Dreams of Falling by Karen White – a Review

Dreams of Falling by Karen White – a Review

 

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Description:
It’s been nine years since Larkin fled Georgetown, South Carolina, vowing never to go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she knows she has no choice but to return to the place that she both loves and dreads–and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home. Ivy, Larkin’s mother, is discovered in the burned out wreckage of her family’s ancestral rice plantation, badly injured and unconscious. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly 50 years. Secrets that lead back to the past, to the friendship between three girls on the brink of womanhood who swore that they would be friends forever, but who found that vow tested in heartbreaking ways.

 

 

Review:

Dreams of Falling by Karen White is a standalone novel .  This is my first book by White, and after completing this wonderful story, it will not be my last.  Dreams of Falling is novel about family, loyalty, bonds and friends  (past and present),  who share devastating secrets that will come to haunt them .

Larkin, our heroine, receives a call that her mother, Ivy is missing.  It has been 9 years since she left her home in Georgetown, South Carolina, and though she left on bad terms, she returns to help look for her mother.  Larkin is greeted by the two women who helped raise her, as substitute mothers, CeeCee and Bitty.  Together they try to find clues where her mother is, and eventually they narrow it down to the old decrepit mansion, Carrowmore, which still belongs to the Darlington’s, which CeeCee is executor. The three of them will find Ivy unconscious, having fallen through a caved in floor. The story will revolve around the POV’s of Larkin, Ivy, and CeeCee,  moving smoothly through the present and 50 years in the past.  This was so very well done.

 Larkin will find out in short time things her mother and the two ladies who brought her up kept secret, including that she is the heir of the land.  This is the just the tip of the iceberg, as Larkin will learn many more secrets, which go back 50 years into the past, where CeeCee, Bitty and Margaret (Larkin’s grandmother) were best friends, who were always loyal to each other, even when things took a drastic turn.

We will learn about the fire that destroyed Carrowmore, and caused the death of Margaret and the rescue of baby Ivy from the fire.  The mystery of what happened all those years before, and how it affects the lives of everyone was the main focus of this story.  Larkin will also have to face the friends (Mabry & Bennett) that she left behind when she decided to run away, and her father, whom she became distant with.  Truths will be revealed that will bring Larkin back to her friendships, as she realizes the mistakes and misunderstandings that made her run away.

Dreams of Falling was a wonderful heartwarming and heart wrenching  emotional tale of friendships, love, betrayal, family bonds, tragedy, grief;  with an amazing cast of characters.  I loved Larkin, CeeCee, & Bitty, as well as Larkin’s friends Mabry and Bennett.  Bravo to Karen White for this wonderful story that is not to be missed.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Dandelion by Michelle Leighton-a review

THE DANDELION by Michelle Leighton-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 8, 2018

At thirty-five, Abigail Simmons has mastered only one thing—running. When tragedy strikes, she runs. This time her urge to flee brings Abi back to her hometown, where she hopes she can find the peace she’s always searched for. That hope is dashed when Abi’s ex, Sam Forrester, bumps his way back into her life.

Sam has flourished in ways Abi hasn’t. From the outside, he has it all—a successful medical practice, a beautiful daughter, and a charming wife.

Who is dying.

Sara Forrester is dying and her final wish is for Sam to find love again so she can meet the woman who will finish raising her daughter and grow old with her husband. Abi seems like the perfect fit, but what Sara doesn’t know is that Abi has a secret, a secret no one could guess.

And it’s a deal breaker.

••••••••

REVIEW: THE DANDELION by Michelle Leighton is a contemporary, adult, stand alone, second chance romance story line focusing on thirty-five year Abigail Simmons, and Dr. Sam Forrester, Abi’s childhood sweetheart, and the man with whom she is still in love.

