was the story of more than one unwed teen mother years ago. Meanwhile, the novel has the parallel story of Helen who lives and works as a nanny in Europe during the rise of Hitler and WWII. Of course, eugenics was a part of the Nazi regime and we are reminded of the horrific atrocities many innocent people suffered at their hands. One of my favorite interactions in the book (which I can’t cite directly as it’s on my kindle and too hard to locate) was when Helen is arguing with a Nazi officer and when he says “You wonder how I am able to play God?” and she responds, “No. God would not harm these children. He would love them.” This story is haunting but it shows the importance of not being a bystander and just letting things happen. Rosie’s life could have been much less tragic if someone had stepped in to do the right thing; and Helen dedicated her life to helping others who needed help, thus making a difference.
So two thumbs up from me on this one!
And here’s a picture of the real place that the protagonist was sent to:
And speaking of places like this, here’s a picture of the Napa State Hospital a town away where I grew up. It doesn’t look like this anymore but I was reading that many of the patients there were there because they were homeless or struggled with alcoholism. Imagine being driven up to this place.
And here’s a short video from You Tube explaining synesthesia:
I was asked by my friend at Author Marketing Experts if I’d like a copy of this book, and, to be honest, the cover didn’t catch my eye as much as the description did:
Description:
One phone call was all it took to upend my entire life in completely unexpected ways.
Whoever said that you can’t go home again was a liar. After the senior year from hell, I had spent a decade trying to avoid Beacon Hill and its residents. My luck came to a sudden end after daddy had an incident with a rotted floor. In and out, I promised myself. I was just there to help my parents for a week or two tops.
Things in Beacon Hill hadn’t changed much since I’d been home last. Mama still worked at the hub of gossip known as Trixie’s, Mrs. Thomas still made the best chicken salad in all of Georgia, and my sister was still the devil in a pushup bra. And of course, the St. James family was still local royalty. Our very own version of the Kennedys.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, not only is my sister back in town after a failed modeling career, she’s also engaged to Macon St. James. The golden boy of Beacon Hill, and the star of every single one of my teenage fantasies.
The biggest surprise of all was Holden St. James. I thought he would be one of the villains in this story, but I was learning that I had been wrong about a lot of things. And Holden just might be worth coming home for….
This story was laugh out loud funny. I thought perhaps it took place in Beacon Hill, Boston – but it takes place down south and it looks to be the start of a series. The characters are at times a little wacky and the main character’s inner dialogue was quite humorous. I don’t read many romantic comedies, but I did enjoy this one.
Here’s a bit about the author:
Emily Mayer is a best-selling author and a book lover with a capital L. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen burning dinner with a book in her hand or tucked away in one of her favorite reading spots promising “just five more minutes.” In addition to books, Emily is addicted to coffee, dogs, and cat videos. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and dog, both of whom are very good boys.
As the interminable commute continues, I’ve been listening to audiobooks from Net Galley. I love that NG offers audiobooks to reviewers!
Two good ones I listened to this month were The Lost Girls of Penzance by Sally Rigby and A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly.
I love a good mystery! This one was set in Penzance (no pirates!) in Cornwall and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was narrated by Clare Corbett and I loved her voice and accent. She also was good at changing her voice to fit different characters.
Here’s the scoop:
Description
The pale outline of bones in the dew-laden grass catches and holds Lauren’s gaze. In the distance, she can hear the faint sound of crashing waves and the eerie screech of seagulls. Whose life was so brutally cut short in this beautiful, lonely place?
Detective Lauren Pengelly has only been part of the Penzance police force for less than two years, but that’s enough time to know that the sleepy Cornish town doesn’t see many murders. So, when the bones of a woman with a hole in her skull are discovered behind a derelict cottage, she immediately assumes the worst.
Rallying her team, Lauren is flooded with a strange sense of relief when the bones turn out to be almost twenty years old, not a recent victim. But it quickly turns to dread when she receives her second heart-stopping call of the day – a little girl, Isla, has been kidnapped from her nursery and seemingly vanished, despite strict security in the building. Are the two cases connected, or could the peaceful town of Penzance be harbouring more than one monster?
With the help of Detective Matt Price, her newly arrived second-in-command, Lauren is certain the suspicious behaviour of Isla’s estranged father on the day of her disappearance is a critical clue. But when another little girl is taken, again from her nursery in the middle of the day, it’s clear Lauren and Matt are still dangerously far away from discovering the harrowing truth…
Get ready to be totally hooked! From the bestselling author of the Cavendish & Walker series, you won’t be able to put this murder mystery down. Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean and J M Dalgliesh will love it.
Moving back in time, I also listened to the WWII mystery A Traitor in Whitehall, ably read by Marisa Calin (who has a smooth, calming voice and the ability to change accents as needed). If you know me, you know I love WWII mysteries that take place in England and involve women working under cover!
