Review: You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: May 2021

A man finds himself washed up on the shores of Maryland. He has no idea how he got there or who he is. Lily was expecting her boyfriend to come over with blueberry pancakes, but he's late. All calls and texts to him go unanswered. Unsure of where to go and what to do, he hides out in a camper with Maine license plates. Something about Maine is familiar. What will he find there about himself?

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Last year I fell in love with McKinnon's writing with Sister Dear. I was so excited when this dropped in my inbox. I had no idea what it was about. I was really excited when I started reading and it was in my home state of Maryland. I wasn't sure where this story was going to go, but I was along for the ride.

Both Lily and Jack/Ash have pasts that they didn't share with each other. Their present was amazing, but his disappearance and memory loss force them both to figure out how they are going to tackle the future.

Being drawn to Maine, Ash found his stepsister Maya. Maya helps Ash to remember his past, but is the information she is giving him the truth, or what she wants him to believe?

This book had me on the edge of my seat and wanting to jump through the book to slap a few people.

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Audio Book Review: His & Hers by Alice Feeney

His & Hers by Alice Feeney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: July 2020
 

Anna Andrews is a presenter for the BBC News. She presents the 1:00 pm newscast. She has this position since the person who had her slot is on maternity leave. When she returns, she is pushed to work in the field. Her first assignment is to report on a murder in her hometown. To top it off she has to work with her ex-husband,Jack, on this case and she knows the victim. When more people she knows end up dead both she and her ex are considered suspects. But we know there are always more than one side to a story, this is His & Hers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio book and review it.

You all know how much I love a good thriller. I have really enjoyed all of the other books that Alice Feeney has written and this one was no exception.

While listening to this book, I knew for sure who was killing all of these women. Of course it's the drunk woman who forgets what happens while she is drinking. Not only is the author good at making you not know who is the killer, the killer is good at framing other people for their crimes.

There is a lot going on in this book, but it keeps you drawn in from the very beginning. It takes you back and forth in time from Anna's school days to the present. We learn about all of Anna's troubles. We also learn about Jack and his life since he and Anna split up. It's hard to tell you more without giving away too much, so you will just have to go and give it a read!


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Review: Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: May 2020
 

Flora lost her mother when she was just 8 years old and she has felt lonely almost just as long. When she meets Jack, the connection is immediate. Jack is a widow and is raising his two daughters. Jack's oldest daughter, Izzy, has taken on a huge role since the death of her mother. Now, a year later, Flora comes into their lives. Will they be able to build a relationship or will Flora have to go back to loneliness.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was a cute emotional story about love and loss. I could empathize with Izzy. When my father got remarried, it was a difficult transition. Fortunately, I still had my mother, so I didn't have to take on that role, but I didn't want anyone to disrupt what had already been disrupted in our family.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. There were parts of it that dragged along which made me bring my rating down some. IF you like family stories, or stories about love after loss or divorce, you will enjoy this book.



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Blog Tour Review: Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: January 2020

It's Pepper and Jack's senior year. Pepper is trying to stay on top of her grades and be captain of the swim team. Jack is living in the shadows of his twin brother, Ethan, while helping his family with their deli. Each of their families owns a restaurant, but Pepper's family has gone national. The Twitter battle between the two restaurants will fall into the hands of these young adults. But even though they know each other from school, they don't know that the other is on the other side of the battle. What will happen when it's all laid out on the table?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When I was about 30% of the way through this book, I was sure I was going to give it three stars. The story was cute, but it was moving slowly and I could predict how this story was going to end. But not too long afterwards, there was a twist, I didn't see coming. And there were more surprises to come. When it was all said and done, I really enjoyed this story and I even found myself getting a bit emotional towards the end.

This book is about family and young love. It's about food and friendship and finding out who you are supposed to be at a pivotal point in your life.

For all of my YA Romance fans, I highly recommend that you check this title out.

