The Winter Sister by Megan Collins Book Review

 

If you are looking for a book to spend a day with, try this one!

Sylvie left home as soon as she possibly could, always carrying the guilt she had over her sister’s death and never having any real closure. After Persephone (her sister) died, their mom (Annie) pretty much shut down due to her own grief. Sylvie’s Aunt Jill stepped in and took Sylvie to her home, raising her as her own with her own daughter, Missy. Fast forward … Aunt Jill calls Sylvie home to care for her mom who is sick with cancer. Sylvie didn’t want to, but she did at Aunt Jill’s insistence. To say that Sylvie and Annie’s relationship by this point was filled with turbulence would be an understatement. These women both had their own deep-seated secrets and grief they carried for many, many years.

I found this book started with a bang and really didn’t let up with a couple of “red herrings” thrown in for good measure. This book contains numerous stories between its pages. The relationship of Persephone and Sylvie. The relationship between Annie and her own sister, Jill. The relationship between Persephone and her boyfriend, Ben. Tommy Dent plays a part. The officers involved in the beginning are a part of this tale, one later becoming a detective, the other leaving the police force. The relationship between Persephone and Annie. The relationship between Sylvie and Annie. Missy (the cousin) plays a small part in the telling of this tale. Ben Emory plays a significant role in the telling of this tale. Secrets, lies, deceit, forgiveness, sickness, love, new life … all can be found within the pages of this story.

The Neighbors by Hannah Mary McKinnon Book Review

 

I have enjoyed Ms. McKinnon’s writing style ever since I read “Sister Dear,” and “The Neighbors” is no exception.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if your ex moved in next door? Such is the case of Abby and Nate. Abby thought she had done a good job of burying her past and all the secrets that went along with it. Can you imagine having to act like you have just met your neighbor for the first time? Yet, there are some “tells” that are so subtle they start to add up and your spouse starts to become suspicious but thinks he or she must be imagining things.

Two marriages on the brink of collapse. Teen love. A wife wanting the affection she wasn’t getting from her husband. Lies, deceit, affairs, guilt, tragic accidents, a mother and daughter reconciling, troubled relationships between mothers and daughters, animosity between neighbors, the truth finally coming out, a daughter learning how to bury her own truth. I have to admit, I did figure out a couple of things while reading this one, but I found it to be a good read that kept my attention.

The Secrets of Us by Lucinda Berry Book Review

 

Lately, I find myself reading books twice and this one is no exception. This is the tale of Nichole and Krystal, two young girls who were put into the foster care system, landing at Mrs. Wheeler’s farm. Mrs. Wheeler also had a daughter, Veronica. Veronica was not a nice girl, though her mother refused to see how mean she could be. Whenever something bad happened to Veronica at school, she would plot her revenge and take it out on Nichole and Krystal, seemingly harmless pranks when you’re a kid. Mrs. Wheeler was always pushing Veronica to make friends at school, which Veronica fought. Enter a fateful night when Mrs. Wheeler decided to invite Alice over for a sleepover. All four girls ended up in the hayloft playing “truth or dare.” Pretty major incident happened that affected Nichole more than anyone. Krystal and Nichole waited out their time at Mrs. Wheeler’s until they finally ran away, never to return. Twenty years they held fast to their secrets and over which time they rebuilt their lives. Twenty years saw Krystal become a lawyer, and Nichole become a wife to Aiden. Aiden had secrets of his own. Aiden found out the truth Nichole and Krystal tried so hard to hide. Krystal found out about Aiden’s secret he tried so hard to hide. All Krystal wants to do is protect Nichole at all costs.

If you like messed-up relationships whether it be between sisters by fate or a seemingly perfect marriage with intertwining stories, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. If you like stories told in dual timelines and stories with deep-seated secrets, this would be one to read. This story is told in the voice of Krystal (now) and Nichole (then). I am constantly surprised at the twists Ms. Berry throws into her books, sometimes you’re taken down one path and then find yourself veering off into another direction altogether. Ms. Berry is one of my go-to, don’t-read-the blurb authors. Looking forward to her next book!

