This is a book about family and love and how complicated that can be, or in some examples, how easy it can also be. This is not a romance. Although there is a bit of romance included, the main focus is on a modern day family and all the drama that comes with it. There are times of laughter, heartache, anger, sadness and joy and everything that comes between.
A "need to turn the page" story that I read very quickly, losing some sleep so I could see what came next. This was a story full of self-reflection, making situations better, apologizing for past mistakes and growing closer. When I came to where the story took a turn, I was thinking "no! don't do it! walk away! How can you do that now!" and was really disappointed they didn't heed my warning! A bittersweet ending brought it all together.
This book showcases Susan Mallery's ability to write a real life story. To make the characters and feelings real. To draw you into the setting and make you feel like you are there. If you have read Mallery's previous books this is the next one you need to read. If you are a new Mallery reader then I recommend this one be your first! The Stepsisters will be available May 25, 2021.

Thanks to HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!

The story starts out with us learning that Jennifer, a mother of adult triplet girls and estranged from her husband Jake, has been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Jennifer suspects 5th at the cancer has developed from being poisoned a year ago.
The story was gripping and a well written page turner at the start when we learn all this in the first few pages. I was thinking that this is going to be like the novels that McKenzie wrote earlier in her career.
The chapters are written from four different viewpoints of the main characters.... Jennifer and each of the three daughters. Each chapter there was evidence provided as to who may have been the one to do the poisoning of Jennifer.
Unfortunately for me about halfway through the story lost it’s page turner feel and it just felt I was reading to get to the end and find out “whodunit”. When the final turn of the plot was revealed it was disappointing and kind of anti-climatic. And some of the details seemed a bit far fetched.
I’m pleased for Catherine McKenzie that the book appears to be a success but for me I was hoping for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

The Shell Collector was a light read about relationships between a variety of characters. The book was classified as a romance but it was also light on the romance that did not start until halfway through the book. Most of the story was focused on the relationship between Amanda, a young widowed mom, and Maeve, a widowed senior lady that never had kids. An amazing connection grew between the two women while each learned how to see the world with a new point of view.
The story felt slow to me. There was never any confrontation between any of the characters. It appeared that nothing negative happened in this beach town. Even the children were unrealistic. The 6 year old sister and 4 year old brother never fought with each other, self-corrected when they weren't quite perfect, and the mom, Amanda, never got frustrated or angry with them.
Even with the negatives the Shell Collector was an easy, cleanly written read with some emotional, even tear creating, along with happy scenes.
One note I would like to add that should have been included in the book's synopsis is that there is a fairly big religious reference throughout the story. Not a favourite of mine and probably would not have read it if I had known this. I later learned that the publisher focuses on this genre.

Thanks to Waterbrook and Multnomah and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was pleased to be given the opportunity to read this ARC. My husband and I are amateur weather watchers and enjoy learning more whenever given the chance. We both read this book so the review is a combination of our thoughts.
The book was written in an easy to understand method. The science of the facts could have easily gone over our heads but it was written at a level that anyone could understand. Scientific words were used in a way so that you could learn what they meant in plain english. Lots of illustrations were provided so the explanations were easier to visualize. World weather examples were referred to making the book relatable to a wider audience. The author gives anecdotes that are easy to interpret and put into perspective.
The chapters were divided well so you could read a little here and there and digest what you read before moving on to another chapter. This makes it easy to use as a field guide. It is perfect for putting on your shelf (or carry with you in e-form) and open it up when you see weather that you would like to further investigate. We are able to see our current weather and understand it based on what we read.
We reviewed the book as an ebook but we plan to get a hard copy for our home as well.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving us the opportunity to read and review this terrific book!

This book was okay. I was hoping it was 5 stars for me like it was for so many other readers. I took me a long time to get into the story just like is frequently mentioned in reviews. I put it down and picked it back up many times waiting for it to get better. The over use of brackets, especially at the beginning, was very distracting.
There were not any likeable characters through the book, which didn't help in keeping me interested. And there were too many parts that I questioned... like how do you plagiarize a plot? We never heard if there were enough details of the plot given to Jake for it to be close enough to be called plagiarism.
Overall the whole story was entertaining and interesting enough for me to give it 3 stars. If the first half was not as I listed above I may have given 4 stars but it was not going to be a 5 for me.
I do suggest that everyone who is interested read this book and see how they like it. It could be a 5 for you!

Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the first book I have read of Mary Kay Andrews and I am pleased to add her other books to my future reading list!

This is cute story with a little bit of a murder mystery, a little bit of a romance and even a little bit of humour. The humour was found with the colourful characters that were included in the smaller storylines that took the reader on an occasional side trip from the main plot. The setting was perfect as I was reading this at the same time as the timeline of the story. It was easy to see the Florida sun and feel the humidity while it was grey and cold outside my windows.
I do wish there had been more written of the romance between Letty and hunky-cop, Joe. Maybe then I would not have felt that there was a need to make the storyline shorter.

This is an easy read to add to your break from your daily schedule or while on a bigger break on a vacation! I look forward to reading more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

So good!!

This was my first Laura Dave book and I it was so good! Right from the start I was interested in reading more. I could have read this in a day if life's responsibilities did not always get in the way!
I started off thinking this would be a story about the relationship between Hannah and Owen but I soon realized that is was more about the relationship between Hannah and Bailey. All characters, even though we never really "meet" Owen, were well written. I became interested in, and concerned with, their choices and actions. I found myself questioning their decisions, especially Owen's, throughout the book.
The plot seemed to move at a good pace. I never found myself thinking that it was dragging on for too long. The flashback chapters were short and concise, which I liked so that I could be brought back to the present where I wanted to be. I would have liked there to be a bit more to the epilogue. It seemed to make a good story line end with a resolution too easy. Such a complicated few days became an easy few years? I also felt that the four year-old Bailey, easily remembered a lot of details. I think that is too hard to believe but I didn't dwell on that.

I have added Laura Dave to my list of authors to read more of. She definitely has the ability to write a story that can pull you in and keep you for the duration!

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The beautiful cover of this book caught my attention when I saw it on NetGalley (although it is not the same cover as shown at the time of this review). Then when I saw it was a Bookouture book, I was drawn in even further. They are a new favourite publisher to me. And then to top that, I read the synopsis and I was a in! I was pleased when I was given the opportunity to read it! I had never read a Cate Woods book prior to this one but I am a new fan now!
A "feel-good love story" that is "gorgeous, heart-warming novel about starting over" without a doubt! I liked the main character, Nell, right away and was excited, although also sad for her loss, to see where this adventure, arranged by her best friend Megan, took her. I followed along with anticipation, humour, frustration, embarrassment, sadness (yes, I shed a quite a few tears) while Nell discovered a new world where she can be her real self!
The storyline was well done, easy to read and pulled me in right from the start. I was able to "see" the beautiful scenery and felt as if I was on vacation with Nell. Sometime while I was reading the book, I looked up the general location in hopes that I could go with my family one day! When I read the last pages, I was disappointed that the story of Nell had come to an end but what a great finish (there were more tears on my part). I was so pleased to find out that this will be a series. I can't wait!!

Read this one!! I recommend it!

Great job, Cate Woods and Happy Publication Day on May 12, 2021!

Thanks very much to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book and to add a new to me author to my favourite list!!

I don't read a lot of cozy mysteries but I was looking for something that would be a light read/listen while I was doing other things and this story fit right in! I enjoyed hanging out with Marvy, the newcomer to the area and its library, while she and her new friends solved a murder mystery. I felt like I was right there at the dinner party, listening to the phone conversations, or stopping in at the local bakery/coffee shop.
The story was easy to follow, cleanly written, with a bit of humour added in. This is the first book in a new series but it also be good as a stand-alone. I would recommend it either way.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this cozy and provide a review.

This is sad story with lots of complicated layers but once I figured out the direction it was heading it became difficult for me to read. I pushed through the story to get to the ending.
Unfortunately, I found it unbelievable! And some of the plot was a bit uncomfortable to read. Secrets kept by mothers and fathers making relationships between siblings difficult and inappropriate. It just didn't feel real to me.
The author writes well but the plot just did not do it for me. I hope to read more from this author in the future though.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow & Custom House for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.