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Grace is Gone
Grace is Gone
Emily Elgar | 2020 | Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Thriller
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novel is told by Cara and Jon, two completely different characters. Cara is Grace’s friend and neighbour, her mom was best friends with Grace’s mother Meg. Cara knows Grace quite well, but was it well enough though? That is what she keeps asking herself over and over again. Jon is a journalist, who is trying to save his breaking family, and he has this strange obsession with Meg and Grace, he wants to find Grace, but I didn’t really understand why? Meg and Grace kind of ruined his life. I liked Jon and his parts of this book more, he was more interesting with his family drama and his past. Cara’s journey was okayish, she was very repetitive with all the regret about Grace, that I found quite irritating. It was very interesting to see how Meg and Grace had the community in their grip, by just being there.

The narrative was well delivered, I liked the investigation Cara and Jon were doing, as well as discovering more about Grace and Meg as the pages fly by. Even though Grace is missing, she plays a very important part in this search through her diary, that was very intriguing to read. The plot is pretty slow for about half of the book and I needed more pace and suspense, but it does pick up towards the end of the book, with quite intriguing twists and turns, so don’t give up on it.
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 20, 2021  
Today, author Julia Daily stops by my blog with a fascinating interview about her women's fiction novel NO NAMES TO BE GIVEN. Watch the book trailer, and then enter the giveaway to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-no-names-to.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
1965. Sandy runs away from home to escape her mother’s abusive boyfriend. Becca falls in love with the wrong man. And Faith suffers a devastating attack. With no support and no other options, these three young, unwed women meet at a maternity home hospital in New Orleans where they are expected to relinquish their babies and return home as if nothing transpired.

But such a life-altering event can never be forgotten, and no secret remains buried forever. Twenty-five years later, the women are reunited by a blackmailer, who threatens to expose their secrets and destroy the lives they’ve built. That shattering revelation would shake their very foundations—and reverberate all the way to the White House.

Told from the three women’s perspectives in alternating chapters, this mesmerizing story is based on actual experiences of women in the 1960s who found themselves pregnant but unmarried, pressured by family and society to make horrific decisions. How that inconceivable act changed women forever is the story of No Names to Be Given, a heartbreaking but uplifting novel of family and redemption.
     
What the Cluck? It’s Murder
What the Cluck? It’s Murder
Jacqueline Vick | 2020 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Meeting the Family Turned into a Clustercluck
Frankie and her boyfriend are getting away for a long weekend so that Frankie can meet a few of Martin’s older sisters, the women who raised him. However, trying to make a good impression isn’t the only thing that Frankie has to worry about when she and Martin find a dead farm hand near the chicken coop. With the evidence pointing to one of Martin’s sisters, Frankie and Martin have to team up to figure out what is going on. Can they do it?

Yes, this is one of the few paranormal series I read, and I find the premise very fun. I was happy with how quickly I was able to keep the sisters and their families straight. I’m sure it helped that we weren’t meeting all of them. Since Frankie and Martin are the only returning characters, they got plenty of time to grow, and I love what we saw, especially from Martin. We get plenty of fun, especially with Frankie trying to read animals, although they did give us one scene I found tasteless. There are a few timeline glitches, but they were more annoying than anything else. The plot fights with family dynamics a time or two for dominance, but there are some fun surprises on the way to a suspenseful ending. All told, this is another fun book if you are looking for something different.
  
Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre
Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre
Katherine McIntyre | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
CONSTITUTION CHECK is the fourth book in the Dungeons and Dating series, and it's time to have your heart pummelled. Both Kelly and Tabby deserve so much and, together, they've found it, but will they realise it?

We knew something was going on with Kelly but to find out the details? Harsh! No one should have to deal with anything like Nat was dishing out, and her mother was just as bad. And then there's Tabby's brother and other as*hole members of the family. Every 'joke', every innuendo, they all slide beneath the armour and hurt.

The Tabletop Tavern family are there for Kelly, and Eli is there for Tabby. I want more from him, but he's the next one so I'll wait patiently. Seeing both of these women learn and grow, both together and separately, was brilliant. Both of them hurting for similar reasons - reasons they could empathise with and different enough so they could provide support without drowning in their own misery.

This was a brilliant addition to the series that I absolutely loved. I can't recommend this highly enough but, please, start from book one. You're really missing out if you don't.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 3, 2022
  
A Christmas in the Alps
A Christmas in the Alps
Melody Carlson | 2021 | Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Christmas in the Alps is a lovely and enjoyable story set for Christmas. You will find yourself wanting to find out more about the two main characters exploring France. This book is set during and takes place mainly in France around Christmas.

We meet Simone while she is cleaning out her great grandma's house. Her friend found a letter and read it to Simone. The letter starts Simone on her journey to discover her great-grandma's treasure and heritage. Will she find more than that? Will she overcome her flying fear? She meets Kyle during her flight from Seattle to France.

This story is doing a bit of genealogy and a bit of romance. So far, it is excellent. It looks like Simone has made at least two friends. There seems to be a mystery going on as well at this point. Is Leon's Aunt related to Simone's Great-grandma, or does she know anything about her Great Grandpa rescued during WW2?

Will Kyle and Simone find love with each other? Will Simone find the true treasure and family? There seems to be a family feud or a rift in a relationship. Can Simone find a solution and fix the relationship with her great aunt? To this end, you will want to read more from this author. Melody Carlson will bring you in to enjoy the culture of her lovely books and Christmas books. This one is no different.
  
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Merissa (12911 KP) rated I'm Not in Love (Don't Let Go #1) by Mia Kerick in Books

Jun 13, 2022 (Updated Jun 13, 2023)  
I'm Not in Love (Don't Let Go #1) by Mia Kerick
I'm Not in Love (Don't Let Go #1) by Mia Kerick
Mia Kerick | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'M NOT IN LOVE is the first book in the Don't Let Go series and we start off with Remi and Tristan. Both of these guys have major baggage going on, but manage to find some solace with each other. Will it last, or will they push each other away?

Remi and Tristan are opposites in so many ways. Remi has money but no real family. Tristan has his family he adores, but they are struggling to make ends meet. They meet by chance and sort of fall into a friendship that becomes so much more, although neither will admit it.

I found the baggage for both of them to be realistic. The supporting characters were also fantastic additions, especially if Uncle Tris got hurt! The pacing was perfect for the story and I was definitely left wanting more, not ready to leave Remi and Tris behind.

I don't know if this series will focus on them or on other pairs, but I really hope we catch up with Remi and Tris, no matter what. A brilliant start to a new series and I can't wait to read more. Absolutely recommended.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 8, 2022