Josie James and the Teardrops of Summer and Josie James and the Velvet Knife by Lily Mae Walters **Cover Reveal** @rararesources @lilymaewalters1

Happy hump day all!

I am here today to brighten your day with a fun cover reveal! I’m sure lots of you have the kiddos at home and these look like some fun reads! although my 17 and 23-year-old who are home right now weren’t really thinking they would want to read these. But they don’t know what they’re missing! ✨✨✨

Josie James is an ordinary 13 year old until something extraordinary happens during her summer holidays.Whilst staying at her Great Grandmother’s cottage in the country she finds herself swept into the cursed world of Suncroft where it is perpetual winter.Her new friends believe she could be the Chosen One who it is foretold will lift the curse, but there are more pressing matters.

 

The Teardrops of Summer – magical crystals that render the owner immortal – have been stolen. Along with her telepathic husky-dog Protector Asher and her new friends, Josie must race to find the Teardrops and prevent catastrophe for their world.

“For you to find the Velvet Knife, you must solve the riddles thrice.” A mysterious hooded figure, known only as the Velvet Knife has appeared in the cursed village of Suncroft. No one knows who he is or what he wants but when he starts leaving riddles around the village, it is time for Josie to return to Suncroft for a second time.

With Asher, her faithful husky Protector by her side, Filan, a half elf, and her great grandad, will they be able to solve the clues in time and discover his identity? The Velvet Knife is not the only one causing problems for Josie. Her rival for the position of the ‘Chosen One’ continues to grow stronger, and now he has a Protector of his own.

What does all this mean for Josie? Is she destined to lift the wintery curse of Suncroft or will another take her place as the ‘Chosen One’?

Purchase from Amazon –https://www.amazon.co.uk/Josie-James-Velvet-Knife-Walters-ebook/dp/B07QSBVH5Z/

The Return by Rachel Harrison **Book Review**

Happy Tuesday book people!

Do you like campy over the top scary movies? Then this one’s for you!😱😰🤭

My Thoughts

Over the top, campy, cheesy, gruesome, crazy, entertaining. This book was like a bad horror movie that you watch over and over and over again because you are just so Hooked. SO once upon a time there were four friends Elise, Mae, Molly, and Julie. The girls met in college and formed an unbreakable bond. When Julie goes missing they are all devastated, where is their Bestie? A year after Julie goes missing her husband Tristan holds a memorial, but Elise is not convinced that Julie is dead. Been two years to the day after Julie goes missing she shows up again on the porch swing wearing the same clothes she went missing in. Julie seems to have come out of this mostly unscathed but she cannot remember where she was. The besties are all so excited and plan a girls weekend at a Hotel in the Catskills. What follows is a very interesting tale. Is the hotel haunted? Is Julie possessed? Has Elise gone crazy?

This book is not going to work for everybody. It is not a thriller this is horror with a campy vibe. Some parts were a little gruesome, some parts were a little unbelievable, and a lot of parts were over the top. You may never look at meat the same way again. A tacky hotel, a group of friends, and things going bump in the night. I may never figure out if I liked this book or not, but I do know it kept me entertained from cover to cover.

This book in emojis 😱 🥩 🦷 🥩 👭 🥩 🐷

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

A group of friends reunite after one of them has returned from a mysterious two-year disappearance in this edgy and haunting debut.

Julie is missing, and no one believes she will ever return – except Elise. Elise knows Julie better than anyone, and feels it in her bones that her best friend is out there and that one day Julie will come back. She’s right. Two years to the day that Julie went missing, she reappears with no memory of where she’s been or what happened to her. 

Along with Molly and Mae, their two close friends from college, the women decide to reunite at a remote inn. But the second Elise sees Julie, she knows something is wrong – she’s emaciated, with sallow skin and odd appetites. And as the weekend unfurls, it becomes impossible to deny that the Julie who vanished two years ago is not the same Julie who came back. But then who – or what – is she?

Let’s Connect

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Have a lovely day!🌸

Berit☀️✨

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel **Book Review** @berkleypub

Happy Monday all!

Hope you are all doing well! I have to say my kids and I are well-suited for coexisting in a house together, we all go to our own corners and do our own thing and occasionally our paths will cross. This was a great book, but admittedly I read it before I was in lockdown, I’m wondering if it would have changed my perspective?🌹

My Thoughts

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it’s a very very
Mad world, mad world– Tears For Fears

crazier and crazier! This book was all kinds of twisted and disturbing… and I loved it! This is the story of mother and daughter, Patty and Rose Gold. Two unreliable unlikable narrators behaving questionably.