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AudioBook Review: The Ex by Alafair Burke

The Ex by Alafair Burke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
 

Jack Harrison is an author who has suffered great loss in his life. In high school, he lost his mother. A few years later, his father. A few years after that, his brother. The same day his brother died in a car accident, was the same day he found out that his long-term girlfriend, Olivia Randall had been cheating on him. Jack goes on and lives his life and after being married for about 10 years, he loses his wife to gun violence. The person who killed his wife was a young boy whose father thought guns were the right way to reach his mentally troubled son. So the families were suing the boys father for wrongful death. But that suit was dropped and everyone is devastated. A few days later, Malcolm Neeley, father of the boy who killed Jack's wife is shot to death along with two other people. All signs point to Jack as the person who committed this crime. But, Olivia knows Jack and he would never do something like this, right? Is Jack guilty or innocent. As time goes on, it's hard to tell.

Thank you to my Bookaholic friends for suggesting this book to me. This is the first book I have read by Alafair Burke and I can't wait to read more.

Imagine what you would do if you were accused of a crime you know you didn't commit. But all signs point to you. How can you handle it? What if your ex-girlfriend is the one who is representing you, do you think that would be a good idea? Jack Harrison seems like your typical guy, living his life and minding his business.

This book really touched me from start to finish. I had to know if Jack was really guilty or if someone was framing him and why would they do that? Jack is a man without too much in his life. It's just him and his daughter and his best friend. Why would his risk losing what little he had to get back at a man, whose son killed his wife.

Even though Olivia knew Jack 20 years ago, does she know the man today? Is she able to put aside their differences and see the evidence for what it is? You will have to read the book to find out.


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Review: Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf

Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: May 2013


Sarah and Jack have been married for many years, but Sarah doesn't know about all the secrets Jack is keeping. But when his Aunt Julia is injured after falling down the stairs, Sarah and Jack make the trip back to Penny Gate where Jack was born and raised and hasn't been back to since. Aunt Julia raised Jack and his sister Amy after the death of their parents. So Jack feels compelled to return to Penny Gate, even though this is the last thing he wants to do.

Sarah has never been to Penny Gate and has mostly communicated with Jack's family by phone. But when she arrives in town, she finds out a lot about her husband and his family that she never knew. Why did her husband keep these secrets their whole marriage? And will the unveiling of them destroy it?

I really enjoyed reading this book. From the very beginning, I wasn't sure who was holding all of the secrets that Sarah was trying to find while in Penny Gate, but there was a part of the book, that gave me a glimpse into who it could be. This book keeps you guessing until the very end. Heather Gundenkauf gives you a good story that will leave you wondering until the very end.

I read this book as a part of a group read. This is the first book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf, although I have a signed copy of her book Not a Sound . I look forward to reading more books by this author.

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Review: Tampa by Alissa Nutting

Tampa by Alissa Nutting

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: 2013

Celeste is an 8th grade English teacher. She is married to a handsome and wealthy man named Ford who is also a police officer. Celeste, herself is beautiful and could be a model instead of a teacher. But teaching is her chosen profession in order to find a way to quell her affinity for 14 year old boys. During her first year teaching, she finds the perfect candidate, Jack. Jack comes from a single parent home and his father works long hours. They have lots of time to be together. But when Jack wants more, Celeste has to find a way to end this relationship without hurting Jack or exposing her secret.

This book is disturbing on so many levels. First of all, even though I've seen in on the news several times, it's hard to believe that a grown woman would have any interest in a 14 year old boy. There are a few other things that happen in the book as well, that will give away too much to talk about here. I will say this book was like a bad car crash. Where you just can't look away. It was hard to put the book down, I had to find out what was going to happen in the end. The 3 stars for this rating is due mostly to the subject matter. There were parts that were hard to read, especially as a mother to a young boy. Overall, the book was pretty good and I will read other books by Alissa Nutting.

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AudioBook Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack is five years old and to him Room is his entire world. He lives in Room with his Ma, Joy, and calls each inanimate object by it's name, toilet, sink, table, plant, etc. What Jack doesn't know is that his Ma was kidnapped 7 years ago and was brought to Room and hasn't left since. No one knows she is there and no one knows Jack exists. When Joy decides it's time to make a great escape, she has to tell Jack about the outside world. Up until now, he has thought everything outside of Room was only on TV. He doesn't know that there are really other people and a great big world outside the walls of Room. Will the plan Joy has mapped out work? How will their lives change if they are able to get away? What happens if they don't?

Room has been on my TBR for a very long time. I have no idea why I didn't read it sooner, I loved it. The book made me laugh and cry. I also watched the movie, which as usual was not as good as the book, but still it was a good movie.

