Review: Rush Week by Michelle Brandon

 

An irresistible, juicy contemporary novel based on the TikTok phenomenon #BamaRushTok—about four sorority sisters brought back to the top-tier house they ruled at the University of Alabama, when secrets they’d thought long buried threaten to resurface.

Four sorority sisters. Each with dark secrets. They must stop the unexpected opening of a time capsule created as part of a sorority rush ritual that was supposed to hold their deepest secrets buried forever...

Five years after they thought they’d said goodbye forever, a group of sorority sisters find themselves back at the University of Alabama for Rush Week. Some return to rekindle their friendships, and others to keep long silent secrets from being exhumed. Unbeknownst to them at the time, the infamous “Spill Book” they wrote confessions in as a trust (hazing) exercise over the years was placed into a time capsule—now it’s been stolen, and the anonymous thief is threatening to expose them all on Bid Day.

Rush Week is a juicy, wild, drama-packed novel filled with good—and not so good—girls behaving badly, dark humor, and sexy scandals. As the sisters navigate their present and not-so-distant past, unbreakable bonds of friendship are put to the test, and regrettable mistakes threaten to change everything if exposed. But perhaps if they confess their sins to each other, they can begin to mend not only themselves, but their sisterhood— before the world finds out just how wicked they are. 

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What I thought about Rush Week

Four sorority sisters return to their alma mater to circumvent the reading of the infamous "Spill Book" that could ruin them all!  Sounds like a terrific premise for story, and I was hooked as soon as I read the description.  

The story is told in multiple point of views, and with a now-and-then timeline, so it takes a little bit of time and effort to be sure whose voice you are reading.  That was the first problem I had with this book.  The content was exciting as they describe how much this scandal this Spill Book can bring to them, but I had to work to figure out who exactly was telling the story.

These characters, Taylor, Annabelle, Brooklyn and Asana aren't the most likable characters either with all their privilege, but they may appeal to the Tiktok crowd.  I really thought that the opening of the time capsule seemed to be happening too soon and that some of this was far-fetched, but I decided I'd stay on the ride. 

Overall, I liked the story content, but found that the pacing was a bit slow and dragged things down for me and the unlikable characters annoyed me.  I did like the incorporation of today's technology and social media.  

 

 

Release Day Review: He Falls First (Colburn Bros #1) by Jill Shalvis

 

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

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What I thought about He Falls First

Penny is recovering from a difficult relationship that has her swearing off all men and relationships, that is until Ryder Colburn shows up in her world.  He's sweet and kind and interested in Penny -- but she's not ready.

The story is built around the "legend" of seeing three shooting stars that will foretell someone falling in love. I won't spoil it, but the legend brings a cute aspect to this story that will just have your heart melting!  The Colburn brothers are just adorable in that manly, sexy way that make romance novels a reader's choice!  Swoony, gorgeous men with character! Yum!

 There isn't any doubt that Ryder and Penny are made for each other -- it's just a matter of time before they get there, with a little help from friends and family. 

The secondary characters are interesting too, especially the Colburn patriarch who is dealing with health issues of his own, and Penny's family of grandmother and younger brother.  This author knows how to construct a family that works together to get through life. 

 You can't go wrong with a Jill Shalvis romance. The main characters are guaranteed to be likable and the story is entertaining and sweet! I enjoyed He Falls First and I'm looking forward to the rest of the Colburn brothers stories!

 

Read more about this author on her website at

 https://www.jillshalvis.com/

 

 

  

Just a little update...

 

Hello fellow readers and followers of this blog,

 I know there have been few reviews over the past two or three months, and I hope to be picking up the pace back to providing weekly reviews of what I've been reading.  Life came along and smacked me sideways, and I'm just getting my feet back on the ground, although they may be slightly unsteady at the moment.  

I'm happy to return to my reading with some really sweet romance titles. They've been soothing my soul right now as there is nothing like an entertaining romance, where the characters are just meant to be! 

 So thanks for your patience!  

Watch for some giveaways too!  It's time to clean out the bookshelves and I know I have a few titles to share with you all!

 Happy Reading!  Tradermare 

Review: The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury

 

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

While searching for her family's long-lost heirloom ring, military widow Vanessa Mayfield meets handsome antique dealer Ben Miller. The two are drawn to each other and forge a friendship that soon becomes a deep and breathtaking romance. But neither are sure that what they've found can last.

As Vanessa organizes her annual Columbus Cares Christmas Military Dance, she looks forward to her daughter's return from college. But Vanessa hasn't told Sadie about Ben. After all, Vanessa hadn't anticipated finding love again after losing her husband. And now she wrestles with feelings that are becoming hard to ignore.