Told form dual first person perspectives (Abi and Sam) using present day and memories from the past THE DANDELION is a heart breaking, tear jerker focusing on former childhood and high school sweethearts Abigail Simmons and Sam Forrester. Close to twenty years earlier Abi and her mother abruptly left the quiet, seaside town of Molly’s Knob, South Carolina for places unknown, a move that broke Abigail’s heart and the young man with whom she had fallen in love. Fast forward to present day wherein Abi returns to Molly’s Knob searching for the peace she longs to remember. Enter Sam Forrester, physician, father and husband, and the man who needs something from Abi she painfully offers. What ensues is the rekindling friendship between Abi and Sam, and the fall-out as the time draws closer to bury the present, and move on from the past.

THE DANDELION is a story of two women, one man, and one small child whose lives are about to change in the blink of an eye. Sam’s wife Sara is dying, and her only hope is for her husband to find someone to love-enter Abigail Simmons, Sam’s former love, and the woman Sara knows to be the one. As Abi slowly falls in love with Sara and her daughter Noelle, Abi keeps secret the reason she has returned to Molly’s Knob, a secret that is about to destroy Sam, a second time around.

Michelle Leighton writes an emotional, passionate and profound tale focusing on the painful truth surrounding death and dying, family and friendship, pain and suffering, enduring love, selflessness and second chances. The premise is wondrous and moving; the characters are impassioned and inspiring; the romance is gentle and tender-there is NO cheating or infidelity-Sam is faithful until the end.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I’m convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

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A Nantucket Wedding by Nancy Thayer -a Review

A Nantucket Wedding by Nancy Thayer -a Review

 

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Description:
A few years after losing her beloved husband, Alison is doing something she never thought she would do again: getting married. While placing the finishing touches on her summer nuptials, Alison is anxious to introduce her fiancé, David, to her grown daughters: Felicity, a worried married mother of two, and Jane, also married but focused on her career. The sisters have a somewhat distant relationship and Alison hopes that the wedding and the weeks leading up to the ceremony will give the siblings a chance to reconnect, as well as meet and get to know David’s grown children.

As the summer progresses, it is anything but smooth sailing. Felicity stumbles upon a terrible secret that could shatter her carefully cultivated world. Jane finds herself under the spell of her soon-to-be stepbrother, Ethan, who is as charming as he is mysterious. And even Alison is surprised (and slightly alarmed) by her new blended family. Revelations, intrigue, resentments—as the Big Day approaches, will the promise of bliss be a bust?
      
Against the gorgeous backdrop of the sunswept island of Nantucket, Nancy Thayer sets the stage for a walk down the aisle no one will ever forget

 

 

Review:

A Nantucket Wedding by Nancy Thayer is sweet story of two families brought together by a Wedding. Alison, who lost her husband a few years ago, never thought she would find love again; but when she meets David, who also lost his spouse years before, she has another chance at happiness.  When David and Alison decide to get married again, they begin to plan a wedding in Nantucket.  Both have married and grown children, and grandchildren. 

Alison wants her daughters to meet David’s family and try to bring them all together during the summer at David’s Nantucket mansion.   We get to meet Alison’s two daughters, Jane and Felicity, who have been somewhat distant over the years. Felicity has two children, and her husband is a workaholic, who doesn’t have time to spend with them; and Felicity begins to suspect that he is having an affair with his personal assistant.    Jane is happily married, with both being successful lawyers, but she finds herself changing as she grows older.  She and Scott never wanted children, only to work and have fun travelling.  Now Jane finds herself yearning for a child, and her husband is dead set against it.  When the girls arrive in Nantucket, both Felicity and Jane begin to grow closer, and enjoy being able to talk about the things in their lives that is causing trouble.  As the family continues to get together each weekend, prior to the wedding, we learn about each of their own problems. 

Jane and Scott’s marriage slowly begins to fall apart, neither agreeing on the subject of children.  When Jane insists that he go to Nantucket, Scott will refuse, and leave for a hiking trip, with a hint of a possible divorce.    Felicity confronts her husband about his assistant, and though she managed to bring him one weekend to Nantucket, he came away with bitter and jealous thoughts of the rich family Alison is marrying into, and continues his workaholic ways, ignoring the family.  Though this disrupts their lives, Jane and Felicity become so much closer, as sisters should be.

