Monthly Archives: June 2020

The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis – Review & Giveaway

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The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.

And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She’s fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they’re half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.

But then Brynn runs into Kinsey’s lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.

As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them

 

 

Review:

The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis is the 5th book in her wonderful Wildstone series.  As noted on previous occasions, I love reading Jill Shalvis’s books, as she is the best at pure romances. We meet our heroine, Brynn Turner, who returns home to Wildstone, after her boyfriend left her and took everything she owned (money, valuables,  apartment lease, etc).   Brynn considers herself a loser, always picking the wrong guy.  She returns to her two moms, doing her best to not reveal how bad shape she was in. When she has an anxiety attack trying to explain her predicament, she is rushed to the hospital, but not for long.  As she leaves to runs into an old friend, whom she had a crush on as a teenager.

Eli Thomas, always had a slight crush on Brynn, but because he was part of the popular group in school, led by the mean girl Kinsey, he never got to first base with Brynn.  Kinsey and Brynn were enemies at camp during their childhood days, with Brynn hating her. Life is about to change for all of them.

Kinsey Davis, continues to be Eli’s best friend, and once again he is there for her in the hospital.  Kinsey has a failing kidney, and is currently on dialysis; and had been hoping for a kidney transplant, but it turned out not to be a match. Kinsey has had her issues since she was 15 years old, having received a kidney from a school mate, only for him to die shortly thereafter.  She refuses to accept any kidney, unless it’s from a recently deceased person.   Kinsey does have a secret, when investigating DNA’s, she discovered that Brynn had the same sperm donor father, and therefor she is her half-sister; but she is not about to tell Brynn that. 

When Eli runs into Brynn the next day, he offers her a room to rent at his place, which in order to get away from her moms constant attention, she accepts.  She meets Max, Eli’s brother and then to her shock learns that Kinsey also has a room there.  At first Brynn leaves, but they will convince her to give it a chance.

The Summer Deal revolves around Brynn, Eli and Kinsey, as Eli tries hard to help them learn more about each other, in hope that Kinsey would tell Brynn the truth, and maybe save her own life in the process.  The romance between Eli and Brynn was slow built, but we saw the chemistry between them quickly.  Brynn had been hurt badly a number of times, and was hesitant to allow herself to fall for Eli.  Very slowly, both Brynn and Kinsey learn to get past their old differences, and become friends; though when Kinsey reveals the truth about her condition, as well as they are half sisters, things fall apart.  Brynn demands truths always, no secrets and they make up, and now Brynn is determined to be tested to help her sister; but Kinsey will not accept, for her fear of the donor dying again.

I loved all the characters in this story, and Shalvis usually creates wonderful ones, but she outdid herself in this book. Besides, Brynn, Kinsey, Eli, I loved Deck (Kinsey’s nurse boyfriend), Max, Toby, Brynn’s two moms. Most of all, I loved how Brynn and Kinsey became closer, and turn into true sisters, there for each other.  Very well done. 

The Summer Deal was a fantastic, intriguing, heartwarming story about family, tragedy, romance, forgiveness and love.  Secrets will be revealed that will change the course of their lives. Though Brynn and Kinsey were difficult at times, I did care about both of them, as well as the rest of the other characters, especially Eli and Deck.

The Summer Deal was so well written by Jill Shalvis, which I always come to expect from her, as well as being very emotional.  Shalvis pulls on our emotions throughout the book, which happily does have a HEA. I do not want to tell too much more, as this is one book you want to read from start to finish.  If you have not read Jill Shalvis, what are you waiting for?   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 



New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

 

Connect with Jill

Website: http://jillshalvis.com/
Facebook: @JillShalvis
Twitter: @JillShalvis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillshalvis/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jillshalvis/
Tumblr: http://jillshalvis.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author
show/22370.Jill_Shalvis?from_search=true

 

Jill Shalvis’s publisher is  offering a paper copy of THE SUMMER DEAL to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered, please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging in, please refresh the page at the top of your computer

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE JILL SHALVIS on  Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Giveaway is open US only

9. Giveaway runs from June 2 – 5, 2020

 

 

 

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WRECKED WITH YOU (Stark Security #4) by J. Kenner-Review tour

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WRECKED WITH YOU (Stark Security #4) by J. Kenner-Review & Excerpt tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26, 2020

He never wanted a partner. And then she came along.

After more than a decade chasing shadows, Antonio Santos finally has a lead on the hiding place of The Serpent, the elusive villain who kidnapped him as a child and murdered his mother and uncle. But in order for Tony to get close, he’ll need access to an exclusive private island—where he can only enter with a woman on his arm.