Just as Ben is about to declare his love for Vanessa, he learns more about her missing Christmas ring: her great grandfather found it in France on D-Day, and engraved on the band is a single meaningful word. The details confirm a terrible truth, one that Ben cannot ignore.

Certain he now knows where Vanessa's ring is, Ben leaves town in a frantic rush. But can he stop a certain sale, or will Vanessa's ring be lost forever? Days before Christmas, when all seems hopeless, Ben and Vanessa learn an important eternal truth: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Purchase Links and Movie Information

 What I thought about the Christmas Ring

A young paratrooper finds a ring in the dirt on D-day and it becomes a family heirloom, until it's lost one day by it's current owner, A young widow named Vanessa Mayfield is devastated by the loss, and it's her faith and family that keeps her going in spite of the loss.  This is a very sweet holiday story, filled with love, spirituality and faith that how things work in mysterious ways.  

Vanessa meets Ben Miller while hunting antique shops for the missing ring. He makes a big impact on her, including giving her hope in finding a new love. I really liked how their relationship grew from something small to something meaningful. There is quite a bit of spirituality and bible quoting in this story and I found that it added greatly to its charm.  I've known many people who are guided by their faith in my life, and this story does a nice job of painting them in a wonderful light. The story is just the right size and doesn't drag things out, which I really appreciated.  The Christmas Ring is a perfect  holiday love story. 

 

Review: Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a novel about an injured cop who must fight to bring down a pair of twisted killers…

Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.

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What I thought about Hidden Nature

An almost fatal shooting changes a young policewoman's perspective on life and love in Hidden Nature. Her detecting and observation skills remain top-notch and come in handy when she's targeted by a serial killer.

This was a book that I had to read every free moment I had. I just loved Sloan -- she's tough and smart and doesn't engage in relationship drama. She's dedicated to her chosen career and when there's a suspicious disappearance, she takes it upon herself to investigate as she recovers. She moves back home, meets a man who surprises her, and works on this case on her own time. She's just that dedicated. Nash is a lovely partner for Sloan -- he's dealing with his own demons and is surprised by his feelings for Sloan. I couldn't help but root for them. The writing is top-notch as you might expect from this author.

I do wish the ending had more to it, that is my only (very mild) complaint. There was terrific build-up to Sloan's interaction with the serial killers that just could have been a little "more" for this reader. I do recommend Hidden Nature to readers looking for a very satisfying romantic suspense. I just loved it. 

 

Available Today! The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

 

 

 

 

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realising she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family.

 

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What I thought about The Ghostwriter

 

It's family secrets on steroids in The Ghostwriter. Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter that has lost her credibility and is shunned by her community. An offer comes in to write her father's story. Her father is a notable thriller author who has been under suspicion for killing his two siblings years ago. Since Olivia is broke, she decides to accept the offer, which leads her on a journey to uncover secrets and dissect her own relationship with her father.

This book grabbed me from the start and had me turning pages quickly. I like a book that I can sink into and The Ghostwriter hit the mark. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you think you might know what really happened, things change. I like that about it. Kept me guessing until the end. It is more of a slow pace as pieces are revealed to the reader. There are multiple points of view and trips to the past as well. Overall, in spite of a slower pace, I liked this book and would recommend it to other mystery thriller readers.

 

 

 

Dying To Meet You by Sarina Bowen

NOW LIVE!

 

The acclaimed USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author returns with a twisty thriller that probes how well we actually know the men in our lives.

Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.

Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car.

Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.

But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.

Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.

Will she be the next to die?

Purchase Links
https://sarinabowen.com/dtmy-links

ADD TO GOODREADS:

What I thought about Dying to Meet You

Architect Rowan Gallagher is working on the restoration of a family estate and uncovers a sketchy past after her ex boyfriend is found shot in the parking lot. She becomes a murder suspect for a number of reasons, forcing her to dig deeper into family history and the past occupants of the Magdalene School for Wayward Girls.

I'm old enough to remember when places like this existed, and the school becomes a major part of this thriller. There are also some nice romantic elements with daughter's father Harrison who is a felon and also under suspicion. I have to say that Harrison was one of my favorite characters. As for Rowan, she's a likable character, but I didn't really get "architect" from her as she seems to abandon her career to solve the mystery of who killed her ex. I found the daughter to be more interesting as she is not exactly forthcoming with her mother.

There are multiple points of view in the telling of this story, one in particular that had me scratching my head at the end of the story. I was looking for a bigger payoff there, but okay, I may have to go back and re-read that part of the ending to figure it out

Overall, I liked the story. It's an easy read, but it didn't have the level of gut wrenching suspense that there could have been. I guessed the killer somewhere along the way, but that's the best part of reading a mystery/thriller. Entertaining.