Review: A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom

In the vein of It's Kind of a Funny Story and All the Bright Places, comes a captivating, immersive exploration of life with mental illness.

For sixteen-year-old Mel Hannigan, bipolar disorder makes life unpredictable. Her latest struggle is balancing her growing feelings in a new relationship with her instinct to keep everyone at arm's length. And when a former friend confronts Mel with the truth about the way their relationship ended, deeply buried secrets threaten to come out and upend her shaky equilibrium.

As the walls of Mel's compartmentalized world crumble, she fears the worst--that her friends will abandon her if they learn the truth about what she's been hiding. Can Mel bring herself to risk everything to find out?

In A Tragic Kind of Wonderful, Eric Lindstrom, author of the critically acclaimed Not If I See You First, examines the fear that keeps us from exposing our true selves, and the courage it takes to be loved for who we really are.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: February 7th 2017 by Poppy

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!  The expected publication date is February 7th, 2017.

I admit that I have a fascination with stories that center around mental illness.  Although it has not directly impacted me, it has impacted many people I know in many different shapes and forms and is an important topic to keep an awareness of.  Too often mental illness is dismissed or left with a stigma that it should not have.

Being a teenager is difficult enough without the added stress of managing a bipolar disorder and on top of that keeping it a secret from everyone.  This is where the story of Mel begins.  From the beginning the reader (or I did anyway) has questions such as what happened to her brother?  Why does Mel have a new set of friends, what happened to the old ones?  These questions are answered over time as Mel continues to manage her disorder.

A good lesson is given throughout this story.  Even those who are hyper aware of their disorder and managing it to the best of their capabilities can have everything unravel.  With this, secrets can be exposed and people can be left vulnerable.

Written in a style that the YA audience can appreciate, this story encompasses everything that is relevant to a teenager, and then adds on to it.  The romance aspect of this book was well written and I particularly enjoyed the banter that occurred between the characters. The highlight for me was the dynamic in all of Mel's relationships and how they evolved throughout the story.  I may sound a little vague however I do not want to run the risk of giving away any spoilers.

This was a well written YA story about bipolar disorder.  I foresee it being a popular choice for the YA demographic for 2017.

About the Author

In addition to writing Young Adult novels, Eric Lindstrom has worked in the interactive entertainment industry for years as a creative director, game designer, writer, and usually combinations of all three. As Editor and Co-Writer for Tomb Raider: Legend he received a 2006 BAFTA nomination for Best Video Game Screenplay, and then as the Creative Director for Tomb Raider: Underworld he received a 2009 BAFTA nomination for Best Action Adventure Video Game and a 2009 WGA nomination for Best Writing in a Video Game.

He has also raised children, which led to becoming first a school volunteer, then a substitute teacher, then a part time kindergarten teacher, then getting a credential to teach elementary school, and most importantly the discovery that YA literature is awesome. It’s pretty much all he ever reads, and now writes, in his house near the beach on the west coast, with his wife and, yes, cats.

Review: The Sky Between You and Me by Catherine Alene

Lighter. Leaner. Faster.

Raesha will do whatever it takes to win Nationals. For her, competing isn't just about the speed of her horse or the thrill of the win. It's about honoring her mother's memory and holding on to a dream they once shared.

Lighter. Leaner. Faster.

For an athlete. Every second counts. Raesha knows minus five on the scale will let her sit deeper in the saddle, make her horse lighter on her feet. And lighter, leaner, faster gives her the edge she needs over the new girl on the team, a girl who keeps flirting with Raesha's boyfriend and making plans with her best friend.

So Raesha focuses on minus five. But if she isn't careful, she will lose more than just the people she loves. She will lose herself to Lighter. Leaner. Faster

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: February 1st 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!  The expected publication date is February 1st 2017.

If I have to be honest, I struggled with the way this story was written.  It took me a while to get used to the fact that it was all in verse.  The lack of periods at the end of sentences really bothered me and I desperately wanted to correct it.  That being said, this review will most likely be riddled with grammatical errors so who am I to judge?  I did get used to it after a while so my advice to anyone who feels the same way is to keep going and give it a chance.

