Girl 99 by Andy Jones

Girl 99 to be released February 14, 2017

Girl 99 is way better than I anticipated. I simply loved it!

This little book is a mixture of romance and humor. 

 

This book is written from the point of view of our main character, Tom.

Tom is 31 years old  and has just been dumped by his girlfriend. 

She is number 86 and Tom makes a bet with a friend that he will get an even 100 by 

a certain date. Tom has some fun along the way, burns some bridges but this book isn't just about sex.

It's about Tom and who he is. He is friends with his much older downstairs neighbor and has a 

really great relationship with his father and sister. Tom has a nice group friends and an interesting job. He is rather interesting and someone I could see myself being friend with.

When I first picked up this book, I thought it was going to be about a man who didn't respect women, who was always looking to fill that next need but it's about so much more!

I love British mannerisms and colloquialisms and this book is full of them! I am looking forward to reading more books by Andy Jones.  Expect an easy, fast, addictive read.

 

The Sixth Event by Kristen Morie-Osisek

Eighteen year old Raquel witnesses the end of the world. The last thing she sees is her imminent death and then she wakes up.

 It is two years, she's back in High School and the only other person who remembers the end -- is her old classmate Chris Lyley. Chris Lyley the guy she always thought was a "loser". Together they find out "powers" they have such as teleportation.

They come across a few others like them. They group together and try to determine what caused the end and figure out a way to prevent the sixth extinction event from happening.

They teleport from one extinction event to another to figure out if it matches they one the witnessed so they can figure out how to save mankind.


The characters are well developed and the story line keeps you turning the pages. I also found myself doing research on previous extinction events. The author has clearly done her research, giving this book a "real" spin on things.

I am looking forward to more reads from this author. This is an excellent debut novel. It is riveting and engaging.

Thanks to NetGally for proving this copy for review.

Never Let You Go by Chevey Stevens

Never Let you Go by Chevey Stevens

 To be released March 14, 2017

 

 

This book is a page turner and will keep you up way past your bedtime.

Chevey Stevens knows how to write, entertain and keep you guessing.

Be prepared for a gamut of emotions!

 

Lindsay's husband is abusive and an alcoholic. Lindsay's only option to save herself and her daughter is to hatch a plan and escape in the middle of the night. Lindsay's plan is a successful failure in that she escapes but her husband, Andrew realizes she is gone and chases after her. During his mission to get her back he is in an accident that results in a death.

 

 He was under the influence, found guilty and sentenced to prison and now he is out.

 

Lindsay feels someone is watching her, following her and then her boyfriend starts to receive threats. Lindsay just knows it is Andrew. She catches him following her and she is frightened and planning an escape plan.

 

She fears for the safety of herself and her daughter and flees but will Andrew find them?

 

"Never Let you Go" is full of surprises and the villain could be ANYONE. Everyone is suspect and this thriller sucks you in and spits you out in an emotional upheaval. This is one book you don't want to miss. If you haven't read anything by Stevens, I suggest you pick up a book today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost Missed You: A Novel Mar 28, 2017 by Jessica Strawser

Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser

To be released

March 28, 2017

Violet and Finn were THE couple. The one everyone wants to be. The "perfect" couple, the couple meant to be or so everyone says and then Finn disappears with their son Bear.

Violet is blindsided and left alone on their family vacation. She has no answers for why Finn left she thought everything was perfect but Finn has secrets --- secrets that become his undoing.

Finn shows up with Bear on the doorstep of his childhood friend Caitlin's home. Caitlin is torn and forced into keeping his presence a secret or he will give hers up.

Violet is grieving and searching for her son and her friend Caitlin knows where he is and can't tell her. The story unravels like a fine ribbon.

Readers get to  experience the before, during and after of Finn and Violets relationship. Strawser makes you ache for both characters and makes Finn a loveable character despite what he has done. The backstory of Caitlin is bittersweet and the story will haunt you long after you've closed the book.

This is a deliciously good book.

The Body Electric by Beth Revis

The Body Electric has been sitting waiting for me to read for well over a year now but I just kept on shuffling it to the bottom of the deck. I finally decided it was time to pick it up and read it and I am glad that I did.

Beth Revis has a knack for Sci-Fi and easily entertains someone like me who isn't a huge fan of the genera. The story is cut into little chapters, which makes it a breeze to read and allows for excellent stopping points. The best thing is when you come back to the book, you easily slide back into it.

There is quite a bit of technological, futuristic devices but Revis doesn't hamper you down with details and explains them with ease. I was never left scratching my head or wishing the passage explaining
them was over.

Ella Shepard's mother has created the technology that allows for people to relive their memories when in a dream state. Her father was killed in the lab he was using to create technological advances. Ella's mother is dying and in an effort to help her mother she learns to insert herself into peoples dreams and memories.

Ella is approached by Jack, who gives her a warning to be careful. Jack who she has no memories of because they have been erased. Ella finds herself in a situation in which she is left with no choice but to trust Jack because she has no one else.

This book took a bit to get into and was fairly entertaining but not as good as Revis ""Across the Universe" series. I suspect it had to do with the fact that some of the elements from that series pops up in this one, which gives you an inkling of what is happening. The book is too predictable for my liking but I wouldn't rule out reading it based on that.

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

So -- I have read a few books between this post and the previous. I just can't post them for review yet as they are Advance Readers Copies and I have to wait until a certain date to post those reviews.

I do remember reading, "Perfect Match" and I  was able to recall the majority of the details. I was rather impressed by this.


 Perfect Match deals with the sensitive topic of sexual abuse of a child it is further complicated in that the accused abuser is a priest -- a person that many hold in high esteem. Nina Frost is an assistance district attorney who prosecutes child molesters and when her child become a victim she becomes unhinged.