Poppy will confront Alison as interfering with her takeover of her father’s business, but Alison will prove that she has Poppy’s best interest in mind, especially since Poppy is pregnant.  This will somewhat makes their relationship a little better.

As the wedding gets closer, things will happen that will change things for all.  Rather than me spoil it for you, I suggest you read this book.  A Nantucket Wedding was a nice storyline of families, issues and angst dividing them, relationships built, and a wedding that brings them all together.  I did like Alison, David, Jane and Felicity.  I thought at first Ethan was cute, and nice; but by the end he was just a flirt, who had no serious intentions.   Noah was a jerk, Scott was too stubborn, and Poppy wasn’t very likeable.  But overall, I thought this was a very good story that kept my attention throughout.  This makes a perfect read for the beach or when you have a day to yourself just to read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church – a Review

All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church – a Review

 

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Description:
It was unimaginable. When she was eight years old, Lily Decker somehow survived the auto accident that killed her parents and sister, but neither her emotionally distant aunt nor her all-too-attentive uncle could ease her grief. Dancing proves to be Lily’s only solace, and eventually, she receives a “scholarship” to a local dance academy–courtesy of a mysterious benefactor.

Grown and ready to leave home for good, Lily changes her name to Ruby Wilde and heads to Las Vegas to be a troupe dancer, but her sensual beauty and voluptuous figure land her work instead as a showgirl performing everywhere from Les Folies Bergere at the Tropicana to the Stardust’s Lido de Paris. Wearing costumes dripping with feathers and rhinestones, five-inch heels, and sky-high headdresses, Ruby may have all the looks of a Sin City success story, but she still must learn to navigate the world of men–and figure out what real love looks like.

With her uncanny knack for understanding the hidden lives of women, Elizabeth J. Church captures both the iconic extravagance of an era and the bravery of a young woman who dances through her sadness to find connection, freedom, and, most important, herself.

 

 

There may be spoilers in this review:

Review:

All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church is a standalone novel.  I did not know what to expect when I decided to read this book, and I was totally surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  All the Beautiful Girls was a different type of read for me, but I am glad I read it.

Lily Decker is our heroine, and we meet her at the age of 8 years old. Her parents and sister were killed in a car crash, and Lily was sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle.  Her life changed drastically, as her Aunt was very strict and not very loving.  Her Uncle was a nightmare for Lily, as he sexually abused her.   Lily would look for a friendship with ‘the Aviator’, a man who survived the accident that killed her family.  Though he felt responsible, Lily knew it was an accident, and soon he would become a friend who would make her life bearable.  The Aviator would send her books, as Lilly loved to read, and also paid for her to go to dancing school.  When she reached 18, Lily leaves her home in Kansas, to find a job dancing in Las Vegas.

When she arrives in Vegas, Lily changes her name to Ruby Wilde, and loves the bright lights of 1960’s Vegas and showgirls galore.   Not knowing where to go, Ruby will luck out meeting the father of a girl who is a showgirl, and soon Ruby will find two friends (Rose & Vivid) who will teach her the ropes. Life as a showgirl in Vegas, turns Ruby into a successful entertainer, with all the costumes (noted in description above: costumes  dripping with feathers and rhinestones, five-inch heels, and sky-high headdresses).  She learns to become strong, independent and know how to handle men, without being sexual. Ruby’s success, enables her to make a lot of money, and her friendship with Rose and Vivid becomes a bond between the girls.  This part of the story we very well done, as we got to see life on the stage, and all the stars of those days; Sammy Davis, Tom Jones, and others.  I really enjoyed all the glitz and glamour. 

Despite her happiness and contentment, Ruby still has a sense of loneliness, and when she meets someone she  feels is true blue, Ruby’s life will change, as things will unexpectedly turn for the worse.  Though her friends are still there for her, it is the Aviator (who she continued to keep in touch with) who will be there for Ruby again. 

