Gallery Books

#FuturisticFriday Review: Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber

Photo Credit: Gallery Books

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

Are You Sleeping

Summary: Serial meets Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood in this inventive and twisty psychological thriller about a mega-hit podcast that reopens a murder case—and threatens to unravel the carefully constructed life of the victim’s daughter.

The only thing more dangerous than a lie…is the truth.

Josie Buhrman has spent the last ten years trying to escape her family’s reputation and with good reason. After her father’s murder thirteen years prior, her mother ran away to join a cult and her twin sister Lanie, once Josie’s closest friend and confidant, betrayed her in an unimaginable way. Now, Josie has finally put down roots in New York, settling into domestic life with her partner Caleb, and that’s where she intends to stay. The only problem is that she has lied to Caleb about every detail of her past—starting with her last name.

When investigative reporter Poppy Parnell sets off a media firestorm with a mega-hit podcast that reopens the long-closed case of Josie’s father’s murder, Josie’s world begins to unravel. Meanwhile, the unexpected death of Josie’s long-absent mother forces her to return to her Midwestern hometown where she must confront the demons from her past—and the lies on which she has staked her future. Continue reading →

{Giveaway} The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay

giveaway giveaway

 

Hello folks! I know it’s been a bit giveaway-licious lately (and this trend is looking to continue as new Futuristic Friday books are being selected as we speak 😉

Thanks to the Wunderkind PR team- I have a copy of Juliette Fay’s latest book, The Tumbling Turner Sisters, to give away to 1 lucky US reader! Continue reading →

The Unexpected Waltz by Kim Wright

the unexpected waltz

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Unexpected Waltz

When Kelly Wilder becomes a widow, the theme that she hears from the lawyers is “nothing has to change”. Kelly, having been married to a wealthy man, a man who has made arrangements for Kelly to be taken care of- truly, nothing has to change. Kelly could live her life in the beyond comfortable fashion she has been living for the rest of her life.

Continue reading →

Belles on Wheels at TurnRow Books (Oh what a night!)

Let me set the scene: A big bus, loaded with authors of steamy romance books. Ladies who have spent significant amounts of time on various “best selling” lists. Ladies who have found their niche and have fan bases that are extremely supportive. The bus tagline says: “7 Cities, 10 Authors, 1 Wild Ride” (a very appropriate tagline!

The women- the Belles on Wheels!
Champagne
BBQ Parfait

All the authors sitting and hanging out, lovely snacks and drinks to enjoy while we were listening to the authors talk about what it was like to be on best selling lists, what writing steamy scenes is really like, and how they use social media.

Continue reading →

Belles on Wheels- 2014 Gallery Bus Tour

 

Belles on Wheels

Photo Credit: BFB

 

So, back in February- TurnRow Books mentioned me in a tweet- with a link about Gallery Books Bus Tour featuring Indie Authors. “Color me curious” was my thought and I clicked the link- and was very happy to see a great event coming to TurnRow Books- my nearest indie bookstore. My only surprise was that this bus tour was not hitting at least one of the other indie bookstores in Mississippi. So, this is quite a feather in TurnRow Books cap (don’t you agree?!) I think it is!

Continue reading →

Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

Love-Water-Memory

Photo Credit: Gallery Books

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T from Gallery Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

Lucie is not like other women. She’s disciplined. She wears a protective shell. Designer clothes and goes after what she wants in life. At least she did. Lucie has no memory of the woman she was before after she is found in the San Francisco Bay. She only knows what she is told at the hospital- her name is Lucie and her fiancée is coming to get her.

When Grady comes to pick Lucie up, he grapples with what to tell her- does he tell her what happened the day she left? Will knowing that help or hurt her? He also grapples with this Lucie- this Lucie who eats carbs, this Lucie who does not have protective shell on- this Lucie who is kinder, less worried about appearances. Part of him wants the old Lucie- the Lucie he knew, the girl that helped make him the man he is today.

Lucie is struggling to remember things- and gets glimpses of memory at times- but when she looks at the life, the stuff of the old Lucie, she has to wonder why those things were so important to that Lucie- why she had all these designer clothes, makeup that covered freckles, that concealed who she was? Why did she feel the need to hide her true self?

When Lucie finds herself confronted with ways the old Lucie acted, she knows that she wants to be different. Lucie wants to be different than the Lucie she sees around the house- less rigid, more in the moment. More importantly, she wants to remember- needs to remember. When Lucie finds out that Grady has been keeping the fact that her aunt, her last living relative, calls to her a secret- she wonders why and knows she must talk to this aunt. Once Lucie begins to talk to her aunt, the power of the past comes back and Lucie begins to slowly understand things.

Together and separately, Lucie and Grady are on a journey to find out more, to remember about old Lucie and to find a place in life for new Lucie. The Lucie who needs protecting, but also needs to know the whole story about what happened on the day she left?

