Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford

Everybody rise

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press Aug 18th

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

Everybody Rise

Evelyn Beegan is a girl that has some of the right connections- she knows people with old money, she knows the lingo- and yet,she doesn’t pass the muster to be considered “old money”.

At first glance, this does not seem to bother Evelyn that much. It does bother her mother greatly- her mother lets her know over and over that this is the way- become friends with the “old money” people and life will be set. Continue reading

Three Rivers by Tiffany Quay Tyson

three rivers

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press- July 21s

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

Three Rivers

Summary from Goodreads:

When a dangerous storm threatens the Mississippi Delta, two families are put to the test in this Southern literary debut

Melody Mahaffey, trapped into touring for years with a third-rate Christian pop band she can hardly stand, is almost relieved to receive her mother’s distress call. But when she returns home to care for her dying father and brain-damaged brother at the sprawling, defunct Three Rivers Farm, Melody is shocked to discover that her mother has abandoned the family. Sure that her daughter will do the right thing, Geneva has left to seek spiritual guidance and break things off with her long-time lover.

Rain begins to fall and an epic flood threatens the Mississippi Delta. While Melody tries to get a handle on the chaos at home, a man and his little boy are squatting on her land, escaping their own nightmare. Obi is on the run from a horrific mistake, and he’s intent on keeping his son with him at any cost. When the storm arrives, though, they have no choice but to take shelter in Melody’s house. And the waters just keep rising.

A lifetime of lies, misunderstandings and dark secrets bubble to the surface as the flood destroys the land and threatens their lives. Set against the fertile but dangerous landscape of the rural south near the fictional town of White Forest, Mississippi, Three Rivers beautifully weaves together three parallel stories, told over three days, as each character is propelled headlong into the storm.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

When this book just magically showed up in my mailbox one day, I had to grin. A New York City publicist was certainly paying attention to my mailing address and book taste (Thank you SO much, K!)  Continue reading

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Black eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Photo Credit: Ballantine Books- Aug 11

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

Black-Eyed Susans

Summary from Goodreads:

I am the star of screaming headlines and campfire ghost stories.
I am one of the four Black-Eyed Susans.
The lucky one.

As a sixteen-year-old, Tessa Cartwright was found in a Texas field, barely alive amid a scattering of bones, with only fragments of memory as to how she got there. Ever since, the press has pursued her as the lone surviving “Black-Eyed Susan,” the nickname given to the murder victims because of the yellow carpet of wildflowers that flourished above their shared grave. Tessa’s testimony about those tragic hours put a man on death row.

Now, almost two decades later, Tessa is an artist and single mother. In the desolate cold of February, she is shocked to discover a freshly planted patch of black-eyed susans—a summertime bloom—just outside her bedroom window. Terrified at the implications—that she sent the wrong man to prison and the real killer remains at large—Tessa turns to the lawyers working to exonerate the man awaiting execution. But the flowers alone are not proof enough, and the forensic investigation of the still-unidentified bones is progressing too slowly. An innocent life hangs in the balance. The legal team appeals to Tessa to undergo hypnosis to retrieve lost memories—and to share the drawings she produced as part of an experimental therapy shortly after her rescue.

What they don’t know is that Tessa and the scared, fragile girl she was have built a  fortress of secrets. As the clock ticks toward the execution, Tessa fears for her sanity, but even more for the safety of her teenaged daughter. Is a serial killer still roaming free, taunting Tessa with a trail of clues? She has no choice but to confront old ghosts and lingering nightmares to finally discover what really happened that night.

Continue reading

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff

the last summer at chelsea beach by pam jenoff

Photo Credit: Harlequin Books July 28th

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

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach

Adelia Monteforte is put on a ship headed to America by her mother and father. The plan is for her aunt and uncle to provide a place for Adelia to live, far away from Italy, as life has grown to be hazardous there during war time.

Moving to America, living with her aunt and uncle, learning about different ways and thoughts between Italy and America- keep Adelia’s days full, as she’s trying to get accustomed to her new surroundings.

When she makes the acquaintance of her neighbors in the summer home, the Connally boys, Adelia does not know then how much life is about to change and how she will become close to all the boys- as they all begin to love her in their own way. Continue reading

The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle

the ones we trust by kimberly belle

Photo Credit: Harlequin Books

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

The Ones We Trust

Summary from Goodreads:

When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan — with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it.

The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier’s brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.

Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail’s search is, most of all, a desperate grasp at carrying on and coping — and seeking hope in the impossible.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I read Kimberly’s debut, THE LAST BREATH, last year and enjoyed it very much! So, I was excited to read THE ONES WE TRUST. Continue reading

Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

Photo Credit: Goodreads

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

Every Secret Thing

It’s a normal day. A day where a birthday party happens. A day where little girls have fun!

By the end of the day, though, two little girls will be on a path that will change their lives forever.

Fast forward seven years…

Alice and Ronnie have been released from prison. Both girls have been told that it’s best if they stay away from each other- just to be on the safe side. Continue reading

The Fraud by Brad Parks

the fraud by brad parks

Photo Credit: Minotaur Books

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

The Fraud

Carter Ross has a nose for a story. It’s too bad that this particular story puts his unborn child’s life in danger.

After an affluent white businessman is killed in the process of a carjacking, Carter’s newspaper wants to run a story about it. Carter decides to take this story and run with his own angle- 1 story about 2 carjackings- a white man and a Nigerian- both were killed during the process and Carter thinks their stories together will make a nice post. Continue reading

Double Mint by Gretchen Archer

Double Mint by Gretchen Archer

Photo Credit: Henery Press- July 21

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

Double Mint

Davis Way- super spy is in hell. Jambalaya Hell, to be specific. Because her new hubby, Bradley Cole (and one she has no intention of ever making an ex, let alone an ex-ex hubby!) is the new General Manager of the Bellissimo Casino- and it’s been decided that it will be better for them to stay on-site for the next few months while some casino-expanding is going on in other locales.

Hence, Jambalaya Hell. Continue reading

A Week at the Lake by Wendy Wax

a week at the lake

Photo Credit: Goodreads

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

A Week at the Lake

Summary from Goodreads:

Twenty years ago, Emma Michaels, Mackenzie Hayes, and Serena Stockton bonded over their New York City dreams. Then, each summer, they solidified their friendship by spending one week at the lake together, solving their problems over bottles of wine and gallons of ice cream. They kept the tradition for years, until jealousy, lies, and life’s disappointments made them drift apart.

It’s been five years since Emma has seen her friends, an absence designed to keep them from discovering a long-ago betrayal. Now she’s in desperate need of their support. The time has come to reveal her secrets—and hopefully rekindle their connection.

But when a terrible accident keeps Emma from saying her piece, Serena and Mackenzie begin to learn about the past on their own. Now, to heal their friendship and their broken lives, the three women will have to return to the lake that once united them, and discover which relationships are worth holding on to . . .

Continue reading

Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill

center of gravity

Photo Credit: Goodreads, July 14th

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

Center of Gravity

Ava Carson is a woman who has everything she wants. An attractive husband, 2 children, and all the love she can handle to help her overcome the emotional scars of never measuring to the expectations of her mother.

Ava’s life is pretty perfect.

Or is it?

Within  months of marrying Mitchell, months of having her first child with Mitchell- a half brother for Mitchell’s first child- Jack- Ava begins to get the feeling that something is not quite right. On the surface, things look fine- and yet, something is amiss. Continue reading