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Before The Tuscan House, I had not read much about WWII in Italy outside of my world history classes. Angela Petch brings the Italian city of Corbello to life, both during the war and after as it is rebuilding. The people of Corbello showed an intense friendship and loyalty to Richard, welcoming him back as if he had always belonged.
Fosca was an interesting character. I'm still not quite sure what to think of her. She was brave, but selfishly so at times. I guess that makes her more human. Richard was the same. I think that is what really stands out for the characters in Corbello - they are human. They try to do the right thing, but feeling, life, and circumstances sometimes get in the way - and a few are just downright awful people. It's a very realistic mix.
The town was busy rebuilding, and Richard was trying to rebuild his life. It was a fitting place for his story. When he finds the body of a woman in the garden behind his new fixer-upper, the story takes quite a turn. There's a case of mistaken identity, some blackmail, stolen gold, and even an ex-girlfriend thrown in.
But I feel the heart of the story was further in the past - during the war - when the resistance was doing everything they could to harm the Nazis and Fascists. The daring and bravery of these folks were riveting, and their adventures and sabotage may have really helped the war effort. The Tuscan House has made me add some more books about how Italy managed during the war to my non-fiction list.
I was fully on board, 100%, 5-stars all the way until the very very end. It felt a little contrived, and almost like the author had to wrap up a loose end and didn't know how else to manage it.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Fosca was an interesting character. I'm still not quite sure what to think of her. She was brave, but selfishly so at times. I guess that makes her more human. Richard was the same. I think that is what really stands out for the characters in Corbello - they are human. They try to do the right thing, but feeling, life, and circumstances sometimes get in the way - and a few are just downright awful people. It's a very realistic mix.
The town was busy rebuilding, and Richard was trying to rebuild his life. It was a fitting place for his story. When he finds the body of a woman in the garden behind his new fixer-upper, the story takes quite a turn. There's a case of mistaken identity, some blackmail, stolen gold, and even an ex-girlfriend thrown in.
But I feel the heart of the story was further in the past - during the war - when the resistance was doing everything they could to harm the Nazis and Fascists. The daring and bravery of these folks were riveting, and their adventures and sabotage may have really helped the war effort. The Tuscan House has made me add some more books about how Italy managed during the war to my non-fiction list.
I was fully on board, 100%, 5-stars all the way until the very very end. It felt a little contrived, and almost like the author had to wrap up a loose end and didn't know how else to manage it.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Vanilla & Vendettas by Lisa Siefert was a cute cozy mystery. It checks all the boxes – quirky character, cute sidekick, unique small town, and there’s even a couple of cute cats. When a super expensive (like OMG who pays that much) engagement ring goes missing from Ava’s store’s safe, or possibly the cupcake she was supposed to bake it into, no one has any idea who might have done it. To be honest, I had no idea who had done it until it was revealed on page.
Marcus was a fun character as well. I could completely relate to his love of technology, but I don’t think how he uses it all that legal at times. He comes through for Ava when she’s in a pinch several times, and he really seems a bit like the knight in shining armor in this story.
The cats were adorable, but they didn’t really add to the story. I wish more had been done with them. They seemed more like accessories and background than a real part of the story. I loved their personalities and antics, but they didn’t really move the mystery forward a whole lot.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Marcus was a fun character as well. I could completely relate to his love of technology, but I don’t think how he uses it all that legal at times. He comes through for Ava when she’s in a pinch several times, and he really seems a bit like the knight in shining armor in this story.
The cats were adorable, but they didn’t really add to the story. I wish more had been done with them. They seemed more like accessories and background than a real part of the story. I loved their personalities and antics, but they didn’t really move the mystery forward a whole lot.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Saving the Mountain Man is a really sweet short-story romance. It opens with a bang and some sled-dog magic that start Eliza and Rollin on their way to a happily ever after. There were a few things at the beginnin I found a little perplexing – such as why ask someone who is afraid of dogs to watch over a pack of energetic sled dogs – but I just rolled with it.
Once again, the Alaskan scenery is really brought to life, and I love how much of it was fit into a short story so that as a reader I could really see and feel the places around them. I would have liked to see some of that storytelling magic brought over to the characters and their story a little bit more.