Lily Decker will move  to New Mexico, as she recovers from the sad end of her Vegas career.  Lily will finally find peace, especially as the Aviator (Stirling) and Jack are both gay lovers, and she learns to love both of them as family.  Finally, Lily has people who love her for who she is. Stirling and Jack were totally awesome, and I also loved the time she spent living with them. Lily will heal over time, and explore her love of designing, which will eventually lead her into a sweet happy life.

All the Beautiful Girls was a very good book, with some excellent characters, both good and bad. It is a story of loss, survival, healing, tragedy, innocence, forgiveness and love.  This  was also a fun story, with some intense and sad moments.  I loved Lily/Ruby and throughout the book, I found myself rooting hard for her.  Elizabeth J. Church has written a story that was so very well done.  I wholly suggest you read All The Beautiful Girls.  It is a gem.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn’t normally do. But there’s something about Drew Nichols that’s too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend…

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she’s the mayor’s chief of staff. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about the other…

They’re just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century–or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want…

Review:

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory is a sweet standalone romance novel.  This is a new author for me, and I really did enjoy this story. Alexa Monroe, our heroine, is on her way to help her sister celebrate her promotion. She is delayed when the elevator she is in gets stuck, and to her surprise there is someone else stuck with her.   Drew Nichols, is a doctor, who is in town to attend a wedding for his ex- fiancée and his best friend.  While waiting in the elevator, both Alexa and Drew talk to pass the time, and end up enjoying their fun playful banter.  Soon Drew is asking Alexa if she would be willing to pretend to be his girlfriend at the wedding that weekend; she surprises herself and agrees to help him out. 

This was also an interracial romance, that Guillory wrote so well.  Alexa was a very sweet, charming and afun heroine, who found herself immediately attracted to the handsome, sexy and equally charming Drew.  We could not help but like both of them.  After the wedding, where both of them enjoyed each other’s company, the attraction and lust between them heats up.  Even with both not interested in anything long term, they can’t seem to get enough of each other, meeting every weekend to have fun and sex.  There were some very good secondary characters, especially Drew’s friend Carlos, who was awesome.

There is no question that this is a sexy steamy romance, with a couple that is terrific together.  Both are also very successful, with Alexis being the chief of staff for the mayor of Berkley, and Drew, working with children in a San Francisco hospital. Alexis begins to worry, as she finds herself falling hard for Drew, and knows from friends of his that she has met, that he never stays long with anyone.  Will Drew continue his single life, and let Alexis leave?

This was a sweet, charming, lighthearted pure romance that had us loving both Alexis and Drew and rooting for a happy ever after.  Jasmine Guillory has written this wonderful romance so very well. I enjoyed it very much, and I look forward to reading more from her. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Alexa danced with Lauren, letting the movement and the laughter shake away her annoying thoughts. When she felt a hand on her waist, she turned to see Drew behind her and laughed again, at how ridiculous the evening had been and how much fun she was suddenly having. He took ahold of one of her hands and swung her around to face him and laughed back down at her. Other members of the wedding party joined their group and danced with and around them, but song after song came on, and he never moved from her side.
“Water?” he said in her ear after they’d been on the dance floor for a long time.
“Yes, please.” She walked with him over to the bar.
She glanced up at the ornate clock over the bar, surprised at how late it had gotten. And how much she didn’t want this night to end. Damn it, it had been fun to be Drew’s fake girlfriend, but she knew that once the clock struck midnight, so to speak, the fairy tale would be all over.
He leaned against the bar, his jacket off, his bow tie untied, a little sweaty and disheveled from dancing. Good Lord, this guy was hot.
He rolled up his sleeves, exposing his tan forearms. She wanted to run her fingers up and down them and feel how warm and strong they were.
She needed to stop letting her imagination run away with her.
“Um,” she said. “It’s getting late, and if I want to make the last BART train back to the East Bay, I should probably leave pretty soon.”
Why had she said that? Why, when she was standing next to a hot guy, basically panting over him? If she was Maddie, hell, if she was Amy, she would have grabbed one of those hot forearms and wrapped it around her body, letting him know what she wanted without having to say anything. Sadly, she was Alexa, so she would flee instead.
He put his water bottle down and looked at her.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” she said. Olivia and Maddie would get mad at her for not throwing herself at him, but they didn’t understand that she just didn’t know how. Plus, rejection from this guy was the last thing her self-esteem needed. Talk about the opposite of getting back on the horse; that would make her avoid horses, and stables, and all farm animals for another few years. So to speak.
He stepped closer to her and put his hand on her waist. Her hand landed on his arm, and, without even meaning to, she ran her fingers up and down. Oh God, touching him like this was as good as she’d thought it would be.
“Or”—he looked straight down into her eyes—“you could stay.”
A question was in his eyes, and a smile hovered over his lips. His thumb drew slow circles on her hip and then moved up her side to her ribs. His other hand moved up to her face and traced the outline of her lips with his fingers.
She shivered.
He waited.
“Or,” she said, “I could stay.”

