Shelley Reads and Writes

Tag: must read

  • Finding Healing in Unexpected Ways

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    In 1918, as the war is ending, a family finds itself struggling with the loss of one of their own. Eleanor struggles to understand the new normal without her brother. Losing him just a few days before the end of the war doesn’t seem fair as people start to move on.

    To heal, she finds herself spending time in the neglected garden behind their home. To help her feel better, her father hires a man to help restore the garden to its former glory. Jack may come from a totally different world, but he understands her grief more than anyone else in the family. As they spend more time together, Eleanor wonders whether her family will ever accept him into their world.

    Now, Marin finds herself the guardian of her fifteen-year-old half-sister Rebecca when her father and Rebecca’s mother are killed in an accident. Though they don’t know each other, they are forced together as they deal with their own grief.

    When Rebecca suggests a fresh start where nobody knows about her loss, Marin impulsively agrees. As they move into the home Eleanor once lived in and discover a secret garden, the two find themselves working together to solve its mystery.

    This series, continuing with The Daughter’s Garden, is sure to delight readers as they read more and more, finding out how two women in the same home can be quite similar.

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • A Death Certificate Brings Two People Closer Together

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    In 1968, Sarah finds herself an orphan with nowhere to turn. She has vowed to take care of her younger sister, Lucy, and will do whatever she has to keep her safe.

    After moving in with their aunt, a tragic event leaves them with even fewer choices. Either Sarah can find someone to marry, or she works hard day and night in order to survive. She chooses marriage to a man who she thinks will take care of her dear Lucy.

    But marriage isn’t anything like she expected.

    Now, Ellen believes that life can’t get any better. She is married to an amazing man. They have one daughter together, and Ellen has an older daughter from her first marriage. But when her husband’s daughter from his first marriage comes to stay for an extended period of time, Annabelle and Ellen clash over everything!

    They eventually find a way to bond over a death certificate that was hidden in the attic. They both decide to figure out all they can about the young lady, Sarah, who died. Another great read by Kate Hewitt.

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • A Series By Kate Hewitt — A Must-Read

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    In 1939, Alice falls in love and marries a kind-hearted vicar named David. She leaves everything behind to move into a draughty vicarage in the beautiful, remote village of Goswell, Cumbria. However, she is determined to make a good life for her new husband and herself.

    But war changes things, like it typically does. David decides to leave for war, to do his part. Alice is devastated and unsure of her new role as the vicar’s wife. But everything changes when evacuees are brought into the village looking for homes. Alice finds herself bringing home a young girl named Vera, and will do whatever she can to protect this girl.

    In the present day, Jane and her family move into a vicarage in the middle of nowhere, in a small community called Goswell. Used to New York City, Jane is overwhelmed by the change.

    That all changes when Jane finds a note written by Alice. She is determined to find out everything she can about Alice and what her life was like when she lived in the same house. She finds out that, though Alice didn’t change the world, she led a good life in a small community, raising a daughter and building a life.

    I am not really a historical fiction reader, but this collection really called to me. I like reading about the two different times, and am always waiting to find the connection between the two women! I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Who Knew the Past Could Help Someone Heal?

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    In 1766, Abigail is happily married to James, a tobacco trader turned sea captain. They are happy in Whitehaven, though they do struggle early in their marriage.

    Then, James decides to captain his own ship all the way to Africa and then to America. This journey will take a year and both are terrified of being apart for that long, but their future depends on it.

    As James leaves Abigail, he gets her a present, a little black child to use as another servant. However, the two bond in ways that nobody expected, not even Abigail.

    Now, Rachel is sent to Whitehaven to investigate a boat wreck that happened in the 1700s. She thinks that she may have found a slave boat that may have belonged to James, yet it didn’t sink where it was thought to. The mystery is one that she is just going to have to solve.

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time! 

  • What Happens When Two Ranchers Fall in Like?

    Nora Roberts is a favorite of mine, though I say that about a lot of authors! However, whenever I see one of her books for sale, I always have to pick it up (or download it)!

    In Nora Roberts’ Boundary Lines, we meet two ranchers, that share a property line. However, they also have a feud that goes back many, many years.

    Jillian Baron is excited to have inherited her grandfather’s ranch, though she knows it is going to take a lot of hard work and grit, especially since she is female.

    Aaron Murdock is back to take over his ranch as his father’s health declines. He is ready to bring the ranch up to date and is willing to do whatever it takes.

    When the two meet, their long-running feud pushes them apart, even as their attraction grows. They share a kiss, which blows both of their minds as they struggle with their dislike and attraction to each other.

    You won’t want to put this book down, as you try to figure out if they are going to get together and bring their ranches together or push each other apart even farther!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time! 

  • Can You Really Let Go of Your Past?

