Trust Me by Earl Javorsky---A Review

SYNOPSIS:

Jeff Fenner’s life is out of control. At the nadir of a rocky, sometimes-up-usually-down career, he has finally come face-to-face with his demons: he’s being investigated by the police, he owes money to the wrong people, and he sees an empty future shutting down in front of him.

When Jeff hears that his sister Marilyn has committed suicide, he refuses to believe she killed herself and he embarks on a tortuous journey toward self-discovery and redemption . . . and toward the beautiful but troubled Holly Barnes. Holly’s own demons have led her to a self-help cult in Beverly Hills called Saving Our Lives (or, perhaps more appropriately, SOL). Through Holly, Jeff learns of a string of apparent suicides eerily similar to his sister’s—and that Holly is the next target.

A fresh, bracing, surprising novel of suspense, TRUST ME further establishes Earl Javorsky as a thriller voice that demands to be heard.

FROM MY MIND'S EYE:

If you are into thriller suspense/ mystery, murder and mayhem, Earl Javorsky is an author to be added to your TBR list!  In my humble opinion, he ranks right up with the best authors out there in this genre.

Trust Me is written in alternating voices, which can be disconcerting with so many characters, but at some point that becomes a minor influence as you move deeper into the story Javorsky creates.  It is an effective tool though as these various characters begin to cross paths with one another.   The stage has been set for their interactions and the suspense steadily builds to the climactic end of this brewing pot of insanity and criminal deeds.

Truly a nail biter with criminal intent which repulses this reader at times, it is difficult to put Javorsky's work down.   His writing is smooth and flows effortlessly; his characters are strong and well rounded.    You can feel their psychological pain and weaknesses in the writing.  

Javorsky is definitely an author that should be followed as he journeys through this genre.

I rated this a 5 wink read!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a copy of this book from the author or their representative in exchange for an honest review.

A Fairytale Christmas by Susan Wiggs---A Review

SYNOPSIS:

Ace reporter Jack Riley loves his job, or at least he did until Madeleine Angston took over as publisher for the Courier. The perfect blonde ice queen is a daunting presence in the newsroom and an irresistible distraction, despite Jack's determination to avoid her as often as possible. Even if it means boycotting her fancy Christmas party.

Then a chance encounter with a stranger transforms Jack from a scruffy journalist into a debonair Texan in a tux, and he suddenly finds himself at the center of Madeleine's attention. As they embark on a fairy-tale evening together, Jack realizes that Madeleine isn't the woman he thought she was…but unfortunately, she no longer recognizes him in his new "Prince Charming" attire! Will Madeleine still be able to love the man behind the suit when she discovers who he really is?

FROM MY MIND'S EYE:

At only 72 pages, A Fairytale Christmas, is a fun and light-hearted read.   It's a spoof on the fairytale Cinderella, only the glass slipper is really a goatskin cowboy boot.

The characters aren't quite as they seem, but they are well rounded and likable in this quick read.    It's a definite twist on an old fairytale and enjoyable from start to finish. And there is a lot of heart and Christmas spirit within.

I rated A Fairytale Christmas 4 winks.  

 Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.    I purchased this book for my own personal collection.

Christmas Jars by Jason F Wright--A Review

Just when you think you have read the best book ever, along comes a different book, different by leaps and bounds and just as enjoyable, maybe even a little better, or just enough different to make that feel good feeling come alive again!   I am so grateful for books and the variety of creative souls on this wonderful planet we inhabit.   Thank you Jesus for this ride of so many lifetimes being shared through books!

Christmas Jars was just such a book!



SYNOPSIS:

Where had it come from? Whose money was it? Was I to spend it? Save it? Pass it on to someone more needy? Above all else, why was I chosen? Certainly there were others, countless others, more needy than me... 

Her reporter's intuition insisted that a remarkable story was on the verge of the front page. 

Newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the remarkable secret behind the "Christmas Jars", glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously left for people in need. But along the way, Hope discovers much more than the origin of the jars. When some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness, Hope's greatest Christmas Eve wish comes true.

