NetGalley Addicts Support Group discussion

NetGalley introduced me to Casey Wilson and "A Dog's Chance" is the second book I've read by the author. Fans of "Marley and Me" and "A Dog's Purpose" will fall in love with Duke's role in changing his humans' lives affording them to unleash their dreams.



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"As I witness the interactions between Arthur and Madison, it's easy to see they both for what they lost--a family. I know that feeling all too well. There's no reason all of us can't be a family. Arthur's my family now and we have room for Madison and Abbie. That's the beautiful thing about sharing the love in your heart--it doesn't mean you have less of it. Love is the only thing that grows the more you give away."

Next book: I'm traveling trouble deciding between This Time Next Year, Buzz Books Fall and Midnight Train to Prague. Decisions, decisions, Decisions!

Sweet, charming but somewhat predictable The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/..

It Started with a Secret by Jill Mansell

Nowhere on Earth

a bit annoyed on the main character but will push through. 😅

A book full of sunshine, laughter and love It Started with a Secret by Jill Mansell
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Last One to Lie by J.M. Winchester

I've just finished Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. It's a marveous read with Joyce's trademark flawed and wonderful characters Highly recommended!

my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished 2 books

The two star I Know Your Secret by Ruth Heald https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

and the 4 star Last One to Lie by J.M. Winchester
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Starting Gone in Seconds by Ed James

What's not to like about a selection of chapters from upcoming books? Publishers Lunch puts out a series of previews which I always look forward to, and Buzz Books 2020: Fall/Winter is as good as ever. Something for everyone.
5★ Link to my BuzzBooks review

I also read Missing William Tyrrell by Aussie investigative journalist and author Caroline Overington, a thorough, sensitive look at the puzzling and ongoing case of three-year-old William's sudden disappearance in 2014.
4★ Link to my William Tyrrell review

Finished the crime thriller Gone in Seconds by Ed James. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Started A Million Little Lies by Bette Lee Crosby

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."



Readers will find themselves rooting for their favorite protagonists. Setting their sights whether the stars will align or was their chance for love, eclipsed?

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished the delightful 4 star A Million Little Lies by Bette Lee Crosby https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting The Sunset Sisters by Cecilia Lyra

Just finished A Walk Along the Beach (have tissue ready for this one), reading Every Missing Piece. Taking two college classes so reading time is less at the moment but after Monday, when my big paper is turned in, I will have more time.

I loved everything from the story to the characters to the cover
The Sunset Sisters by Cecilia Lyra. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Starting I Know You Lied by Lesley Sanderson

Aretha Franklin was certainly the voice of a generation (or two or three) and the first woman in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! This is Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara's addition to the Little People BIG DREAMS series.
4.5★ Link to my "Aretha" review with illustrations.

Getting ready to start "The Lost Manuscript." Sometimes a book has the power to change your life…



"Cathy Bonidan's The Lost Manuscript is a charming epistolary novel about the love of books and magical ability they have to bring people together."

Trying again to read , The color of Air. Has anyone here read it?? I'm really having trouble with all of the Hawaiian names etc. so I put if aside for a while. Thought I'd try again but don't know if it's worth it??

I'm reading Boyfriend Material and A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder right now, enjoying the former a lot and the latter a bit less.

I just finished "The Lost Manuscript" and enjoyed traveling along with the characters to discover the truth.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



When Anne-Lise Briard checks into the Beau Rivage Hotel, she unknowingly sets off a chain of events that crosses time and culture. Reading the lost manuscript awakens her spirit and she's determined to return the manuscript to its mysterious owner.

I'm on reading spree and just speed through "This Time Next Year."



Where do you want to be this same time next year? That question resurfaces each year from best friends, Minnie and Leila. Peppering that in repeatedly to their friends and loved ones, instead of living in the moment, they are focusing on the future.

As the years went by, I loved watching Minnie grow a backbone. Forming new resolutions I cheered for her when she proclaimed "I finally feel like I've been giving the keys to my own car and I just want to drive." Will she take the easy road or proudly charge ahead despite potholes or wrong turns?

Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am currently reading Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know and liking it so far!

