jbarrett5 book reviews, etc

Bitter Choices by William Manchee
This book starts out with Stan and about his life, family and work life. His son Reggie is now part of the lawyer team, Paula and Jodie are devoted members also specializing in their own fields.
Stan takes on a case that leaves him with the man’s investment company. He keeps the others in the firm out of it when he finds out a cartel is involved. FBI Is also helping him unril...
Reggie's friend from college wants him to take a case as it involves his family. He gets advice from the women in the office and discourage him because personal injury suit could lead to hundreds of hours but no money when it’s over.
Love catching up with the family and the cases they try. clues are given and all indepth research.
Such fascinating cases and how they proceed.
Lots of action, cartel, company negligence and witness protection service. Tearful moments with fire, who goes missing and other disappearances. Such caring lawyers as they provide a well worth service for justice.
Can’t wait for the next as more pieces fit into the puzzle.
Has been quite a few years since I’ve read a Stan Turner mystery and I had just started a 2 week vacation and jumped at the chance to review this one.
Author describes detailed scenes, it’d be perfect for a movie. Has something for everyone love, romance, travel, mystery, action, cartel and business dealings.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

The Dish Dog by Peter Davidson

This story starts out with Harley and he's just a bus boy at one of the most elite restaurants in NYC.

Story is so descriptive in details to not only surroundings, but routines as well.

He has the ability to hear things from the whole room picking up on many conversations at once. He is able to learn about tips of what stocks to buy.

From there the story also follows Dr. Kimberly King who's now working for the FBI in forensic dept. They are on a trail of investments that appear to have bene leaked about when they will rise to the top of markets.

Love understanding the sequences that take place as she and her team track down who the main person is that is getting all the funds from the leaks that occur.

Love haring how the culprit disguises their life and is able to leave when they need to.

 Couldn't put this book down, really draws you in as you know this could happen and how it could be accomplished.

The Lost girls of willow brook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
This story starts out with Sage and she learns her sister who's like a twin to her is really alive. She had been told her died from pneumonia years ago.
She's been living at the state institution Willow Brook and now she's gone missing. Their mother is dead now and they live with Alan, who's not their father.
She plans to head to the woods nearby the building and look for any clues about Rosemary. Love that the mother named her daughters after herbs: Sage and Rosemary.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.
Bit creepy and very scary for me but a good story. Like simple things like making fairy things from twigs and things found on forest floor.
So sad when she shows up to ask about her missing sister they capture her, inject her and now she's Rosemary.
The state school is described to every detail that is so chilling it's a horror to me. With help from a janitor they find the real Rosemary.
You wonder if she will ever be released as she's not the one that needs to be in there. She only has a few people she trusts....
You also wonder what else is going to happen as things seem calm again...til more show up dead. so creepy and horrid.
I received this review book from The Kensington Between The Chapters Review Books and this is my honest opinion.

Perfectly Broken by Robert Burke Warren
This story is about Grant and his past live and present one. He's married to Beth and they have a young son and live in upstate NY.
He was a musician and was part of a band at one time. His wife is a publicist and everything is going well til her brother dies.
There are other events that take place that leave them both on edge with one another. It's like an open marriage and they can see who they want...
When the natural diaster happens action are in fast pace mode.
Because of all the turmoil you wonder if they will ever get back together ...
Great descriptions and I can see myself at the house with river nearby.
LOTS of adult situations and swearing.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

A Divine Truth by Hilary Walker
This story follows the priests as they are cancelled from their positions at their rectories.
The bishop is the one in charge of that and his sister Mary starts investigating to learn what is going on.
Her spouse has also been ousted and lives with others in a boarding house. Like the plan of the canceled priest and their housing at the location where they can heal and better themselves.
Til the bishop has a medical emergency he can't see what's going on....
Love how Mary comes through with her decorating skills and having time for her ex-spouse.
Never thought story would end this way, WOW. Great contribution to society. Love scenery descriptions.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Letter from Paris by Therese
Love that this story follows India from the previous book I read.
Starts in Las Vegas, NV
Story starts out with Natalie and she just met Adam, the famous movie star.
He takes her to see the Bellagio waterfalls, the ofuntain is amazing and the sounds that come with it, have experienced this myself.
She's a publicist and her client is arriving the next day.
Then India sees a woman wearing Adams coat and calls him so he can clarify the shot the rags got of them...
India is heading to Paris by herself for a few days. Her and Annie had
Story also follows others who are corroborating their expertise for the show.
Misunderstandings and truths come out. Love the aspects of the materials used, so unique and they don't use fossil fuels..
Love hearing of the fashion, design, travel is so precise,
So cool how it all turns out, lot of compromises and forgiveness.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

India's Summer by Therese
This story I didn't think I would like. I was wrong. I LOVED it and can't wait to read more.
India in England, Annabelle in CA are twin sisters and India travels to be with her sister one summer.
What she finds when she arrives is amazing to her, so many things to see and do and experience. There is SO much that is over the top for me as I do not follow celebrities.
The food, fashion, cars and everything just wrap themselves around you as the author is very descriptive. India has tried to reinvent herself in CA by telling others she has the solution to their teens problems.
The problems range from sex to drugs and everything in between. Love the exercises and workshops she has them do as a team. And she even finds a guy to really like her.
Until a taping of her is released and it sends her back to England so ashamed of what came out of the video.
She's got a contract to write her story and love how the ending transpires. So cool.
Love hearing of the charity work, fascinating. Ends with about the author and acknowledgements.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

