Review -- Missing by Jenni Boyd

Missing by Jenni Boyd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Blake Stanley needs a new housekeeper.  Terry Johnson isn't exactly what he expected when he picked her up from the airport.  Terry, along with her son Dale have come to help Blake and his son, Brad with the day to day operations around their home in the outback of Australia.  From the moment Blake first lays eyes on Terry, he can tell there is something different about her and her son Dale is unlike any other little boy he has ever met.  When Blake gets a frantic call from Dale while out on a muster, he hurries back to the homestead to find Terry lying on the ground in a pool of blood with Dale no where to be found.  What is this lady into and where is Dale?  Sent on a wild chase all throughout Australia, and finding out things about the past he should never know, Blake is determined to find out who Terry is and where Dale is.

Missing is a good book based in Australia.  With so many twists and turns, you are never sure where you are headed next.  This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and wondering what is going to happen next.  There are a few parts of the book that get confusing at times and I had to read over these a couple of times.  There are a lot of components to keep track of which adds to the confusion.  Overall, though, this is a book that is a good read.

**I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.**


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Review - Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's Labor Day weekend and Henry needs new clothes for school.  His mother, Adele, rarely leaves the house anymore, since the divorce from Henry's father. They go to the local store and pick out a few things.  There they meet Frank, a recently escaped convict.  Frank has them take him to their home and stays with them through the long weekend until he can move on.

Henry and Adele aren't really sure what to do, but they do their best not to be too afraid so they can make it through.  When Frank turns out to be more than they bargained for, they are in for a lot of surprises.  This is a story about love.  Love lost, love shared and new love.  What happens when love is lost or gone forever.

Joyce Maynard has put together quite a great book.  Filled with different kinds of love without being a romance novel.  This book teaches you that you can never judge a book by its cover and that the world is full of surprises.

Henry is your typical teenage boy going through all of the strange changes that happens to a boy at 13.  His mother has been so shut off from the world since losing her father and a baby, that Henry often has to play the role of husband as well as son.  When Frank enters their lives, it's an interesting change for them both.  Adele seems to have come out of her depression and Henry has a relationship with a man, that he has been unable to get with his own father.

Together these three bake, dance, and try not to get caught during the long holiday weekend. This is a must read for anyone who is in love with love.


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Review - The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson

The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rosie and Jonathan have been together for 15 years.  They never married or had kids even though everyone around them were.  They were content with their lives the way they were, or at least that is what Rosie thought.  One morning, when birth control goes out the window all because of a strange name on the caller ID, Rosie is about to find out exactly who and what it is she wants in life.

This story was really very interesting.  Jonathan doesn't seem like the kind of guy that any woman would want to date.  He is all about himself and doesn't really seem to notice or care what is going on around him.  He used to be an artist until he wasn't anymore and then he started to collect teacups.  When he gets the opportunity to be a part of a museum for the precious teacups, he jumps at the chance.  Rosie isn't quite as eager as he is and he promises marriage as a way to get her on board.

Rosie has a lot going on in her life, but then Jonathan shows his true colors just days before the wedding and it makes quite an impact.  Finally, Rosie decides to do something that is going to be best for herself instead of going along with what Jonathan wants.   In making this decision to stay and take care of her grandmother and settle things, she discovers something amazing about her life.

Too many women in this world put their lives on hold to do what is best for the family.  Following their military spouse all around the world, giving up a career for children, leaving behind family to pursue a dream.  If we don't we are labeled as unsupportive and when we do we are also given grief about leaving our own wishes and desires to support someone else.  You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Rosie learns a lot about her life through this book and is a testament to others about doing what is best for yourself.  
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.


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Review -- Mother's Day Out by Karen MacInerney

Mother's Day Out by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**I received this book as a part of Goodreads Giveaways**

Margie Peterson is your typical stay at home mom.  As if carpool lines, PTA fundraisers, and school newsletters weren't enough to keep her busy, she decides to take a part-time job to help with the family finances.  The job she took is not one that is typical of a stay home mom, but it's one that is sending her on quite an adventure.  She gets the opportunity to work for a private investigator.  The job is simple, but could be dangerous at times.  Her first case goes off without a hitch(almost).  The second, on the other hand, get really complicated really fast when she finds a dead body in the bathroom of a gay bar!