 

 


Jasmine Guillory is a graduate of Wellesley College and Stanford Law School. She is a Bay Area native who has towering stacks of books in her living room, a cake recipe for every occasion, and upwards of 50 lipsticks.

As well as writing books, Jasmine sometimes writes about books, pop-culture, and food, some of her favorite things.

 

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Jasmine Guillory’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of THE WEDDING DATE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton-Review Tour & Giveaway

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton-Review Tour & Giveaway

 

NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA
by Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Genre: women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 6, 2018

After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity–and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution…

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba’s high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country’s growing political unrest–until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary…

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa’s last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba’s tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she’ll need the lessons of her grandmother’s past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

•••••••••

REVIEW: NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA is the first instalment in Chanel Cleeton’s women’s fiction/ historical romance fiction series focusing on the Cuban-American Perez family. This is Eliza Perez, and her granddaughter Marisol Ferrera’s story line.

Told from alternating timelines, and dual first person points of view (Eliza and Marisol) NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA is a story of historical fiction; of revolution; of politics and war; of surviving against the odds during the Cuban revolution; of one family’s history between the present and the past. Upon the death of her cherished grandmother Eliza Perez, Marisol Ferrera embarks on a journey to Cuba, where she will meet her future, and uncover her past. Returning her grandmother’s ashes to her beloved homeland, Marisol will encounter the true meaning of struggle and loss, as she goes in search of her family’s history, finding more than she could ever imagined.

NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA is a fictionalized account of one well-to-do family’s struggle growing up in the 50s during the Cuban Revolution, their flight to freedom, and the promises made to one day return. We follow as one woman defies her family as she falls in love with a man of questionable affiliations; and another woman discovers that the past never forgets; that lessons learned are easily forgotten.

Chanel Cleeton pulls the reader into the turmoil and upheaval of Cuba in the late1950’s; where family is pitted against family; neighbors against neighbors; the rich against the poor. An engaging, brilliantly written, and intoxicating tale of the human spirit, love and never letting go.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

 

Website:   www.chanelcleeton.com
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton
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Instagram:  www.instagram.com/chanelcleeton/

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The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon – a Review

The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon – a Review

 

The Confusion of LanguagesAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Both Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw dutifully followed their soldier husbands to the U.S. embassy in Jordan, but that’s about all the women have in common. After two years, Cassie’s become an expert on the rules, but newly arrived Margaret sees only her chance to explore. So when a fender-bender sends Margaret to the local police station, Cassie reluctantly agrees to watch Margaret’s toddler son. But as the hours pass, Cassie’s boredom and frustration turn to fear: Why isn’t Margaret answering her phone, and why is it taking so long to sort out a routine accident? Snooping around Margaret’s apartment, Cassie begins to question not only her friend’s whereabouts but also her own role in Margaret’s disappearance.

