Book Review | What You Left Behind by Samantha Hayes

August 12, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 2 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND

TITLE: What You Left Behind

AUTHOR: Samantha Hayes

PUBLISHER: Crown Publishing

RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2015

GENRE: Suspense & Thriller

A mesmerizing new thriller from the author of Until You’re Mine

Two years after a terrifying spate of teenage suicides, the remote village of Radcote has just begun to heal. Then a young man is killed in a freak motorcycle accident and a suicide note is found among his belongings. When a second boy is found dead shortly thereafter, the nightmare of repeat suicides once again threatens the community.

Desperate for a vacation, Detective Inspector Lorraine Fisher has just come to Radcote for a stay with her sister, Jo, but the atmosphere of the country house is unusually tense. Freddie, Jo’s son, seems troubled and uncommunicative, and Jo is struggling to reach out to him. Meanwhile, Lorraine becomes determined to discover the truth behind these deaths. Are they suicides, or is there something more sinister at work? Finding answers might help Freddie, but they’ll also lead to a shocking truth: whatever it is–or whoever it is–that’s killing these young people is far more disturbing than she ever could have imagined, and unraveling the secret is just as dangerous as the secret itself.

Wicked, intense, and utterly compulsive, What You Left Behind confirms Samantha Hayes as a top thriller writer. (Description from NetGalley.com)

MY THOUGHTS

At times, I feel I need a little bit more adventure, suspense, and mystery in my life so I wander away from my usual Women’s Fiction genre books and go towards a book like What You Left Behind by Samantha Hayes. Its books like this that keeps be wanting more suspense and thriller type novels to read.

There were many twists and turns throughout the book and Hayes did a great job tying up the loose ends. This is what kept me engaged and is what I loved most about the book. I was surprised by the plot twists. At times, I can predict what twists will be, but with this book many of the twists were a mystery. That’s not to say I didn’t guess a few of them, but for the most part I was like “oh my gosh” when something was revealed.

The characters, including the minor ones, were well developed and their stories were perfectly intertwined. The way Hayes created the characters made you believe they were different than they turned out to be. I think this created a much more impactful thriller and made me second guess my predictions (commence the applause).

What You Left Behind is a riveting psychological thriller riddled with secrets and lies and is well worth staying up until 1am to finish it.

I was generously provided a copy of this book for an honest review from NetGalley. Thank you Samantha Hayes and Crown Publishing.

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Throughout the years, I always strived to improve my writing. In 2003 I won a short story competition and subsequently had a novel published by a small independent press. It’s out of print now. Since 2007 I have had four novels published by Headline under the name Sam Hayes—BLOOD TIES, UNSPOKEN, TELL TALE and SOMEONE ELSE’S SON.

I am now represented by Oli Munson at A M Heath Ltd and my books are published by Century and Arrow. I have written three novels in a new detective series – set in and around Birmingham, featuring my married DIs Lorraine Fisher and Adam Scott. The first is UNTIL YOU’RE MINE, followed by BEFORE YOU DIE, and finally YOU BELONG TO ME. These are all written as Samantha Hayes. You can find details of all my recent novels by visiting the bookspage. Meantime, I’m busy working on my next novel!

About the author was found on her website and you can click here to find out more.

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Book Review & Giveaway | The Secrets We Keep by Stephanie Butland

July 14, 2015July 12, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THE SECRETS WE KEEP

TITLE: The Secrets We Keep

AUTHOR: Stephanie Butland

PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Landmark

RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

A tragic accident, a broken heart, and a marriage drowning in secrets…

Mike always walks the dog in the evening while Elizabeth relaxes in the bathtub–but one night he doesn’t come back. Mike has drowned while saving a teenage girl named Kate, his dog standing on the bank barking frantically as the police pull his body from the water.

But despite her husband being lauded as a hero, Elizabeth can’t wrap her mind around the fact that Mike is gone–and Kate won’t reveal the details of what really happened that night.

Elizabeth finds herself facing the unfathomable possibility that she may not have known her husband at all. Does she really want to know the truth? Or will the weight of Mike’s secrets pull her under.(Description from NetGalley.com)

MY THOUGHTS

Have you ever read a book that from the very first page, you knew you wouldn’t be able to put it down? Well that’s how The Secrets We Keep by Stephanie Butland is and I was hooked right from the very first sentence. I was so enthralled by this book that my husband was having a hard time pulling me away from it. He even tried to tempt me dinner (how cute!).

Stephanie Butland wrote this book to include letters Elizabeth was writing to her husband after his death. This was one of my favorite aspects of the book because it dove into the deeper feelings of Elizabeth. These are the feelings that many people won’t discuss with anyone else and the ones they keep to themselves. So being able to feel exactly what Elizabeth was feeling helped bring the book to another level.

