The Song Remains the Same by Allison Winn Scotch

Reviewed by Laura Kay

Nell Slattery wakes up in a hospital room with strangers all around her, she doesn't know anyone in the room --she doesn't remember who she is!

Nell is one of only two people who survived a terrible plane crash. Even though she remembers nothing of the accident or anything before, she feels there must be a reason why she survived. Nell looks to her family for answers, but as they tell her information about her life...things don't sit well with her. It's as if she knows instinctively what is and is not true.

After seeing a photo of herself on People, Nell is determined to be a new more fabulous Nell Slattery! Nell fills up on pop culture over the years from music to TV and movies (thanks to her sister for putting together a playlist) and heads back home to New York. But hey her life and apartment are not reminiscent of Friends! Where is her cool apartment and the awesome coffee shop to hang out in?

Nell begins uncovering more and more untruths she has been fed by her family. She begins to question everything around her, and realizing she isn't becoming a new fabulous self. Her true personality comes through as she begins a quest in finding out just who is, Nell Slattery.

I'll be honest and say the beginning of the novel was so so for me, but the storyline had me interested. I never really connected with Nell. And her family? Ugh. But I was interested in what she would learn. Nell kind of went off on a hunt to find out more about her father and less about herself. I was like what the heck is she doing the her therapist called her out on it and I was like oh good it wasn't just me. 

The story really hit its stride after that. I began to appreciate who Nell is and why she is the way she is. It was an adventure in really finding out who she was by what she had been through...what made her who she is.

Definitely one of those books I wasn't really ready to say goodbye to and wanting me to makes me want to read more by Allison Winn Scotch. Quick mention: Best inner dialog I've read in a book in awhile...just seemed genuine to me!

I am recommending THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME!

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

Never Alone by Linn B. Halton

Reviewed by Charlotte

Holly has a great life.  She has a gorgeous long term boyfriend, Will, who is making it big in the IT world and taking her with him.  She has a great job with her Dad’s company.  But something is just not quite right.

Holly begins having strange psychic sensations, which runs in her family.  As she struggles with her “gift”, her life is turned upside down.  When a medium, Peter, lets her know that she is OK and that she is protected by her grandma and best friend’s deceased brother, Nick, she feels at peace.  As she starts confiding in Nick, her path in life seems to change.

Did I like this book?  Most of the time I did.  There were some parts that seemed slow, almost boring, but overall I enjoyed the story.

I cannot imagine living in Holly’s shoes.  The paranormal, mediums, psychics are all things I doubt, but love to read about.   I loved how Holly and her Dad shared the same type of “gift”, but wish Linn had elaborated more on the similarities or differences.  .  It was good to see Holly grow and believe in herself, not letting her psychic powers hold her back.

Will won me over in the beginning by believing and wanting to stand by Holly and get her the help she needed to understand what was going on in her life.  By the end of the story I felt Will was too wrapped up in himself and his world and really let Holly down. 

If you enjoy ghosts, orbs, odd sensations, check out Never Alone.  Either way this is a good novel that I would recommend. 

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced

A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci

Reviewed by Charlotte

Emma Frazier works for Florida!, a lifestyle magazine.  She has a crush on her boss, Ben Gallagher.  When she is out at a local bar someone refers to her as the “ugly friend.”  At that point she decides she can impress her boss and co-workers by getting the interview of a life time with Nascar driver, Trip Monroe.

The only problem is Trip does not do interviews.  Emma hopes she can lay the we went to school together card and get the coveted interview.  Starting by going back to their hometown, Catfish Cove, where she learns of secrets and meets another classmate and a romance starts.  Will Emma get her interview?  Can she overcome the “ugly friend” comment?

A Girl Like You is witty and fun.  From the very beginning I was sucked right in and read the whole book in almost one sitting.  I really liked that Emma referred to her moms throughout the book and it was dealt with, but not made a HUGE deal.  Usually I don’t enjoy the first person point of view, liking to know all the characters in the story, but this time it was great.   Emma told her story and kept it all real.