As the synopsis suggests, this is a story of a teen girl struggling with an eating disorder.  I felt it was an effective way, for the audience intended, to tell the story of how it not only affects the body but the relationships with people.  For a slightly older audience like myself, I felt it only touched the surface of the topic however this was written for the YA audience.  With that in mind I think it did a good job of telling the story without giving so much details the reader loses interest.

Another key point that I enjoyed about the story is that Raesha was an everyday average teen and not necessarily who you would pick to have an eating disorder.  It showed that anyone can be impacted by this disorder and that is something that I think audiences will appreciate, in particular the young female audiences.  I am sure that every girl can see a bit of themselves in Raesha.

After a rocky start, I am glad that I stuck with this book.  I found it entertaining and insightful.

About the Author

Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

A luminous debut with unexpected twists, Everything We Keep explores the devastation of loss, the euphoria of finding love again, and the pulse-racing repercussions of discovering the truth about the ones we hold dear and the lengths they will go to protect us.

Sous chef Aimee Tierney has the perfect recipe for the perfect life: marry her childhood sweetheart, raise a family, and buy out her parents’ restaurant. But when her fiancé, James Donato, vanishes in a boating accident, her well-baked future is swept out to sea. Instead of walking down the aisle on their wedding day, Aimee is at James’s funeral—a funeral that leaves her more unsettled than at peace.

As Aimee struggles to reconstruct her life, she delves deeper into James’s disappearance. What she uncovers is an ocean of secrets that make her question everything about the life they built together. And just below the surface is a truth that may set Aimee free…or shatter her forever.

Kindle Edition, 306 pages

Published August 1st 2016 by Lake Union Publishing 

Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Romance

Kristine's Thoughts:

I read this book a while ago and am just now getting to write my thoughts about it. I'm not sure it is fresh enough in my memory to do it justice.

Everything We Keep had two parts and two distinctly different feels to it.

The first half was about Aimee moving on after the loss of her fiancee and childhood sweetheart. It started at his funeral and even though she was approached by a psychic telling her that James was still alive, she was unable to deal with it. The story was moving and emotional as Aimee learnt how to survive and move on without the man that had always been a part of her life. I was caught up in her struggle and I could feel her every emotion. My inner romantic self was routing for her when she met a new man and developed a close friendship. I was hoping it would turn into more. Although she was showing signs of moving on there was still that voice that was telling her that James was still alive and she couldn't fully move on until she knew for certain. I have to admit that I struggled with this part a little bit. I loved James when the book would go into their past to tell their story but in the present I was one hundred percent behind the new love prospect. I shamelessly wanted them together.

The second half of the book was where Aimee went in search of answers and to possibly find her dead (or alive) fiancee. The entire feel of the book changed and it went from emotional to suspenseful and question after question kept coming to my head. It almost felt like a completely different book because the feel changed so dramatically.

I will stop myself there and I won't continue to tell any more of the story. Honestly, the less you know going into it the better. However, I will admit that throughout the entire book I was a fan of Aimee's new love interest and that I was hopeful of a future for the two of them. I wasn't sure what I wanted Aimee to find or discover because of it.

Everything We Keep ended with a huge question mark/cliffhanger and the possibility of a sequel that I am anxious to read. Could a messy and complicated love triangle be in store for Aimee? I can't wait to find out! I really enjoyed this book.