Rose gold spent the first 18 years of her life as a very sick child in and out of the hospital. Under the impression she had a very rare disease she spent most of her childhood isolated from other people and in the company of her doting mother Patty. Patty appear to be the perfect mother sacrificing everything for her sickly child. When Rose Gold is about 18 she begins to question how sick she really is? This leads to her turning her mother in and Patty ultimately going to jail for child abuse. The story bounces between the perspectives of both Patty and Rose Gold. It also jumps back-and-forth in time, we get a look into Rose Gold’s childhood, as well as her time away from her mother while Patty is in jail, and we also get to learn what happens after Patty is let out of jail.

I’m not certain what I was expecting, but I was not thinking this was going to be so darn demented. Rose Gold Who I really wanted to sympathize with, was such a hot mess. There’ll several times in this book I found myself saying, “oh no she didn’t!“ didn’t like Patty much but I had to agree with her that her daughter was up to something, just didn’t know what it was. This is one of those book that had me furiously turning the pages because I just needed to know what the characters could possibly be up to next. And believe me you will not be disappointed, the ending to this book, all I can say is… what? Bravo Stephanie Wrobel this is quite the twisted debut!

This book in emojis 👩‍👧 👀 🦷 💊 💉 🩸

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

“If you enjoyed The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, read Darling Rose Gold.” (Washington Post) 

“Sensationally good – two complex characters power the story like a nuclear reaction….” (Lee Child)  

A most anticipated book of 2020 by Newsweek | Marie Claire | Bustle | Shondaland | PopSugar | Woman’s Day | Good Housekeeping | BookRiot | She Reads 

Mothers never forget. Daughters never forgive.

For the first 18 years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold.

Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar.

After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes.

Patty insists all she wants is to reconcile their differences. She says she’s forgiven Rose Gold for turning her in and testifying against her. But Rose Gold knows her mother. Patty Watts always settles a score.

Unfortunately for Patty, Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling….

And she’s waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

“Dazzling, dark and utterly delicious.” (J P Delaney, New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Before)

“One of the most captivating and disturbing thrillers I’ve read this year. An astonishing debut.” (Samantha Downing, USA Today best-selling author of My Lovely Wife)

Let’s Connect

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Twitter|

Have a lovely day!🌸

Berit☀️✨

Summer at the Highland Coral Beach by Kiley Dunbar **Book Review** @rararesources @HeraBooks @KileyDunbar

Happy Saturday!

Coming at you with another comfort read today! This is such a sweet story that made me want to visit Scotland and weave (never thought I’d say those words).🧺

Summer at the Highland Coral Beach

Escape to the Highland Coral Beach – where broken hearts can be healed

Beatrice Halliday needs a break from life. Booking a trip to the Highlands on a whim, Beatrice hopes learning Gaelic in a beautiful Scottish village might help her heal her grief after losing her baby, her husband and her much loved job in a space of months.

But Port Willow Bay isn’t exactly as the website promised. Instead of learning a new language, she’s booked in to learn the ancient skill of willow weaving, her hotel room is Princess and the Pea themed (with a stack of mattresses for her bed!) and worse still, her tutor is Atholl Fergusson, grumpy landlord of the hotel where Beatrice is staying – and she’s the only one doing the course.

But as Beatrice finds herself falling in love with Port Willow Bay and its people, and as she discovers the kind heart beneath Atholl’s stony exterior, can she really leave?

Escape to the beautiful Scottish Highlands with this utterly romantic, feelgood book; one visit to Port Willow Bay and you’ll want to come back! Fans of Sarah Morgan, Carole Matthews and Holly Martin will be captivated.

My Thoughts

Heartfelt, charming, emotional, sweet. Kiley Dunbar brought the Scottish highlands and these quirky characters to life with her vivid storytelling. The book starts off with Beatrice and a stick with two pink lines, then it jumps forward to Beatrice in Port Willow Bay, a small Scottish town. She is less than pleased with her accommodations at the Princess and the Pea. She is staying in the “princess“ room with a bed of mattresses piled one on top of each other and a ladder to the top(Can you imagine?). To top it off instead of learning Gaelic she is now learning to Willow weep and her teacher is the irascible Atholl. As the story unfolds we find out not only has Beatrice left her husband and lost her job, but she also lost her baby. We also see a strong bond form between Beatrice and Atholl(Who is much sweeter than he first appears). Willow weaving, cattle run, turquoise waters, Scottish dancing, riptides, lists, and a dog named echo.