Antonio goes to Stark Security to call in a debt … then walks out with Emma Tucker on his arm. A loner, Antonio isn’t interested in having a partner. He just needs a female. But the striking redhead’s skills soon impress him. More than that, her lush body and beguiling self-assurance tease his senses in unanticipated ways.

A long time operative with deadly skills, Emma resents being arm candy for someone else’s agenda. But the more she works with Antonio, the more she admires his razor sharp intelligence and formidable prowess. And when the island’s games push them over a sensual cliff, she can’t deny his talents in the bedroom, too.

As passion rises on this island playground full of lust and danger, they both fight the growing attraction between them. But with danger racing toward them from both on and off the island, they soon realize that more than their hearts are at stake. Because unless they can trust and rely on each other, they also risk losing their lives.

Charismatic. Dangerous. Sexy as hell.
Meet the elite team at Stark Security.

••••••••••

REVIEW: WRECKED WITH YOU is the fourth instalment J.Kenner’s contemporary, adult STARK SECURITY erotic, romantic suspense series –a spin off from the author’s numerous STARK series. This is former Deliverance operative Antonio Santos, and former Sensitive Operations Command operator Emma Tucker’s story line. WRECKED WITH YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person perspective (Emma) and third person (Antonio) WRECKED WITH YOU follows Antonio Santos as he hunts for the man known only as The Serpent. Intel from the dark web directing Antonio to the excusive Debauchery Resort finds Antonio calling in a favor from Damien Stark, a favor that pairs him up with independent operative Emma Tucker, an agent whose current target is The Serpent as well. In order for Antonio to access the high-end sex club, he is going to need a female partner, and that partner is going to be Emma Tucker. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Emma and Antonio, and the potential fall-out as Antonio gets some news that forces him to walk away from the woman with whom he is falling in love.

Antonio Santos doesn’t do relationships and he is currently all about taking down the man that destroyed his life. The Serpent’s true identity is unknown but to only a few, and with this Antonio is desperate to locate the man before he does any more harm. Emma Tucker’s earlier years were fraught with abuse and neglect. On the run with her younger sister for most of their lives, Emma did everything necessary to protect her sister from facing a future like Emma had endured.

The relationship between Emma and Antonio is one of immediate attraction but Emma refuses to work with a partner including Antonio Santos. Hoping to join the Stark Security Organization Emma believes she has blown her chance when she balks at a partnership with Antonio, telling Damien Stark to ‘go to hell’. Working together, as a couple, at the Debauchery Resort, Emma finds herself falling for Antonio Santos, a man who struggles with Emma’s true intent. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. There are a few scenes of ‘foreplay’ using multiple partners and sexual situations.

The secondary and supporting characters include Emma’s sister Eliza and her mate Quincy Radcliffe (Shattered With You #1), and Denny and Mason (Broken with You #2), as well as the Stark Security Team including Ryan and Jamie Hunter, Cass Cunningham, and Nikki and Damien Stark. There are several couples and characters we meet at the Debauchery Club including Antonio’s informant The-Asst.

WRECKED WITH YOU is a story of betrayal, revenge, family and love; of desperation and retaliation; of erotic fun and ‘sexual debauchery’. The fast paced premise is engaging and captivating: the characters are colorful, energetic and animated; the romance is decadent and hot.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shadows of You .5
Shattered with You
Broken with You
Ruined With You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

NOTE: The excerpt is intended for mature readers only due to language and content

 

The world is a fucked up place.
That was probably the first lesson I learned in life. A hard-taught lesson when he’d yell at me or slap me. Or worse.
He was supposed to love us. To protect us.
But “supposed to” is only the truth in a fairy tale world. We lived in the real world, my sister and me. And when it got to be too much—when there was nothing and no one we could turn to except each other—that’s when we ran.
I’ve done things I’m ashamed of. Things I had to in order to survive. To keep us safe.
And I learned a long time ago not to trust anyone but myself and my sister. Because the people who are supposed to protect you will fail you. And the people who are supposed to love you can just as easily be monsters.
But lately, things have started to shift. My world is opening, and people are surprising me. I’m letting down my guard; I’m letting people in.
It’s a mistake, and I know it. Because now he’s come into my life.
And though I know I need to keep my distance—though I know damn well that he’s going to hurt my heart—I can’t help but slide down that hill toward him, terrified all the while that he won’t be strong enough to catch me.
And even more scared that he will.
 


 

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YouTube | Amazon Author Page

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Stone by Kelly Gendron-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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Stone (Daring the Kane Brothers #5) by Kelly Gendron-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 1, 2020

She’s waited a long time to confront me, and after one red-hot kiss, I wonder what’s going to happen when she realizes she can’t have what she wants?