About the Author

Connect with Kerry

Website/Twitter/Goodreads


 

Review: What Makes a Family by Colleen Faulkner

Nestled in the Chesapeake Bay, Brodie Island is charming, remote, and slow to change. For three hundred years, Abby Brodie s farming family has prospered there. Now, years after leaving to make her way on her own terms, Abby is coming home to see her ailing grandmother, with her teenage daughter and a wealth of memories in tow. Yet as family members gather at the old farmhouse, Abby realizes this visit offers more than a chance to say goodbye.
After decades of feeling she was a disappointment as a daughter, Abby is beginning to see that her mother, too, has struggled to feel a sense of belonging within the Brodie family. Celeste, Abby s self-centered sister, is far from the successful actress she pretends to be, and needs help that only Abby and their half-brother, Joseph, can give. But most surprising of all is the secret that Grandmother Brodie has been carrying one that will make each woman question her identity and the sacrifices she is willing to make to gain acceptance.
With her trademark emotional honesty and insight, Colleen Faulkner lays bare the challenges at the heart of a family learning how to forgive, connect, and let ourselves be truly known at last.

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: January 31st 2017 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!  The expected publication date is January 31st, 2017.

This is the story of what happens when a dysfunctional family gathers together while the matriarch is on her deathbed.  Told from the view of each of the woman, you get a different perspective and take on the family dynamic.  It is not surprising that each woman does not see things the same as the next.

While the story was a little slow at times, I was hooked by the story of mom Brodie and her secret.  As this story came to light, I kept looking forward until the story would switch to her point of view so that I could see how all of the pieces tied together.  Compared to her story, the others were not remotely as interesting.

As in most stories, there is also the person to dislike and in this case it was Celeste.  Talk about a train wreck however I will divulge only what the synopsis says.  No spoilers in this review!  I also had a hard time identifying and liking little Joe due to the actions of his past.  Perhaps my judgemental side coming out but I couldn't help it.  Again you would have to read to find out why.

At the end of the day this story is about the family dynamic and how everyone struggles to fit in and find their place within the family.  It is about identity and the struggle between who you want to be and who you really are.  Fans of womans fiction may enjoy this family struggle.

About the Author

Sale Blitz & Giveaway: Good Girl by Lauren Layne

"a delicious bite of Southern seduction with chemistry that sizzles." 

- Rebecca Yarros

GOOD GIRL

a Love Unexpectedly novel

Lauren Layne

Released May 17th, 2016

Loveswept

New York Times BESTSELLER Lauren Layne brings all the unpredictable heat of Blurred Lines to an all-new cast of characters! Country music’s favorite good girl is hiding away from the world—only to find herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.
 
Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.
 
Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.

ON SALE .99 CENTS

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back.

In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

For a list of all her works, please be sure to check out her official website!

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Dear Agony by Georgia Cates

Tasty Book Tours Presents....

DEAR AGONY

Georgia Cates

Releasing March 1st, 2017

Dear Agony,

You've been my shadow, following me through childhood—filling my days and nights with terror and uncertainty. You cleverly disguised yourself as some form of pain or suffering as I grew into a young woman. We were unwavering companions … until I severed our ties.

I traded homelessness on the streets of New Orleans for a luxurious bed covered by the finest linens.

I traded dumpster diving for dinner in the finest restaurants.

I traded myself to a stranger—Bastien Pascal.

I have a good life within my platonic and mutually beneficial companionship with Bash.

He’s my friend. My mentor. My roommate.

Until everything changes.

I’m not supposed to get goosebumps when his hand brushes my skin.

I’m not supposed to be eager for his soothing touch following one of my nightmares.

I’m not supposed to think about what might happen if I reached out to him in the darkness.

Falling in love with him? Preposterous . . . unavoidable.

Agony, why are you back with a vengeance to rob me of this life I’ve come to love so dearly?

I’m finally happy. Don’t ruin this for me.

Always yours,
Rose

In this epic love story, Dear Agony forges a connection between an unlikely pair—a beautiful rose entwined in barbed wire and a shipwreck sinking into the darkest depths of the ocean. This agonizing romantic novel poses some gut-wrenching questions: What does a woman do when the man she loves is planning his own demise? And how far will she go to give him something to live for?

Bastien wasn’t lying. The man snores. Loudly.
 
I was awake for hours after he came to my bed. I had far too many thoughts whirling around in my head to doze off.
 