At times the story was rushed (even for a short), and the couple seemed to be shoved together with little lead-up or courting (I’ve always liked the courting and getting to know you stage). There’s just enough of a mention of the previous book’s couple to catch up with them really quick which I always enjoy as well.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Once again, the Alaskan scenery is really brought to life, and I love how much of it was fit into a short story so that as a reader I could really see and feel the places around them. I would have liked to see some of that storytelling magic brought over to the characters and their story a little bit more.
At times the story was rushed (even for a short), and the couple seemed to be shoved together with little lead-up or courting (I’ve always liked the courting and getting to know you stage). There’s just enough of a mention of the previous book’s couple to catch up with them really quick which I always enjoy as well.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
A Cottage Wedding takes us back to the beautiful Heart’s Landing and a little deeper into the inner workings of The Captain’s Cottage. Jason and his team are determined to make the #1 wedding venue again, and they are pulling out all the stops. It isn’t just the Cottage’s reputation on the line, but the entire town.
Tara shows up to review Heart’s Landing when her editor backs out at the last minute. But she comes with an ulterior motive. One that she finds very hard to keep in mind as the people, places, and history of Heart’s Landing win her over. But her career and the life she always wanted are on the line.
I really enjoyed the history that was revealed in A Cottage Wedding. While Tara’s initial reason to dig into it isn’t the best, what she uncovers is amazing and beautiful and lovely and… I think you get the picture. And Jason’s love of the family home is evident in every action.
The big conflict in this book worried me at first – as I’m not a fan of mistaken/false intentions, but this one may have changed my mind. The regret over misleading is real, and Tara never takes joy in her deception. In fact, it eats at her every time she thinks about it. And the inevitable blow-up was quite believable. I love that it came down to truth and history to save the day – and those things really showed that love should be the greater motivation.
I fell even more in love with the town and its residents. It was a joy to come and visit and to witness another Heart’s Landing love for the ages.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Tara shows up to review Heart’s Landing when her editor backs out at the last minute. But she comes with an ulterior motive. One that she finds very hard to keep in mind as the people, places, and history of Heart’s Landing win her over. But her career and the life she always wanted are on the line.
I really enjoyed the history that was revealed in A Cottage Wedding. While Tara’s initial reason to dig into it isn’t the best, what she uncovers is amazing and beautiful and lovely and… I think you get the picture. And Jason’s love of the family home is evident in every action.
The big conflict in this book worried me at first – as I’m not a fan of mistaken/false intentions, but this one may have changed my mind. The regret over misleading is real, and Tara never takes joy in her deception. In fact, it eats at her every time she thinks about it. And the inevitable blow-up was quite believable. I love that it came down to truth and history to save the day – and those things really showed that love should be the greater motivation.
I fell even more in love with the town and its residents. It was a joy to come and visit and to witness another Heart’s Landing love for the ages.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Evelyn is one of my favorite characters in this series so far. A bit of a work-a-holic, super competitive, incredibly caring and empathetic, but struggles to figure out where her place is going to be in the future. As she leads the Wedding in a Week couple through their preparations, she finds out that her biggest competitor may be the man of her dreams.
I would really like Ryan to come to my house and do some work. The description of The Boat Works after he completes renovations sounds so beautiful. He’s also a pretty nice guy, but need to win the Wedding in a Week competition to get his new venue off the ground – but how will that affect his simmering relationship with Evelyn?
A Waterfront Wedding doesn’t have just one romance either. The Wedding in a Week couple is just the most adorable pair I’ve seen in a long time. But things aren’t perfect, and the stress is getting to them. So Ryan and Evelyn make it their mission to help this super adorable and perfect couple through the stress and get them down the aisle.
But the big question is – will their budding relationship survive one of them losing the competition to the other? This whole dynaimc was handled brilliantly. There are hard feelings when you lose (and I’m not telling you who, but one of the does), and those hard feelings are difficult to deal with. But how things eventually work out – sigh – it’s romantic s all get-out and I want some more.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
I would really like Ryan to come to my house and do some work. The description of The Boat Works after he completes renovations sounds so beautiful. He’s also a pretty nice guy, but need to win the Wedding in a Week competition to get his new venue off the ground – but how will that affect his simmering relationship with Evelyn?