JAGGS showed up about a year ago. She’s feisty and difficult to ignore. She befriended my brother, and my family loves her. But the sexy spitfire hates me. She thinks I don’t know why she wants to destroy me or why she appeared out of nowhere, but I do.

With his dark amber eyes and smooth whiskey voice, this drug-fueled rock star has somehow become my addiction.

So what if he has a black belt in playing guitar, if he’s an Army vet who can deactivate bombs, or that he bubbles over with hotness? He’s the man who ruined my life, and no matter how tempting STONE KANE might be, I plan to crush him.

••••••

REVIEW:STONE is the fifth instalment in Kelly Gendron’s contemporary, adult DARING THE KANE BROTHERS erotic, romance series focusing on the Kane siblings. This is former EOD specialist US army soldier / guitarist Stone Kane, and auto mechanic Amanda aka Jaggs Downey’s story line. STONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Daring the Kane Brothers is a spin-off from the author’s Breaking the Declan Brothers series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Stone and Jaggs) STONE follows the contemptuous relationship between former EOD specialist US army soldier / guitarist Stone Kane, and auto mechanic Amanda aka Jaggs Downey. Approximately one year earlier, Amanda aka Jaggs Downey arrived in Culver City, California, looking for a job at Crash Kane’s garage but in that year Jaggs’ relationship with Crash’s brother Stone started as a hate-filled, vitriolic, war of words that only worsened as time went by. Stone Kane rarely returns to visit his family, suffering the affects of his time in Iraq, a time he chooses to numb with alcohol and drugs but his last visit finds him spending the weekend at Crash’s house with Jaggs Downey, the woman with whom Stone will fall in love. What ensues is the back and forth, up and down building relationship between Jaggs and Stone, and the potential fall-out as Jaggs struggles with Stone’s rockstar lifestyle, and the potential for Stone to break her heart.

Several years earlier Jaggs’ sister Jenny died in an explosion and Jaggs Downey blames Stone Kane. Stone is an addict and struggles with his sobriety, and in this Jaggs is looking to destroy our story line hero but Stone keeps secret that truth about what happened months before, a truth that once revealed changes the direction of Jaggs and Stone’s relationship, a relationship that is about to cross the line, and never return.

The relationship between Jaggs and Stone is an enemies to lovers based upon mistaken belief and a need for revenge. Jaggs’ sister is dead and she is desperate to place the blame, seeking her vengeance against an innocent man, who himself, struggles with the death of so many in the past. When the truth is revealed, Jaggs and Stone take their affair on the road but our heroine refuses to loose her heart to a man who is capable of destroying her soul. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the Kane siblings, and their mother Olivia Kane play secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Stone’s fellow band members Trigger, the drummer, Derrick, the lead singer, and their roadie Getty.

The world building reveals both Jaggs and Kane’s heart breaking and soul-crushing backgrounds: Jaggs and her sister Jenny’s ten different foster families, and Kane and his brother Steele’s birth mother’s horrific death.

STONE is a story of mistaken beliefs and a need for revenge; a story of revelations, acceptance, moving forward and love. The premise is captivating and heart breaking; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are energetic, broken but healing.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Token
Steele
Crash
NIX
STONE

Copy supplied for review

reviewed by Sandy

TOKEN-ONLY 99¢: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

STEELE: ONLY 99¢: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / / Amazon.au / B&N / KOBO / Apple /

CRASH-ONLY $1.99: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple

NIX-ONLY $1.99: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Apple / Google Play



