Shelley Reads and Writes

Tag: must read

  • Elizabeth Berg Has A Way of Writing About Friendship

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    Your best friends will be by your side, no matter what. When Ruth becomes ill (and then terminal), her friends rally around her, determined to be there for her until the end.

    Ann, her closest friend, drops everything to ensure that Ruth is well taken care of. She spends her days and nights with her, without worrying about anything else. She wants to make sure that Ruth has everything that she needs (and then some) to enjoy her last days.

    As Ruth’s other friends rally, the women do what they always do, go out to eat, watch movies, and gossip. However, it is hard to think that it might be the last time that they do these things.

    I love a good Elizabeth Berg novel. She is a great storyteller, and really understands what it means to have a good group of friends, ones that you can tell anything to and they will still love you!

    If you are looking for a good read about friendship (especially between women), you need to pick up Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg.

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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.

  • How Far Would You Go If Your Daughter Was Kidnapped?

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    It’s every parent’s worst nightmare…

    Ever since Isabel dealt with Jody and her sister Alicia, she hasn’t trusted that it was over. Even though Alicia was dead, Jody was very much alive. Isabel knew in her heart that Jody would be back for her.

    Because of that, she kept her daughter, Lauren, close. She was allowed to go to school, and that was it. She even took her there and picked her up, not even allowing her to walk the few blocks to school. However, that doesn’t even keep her safe.

    When she is kidnapped outside of school, Isabel knows that Jody is behind this somehow. Unable to do anything but wait (and work with the police), she struggles. Her marriage, which may have been in trouble before, feels like it may not survive this challenge.

    Even worse, the police in charge seem to think that Isabel is the one who caused the kidnapping, not Jody. They think that she somehow did this herself, for some unknown reason. They are more worried about picking apart her statement than looking for Lauren. They even start looking at her family members and friends.

    Panicked, she starts taking matters into her own hands, figuring that she is going to be the only person who is going to find her daughter!

    Angel Dust by Lorna Dounaeva is another great book in this series. I highly recommend this series. You won’t be able to put it down. I am already partway through the third book!

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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! 

  • Jody and Alicia Didn’t Have An Easy Life

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    Jody McBride has caused Isabel and her family plenty of grief over the years. However, her life hasn’t always been easy. She grew up in East London, with a mother who worked multiple jobs and a father who was a firefighter. They lived in a bad part of town, though she did her best in school. She wanted a better life than she had.

    When her father lost his job, her life underwent a significant change. He started drinking. Then one night, it got even worse. Her house caught on fire, and her mother gave birth to her sister, Alicia. Jody was left to raise her sister, Alicia, at only nine years old. Her father barely worked, but started bringing the family to work.

    Jody struggled with her life. She had to raise her sister, work with her dad, take care of the whole family, and deal with her own addictions. Plus, she had to come to terms with Alicia’s demons.

    A change from the other novels in this series, Cold Bath Lane by Lorna Dounaeva gave me a glimpse into the pain that Jody and Alicia dealt with, making it a little easier to understand why they make the choices that they do!

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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! 

  • Will Alicia Get Her Revenge?

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    You set fire to me and left me for dead. You even pronounced me dead, never noticing that I was still alive. Everyone left me, yet somehow I survived.

    When Alicia escaped the fire, she began a whole new life. She meets a man named Christopher, who is only happy to take care of her. She tried (though not very hard) to become an actress, while biding her time until she could take revenge on the people who left her for dead.

    Alicia decides that she will have her revenge. Or will she? Is she willing to give up her love, just to get even? Christopher won’t stay with her if he really knows who she is, so is she willing to risk it all?

    The Girl Who Caught Fire by Lorna Dounaeva: another compelling novel in the series. I can’t wait to see how it ends!

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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 Quick Look, Learning More Of Isabel’s Story

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    Your wedding is meant to be the best day of your life. Isabel doesn’t do anything the way that she is supposed to…Instead, she decides to ride a horse to her wedding, in the rain. So, after a few riding lessons, she hops on in her tulle dress and tries to make it down the road.

    The Wedding by Lorna Dounaeva is not just a short story. It is just another part of the intense and gripping series about Isabel and the McBride family. It adds another layer to the thriller. A must-read!