A Waterfront Wedding doesn’t have just one romance either. The Wedding in a Week couple is just the most adorable pair I’ve seen in a long time. But things aren’t perfect, and the stress is getting to them. So Ryan and Evelyn make it their mission to help this super adorable and perfect couple through the stress and get them down the aisle.
But the big question is – will their budding relationship survive one of them losing the competition to the other? This whole dynaimc was handled brilliantly. There are hard feelings when you lose (and I’m not telling you who, but one of the does), and those hard feelings are difficult to deal with. But how things eventually work out – sigh – it’s romantic s all get-out and I want some more.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
The Butterfly Garden by Sophie Anderson really packs an emotional punch. Two family dramas unfold on the pages, and both have some pretty shocking revelations. Erin is a young woman that is returning to her hometown “in disgrace” and the topic of gossip everywhere she goes. But she needs a job finds a place with an old woman, Maggie, that needs help writing her final book.
Erin and Maggie gradually become close in their own odd and special way. They seem like a rather unlikely pair, but their relationship is something very special. Maggie’s last book is different than what she usually writes, and Erin soon finds herself on a trip to Costa Rica to deliver the manuscript to Maggie’s estranged son, Lucas.
Costa Rica was incredibly beautiful, and I would love to see all the places Erin visited, but the storyline fell a little flat there. The characters all seemed so contradictory to themselves. While I understood Lucas’s on and off again personality, the rest seemed like pieces that didn’t fit the puzzle. Erin’s whole time here seemed as if it didn’t quite fit – which is odd because Lucas is a vital part of the story.
Erin’s family has their own issues they will need to confront as well, and her time with Maggie helps her realize that secrets aren’t always meant to hurt. This family secret takes the story in a somewhat different direction but still maintains the theme of parents and their children.
I enjoyed the story a lot, and I wish I could have seen how everyone turned out beyond the ending. I feel like there is still so much to say about their lives and their impact on the people around them.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Erin and Maggie gradually become close in their own odd and special way. They seem like a rather unlikely pair, but their relationship is something very special. Maggie’s last book is different than what she usually writes, and Erin soon finds herself on a trip to Costa Rica to deliver the manuscript to Maggie’s estranged son, Lucas.
Costa Rica was incredibly beautiful, and I would love to see all the places Erin visited, but the storyline fell a little flat there. The characters all seemed so contradictory to themselves. While I understood Lucas’s on and off again personality, the rest seemed like pieces that didn’t fit the puzzle. Erin’s whole time here seemed as if it didn’t quite fit – which is odd because Lucas is a vital part of the story.
Erin’s family has their own issues they will need to confront as well, and her time with Maggie helps her realize that secrets aren’t always meant to hurt. This family secret takes the story in a somewhat different direction but still maintains the theme of parents and their children.
I enjoyed the story a lot, and I wish I could have seen how everyone turned out beyond the ending. I feel like there is still so much to say about their lives and their impact on the people around them.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
This Other Island by Steffanie Edward was an interesting story. It begins with Yvette returning to her parents in England after being raised by her aunt on the islands. And now we’re in the present day, watching her life unfold in front of us. Her life doesn’t seem overly remarkable at first. She has a good job, friends, and a steady boyfriend (who is afraid to commit to being more).
At first, I struggled to see where the story was going. I enjoy ready a book that’s just the story of everyday life, but this one had promised to be more than that. I started to see this “something more” when Yvette’s father asks her to find a man from his past, a man that seems to hold no major significance but ends up playing a very key role in the end.
The story moved a little slower than I expected, with a lot of focus on the relationship between the characters and less on who this mysterious man might be. It really allowed me to get into the characters’ heads and dig around to see what made them tick. It also allowed me a glimpse into a culture that I knew very little about. At times the accent of the older generations was difficult to read. Still, by using it, the author really drew a line between generations that showcased how much changes and how many stays the same even after just one generation.