I’m proprietor of a sadness I hold so tightly, it’s penetrated my very being. It has wrapped itself around my heart in the form of barbed vines, warning people away. I’m buried chest deep in filth—the filth of my vile past. I’m the captain and my pain is forever my first mate.
 
I wake to find myself held by his strong arms. Encased in his comforting touch. Strangely, even though I’m clinging tightly to the arm wrapped around my waist, I feel . . . safe in the arms of a man. This man. It’s a first for me.
 
Bastien is still sleeping, his snoring proof he is unaware of our entanglement. I’m glad. I want to savor this close encounter for a while longer before I pull away.
 
I steal this moment like a thief, permitting myself to study his face and body without his knowledge.
His chest under my head is hard, as is his stomach beneath my hand. There’s sparse hair between his pec muscles but he has a small patch on his abdomen trailing down into the front of his pants.
 
I gently lift my head so I can see his face. Long, thick, dark lashes rest against his lower lids. Strong, square jawline—covered in dark whiskers, and a few sparse silver here and there, a little thicker this morning than last night. A tiny dimple in the center of his chin. Full, pink lips with a deep cupid’s bow. Straight nose, slightly asymmetrical to the right side of his face. Hmm … I haven’t noticed that until now. I bet it’s been broken. Probably playing football.
 
Even in sleep, Bastien’s face doesn’t completely relax. His brow remains wrinkled, the shallow crowfeet around his eyes slightly crinkled.
 
Lines and all, he’s handsome. Extremely so.
 
And stirring.
 
I quickly pull away and roll onto my side, my back turned to him before he fully awakens. I don’t want that awkward moment of waking and coming to face to face, forced to discuss what led him to my bed last night.
Minutes later, there’s a brief dip in the mattress and then I hear the soft click of my bedroom door closing.
He’s gone without a word.
 
I roll to my back and run my hand along the spot where he was lying. Still warm. Scooting closer, I press my nose into his pillow. Mmm. Woodsy. Earthy spice. Masculine.
 
Savoring the warmth and smell that remains in my bed after Bastien’s departure is something I shouldn’t enjoy … but I do. Very much.
 
Liking these things isn’t part of our agreement.
 
Bastien has clearly stated he doesn’t want a romantic relationship. In fact, he’s very much against it, especially with someone my age. And I refuse to ruin what we have. I like him. I think we can be very good friends.
 

Georgia Cates resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her music and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

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Cover Reveal: Tough (A Hidden Hearts Novel #5) by Mary Crawford

Coming Valentines Day!! 

Blurb for Tough (A Hidden Hearts Novel #5) 

Savannah Lyons has her secrets —she buried them in the past long ago and she’d like to leave them there. She never talks about her past with anyone — especially wickedly handsome restaurant owners like the guy next door. Casey Moore has met women with moves and instincts like hers before but not since he was a teenage runaway. He lost his best friend to the streets and for once, he hopes his razor-sharp intuition is dead wrong because there’s just something about Savannah that turns him from a tough guy to a tender heart. Preorder: http://books2read.com/HH-Five    

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Release Day Blitz: No Life But This by Brenda Margriet

Abigail Garsson feels trapped in her safe, boring, conventional life. Desperate to escape, she signs up for an adventure vacation on the Portuguese island of São Miguel.

Santos Carregado enjoys introducing tourists to his tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic. At first he barely notices the unassuming Abigail. He soon finds her meek exterior hides a vibrant woman who teases his senses and ignites his passion.

Abigail is stunned to discover the handsome, confident Santos is attracted to her, but his fiery kisses and searing caresses convince her to accept a sensuous invitation.

Will the realities of life shatter Abigail's holiday daydream? Or can the shifting sands of a short-term fling become the rock on which a life-long relationship is built?