She knows the law, knows the process and knows that most accusers are set free or serve very little time. Nina wants to make sure that justice is served and she takes matters into her own hands. She becomes the judge and jury and  her actions put her in the defendant seat.

Perfect Match has many narrators and is well written. JP pulls readers into her world. I didn't like Nina Frost but I've found that just because you don't like a character doesn't mean you won't like the book. I have to repeat that I LOVE the research JP puts into her novels and I usually rush off to learn more about topics she covers --- she educates and entertains her readers. Overall a good read.

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

I continue on my path to read and (re-read) Jodi Picoult's novels in the order they were published.

I remember reading Salem Falls and not being that impressed but mainly because books pertaining to magic don't hold my interest too long unless the underlying story is impressive.  I did enjoy this book more than in the past but I  can honestly say it is not one of my favorite Picoult novels.

This book centers around Jack St. Bride. Jack has been released from prison after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. He ends up in the sleepy town of Salem Falls. He keeps his past hidden and quickly finds a job at a dinner. Jack keeps to himself and forms a relationship with Addie the owner of the diner.

Jack's good looks catch the attention of Gillian Duncan, who's father owns half the town. Gillian gets what she wants and this time she wants Jack. She casts a spell in an attempt to get him. Gillian and her friends go out into the woods to perform some type of wiccan worshiping event. Gillian is assaulted in the woods on her way home and she points her finger at Jack.

Jack quickly becomes the towns villain and his case goes to trial. The court battle reveals many truths and lies.

Jack is a well developed character and his story is haunting. Addie is a wonderful character that you want to root for and become friends with. The teenage characters are the cast of mean girls but when one finds her strength you better watch out.

This is still overall an good read and entertaining.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is no stranger when it comes to writing novels that deal with difficult subjects or subjects no one wants to discuss. "Small Great Things" deals with racism and the amount of research that went into this novel is evident. It is based on a true story and the title of the novel is taken directly from one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's. speeches. Racism is strong in American and it is only getting worse.

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse with over 20 years of experience. She is good at her job, she loves her job but her life is about to change with the birth of one child, a child of a white supremacist.

Turk Bauer and his wife have just had their first child, a white male. Ruth enters into the room to do routine exams of a newborn and the atmosphere quickly changes, becomes tense. Ruth takes a mental  note but carries on as usual then Turk asks to speak with her supervisor. Shortly after a note is put on the newborn child's file that no one black is to handle him. Ruth is understandably upset as she is the only black nurse and the note is directly aimed at her.

A series of events puts her in a situation in which she is alone with the newborn and then he stops breathing. She jumps into action but it is futile and the baby is pronounced dead. Turk Bauer and his wife believe that Ruth willfully and with purpose murdered their son and a court battle begins.

This story is told in many voices. Ruth's, Turks and Kennedy's (Ruth's lawyer). Picoult does an excellent job of telling each characters life story. My only issue is that I felt the ending was abrupt and could have used another 20-80 pages. I was left wanting more.

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

Truth be told, I don't pick up novels by Nicholas Sparks much. They usually induce a lot of eye rolling and dramatic sighs from me. They are usually unrealistic and farfetched but this novel --- was different from other books of his that I have read. It felt more real, more true to life.


Russell Green and Vivian are a young couple with an adorable daughter. Vivian was a stay at home mom until Russell ventured out and opened his own business. She felt the need to work and bring in some money but..... Vivian's new job is demanding and she is gone all the time.

Russell is left to struggle with getting his business off the ground and taking care of his daughter. He finds it difficult to do both and everything around him starts to slowly crumble. Things turn for the worst but love for his daughter helps him prevail.

Russ Green is a wonderful, flawed character. A character you want to win, win, win! It's easy to experience his highs and lows and his lowest low had me bawling my eyes out. Viviana is a character you love to hate. She is selfish, self absorbed, spoiled and not the type of person you would personally want as a friend.

There are a lot more characters in the novel and my most favorite being Russ's sister. This is an overall easy, entertaining read.

Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

Keeping Faith is about so much more than a little Jewish girl who gets stigmata.

It is about the relationships we have with people. It's about mothers and daughters. Husbands and wives and the relationship we have with ourselves.

Mariah and seven year old Faith catch Collin having an affair. It isn't the first time and this time he is leaving. Mariah is in deep despair and then her daughter starts talking to her '"guard" and providing religions information that she would have no knowledge of as religion is neither practiced or discussed in the home.

Collin is convinced that Mariah is having a set back (she was institutionalized seven years prior when he had another affair) and he starts legal proceeding to gain full custody of Faith.

The media gets a hold of information regarding a little girl who has stigmata and Ian Fletcher a self proclaimed atheist and television personality make it his mission to show that these miracles and stigmata are a farce.

The stories weave together and the characters teach readers about forgiveness and kindness.

This book is not heavy on religion which is a good thing or I would have given up rather quickly. It took a bit to get into the book but once I did it was worth it. I remember liking it a lot more the first time I read it but I felt as though I had a better understanding of the characters and what they were going through. The title, "Keeping Faith" means so many things and this time around I was able to see that and explore it. Be prepare to dislike characters and struggle at times with the story.

Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner memoir is beautiful, honest and bold. I laughed, I cried and I related to her on so many levels.

I use to like Jennifer Weiner and now I love her and want her to be my best friend ( if I believed in best friends that is). Weiner is honest and opens herself up to her audience especially in terms of private life affairs. She took a risk sharing her life with readers and this book starts with her childhood and catches up to current day.

Jennifer discuses topics such as an absentee father, struggling with weight, self esteem, divorce, pregnancy, love and her some of her books.

Jennifer is a champion for women and after reading her memoir I hear more of her "voice" in her fictional novels.

If you are a fan, pick up this book and read it today.