There was one letter in particular that really stabbed at my heart and it read as follows:

People keep offering to “clear things out” for me. They mean, “Let me throw away Mike’s toothbrush, because I understand that you don’t want to. Let me get rid of the half-used shaving foam and the nearly gone shower gel and the new shower gel ready for when that one runs out, because it will be easier for me to remove these reminders than it would be for you to do it.” But I say, “No, thank you.”

That one small paragraph instantly made me think about my husband. It made me think, would I feel the same way? Would I grieve the same way? Would I want to keep his toothbrush and shower gel just to feel as though he’s still with me? I don’t know for sure, but when anyone loses the person they love it’s one of the hardest things to come to terms with and strange things,, like keeping their toothbrush don’t seem so strange.

As I read the book, I was able to predict what each “secret” was, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the book. It actually made me want to read it more quickly so that I could find out how it was revealed to the characters.

There were several times when I felt really sorry for Elizabeth because as each secret came to light she seemed to go back to the beginning of the grieving process and couldn’t come to terms with anything. Everything was becoming too hard for her to handle and she was cutting herself off from the world, which is not what you should do in her situation. In the end, Elizabeth did come out of the darkness and started walking a path towards forgiveness.

The Secrets We Keep is a powerfully heart wrenching novel that takes you through the different stages of grief, time and time again, as each secret is revealed.

I would highly recommend this book to my followers who enjoy reading Women’s Fiction novels.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

GIVEAWAY

Enter here to win a copy of The Secrets We Keep by Stephanie Butland: a Rafflecopter giveaway

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Somewhere in the air around her drifts the understanding that the generations grieve differently, int he same ways that they love differently, dress differently, raise their children differently.”

“Tears fall from hers and gather on his face, and she wipes them away gently with the thumb that wears his wedding ring, and just for a moment these are his tears, and they are crying together.”

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Stephanie lives in Northumberland, England, and talks and trains in thinking skills all over Europe, most recently in Kazakhstan. She has written two books on her experience with cancer, and she is an active blogger and fundraiser. The Secrets We Keep is her first novel.

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Book Review | The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart

June 8, 2015June 7, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Adrienne Vogt and Harper Penny were closer than sisters, until the day a tragedy blew their seemingly idyllic world apart. Afraid that they got away with murder and unable to accept who they had lost—and what they had done—Harper and Adri exiled themselves from small-town Blackhawk, Iowa, and from each other. Adri ran thousands of miles away to Africa while Harper ventured down a more destructive path closer to home.

Now, five years later, both are convinced that nothing could ever coax them out of the worlds in which they’ve been living. But unexpected news from home soon pulls Adri and Harper back together, and the two cannot avoid facing their memories and guilt head-on. As they are pulled back into the tangle of their fractured relationships and the mystery of Piperhall, the sprawling estate where their lives first began to unravel, secrets and lies behind the tragic accident are laid bare. The former best friends are forced to come to terms with their shared past and search for the beauty in each other while mending the brokenness in themselves.” (Description found on Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

Nicole Baart has created a powerful story of two women running from their past and, in some ways, running from what’s right in front of them. The Beautiful Daughters revolves around Adrienne Vogt and Harper Penny who became close while attending college. Then a tragic accident after graduation tears them apart not just from each other, but also from their families. It’s the same accident that brings them back together to face their demons and reveal their secrets.

Based on what Adrienne went through and what Harper was going through the book’s theme is based on abusive relationships. I think Baart did an excellent job with the theme of the book and didn’t make it too much for the reader. It could have easily become too hard to read. I personally can’t relate to abuse, but I feel that Baart really portrayed what might be going through a woman’s head when rationalizing their actions or the actions of others in those types of relationships.

There isn’t a lot of romance in the book, but that’s because both women are trying to patch themselves up. It’s really about them accepting who they are, making themselves better, and then moving forward in their lives.

The Beautiful Daughters is a compelling novel about love, loss, and fear. I would recommend this book to my followers who like to read women’s fiction and can read books with a more sensitive subject matter.

I won an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads courtesy of Atria Books.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Sometimes he read out loud. He loved the Pslams, and sometimes the cadence of those words washed over Adri as she sliced bread or set the table around him. It was a love song that he sang to her.”

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicole Baart wants to live in a world filled with handwritten letters, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and great conversation.

