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The All American by Susie Finkbeiner
This one is in my top-5 reads of this year! ABOUT THE BOOK Two sisters discover how much good there is in the world–even in the hardest of circumstances It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys–she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. When Bertha’s father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American…
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Everything is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels
MY REVIEW You know it’s a great book when you think about it while you are at work and can’t wait to get home to finish it! If I were to describe this book in one word, I’d say, “visceral” because although there are themes of redemption in this book, the storytelling provokes visceral emotions in both the characters and in the reader. At least, that’s what it did for me. It’s a wild ride of unconditional love contrasting with imperfect pasts with hurts and rejection and how these form and make the characters into what they are on the page. The power of love and friendship and family shine…
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What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson
Wowza! I don’t know what to say, but I’ll try. Here’s my review: MY REVIEW This one will make you feel all the feels, and perhaps shed a few tears, but it is totally worth it for the joyous bits too. The journeys of these women, interwoven and complex are rich and heartfelt. At the heart of the story is a missing child, whose disappearance had ripple effects on all those around her. As ex-reporter Faith Byrne tries to uncover the truth about Heather, we relive the unforgettable summer that led up to that fateful night with the characters. This is about loss, grief, and ultimately, healing and about…
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The Broken Hearts Bakery by Carla Laureano
MY REVIEW When I received this book in the mail from Amazon, having pre-ordered it, I was so excited! But I wanted to save it to savour and enjoy. I didn’t want to rush through it, and If there is anything I know from a Laureano book in my experience is that once you start, you will not be able to put it down. I prepared myself by reading the prequel novella, The Brick House Cafe in one sitting and was well primed to dig into The Broken Hearts Bakery. It is not necessary for a reader to have read the prequel, but I wanted to. And I’m glad I…
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The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese
Can you say, “Book Hangover” because I have one after reading this book? Here’s my review: MY REVIEW I have long been a fan of Nicole Deese’s books, and I think this one might actually be my all-time favorite. For reasons that will become apparent when you read it, this book is full of heart and the magic is in the way Deese has crafted this story to unfold in the most amazing way in terms of plot. We fall in love with these characters and then WHAM, Deese starts peeling back the layers. By that time, we are already invested in these characters and their journey and I…
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In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer
Be prepared to lose some sleep! Here’s my review: MY REVIEW I kept this book to read when I had a few days off and could devote the time to binge-read this! Goodness, I’m so glad I did. I could not put it down. Following THREE amazing timelines was riveting and had me shedding some tears along the way as decisions needed to be made and tragedy struck. What an extraordinary woman Maggie is, in each of her paths, and I kept thinking, “What would I do if that were my choice?” Finally, I was rooting for the hero I hoped she’d choose. With each twist and turn I…
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A Match in the Making by Jen Turano
I’ve been a fan of Jen Turano’s regency romances for quite a while now, but this is the first time I listened to it on audiobook. WHAT A DELIGHT!! The narrator brought these characters to life so well. MY REVIEW I absolutely love a feisty heroine and Gwendolyn Brinley is one such terrifying lady – in a good way. Whether in the ballroom or fishing with the children, she is right at home and being who she needs to be. But perhaps, in this story, she finds a renewed purpose than what she’d thought at first. Her match-making skills are put to the test and this delightful story…
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The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy
MY REVIEW What a delightful read, it’s like running away with the circus! Kimberley Duffy weaves an irresistible story appealing to every child and the child within who wanted to run away with the circus. The oddities and the ordinary live alongside each other in this wonderful blend of characters who struggle to see themselves through the eyes of those they love. It’s a struggle for self-worth and a search for belonging, each taking a different path to get there. Mabel is such a wonderful character. There were times that I was giggling at the characters and other times I was shedding a tear alongside them. This colorful and vivid…
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The Blackout Book Club
MY REVIEW I’ve been a fan of Amy Lynn Green’s from the time she released her debut, and this one is just as lovely. The Blackout Book Club takes us back to the war, and gives us a peek into the lives of those living with loss, regret and despair. Together they find a way to overcome, and the secret lies in the friendships formed over reading books. Book lovers and avid readers will smile at Avis’ antics and her minutes jotted down at every book club meeting. I think those were my favourite part. A satisfying ending to a story that had some unexpected twists and turns and entertained right…
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Targeted
Targeted is a collection of 3 Romantic Suspense novellas. My Review Oh my goodness, once you open this book, you cannot put it down. I mean, why would you want to? Action-packed, full of suspense and romance and swoony heroes. What more could a reader ask for? And in novella-sized chunks so that you can read one of the collections by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, or Natalie Walters in one sitting. If you have read the series by these authors that link to these, it is even more fun to see the characters in the series make an appearance. If you had to ask me which of the…