Amazon US: http://a.co/iQ2np2C

Amazon CA: http://a.co/907Etjw

Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/blAQh9C

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/no-life-but-this-2

Nook: http://bit.ly/2fGjENo

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1175920486

  Excerpt 1

Her fingers bumped gently across the globe. The surface was irregular, as if it truly was a miniature world―Everest shrunk to the height of a fingernail, the waves of the oceans smoothed to an infinitesimal roughness. Its high gloss finish glared where the light from the floor lamp struck it. "Abigail?" Martin’s shoes clicked briskly across the hardwood floor. "Your guests are wondering where you are." She kept her gaze on the globe. Guests? It was her mother’s funeral, for God’s sake, not a party. She wondered vaguely who had thought to put a globe in the serenity room of a funeral parlour. "We’re already behind schedule." His voice was firm, no-nonsense. Usually his confident control made her feel safe. Today, it grated down her spine like claws on a granite cliff. "It’s time you took your seat." She gripped the globe with the tips of her fingers and gave it a whirl. She couldn't blame her dizziness on the blurring world before her. The last few days she'd been lightheaded, disconnected, out of touch. Not that anyone would have noticed. She'd been careful to act her normal sedate, organized, earnest self. But inside she was screaming. Screaming so hard she couldn't hear herself think. "Abigail." Impatience coloured Martin's voice. She turned her head. He stood at her shoulder, his well-cut, dark grey suit masking a desk-job belly, appropriately sober tie, his thinning blond hair brushed straight back from a high forehead. "In a minute. I need another minute." What a lie. She needed more than a minute. She needed…she wasn’t sure. But she knew she had to figure it out. And soon. "I’ve always wanted to travel. Just once, somewhere exotic, unusual." She swallowed a sob, guilt and grief rolling together. "But I couldn’t leave Mom. She hated being alone." It had been more than a simple preference. It had been an illness, one her mother had struggled with for years. Abigail closed her eyes and stopped the globe with a finger. Squinting through her lashes, she was disappointed to see her finger well below the tip of Greenland, lost in the nothingness of the Atlantic. She spun the globe again. "Tobias is out there alone. He needs you." She hunched her shoulders, the stiff taffeta collar of her black dress scratching her neck. Martin knew her weakness. She’d do anything for her younger brother. "Tell him I’m coming." The coloured sphere revolved on its tilted axis, too fast for her eyes to follow. "In one minute." "Fine." Martin’s disapproving huff fanned her cheek. "One minute, Abigail, and that’s all." His footsteps faded away. The globe circled, slower and slower. She closed her eyes once more, held out her finger. Taking a deep breath, she pushed forward, and stopped it. When she opened her eyes, her shoulders slumped in despair. Again she'd stopped the spin in the middle of the Atlantic. She'd been looking for a sign, and she had it. She was going nowhere. Tiny printing on the shiny surface caught her eye and she leaned forward. There, right next to her neatly rounded fingernail with its modest clear coat of polish, was the word "Azores" surrounded by small black blobs. She paused, considering the nine tiny specs in the vast blueness, then straightened her shoulders and headed for the door. There'd be time to think in the weeks ahead. Too much time. Right now, she had to  go to her mother's funeral.