He stares at the Keurig for a long hard second.
“You know how to use it, right?” I snicker.
“Yeah.” He scowls at me. “Where’s those things?”
“Pods?”
“Yeah.” He half growls.
“Up in the cupboard.” I nudge in the direction. He continues to stare at me. And all I can think about is what he might have going on in those lounge pants. Dammit, why did he ask me if I was going to get in bed with him? As if!
The truth be told, it brought me back to the day in the storage room when he was screwing one of his groupies. It’s not like I haven’t imagined what sex might be with the philandering rock star. I just convinced myself it would suck.
He smiles at me as he had when he nearly pulled the sheets back.
Is he messing with me?
I know he hates me as much as I hate him. Is he trying to be lewd? Trying to turn me off or on? Neither will work as I only have one feeling for the man—hate.
Still, it’s strange. He’s never paid me any attention. He’s never struck up a conversation or looked at me for that matter. He usually acts as if I don’t exist. So what’s with the sexual advances and all the fake smiles this morning?
What’s going on here?
I watch him get the pod and prepare himself a cup of coffee.
He takes a sip. “Ah, that’s good,” he says in a low, sexy raspy voice. He takes another sip and another, then sets the mug down on the counter and turns to me. “Thanks for last night. I was really fucked up.” His tone more sober and sincere.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat, instructing my eyes not to look at his chest or anything else other than his face. “Like I said, I didn’t want to tell my best friend his brother died on my watch.”
He flicks his hair from his face. “Crash is your best friend?”
“Yeah.” It’s the truth. He’s one of my only friends. I haven’t been this close to anyone since Jenny was killed. Crash and his family mean a lot to me, so that must be why I didn’t let Stone die last night. It’s not like I don’t want him dead, but the second I got the opportunity to have what I want, I did everything in my power—which was grabbing a pillow and sleeping on the floor, so not much—to keep the asshole alive.
He takes a step toward me, bringing his hard-to-resist aroma closer to my nostrils. “You two ain’t sleeping together?”
“Not that it’s any of your business.” I set my mug on the counter, and he takes a step closer. My back straightens.
“No. I suppose it ain’t.” His eyes roam to my mouth, pausing for an unspoken salacious moment. “But I know what you want.”
Yeah, you dead. “What’s that?” I smirk, his eyes making it back to mine.
He smiles, reaches for his mug, and takes another sip of coffee. I shake my head, staying focused on his face. I wonder what he looks like beneath all that scruff and hair. His eyes, the color, it’s brighter, softer, and lighter than I thought, but like the smooth whiskey color, the effects are no doubt the same, and too much of those eyes could alter my thinking. And I’ve already concluded that I hate the way my body reacts around him.
He sets the mug down and takes another step toward me. His hand comes out. Not sure what he’s going after, I grab his wrist and squeeze hard.
“I was going to check your mug to see if you needed another cup,” he says with a husky chuckle. “Do I scare you?”
“Scare? No.” I release his wrist. “Repulse? Yes.”
He bends until our heads are level. I get another whiff of his fuck-me-hard scent that clings to him like sweat and sex. I’m quick to swallow down the unbridled desire attempting to stir in me. His eyes lower to my mouth, then slowly move back up. I watch, sensing an attack of some kind. He leans forward. “I’m going to kiss you…

Kelly’s motto ~ “Bad boys, give ’em a little time and experience, and they will evolve into misbehaving men!” And what hot-blooded woman doesn’t want a naughty, all grown up bad boy?

Kelly Gendron is the author of the TroubleMaker series, the up and coming series ~ Breaking the Declan Brothers, and a few other romantic suspense novels.

When she’s not writing steamy, blush producing romances, she’s out meeting new people while representing a group of reputable nursing facilities. You can find Kelly in a quiet suburb, somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. If you Google her, she’ll pop up there too. And, please do find her. Kelly loves to hear from her readers, and meeting new people.

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NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter.

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The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin – a Review

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The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin – a Review

 

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Description:
It’s 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city–and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it–you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours–and shots of tequila–the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse–Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who he seemed to be?

The Lies That Bind is a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant exploration of the never-ending search for love and truth–in our relationships, our careers, and deep within our own hearts.

 

 

Review:

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin is a standalone novel.  We meet Cecily Gardner, our heroine, immediately as she sits in a bar; despondent about her job as a reporter, homesick, as well as her recent breakup with her boyfriend.  Though it is in the wee hours, she decides to call her ex, but out of nowhere, a stranger sitting near her calls out “don’t do it”; to her surprise, they start a conversation and both start drinking tequila shots, and shortly thereafter, he walks her home. The next morning, they each learn each other’s name and a romance begins to build; as Grant is very charming and sexy and Cecily slowly begins to fall in love with him.  The chemistry between them is sizzling, but how much does she know about Grant? 

Her gay friend, Scottie, warns her careful of Grant, as he is away a lot; introduces her to others as a friend; but Cecily is too enamored with Grant to pay attention.  He does tell her about his sick brother, and that he needs to take him for treatment, and will be away for a while.  Cecily and Scottie take a trip to visit Grant, where she meets his sick brother, and spends time with Grant.  After her return home, she waits patiently for his return, and then tragedy strikes.  This is where a surprise element is added, where Grant dies in the 9/11 tragedy.

What follows is Cecily trying to cope with Grant’s death, and in her grief begins to spend more time with her ex Matthew.  She will also learn that Grant was married, and meets his wife, Amy, who eventually becomes friends with Cecily, though she keeps her relationship with Grant a secret.  Just when Cecily accepts her happy ever after with Matthew, she learns she is pregnant, and everything changes.  Who is the father, Grant or Matthew?

Emily Giffin throws us a number of surprises and twists in the last half of the book, which I will not tell, as it would be spoilers.  I did have some mixed feelings about these surprises, but the last third of the book was a bit mind boggling. The ending was not what I expected.  The Ties That Bind was an interesting story, with a bit of everything; friendship, love, dark, family, with betrayals and lies. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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