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    In Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky, Mackenzie Cooper’s eyes were off the road for a few seconds, and it changed her life forever, as well as many others. The accident ended more than two lives that day. After losing her marriage, family, and friends, she decides to get away.

    She finds herself in Vermont, with the name Maggie Reid. She has a small home and has adopted a dog and a few cats to keep her company. She has a good job at the Inn as a makeup artist and has quite a few friends in the community.

    That being said, she is still under probation, so she has to be careful as she gets closer and closer to the date when she doesn’t have to deal with her probation officer anymore.

    However, crime happens no matter where you live, and Maggie’s sleepy little town is thrust into the national spotlight when a local teenager hacks into the school database as well as several powerful men’s Twitter accounts. She finds her face on national television as she stands beside a friend with her own secrets!

    As Grace’s secrets come out, Maggie’s may also. The life that she worked so hard to protect may come crumbling down as Maggie struggles to deal with the loss of her daughter, five years later.

    I could not put this book down, especially as things started to come out about Maggie’s past. When her ex-husband and brother show up, you can imagine that Maggie isn’t going to be pleased.

    A Delinsky classic! Always good storytelling that is worth reading!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • An Interesting Read You Just Might Want to Check Out!

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    I watched the movie A Man Called Otto on Netflix, and it made me really sad. The poor man just wanted to die, and though he kept trying, he kept getting interrupted. Before you knew it, the day had passed, and it was time to try again.

    When the book came up for for sale, I thought that I had to read it. I know that the books are often better than the movies, so I decided to give it a whirl. I am glad that I did. The movie makes more sense now that I have read the book!

    In A Man Called Ove, we meet Ove. He is very straight to the point. He is also a rule follower who has no time for those who don’t listen to them. He has a strict routine where he goes around his neighborhood and makes sure that everyone is following the rules. He is often seen as a bitter old man.

    When a chatty young couple with two young daughters move in next door, it changes Ove’s whole world. The first thing that they do is flatten his mailbox because they drive where they are not supposed to, and he doesn’t know how to back up a trailer! As mad as he is at them, they keep showing up and bothering him until he realizes that they are an important part of his life!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time! 

  • Another Thrilling Read — My First by Lorna Dounaeva!

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    Noel and Suzannah tried for years to start a family, when they turned to adoption. When they are given a chance to meet Orchid, in The Girl in the Woods by Lorna Dounaeva, they jump at the chance to have a family.

    However, it didn’t go as smoothly as they had imagined. Noel easily adjusts to becoming a father, but it doesn’t seem to be as smooth for Suzannah. She finds herself dealing with floods in their rooms, mirrors shattering, and other strange things. Orchid talks about an imaginary friend, who just may be Suzannah’s sister, who died years prior.

    When Suzannah gets hurt, she isn’t sure what is going on. But it just keeps getting worse. Is Orchid behind this? Or is someone else terrifying the new family?

    I couldn’t wait to find out who was torturing poor Suzannah and her family. Could a young girl really be behind it? The ending will surprise you! And then you will quickly go on Amazon and download a few more books by Lorna Dounaeva. Just like I did!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time! 

  • What Would You Do If You Were Put in an Unthinkable Situation?

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    When Abbie Bernard learns that her daughter isn’t really hers, she is heartbroken. She has raised the girl for years, and loves her more than she ever imagined. However, what about her real daughter, the one she actually grew inside of her?

    She finds her real daughter, who is turning into a wonderful girl thanks to her parents. And she finds herself in a heartbreaking dilemma. Should she tell Logan O’Connell, who is struggling after his wife’s death? Or should she keep it to herself?

    How can she get into the life of her daughter, without losing the daughter that she has been raising? When Logan finds out, he is just as desperate to keep both of his daughters in his life. Will the two of them find a solution that works for everyone?

    I really enjoyed this book by Patricia Kay. I couldn’t wait to figure out how the two would figure out how to keep both of the girls in their lives. If you are looking for a good read about an impossible situation, look no further than The Wrong Child by Patricia Kay.

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time! 

  • Will Isabel Get the Ending that She Deserves?

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    Although Lauren is back, Isabel is still struggling to get her life back on track. She is pregnant and working on her marriage. She is also trying to fix her relationship with Lauren.

    Alicia is gone. Jody is dead. Life has got to calm down, right? There is nobody else left with a vendetta against her, right?

    When Deacon comes to her with a job opportunity in Canada, she is torn about whether to accept it. Can she leave her family and friends behind? Will starting over be good for their family? Going somewhere where nobody knows who they are?

    Unfortunately, their move is just the beginning of their journey; it is the beginning of the end. Will Isabel finally get the closure that she deserves?

    The Bitter End by Lorna Douvaeva was the ending that this series deserved. Now it is time for something lighter!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time!