Beatrice was such a relatable character I really felt for her and her many losses. As someone who has gone through two miscarriages I felt Beatrice’s grief was portrayed very authentically. I really like how she and Atholl really brought out the best in each other. I do wish however the story took place over two months rather than a week, it would’ve been a little more realistic (for me anyways). This did not detract from the story, it’s fiction and I went with it. Even though Beatrice took this trip to deal with her grief, the story was really so full of humor and heart. Also the way Kiley Dunbar wrote the dialogue I could hear the Scottish accent. A well told story that made me feel good and want to visit Scotland, although I’m still not sure about those kilts.

This book in emojis 🐶 🗝 🧺 🐮 🌊 💞

*** Big thank you to Hera Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Purchase Links

AMZ: https://amzn.to/2UEMSV3

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2UHgS2w

Author Bio

Kiley Dunbar is the author of heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places.

JOAN HESSAYON AWARD FOR DEBUT NOVELISTS FINALIST 2019 FOR ONE SUMMER’S NIGHT.

Kiley is Scottish and lives in England with her husband, two kids and Amos the Bedlington Terrier. She writes around her work at a University in the North of England where she lectures in English Literature and creative writing. She is proud to be a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and a graduate of their New Writers’ Scheme.

Kiley’s third novel, Summer at the Highland Coral Beach (coming 27th March 2020) The first of the Port Willow Bay series is on Pre-order right now!!

One Summer’s Night was Kiley’s first novel (published by Hera Books) and is on sale now!
Don’t forget there’s also a fabulous audible audiobook narrated by Eilidh Beaton.

Kiley’s cosy, sexy-swoony, very snowy festive romcom Christmas at Frozen Falls is on sale NOW too!

Social Media Links –

Tweets by KileyDunbar

https://www.facebook.com/KileyDunbarAuthor/

Summer in Provence by Lucy Coleman **Book Review** @rararesources

Happy Friday all!

Hope you are staying safe and well! This was such a great story with a beautiful setting! The perfect escape from the craziness going on in the world right now. 🎨

Summer in Provence

Is a change as good as a rest?

When married couple Fern and Aiden have a windfall, their reactions could not be more different. While Fern is content to pay off their mortgage and build a nest egg before starting a family, her husband is set on traveling the world.

Fern’s not much of a back-packer so, before she knows it, the idea of a ‘marriage gap year’ takes shape. And, as Aiden heads off to the wilds of Australia, Fern chooses the more restful Provence for her year out.

Set amidst the glorious French scenery, Château de Vernon offers a retreat from the hustle and bustle of normal life, and Fern agrees to help out in return for painting lessons from the owner – renowned, but rather troubled, painter Nico.

As their year unfolds in very different ways, will the time apart transform their marriage, or will it drive Fern and Aiden even further apart…

Let Lucy Coleman whisk you off on a heart-warming, sun-drenched and magical French adventure.

My Thoughts

A lottery win, a marriage gap year, a retreat in Provence. Lucy Coleman writes captivating stories with gorgeous settings. When Fern and Aiden win the lottery you’d think this would be a happy event but… Fern and Aden have very different ideas about what they want to do with this money, and this leads to them confronting how different their dreams are. Aidan wants to travel the world and Fern is afraid of flying. This leads to Aiden proposing a marriage gap year where they both follow their individual dreams. Fern decides to go along even though she’s not crazy about the idea. Always wanting to pursue her artistic side Fern decides to volunteer at a art retreat in a Château in Provence.

Loved the setting of this gorgeous retreat. Also loved all the characters at the Château especially brooding artist Nico. I also really liked Fern’s siblings Owen and Hannah and was confused why her parents were so distant (although that does make sense later in the book). Fern was a great character and I really loved her growth throughout the book. It was fun seeing her realize her artistic talents and learn to relax a little. Nico what is a compelling character and I really liked the friendship that formed between Fern and him. This was one of those books where I wasn’t quite sure what direction it was going to take, and I was a little worried. But I did not need to worry because The story really went in the perfect direction. Wasn’t necessarily the direction I was thinking it would go in but I think it was lovely. A beautiful feel good heartwarming story with the perfect ending and even some bonus content.