FROM MY MIND'S EYE:

I loved this Christmas read.  It was short at 149 pages, but every page was worthy of being read.  More than one lesson was contained within the pages of this Christmas novella.

Hope Jensen, reporter,  was determined to find the origins of the Christmas Jars.   She had received one when she was in need of help.   Her investigative skills led her to thank you's printed in the paper from others who had received the jars and her search began.    However, the folks who had received the jars were pretty tight lipped and the jars were always given in anonymity.   But finally someone talked and she found what she believed was the source.    

Choosing to misrepresent herself, she inserted herself into the unsuspecting family.   She wrestled with her conscience, but did not win the battle and she continued to glean information.   When things are misrepresented, good people tend to regret their decisions and the conscience continues to prick their guilt, until everything gets blown way out of proportion....at least  between their ears.   So it was with Hope.    She had to distance herself from this family that she had come to love and need in order to assuage her guilt.

The story is ingenious as it begins with Hope as an infant left in a cafe booth with an anonymous note asking the person who finds her to care for her.   It carefully weaves a story of love and comes back full circle to the same cafe years later.   It is enchanting, delightful and certainly brings to life the spirit of giving. 

I rated this a 5 wink read!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.    I purchased this book for my own personal collection.

  

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale--A Review

SYNOPSIS:

An uplifting, beautiful story about never letting go of your dreams, the special magic of a family Christmas… and the rush of falling in love under the mistletoe. 

Single mother Abbey Fuller loves her family more than anything, and doesn’t regret for a moment having had to put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold. But with her son, Max, growing up, when a friend recommends her for a small design job she jumps at the chance. How hard can it be? 

Nick Sinclair needs his house decorated in time for his family’s festive visit – and money is no object. What he doesn’t need is to be distracted from his multi-million dollar business – even if it is Christmas. 

When Abbey pulls up to the huge Sinclair mansion, she has a feeling she might be out of her depth. And when she meets the gorgeous, brooding Nicholas Sinclair, she knows that she’s in real trouble… 

With the snow falling all around, can Abbey take the chance to make her dreams of being a designer come true? And can she help Nick to finally enjoy the magic of Christmas?

FROM MY MIND's EYE:

This was a great Christmas story, romantic and clean and delightful.   I absolutely loved it.  This read was all about what Christmas and family mean!

The characters:  strong, realistic, likable.    There were no grinch like characters, definitely no one that everyone loves to hate.    Nick's biggest drawback was being such a successful businessman dedicated to his work, his company and making money, to the exclusion of a private and passionate life.   Abbey was passionate about life.   She loved her family more than anything and she cared about the people in her life.   She was a hard worker, but not at the expense of her loved ones if she had any control over situations.

The setting:   Christmastime.   Hale did an excellent job of describing the mansion and the grounds of the Sinclair property.   Comparing Abbey's apartment and life to that of the Sinclairs provided a stark contrast.

The plot:  flowed smoothly from start to finish and made for an interesting journey as our main characters, Nick and Abbey, realized their mutual attraction and the importance of sharing their lives and dreams.

The conflict:  two totally different worlds and priorities collide.   Can they somehow be turned into one life, redefined with compromise and reordered priorities?

The resolution:     Let's say, just what the reader wanted!

One of the best Christmas romance reads ever!

I rated this a 5 wink read!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.    I purchased this book for my own personal collection.

Cover Reveal.....Darkly, Deeply, Beautifully by Megan Tayte

DARKNESS HAS FALLEN, AND SHE ALONE WILL SEE THE LIGHT

With her mother’s life hanging in the balance, Scarlett is devastated – and done with being in the dark. She wants answers, all of them.

But when was her pursuit of the truth ever straightforward?

Pulling a single thread triggers a great unravelling. And each revelation will force Scarlett to rethink what she thought she knew about the Ceruleans, the Fallen, her family – herself.

All that came before was a mere prelude to this, the last journey. From London to Twycombe to Hollythwaite to Cerulea, Scarlett will be stalked by the ghosts of what has been, what may have been and what may come to pass. Until she reaches the place where it all began, and it all must end.