The Sunday Girl by Pip Drysdale Book Review

 

I was fortunate enough to have won this book from Cindy over on Instagram (lovemybooks2020). I left this book sitting on my shelf and decided to give it a read. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Drysdale and I was not disappointed.

Taylor is madly in love with Angus, and she believes he is madly in love with her until she finds out he cheated on her. After having lived with Angus, Taylor moves back to her tiny apartment that she can barely afford, having moved there to be close to Angus. She then devises a plan to get back at Angus for breaking her heart. She does some small things that would cause him some irritation, never thinking he would figure it out was her. There came a knock on her door. It was Angus toting flowers and an apology. She knew it was wrong, but she let him in. They got back together. Charlotte, Taylor’s friend, and Taylor’s mom kept warning her to stay away. Taylor followed her heart. Enter David, a business client. Then, some odd things started happening in Taylor’s personal life (she knew Angus had a temper and a cocaine problem) and then some odder things started happening in her work life. Taylor then decided to exact her revenge, but Angus proved to be a formidable opponent … or was he?

If you like books that involve twisted relationships, you are sure to enjoy this one. The entire cast of characters make this a complete story. The relationship between Taylor and Angus. The friendship between Taylor and Charlotte, including Charlotte’s fiancé Ben (Ben does not have a major role in this tale). The relationship between Taylor and her mum (important, I think, because who do we usually turn to in times of trouble? Mum!) The business relationship between Taylor and David. The relationship between Taylor and Val (her work supervisor). All these combined together make for an enjoyable day of reading. (I actually read this twice and was more taken in the second time around.)

His & Hers by Alice Feeney Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. (Not my picture.)

This tale is told in three different voices, one of “His,” one of “Hers,” and the third voice being that of …

Anna and Jack, a divorced couple, found themselves running into each other through circumstance of a murder case. Anna, who had been covering for the news anchor (Cat Jones) who was away on maternity leave, found herself as a field correspondent again upon Cat’s return. This led her to a story to cover in Blackburn, a place she had vowed never to return. Other women were turning up murdered. Strange things began happening that made Anna think perhaps she was drinking too much or maybe she just didn’t remember doing certain things, like tidying up after herself. Strange things also began happening to Jack as if someone was trying to set him up to take the blame for these murders.

I found myself thinking Person A was the guilty party, but no maybe it was Person B, yet again I went back to Person A. There are some other stories intermixed in the main telling of this tale. It all went back to the day of high school when a group of five girls were seemingly good friends … Rachel, Helen, Anna, Zoe, Catherine. This is definitely a story of past secrets coming to the surface for revenge to be exacted.

No Consent by L.J. Sellers and Teresa Burrell Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am writing a review.

This is the first in a new series and was such a fun read, with many underlying stories intermixed. Nate Conner is just released from jail and finds himself attracting unwanted attention because he is in the wrong place at the wrong time, when all he really wants to do is get his life straightened out. While he is attempting to do just that, he finds himself being questioned by the police for crimes he didn’t commit, and seemingly no one believes him until he meets Ms. Hitchens who works in the district attorney’s office, and she introduces him to Mr. Leahy who becomes his lawyer. Ms. Hitchens herself (Hitch) has uncovered some not so upstanding goings on in the DA’s office and decides to letter Conner help her figure out what’s going on. There is also the underlying story of Kaylee, Nate and Nicole’s baby sister, who suddenly goes missing and they do all in their power to help find her and bring her back home. In the end, Nate finds himself developing deeper, stronger relationships with both of his sisters.

This is going to be an interesting series to be a part of. The characters are what I would consider ‘fun,’ in that they each have their own quirky personalities but that just makes the story mesh even more. As well, Ms. Sellers and Ms. Burrell, although writing together, are able to maintain the same voice so the reader doesn’t realize that this book is written by two people. That, in and of itself, is a difficult task at best.