Here’s the scoop:
Description
“Calin’s versatile characterizations, subtle accents, and comfortable pacing capture this privileged world wherein modern ideas clash with traditional values” —AudioFile on The Last Dance of the Debutante
From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series, A Traitor in Whitehall.
“Kelly spins an Agatha Christie-esque mystery . . . thoroughly delightful and well-researched.”—Susan Elia MacNeal
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
Both of these titles published earlier this month and should be available wherever you get your audiobooks! Happy Listening!
Today I’m throwing the spotlight on the first title in a time travelling patriotic series: Hail Mary Pass by Kim Megahee.
Here’s the scoop:
A Hail Mary Pass – that’s what the President of the United States called it. What are the chances Marc McKnight’s time travel team can convince George Washington to leave his home and travel with them to the year 2037? Another bloody civil war is imminent in the United States. Political parties are hopelessly divided and fanning the embers of war. Can the war be prevented if George Washington tells modern America what the Founding Fathers were trying to achieve? A Hail Mary Pass. A long shot. But it’s worth a try.
About the Author:
Kim Megahee is a writer, musician, and retired computer consultant. He has a degree from the University of Georgia in Mathematics Education. His background includes playing in rock bands, teaching high school, and much experience in computer programming, security and consulting.
In his consulting career, Kim worked with large companies on four continents to help increase their software development throughput.
In addition to writing, he enjoys hanging out with his wife, reading, watching scifi movies, boating on Lake Lanier, playing live music, and socializing with friends. Kim lives in Gainesville, Georgia with his soulmate wife Martha and Leo, the brilliant but stubborn red-headed toy poodle.
Ms. Virts’ publicist offered me an e-galley of Veil of Doubt and I’m so glad that I said yes! What an intriguing and captivating read! I could not help but be amazed that this story is based in fact. Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction! I could not put this book down as I struggled with “did she? Or didn’t she?”
This is my first opportunity to read Ms. Virts’ writing and I could tell that she had spent hours researching this true court case. Her story immerses you into the 19th century and the morés of that time. Her characters have a rich depth to them; and even though they are not perfect, I sympathized with them.
Here’s the scoop:
When a mother is charged with murder in a town already convinced of her guilt, can defense attorney Powell Harrison find truth and justice in a legal system where innocence is not presumed?
Emily Lloyd, a young widow in Reconstruction-era Virginia, is accused of poisoning her three-year-old daughter, Maud. It isn’t the first death in her home—her husband and three other children all died of mysterious illnesses—so when Maud succumbs to an unexplained malady, the town suspects foul play. Soon Mrs. Lloyd is charged not only with poisoning the child but also with murdering her children, her husband, and her aunt.
Enter Powell Harrison, a soft-spoken, brilliant attorney who recently returned to his Virginia hometown to help his brother manage their late father’s practice. Approached to assist in Mrs. Lloyd’s defense, Harrison initially declines, worried that an infanticide case might tarnish their family’s reputation. But as details about the widow’s erratic behavior and her reclusive neighbors emerge, Harrison begins to suspect that an even more sinister truth might lurk beneath the family’s horrible fate and finds himself irresistibly drawn to the case.
Based on a shocking true story, Veil of Doubt is part true-crime thriller, part medical and legal procedural. Perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace and filled with rich period detail gleaned from exhaustive research, Veil of Doubt delves into the darkness of the South during Reconstruction, exposing intrigue, deception, and death.
Here’s a super book trailer that the author created that does a great job giving the background of this story and her personal connections to the characters:
About the Author:
Photo from SharonVirts.com
Sharon Virts is a successful entrepreneur and visionary who, after more than twenty-five years in business, followed her passion for storytelling in the world of historical fiction. She has received numerous awards for her work in historic preservation and has been recognized nationally for her business achievements and philanthropic contributions. She was recently included in Washington Life Magazine’s Philanthropic 50 for her work with education, health, and cultural preservation.
Sharon’s passion truly lies in the creative. She is an accomplished visual artist and uses her gift for artistic expression along with her extraordinary storytelling to build complex characters and craft vivid images and sets that capture the heart and imagination. She is mother to four sons—James, Lucas, Zachary, and Nicholas—stepmom to Ben and Avery, and “Nana” to ten-year-old Charlie and toddler Bodhi. She lives in Virginia with her husband, Scott Miller, at the historic Selma Mansion with their three Labrador retrievers Polly, Cassie, and Leda.
I discovered that Sharon has a historical fiction bookclub through her website with some of my favorite reads already on there! I signed up immediately (even though I know that I will not always be free to join in) at SharonVirts.com.
Thank you so much for including me on this latest release and giving me the opportunity to read and review!
Beth's Book-Nook Blog 