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Release date: August 6, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

Dover, Massachusetts, 1969. Ginny Richardson’s heart was torn open when her baby girl, Lucy, born with Down Syndrome, was taken from her. Under pressure from his powerful family, her husband, Ab, sent Lucy away to Willowridge, a special school for the “feeble-minded.” Ab tried to convince Ginny it was for the best. That they should grieve for their daughter as though she were dead. That they should try to move on. 

But two years later, when Ginny’s best friend, Marsha, shows her a series of articles exposing Willowridge as a hell-on-earth–its squalid hallways filled with neglected children–she knows she can’t leave her daughter there. With Ginny’s six-year-old son in tow, Ginny and Marsha drive to the school to see Lucy for themselves. What they find sets their course on a heart-racing journey across state lines—turning Ginny into a fugitive.

For the first time, Ginny must test her own strength and face the world head-on as she fights Ab and his domineering father for the right to keep Lucy. Racing from Massachusetts to the beaches of Atlantic City, through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to a roadside mermaid show in Florida, Keeping Lucy is a searing portrait of just how far a mother’s love can take her. 

Review:

Doesn’t the description of this sound so amazing? When I picked this one up I was expecting a super emotional and heartfelt story of a mother fighting for her child. I definitely expected to experience a wide variety of emotions, I mean the thought of a special needs little girl being institutionalized makes me a little weepy. I’m so disappointed to say that this totally missed the mark for me and I didn’t really like it at all.

Let me be clear, the writing was fine, the story itself was even fine but I wanted more than just fine. Did I connect to Ginny as a mother as I expected myself to? Nope, which was a real shame because this one had so much potential but I was looking for so much more than what I got. This sounds pretty weird, but I really wanted it to be sadder in a way. I wanted to feel Ginny’s pain and I wanted more information about the institution itself. I guess I just found this book lacking on all levels, I don’t really have much more to say except if I had to pinpoint exactly what I wanted the most was more depth in all areas.

Overall rating: 2/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 13, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it’s an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because she doesn’t fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don’t date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she’s worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage. 

Review:

I became a fan of Center when I fell completely and totally in love with How to Walk Away, it easily made my top reads of the year list and is still a book I find myself recommending to people all of the time. Now that I’ve read my second book from the author I can say that I’m a firm fan and will be adding her to my short list of auto buy authors.

If I had to pick one single thing that truly makes a book a special read for me I would have to say that it’s great characterization. Sure, so many other elements are incredibly important to me, but if I don’t find the characters believable, I’m going to struggle. Cassie was so believable it hurt, right away she had me on her side, she’s a female firefighter for crying out loud, she had me just based on that alone. But there is so much more to her than the fact that she is a badass, she’s multifaceted on many levels and her story was a powerful and evocative one. Then, as an added bonus you get a character like the rookie to swoon over and I’m just done. I’m all in and then some, I’m a big ball of mushy emotions who is wholeheartedly invested.

I swear no other author combines incredibly emotional and heartfelt stories with razor sharp wit quite like Center does. There is something magical about this combination that is just perfection for me, I’ll be teary eyed one minute and before I can compose myself I’m laughing through my tears because of something funny one of her characters says or does. Once again, I loved every single page of this one, and just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, there was a beautiful epilogue that just put the cherry on top of the cake.

I can’t recommend this one highly enough, especially if you like emotional, yet hilarious reads that will pull at your heart strings one minute and have you crying like a baby the next. If you haven’t read How to Walk Away yet either go ahead and get that one as well, they’re both excellent!

Things You Save in a Fire in three words: Evocative, Heartfelt and Unforgettable

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Publisher: Forever Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb: (Book 1, The Cottage on Rose Lane)

Jenna Fossey’s life is about to change. An unexpected inheritance and the chance to meet relatives she never knew existed has her heading to the charming little town of Magnolia Harbor. But as soon as she arrives, long-buried family secrets lead to even more questions, and the only person who can help her find the answers is her sexy-as-sin sailing instructor. 

Nothing makes Jude St. Pierre feel more alive than racing on the open sea – at least, not until Jenna comes strolling down his dock asking for sailing lessons. But it feels wrong to be attracted to her – especially when he learns why she came to town. Jude knows she deserves the truth but can he help her discover it without losing her and the family he’s come to think of as his own?

Includes the bonus story “A Wedding on Lavender Hill” by Annie Rains!
When an event planner is asked to create the perfect wedding in just three days, she must turn to the last person she wants to ask for help – the infuriating owner of the house on the hilltop. 

Blurb: (Book 2, Summer on Moonlight Bay)

Review:

Since I read these books back to back I thought I would just do one review to combine my thoughts on both of them, plus they’re also available now and I know I personally love being able to start a new series with at least a couple of books already out, waiting is the worst.