A critically acclaimed novelist, Nicole’s work has been featured as a Midwest Connections book pick, nominated for a Christy Award, and earned a starred and featured review from Publishers Weekly. In 2011 she co-authored a book that debuted at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Nicole is also the co-founder of a non-profit organization, One Body One Hope, that partners with a sisterhood of churches and orphanages in Monrovia, Liberia. An adoption advocate and the mother of four children from four different countries, Nicole speaks on a variety of topics ranging from orphan care to parenthood to books and the writing process.

When Nicole’s not writing, working for One Body One Hope, or carpooling her children from school to hockey to gymnastics to cello lessons, you can usually find her outside. A lover of the great outdoors and a child at heart, Nicole’s favorite pastimes include playing with her kids, gardening, camping, and practicing her many hobbies including running, photography, baking, and re-teaching herself how to play the piano.

Nicole lives with her family in a small town in Iowa, but holds dual American/Canadian citizenship and considers British Columbia her second home. Since Liberia is also home, Nicole likes to think of herself as a global citizen. She and her family love to travel and hope to see the world together–before her kids are too old to consider their parents cool.

Nicole’s eight novels range from romantic to suspenseful, but she is known for her artistic prose and finely drawn characters. Her stories celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and beauty in the midst of brokenness. (About the Author from her website at NicoleBaart.com)

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | BAM!

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Atria Books

RELEASE DATE: April 28, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

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Book Review | If You’re Not the One by Jemma Forte

June 5, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE

ABOUT THE BOOK

“What if you could do it all over again?

Jennifer Wright is pretty sure her husband doesn’t love her anymore. She and Max used to be the perfect couple, but the pressures of work and kids have pulled them in opposite directions. Now , Jen is full of “what if” questions about whether her bland, suburban existence is all she was ever destined for.

When a terrible accident sends Jen into a coma, she is able to see what her life could have been if she had run off to Australia with the handsome, dangerous man she met on vacation, or if she had stayed with her workaholic college boyfriend. Would she ever have loved another child as much as she loves her daughters? Could she have become rich? More than anything, Jen wants to do the right thing for her family. But what she discovers may leave her with even more questions about the choices she made, and no easy answers about what to do next.” (Description from NetGalley.com)

MY THOUGHTS

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like had you stayed with someone else? Do you think you’d have the same friends or live in the same place? Do you think you’d be the same person? If You’re Not the One is a book that explores those possibilities through the character Jennifer Wright after she slips into a coma.

When I realized I’d be following multiple storylines throughout the book I got a little nervous, but Jemma Forte was able to keep the book from becoming confusing which is something I’ve seen in other books that have multiple layers to it.

There are four storylines to follow in If You’re Not the One: 1) Jennifer and her husband Max, 2) Jennifer and her Australian fling, 3) Jennifer and her college boyfriend, and 4) Jennifer and her boyfriend post college. Each storyline started with how they met then progressed into where their relationship would end up.

One element of the book I enjoyed was Forte’s interpretation of what goes through a person’s mind while in a coma. Nobody truly knows, but I think many people might be thinking about things similar to Jennifer.

The final aspect of the book I want to mention is the ending. I don’t want to give away any details, but I will say that it didn’t end as I expected. Usually I’m not a fan of endings I didn’t see coming, but was pleasantly surprised and happy with what happened. If you read the book please let me know what you thought of the ending.

If You’re Not the One is about accepting your past, learning from it, and not dwelling on what could have been. It’s about taking a chance on life even when the future looks uncertain.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to my followers who enjoy reading women’s fiction novels and are ok with a more complex story. if you don’t like following multiple storylines this book isn’t for you.

I received a digital copy of If You’re Not the One through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“I want to get out of this mire. I want to know that I’ve led my life in a positive way and that I haven’t missed out and most of all, when I ask the question ‘Is this it?’ I want to feel like if it is, then that’s ok.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Jemma Forte was a Disney Channel host in the UK for five years, and has gone on to host shows for ITV, BBC1, BBC2, and other channels in the UK. She lives in London with her family.

BUY LINKS:

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Sourcebooks Landmark

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

OVERALL RATING

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Book Review | Throw Like A Woman by Susan Petrone

May 17, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THROW LIKE A WOMAN

“Forty years old, divorced, with two sons on the verge of adolescence and an ex-husband who considers visitation to be optional, Brenda Haversham isn’t having a whole lot of fun. She’s also no longer qualified for the work she loves, so she’s toiling away in a cubicle instead, trying to make ends meet. Brenda is short on money, short on connection with her kids, and short on any kind of social life. The only thing Brenda has in abundance is her anger. And that turns out to be her greatest asset.

When she was a kid, Brenda’s father taught her how to throw a good fastball. That wasn’t of much use to a girl, but it is enough to astound onlookers at a “test your speed” pitching cage before a Cleveland Indians game. The more Brenda pictures her ex-husband’s face on the other end, the harder she throws. And when someone tapes her performance and puts it up online, Brenda becomes an Internet sensation and then more than that.