     Excerpt #2

  They set off single file, and Santos found his eyes drawn to Abigail's trim hips, snug in her black shorts. She was the exact opposite of the bold, curvaceous, confident women he normally flirted with, but the way she attacked the hill with grit and determination struck a chord in him. And he was fascinated with her voice, the rasp of it, the way it seeped into his blood. She raised herself on the pedals for more leverage. Santos swallowed a groan at the tight, wiggly little ass directly in his line of vision. A bike was not the most comfortable place to have an erection. He swung to the outside and pulled up next to her, away from the distraction. "Are you sure you don't want to walk for a bit?" "I can do this." She leaned over the handlebars, wobbling slightly with each determined push on the pedals, but kept her balance. "I'm going to do this." He dropped back again, keeping his eyes scrupulously on the road. A few moments later she careened to the left, well into the lane of traffic, over corrected, and teetered back to the right. Before he could react, her handlebars caught on the high earthen berm through which the road ran and she stumbled to a stop, almost tumbling to the ground. He braked behind her. She panted with effort, head bent, chest heaving, and he watched with rising frustration. Stubborn woman. "That's enough." He swung his leg over his seat. "We're walking." She dismounted slowly and he could see the tremors in the muscles of her thighs. "Damn it," she rasped as she pushed the bike up the hill. "Damn it, I wanted to ride it, ride it all the way." She was silent except for the hiss of her breath, and defeat dragged at her shoulders, but her eyes were dry. "Get back on," he said abruptly. She looked at him in surprise and he softened his tone. "Get back on, and I'll help you." She settled back in the saddle and he placed his hand in the small of her back. Moist heat seeped through the thin material of her shirt into his palm. "One, two, three, go." They pushed off together and he could feel her muscles flexing with effort. "That's it, keep going." Her foot bobbled off the pedal but she quickly recovered. He concentrated grimly on pushing her up the hill. The sooner they reached the top, the sooner he could stop touching her, and the sooner he could forget his odd, irritating reaction to this wisp of a woman.

  Excerpt #3

 "Meu Deus," Santos groaned against Abigail's breast. She squirmed, and he could feel her sultry dampness through the cloth of his trousers. He dropped a hand to each of her thighs and held her. "Calma." He struggled to find his English as she wiggled under his restraining hands. "Be still. Be still, meu amor." His pulse drummed furiously and he panted for air. Good Lord but he wanted to take her, right here, on the counter, on the floor, wherever he could. But it wouldn't be right. "We must stop. This isn't the time, or the place." "It is. It is." Her hands moved restlessly over his body, leaving a lava-like trail of need. "No, minha querida." He caught her hands, clamped them at her sides, and waited. The hectic pace of his blood cooled agonizingly slowly. Abigail's breathing steadied, and her tense muscles gradually relaxed. He loosened his grip. He couldn't see much in the dim light sneaking in the narrow window, but he thought he might have bruised her alabaster skin. "I hurt you." He skimmed a fingertip delicately along her inner thigh. "I'm sorry." "I won't break." An oddly triumphant note in her voice drew his eyes to her face. She slouched languorously against the wall of the hut, her dress about her waist, her torso and breasts bared to his gaze. "I don't want you to treat me gently. You make me feel fierce, wild, uncontrolled." She licked her lips, swollen from his kisses. "I like it." AUTHOR INFO AND LINKS: Brenda Margriet write contemporary romances with heroes you'd meet at the grocery store. And by that she means real-life men – sexy, smart and looking for the love of their life. Her heroines are bold, savvy and determined to accept nothing less than the man they deserve. A voracious reader since she was old enough to hold a book, Brenda's idea of the perfect holiday involves a comfortable chair near the water (ocean, lake or pool will do), a glass of wine, and a full-loaded e-reader. She lives in Northern British Columbia with her husband (as well as various finny and furry pets) and has three adult children. www.brendamargriet.com www.facebook.com/brendamargriet @brendamargriet https://www.goodreads.com/bmargriet Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/brendamargriet

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Review: A Bend In the Willow by Susan Clayton-Goldner

Willowood, Kentucky 1965 - Robin Lee Carter sets a fire that kills her rapist, then disappears. She reinvents herself and is living a respectable life as Catherine Henry, married to a medical school dean in Tucson, Arizona. In 1985, when their 5-year-old son, Michael, is diagnosed with a chemotherapy-resistant leukemia, Catherine must return to Willowood, face her family and the 19-year-old son, a product of her rape, she gave up for adoption. She knows her return will lead to a murder charge, but Michael needs a bone marrow transplant. Will she find forgiveness, and is she willing to lose everything, including her life, to save her dying son?

