Showing posts with label Family drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family drama. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Book review: UNDER THE SAME SKY, by Claudia Burgoa

 I’m loving this series! Each book is more scary than the previous one, as we read about a small town besieged by an organization, but the townies don’t realize it. Only Nysa is aware because she saw a man being buried in her farm. She escaped the men, and ran away from town, stayed running, hiding, moving around. Three years later, she came back to town and it’s as if the criminals were waiting for her to come back and for the action to begin again.


The author did a great job creating a suspenseful feeling to the story, it even got me paranoid!

Initially, Nysa was closed off, didn’t want to share what happened years ago, and the warnings that started coming at her. Her neighbor was intrigued by her, very much attracted, and was very willing to help her. I loved how little Maddie enchanted Nysa and made her open up. Having to stay close is what made them succumb to their attraction. Both were adverse to commitment, but the danger and suspense helped them overcome the hesitation.



The Timberbridge Brothers #2

Hopper & Nysa

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Timberbridge brothers felt more like enemies than family. Their abusive father used to beat them mercilessly and taunted them against the other, often making them fight between themselves. There was an environment of hate, and their mother would turn her face away and didn’t stop it. Hence their resentment and abandonment of their mother when she got terminally ill. The town troubles are making the brothers start to work together and it’s a part of the series I like very much. I loved that in spite of their issues, all the uncles love their niece so much, she has them twisted around her little fingers.


As with the first book, the story doesn’t end with a resolution on the organization targeting the town, and in my case, I ended with more questions than answers.  Atlas is not what he seems, a simple tattoo artist, and I hope it will be cleared up in his book which comes next.


The story is entertaining, suspenseful, keeps you riveted wanting to know what happens next, and is sort of vague on what the criminals are doing.  It seems everyone is in a waiting game, faking a normal life when it’s anything but.  Interesting!


Purchase links


https://geni.us/UnderTheSameSky


About the author


Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. 


She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breaths away. Her books are the perfect blend of steamy and heartfelt, filled with emotional characters and explosive chemistry. Her writing takes readers to new heights, providing a variety of tears, laughs, and shocking moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats.


She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, her youngest two children, and three fluffy dogs.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At nights, she likes to binge watches shows or movies with her equally geeky husband.


Connect with Claudia Burgoa:

https://claudiayburgoa.com/wp/links/ 





Saturday, February 24, 2024

Book review: TEMPTING PROMISES, by Corinne Michaels


Whitlock Family #3

Rowan & Charlotte

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fun book!  A couple who hate each other turns from enemies to lovers, not without some squabbles and mischief.  Rowan used to go out with Charlotte’s sister Aurora, but when they broke up, she turned vindictive and vilified him to everyone in town.  She lied saying he cheated on her, turning Charlotte against him too.

Now Rowan and Charlotte are competing for a milk producing contract and as they have frequent contact, she can’t help realizing he’s a decent person, not capable of what her sister accused him of.


I loved the banter and the squabbles, loved the decent and kind person Rowan is.  Initially, I was annoyed at Charlotte, but then she redeemed herself as she starts noting Rowan’s actions when he rescues her several times.  They have such yummy sexy times! I loved the funny nonsense about the hat exchange!


This is a small town romance, which I love, where everyone is in each other’s business.  The Whitlock family is tight and supportive, and I loved Rowan’s niece Olivia.  She’s deaf but that doesn’t stop her from being a strong assertive young girl.  


The family dynamics, the rivalry between Charlotte and Rowan, the banter and squabbles, Charlotte’s stubbornness, it all adds for a very entertaining story.  I only wished that Aurora, Charlotte’s sister, got more comeuppance than she got!


Purchase links


FREE with Kindle Unlimited 

Amazon: https://geni.us/TP_Amazon

Paperback: https://geni.us/TP_PB


Audio: https://geni.us/TP_CM

Narrated by: Andi Arndt & Jason Clarke


Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/TP_GR



About the author 



Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.


Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed--reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.


 

Connect with Corinne


Website: http://corinnemichaels.com

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NVZmhv

Facebook: https://bit.ly/1iwLh6y

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/corinnemichaelsbooks/

Instagram: https://bit.ly/2L1Vzo6

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corinne.michaels

CMBOOKS TO 77948


Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Book review: DAMAGED GOODS, by L.J. Shen


All Saints High #4

Lev & Bailey

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


When I finished this book, I had to take a moment to sort through my thoughts and feelings.  This book really affected me so much, it was heartbreaking and beautiful!