But in the final reckoning, none will survive unscathed. And some will not survive at all.

In this explosive conclusion to The Ceruleans series, all must be defined by their actions: sinner, saint… or something more beautiful entirely?

 

Pre-order links

http://www.amazon.com/Darkly-Deeply-Beautifully-Ceruleans-Book-ebook/dp/B0183XAE2O

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkly-Deeply-Beautifully-Ceruleans-Book-ebook/dp/B0183XAE2O

(Publication date: 16 February 2016)

I can not wait for this final installation in the Cerulean series!!!

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber....Review

SYNOPSIS:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Savor the magic of the season with Debbie Macomber’s newest Christmas novel, filled with warmth, humor, the promise of love, and a dash of unexpected adventure.

Ashley Davison, a graduate student in California, desperately wants to spend the holidays with her family in Seattle. Dashiell Sutherland, a former army intelligence officer, has a job interview in Seattle and must arrive by December 23. Though frantic to book a last-minute flight out of San Francisco, both are out of luck: Every flight is full, and there’s only one rental car available. Ashley and Dash reluctantly decide to share the car, but neither anticipates the wild ride ahead.

At first they drive in silence, but forced into close quarters Ashley and Dash can’t help but open up. Not only do they find they have a lot in common, but there’s even a spark of romance in the air. Their feelings catch them off guard—never before has either been so excited about a first meeting. But the two are in for more twists and turns along the way as they rescue a lost puppy, run into petty thieves, and even get caught up in a case of mistaken identity. Though Ashley and Dash may never reach Seattle in time for Christmas, the season is still full of surprises—and their greatest wishes may yet come true.

FROM MY MIND'S EYE:

I do enjoy Debbie Macomber's Christmas stories.   I laughed my way through Dashing Through the Snow as the characters encountered one challenge after another in a merry little unsuspecting trip from California to Seattle Washington.

Debbie created some very realistic characters that enticed the reader to continue following their journey toward Christmas in Seattle.   The story was peppered with laugh out loud moments as the storyline twisted and turned and the travellers encountered more and more bizarre characters along the route.

If I could recommend one Christmas read to tickle your funny bone this holiday season, it would be Dashing Through the Snow.  

I rated this a fun  Winks!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.    I purchased this book for my own personal collection.

Yours For Christmas by Susan Mallery--a Review

SYNOPSIS:

Step out of the winter chill and into the warmth of Fool's Gold, California, the charming small-town setting for a new holiday novella from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery

Famous former NFL stars don't date single working moms like Bailey Voss. She'll allow herself to daydream about Kenny Scott's muscles and killer smile, but wanting more would lead to post-holiday regret. Then Kenny volunteers to run a toy drive with Bailey, and she learns that he's not just hot…he's also generous, funny, nice. The whole package—tantalizingly out of reach.

The ache of past loss reminds Kenny why he needs to avoid getting too close to anyone. Especially to a gorgeous redhead and her adorable little girl. Mess it up, and he'd lose them both. Yet Kenny can only resist Bailey for so long. And as festive spirit spreads throughout the town, he's all wrapped up in Bailey's sweet, sexy kisses and determined to make this the first of many Christmases together… 

FROM MY MIND'S EYE:

During the holiday season is my favorite time of year to read the novellas, shorter stories than a full fledged novel.   Mallery's Yours For Christmas was a fast paced story that was simply told, short at 98 pages, and heart warming.   The heroine was strong and believable, the hero was complete with past baggage and a definite need for self preservation and the cutest seven year old girl, rounded out the potential future family.    The characters were surrounded by so many loving friends and neighbors.

I enjoyed the rounding out of the characters and the history built for them.   I also enjoyed the sweet storyline with it's conflict resolved by the people of Fool's Gold and the brave heart of our heroine, Bailey Voss.     This was definitely a warm and fuzzy read and I am happy to have included it in my 25 days of Christmas.

I rated this a 4 wink read.

 Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.    I purchased this book for my own personal collection.