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Love Water Memory, my first Jennie Shortridge book, takes an interesting concept- memory, and creates a book that is sure to please. Not being able to remember who you are and being comfortable with all the life choices “you” made- would you still make the same choices now that you have an opportunity to do differently? What if the man you chose can’t love the “new” you? Can you fault him? What if- when faced with all the previous trappings of your life- you find out that the new you does not like the “old” you? What then?

Jennie Shortridge explores this and much more in Love Water Memory– a book that is highly discussable for book lovers.

 

 

*Love Water Memory was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

To see what other She Reads bloggers are saying about the January She Reads Book Club Selection, please visit here or follow this hashtag on Twitter: #srblog.

 

 

T Traveling With T pic sign off

 

Whistling Past The Graveyard by Susan Crandall

whistling past graveyard

Photo Credit: Amazon

Starla knows about life being unfair. Living with her Mamie- a woman who lives to punish Starla for every little thing, who won’t share the “good cookies” and who is constantly trying to mold Starla into a lady- Starla knows a lot for her 9 years. However, while on a road trip to find and live with her mom, Starla’s eyes are opened to a whole different world- a world that sometimes is more unfair than her 9 year old self can understand or bear.

Starla is looking forward to the 4th of July parade and fireworks more than anything. Looking forward to it so much, she’s trying to toe the line with Mamie just so she won’t get punished and miss the fun. All is going good till Starla sees a boy bullying a little girl and gets into a fight with him. Which then leads to Starla being punished- and Mamie saying she can’t go to the parade or fireworks.  Starla decides to sneak to the parade anyway- and all is going good until a nosy neighbor sees her and chaos ensues. Starla, being fearful that Mamie will send her to reform school, decides it’s time to head to Nashville. Her mom is a famous singer in Nashville and life will be good.

Starla begins walking to Nashville, and meets Eula, a black lady who sells homemade pies. Eula has a white baby with her, and Starla is mighty curious about the baby- but accepts a ride to Nashville. Both Starla and Eula are leaving behind things in Cayuga Springs that they’d rather not have others know about- and Starla just knows that as soon as they make it to Nashville- her momma is going to be happy and take care of Starla and Eula.

The road trip to Nashville is eventful. Starla begins to see how people treat Eula and she is furious- which leads to problems. Eula, Starla and baby James find help along the way- and with the help, they are able to make it to Nashville. When Starla meets Lula- Starla finds out that Lula is not at all like what she remembers. Starla also finds out that Lula’s dreams and Starla’s hopes are not the same- which upsets Starla. Starla’s dad comes to get her, Eula and the baby- and when he finds out what the road trip entailed- he’s mighty grateful to Eula.

Back home in Cayuga Springs, Starla’s life is changing- and she’s taking to heart the lessons of life she learned on the road. At the end of the day, for a 9 year old, Starla learns much about life, love, and what makes a family, And thanks to Eula, Starla knows she has gifts- wonderful and beautiful gifts, and she knows it’s her responsibility to not only find the gifts- but to share with others.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Told from the perspective of a 9 year old girl, a girl who doesn’t understand why the world is the way it is- but gets a heavy dose of a life lesson- Starla is an unforgettable character, She’s a crusader for fairness, and believes in the people that love her. Starla may be a firey redhead- but she’s got a heart of gold. Susan Crandall weaves a storyline that is enjoyable, highly readable and excellent for discussion!

*This book was requested through Netgalley. The above review is my thoughts and opinion.

The Lake House by Marci Nault

The Lake House final cover

Marci Nault’s The Lake House is a tale of love, forgiveness, being true to yourself, and finding peace.

Victoria- one of the original Nagog residents. She and her girlfriends make the pact to never leave Nagog and live life there forever- with husbands, children, grandchildren. Then the war comes, the ladies sweethearts leave, and Victoria gets restless. She longs to experience life beyond the area of Nagog. Victoria breaks the pact and leaves- creating a rift with her friends. A rift, that for some, may never be able to be repaired.

Heather- from the outside she has everything. A career that she’s proud of, a man that cares for her, and a diamond engagement ring- Heather appears to be set for life. Except, she’s not. She doesn’t feel content or safe- and she longs to have a place, a life that is hers- a place where she won’t feel if she makes a mistake, life is over. Heather finds a place in Nagog and feels the stirrings of safety- so she buys the place.

Nagog, though, does not welcome either Heather or Victoria with open arms. Resentment burns through some of the community toward Victoria for past differences, misunderstandings and hurt feelings. For Heather, the residents do not want young people moving in the area- so they do everything to make the place least welcoming as possible.

Heather and Victoria strike up a friendship- and although neither are aware- both fill a need in each other’s life. As their friendship grows, secrets and advice are shared- and the bond deepens.

Can Victoria make amends to the community and people she left behind? Can Heather find the safety and happiness she has been craving? Read The Lake House to find out!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Enjoyable read. Well thought out characters. Great setting. Wonderful storyline. A perfect read for pool-side or lake/beach-side. Victoria and Heather- characters that have had sadness- but deserve some happiness. You, as the reader, root for them to find their happy ending. Recommended.