A new series that I think kids would enjoy as well. (Who doesn't love a dog?) The Finders-(Mace Reid K-9 Mystery, #1) by Jeffrey B. Burton is about a special dog (and her owner, of course, plus a potential love interest).
3★ Link to my Finders review

Finished a read about domestic violence and crime The Stepdaughter by Debbie Howells
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

Our lives are like jigsaw puzzles. Each piece contains a story that when fitted together, portrays a photo of our journey. Looking at a section is only a snapshot but an important outline of our backgrounds.



I appreciated that the author presented a real account that not all meetings go as planned. I would encourage other readers who enjoy books about family dynamics to check out "The Last Piece." After reading, I have a new appreciation for my family.

My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This is a funny and touching family drama Grown Ups by Marian Keyes.Strongly recommended.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin

In case you missed the news, Lindsey Kelk is back with a new novel. I heart Kelk's books as her sarcastic wit, compelling characters and quirky protagonists, always deliver a fun and fast-paced read. Sprinkling the magic elixir, readers want to devour the book while at the same time, pull back to preserve time within the pages.



My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished the disappointing All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

Finished An emotional and chilling read The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Started The House on Widows Hill by Simon R. Green

What an entertaining way to introduce kids to some of the classics by the much-loved Charles Dickens! I think A World Full of Dickens Stories by Angela McAllister would make an excellent gift.
5★ Link to my Dickens review with several illustrations

I just finished The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals

Perfect for animal lovers. Here’s my four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

In case you missed the news, Lindsey Kelk is back with a new novel. I heart Kelk's books as her sarcastic wit, compelling characters and quirky protagonists, always deliver a fun and fast-paced read. Sprinkling the magic elixir, readers want to devour the book while at the same time, pull back to preserve time within the pages.



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm starting Harper's "Summer at Hope Haven."



&

Gibson's "How Lulu Lost Her Mind"

I laughed and cried along with Lou Ann Hunter and her mom in "How Lulu Lost Her Mind."

Lou Ann Hunter's picture-perfect life spirals out of control when her mother's Alzheimer's gets her evicted from her group home. Caring for her mother becomes a 24-hour job and both Hunter's are losing their mind. When Lou Ann places an ad for a caregiver, 26-year old, Lindsey is an answer to Lou Ann's prayers. When Patty's (Mom) implores Lou Ann to return to the family's ancestral home in Louisiana, Lou gives up her career to tend to her mother's last wishes.

Full of heart while tugging on readers' heart strings, Gibson explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters and the controversial topic regarding the right to die. I had trouble getting into the story but I soon found myself "baited and hooked" falling in love with Patty's quirky antics and Lou Ann's steadfast devotion.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



"I'm not just going to try to get along with Mother. I am going to get along with her. I have to remember that she can't help her attitude and behavior...Obviously her mind retains the good and forgets the rest." "How Lulu Lost Her Mind"

One In Three by Tess Stimson

Finished #10 in the Calladine & Bayliss series DEAD WICKED a totally addictive crime thriller with a huge twist by Helen H. Durrant. https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Grab it while it's still on NetGalley! My new favourite book. Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir is funny, poignant, witty, unique. The anonymous author shares her real, broken life and the wise tweets of her 81-year-old Twitter alter-ego.

"People often come to me seeking the true meaning of life, but I find they’re usually satisfied with half a sandwich." DG
5★ Link to my Duchess Goldblatt review with some of her many observations on life

After her fiancé's betrayal, a new relationship leaves her treading water. Will this #SummeratHopeHaven be the balm needed to move forward?



My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Looking forward to reading "Flowers of Darkness" by the best-selling author of Sarah's Key.

Ten Little Words by Leah Mercer after finishing Two very different five star reads in two days!

The very emotional The Day She Came Back by Amanda Prowse https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and
my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

The most exciting and fun read of the year One In Three by Tess Stimson https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

The Pardoner's Crime: A historical crime thriller featuring Robin Hood is the first in a new series by Keith Moray, who writes under a couple of other names. Light, easy read.
3★ Link to my Pardoner's Crime review

Playdate by Alex Dahl

Finished Ten Little Words by Leah Mercer. A little mystery, a little romance, and a good look at the debilitating effects of depression. https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lucinda Riley's "The Butterfly Room" transforms Posy from a chrysalis to emerging as a confident adult. As a child, Posy was cocooned from the truth but her family's secret left a mark on her relationships. Accepted to Cambridge, she spreads her wings to embark on an uncharted future.



My Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"So many people walk around blind to the magic and beauty around them. But not you Posy, you already see things better than most. When we draw nature, we begin to understand it---we can see all the various parts and how they are joined together. By drawing what you see and studying it, you can help other people understand the miracle of nature too." Lucinda Riley "The Butterfly Room"

This afternoon, I finished "28 Summers" (loved the novel) and was considering my next read. Opening up NetGalley, I was granted early access to three books by my favorite authors! Now I just have to decide which one is first?

Family drama, heartfelt Christmas novel or suspenseful read? Oh my but it's a good problem to have!

Starting Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie after I Finished 2 very different books over the last few days....

An edge of your seat psychological thriller Playdate by Alex Dahl https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

And the second is a gentler historical mystery set in the glamorous world of show business Tell Me How It Ends by V.B. Grey https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Some books makes such a deep impact that they leave a mark on the reader. "Truly, Madly, Deeply' was that type of story.



Tommy Baxter's world crumbles with his high-school girlfriend's devastating diagnosis. Her fight for survival alongside his family's recent visit to the 9/11 Memorial leaves Tommy questioning his future. Veering from his Ivy-League track, he announces his plans of forgoing college to become a police officer.

While Tommy's plans are honorable, his mother, Reagan, is still grieving her father's death during the 9/11 attacks. Kingsbury expertly pens a story filled with heart, sacrifice and love that will leave readers falling "Truly, Madly and Deeply' in love with the characters.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish after finishing the Australian crime thriller/romantic suspense Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Instead of the holidays providing a jingle in her step, Daisy "Everly" Lancaster is executing marching orders to her wayward assistant, Annette. When that ship sails, her partner sets forth a mandatory month's relaxation. Annette deploys revenge by instead of booking a luxury cruise, Everly finds herself debarking on a no-frills Amazon voyage. Will she get on board be left stranded in the Amazon without cell service?



Full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It wasn't what I expected as her other Christmas books are more holiday centric such as the Mrs. Miracle stories. Upon further reflection, the tale teaches Everly more about the value of Christmas and her family than celebrating the season. Debbie Macomber's fans will enjoy the read especially armchair traveling to Brazil while being stranded at home during the pandemic.

Danielle Steel delivers a modern-day Anastasia story infused with war, love and heartbreak. Unlock the leather box instead of jewelry and Annie in the place of Anna and the crown will be royally surprised with its new princess.




Lucy’s spurned advances and jealousy of their relationship, prompted her to steal baby Annie after her mother's death. Raised as a stable manager and housekeeper's daughter, despite her modest means, Lucy couldn't hide Annie's heritage. Will Annie figure out the truth or remain a pauper instead of a princess?

I enjoyed the story especially the horse racing sections. I felt like I was flying along with the protagonist coaxing the horse to cross the finish line. That being said, the second half, I thought was stronger than the first. Once Annie learned the truth, the novel continued at a fast pace until its fitting end. Does Annie remain #Royal or return to her roots?

Full Review: https://bit.ly/3g3tb0O

I just finished Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson.

Not an easy read, but a very important one. Here’s my five star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Murder Unmentioned by Sulari Gentill is my favourite one so far in this delightful Aussie historical mystery series. 1930s Australia - love it!
5★ Link to my Murder Unmentioned review

Robert Pobi is new to me, but I enjoyed City of Windows - (think skyscrapers/sniper) - so much that I've already started the second in the series. I appreciate a good guy who IS a good guy.
5★Link to my City of Windows review

Tatiana de Rosnay's haunting tale has readers envisioning a world where humanity is replaced by machinery. Even now, as technology advances, AI is becoming commonplace. Where once it was limited to menial jobs and tasks, it's moved into manufacturing, medicine, smart houses and gadgets making our lives easier but at what cost? Are we turning our control over to machines?

I had difficulty with this book as it's not an easy read. That being said, the author pushes readers outside of their comfort zones preying on fears about the future.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths after I Finished the exciting and mind-blowing The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...