Novel but Nice

When Never Comes by Barbara Davis My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sometimes learning to let yourself be happy is the hardest lesson of all… Though the premise of this book may sounds like it veers towards thriller, it is anything but that—in a good way! Davis’s When Never Comes is a beautiful story of resilience, finding yourself, and learning to be open to happiness. It’s a story about a woman who ran away or hid her entire life, until she was forced out of hiding. This book is an incredible addition to Women’s Fiction in 2018. I think many readers will find this story to be a starting point to reflect on their own lives and identify the ghosts we all have following us around. Christine lives an enviable life… Married to handsome, charismatic, best-selling author Stephen Ludlow, book-editor Christine has the perfect marriage. They live in the very house one of Stephen’s books was filmed in for the movie-adaptation. They have no children (by choice), and Christine ...

Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars The last 40% of this book is mind-blowing—I had to go back and reread passages to make sure I read what I thought I did!!! This is my first book by Charlie Donlea, and what a fantastic introduction to this author!!! This book already drew me in with the premise, but the writing and the way the story was executed kept me engaged until the very last page. This is a book that is fueled by the plot. Some thrillers take place mostly in the minds of the characters, but this book is action driven. There are no slow points—every single chapter is moving you towards the shocking conclusion. You’ll want to pay attention, because a LOT happens in this book! 10 years ago Grace Sebold was convicted of murdering her boyfriend… Grace’s life was on the right track. Grace recently found out she was accepted in the medical residency she wanted in NYC with her boyfriend Julian, who is unbeknownst to her about to ...

When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger My rating: 4 of 5 stars Everyone’s favorite ex-assistant Emily Charlton is back and just as sassy and confident as ever!! If any character deserved their own book, Emily would be among the top on my list! This book is positively delightful, and introduces two new co-leading ladies who are the perfect complement to Emily. Lauren Weisberger sure knows how to write a trendy book with surprisingly deep social commentary on the insecurity underlying all of the glitz, glamour, and money without being overly critical of anyone who subscribes to that lifestyle. I absolutely had a blast reading this book, and I think other readers—whether new to Weisberger or long-time fans—will feel the same way! Emily Charlton now has her own assistant to boss around... Emily has found her way into a career that perfectly capitalizes on her mix of taste, elegance, and ball-busting working as an image consultant to celebrities. Emi...

Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman My rating: 5 of 5 stars A slow build to a shocking discovery, this book will have you wondering what you would do!!! What an incredible debut novel this is for Catherine Steadman! While the book starts with a bang, the next 30% is a slow build as you get to know the characters. Then at about 35% the story takes a turn and readers will find themselves holding on for the ride, unsure of where they’ll end up!!! I was unsure about this book at first, but I have to say I ended up really enjoying it and found it to be a tantalizing premise for a story. I don’t even know what I’d compare this book to… Its really quite unique from other psychological thrillers, though I’m sure some comparisons (Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins) are bound to come up. I don’t want to make those though because I don’t think readers should go into this book expecting something similar to what they’ve already read. Enjoy this one on it’s own merit! Eri...

Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is one twisty-WTF--suspense novel that is full of secrets and will have you questioning everything!!! Emily Carpenter is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad I was given an opportunity to read and review this book! This was a Traveling Sisters read and though everyone had a slightly different take on it, we all felt the ending was a WOW moment! This book takes a few chapters to get into, because the character dynamics are untraditional. But once you’re in, prepare to be questioning everything and everyone in a slow-building suspense novel with a thrilling conclusion! Daphne has finally found her own person to call her family… Daphne was raised in foster homes and a girls’ ranch, and has had no family to speak of her whole life. But Daphne is a survivor—strong and intelligent, and scrappy as all-get-out. When she met Heath, she instantly knew she had found her partner. Heath and Daphne fell ha...