The Indians come calling and Brenda finds her life taking a turn in a new direction. Soon, she’s standing on the mound as the first woman player in Major League history and dealing with everything that comes with it. The money is great and the endorsement deals are even better. The fury of “traditionalists?” Not so much. And the conflicting emotions of her teammates are even harder to manage. Meanwhile, Brenda’s home life is evolving faster than she can keep up, redefining her role as a mother, a friend, and even a lover. As the season winds down Brenda will find out if she has what it takes to be a winner at both baseball and life.” (Description via NetGalley)

MY THOUGHTS

Susan Petrone has created a masterful story of a dream many girls who play softball or baseball have…a chance to play professionally. With every sentence I was imagining myself in Brenda’s shoes putting on the team jersey, tying up my cleats, and holding that ball in my hand in front of thousands of people.

I’ve never read a book, about baseball, that really touched my heart like this book did. Even in today’s society a woman playing professional baseball is unheard of and I think Petrone gave an accurate interpretation of how people might react. There were those who truly supported Brenda, but there were the “haters” who thought it an abomination having a woman play. Petrone also did an excellent job incorporating the emotions a single mother would have when taking on a job that requires a lot of travel in addition to having to deal with her ex-husband. If there was ever a Brenda to grace Major League baseball, she would change everything and be a part of something historical…something that would pave the way for others afterward.

Throw Like a Woman is about perseverance, courage, and strength. It’s about knowing you’re part of something bigger than yourself and embracing every moment of it.

I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading women’s fiction and are baseball fans like myself.

An advance copy was generously provided through NetGalley for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“She started to walk toward the grass then sprinted, just because she could. Out of breath, she reached her arms up and out and spun around a few times, looking at the perfect blue sky above. And then she screamed ‘Yeeeeeesss!’ as loudly as she could.”

“For a second, Brenda had an image of her father standing in front of her, holding a beat-up catcher’s mitt, an ancient catcher’s mask on the top of his head. ‘If you can just make the four-seam fastball fly as it wants to fly, you could be…anything,’ he’d said to her.”

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER

Susan Petrone’s short fiction has been published by Glimmer Train, Featherproof Books, Muse, Conclave, and Whiskey Island. She is the author of the novels Throw Like a Woman (2015, The Story Plant) and A Body at Rest (2009, Drinian Press), which won a bronze medal for regional fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY). Her short story, “Monster Jones Wants to Creep You Out” (Conclave, 2010) was nominated for a 2011 Pushcart Prize. On the non-fiction side, Susan’s work has appeared on CoolCleveland.com and ESPN.com, and she co-owns the Cleveland Indians blog, ItsPronouncedLajaway.com, for ESPN.com’s SweetSpot network.She holds a master’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Cleveland State University and lives with one husband, one daughter, and far too many dogs in a little house near some medium-sized woods. (About the Author found on Susan’s website)

Buy Links:

AMAZON | B&N | BAM! | INDIE BOUND | POWELL’S

Publishing Company: The Story Plant

Release Date: March 24, 2015

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Book Review | Pieces of My Mother by Melissa Cistaro

April 20, 2015April 19, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 3 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | PIECES OF MY MOTHER

ABOUT THE BOOK

“This provocative, poignant memoir of a daughter whose mother left her behind by choice begs the question: Are we destined to make the same mistakes as our parents?

One summer, Melissa Cistaro’s mother drove off without explanation Devastated, Melissa and her brothers were left to pick up the pieces, always tormented by the thought: Why did their mother abandon them?

Thirty-five years later, with children of her own, Melissa finds herself in Olympia, Washington, as her mother is dying. After decades of hiding her painful memories, she has just days to find out what happened that summer and confront the fear she could do the same to her kids. But Melissa never expects to stumble across a cache of letters her mother wrote to her but never sent, which could hold the answers she seeks.

Haunting yet ultimately uplifting, Pieces of My Mother chronicles one woman’s quest to discover what drives a mother to walk away from the children she loves. Alternating between Melissa’s tumultuous coming-of-age and her mother’s final days, this captivating memoir reveals how our parents’ choices impact our own and how we can survive those to forge our own paths.” (NetGalley Description)

MY THOUGHTS

Memoirs are certainly my favorite genre and it’s because of books like Pieces of My Mother by Melissa Cistaro. It’s such a heartbreaking story and shows just how much people are impacted by their parent’s choices. When a parent makes poor choices their children might follow the same path or spend their lives worrying that they might. That’s exactly what Melissa Cistaro was going through.

