Review: Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

Saving Ruby King: A Novel by Catherine Adel West

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: June 2020

Ruby King lives in Chicago with her mother and her abusive father. When her mother dies, Ruby knows she can't be there alone with her father. What can she do and where can she go? Her best friend, Layla, tries all she can to help and protect Ruby from what is happening. But Ruby needs more than protection, she needs a whole new change in scenery. Three generations of trauma are seen in this book along with a lot of parent/child relationships.

Thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.

When I read the description to Ruby King, I was expecting a very different book. The subject matter in this book is very heavy and has quite a few triggers throughout. From a father sexually abusing his child, a husband abusing his wife and child, and one man blackmailing another. While Ruby King is the title of this book, every character in this book needs some kind of saving. One important character in the book, that I didn't see coming was the church. You get to see what happens, "If these walls could talk." It was eye-opening and interesting to see that part. The church is where all the secrets were kept.

This book was heavy, but also surprising.

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Review: Just My Luck by Adele Parks

Just My Luck by Adele Parks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: April 2021

For 15 years three families have gone in together on the lottery. One week, two of the families decide it's not for them anymore, it's stupid and they never win anyway. The third family continues to buy the ticket the next week and they win 17.8 million pounds. Should they share the winnings with their friends or keep it all for themselves? Jake the husband in the winning family is ready to keep the money and is spending it before it hits their bank account. The kids are all on board. Lexi, the wife is a little more hesitant. They go from living day by day to not having to worry about a thing, but it's all too much. They decide to throw a party to celebrate the win and from that moment life will never be the same.

Thanks to Harlequin/Mira and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.


At the start of the book, I wasn't sure how the story was going to go. But knowing Adele Parks like I do, I knew I had to hold on because there was going to be something to look forward to. As you go through the book, little twists are thrown at you. Adultery, teenage pregnancy, robbery, fighting, theft, secrets, and more. Sometimes winning the lottery isn't all it's cracked up to be.

What would you do if you won the lottery? Would you go public if you didn't have to? Would you spend all of the money right away?

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Review: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: June 2017

Tennessee 1930s. Georgia Tann took children from poor families and sold them into adoption. There were a few children who were legitimately placed in her care, but the majority of the children that made it to the Tennessee Children's Home Society, were taken from families that loved them and many never saw their families again. This book is based on true events and tells Rill, Fern, and their siblings' story. Switching back from the 1930s to modern day, Avery Stafford is determined to find out more about Ms. Crandle who has gotten her attention while on a tour of a nursing home in South Carolina. What she discovers will be a shock.

I have read a book similar to this, a few years ago. The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma so I was familiar with the story. It is such a heartbreaking story about love and loss and how cruel the world is. I can't imagine what I would do if someone just took my children from me because they thought they could provide a better life for them.

Rill and her siblings were growing up on a boat, 'The Arcadia', on the Mississippi River with their mother and father when people came and took them away. Rill never gave up hope that she would see her family again, but she didn't know how she would ever be able to pull it off. You wanted to jump in the story and hold these children and be the one beside Avery as she began to uncover secrets that had been hidden for many years. Secrets that may have stayed hidden.

I really enjoy novels that are based on true events. It makes the story so much more enjoyable. Although this is a tragic story, it is an important one to know.


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Review: Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: July 2009 (audiobook)

Gary Soneji has just kidnapped two children from the school he was teaching at in Washington, D.C. Not just any children, but children who are being protected by Secret Service. What is the purpose, what does he want? When one of the children ends up dead, Soneji has to change his plans, and then they have to change again, when one of the children is kidnapped from him. How is he going to play this? He is either really smart or really demented and there is only one person who can find out the truth, Detective Alex Cross.

This is the first book in the Alex Cross series. Normally, I am not a person who does a re-read, but I have wanted to read this series from the beginning for a while. I have read a couple of books in the series, but not in order and I've found that I have grown to be a stickler for reading a series in order.

I don't know what I would do if someone took my kids. I always say that if someone did take them, they would give them back right away, but we have no idea. Alex Cross works tirelessly for months to find the missing children. With a twist I certainly forgot about that leaves you hooked until the last sentence. If you have never read an Alex Cross novel, this is the first in the series and a great place to start.

I'm glad I read the book again, I didn't remember a lot of what happened. Now I'm hoping I will be able to find the movie to watch. We all know the book is usually better than the movie.



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Audio Book Review: The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: July 2019
 

The city of Crystal, Colorado is an affluent community in the state of Colorado. When a new public school for gifted students is slated to open just in time for the upcoming school year, close friends will put everything on the line to ensure that their children make the cut. Because out of the 100,000 students who are eligible to apply, only 1000 will gain entrance to the school. Who is smart enough to make the cut and what lengths will the parents and guardians go through to make sure their child is part of the elite who make it into the school.

This book was chosen as the first book of the year for our Book Club. This was the first I had heard of the book and the author and I wasn't really sure what to expect. I listened to the book as I knew that may be the only way I would get to it with the holidays.