This book in emojis 🖌 🎨 🧑🏼‍🎨 🌍 🇫🇷

*** Big thank you to Boldwood Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Purchase Link

Amazon: https://smarturl.it/SummerInProvence

Author Bio –

From interior designer to author, Linn B. Halton – who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – says ‘it’s been a fantastic journey!’

Linn is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels – including Summer on the Italian Lakes, Snowflakes over Holly Cove, The French Adventure and A Cottage in the Country. She is represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.

When she’s not writing, or spending time with the family, she’s either upcycling furniture, working in the garden, or practising Tai Chi.

Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she is an eternal romantic.

Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the SoA and writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.

Social Media Links –

Website: http://lucycolemanromance.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucyColemanAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucyColemanauth

Giveaway to Win a signed paperback of ‘A Springtime to Remember’ and a Boldwood Tote bag (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494365/?

Lemon Drizzle Monday’s at the Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green **Book Review** @rararesources

TGIF!

Not that this matters as much right now my Saturday will probably be just like my Monday was! I am so grateful for fun feel good uplifting books like this! 🍰🍋

Lemon Drizzle Mondays at the Little Duck Pond Café

Molly Hooper has a secret. It haunts her dreams and casts a dark shadow over life with her gorgeous three-year-old daughter, Eva. Arriving in Sunnybrook has given her a glimpse of sunshine. The Little Duck Pond Cafe crew seem so welcoming and there’s even the chance of a new job. Baking delicious cakes has always taken Molly to a happy place, so the job – at the glorious Brambleberry Manor Cafe – might just be perfect for her. It would mean she and little Eva could finally put down some roots at last. But is Sunnybrook the sanctuary Molly is searching for? Or will the past come back to haunt her, wherever she hides?

My Thoughts

“Kindness is language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain

It is always a pleasure returning to the Little Duck Pond Cafe and these charming characters. This is the ninth book in Rosie Green’s enchanting series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. This is Molly’s story, who we were introduced to in the last book. Molly is a single mother to adorable three-year-old Eva. Molly is super excited to start her new job at the Branbleberry Cafe. And even more excited to make enough money to move out of her apartment/flat and get away from her salacious landlord. We are introduced to quite a few new characters in this book my favorite of them being Bertha, loved her! There is also a love interest for Molly, book store owner Matt. But as in most of these books the romance takes a backseat to friendship and community. I loved how everybody (old characters and new) supported and stood by Molly during some troubling times. I especially loved when Madison got all bad a$$! I was also a big fan of the pledge board. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were great! I loved how the focus of the story was on kindness and community support, so appropriate for our current times. Another feel-good story filled with friendship, family, fun, and food from this engaging series.

This book in emojis 🍋 🍰 🧹 📚 👩‍👧

*** Big thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/2slp10U

Author Bio –

Rosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little.

Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all – unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie’s series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. The latest, ‘A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe’, is out now.

Rosie has also written a full-length, standalone book, ‘Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage’, out now.

Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas **Book Review** @tlcbooktours

Happy Thursday all!

Delighted to share with you today this entertaining story filled with family, food, fun, and forgiveness!👩🏻‍🍳

My Thoughts

Food, family, forgiveness, fun.

This was a sweet and salty story about family, with a splash of romance and a ton of food. Isa has moved to France to live with her father and her new stepmother. She is not terribly fond of her new stepmother especially because she caught her kissing her father before her parents were divorced. The situation is not helped by the fact that stepmom is now pregnant and refuses to eat the food that Isa makes. When Isa’s new step brother Diego shows up things get even more complicated. This was a fun feel good coming of age story that made me smile. Isa is a likable character with A lot of determination. When she earns the prestigious apprenticeship with an internationally acclaimed chef she is definitely tested. The chef was very demanding and somewhat hostile, to say the least. I definitely admired her tenacity. My only tiny Kniggle with this book was I wanted more romance and less food prep. But that could just be me, I’m more into the eating and less into the preparation. A slow burn romance that will make you happy and hungry.

This book in emojis 🍽 🍲 👨🏻‍🍳 👩🏻‍🍳 🐶 🛵

*** Big thank you to Blink for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

SYNOPSIS: A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen! There’s more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped … especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are both on the chopping block.  

Aspiring chef Isa’s family life has fallen apart after the death of her Cuban abuela and the divorce of her parents. She moves in with her dad and her new stepmom, Margo, in Lyon, France, where Isa feels like an outsider in her father’s new life. Isa balances her time between avoiding the awkward, “why-did-you-cheat-on-Mom” conversation with figuring out how a perpetually single woman can at least be a perpetually single chef.