The book is formatted in flashbacks. It starts with Melissa as a young child watching her mother leave and then goes to her as an adult flying to be with her dying mother. The story continues on like this and follows Melissa’s childhood along the way.

Growing up, Melissa had an unusual relationship with her mother. Her mother had left, but was never really gone. She’d visit randomly and Melissa would occasionally take trips with her mother. Reading the book, you can really feel that she never understood why her mother left.

This book really hit home for me. Both Melissa and I had a mother that we didn’t really understand. We didn’t understand the decisions they made and why they continued doing what they did seeing how it effected their children. While my mother never left us like Melissa’s did, I feel that she left us mentally. I felt a lot of what she was feeling growing up. She asked why her mother wouldn’t stay while I’ve asked why my mother couldn’t stop taking her pills.

It was clear that Melissa kept her feelings bottled up…just like I tend to do. She had so much anger towards her mother, but didn’t want to tell her, fearing that her mother would run away again. I felt that in this paragraph:

“What good would it do me to unravel the anger inside me? I might hurl this heavy ceramic coffee cup across the table. I might stand up and tell her she sucks at being a mom. But that isn’t me. I’ll need to take her as she is right here, right now – fragrant, strip-searched, and full of mystery.”

There was a line in the book that also reminded me of my siblings. “We line up, three across, and stand over the grate with our legs apart until it gets too hot and the metal edge starts to burn the bottoms of our feet.” I laughed when I read this because that’s exactly what my siblings and I did when we’d get ready for school. We’d fight over it just like Melissa did with her brothers.

Pieces of My Mother is about learning to forgive even when you don’t fully understand the decisions that were made. It’s also about learning to forgive yourself and know that the decisions people make are their own.

I would highly recommend this book for those of you that love a good memoir.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“But memory is never linear. It’s as random as the wildflowers that grew behind our yellow house – a purple lupine here, a patch of California poppies there, a circle of yellow buttercups – and hidden among them, the slivers of broken glass that sliced our feet open. I was searching for the memories that could rescue me.”

“She pretends to be reading something on the page but her mind is somewhere else. I feel like she’s trying to show me that she’s okay, that she can still do the thins she’s always done. She is pretending to read and I am pretending that this does not break my heart.”

OVERALL RATING

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Sourcebooks

RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2015

GENRE: Biographies & Memoirs

BUY LINKS

INDIEBOUND | B&N | AMAZON

ABOUT MELISSA CISTARO

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Author photo © Adam Karsten — author photo © Adam Karsten

Melissa Cistaro’s stories have been published in numerous literary journals, including the New Ohio Review, Anderbo.com, and Brevity as well as the anthologies CHERISHED and LOVE and PROFANITY. She works as a bookseller and event coordinator at Book Passage, the esteemed independent bookstore in Northern California. Melissa graduated with honors from UCLA and followed her literary pursuits through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and the Tin House Writer’s Workshop in Portland. Between the years of raising her children, writing, bookselling, teaching horseback riding, and curating a business in equestrian antiques – Melissa completed her first memoir. Pieces of My Mother will be released on May 5th 2015. (Bio from Melissa Cistaro’s website, link above)

Book Review & Giveaway | The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

April 2, 2015April 2, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

ABOUT THE BOOK

Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, this bright, funny debut from a fresh voice in fiction offers a delicious take on love, family, and what it means to build a home of one’s own.

“Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer—and former flame—Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn. Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices—and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life—and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.”

MY THOUGHTS

We all have that one person. The person you thought was the one, but ended up disappointing you. The person that’s always in the back of your mind. This person is the one you don’t truly get over. This person is the one that got away.

Sarina Mahler is a strong woman who knows what she wants…at least career wise, but in the relationship department it’s a different story. While she believes that her future with her boyfriend Noah is set, she’s sorely mistaken when a ghost from her past comes back to town. That ghost comes in the form of a tall, handsome, and charming swimmer named Eamon.

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you had to choose between your head and your heart then you will totally relate to the character Sarina. She had to figure out what would ultimately make her happy even though each path would cause pain to someone else, but that’s the risk you take with love. You have to decide what’s best for you in the end and know that you won’t look back with regrets. This is what Sarina was going through while she was spending more time with Eamon and her boyfriend was miles away.

I related to Sarina most when it came to her family. She lost her mother, just like I did, and I felt Sarina’s pain every time she thought of her mom. It’s a pain that never leaves you, but becomes a part of who you are. The smallest reminder could bring you back to the day she left and bring the tears along with it. This is the part of Sarina that I was most fond of while reading.

