Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Books read Jan 2023

 




Not many books posted here, got a lot of early review books that won't appear til summer and also added books read to Goodreads from very early 2000's that were not listed there, about 400 of them, so far.



  


 
Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti
Story starts out with Gemma and she's just relocated to a new town, taking over for a professor. She tends to her daughter  when she can, leaving her in schools day care during her working hours.
She is disguised and has gone through many name changes in the years.  You learn of why she has had to do this.
Story also follows Jethro who is a professor at the college also. He has a brother Fletcher who is back in US. They both come from England and have an accent.
His brother is killing others leaving a note for his brother. He soon learns his team is behind him and they also do back ground check on Gamma cuz things don't add up.
Love all the team spirit of one for all, learning how Fletcher is tracking her and how, what things team do to stay safe. Love that the team also includes the female spouses of the members, so intuitive.
Scary parts and loving parts and so much action and mystery.  Story goes back in time so you learn what happened prior to the present day.
So realistic and I can see this happening, would love to see this as a movie.
Such a great read, can't wait to read more from this author.  Have read some of her other works and need to fill in the books I’ve yet to read. This can also be read as a stand alone book.
 



  







The Words of My Father by Mark Tedesco  
Love how the author paints a picture for my mind to see with words he uses.
Book starts out with a little boy Joseph is not tired enough to go to sleep. His father Giuseppe does nightly prayers with Joseph and asks what the words mean.
Starting with Our Father is the prayer Giuseppe dissects line by line over the course of nightly prayers before bed, explaining to Joseph in words and things that happen that he can understand.
Examples are amazing to learn about as I was brought up as a Catholic and went to Catholic school from K through 7th grade. During the 60's the nuns just wanted us to memorize the words, they never explained what they meant.
Love learning new things and even the mother has a chance to explain one part of the prayer as well. Love the team effort and questions Joseph asks.
Each phrase/sentence is covered in 3 to 6 pages. Thought Amen meant just 'the end' of the prayer. So glad to understand and follow along as new revelations are shown to me.
Love author's style of writing and how he can tell a story, paint a picture worth a thousand words, can't wait to read more from this author.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
 






  


 

Perfectly Broken by Robert Burke Warren 
This story is about Grant and his past live and present one. He's married to Beth and they have a young son and live in upstate NY.
He was a musician and was part of a band at one time. His wife is a publicist and everything is going well til her brother dies.
There are other events that take place that leave them both on edge with one another. It's like an open marriage and they can see who they want...
When the natural diaster happens action are in fast pace mode.
Because of all the turmoil you wonder if they will ever get back together ...
Great descriptions and I can see myself at the house with river nearby.
LOTS of adult situations and swearing.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion. 
  




 
India's Summer by Therese
This story I didn't think I would like. I was wrong. I LOVED it and can't wait to read more.
India in England, Annabelle in CA are twin sisters and India travels to be with her sister one summer.
What she finds when she arrives is amazing to her, so many things to see and do and experience. There is SO much that is over the top for me as I do not follow celebrities.
The food, fashion, cars and everything just wrap themselves around you as the author is very descriptive. India has tried to reinvent herself in CA by telling others she has the solution to their teens problems.
The problems range from sex to drugs and everything in between. Love the exercises and workshops she has them do as a team.   And she even finds a guy to really like her.
Until a taping of her is released and it sends her back to England so ashamed of what came out of the video.
She's got a contract to write her story and love how the ending transpires. So cool.
Love hearing of the charity work, fascinating. Ends with about the author and acknowledgements.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.


 





Letter from Paris by Therese
Love that this story follows India from the previous book I read.
Starts in Las Vegas, NV 
Story starts out with Natalie and she just met Adam, the famous movie star.
He takes her to see the Bellagio waterfalls, the ofuntain is amazing and the sounds that come with it, have experienced this myself.
She's a publicist and her client is arriving the next day. 
Then India sees a woman wearing Adams coat and calls him so he can clarify the shot the rags got of them...
India is heading to Paris by herself for a few days. Her and Annie had
Story also follows others who are corroborating their expertise for the show. 
Misunderstandings and truths come out. Love the aspects of the materials used, so unique and they don't use fossil fuels..
Love hearing of the fashion, design, travel is so precise, 
So cool how it all turns out, lot of compromises and forgiveness.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.
  







  


 
A Divine Truth by Hilary Walker
This story follows the priests as they are cancelled from their positions at their rectories.
The bishop is the one in charge of that and his sister Mary starts investigating to learn what is going on.
Her spouse has also been ousted and lives with others in a boarding house.  Like the plan of the canceled priest and their housing at the location where they can heal and better themselves.
Til the bishop has a medical emergency he can't see what's going on....
Love how Mary comes through with her decorating skills and having time for her ex-spouse.
Never thought story would end this way, WOW.  Great contribution to society. Love scenery descriptions.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.






 




Path to Grace by Cheri Swalwell
This story revovles around Ariana. She's a witch with how she uses others to get what she wants, even her father.
One day she agrees to spend time with her brother and they arrive at a party and her sister is there also. She knows none of the others but she hopes Matt will show up.
What I like about the story is that no matter how extreme a person is they can be persuaded to love God and trust him. She watches how the others have changed and she had not laughed as she did that day in years.
She loves being with her siblings and meeting their new friends.
Events take place that are unexpected and they find themselves alone, just the three of them on Christmas Day.
They all pray a lot to help them get through the hard times.
She loves how their friends are family and she does feel welcome. 
Great ending as we learn of others who might come to live in this peaceful town.
So realistic problems with easy solutions.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.


  




Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn


Story starts out with Georgie and she just arrived back home from the west coast where she was an important assistant to a star.
Back home she's to help her bestie Bel and the birth of her child. They are able to reminisce about the past and how they got to where they are.
The memory book of their teen years is front and center and Georgie wants to finish the pledges and goals she had made. Bel and her plot the things to do.
I have never heard of the write on your arm for a wish but sounds like something a group of us would've done.
She stays at her parents’ house til  Levi shows up with his dog and he's staying there also although the parents didn't know when she'd arrive. They are awkward with one another for a time but settle in and actually get to like one another.
She gets a job at the diner his siblings run, and later at the spa. They don't know how close she's become to Levi.
Love ending parts the best when the family actually make appearances in things that do matter.
Misunderstandings break them up and she's miserable and he needs to get his head on straight.
Like this new to me author with detailed descriptions, just handful of characters and story line. Would definitely read more of her stories.
Adult situations.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.





 












The Lost girls of willow brook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
This story starts out with Sage and she learns her sister who's like a twin to her is really alive. She had been told her died from pneumonia years ago.
She's been living at the state institution Willow Brook and now she's gone missing.  Their mother is dead now and they live with Alan, who's not their father.
She plans to head to the woods nearby the building and look for any clues about Rosemary. Love that the mother named her daughters after herbs: Sage and Rosemary.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.
Bit creepy and very scary for me but a good story. Like simple things like making fairy things from twigs and things found on forest floor.
 So sad when she shows up to ask about her missing sister they capture her, inject her and now she's Rosemary. 
The state school is described to every detail that is so chilling it's a horror to me.  With help from a janitor they find the real Rosemary.
You wonder if she will ever be released as she's not the one that needs to be in there. She only has a few people she trusts....
You also wonder what else is going to happen as things seem calm again...til more show up dead. so creepy and horrid. 
I received this review book from The Kensington Between The Chapters Review Books and this is my honest opinion.
 
 

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