The upside of Isa’s world being turned upside-down?

Her father’s house is located only 30 minutes away from the restaurant of world-famous Chef Pascal Grattard, who runs a prestigiously competitive international kitchen apprenticeship. The prize job at Chef Grattard’s renowned restaurant also represents a transformative opportunity for Isa who is desperate to get her life back in order—and desperate to prove she has what it takes to work in an haute kitchen. But Isa’s stress and repressed grief begin to unravel when the attractive, enigmatic Diego shows up unannounced with his albino dog.

How can Isa expect to hold it together when she’s at the bottom of her class at the apprenticeship, her new stepmom is pregnant, she misses her abuela dearly, and things with the mysterious Diego reach a boiling point?

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Mayra

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Let’s Connect

Instagram|

Goodreads|

Twitter|

Have a lovely day!🌸

Berit☀️✨

Super Charged Life with Judy Ho **Podcast Review** @DrJudyHo @Studio29podcasts

Happy Tuesday all!

Today I have something a little different for you all! Are any of you fans of Podcasts? other than reading it is probably my main source of entertainment. I generally listen to book related podcasts or reality television podcasts and an occasional crime podcasts, so this was a bit of a departure from my norm.

My Thoughts

Just finished listening to the first episode of this new podcast and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dr. Judy ho has an engaging and relatable personality. Her approach was down to earth and informative. Listening to this was like listening to a conversation between good friends it was full of compassion, heart, and intellect. Would recommend, I am now a subscriber.

In this first episode Dr. Judy Ho interviews her sister Maria Ho who is a professional gambler. I love the banter between the sisters. I also love the fact that they both went to UCSD where my oldest will be graduating with a degree in psychology and economics in June. Maria was a super interesting guest. I loved her spirit and her desire to just go for it, she’s been on American Idol, the Amazing Race, and well I think it takes a gutsy personality to be a professional poker player. Can’t wait to see who the next guest is on this new compelling podcast.

About the Podcast and Judy Ho

About the PodCasts and Dr. Judy Ho: 

Dr Judy Ho is a Los Angeles based triple board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist and tenured Associate Professor at Pepperdine University. Her thought provoking insight and analysis of the human psychological condition has established her as a go-to television host, panelist and expert on numerous national broadcasts. She is the author of the best-selling book, “Stop Self-Sabotage,” a useful tool for anyone standing in their own way, who undermines their own interests and intentions and is looking for lasting change and meaningful success.

Dr. Judy will show you how to grab life with both hands and live it to the fullest.  Whether she’s helping to navigate life with her patients, swinging from a flying trapeze, singing her favorite Broadway songs or taking on a new adventure; Dr. Judy walks her talk and invites others along for the journey.

“SuperCharged Life with Dr. Judy” is where she will dive deeply and fearlessly into guests’ issues in love, sex, friendships, work-career, bad habits, addiction, trauma, depression and anxiety. Sometimes it’s painful to uncover what’s really holding them back, but with Dr. Judy’s help they can discover a new way to take on life, inspire love and create happiness and fulfillment. Each podcast will give a tangible tool they can do that will “SuperCharge” their lives!

Possible Guests:

• Kourtney Kardashian

• Gwyneth Paltrow

• Dr. Phil

• Chrissy Teigen

• Kristen Bell

• Vivica Fox

• Dr. Travis Stork

• Brene Brown

• Dr. Drew Pinsky

• Sarah Pendrick (women empowerment coach)

To start, go to this link on your phone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/supercharged-life-with-dr-judy/id1501219826

Have a lovely day my friends! And stay well! Berit💕

The Road to Delano by John Desimone

Happy Tuesday all!

Delighted to share with you today this compelling story they gave me a lot to think about. 🚜

My Thoughts

A compelling story about an often forgotten part of history. John Desimone has skillfully captured time and place with his descriptive storytelling. 1968 the California central valley Jack is a high school senior determined to earn a baseball scholarship and make it out of his small town. Things have been hard for Jack and his mother after the death of his father. Resolute to save the farm Jack heads to town to sell some farm equipment when he runs across one of his fathers old friends who shares with Jack some information that his father was murdered. Jack wants justice for his father, but in pursuing it he gets his friend Adrian arrested. Will Jack be able to solve his father’s murder and save his friend from prosecution? Will he ever make it out of Delano or is this is destiny?

