Books I read in 2015

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Photo Credit: Berkley

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Secret Sisters 

Summary from Goodreads:

Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.

They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother’s hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn’t be bothering them anymore…ever. Still their lives would never be the same.

Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother’s mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.

Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts…and wants.

Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack’s brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth…

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts: Continue reading →

The Friends We Keep by Susan Mallery

the friends we keep

Photo Credit: Harlequin Mira 2/23/16

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Friends We Keep

Summary from Goodreads:

In this insightful and compelling story from book club favorite Susan Mallery, three close friends test the boundaries of how much a woman can give before she has nothing left

After five years as a stay-at-home mom, Gabby Schaefer can’t wait to return to work. Oh, to use the bathroom in peace! No twins clamoring at the door, no husband barging in, no stepdaughter throwing a tantrum. But when her plans are derailed by some shocking news and her husband’s crushing expectations, Gabby must fight for the right to have a life of her own.

Getting pregnant is easy for Hayley Batchelor. Staying pregnant is the hard part. Her husband is worried about the expensive fertility treatments and frantic about the threat to her health. But to Hayley, a woman who was born to be a mom should risk everything to fulfill her destiny—no matter how high the cost.

Nicole Lord is still shell-shocked by a divorce that wasn’t as painful as it should’ve been. Other than the son they share, her ex-husband left barely a ripple in her life. A great new guy tempts her to believe maybe the second time’s the charm…but how can she trust herself to recognize true love?

As their bonds of friendship deepen against the beautiful backdrop of Mischief Bay, Gabby, Hayley and Nicole will rely on good food, good wine and especially each other to navigate life’s toughest changes.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I read The Girls of Mischief Bay last year and enjoyed it- so I quickly requested The Friends We Keep as soon as I could. Continue reading →

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

the things we keep

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press 1/19/16

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Things We Keep

Anna is 38 years old. Too young to face the idea of Alzheimer’s. And yet- that is exactly what is happening. As this wretched disease begins to take it’s toll on her mind and memories, the idea of Rosalind House is not  the best- but the best of the worst case scenario plans.

At Rosalind House, Anna meets Luke. Around Anna’s age- he also has Alzheimer’s.

While Anna and Luke have trouble remembering things- they form a connection and fall in love. They may not “know” each other. They may not have the happily ever after life  that both of them deserve. But for reasons that only love and maybe fate can understand- they found each other and bring each other happiness- and as their memories fade- the allure of happiness is like a sweet melody. Continue reading →

The Good Neighbor by Amy Sue Nathan

The Good Neighbor by Amy Sue Nathan

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press 10/13

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Good Neighbor

Izzy Lane- recently divorced, recently moved back to her childhood home with her child Noah. Izzy is looking for some normalcy in her life- but it’s hard to find.

When her ex-husband gets a new girlfriend, it’s so easy to tell the little white lie that she has a new boyfriend. After all, who has never told a white lie? At night- when Izzy blogs behind closed doors- stories of dating, of life after divorce happens and thus “Mac” was born. Continue reading →

The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen

the marriage pact mj pullen

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press- 11/3

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Marriage Pact

Marci Thompson, like many women, had her life envisioned for what it would look like by a certain age. Marriage, kids, happy career.

But on her 30th birthday- not only has she not achieved any of her dreams- her life path is so far from what she wants- it’s not even funny.

She’s a temp. She lives in a small apartment. Her best friends live in another state. She is in love- but he’s married. And one of her bosses.

On her birthday, though, a reminder from the past comes fluttering through her email- a pact that she and her best friend, Jake, made on a night long ago. A marriage pact! Continue reading →

Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne

Angel Killer

Photo Credit: Bourbon Street Books

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Angel Killer

Summary from Goodreads:

FBI agent Jessica Blackwood believes she’s left her complicated life as a gifted magician behind her . . . until a killer with seemingly supernatural powers puts her talents to the ultimate test.

A hacker who identifies himself only as “Warlock” brings down the FBI’s website and posts a code in its place that leads to a Michigan cemetery, where a dead girl is discovered rising from the ground . . . as if she tried to crawl out of her own grave.