Margie Peterson is the mom we all hope that we could be.  She's strong, fearless, and is able to think quickly on her feet.  All great characteristics of a private investigator, but it tends to also get her in trouble from time to time.

This book had me laughing out loud, and sitting on the edge of my seat.  There is a twist around every corner and mystery that you have to get to the bottom of.  I enjoyed this book, but only gave it three stars because even though it had me on the edge of my seat, it took a while for me to get there.  It took me nearly a month to read this book.  Some because my life has gotten busy and there is hardly any time to read. But books that are hard to put down find a time to get read.

I do recommend this book for mystery/thriller/chick-lit.  And I will read more from this author and this series.


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Review - Steel Justice by Jenni Boyd

Steel Justice by Jenni Boyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michelle is a very adventurous girl.  She gets is from her father, Max Steel.  When Michelle is invited on the yacht of her father's enemy, Malcolm Microbe, her sense of adventure gets the best of her.  She seems something she shouldn't have, and the next thing you know, she and her best friend are missing.

Jasmine Bronson is an investigative reporter in Eden Cove, she fights hard to get the story she wants.  Taking on a new job and trying to prove herself, she comes across something that forces her to join up with Max Steel to find Michelle.

Steel Justice was a great book.  I will admit that about 1/3 of the way through, I got a little bored and wondered when the adventure was going to come back.  At 50% through the end, it was hard to put it down. At the beginning you are introduced to a lot of different characters that make you wonder how all of these people play a part in the disappearance of one girl. So many things going on in this picturesque town in Australia.  You're not sure if you want to visit, or steer clear.  There are different parts of this story that all come together at the end.  You have to stick around for the finale.  It's a great story and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
**I received this book for free from the author in exchange for my review.**


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Review--Home by Brenda Kearns

Home by Brenda Kearns
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Home is a YA novel.  This story was short and sweet.

Allie is 14 years old and she is about to enter her 17th foster home. Her only goal is to get back to her mother.  She, along with her younger twin siblings, Luke and Madeline just want to stay together at home.  Allie tries every trick in her foster care book to get them home as soon as possible.  At first, her tricks work, but she will soon learn that home may not be all that it's cracked up to be.

This was a really short book and a quick read.  I think I finished the whole thing in about 3 hours.  This is a great book for any young person who is struggling in foster care.  No matter how hard or difficult things are back at home, that is where kids in foster care prefer to be.  Not all foster homes are as great as the one Allie has just landed in, but she has gotten pretty lucky this time.

I encourage all young people to read this book.

**I received this book from Story Cartel in exchange for my review.**


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Review--The Target by David Baldacci

The Target by David Baldacci
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Will Robie and Jessica Reel have been called upon again to defend their country. And, as usual this is going to be a difficult mission.  This is a little different though because they have to go back through training before being deployed.  Why?  Well, the DCI, Evan Turner, wants them to prove their loyalties to the country.  He is still having a little trouble trusting them after their last mission.

Meanwhile, in North Korea Yie Chung-Cha is preparing for a mission of her own.  Raised in a labor camp in Yodok she made the way out by killing her own family and performing for the Supreme Leader.  She is preparing a retaliation move on the United States for a foiled plot.


Another great book by David Baldacci.  He has me on the edge of my seat again.  Wanting to know what is going to happen next.  I have listened to the other books in this series and was a little disappointed when the gunshots and explosions didn't jump off the page.  The audio versions of the Robie books have actual gunshots and explosions that will have you ducking for cover.

This installment of Robie series, gets deeper into Jessia Reel's past, has appearances by Super Agent Vance, and Julie Getty.  This story was like an unusual roller coaster ride.  It takes you up gets you all excited and then the excitement dies down all to be drawn back up again.  I hope there is going to be more from Robie and Reel, because they always keep me on the edge.  The excitement is contagious and I can't wait for the next book.


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