Written with emotional insight and stunning prose, The Confusion of Languages is a shattering portrait of a collision between two women and two worlds, as well as a poignant glimpse into the private lives of American military families living overseas.

 

Review:

The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon is a story about two military families, centering on two wives, living overseas in the Middle East (Jordan); the time is around 2011, when Osama Bin Laden was killed.  The two women are Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw.  Cassie and her husband Dan, are considered veterans living in the US Embassy for about two years.  When Margaret arrives in Jordan with her husband, Crick, Cassie will try to help her get acclimated to this way of life.  The two women are complete opposites, with Cassie, a stickler for following the rules and Margaret, a rule breaker talking to everyone, even those she should not be mingling with.  The other detail is that Margaret has a young son, Mather, and Cassie, who wants desperately to have children, is childless.

When their husbands are sent to Rome on an assignment, they tell Cassie to keep an eye on Margaret.  When there is a vendor bender accident, Margaret goes to report her accident to the police, while Cassie stays back to watch Mather.  As the hours pass, and Margaret has not returned, Cassie becomes worried, and contacts Crick to have the embassy find her.   While waiting, she comes across Margaret’s diary and we learn more about her life, as well as what Margaret has been doing during her stay in Jordan.  Margaret, being her careless self, will befriend some Jordanian people, which will cause problems for all, as the Jordanian rules do not allow for this. 

What follows is an interesting and somewhat complex storyline of two women so different, yet thrown together in a dangerous and different environment.  The two main protagonists, Cassie & Margaret were to me not really likable.  Cassie, being lonely and taught to follow rules came across as sarcastic at times.  Margaret was a bit too flighty and not responsible.  There were some surprises and twists along the way, which did help the story line.

The Confusion of Languages was a different type of read for me.  I thought it was interesting, but not sure I would read this type of book again.   Though I will say that the writing of Siobhan Fallon was very well done, and I did read that she has experienced military life abroad.  If you enjoy these types of stories, you can’t go wrong with this book, especially so well written by Fallon.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Second Chances by Abbie Williams – a Review

Second Chances by Abbie Williams – a Review

 

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Description:
The past summer has been a wild ride for Joelle Gordon, in more ways than one. After discovering her husband cheating, she fled Chicago for her small-town childhood home in Landon, Minnesota. There, her family’s lakeside diner, the Shore Leave Café, remains unchanged. Yet nothing else in Landon is the same, including her family of women, her three teenaged daughters, Camille, Tish, and Ruthann, and the intense, passionate love she has found with Blythe Tilson.  Now Blythe is in trouble and Jackson is back in Landon, rethinking the divorce. Joelle must face one of the most difficult and important decisions of her life – or will the Davis family curse ruin any chances of finding love?

Review:

Second Chances is the conclusion of Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe and the second Shore Leave novel by author Abbie Williams.

This novel begins with our heroine Joelle (Jo) preparing to go to Oklahoma to support her love Blythe Tilson. He’s up on charges of leaving the state without parole approval. Long story, but he had some troubles, explained in this story, that ended with his incarnation for a brief time. He thought since he had a job in Minnesota he was okay to go…short of it is he’s not a criminal even though her ex likes to say so.

He’s sentenced to thirty days, then will be released and can come back to the Shore Leafe Café to work. But not seeing him and having only 15 minutes once a week phone call and letters, makes a month feel like forever for the two of them. And while he’s away, the ex tries to win her back.

It’s an in depth look at finding your life again, beginning to put things in perspective for Jo. There’s lots of heartache for several people, as well as happiness and love, adventure and some issues. In short, it’s a great picture of the life of this family and friends at the Shore Leave Café.

Author Abbie Williams does a marvelous job of depicting the interesting lives of everyone concerned, while still having this plot revolve around Jo’s life and decisions.

There’s plenty of what most of us like, love scenes and downright romantic and hot conversations, fun, and thrills.

There was even a hint of drama for the next novel.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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