I love that the book was told from Jack's perspective. Getting to see him learn the world for the first time is interesting and exciting. You feel for his mother and all that she has to endure just to keep Jack safe. They look forward to "Sunday Treat" from Old Nick, their capture, they move all the furniture around in the house to run track and stay healthy. Even though the TV is the only connection they have to the outside world, she still limits Jack's time on it so it won't rot his brain.

If you haven't read Room, I suggest you pick up a copy right away. Read the book and then see the movie. The only other book I have read by Emma Donoghue is

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Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

August Pullman is not your typical 10 year old. He has never been to school, he has had countless surgeries, and he has a rare facial deformity. But despite all of that, his outlook on life is very positive. This year, Auggie, as he likes to be called, and his family have decided it is time for him to go to school. He has been homeschooled all of this time because of the countless doctor's appointments and medical tests he had to do that it wasn't practical. But he's finally reached the stage of his life where none of that is necessary. Of course, he and his parents are a little skeptical about how this will all play out. How will the other children treat him and will he be able to make new friends?

I have had this book on my TBR for a while. When I saw that the movie was coming out, I pushed it closer to the top. My daughter, who is also 10 was very interested in seeing this movie as well. I told her we had to read the book first. So we read it together. I love that we both have this passion for reading and that we can talk about this book together and then enjoy the movie.

This book brought me to tears several times. First of all, the way they describe Auggie in the book is horrible. His ears look like cauliflower, his eyes come too far down, his cheeks look punched in, his mouth is like a turtle. When he is first introduced to school, Mr. Tushman has a few kids show him around the school. Only one, Jack, seems like a really good kid.

The book follows Auggie and his family and friends through his first year at school, Beecher Prep. The book is mostly told from Auggie's point of view, but also there is a section for his sister Olivia(Via); the first person to sit with him at lunch, Summer; Jack, one of the first people Auggie meets at the school; Justin, a friend of Olivia's; and Miranda, another friend of Olivia's who gave Auggie a special gift one time that he cherished.

This book will touch your heart and soul and it shows you the importance of treating people as you would like to be treated despite what they may look like.

I can't wait for my daughter to finish the book so we can go and see the movie together. Although I'm already having some issues seeing as the book describes Auggie's mom as a Brazilian and Julia Roberts is not...

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Review: House Divided by Jami Deise

House Divided by Jami Deise
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Erin and her husband, Jack live their professional lives on opposite sides of the aisle. Erin's blood bleeds blue, while Jack reports on all things red. When they are home, all of that is put to the side. Jack really doesn't believe most of the garbage he reports on, which makes their relationship work. But when Jack gets a new job at the same time Erin loses hers, their relationship and family will be put to the test.

Thank you to Jami Deise for the opportunity to read and review this book. This is the first book I have read from this author and it was a great political/family novel.

What would you do, if you found out your family was about to hit it big time? That you're husband's name was about to be on everyone's lips. All of a sudden people are nicer to you and things just seem to come easier. Erin feels very skeptical about Jack's new job and doesn't like the man it is turning him in to. He used to be laid back and right now, he seems on edge about everything. Erin has just lost her job, but the whole operation shut down after the election. She is eager to find a new job, but Jack insists she stays home with the kids since he will be making so much money. But money isn't everything and it definitely isn't buying them happiness.

I will say this about Erin, she is a strong willed woman who I'm not sure if I could fill her shoes. Some women enjoy working, I am one of those as well, especially when it's a job that I enjoy. So if I had lost that job, through no fault of my own I would be devastated and I would expect my husband to be by my side. I don't think Erin had that opportunity to mourn her job the way she wanted. She comes home to tell her husband about it just to find out he's landed a new job himself making a million dollars a year. It's more money then they have ever seen, but Erin is still a little skeptical about it. When she sees changes in Jack that she is not used to, it further confirms her suspicions that maybe this isn't the right job for him. The fallout from the two of them is immediate. Jack telling her that she doesn't need to work, she can stay home with their kids, when that is the last thing she wants to do.

Overall this was a cute quirky book. It touched me since it was based where I live. I was able to read this book quickly and it was hard to put down.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

1. Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is my dining room table, which looks out onto our pool and the Boca Ciega Bay.