The end felt a little rushed. After a slow and intricate build-up, there are a lot of things that got dropped in my lap all at once, and then suddenly, the story was done. While this helped me understand the craziness of what was going on, it was also a little hard to transition to this new pace mentally.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
At first, I struggled to see where the story was going. I enjoy ready a book that’s just the story of everyday life, but this one had promised to be more than that. I started to see this “something more” when Yvette’s father asks her to find a man from his past, a man that seems to hold no major significance but ends up playing a very key role in the end.
The story moved a little slower than I expected, with a lot of focus on the relationship between the characters and less on who this mysterious man might be. It really allowed me to get into the characters’ heads and dig around to see what made them tick. It also allowed me a glimpse into a culture that I knew very little about. At times the accent of the older generations was difficult to read. Still, by using it, the author really drew a line between generations that showcased how much changes and how many stays the same even after just one generation.
The end felt a little rushed. After a slow and intricate build-up, there are a lot of things that got dropped in my lap all at once, and then suddenly, the story was done. While this helped me understand the craziness of what was going on, it was also a little hard to transition to this new pace mentally.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
I'd like to start by saying that I'm not a big fan of short stories. There never seems to be enough time to develop anything. However, I also love Stephen King, so I found myself reading a book of his short stories thinking that it would probably be ok as one great would more than cancel out the bad. For the most part it was a great book. There were only a couple of the stories that didn't please me as much as they could have...had they been developed and expanded into full size books. So I'll give a short wrap-up of each one, but I don't want to give too much away.
1. Willa was a nice short little story to get the blood flowing and the eyes working. It was sweet and happy with a bit of sadness tossed in for flavor.
2. The Gingerbread Girl is a story of running, and how running can either save you or...well...not save you I guess. A woman finds herself pitted against quite a psycho.
3. Harvey's dream left me with one question....What? I totally missed the point on this one.
4. Rest Stop was one of the best in the book. A look at what would you do if you found yourself in a situation you needed to handle, but weren't sure if you could.
5. Stationary Bike was another excellent one, where imagination meets reality and a man may have gone too far trying to get into shape.
6. The Things They Left Behind was touching and moving, but it left me wondering What? agian. It was well written, but the topic deserved to have more to it than just a short story.
7. Graduation Afternoon is a great start for a book. It reads almost as if King started to write one and then stopped after the first chapter.
8. N. is probably my favorite in the book and actually kept me up late to finish. Good old fashioned Stephen King horror.
9. The Cat From Hell had me laughing, but I don't think I was supposed to. (Richard you will not want to read this one.)
10. The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates is one I hardy even remember reading. A story about moving on and accepting death.
11. Mute was very entertaining if predictable. What happens when you confess your innermost thoughts to a hitchhiker that you think is deaf and mute? Well, let me tell you it isn't what you expect.
12. Ayana reminded a bit of The Green Mile. A story of healing and miracles.
13. A Very Tight Place is probably my second favorite in the book. A good old fashioned suspense about a neighbor that takes his frustrations out on his gay neighbor...but maybe the tables will end up being turned.
So, there you have it. It wasn't a waste of time, but I would have ripped some of those pages out had I been the editor. But if I did that then we wouldn't have the magical number of thirteen stories!
3.5/5
1. Willa was a nice short little story to get the blood flowing and the eyes working. It was sweet and happy with a bit of sadness tossed in for flavor.
2. The Gingerbread Girl is a story of running, and how running can either save you or...well...not save you I guess. A woman finds herself pitted against quite a psycho.
3. Harvey's dream left me with one question....What? I totally missed the point on this one.
4. Rest Stop was one of the best in the book. A look at what would you do if you found yourself in a situation you needed to handle, but weren't sure if you could.
5. Stationary Bike was another excellent one, where imagination meets reality and a man may have gone too far trying to get into shape.
6. The Things They Left Behind was touching and moving, but it left me wondering What? agian. It was well written, but the topic deserved to have more to it than just a short story.
7. Graduation Afternoon is a great start for a book. It reads almost as if King started to write one and then stopped after the first chapter.
8. N. is probably my favorite in the book and actually kept me up late to finish. Good old fashioned Stephen King horror.