Kindle Edition, 275 pages

Expected publication: January 18th 2017 by Tirgearr Publishing 

Genre: Adult Fiction/Womens Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I jumped at the opportunity to read this book after reading the synopsis. It sounded intriguing and intense. When Catherine's son was diagnosed with leukemia she was forced to face her past as Robin Lee Carter in the hopes of finding a  bone marrow match for him. In doing so she hoped to save her son at the possible cost of her own future.

The book started off with a young Robin Lee and then quickly switched over to Catherine in 1985. As the story of Michael's illness unfolded the reader got tiny snippets of her past as Robin Lee Carter. Slowly the reader learned about her painful and disturbing past.

This book was easy to read and I was able to finish it quickly. I was interested in Catherine's past as Robin Lee and that was what kept the pages turning for me. There wasn't as much of the back story as I would have liked. The back story always intrigues me more and I found I was craving more.

This book was a story of love and forgiveness and the lengths people will go to in order to protect the ones they love. It was also a story of how secrets can come back to haunt you when you least expect it. The content wasn't always easy or pleasant to read but it painted a fairly good picture for the reader.

I do have to mention a couple of things that I struggled with as I was reading this book, Catherine being the biggest one for me. I had a hard time liking her. First, I found it hard to take when she wouldn't tell her husband her secret on more than one occasion. She would go as far as saying that it was really bad and that she could be in trouble but would stop at that. The bigger thing for me though was that I couldn't identify with her and the entire reconnection with the son that she put up for adoption. I found her cold and somewhat heartless about the entire thing. She was only connecting with him because she was hoping he was a bone marrow match for Michael. She seemed emotionless and selfish and not at all concerned about what it would do to him. It was very much unresolved in my opinion. I feel like her character needed to be fleshed out and developed a little more in order for me to understand and empathise with her. In fact, all of the characters would have benefited with a little more developing. They sometimes felt a little robotic.

I did however enjoy the reconnection that Catherin/Robin Lee had with her brother. I could feel a little bit more of the pain and emotion throughout that aspect of the story. Again, I felt that she lacked a bit of emotion and it was coming mostly from the other characters but a tiny bit did show through.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and am thankful that I had the opportunity to read it!

About the Author

Susan Clayton-Goldner was born in New Castle, Delaware and grew up with four brothers along the banks of the Delaware River. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona's Creative Writing Program and has been writing most of her life. Her novels have been finalists for The Hemingway Award, the Heeken Foundation Fellowship, the Writers Foundation and the Publishing On-line Contest. Susan won the National Writers' Association Novel Award twice for unpublished novels and her poetry was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies including Animals as Teachers and Healers, published by Ballantine Books, Our Mothers/Ourselves, by the Greenwood Publishing Group, The Hawaii Pacific Review-Best of a Decade, and New Millennium Writings. A collection of her poems, A Question of Mortality was released in 2014 by Wellstone Press. Prior to writing full time, Susan worked as the Director of Corporate Relations for University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.

Susan shares a life in Grants Pass, Oregon with her husband, Andreas, her fictional characters, and more books than one person could count.  

Connect with Susan

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Excerpt Reveal & Giveaway: Love Story by Lauren Layne

Over the course of one wild road trip, 

feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love.

LOVE STORY

a Love Unexpectedly novel

Lauren Layne

Releasing February 14th, 2017

Loveswept

Over the course of one wild road trip, feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love in this charming rom-com—a standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Good Girl.

When Lucy Hawkins receives a job offer in San Francisco, she can’t wait to spread her wings and leave her small Virginia hometown behind. Her close-knit family supports her as best they can, by handing over the keys to a station wagon that’s seen better days. The catch? The cross-country trip comes with a traveling companion: her older brother’s best friend, aka the guy who took Lucy’s virginity hours before breaking her heart.

After spending the past four years and every last dime caring for his sick father, Reece Sullivan will do just about anything to break free of the painful memories—even if it means a two-week road trip with the one girl who’s ever made it past his carefully guarded exterior. But after long days of bickering in the car turn into steamy nights in secluded motel rooms, Reece learns that, when it comes to Lucy, their story is far from over. And this time, they just might have a shot at a happy ending.