Emma is so lovable.  She is real.  She is a normal size, with normal friends, and normal insecurities.  Her crush on her boss, who leads her on without starting a relationship, makes me chuckle.  I feel like Emma truly knows herself.  She knows deep down that she is not that “ugly friend”, but sometimes hearing it you just have to work through it.   As she works through it she discovers more and more about herself and makes herself stronger  and more self esteemed. 

I kept thinking I knew how this would end, but was very pleasantly surprised with how the story actually ended.  If you are looking for an easy fun read check this out.  

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

Construct a Couple by Talli Roland

Reviewed by Charlotte

Serenity is happy with her life.  Jeremy and Serenity have been a couple for over a year.   Serenity has a new job, fact checking for a popular newspaper.  While working hard not to make waves in her relationship or job she realizes that by not making waves she could lose what is important to her.

I did not read the first book, Build a Man, in the series but I loved and easily caught onto what was going on in this, the second, book.    I will be going back and reading the first book just to see what I missed.

Serenity is a lovable person who seems to get herself stuck in one sticky situation after another.  I kept thinking that is she would just communicate with Jeremy a little more so many of her issues would not even exist.  Her huge heart made her want to protect Jeremy from everything that could cause him any stress and that actually caused him a lot more stress.

Construct a Couple is a sweet quirky novel that I enjoyed very much.  I’m definitely adding the first book in this series to my TBR list.  And cannot wait to read the third book, Marriage to Measure. 

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

Snow in April

Snow is falling and the sky is gray, hard to believe its April. I stand outside in the cold letting the snow fall on my face hoping somehow it’ll wake me up from the nightmare I am living. I want to breathe, but I can’t seem to remember how. A single tear escapes my eye. No. No, if I cry it makes the nightmare real. Somebody talk to me… anybody. My husband holds my hand and opens the door. I walk inside. There is faint organ music playing in the background, gloomy and depressing. I hate it here. I want to leave, but instead I walk into the small room where the rest of my family is. I smile. I am brave. I look straight ahead and walk. I walk forward and I see my mom. I go to her and rub my hand to her cheek and smile at her. I wonder if she is proud of me. I wonder if she knows how much I love her.

My little nephew suddenly runs up to her and starts patting her shoulder, “Grandma, Grandma wake up” The world around me starts to crumble. I feel something inside of me waking up, but I don’t want to wake it up…I feel it trying to break free from my control. People start to arrive. Good. I have it under control again. I talk to people. I can’t get over how many people are here. It’s so nice. I smile I even laugh. Suddenly, we are ushered away into another room and we are being lined up. It feels like a wedding. We come back out to where my mom is waiting for us to take her into the sanctuary. I walk forward. Oh no. Oh no, they didn’t. What did they do? Why? Why? Why? They closed her in the box. She won’t be able to breathe in there!!! I move forward I want to stop this from happening, but it’s starting to crack. No. I can’t breathe it hurts to bad, nothing has ever hurt so bad. My heart feels as if it’s been pierced by a scalding hot knife.

Someone screams. It’s the most agonizing scream I’ve ever heard…it’s pitiful and full of mourning, it’s my voice—I am screaming. My mom is gone. My beautiful mom, my best friend, my safe place. My mom is gone. I am empty. I am broken. I fall to the ground.

The Very First Bite by Cynthia Langston

Reviewed by Charlotte Lynn

Lanie Albers has ten weeks until her class reunion.  She has twenty pounds of extra weight, a job she doesn’t like, and a non-boyfriend.  Lanie is panicking.   She knows her ex, Chad, from high school will be at the reunion and they never really settled things.  Candace, her best friend from high school, who moved out and never talked to her again, might be at the reunion.  The Very First Bite tells all of Lanie’s struggles to get a handle on everything.

While reading The Very First Bite, I saw some of myself.  The self esteem and body images issues are something most readers will relate to on some level.  Watching Lanie bounce from diet to diet and not get the results she wants and then seeing her realize that hard work, not the easy answers, are the way to get the results she wants, just made her seem so much more real to me.    But I will say there were times I wanted to skip parts and move on, a little too much dwelling on food for me.

I did enjoy the romance part of the story.  Mark, who won’t commit, and Chad, who never really broke up, were lovable.  The hope of getting back together with Chad, although they haven’t talked in years and have no clue if there is still an attraction between then.   With Mark you could feel he just needed a little push and that he really did love Lanie, and he loved her as she was.  Which made him perfect to me.

The Very First Bite is a witty and funny story that all women will relate to.  I definitely recommend it. 

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester

Reviewed by Charlotte

Shortly after Brian is born to Joan and Frank, the doctors tell the parents that due to problems with the formula they had been feeding him he has devastating brain damage.  He will never walk or talk.  But the doctor had not counted on Mama, Brian’s grandma.  Mama tells all her grandchildren that can’t is not a work.  Everyone can.  She goes on to prove this with Brian.

Goodnight, Brian is a story of family, love, and challenges.  A story where giving up is never an option.  I shed a lot of tears while enjoying this novel.  Some were tears of sadness, like when Joan and Frank are told of Brian’s brain damage.  Some tears of happiness, like when Brian spoke his first works and took his first steps. 

Never have I read a book with so much love.  The Mauretti Family has love and faith unlike any family I know.  Mama was in charge of the family and definitely Brian’s hero, be she was not the bossy grandma.  She led by example, everything she did taught someone a life lesson.  Lessons most of us need someone to teach us, not be telling us.  Everyone who came around the Mauretti Family walked away learning something and becoming part of the family. 

Angie, Brian’s younger sister, was one of my favorite characters.  She was the rebel child.  The child that seemed like she was always living in Brian’s shadow.  I felt she was one of the stronger grandchildren.   When Mama was unable to take care of Brian or just not around A…E (as Brian called her) was the one who stepped in and made sure that all of Brian’s needs were taken care of. 

This is the second book of Steven Manchester’s that I have read and loved.   I felt this book was AMAZING.  Absolutely amazing.  Anyone who has a heart will love this novel.  The morals and the love shine through.   Steven wrote another great novel that I will easily and happily recommend to everyone.  

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influence

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

Reviewed by Charlotte

In 1900, $500 million worth of art was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  This is the largest unsolved heist in history.

Aiden Markel approaches artist Claire Roth to paint an exact replica of a real Dega painting that was stolen during the Gardner Museum heist.   She agrees to paint in exchange for a show at his gallery and cash payment.  As she starts to paint, she begins to suspect that the painting Aiden has brought her is not the original as suspected, but a forgery.   She is very into research and finds the ways to prove it is not a true Degas.  If this is not the real Dega, where is the real one?   As Claire searches for answers she discovers there is more going on with the painting, the heist, and with Aiden than she originally thought.

I will admit that art is a subject I don’t have much knowledge of, but I found The Art Forger easy to read and understand.  Even not having art knowledge I was able to follow the terms and descriptions of the techniques that Claire was using to replicate the Degas.  Every chapter flowed easily into the next, keeping the drama going.  The suspense of having to know what Claire would discover next kept me reading late into the night.

 

I loved reading of her past relationship with Isaac and the drama that surrounded it.  Seeing how Claire dealt with the people in the art world who doubted her talent due to the relationship with Isaac was great.  Claire managed to stay strong and convince others around her to believe as she did, even if it was a struggle at times.   Shapiro did a great job weaving Claire’s past and present into one amazing story.

As the end was coming I had no clue as to how the novel would pan out, but was happy with the ending.  There was humor, love and sex, drama, and intrigue in the novel and I totally enjoyed it from beginning to end.  I highly recommend The Art Forger to any art lover.

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

Summer Melody by Toddie Downs

Review by Charlotte

It’s the summer of 1992.   Jane is happy school is out and looking forward to a summer of not having to try to fit in at school.  She never dreams that she would be getting a job.  She loves taking care of an autistic little boy.  Bonnie has been visiting her Mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, in the nursing home and realizes there are secrets from the past she needs to uncover.  Meg is planning her marriage to the love of her life, but fears that the wedding will not happen.  All three girls are part of the same family, The Stanton Family, and are lucky to have each other and the buried strengths come out during their individual challenges.