Chase does an excellent job portraying real world dilemmas when it comes to a woman’s career and finding a man that will understand her dreams and aspirations, but also understands the importance of family. That is the story that Bethany Chase created. She created a character who’s strong willed, family oriented, and full of heart and passion. I think I would get along with Sarina if in some weird universe I was able to jump into the pages myself.

The One That Got Away is about following your heart and not worrying about what others will think of your decisions. It’s about deciding what’s important in your life.

I’m always open to reading books by new authors. I think they give a fresh take within their genre and Bethany Chase’s debut novel is definitely worth reading.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“It’s funny how, when you only get to spend a very finite amount of time with someone you wanted to know better, you find that certain details have cut deeper tracks in your memory than others-something about the way they looked, or one particular comment that made you laugh, out of hundreds of sentences.”

“Instead, it’s like groundwater. Pooling underneath my skin, seeping to the surface here and there, now and then. Endlessly replenished. Easy to forget about, until it startles me wit the depth of it.”

OVERALL RATING

BUY LINKS:

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Ballantine Books

RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

ABOUT BETHANY CHASE

A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Bethany Chase headed to Williams College for an English degree and somehow came out the other side an interior designer. When she’s not writing or designing, you can usually find her in a karaoke bar. She lives with her lovely husband and occasionally psychotic cat in Brooklyn, three flights up. This is her first novel.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a copy of The One That Got Away. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogiversary | Meredith Out of Darkness by Amanda Gale – Book Review

March 29, 2015March 27, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | MEREDITH OUT OF DARKNESS

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Meredith Beck is living the perfect life. She has a thriving career she loves and an apartment in New York City with the man of her dreams. But when she is devastated by tragedy, Meredith must rebuild her life in what she discovers is a shockingly less-than-perfect world.

In Book One, Meredith Out of the Darkness, Meredith stumbles through her day-to-day responsibilities without passion or hope. Her mundane routine is pleasantly interrupted when her brother introduces her to Nick Kelly, a quiet painter from a small town in Maine. Meredith is drawn to Nick’s love of nature and is comforted by his purity of heart. They begin a whirlwind romance, and as they plan their future together, she is delighted to have found peace once again, this time in a simple life far removed from the fast-paced life she’s known. But they are haunted by the past, competing with ghosts and desperate to meet unreachable expectations.

Full of colorful characters and leading the reader on an emotional journey from Philadelphia to Maine, Meredith Out of the Darkness is about two people’s awakening to a world of possibilities. But when their different visions of perfection come between them, the question remains: what is true perfection?”

MY THOUGHTS

Meredith Out of Darkness is the first in a four book series following the love life of Meredith Beck, a high school English teacher. I instantly fell in love with this series right from the start. It was easy to relate to Meredith and her longing to find that perfect relationship once again. That relationship that makes everyday worth while and makes getting out of bed easy.

Doesn’t everyone want to find that special someone that puts a smile on their face and makes their heart beat faster with every touch and every kiss? I found that for myself and Meredith felt she did too.

When Meredith met Nick Kelly she had embraced their passionate relationship and felt like she had finally found someone again. He made her laugh and she felt safe being with him. They talked and opened up to each other.

Nick and Meredith had fun together and connected on more than just a physical level. They had grown to trust each other and would eventually fall in love. Meredith felt she could spend her life with Nick, but Nick didn’t feel like he was good enough. This put a big strain on their relationship and became the focal point at the end of the book.

This book isn’t just about finding that perfect relationship, it’s also about finding yourself and figuring out what you want. Meredith had to look into herself once again and figure out what her future would hold.

This book is about finding out what you want and fighting for it. It’s about realizing that there’s still hope even when you feel it’s all been lost. It’s about pulling yourself out of the darkness to see that there’s still light at the end of the tunnel.

If you enjoy a great love story Meredith Out of Darkness is a book for you, but you’ll need to read the whole series to get the full Meredith Beck story. Trust me. You will want to continue reading to find out who Meredith Beck ends up with. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Meredith series.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“She smiled as she relished the quiet of the room and the quiet of her mind. For the first time in a year, she saw peace and promise in the days ahead; for the first time in a year, she felt alive.”

“Nick had renewed her passion for life. He had reminded her that there was beauty to be found in every day, that one need not look so far to find it.”

OVERALL RATING

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Brenda & Cobena Books

RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2014

GENRE: Women’s Fiction, Romance

ABOUT AMANDA

A graduate of Vassar College and Boston University, Amanda Gale taught high school English before she began writing women’s fiction. She loves history, classic literature, and quiet nights at home. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family. (Photo Credit: Lisa Schaffer Photography)

AMANDA GALE GIVEAWAY

Amanda has generously provided an e-book copy of the entire series. Her giveaway is running from March 22nd-29th. Today is your last chance to enter. I will be announcing the Amanda Gale giveaway winner tomorrow.