Lately I’ve been loving small town, sweet and simple romance novels and this series delivers on that! They totally remind me of feel good Hallmark movies and they’re ideal for a light and easy summertime read. Their set in a small, picturesque town and while the two main characters change from book to book, they become secondary characters the next time around. The first book focused on Jenna and Jude and then the second was about Lia and Noah but both Jenna and Jude made several appearances and I just loved getting a peek at what they were up too.

While the romance is definitely at the forefront of both books, there’s also so much more on offer as well. The residents of the town are a basically fun bunch with a few exceptions and they add some extra charm and humor to an already fun story. I found both books to be equally heartfelt and sweet and am so looking forward to the next installment in the series!

Overall rating: 4/5 (for both books)

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 6, 2019

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Review:

I think most of us with an active Instagram account have done some crazy things for the perfect shot, I know my fellow bookstagrammers have pulled out a book in some wild places just for the gram (as I have too!) but Eliza takes things to a whole new level when she fakes an engagement for her followers. If this sounds slightly insane and borderline ridiculous it totally is, but meet Eliza, she’s the type of friend that we’ve all had who makes rash decisions and finds herself in awkward, albeit hilarious situations over and over again.

I adored the premise of this, faking any sort of relationship is always a fun trope for me and there were definitely some pretty funny scenes here, for sure. While I honestly didn’t love Eliza as a character she was entertaining as hell and although I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her a few times, her unpredictability made this such a fun read and I really never knew what she would do next. There was also a great cast of secondary characters to balance out her craziness, I actually loved some of them so much that I have my fingers crossed that they may appear in a future book?!

Having now read two books from the author it’s safe for me to say that she truly knows how to write a highly entertaining story about modern dating. She captures the highs and lows and the struggles with social media all with humor and heart, I’m now a firm fan!

Love at First Like in three words: Amusing, Modern and Fun

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 6, 2019

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules: 

– Nude pics are by invitation only 

– If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice 

– Protect your heart 

Only there aren’t any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night… and disappears. 

Rhi thought she’d buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won’t fumble their second chance, but she’s wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk… 

Review:

I have yet another romance recommendation for you guys! Can y’all tell I’m a little bit obsessed with them lately?! I’m not sure if it’s this time of year, but I’m loving all things light and fun right now and while this has plenty of lightness it also had some serious depth as well.

I want to start by saying that if you’ve been looking for a diverse romance read, look no further. The representation here is wonderful, it’s chock full of bad ass, boss bitch women of color who are of all shapes and sizes and I’m am so here for that! There was an underlying feeling of feminism and straight up girl power here that I absolutely loved, Rhi herself had her shit together, despite her struggles in the romance department, and I love nothing more than a strong, female protagonist. Samson was a fabulous hero, he was an actual gentleman and his baggage was minor and adorably endearing, nothing problematic with either of them. Their chemistry was also smoking hot and this one definitely had some spicy sex scenes 🔥 🔥 🔥

Romance fans won’t wanna miss this one and I’m so excited it’s the first in a new series because I need a book about Katrina ASAP!!

The Right Swipe in three words: Saucy, Fierce and Fun

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 6, 2019

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Abbie awakens in a daze with no memory of who she is or how she landed in this unsettling condition. The man by her side claims to be her husband. He’s a titan of the tech world, the founder of one of Silicon Valley’s most innovative start-ups. He tells Abbie that she is a gifted artist, an avid surfer, a loving mother to their young son, and the perfect wife. He says she had a terrible accident five years ago and that, through a huge technological breakthrough, she has been brought back from the abyss.

She is a miracle of science.

But as Abbie pieces together memories of her marriage, she begins questioning her husband’s motives–and his version of events. Can she trust him when he says he wants them to be together forever? And what really happened to Abbie half a decade ago?

Beware the man who calls you . . . 

Review:

Generally, I’m not the biggest fan of thrillers with a sci fi element to them, I’ve only read a select few that actually worked for me but this one sounded too bizarre and fascinating to pass up and I’m so glad I gave it a chance because it turned out to be pretty awesome.

I don’t have a lot to say in terms of the plot itself with this one because it unfolded in such a delicious way that I would hate to ruin it for anyone else. It was pretty twisty though and had lots of surprising moments, and the turns were really well executed and not added just for the sake of a shocking plot twist, they actually added something to the story. It also brought up some really interesting moral type questions that would be fun to discuss with a group of friends, so keep this in mind for a buddy read or a book club.

Anyone who has been bored to death of thrillers in general lately should give this one a try, it was highly unusual as far as the storylines goes but it still had the same elements that a great thriller has as well. Definitely recommended by me based on originality alone!

The Perfect Wife in three words: Original, Slick and Advanced

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 6, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Single mother Lee has the daily routine down to a science: shower in six minutes. Cut food into perfect squares. Never leave her on-the-spectrum son Mason in someone else’s care. She’ll do anything—anything—to keep his carefully constructed world from falling apart. Do anything to keep him safe.