Although listed as a title in the Love Unexpectedly Series, all books in the series stand alone.

“Spock, we’re giving you Horny!” my mom blurts out, apparently fed up with my denseness.

Her utterance is too much for my siblings to handle and they both burst out laughing, retreating into the kitchen to rejoin the party where there’s wine.

Oh what I wouldn’t give for wine right now.

“I, um . . . you’re giving me the car?” I ask.

“Because yours broke down,” my dad explains, walking forward to thump Horny’s dented hood.

“And this one’s . . . not broken down?” I ask skeptically.

Look, it’s not that I’m not grateful. My parents are trying to give me a car, I appreciate the sweetness of the gesture, it’s just . . .

Here’s the thing about Horny: he barely got us three kids through high school. I mean, Horny is the car that sputtered and shook making it the 3.2 miles to Jefferson High, no matter who was behind the wheel.

I’m even going to come all the way clean here and say that early on in my freshmen year, I was embarrassed showing up in Horny. Then I realized I was lucky to have a car at all, and well . . . I dunno, I guess Horny became a part of us Hawkins kids’ charm, because the station wagon was practically an institution from Craig’s high school reign all the way through Brandi’s.

But poor Horny quit working years ago. Much to Brandi’s chagrin, he gave up the ghost a mere two months before her high school graduation, and she spent the last bit of her senior year being picked up by my parents.

“He’s going to take you to California,” Dad says, giving the car another thump.

“Really?” I step forward and run a tentative finger along the familiar panel. He’s had a bath, so at least that’s something. “Because last I knew, he wouldn’t even make it out of the garage.”

“Yeah, well, we neglected him for a while, but he’s right as rain now,” Dad says, puffing out his chest as though Horny’s a fourth child.

“Like, as in he actually starts?”

“Purrs like a kitten,” my mom says with an emphatic nod, even though I know she doesn’t even like cats. “We didn’t believe it, but we took him to church on Sunday and there were no issues.”

I literally bite my tongue to keep from pointing out that this is hardly a feat. Sacred Presbyterian is 0.8 miles away from the house.

“You took Horny into a shop?” I ask, starting to warm to the idea of having a car again. I’m a little touched, actually. Money is tight for my parents. Dad’s a PE teacher, and Mom gives a mean winery tour, but the gig’s never paid much.

“Not exactly, it was more of a bartering situation,” Mom says.

“Yeah?” I say, going around to the driver’s seat, already giddy with the prospect of telling Oscar I’ll be able to come see him in Miami after all, even if I won’t exactly be riding in style.

“Reece agreed to fix him up.”

I’m lowering myself into the car as my dad says this, but I reverse so quickly I hit my head. My skull doesn’t even register the pain, because I’m too busy registering the hurt in my heart at the familiar name. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Reece,” my mom says, giving me a bemused look. “He’s always been handy with cars.”

“He fixed up the car in exchange for what?”

And then I feel—I actually feel—the air change around me as the side door to the garage opens, and a new presence sucks all the air out of the space.

I don’t turn around. I don’t move. But I feel his eyes on me. Over me.

“Reece is headed out to California too,” my oblivious mother chatters on. “It worked out perfectly actually. Now you two can ride together, and your dad and I don’t have to worry about you alone in the middle of nowhere with a twenty-something-year-old car.

They think the car is going to be the problem here? It’s not the car that’s toxic to me. It’s him.

Reece Sullivan. My brother’s best friend. My parents’ “other son.”

Slowly I force myself to turn, and even though I’m prepped, the force of that ice-blue gaze still does something dangerous to me.

He winks, quick and cocky, and I suck in a breath, and I have to wonder . . .

I wonder if my parents would feel differently about their little plan if they knew that their makeshift mechanic is the same guy that popped my cherry six years earlier under their very roof.

And then broke my heart twenty-four hours later.

Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back.

In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

For a list of all her works, please be sure to check out her official website!

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