From the very beginning I was drawn into the story. This particular group of people had met about 11 years prior when their children were in a swimming class as infants.
Rose and Gareth - They have been married for many years, but their marriage is lying on the brink. Will marriage counseling work to save their relationship? They are the parents to Emma Q. Emma is a normal 10 year old girl who enjoys playing with her best friend Emma Z. Emma Z is bossy and doesn't like to read the way Emma Q does, even though she has a library in her home with all of the latest titles. Her parents are Samantha and Kevin and they are the wealthiest family in the group and feel the need to prove that their daughter is smart. Next we have Beck and Azra. They are divorced and Beck is now married to their former nanny Sonia. They have twin boys Aiden and Charlie who are soccer stars. Finally there is Lauren who is a widow with two children, Tessa and Zander. Tessa is 16 and has been babysitting the younger kids for a while now. She just got through a rough spot after the death of her dad. And everyone call Zander a genius and know he is sure to get in the new school. Finally Solia and her son Atik with the grandmother Cheyn'a. This family cleans the houses of the other families, but Atik is very smart and Cheyn'a knows he will get an A on the test.

Watching these families navigate their lives and the lives of their children to get into this school is quite amazing. The things that they do, the secrets that are kept and the lies that are told are quite amazing. I have some gifted kids myself, but I don't see myself putting them through this kind of torture for a school. Kids should be able to be kids without having to worry about being involved with too many activities. I live in an area where the schools are very highly ranked and living in a certain area gives your kids an advantage just based on the school they attend.

Very good book. Interesting read.

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Review: The Perfect Date by Evelyn Lozada

The Perfect Date by Evelyn Lozada

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: June 2019
 

Angel Gomez is a single mother, doing the best she can to raise and support her son. Finishing up her nursing degree and working as a bartender has Angel always busy. When she meets Duke, a Yankees pitcher, she doesn't even know who he is, but he needs her help. His team can't know he's not ready to take the mound, so Duke needs Angel to pretend they are dating so he has an excuse for why he's visiting the clinic where she works. But Angel has enough drama in her life with her boss's trying to hit on her all the time, to be worried about Duke's drama as well. Will she go along with the fake dating or will she pass?

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

I have been watching Basketball Wives from the very first season. Then Evelyn Lozada had a shoe store in Miami. Now she's living in L.A. as a single mom to 2 children and is still on Basketball Wives. I can hear her in this book. Her voice rings through Angel's character.

Now this book was no literary piece of art, but it held my attention throughout. I didn't like the repetitiveness of the book and there were a couple of things in there that seemed so unreal. Overall, I enjoyed the book. I got it because of watching the show and I wanted to see what it was all about.

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Review: Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam

Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

Lauren and Sarah have been best friends since they were eleven years old. Now that they are adults, they don't seem to be as close as they used to be. With Sarah's upcoming wedding, will they be able to revive the friendship they once had?

Reading the description for this book, I was so excited to read it as I thought I would be able to relate to the characters, but unfortunately, I couldn't.

The story focuses on the long relationship between Lauren and Sarah and takes place in New York mostly during the months leading up to Sarah's wedding to Dan. There are things they share and secrets they keep from each other. Lauren is living her single life and Sarah dreams of something different for their future lives together. Lauren appears to be happy for Sarah, but internally she doesn't really care. I thought something more dramatic may have happened during this book, but overall it was underwhelming. The two never seemed to work through the issues they were having just glossing by life. Several times I thought about putting this book down, but I had to see how it was going to end.

Not a book I would recommend.

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Review: The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Things We Wish Were True takes place in a small town in North Carolina during the summer of 2014. It's a very close knit community and most residents have lived there most of their lives. From Zell, the neighborhood matriarch to Jancey the "prodigal" daughter returning after making a quick escape after high school. Each character has their own story and each story intertwines with each character. It includes twists and turns that will make you need to find out what is going to happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I will admit that at the beginning of the book, there was a little confusion with all the different characters, but after getting into the story, everything soon became clear. Each character carries a secret. Some secrets are small and others could be catastrophic.

Zell - has been limping around all summer and has stopped running, why/
Cailey - is growing up faster than she wants to or should, but with a single working mother is there anything that can stop that.
Bryte - doesn't want to have a second child, the first time was so difficult, she doesn't want to go through that again.
Jencey - Returns home after being away for so long. Will she stay for good this time, or will she run again like she did in the past.
Lance - has recently become a single father, but how long will that be the case?
Everett - Married to Bryte and ex of Jencey has a few of his own secrets that could tarnish his relationships.

There is one story about a summer in North Carolina, told from each persons point of view. Each character has their own side to the story centered around the neighborhood pool. It dives into the past which helps to progress the present. At the end of this summer the whole neighborhood will be changed from the secrets that are revealed.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more of her books.


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Review--I Feel Like Going On by Ray Lewis

I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory by Ray Lewis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I Feel Like Going On tells the story of Ray Lewis's life through his point of view. From his early childhood to the man he is today. I learned quite a bit about Ray Lewis that I didn't know and found very interesting. A religious and family man with seven children, he is a very different person than the man who used to be on the football field.