But when her best friend Grace convinces her she needs a small break from motherhood to recharge her batteries, Lee gives in to a weekend trip. Surely a long weekend away from home won’t hurt?
Noah, Mason’s handsome, bright, charismatic tutor—the first man in ages Lee’s even noticed—is more than happy to stay with him.

Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

But not all is as it seems. Noah may be more than who he claims to be. Grace has a secret—one that will destroy Lee. Lee has secrets of her own that she will do anything to keep hidden.
As the dominoes begin to fall and the past comes to light, perhaps it’s no mystery someone is gone after all…

Because You’re Mine is a breathtaking novel of domestic drama and suspense. 

Review:

I absolutely loved the authors last book, Not Her Daughter and was so impressed by how well she executed a highly emotional thriller, I don’t think that’s an easy thing to do at all. She has a really uncanny knack for infusing her stories with a ton of emotional upheaval but she doesn’t lose that tense, addictive quality that a really solid thriller always has either. It’s definitely a tricky balancing act but she nailed it again!

This is told from multiple perspectives, you hear from Lee, Grace and Noah and it’s clear right from the start that all three of them have complicated pasts and are hiding some things. I spent most of the book wondering who was reliable and who wasn’t, always so fun and a sure fire way to keep me on the edge of my seat. The pacing is also really on point, there’s never a dull moment, there was literally always something happening to keep me engaged.

I kept patting myself on the back because while this was super twisty I did guess all of the little surprises ahead of time, but honestly? I didn’t even care because it was still really good. Then the ending crept up on me and delivered one hell of a sucker punch that I did not see coming, so Frey got me in the end 😝 Definitely recommended by me, though I do want to mention that this gets dark and explores some sensitive subject matter. It’s not gory or anything, just very heavy at times.

Because You’re Mine in three words: Twisty, Dark and Riveting

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 6, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Emma London never thought she had anything in common with her grandmother Genevieve London. The regal old woman came from wealthy and bluest-blood New England stock, but that didn’t protect her from life’s cruelest blows: the disappearance of Genevieve’s young son, followed by the premature death of her husband. But Genevieve rose from those ashes of grief and built a fashion empire that was respected the world over, even when it meant neglecting her other son.

When Emma’s own mother died, her father abandoned her on his mother’s doorstep. Genevieve took Emma in and reluctantly raised her–until Emma got pregnant her senior year of high school. Genevieve kicked her out with nothing but the clothes on her back…but Emma took with her the most important London possession: the strength not just to survive but to thrive. And indeed, Emma has built a wonderful life for herself and her teenage daughter, Riley. 

So what is Emma to do when Genevieve does the one thing Emma never expected of her and, after not speaking to her for nearly two decades, calls and asks for help?

Review:

I am SO excited that it’s finally time for me to fangirl over one of my all time favorite authors latest book! She’s one of those rare gems that gets better with each book, I always say her newest is my most favorite and I’m saying it again here. This had all the elements that I’ve come to expect and love from KH and much more.

This flips back and forth between Genevieve, Riley and Emma with some chapters from other secondary characters as well giving you a true birds eye point of view of all the action. While KH books always have an engaging storyline full of humor and heart, what truly makes her books shine is her phenomenal characterization. Every single character here was portrayed in a way that made them feel larger than life and like you could easily imagine yourself chatting to them in real life. This amazing writing style allows you to get so fully invested in these people that they feel like real friends by the time you get done. This tactic also always makes me feel something, I could relate to Emma’s struggles as a mother, I felt sympathetic to Genevieve’s loss of her son, I wanted to help keep Riley safe from the mean girls at school, my point here is that it was an emotional read and I experienced way too many emotions to name, both highs and lows.

If you’re already a fan of KH you’ll be ecstatic about this one and if she’s a new to you author grab this and then be so excited she has an extensive backlist to devour because you’ll definitely want more!

Life and Other Inconveniences in three words: Heartfelt, Emotional and Moving

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 30, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy—a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favours are optional.

Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is…Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving.

So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him: watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder. 

Review:

If you’re looking for a book to grab your attention from page one then look no further because this one hooked me instantly! As my friend Laura says, no need for a bookmark with this one, it’s addictive and pretty impossible to put down once you get started.

I’m all about the drama and is there anything more dramatic than a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship gone bad?! I think not, and friends that was just the tip of the iceberg here. You hear from both Gabe and Natalie and I was so fascinated by both sides of their relationship. It was easy to see how a young, desperate woman could fall for the charms of a rich, older man and when this took a turn and went dark and obsessive I was even more intrigued. Besides a wickedly dark plot it’s also incredibly fast paced and exciting and is a true one sitting read. Highly recommended to add to your summer TBR, huge fan of RH and will be reading anything she releases!

The Arrangement in three words: Addictive, Obsessive and Dramatic

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy