Book Review: Evidence of Life by Barbara Taylor Sissel

Review

Abby tells herself she is the luckiest woman in the world but that does not last long.  Her life and her luck change in an instant…

Abby’s son, Jake, is away at college and her husband, Nick, and her daughter, Lindsey, set out for a camping trip.   Abby looks forward to the quiet time she will have while the two of them are away.  That morning, she gets to braid her daughter’s hair and kiss her husband goodbye.  For one brief moment, Abby reminds herself that she is a lucky woman to have a good marriage and good life.  But then after a storm and flood happen, her perfect life crumbles when her husband and daughter vanish without a trace.

Abby is convinced that Nick and Lindsey are still alive especially since no remains were recovered. She finds herself going through various theories, including one that has to do with her husband’s involvement in high profile legal case where he was later accused of embezzlement.   She also wonders if they were kidnapped or perhaps, if her husband decided to run away with her daughter.

As she seeks closure, Abby realizes that her life was not as perfect as she perceived it to be. She discovers she did not know her husband as well as she thought she did and her marriage wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  Further, she finds herself on path she never she would take. The truth is a lot of more difficult than Abby could have ever realized.  Can she handle truth?  You will have to read Evidence of Life to find out. 

Evidence of Life is well written and offers a captivating storyline.  The characters appear realistic due to their shortcomings. In the end, everything comes into place for Abby but the ending isn’t what anyone anticipates. 

Excerpt from Evidence of Life

 “On the last ordinary day of her life before her family went off for the weekend, Abby made a real breakfast—French toast with maple syrup and bacon. It was penance, the least she could do, given how utterly delighted she was at the prospect of being left on her own for two whole days to do as she pleased. It would sicken her later, in the aftermath of what happened, that she could so covet the prospect of solitude, but in that last handful of ordinary hours, she was full of herself, her silly plans. She set a small mixing bowl on the counter, found the wire whisk, and when Nick came in the backdoor, she brandished it, smiling at him.

He frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Cooking breakfast, French Toast.”

“We don’t have time. We’re going to hit rush hour traffic as it is.”

“It’ll be fine,” Abby soothed.

He came to the sink still wearing the wisp of bloodstained tissue he’d stuck below his ear where he’d cut himself shaving and the rumpled cargo shorts he’d pulled out of the hamper as if he didn’t have a drawer full of clean ones. As is the unwashed pair were the only ones that suited him.

Abby got out a frying pan, aware of his mood, regretful of it. She wished he hadn’t bothered with shaving. She wished she’d done the laundry yesterday. Leaving the breakfast makings, she went to him, circled his waist from behind, laid her cheek against his back. “I’m sorry about your shorts.” The words were right there but they caught in her throat when she felt him go still.”

Buy: Amazon | BD | Goodreads | Barnes and Noble
Harlequin MIRA, Paperback, April 2013, ISBN: 978-0778315162

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I was not paid for this review.  Thank you to Meryl L. Moss Media for sending me a free copy for my review.

Review of The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins was read and reviewed by my sister, Sue.  Here is her review.

Faith Holland was left at the alter three years ago by her high school sweetheart Jeremy who came out of the closet on their wedding day.  She then left her hometown for San Francisco where she has had a thriving a professional life.  She returns home to Manningsport where she will have to face her past and Levi Cooper, the handsome police chief she blames for ruining her life.

As much as Faith loved to come home, seeing Jeremy and her family means she has to relive her past and the guilt she feels. Jeremy was the love of her life, her prince charming. They were supposed to live happily ever after. After so many disappointments, when it came to dating, Faith was still not over being jilted by the love of her life.

When she gets home, she realizes that some things never change and that she has to face all her demons.   She is angry at Levi for convincing Jeremy to be honest with her and himself on their wedding day.  She tells herself that it is easier to blame him than to face her past and a tragedy that she has followed her for most of her life.  

Faith has spent her life looking for love, acceptance and peace of mind.  In addition, Faith deals with her dysfunctional but wonderful family, finding love and clarity and even having to share secrets from her past including the death of her mother. 

Still angry at Levi, she doesn’t see what everyone sees in the Chief of Police.  He is the perfect man - handsome, a wonderful, and caring.  Much to her dismay, she runs into Levi all over town.  However, as she gets to know him better, she soon finds herself falling for him.  

The Best Man is currently available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other fine retailers.

I was not paid for this review.  Thank you to Meryl L. Moss Media for sending me a free copy for my review.

   

Book Review of Three Sisters by Susan Mallery

I recently had the opportunity to review Three Sisters by Susan Mallery as part of a month long blog tour for the New York Times bestselling author’s new novel, a second book in the Blackberry Island series. For more information about the blog tour and to read reviews, excerpts, Q&As and enter giveaways, CLICK HERE.  

Andi Gordon was left at the altar and resolves that it is time for her to start anew.  She relocates to Blackberry Island after purchasing one of the famous Three Sisters Queen Anne homes.  Her house is in the middle of the three homes and in desperate need of renovation. She plans on living on the second floor and making the first floor a pediatric practice.  Wade King is the handsome contractor who is working on her house and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Andi’s new life is coming together but she finds herself holding back.  She is afraid of being jilted by love again so she attempts to be cautious until she realizes that she is missing out.

Next door lives artist Boston King.  She is married to Zeke, her college sweetheart, and she once believed that they would be married forever.  That was before they lost their infant son and catastrophe tears their happy union apart. Zeke drinks to the point of a drunken state to help him cope while Boston paints portraits of their late son.  They are both coping in their own ways but unfortunately, their coping skills are pulling them part.  Boston realizes that they must move past their loss, but she fears that they will each do that separately.

Deanna Phillips lives in the third of the Queen Anne homes. She suspects her husband Colin is having an affair and she confronts him.  Once she does this, she finds out how unhappy she is.  Her husband tells her that she is the problem and she learns that he is right.  She is trying to be the perfect wife and mother and in doing so, she has lost herself and she may lose her entire family if she does not figure how to change. 

The three women are thrown together by fate and in the beginning, they are not sure that they can be friends.  However, they soon build a strong friendship full of laughter, love and tears. They turn to one another during the toughest of times and they rejoice during the joyful moments.  They find out that fate may have made them neighbors but their love made them friends and sisters.

Three Sisters is currently available through Harlequin Books. You can purchase through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other fine book retailers.

I was not paid for this review.  Thank you to Meryl L. Moss Media for sending me a free copy for my review.

Review of The Power Trip by Jackie Collins

I recently had the opportunity to review The Power Trip by Jackie Collins. I received the audiobook from Macmillan Audio.

Aleksandr Kasianenko, a Russian business tycoon, has a special birthday surprise for his girlfriend, Bianca, a famous supermodel.  He has built her a yacht, crowned it “The Bianca” and for its first voyage, Alek and Bianca invite five couples to join them on cruise through the Sea of Cortez.  The couples include movie star, Cliff Baxter and his girlfriend, Lori, who is half his age, UK football player Taye Sherwin and his interior designer wife, Ashley, Senator Hammond Patterson and his wife, Sierra, Latin singer Luca Perez and his promiscuous partner, Jeremey, and Journalist Flynn Hudson and his friend Xuan.  They are in for a vacation of a lifetime and Alek promises it will be unforgettable.

It becomes even more unforgettable when Russian mobster, Sergei Zukov, finds out that Alek is the one who arranged the murder hit on his brother five years ago.  Sergei is working with a Mexican named Cruz, who is a master pirate, in hopes of getting revenge on Alek. He, Cruz, and Cruz’s band of Somali pirates plan holding The Bianca’s guests for ransom, while Sergei has plans for Alek.

The celebrities vacationing on The Bianca are far from perfect. Alek has spared no expense and wants everything to be perfect for Bianca but even in paradise, there is trouble. Ashley is still upset about an indiscretion outside their marriage that Taye had years ago that made tabloid news.  Luca is discovering that Jeremy is not the man for him due to Jeremy’s uninhibited sexual urges outside of their relationship.  Sierra has finally had it with Hammond’s threats and sexual infidelities.  Flynn finds that he cannot escape the love that he thought broke his heart many years ago only to find that Hammand had a part in breaking him and Sierra up.  Xuan finds herself dealing with Bianca’s jealousy.   Cliff has made decision to break up with Lori after the trip but soon realizes that perhaps he is mistaken about Lori.  Meanwhile, Alek is determined to make this experience wonderful for Bianca as he plans on proposing marriage at the end of the trip.  He has no idea that he may not have the chance.

The pirates think they have an advantage over the passengers and crew of The Bianca.  Everything changes with the passengers and crew fight back. There will be deaths and there will be changed relationships. 

Jackie Collins does what she does best and there will be plenty of secrets, lies, sexual feats, and backstabbing.  The Power Trip now available in print and in audiobook.

I was not paid for this review.  Thank you to Macmillan Audio for sending me a free copy for my review.

Book Review: Living Rich for Less for Ellie Kay

Ellie’s Kay book, Living Rich for Less, was written in 2008 but I recently came across the audiobook at my local library.  I have a long commute to and from work so audiobooks help me to pass the time when I am stuck in traffic.  I am offering a review because I gained a lot of insight and information from her book.

As a working mother, I am constantly focusing on ways to stretch my dollar while saving and offering to charity.  I strongly believe that giving leads to good karma and life experiences and time has shown that to be true for me at least.  In particular, Ellie’s 10/10/80 idea stands out for me.  In a nutshell, give 10%, save 10%, and live comfortably on 80%.  Obviously, there is more to this than a simple concept so Ellie goes on to share ways to reduce and eliminate debt with this formula and how to stretch your dollar further.

Ellie starts off by telling us to get our priorities right.  She strongly encourages the 10/10/80 plan and reminds that giving comes first, no matter what.  Even a family in a low income situation can give and Ellie lays out how.  She dives into the important idea of saving and determining where money goes and how to make money work for us. 

I enjoyed reading about Ellie’s formula about giving, saving and spending smart and I took many ideas with me about the 10/10/80 plan.  I wish that she would have focused a little more on saving and also talking about how the 10/10/80 plan works families who are just getting by especially single parents. While her book is a great resource, I struggled to find a plan that works for me.  I think that Ellie’s formula needs to offer a concise plan that can help people to find a budget that works for their individual situation.

You also check Ellie’s website for a financial resource center with information including financial calculators, budgeting information and charts, and information about investing.  You can also find more information about Living Rich for Less at Elliekay.com. 

Review of Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

SYNOPSIS:

Hutch Carmody has always been the ladies’ man in Parable, Montana.  He has also grown up a lot since losing his father and he has even made peace with his half-bother even after his brother inherited half of what he thought he was entitled to alone.  Hutch was supposed to marry Brylee Parrish and changed his mind right after Brylee walked up the aisle.

Kendra Shepard is a divorcé who wants nothing but a devoted husband and lots of children to share her love with.  She has recently adopted four year old Madison who is a reminder of her late husband, Jeffrey Chamberlain’s infidelity. Prior to Jeffrey’s death, he called Kendra to his bedside and told her about an affair and that a child was born from that affair. The child’s mother gave her up for adoption and he had set funds aside for Kendra to find her and raise her as her own.  Kendra falls in love with Madison instantly but in her own little way, she longs for more, including the love of a good man.

Kendra might have feelings for Hutch because her love for him never died.  However, Kendra tells herself that Hutch is not a family man and she does everything to get him out of her mind. Hutch may have a lot of money but he knows that money cannot buy the love of a woman like Kendra.  But, this is Parable and stranger things have happened.

MY REVIEW:

Big Sky Mountain takes place at least nine months after where Big Sky Country leaves off. It is the second installment of Linda Lael Miller’s Big Sky series. Linda did an amazing job introducing the characters and connecting them to the first book in the series. 

I generally am not the type to read books about cowboys or romance and I honestly did not know what to expect.  What I did find out is that the Big Sky series isn’t necessary a series of romance novels – they are stories of finding love.  I read Big Sky Country (and reviewed it) and feel in love with Parable again – its way of life and the people.   It kind of felt like the characters were living in simpler times and I enjoyed the tranquility of that experience. 

I also liked the author’s introduction of Boone and Tara. The dynamic of the two of them leaves the reader to wonder how those two could ever fall in love but as we have found out, stranger things have happened in Parable. The author has opened up their story for her next book in the series.  I have to admit that Boone’s story made me cry even though I was upset at him for giving away his children after his wife’s death.  I hope that the author is able to redeem his character in the next installment of the series.

There is also Walker and Casey so it is possible the next storyline may focus on them. Walker Parrish is Brylee’s bother who apparently has two children with Casey Elder, a famous singer. Casey is looking to move to Parable because she is looking for a quiet place to raise her children. 

The author introduces us to a host of other characters and of all of them, Opal is my favorite. She is like Aunt Bee from The Andy Griffith Show and Alice from the Brady Bunch all in one. She is the housekeeper/cook/voice of reason that we all need in our lives.

You can purchase Big Sky Mountain at many fine retailers, including Amazon.com.  For more information on the author, go to www.LindaLaelMiller.com.

Review of ONE BREATH AWAY by Heather Gudenkauf

“He has a gun. He has P.J. and he has a gun.” [Augie's phone call to her mother, Holly.]

I want to dive right into telling you about this book but simply telling you about it does not do it justice.  One Breath Away is an emotionally charged novel that you cannot put it down once you pick it up. Complexity aside, it is about a small town in the middle of a hostage situation and the story is told through the eyes of five different people.  Nevertheless, even small towns are newsworthy once in a while. The book’s characters are all conflicted by their pasts and their present and don’t know until the very end that they are the most unlikely of heroes. 

It is a cold and snowy March day when an unknown gunman takes a third grade classroom hostage. It is the day before Spring Break starts at the only school in town.  To make matters worse, Broken Branch, Iowa is suddenly cut off by snowstorm leaving a community shocked and in fear for the safety of their children.  As soon as the intruder enters school, the school is put on lockdown with no idea of the danger that awaits them. 

Holly Thwaite left Broken Branch eighteen years ago and promised herself she would never look back.  When injuries from a kitchen fire leave her recovering in an Arizona hospital, she makes a decision that she never expected to make when she sends her children to Broken Branch to be looked after by their grandfather, a man she never wanted in her children’s lives.  It is not until a phone call from her daughter, Augie, that her perception of her father and Broken Bridge start to change.

Will Thwaite never understood why his daughter, Holly, ran away all those years ago but now he is responsible for her children and he vows to get things right this time.  When he finds out about the hostage situation, he promises that he will not to fail Holly again and he will do anything in his power to bring his grandchildren, Augie and P.J. out of the school safely. In the process, he finds himself struggling to make it to their aid as he assists others with their own obstacles along the way. He finally makes it to the school and is arrested for taking action. After being put in a police car for his own good, Will starts to wonder if he fails when the phone rings and other events follow.

Thirteen-year-old Augie has spent most of her life protecting her brother, P.J. and she is determined to rescue him even if it means putting herself in harm’s away. Holly has two opportunities to escape the school but does not take them. She refuses to fail her little brother and starts to recall why they ended up in Broken Bridge in the first place.  It was the only choice left after she refused to be separated from her little brother.  After everything her family has been through, she refuses to allow things to get worse.

Evelyn Oliver is a third grade teacher ready to finish the school year off with retirement and excited to enjoy that time with her husband, Cal.  Now, she’d faced with a predicament where she must protect her kids even if it means putting her life on the line. She finds herself conflicted with how she feels and how her husband would want her to respond. She recollects on how she met Cal and the things he loves most about her.  She knows he would want her to stay put but she also knows that he knows her too well. Cal knows that Evelyn will protect her students even if it means losing her life and he loves her for that. Evelyn is not sure why the gunman is in her classroom and she tries to figure out if she knows him.  She wonders if he is connected to one of her students.   

Evelyn is correct about the connection between the gunman and one of her students but she does not see that connection until she is in the same room with police officer, Meg Barrett.  Meg wants to know who the intruder is and why he has taken a school hostage.  She thinks about her own hardships and feels there is no excuse for his person’s behavior.  When Meg finds out that the intruder is someone from her past, she risks her own life and disobeys orders to save the hostages.  In doing so, she finds herself face to face with the person she least expected to see.  Is it her estranged brother, someone she sent to jail, her ex-husband or someone else?  Moreover, why did he pick Evelyn’s third grade classroom?

The hostage situation in the school continues while the storm keeps Broken Branch cut off.  There is anxiety and frustration throughout the town.  Everyone is trying to take matters in their own hands but one wrong move can have serious consequences. 

One Breath Away is an emotionally charged and bone chilling novel.  What makes it so terrifying is that anyone can find themselves in the predicament that the five main characters find themselves into.  At any given moment, we can be one of them and if tested, who will you be?

·         Will you be the brave, loving and caring Mrs. Oliver? 

·         Or the powerless but yet strong Holly who would do anything for her children? 

·         How about Will who has vowed to get things right a second time around and will do anything to keep a promise?

·         Or 13 year old Augie who is wise beyond her years and would do anything for those she loves?

·         Or maybe, you will be Meg who will put her life on the line and disobey orders to protect the innocent?

Heather Gudenkauf keeps you hanging at the edge of your seat until the very end.  I kept thinking I knew who the gunman was but I was shocked to find out how completely off I was.  I was taken by surprise.  One Breath Away is an intense and well written novel.  You can purchase One Breath Away through many fine retailers, including Amazon.com. 

Heather Gudenkauf is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden.  She lives in Iowa with her family.  Visit her website, HeatherGudenkauf.com.

I was not paid for this review.  Thank you to Meryl L. Moss Media for sending me a free copy for my review.