Growing up in Maryland, I only root for two teams, the Washington Redskins and whoever is playing the Dallas Cowboys. When I was a kid, the Baltimore team had been long, so the Redskins were who I went for. I respect, Ray Lewis as an amazing defensive player in the NFL. Occasionally, I would cheer for Baltimore especially when they were in the Super Bowl. It was interesting to find out that the Redskins were Ray's favorite as well. He has a very religious side to him that you don't get to see on the field. He is also very family oriented, always there for his kids as well as his mother and brothers and sisters. There are a lot of things I learned from this book about Ray Lewis and about life in general. The best part of the book came at the end when Ray talks about what his mother taught him.

"Be an example. Be a force for good. And know that every one with a great name has been through something. A great deal of something. It's not about doing what everybody else is doing. It's just about being true to yourself whatever the majority of people are doing, go ahead and do the opposite--if you know what you're doing to be right and good and true. Live your legacy. Do your thing. Walk in a certain light."

This book is an inspiration to anyone who is struggling through life and may be unsure how they are going to make it through the storm. Ray Lewis made it through a single mom household, losing friends and coaches, and being accused of the most terrible things. He made it through alive andd on top.


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Review-The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young

The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charlotte Cates has started having dreams about young children now that her son has passed away.  She is not sure what these dreams mean, but when they start to come to fruition, she sees that she may have a gift she may not really want.  Sent to Louisiana to write a book about the abduction of young Gabriel Deveau, she believes she knows what has happened to him from one of her dreams.  Will she be able to find out what happened to this boy?  What other dreams will she have before she gets the answers she is looking for?

I started this book and at first I couldn't get into it.  I put it down for a couple of weeks and then picked it back up.  I'm so glad that I did.  While some parts of this book were a little bit predictable, this was an overall good read.  I was invested in the story and I was desperate to know what was going to happen to Charlotte, or Charlie as she likes to be called.

After the death of her own child, she was lost and unsure about how to continue her life.  She wasn't really into her job and then came the opportunity arose for her to write about something, she thought she had first hand knowledge about.  Leaving her home in Connecticut to live at Evangeline, the estate where Gabriel went missing, she uncovers a lot about the Deveau family that she never knew was possible.

At 75% I literally felt my heart begin to race. And it was difficult to put the book down from then on.  Highly recommended.

**I received a copy of this book from FirstToRead, through Penguin Publishers in exchange for my review.**


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Review--Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Matt Scanlon is on tour in Afghanistan when he receives the call that his wife, Chloe,  has died in an unfortunate household accident.  He rushes home to take care of her funeral arrangements and get care for their 7 month old daughter, Emily.  When he returns home, nothing seems the same.  And it's not only because Chloe is no longer there.  Going through her things, he makes a startling discovery that will cloud his mind for a long time.  Leaving the care of his daughter to his in-laws, Bob and Danielle, he returns to finish his tour of duty and try to make sense of all that he has learned about his wife.

This book really had me intrigued from the very beginning.  I gasped out loud several times while listening to this book.  Just when you think you know what is going to happen next, you are pulled in the completely opposite direction.  There are a lot of twists and turns throughout this book.    A man on mission trying to find out what was really going on with his wife while he was away.   He is trying to build a bond with his daughter who doesn't know him at all, and with him being away, it doesn't help.  Trying to find out who his wife had become after she had become a mother and a military wife.

This book will keep you on your toes and you will never know what is going to happen next.  You think you do, as I thought I did, but you will soon find out that you are wrong.  The surprises keep coming straight on until the end.  I think this is a book everyone should grab.  This is the first I have read by Lisa Scottoline, and she has been on my radar for a while.  I will continue to read and enjoy her books.



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Review--Little Princes by Conor Grennan

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Conor Grennan is an American traveling the world for one year.  One of his planned stops on his journey is at Little Princes orphanage in Nepal.  After this 3 months stay at the orphanage, he promises the children that he would return in one years time.  Hardly did volunteers return to the orphanage, after they left. Conor was abe to keep his promise and after his return he set out on a true journey...to find the families of the children at Little Princes and other orphanages in the area.  He set up a foundation in order to fund this necessary endeavor.  Many of the children had been taken from their homes by child traffickers with the promise to provide a better life for the children  Many of these parents had no idea where their children were and just as many children thought their parents were dead. Conor ended up staying in Nepal for the next three years helping reconnect Nepal's lost children with their families.

Many times when we do volunteer work whether it is within our own country or abroad, we go into it thinking how much good we are going to do for someone else.  What really is the case is that the volunteer is the one who ends up benefiting the most.  Hearts and minds are forever changed.  We implore our friends and family to help with the cause we are involved in and pray that we are making a difference.  I have never met anyone who has not had their lives impacted by volunteer work.

Conor is no exception.  He has made friends with these children, learned something new about a different culture and has taught us all something new with this book.  Little Princes, has touched my heart and I'm eager to know how the children of Nepal are doing now after all of the help that Conor has brought to the region.  You can find out  more about Conor's work visit http://www.nextgenerationnepal.org/


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