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

STORIES UNFOLDED BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary Giveaway that’s running from March 1st – March 31st.

(1) Grand Prize Winner

$25 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) Signed physical copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
(1) Audiobook of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
(1) Signed physical copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Signed physical copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Signed physical copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Physical copy of Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris
(1) E-Book copy of the Off The Map Series by Lia Riley (Upside Down, Sideswiped, & Inside Out)
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
(1) E-Book copy of Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds by Jacqueline Smith
(1) E-Book copies of three children’s books by Alva Sachs (Circus Fever, I’m 5, & On Your Mark, Get Set,Go!)

(1) Prize Winner

$10 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
(1) E-Pub copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) E-Pub copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) E-Pub copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) E-Book copy of Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds by Jacqueline Smith

(1) Prize Winner

$5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) E-Book copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C. Bennett
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
(1) E-Book copy of Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds by Jacqueline Smith

(1) Prize Winner

$5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Amanda Gale for participating in the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary.

Blogiversary | Cemetery Tours by Jacqueline Smith – Book Review

March 7, 2015March 7, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 7 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | CEMETERY TOURS

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Some secrets are best kept laid to rest.

At least, that’s as far as Michael Sinclair is concerned. At twenty-seven, he has spent his entire life perfecting the art of pretending that the ghosts he encounters on a daily basis do not exist. Now, if only the dead would let him rest in peace.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem likely, especially after Kate Avery and her ailing brother, Gavin, move in next door. Kate and Gavin are haunted, and not by a dearly departed loved one. This spirit is aggressive, menacing, and harboring a dark resentment toward Gavin. In spite of every instinct advising him to walk away, Michael finds himself seeking to uncover the mysteries of Gavin’s past, and falling for the bright and lovely Kate. Yet competing for her affection is Luke Rainer, television’s hottest celebrity ghost hunter and the only (living) person to know Michael’s secret.

But the dead have secrets, too. Some will go to any length to withhold what should have gone with them to the grave, while others will risk everything to make their voices heard, even if that means putting another’s life at stake. Now, for the sake of friends and strangers alike, Michael must choose between preserving his cherished anonymity and lending his aid to those for whom all hope seems lost.”

MY THOUGHTS

I’m not the type of person who believes in ghosts. I was telling my fiancé this the other day. I told him that I would essentially have to see it to believe it, but Kate Avery is the complete opposite. She believes in ghosts even though she can’t see them and Michael Sinclair can.

I never thought that I would like a book about ghosts, but I throughly enjoyed it. There were a lot of twists and turns in Cemetery Tours and the way Smith portrayed Michael’s ability reminded me of the movie Sixth Sense (if the boy was older).

While I was reading it, I started thinking about what I would do if I had the ability to see ghosts. Would I use my gift to help ghosts find peace or be like Michael and completely ignore them. I don’t blame him for ignoring them, especially after what happened to him as a teenager (I won’t give it away).

In Cemetery Tours, ghosts are people who have died and have some sort of unfinished business, at least that’s what I got from the book, but then Michael mentions that he talks to his grandmother and unofficial roommate all the time. Both seemed like they didn’t have any unfinished business. These two elements got me thinking, perhaps the ghosts had a choice about whether they stayed on earth or moved on.

I really admired Michael. He’s essentially keeping a part of himself locked up from everyone and can’t fully be who he is because of it, but I do understand why he would keep his ability to see ghosts a secret. Considering how cynical I am about ghosts, I personally would think that Michael was crazy and I wouldn’t believe him. Then Michael meets Kate and everything changes for him. She makes him want to open up about what he can do, but it takes a little push from a pseudo-celebrity and an angry ghost to finally admit to it.

Now let me tell you a bit about the character Kate Avery.

Kate was in a tragic car accident that left her with a lot of questions and left her feeling like a fragment of herself. Her family was keeping something important from her and I couldn’t put the book down when I realized what it was. I just couldn’t wait for that reveal.

Jacqueline Smith really keeps your attention and keeps your imagination flowing throughout the book. Each time I thought the book was ending something else smacked me in the face, but it was tying up loose ends I was questioning.

I honestly don’t want to give away any of the juicy details because I believe this is a great book to read and be surprised by the ending, but I can tell you that I was yearning to find out what happened. I will admit that there were a few parts that got me wanting to sleep with the lights on, but it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t sleep (let’s just say I can’t sleep after reading Stephen King books).