Last Girl Gone by J.G. Hetherton My rating: 4 of 5 stars A fantastic debut novel and an exciting start to a new series! I am drawn to books with a journalist as the lead (perhaps related to the fact that my grandfather was a notable journalist) because I think journalists are a great mix of detective and every-day person—and isn’t that all of our dream?? Laura Chambers is the lead character in what has been promised as a new series (they are calling this Laura Chambers #1 so I made the assumption) and she is a truly wonderful lead. She’s bold, uninhibited, vulnerable, driven, and empathetic. Just a truly wonderful mix of traits and Laura is a character I really connected with! I thought I’d enjoy this book, but it surpassed me expectations! Laura Chambers is down on her luck... Laura is back in her hometown in Hillsborough, North Carolina—a town she hoped she had left behind for good after high school. Working for the local paper is a big setback for Laura’s...

The House Swap by Rebecca Fleet My rating: 3 of 5 stars A slow-burning story of domestic suspense that delves into the secrets of a marriage! The House Swap by Rebecca Fleet was my first Traveling Sister read with Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, and Susanne, and I had a great time sharing my thoughts with these lovely women! This book is well-written, but very slow in its pace. It moves back and forth to past and present as we learn more about this couple, their marriage, where it went wrong, and how they have tried to put it back together. It’s a book that will make you think about how strong a marriage can be—how it’s possible for two people to withstand so much pain and hurt, and still find something worth fighting for after it all. 2013 Caroline and Francis once were so in love, they couldn’t imagine life without the other. But they are now going through the motions of a marriage—each struggling with their own demons that push them further apart. They are on par...

The Wife Between Us: A Novel by Greer Hendricks My rating: 4 of 5 stars Twisty-turny the whole way through!!! This one will have your head spinning in the most delightful way!!! Well, I am LATE to the party on this one, fellow readers! I feel like the last person on earth to read this book, but it was calling to me from my pile beside my desk and I just had to take a break from review copies. I'm so glad I did! You always wonder if it is possible for the book to live up to the hype, but this one definitely did!! There's a reason it is a best seller. Vanessa is trying to rebuild her life --her marriage has ended and she is living with her Aunt. Vanessa is broken. Her husband left her for another woman. And though she knew that he was seeing her, she never imagined it would go this far. Now he is set to marry her, and Vanessa will not let that happen! Nellie is happily engaged --her fiance is a true prince charming. Nellie feels so lucky to have me...

Girls' Night Out by Liz Fenton My rating: 4 of 5 stars A beautiful, haunting story of friendship and what happens when that friendship is put to the test. A must-read for women of all ages!!! Girls’ Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke is a gripping tale of friendship and the cracks that form over time. This book reminds me a bit of what makes Liane Moriarty successful—it’s a deep character study of women and their lives both separate to and in relation to one another, and with a dash of suspense. Readers will find themselves turning the pages, wanting to find out the hidden secrets of these three women that will answer the question, what happened to their friendship?? From the outside Ashley has everything a girl could want —a handsome husband, two lovely daughters, a successful business, a 7,000 square-foot home in California, stunning good looks, and a magnetic personality. But these things that Ashley has that make her enviable also make it hard fo...

Hidden by Kelli Clare My rating: 2 of 5 stars A Romance novel with a twist that fans of Romance and Fantasy will likely enjoy! Well, thus ends my streak of amazing 4- and 5-star reads! It had to end sometime, and this book was it. I hope to provide some fair feedback for readers considering this book, because though it wasn't good to me, others may enjoy it. I want to be honest and state that I am a poor fit as a reader and reviewer for this book. I had agreed to review it because it is marketed as a Mystery/Thriller, but this book is firmly in the Romance category and the thriller subplot is only background tension for the relationship between the two main characters. I think readers who are fans of Romance, and also enjoy Fantasy or Young Adult books will enjoy this book. In terms of writing ability, Kelli Clare has a gift with prose, and that was the part of this book I found rewarding. I think Clare will achieve success applying this gift to the romantic...