A well told, well researched genre potpourri . A little historical fiction, a little mystery, a little coming-of-age. Jack was a great character, an all American boy I could definitely get behind. I liked how Cesar Chavez, the labor struggle, and the striking field workers were infused into the story. It was interesting and disturbing how crooked and violent things got involving these labor disputes. I felt for the small town, for Jack, for his mother Shirley, and for Adrian. A captivating thought-provoking story that made me more aware of an important piece of our history.

This book in emojis ⚾️ 🚜 ☀️ 👨🏾‍🌾

*** Big thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About The Road to Delano

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Rare Bird Books (March 10, 2020)

Jack Duncan is a high school senior whose dream is to play baseball in college and beyond?as far away from Delano as possible. He longs to escape the political turmoil surrounding the labor struggles of the striking fieldworkers that infests his small ag town. Ever since his father, a grape grower, died under suspicious circumstances ten years earlier, he’s had to be the sole emotional support of his mother, who has kept secrets from him about his father’s involvement in the ongoing labor strife.

With their property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it so he and his mother don’t become homeless. On the road, an old friend of his father’s shows up and hands him the police report indicating Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is compelled to dig deep to discover the entire truth, which throws him into the heart of the corruption endemic in the Central Valley. Everything he has dreamed of is at stake if he can’t control his impulse for revenge.

While Jack’s girlfriend, the intelligent and articulate Ella, warns him not to so anything to jeopardize their plans of moving to L.A., after graduation, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, a star player on the team, to help to save his mother’s land. When Jack’s efforts to rescue a stolen piece of farm equipment leaves Adrian?the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez?in a catastrophic situation, Jack must bail his friend out of his dilemma before it ruins his future prospects. Jack uses his wits, his acumen at card playing, and his boldness to raise the money to spring his friend, who has been transformed by his jail experience.

The Road to Delano is the path Jack, Ella, and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Rare Bird Books

About John DeSimone

John DeSimone is a published writer, novelist, and teacher. He’s been an adjunct professor and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. His recent co-authored books include Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan (Little A Publishers), and Courage to Say No by Dr. Raana Mahmood, about her struggles against sexual exploitation as a female physician in Karachi. His published novel Leonardo’s Chair published in 2005.

In 2012, he won a prestigious Norman Mailer Fellowship to complete his most recent historical novel, Road to Delano. His novels Leonardo’s Chair and No Ordinary Man have received critical recognition.

He works with select clients to write stories of inspiration and determination and with those who have a vital message to bring to the marketplace of ideas in well-written books.

Find out more about John at his website, and connect with him on Instagram.

The Assistant by Marni Mann @MarniMann #BookReview #TheAssistant

Hello book friends,

While the world is going mad, to us introverts it’s business as usual, self isolation is a regular thing for me Lol

Wherever you are, stay safe, and read.

My Review

Who likes a Romance thriller with a little twist??

And when I say twist, I mean TWISTTTTTTTTTTYYYYYYYYYYYY *insert gasp face here*

I am so excited for you guys that haven’t read this one yet and might pick it up, go in blind, don’t go reading loads of reviews (except this one obviously) otherwise you are probably going to stumble into a spoiler and that will ruin the whole effect.

This story, jumps from ‘before’ to ‘after’ but your job is trying to guess what went on in the middle part.

Jesse is a CEO of a very successful company, she is married to Emery and they have two beautiful children. After a family tragedy Jess decides to become a Stay at home Mom, and Emery hits the big time in his career, so much so, that he needs to hire an assistant.

And so along comes Charlotte!!!

That’s it folks, that’s all I’m going to give you Mwahahahaha

🎧🎧

If you can get your hands on the audiobook I would highly recommend it, narrated by Therese Plummer, Erin Mallon & Jacob Morgan, you will be chewing your nails and reaching for a Kleenex all at the same time!!

Enjoy
Vicci 📚💛✨

Synopsis

From USA Today best-selling author, Marni Mann, comes a haunting new psychological thriller.

At 42, I’m married to my best friend, and we have two beautiful children. Everything about my life is perfect until my father gets sick.

Before: I owned and operated a massively successful women’s shapewear company. After: I stay home with my family because I’ve learned the importance of time.

Before: My husband could rely on me to take care of everything. After: I hire him the perfect assistant.

My entire life can be summed up in before and afters, but something happens in the middle.
A meeting.
And it changes the course of everyone’s lives forever.

Purchase Links:
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