Summer Melody is a book for any age reader.

The teenager will easily relate to Jane.  Her character is a true teenager.  She fights with her mother and brother.  Hides out in her bedroom when feeling stressed.  But still stands by her family and pulls it together in the times of need.

The young adult will relate to Meg.  Falling in love, planning her wedding while trying not to cause waves with the future in-laws.  It is a hard and fine line but Meg does it perfectly and stays strong.  She knows what is important to her and when to give in.

The mom’s will relate to Bonnie.  She knows she needs to stay strong for her kids, but struggles with her ailing mother.  As a mom, she has a good sense of when to stand back from her kids and let the figure it out and when to get involved.  No matter which course she takes her kids always know she is there for them.  Which is more than her mom ever was for her.

This book would be great for a book club.  There are three strong women characters from three generations all trying to overcome their own struggles.    I highly recommend this novel. 

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

The Reluctant King by Rachel Higginson

Review by Charlotte Lynn

Avalon and Eden have defeated Lucan and are now ruling their people with freedom and peace.   Eden is happily married to Kiran and just returning from a two year honeymoon.  Avalon is use to being a  warrior and leader and is bored and lonely.

When the kingdom is threatened, Avalon is called to fight to save his people.   When he meets Amelia, who is in his every thought and causing him to lose control of his own world, he realized he isn’t lonely anymore.

The Reluctant King is written from Avalon’s point of view, which I love.  It was great to have all the characters back from the other books in this series.  Jericho, Kiran, Eden, Sebastian, Sylvia, and everyone else that I missed reading about were back.   Watching the connection between Avalon and Eden stay strong and true, having Eden and Kiran be happy and in love are all of what I hoped for at the end of Rachel’s  last book in this series.  The fact that Avalon found love made this novel even better, with a happy ending for Avalon that I was hoping for. 

Rachel Higginson truly outdid herself.  With each book in this series I become more and more enraptured with the Star Crossed Series.  I am anxiously awaiting the next release.  If you have not read this series you are seriously missing out on a great set of books.

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

Viewer Discretion Advised by Cindy Roesel

Reviewed by Laura Kay

The news has never been hotter or sexier than in Miami!

After losing her job in LA, Charlene "Charley" Thomas has found a new job and a new city. Working as the news director for WCAR in Miami, FL. She is working for the tough as nails Jonathon Lefton or better known as The Velvet Ax who is known for going after the ratings at any cost. 

Charley barely has her feet on the ground in Miami and she is already throwing strippers out of the news room, dealing with big personalities  major stories, anchor scandals, new guys, old boyfriends, more strippers, stalkers um even a possible murder! And that's just her first few weeks! 

Cindy Roesel has written a saucy fun novel that is non-stop enjoyment. I loved the news room backdrop of the story, it's something very different than most books. The story moves so quickly--the way I would think a news room world work.  I was totally hooked with all the action in the story. I really appreciated how Roesel seemed to anticipate some of the reader questions and made sure her characters asked them. 

I would have enjoyed more time being spent on the relationship between Charley and Oz. I found the whole friends with benefits believable, but the quick leap to the relationship being more didn't really convince me. 

If you are looking for a fun fast paced Chick Lit book then look no further. 

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

I Am Lucky Bird by Fleur Philips

reviewed by Laura Kay

This is one of those books I wasn't completely sure about. I mean the story sounded so compelling to me, but at the same time I knew it was going to be dealing with some pretty tough topics as I read.

Lucky Bird is a twelve year old girl, a loner, a girl who was found in a dumpster behind a bar. The only person in her life who ever loved her was her "mother", AnnMarie. Then AnnMarie mysteriously disappears. Lucky is left alone with Marian, AnnMarie's abusive mother, whose drunken creepy boyfriend who seems to be watching her every move.

Just when Lucky seems to have made a new friend and found middle ground with Marian, her world closes in around her--imprisoning her. When Lucky is finally able to escape, she finds herself unable to let go of her past and drowns herself into a dark underworld. But with a name like hers you know that can't be the end. When her world goes completely black, she finally finds a safe and happy place.