2. What is your favorite book of all time(not one of yours)?

Favorite book is I Don't Know How She Does It

3. Do you think your personality is more like Erin's or Jack's?

I'm definitely more like Erin

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Review: The Map That Leads to You by J.P. Monninger

The Map That Leads to You by J.P. Monninger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Heather Mulgrew is on a summer trip with two of her closest friends from college. They have just graduated from Amherst College and Heather has a job waiting for her at Bank of America in New York City. This trip is exactly what they need before beginning the rest of their lives. On the train to Amsterdam she meets Jack and from that moment forward, her life will never be the same. Jack has a freedom that Heather has never experienced and together they build a great friendship that quickly turns to so much more.

Thank you to St. Martins Press along with Karen Masnica and Caitlin Dareff for sharing their reading, discussing and experiences with this love story. I received two copies from them along with a letter that told me to share my second copy and I did that with my mother. I can't wait to share my thoughts with her on this book.

The story starts with the three girls traveling across Europe after graduating from college. This is something I have always wanted dreamed of doing. When Heather meets the handsome stranger on the train to Amsterdam, he changes her life forever. He makes her think about her future and life in general in a entirely different way. Their connection is instant but the trip won't last forever. What is going to happen when the time comes for Heather to return home. Will Jack change his plans for her or will this just be a summer fling?

This book evoked a lot of emotion in me. Heather is following Hemingway's story through Europe while Jack is following his grandfather's journal from after WWII. I gave this book a 3 star rating because it didn't really grab me the way I thought it would. The story was interesting and the flow was good, but there were parts that had me confused. Some of the language seemed European even though the main characters were American. I'm not sure if that was because of their education and love of books, or as the writing was intended. For those who like a good love story will enjoy this book. Get your tissues though!



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Review: The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Plumb family are anxiously awaiting the youngest, Melody's, 40th birthday that's when they are allowed to get "The Nest", an inheritance their father has left for them later in life, when they will be able to use it more sensibly. When the oldest, Leo gets into some trouble, their mother decides to use some of The Nest to help get him out of the jam. The time has now come for them to retrieve The Nest, but will Leo give them the money they need in order to get the amount they were expecting.

I found it very hard to connect with the characters in this book. No one grabbed my attention or made me interested to read the book. The story, overall has some interesting aspects to it, the connection to 9/11 and each individual character had an interesting enough story. The family as a whole seemed like a bunch of whiney babies that should be better able to handle their issues at 40 and over. I'm not sure if I will read other books by this author, but I'm down to try.

 

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Review: Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all I want to thank St. Martin's Press for awarding me a copy of this book through their contest on social media. I especially loved all the intriguing materials that arrived after I received the book. It helped to push this book to the top of my TBR pile.

Grace has finally met the man of her dreams(or so she thinks). Jack is attractive, intelligent, kind, and most importantly, adores her sister Millie who has Downs-Syndrome. They are first introduced when Jack starts to dance with Millie at a park they frequent on the weekends Grace spends with her. They had both noticed each other before, unaware that this was the case. They date for a few short months, as both of their jobs keep them very busy and after an even shorter engagement, they are married in a very small ceremony.

After the vows have been said, Jack shows Grace his true colors and strips her of all of her freedoms; her cell phone, her job, the ability to do anything without him, and explains the plans he has for her and especially for Millie when she moves in with them at the end of her school term. Terrified for her life and more so or Millie's, Grace tries as hard as she can to get away from Jack, but it is impossible since he has everyone convinced she has mental problems. Will she be able to get from under his control before Millie moves in or something more serious happens?

I hadn't planned on reading this book until after the first of the year, but after I received a letter

 and a postcard

from Grace, I knew I had to read it right away. The book is told from the Past and the Present and at the end they come together to reveal a harrowing tale of emotional torture I have never read about before. Grace is a character you automatically have empathy for. I'm not sure how she got herself into this situation, but its a hell of a ride to get out. Jack is always two steps ahead of her and no matter what she tries she can't get ahead of him.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept my heart racing and I kept hoping that Grace would eventually find a way out. Jack was even a couple of steps ahead of me when I thought a friend was trying to help her get out. This book is highly recommended. One of the best I have read this year.

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