9. The Cat From Hell had me laughing, but I don't think I was supposed to. (Richard you will not want to read this one.)
10. The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates is one I hardy even remember reading. A story about moving on and accepting death.
11. Mute was very entertaining if predictable. What happens when you confess your innermost thoughts to a hitchhiker that you think is deaf and mute? Well, let me tell you it isn't what you expect.
12. Ayana reminded a bit of The Green Mile. A story of healing and miracles.
13. A Very Tight Place is probably my second favorite in the book. A good old fashioned suspense about a neighbor that takes his frustrations out on his gay neighbor...but maybe the tables will end up being turned.
So, there you have it. It wasn't a waste of time, but I would have ripped some of those pages out had I been the editor. But if I did that then we wouldn't have the magical number of thirteen stories!
3.5/5
There is a lot to love about Ellie and her friends – both human and canine. When one of her canine clients, Sprinkles, “helps” her discover a body, Ellie is dragged into a murder investigation that seems to have them all chasing their tails. There are loads of clues and false trails, and it’s a little tricky to try and separate the two at first. This means you’ll be guessing up until the very end, which I kind of like.
I wish I had more of a chance to get to know Ellie before getting bombarded with side characters. We meet both her sisters right away, and I could never remember which was which. I’m hoping they start to separate themselves in my mind as the series goes on. At first I had assumed that Sprinkles would be Ellie’s dog, but her dog, Marley, gets pushed into the background a bit when it comes to the mystery.
Sprinkles sort of takes center stage, but after reading other books by Emmie Lyn, I had expected to see a lot more action from the canines. Sprinkles is quite an affectionate and protective dog for his owner, but neither animal seemed to really take center stage.
The steps to solve the mystery were a lot of fun, if sometimes complicated, to follow. But the ending just seemed to come out of left field. I had a hard time following the clues to where everything evenutally ended up.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
I wish I had more of a chance to get to know Ellie before getting bombarded with side characters. We meet both her sisters right away, and I could never remember which was which. I’m hoping they start to separate themselves in my mind as the series goes on. At first I had assumed that Sprinkles would be Ellie’s dog, but her dog, Marley, gets pushed into the background a bit when it comes to the mystery.
Sprinkles sort of takes center stage, but after reading other books by Emmie Lyn, I had expected to see a lot more action from the canines. Sprinkles is quite an affectionate and protective dog for his owner, but neither animal seemed to really take center stage.
The steps to solve the mystery were a lot of fun, if sometimes complicated, to follow. But the ending just seemed to come out of left field. I had a hard time following the clues to where everything evenutally ended up.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Detective Abby Pearce is a fascinating character. Dana Perry does an excellent job introducing us to her and then revealing more and more intriguing pieces of information about her past as the story continues. But Detective Pearce is intelligent, dedicated, and struggling with some personal demons – namely alcoholism. I really liked Detective Pearce, and I thought she made an excellent detective.
Everyone is a little shocked when their little corner of Martha’s Vineyard becomes ground zero for a high-profile kidnapping case. (Things like that just don’t happen there.) But as Detective Pearce starts digging into the case, things just aren’t adding up. The missing girl’s mom might be hiding something, and there are crazy ties to previous deaths that were signed off as natural causes. None of it is making a whole lot of sense, which was wonderful.
The detective work was terrific. And there are some really great friends/rivals on the force for Abby to interact with, and I hope we see them again. The bad guys are positively evil, and you can’t help but desperately hope for Abby and her team to track them down. This was an amazing story.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Everyone is a little shocked when their little corner of Martha’s Vineyard becomes ground zero for a high-profile kidnapping case. (Things like that just don’t happen there.) But as Detective Pearce starts digging into the case, things just aren’t adding up. The missing girl’s mom might be hiding something, and there are crazy ties to previous deaths that were signed off as natural causes. None of it is making a whole lot of sense, which was wonderful.
The detective work was terrific. And there are some really great friends/rivals on the force for Abby to interact with, and I hope we see them again. The bad guys are positively evil, and you can’t help but desperately hope for Abby and her team to track them down. This was an amazing story.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**