Bailey and Lev were childhood sweethearts until their goals and dreams took them apart. Bailey wanted to attend Juilliard, Lev wanted to attend the Air Force Academy. Both were bound by the love they had for their parents, and were living a reality that didn’t really fit their innermost dreams.


The story of Bailey as she suffers through her addiction was so heartbreaking and it was causing so much suffering to all her family and Lev, and most of all, herself.  I felt for her, because she knew what she was doing but she was prisoner to her cravings and her desire to be good was overcome by the addiction.  The author did an excellent job as she depicts Bailey’s struggles to overcome her addiction and her pain as she disappoints her loved ones when she fails.  It broke my heart to see Lev try to hard to help her, to see his frustration at not being successful, his yearning to have his girl back with him, the old Bailey.


The story was tumultuous and passionate, full of recriminations and guilt, and in the end redemption.  The love Bailey and Lev had for each other was so strong and forever, it was beautiful to witness.  Through all their travails, they love was front and center, even when they were at odds with each other.  


All of the Saints families are involved in this drama with various levels of involvement.  But through it all, the support of this made family is strong and present.  I loved seeing the Totholes  with their own kids, loved the little side plot of Dean and Dixie.  The author called it right and it evolved exactly as it should. Another detail I love about this author is that she includes this little moments of humorous comments that give just the perfect balance to the angst as we’re reading it.  In my case, the story was so intense that it felt like a little moment of relief amidst the angst.  Superb! I couldn’t wish for a more perfect end to this group of beloved characters!


Purchase links


FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/damagedgoods

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/47NYlUe


About the author 


L.J. Shen is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of contemporary, new adult, and young adult romance. Her books have been sold in twenty different countries, and she hopes to visit all of them.


She lives in Florida with her husband, three rowdy sons, and rowdier pets and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows, and reading to her heart’s content. 


Connect with her on her website at www.authorljshen.com or on Instagram (@authorljshen), or join her Facebook group at http://goo.gl/QZJ0NC. Sign up for her newsletter at https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb, and text SHEN to 313131 to get new release alerts (United States only).


Thursday, December 28, 2023

WHITE LIES, by Skye Warren




 Smoke and Mirrors #2

I felt like the first part of this story was the adventurous, suspenseful part of the book, and the second part was the cheesy, romantic part.  Both were enjoyable in Skye Warren’s inimitable style!


At the end of Red Flags, Sienna was accused of endangering the circus by scaling the ferris wheel just for fun.  Logan didn’t believe her that she thought she was saving a little girl.  Choosing to believe his circus family, he banished Sienna from the circus.  She left, and was almost immediately kidnapped by her childhood bully Kyle and his minions.  And yet, Logan had a niggling feeling that there was a lie involved and he had banished Sienna without reason.  Once he confirms it, he finds Sienna’s little dog and realizes she’s been taken.  And the hunt begins!


Sienna feels betrayed and abandoned once again, Logan feels immense guilt over having doubted her.  A lot of information comes forth, as the story evolves and all the little intricate details of the plan to get rid of Sienna is out.  In a way, Logan also feels betrayed by his friends, so there’s a lot of disappointment going around. Sienna is shown as very brave and resourceful, as usual. She’s a survivor!


Once Logan finds Sienna, we see a very remorseful Logan promising the world to Sienna, who feels like she can’t trust anyone anymore.  This part was more angsty than suspenseful, and it was also more fun because they end up in North Security facilities, with Liam North and his wife Vanessa.


There are fun and cute parts, a lot of Logan groveling, which I enjoyed, steam as always, and we get a feeling that the future of Cirque Des Miroirs is somewhat in peril. We get another cliffhanger with a surprising plot twist, so now we have to wait for the final installment of this entertaining series! 



Purchase links


Amazon: https://bit.ly/46A8RhJ

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/48B6hJR

Nook: https://bit.ly/417sRGI

Kobo: https://bit.ly/48AFwp2

Google Play: https://bit.ly/46U3r0s


Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Q9iE9b



About the author


 

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. Her books have sold over two million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.


Connect with Skye

Website: http://www.skyewarren.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5339130.Skye_Warren

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BX2sUG

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyewarren/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1569845016592572/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyewarrenbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skye_warren

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/skye-warren

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/skyewarren/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skyewarrenbooks

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/skyewarren




Book review: BOSS OF THE YEAR, by Nicole French

Belmont Billionaires Marie & Lucas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Delicious! I saw a very strong influence from the movie Sabrina, this author wrote a magi...