But wait there is even more---

Let me say I could not hardly put this book down! I wanted to know what was next for Lucky and at the same time I wanted to know the back story of those around her. This book drew me into Lucky's world. I wanted to reach out and help her. I kept hoping for more, hoping for better for her.

Fleur Philips wrote a story that dealt with some very dark themes and yet wrote it all in such a way you could read it with out feeling like it was to graphic. This is just a non stop book, beautifully written. I am highly recommending it!

*Note this is a YA book, but I would really say it's for a mature YA/Adult.

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Back to You by Priscilla Glenn

Reviewed by Charlotte

Back in high school Lauren Monroe becomes best of friends with bad boy Michael Delaney.  Michael is known for his temper and acting out, but Lauren sees something more in him and the unlikely friendship occurs.

Eight years later, Lauren and Michael meet again.  Lauren has taken a job at a daycare and on her first day Michael brings in his daughter, Erin, for her first day of preschool.  Lauren does her best to keep things professional with Michael, but that proves to be more difficult then she anticipated.  Michael and Lauren become friends and work to get over what ended their high school friendship.

Back to You is amazing.  I started and finished it in one day since I could not put it down.  The story of a second chance friendship both broke my heart and was heart warming.  Priscilla Glenn wrote this story perfectly.  The characters emotions were portrayed as if they were your own and went straight to your heart.

The mixture of Lauren and Michael’s high school years and their present lives gave you enough background and understanding to truly appreciate the whole story and understand why they each acted and felt like they do.  The alternating points of view gave the reader the ability to easily connect with both characters.

I cannot believe this is Glenn’s debut novel.  I can see this novel going somewhere big, like best sellers list.  Everyone has to read this story.

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The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

EvenFall by Liz Michalski

Reviewed by Laura Kay

Evenfall is a story of a lost love. A missed love. In Hartman, Connecticut the beautiful home named Evenfall stands. It's where Frank and Gert fell in love, and where Frank stayed and married Gert's sister, Clara. The unfinished story between Frank and Gert was so strong, it lived even after death--because Frank couldn't leave Gert. Frank's ghost lived on. Reminding Gert of what walking away had cost her.

Andie Murphy, is the niece of Frank and Gert. She has come back to Hartman to help her Aunt clean out Evenfall and to run away from her old flame Neal. When she gets home, she begins a relationship with Cort. Cort has been in love with her most of his life, but Andie has no intention of sticking around. 

Gert is a hard as nails kind of lady, but Franks presence seems to be drawing her back into the past. Reminiscing about the past softens her. Makes her look on Andie and Cort with new eyes, but will her help be enough when an unexpected visitor suddenly appears.

Evenfall, was definitely fresh and different. It was a sad story. I was sad for Gert. Sad for Frank, even for Clara. I found myself believing, better yet understanding why Frank couldn't leave. I wanted them to be able to go back and make different choices. I wanted Andie to stop and make different choices. 

I was surprised by the ending. Yet the ending was how real life sometimes is. This is a story that is beautiful because it is so real in its pain, choices, and sadness. A definite recommend. 

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Tide’s Ebb by Alexandra Brenton

Reviewed by Charlotte

Marinna Holt, a Manhattan lawyer, believes her life is perfect.  She has her dream job and an amazing fiancé. When she comes home unexpectedly and finds her fiancé doing something shocking and her life is shattered.  The law firm sends Marianna to Rhode Island for work, which makes Marianna determine to start over.

When Marianna has an accident, Larry rescues her.  Larry is not the typical hero.  He is not the fit and trim guy nor does he fall for Marianna’s whims.  But there is an attraction between Larry and Marianna.

I found Marianna cold and self centered.  Her whole world focused on herself and sex, and even the sex was all about her satisfaction.  Leaving her fiancé I did agree with, his sex habits were nasty and incredibly rude.  Other than that I could not relate or enjoy Marianna’s story.

Many times I felt as if I was reading a crude sex story, wanting to put it down and stop.  I did finish the novel, but really cannot say I enjoyed it or would recommend it to anyone else.

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