Overall, I loved Cemetery Tours and it made me excited to read the sequel, Between Worlds (which I finished in two days). I would recommend this book to anyone who’s open to reading a story about ghosts.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“It was amazing, the effect that the simplest sentiment from the right guy could have on a girl’s entire day.”

“Illuminated only by the light of the waning moon, the headstones of the graveyard seemed far more sinister and ominous. If she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn that the eyes of the angels perched atop several graves were following them as they made their way to the center of the cemetery.”

“Michael had always thought that he wouldn’t fear death. He’d been wrong. The idea of death didn’t bother him. The act of dying, however, was a whole different story.”

OVERALL RATING

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Wind Trail Publishing

RELEASE DATE: September 17, 2013

GENRE: Paranormal Thriller

ABOUT JACQUELINE

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | BLOG | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Jacqueline E. Smith was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Dallas, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Performance in 2010. Two years later, she earned her Master’s Degree in Humanities.

Along with writing and publishing, Jacqueline loves photography, traveling, and nature. (Photo Credit: Kaylynn Krieg)

JACQUELINE SMITH GIVEAWAY

Jacqueline has generously provided (3) e-book copies of Cemetery Tours and (3) e-book copies of it’s sequel, Between Worlds. There will be (3) Winners who will receive one copy of each book. This is your last chance to enter this giveaway as it ends today. I will announce the winners tomorrow morning.

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

STORIES UNFOLDED BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary Giveaway that’s running from March 1st – March 31st.

(1) Grand Prize Winner

$25 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) Signed physical copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
(1) Audiobook of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
(1) Signed physical copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Signed physical copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Signed physical copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Physical copy of Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris
(1) E-Book copy of the Off The Map Series by Lia Riley (Upside Down, Sideswiped, & Inside Out)
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
(1) E-Book copies of three children’s books by Alva Sachs (Circus Fever, I’m 5, & On Your Mark, Get Set,Go!)

(1) Prize Winner

$10 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
(1) E-Pub copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) E-Pub copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) E-Pub copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich

(1) Prize Winner

$5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) E-Book copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C. Bennett
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book

(1) Prize Winner

$5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Jacqueline Smith for participating in the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary!

Book Review | The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett

January 26, 2015January 26, 2015 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 5 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | THE END OF FEELING

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all: great looks, incredible football skills, and smooth moves that have won—and broken—the hearts of countless girls at his high school. But his hellish home life has left him feeling empty inside, unable to experience real feelings. He thinks he’s fine being this way forever…until he meets a beautiful and witty seventeen-year-old girl named Charlotte “Charlie” Austin. She may be new in town, but she’s already been warned about Benjamin’s reputation, so it’s easy for her to shoot down his advances. Like him, she’s happier keeping people at a distance, especially since she, too, has secrets she’s not ready to share with anyone. But as the tentative friendship between the charismatic football captain and the new girl grows, Charlie finds herself feeling closer to Benjamin than she’s ever felt with anyone—and he wonders if he’s really capable of loving after all. Can they drop their guard, or is this so-called romance just another game?”

MY THOUGHTS

Both Benjamin and Charlie are hiding something. Something they are ashamed of and have no control over. But in order to love someone you have to open up. Easier said than done right?

Benjamin Nefer is the stereotypical high school jock. He’s the star of the football team with college scouts looking his way and he’s the ultimate playboy at school.

He’s trying to secure his future in football so that he can get as far away from home as possible because he never wants to see his father again.

Charlotte “Charlie” Austin is the new girl in school and wants nothing more than to keep her mother hidden. She doesn’t want anyone to know how she came into this world and she wants to protect her mom from any cruelties that may come.

When Benjamin and Charlie meet it was clear that he was a player. Charlie wasn’t falling for his charm, but they soon become friends and open up to each other. From that friendship it’s clear that they are falling for each other.

The End of Feeling contained two very important issues that are still quite prevalent in today’s society. Child abuse and abuse towards the mentally disabled. I think Bennett did a great job in putting just enough detail into the two issues to get an emotional response without going over board and making it hard to read.

I believe that having the two issues come from the perspective of teenagers made it much more impactful to read. And of course I enjoyed the teenage love story aspect of it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this book to those who like to read love stories, as the bulk of it was about a teenage romance. The book is coming out tomorrow so be sure to get your copy and let me know what you think.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Charlie, if there’s one thing I know without any shred of doubt, it’s that DNA means nothing. There isn’t anything that says whatever makes our parents do the things they do, that we’ll do the same.”

OVERALL RATING

Buy Links: B&N

Social Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn, Pinterest

Publishing Company: Amazon Publishing

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Genre: New Adult

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