Born into a dynasty of illusionists, Jessica Blackwood is destined to become its next star—until she turns her back on her troubled family to begin a new life in law enforcement. But FBI consultant Dr. Jeffrey Ailes’s discovery of an old magic magazine will turn Jessica’s world upside down. Faced with a crime that appears beyond explanation, Ailes has nothing to lose—and everything to gain—by taking a chance on an agent raised in a world devoted to achieving the seemingly impossible.

The body in the cemetery is only the first in the Warlock’s series of dark miracles. Thrust into the media spotlight, with time ticking away until the next crime, can Jessica confront her past to stop a depraved killer? If she can’t, she may become his next victim.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is a book that made it home with me from BEA 14. I was intrigued by the summary. The cover was eye-catching as well. As it sometimes happen, though, some books in my stacks get shuffled around- so I found myself just recently reading ANGEL KILLER. Continue reading →

The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

the scam

Photo Credit: Bantam

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Scam

Nick Fox ( who might be earning the title of “somewhat reformed con man”) and Kate O’Hare are back together in THE SCAM.

The caper is crazy, and there is a high air of danger for all involved and yet- the unlikely duo of Nick and Kate make each book work.

Their target: Evan Trace who is running a money laundering scheme through his casino. Evan is just a tad bit crazy- and is very attracted to Kate- especially when he sees her in action. Continue reading →

The Sparrow Sisters by Ellen Herrick

the sparrow sisters

Photo Credit: William Morrow 9/1

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Sparrow Sisters

Summary from Goodreads:

With echoes of the alchemy of Practical Magic, the lushness of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, and the darkly joyful wickedness of the Witches of East End, Ellen Herrick’s debut novel spins an enchanting love story about a place where magic whispers just beneath the surface and almost anything is possible, if you aren’t afraid to listen

The Sparrow sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are as colorful as the beach plums on the dunes and as mysterious as the fog that rolls into town at dusk.

Patience is the town healer and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him, even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience Sparrow’s herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear—and its three hundred year old history resurfaces as a modern day witch-hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty-handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes.

It seems as if Patience and her town are lost until the women of Granite Point band together to save the Sparrow. As they gather, drawing strength from each other, will they be able to turn the tide and return life to Granite Point?

The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful, haunting, and thoroughly mesmerizing novel that will capture your imagination.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

When I first heard about this book at BEA, I was incredibly stoked about this book. I was even more AHHHHH when I actually met Ellen Herrick and heard her talk about THE SPARROW SISTERS. Continue reading →

The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur

The secrets of lake road by karen k

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Secrets of Lake Road

It’s summer time and all Caroline wants to do is play at the lake. The lake is her sanctuary, her cocoon- her comfort.

Not so for her mom, Jo. Jo can’t stand to be at the lake- the place of summer’s past- and the place where she is reminded of secrets and her role in events of the summer sixteen years ago.

A body of water, a small vacation community- both represent such vastly different things to two people.

When little Sarah goes missing, the community knows that she’s drowned- all ban together to help find Sarah. Some have altruistic reasons, some don’t. But one thing is for certain- no one expects to find what was uncovered in the search for Sarah.

Can mother/daughter survive this summer as events come to light that change their lives? Continue reading →

X by Sue Grafton

X

Photo Credit: Putnam Books

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

X

Summary from Goodreads:

X:  The number ten. An unknown quantity. A mistake. A cross. A kiss.

X:  The shortest entry in Webster’s Unabridged. Derived from Greek and Latin and commonly found in science, medicine, and religion. The most graphically dramatic letter. Notoriously tricky to pronounce: thinkxylophone.

X:  The twenty-fourth letter in the English alphabet.

Sue Grafton’s X: Perhaps her darkest and most chilling novel, it features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton wastes little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Listen, it’s no secret that I LOVE me some Sue Grafton. I may not have been reading her my entire life (actually, I think A IS FOR ALIBI was first printed before I was even born!) but for the past 10 or so years, I have been loving Sue and Kinsey. As we get closer to the end of the alphabet, I grow increasingly nervous about my beloved Kinsey. Will Kinsey just end when we get to Z? Does Sue Grafton have more in store? Can we make a plan to re-write the alphabet and add a few more letters? (Desperate times call for desperate measures!) Continue reading →