This was a more interesting, in a way, historical that I've read. . A sin eater- branded on the tongue with a collar around their neck. Their purpose is to hear the sins of others before they die. They should only talk to say the "Maker's prayer". Then they are to eat foods associated with the sins.
I had never heard of such a thing but they used to have them!
May is made a Sin Eater. She doesn't know why. She soon discovers a plot in the queen's kingdom and tried to find a way to expose it with the only tools she has.... Her ears.
This was a hard book to read because I didn't find most of it engaging. I didn't care for the slowness of the novel.

This was an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking story! Keep tissues with you near the end as you will need them.

Ava's cancer comes back and this time- it's terminal. She has the idea to have a wedding... It won't be typical as there is no groom. Hey best friends and get more help her plan it. A magazine gets wind of it (thanks to socal media) and wanted to cover the story. Photographs and all.

This is where we meet James. James, the photographer, who will change the rest of Ava's life. I loved their relationship and how it progressed. They showed that it's never too late to find the love of your life. You know where the story is headed but it's an incredible journey to the end.

An emotional, but uplifting tale.

My biggest issue with this is the title as it's a tiny bit misleading,but..... It's a good book.

I was internally screaming (as not to bother my husband writing from home) at Nina through most of this book. If you have a gut feeling that things may be a little off.... Please trust that feeling!!

Simon is too perfect. Knows exactly how to comfort Nina and placate her. He is a psychopath to the 100th degree. I did not like how he came into her life. I hated how he could manipulate any situation. I hated how he treated Maggie and made Nina feels like she was a horrible mother. I hated that he made Nina feel like she was not worthy enough for Glen and that's why he disappeared.

I cheered Nina finally in the last third of the book when something happens that threatens someone's very life!

I did not see the twist in the middle coming! It blindsided me and made me even more mad for the way Simon would put down and disparage Nina's husband, Glen.

I'm torn. This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I wanted to love it, but it fell a little for me.

I get wanting to get revenge on someone who hurry you... badly! I could see from miles away what Rose Gold was doing.... Everything she does is really calculated and terrible. I just don't buy that the way she was treated by her mother Patty would allow this kind of thinking to develop in her.

I didn't like either Rose Gold very much (when I should feel extremely sorry for her) or Patty (who once again, thinks she knows best for everyone).

There was one thing that I didn't see until it was explained, Adam... Rose Gold's baby.

Thanks to booksforwardpr and lakeunionpublishing for the gifted copy.

"Tara" is a girl that was adopted by her foster mother at 8 years old. Her foster mother keeps her locked up tight and when she's old enough, teaches Tara how to steal. Even at the age of 20, Tara wears a prosthetic belly to steal bigger items.

Her sole escape is watching a family of Youtubers, the Feely's, late at night while "mother" sleeps. The opportunity presents itself for Tara to try and get an internship with the Feely's- this family she feels could be her own, nice family. Tara escapes and takes this internship.

I did enjoy seeing some of the behind the scene stuff that the family goes through. We know everyone isn't perfect and the Feely's sure aren't off camera. I would have liked to see more from them but the story is more about Tara. Even so, I was captivated throughout!

3.75 Thanks to SMP Romance for the gifted book.

I love small town settings and I love Scottish men.
Iain comes over from Scotland to help out Anna put on Highland, Georgia's annual Highland games. Each believes they are more in charge and they have to find a way to work together.

Anna spends most of her time wondering what's under the kilt

Thanks to Minotaur Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd in a series but I haven't read the first 2.

Set in historical New York in 1913, we follow lady's maid, Jane Prescott. She lives with her uncle who runs a refuge for women. A young lady staying there is killed and her uncle brought under suspicion. Jane sets out to prove his innocence.

I didn't feel I needed to read the first two to get a grip of who Jane is. It reads well as a standalone. As to the book, it was good but maybe drug a little in the middle and I found myself skipping some paragraphs of descriptions. My favorites parts included a man, Leo, who sets out to court Jane.

A story of when someone is stalked on the internet. Audrey is a social media influencer that just got a job in DC. She moved from New York-the same city as a college friend and her stalker. While Cat asks Audrey to stay at her place, Audrey gets an apartment withouy looking into it first. There are many men that come into Audrey's life (some new, some not seen for years) and my suspicions of who might be her stalker changed a bit. There is one scene in the novel when I went "that HAS to be who the stalker is" and it turned it to be right. The ending was what brought my rating from a 4 to a 3.... If one tragedy had happened, I would have had this at 4 stars but the ending just didn't quite make sense.

Emmie Blue, at age 16, releases a balloon with a note, her secret and her email.
An ocean away, Lucas finds the balloon/note.
14 years of being best friends and feeling like she belongs in Lucas's and his half brother, Elliot's family; Emmie is sure Lucas is going to propose and she knows she'll say yes... After all, she's secretly in love with him and he just has to be with her.

Fate has other plans for Emmie. She has to watch her friend marry someone else. Now all Emmie has planned and hoped for is taken away and she has to navigate a new future.

This story was so cute, warm and uplifting. It was also very sad as to how Emmie's life took a turn at 16 for her to release that balloon. I loved the way it all turns out in the end, how it should have been all along.

Eliot is a rock and wonderful human being. I'm glad he could be there for Emmie when Lucas couldn't. I wish her mom had been a better part of her life.