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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 Trust Your New Friend?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    When Isabel Frost almost hits Alicia, she doesn’t know what to do. So, she decides to help her. She finds her a job at the supermarket where she works. She introduces her to her friends, and they take to her right away. She even moves in with them, when the place where she is staying burns down.

    But then, fires start to break out all over town. Isabel thinks that something is up with Alicia. When the police start looking at Isabel, she doesn’t understand what is going on. Why do they think that Isabel is the one who is causing all of the problems, when it is Alicia? Can she help the police solve the mystery BEFORE they arrest her?

    If you are interested in a good thriller series that will keep you guessing until the VERY end, you need to check out the McBride Vendetta Thrillers.  Fry by Lorna Dounaeva was a very good start, and I am already halfway through the next book, which is just as intriquing as this one!

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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! 

  • Hannah’s Story As a Mail-Order Bride

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    Hannah Frank’s sister ran off as a mail-order bride to get away from her greedy grandmother. Now that Hannah is of age to marry, she is thinking about doing the same. She accepts an offer from the odd Mr. Jones to take her out west and find her a husband.

    Soon, she finds herself married to Victor Bates, a kind and handsome man who has a young baby daughter. She is happy with the match, knowing that he is a good man, though he is hiding something from her. This makes it hard for her to open up to him, knowing that she isn’t sure what he is hiding.

    When she finds out about his secret, both of them argue in a way that they never have before. Will they find their way back to each other? Or will this tear them apart?

    I have flown through these mail-order bride novels, like Baby’s New Mother by Faith Johnson, and you will find yourself enjoying any of Johnson’s novels!

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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!  

  • How Can A Husband and Teenager Move on From Suicide?

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    Maddy is a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother. She keeps everything going smoothly for her husband, Brady and her daughter, Eve. She is always there when they need her until she commits suicide.

    Both Brady and Eve are heartbroken. They had no idea that Maddy was so unhappy. They thought that they loved each other and had everything that they needed. They just can’t understand what would cause her to jump off of the library building. They even started reading her journal to see if they could figure out what was going on in her head!

    That being said, Maddy is not ready to leave her family. In fact, as she watches above, she starts to look for her replacement. She finds Rory, a beautiful woman who is caring.

    She talks to her husband and her daughter to help them through this difficult time. However, as time passes, it gets harder and harder to get their attention.

    I LOVED I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi. It is a must-read debut novel from an author that I can’t wait to read what she puts out next!

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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 Ending I Never Expected

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    When Natasha met Daniel, her life began to change quickly. She went from working hard and barely surviving to moving into a nice apartment with a man she barely knew. When he proposed, she dreamed of the day she didn’t have to work so hard and worry about money. Daniel had the means to support her. Even better, he fit right into her group of friends and their husbands. She finally was a wife.

    When Daniel found a cruise and offered to take all of her friends, she was thrilled. A whole week sounded perfect. But instead of being excited, all of her friends were a bit unsure about the trip.

    And as soon as the ship set sail, she realized the trip might not be all they wanted. In fact, the secrets shared between the friends might tear them all apart!

    I thoroughly enjoyed  The Wives of Valerie Keogh! I never realized that I would enjoy thrillers the way that I do. I have downloaded two more of Koegh’s books. I can’t wait to get started.

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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! 

  • Can You Find a Friend When You Need One Most?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    The worst day of Gemma’s life changes her life forever. She has been raising her daughter on her own while her boyfriend looks for new opportunities in Australia. However, she receives an email from his brother, letting her know that Jack has moved on. In fact, he is raising another child with someone else.

    When Gemma gets this news while she is at work, she falls apart in the women’s restroom. There, she meets Crystal, a woman who takes her out to lunch to get away from all the prying eyes!

    Crystal has been where Gemma was. She was left suddenly and had to figure out how to move on. So, when she sees Gemma, she is ready to help!

    When she meets Gemma’s daughter, she falls in love with her. Poppy feels the same way about Crystal. Crystal starts helping Gemma care for Poppy as she tries to figure out what her future is going to look like.

    But then, jealousy happens. Poppy and Crystal start spending so much time with each other, that Gemma starts to become uneasy about the whole situation.

    I just loved Not Your Child by Sheila Norton, and I had to download quite a few more of her books, and I can’t wait to read them!

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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.