The Words of My Father by Mark Tedesco
Love how the author paints a picture for my mind to see with words he uses.
Book starts out with a little boy Joseph is not tired enough to go to sleep. His father Giuseppe does nightly prayers with Joseph and asks what the words mean.
Starting with Our Father is the prayer Giuseppe dissects line by line over the course of nightly prayers before bed, explaining to Joseph in words and things that happen that he can understand.
Examples are amazing to learn about as I was brought up as a Catholic and went to Catholic school from K through 7th grade. During the 60's the nuns just wanted us to memorize the words, they never explained what they meant.
Love learning new things and even the mother has a chance to explain one part of the prayer as well. Love the team effort and questions Joseph asks.
Each phrase/sentence is covered in 3 to 6 pages. Thought Amen meant just 'the end' of the prayer. So glad to understand and follow along as new revelations are shown to me.
Love author's style of writing and how he can tell a story, paint a picture worth a thousand words, can't wait to read more from this author.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti
Story starts out with Gemma and she's just relocated to a new town, taking over for a professor. She tends to her daughter when she can, leaving her in schools day care during her working hours.
She is disguised and has gone through many name changes in the years. You learn of why she has had to do this.
Story also follows Jethro who is a professor at the college also. He has a brother Fletcher who is back in US. They both come from England and have an accent.
His brother is killing others leaving a note for his brother. He soon learns his team is behind him and they also do back ground check on Gamma cuz things don't add up.
Love all the team spirit of one for all, learning how Fletcher is tracking her and how, what things team do to stay safe. Love that the team also includes the female spouses of the members, so intuitive.
Scary parts and loving parts and so much action and mystery. Story goes back in time so you learn what happened prior to the present day.
So realistic and I can see this happening, would love to see this as a movie.
Such a great read, can't wait to read more from this author. Have read some of her other works and need to fill in the books I’ve yet to read. This can also be read as a stand alone book.

A Night Divine: A Contemporary Christian Christmas Romance by Dawn Kinzer Other works by the author are listed at the start along with a free ebook. This story starts out with Cammy and she's an accomplished model. One day during winter months her friend from her childhood days shows up at work and is able to get her attention and talks to her. She just needs a little bit of help and Cammy agrees to help her as Amy has help from a friend and has hope. She collaspses and dies and a man tries to help her with no luck. Trace works with the community and homeless, love the work they do as a team. Cammy helps out a few times and likes what she's able to accomplish by just listening to the homeless as she hands them food and toiletries. She invites Trace to the family gathering where they will celebrate Amy's life as she has NO other relative alive. She should probably warn them about her family but ... Trace is free and looking forward to attending. We have just returned from the Seattle area and are very familiar with the homeless population, even other town nearby where we stayed. Some of the stores no longer even go after those who enter, get things and leave without paying. They don't prosecute them either. To me that's sending the wrong message as everybody can do something to get food, shelter, etc. Like how we find out more about Trace as he seems to be from high class society... In the past I have also knitted scarves and hats and mittens for them. Love how the generosity comes through at hard times and how the story plays out, so passionate. Ends with a note from the author, quotes throughout the book, acknowledgements, meet the author, free ebook and summaries of her other works and how to contact her.

The Sweetest Day by Debra Bishop
This story starts out with the children heading off into the woods with their stepmother to get wood.
They are very poor and never have enough food for them all so she comes up with an answer to the problem.
Hansel is a bit older and his sister Greta have lost their way home and find a house that looks inviting. The old woman takes them in and feeds them but she has other plans for them.
After several years she is ready to cast a spell on them so she can eat them-this is where things turn dark for me....
The children understand what's going on and try NOT to gain weight til one day she declares they are ready. Love ending, never saw it happening that way...
Different take on Hansel and Gretal fairy tale wtih twists.

Riding Out The Race by Hilary Walker
Story starts with Laura and she's almost due to deliver the baby.
Jack is busy with a new crazy horse. It's just Christmas day but he needs the money training the horse will bring into the ranch.
What I like about this story is the realism that happens. The accounts of the horse, injuries, therapy, treatments are all discussed in detail and actually happened to the author's horse.
Not only is the story about the horse and his health but there's a nice story also of the family and their friends.
So many that need healing head to the ranch, everything from a horse to a jockey with just one arm and doesn’t like horses.
Second Chances ... lots of inspirations.
About the author and contact links and her other works are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

A Very Christian Christmas by Josie Riviera
3 books in this bundle
....
A Christmas to Cherish by Josie Riviera
Always enjoy reading a Christmas story, and it's just July here. Book starts out with a few words from the author and list of her other works.
Started with Emmanuelle, a professional harpist and she's on her way to Dorothy's store. She's starting her new life after years of troubles.
Loved hearing about all the Christmas decorations.
She prays to God to help her get through the transition and to let things lay in the past.
Her ex took everything from her...
Story also follows Nicholas who's a deputy and is free from his ex girlfriend after she left him at the altar on their wedding day.
Dorothy hopes to get Emmanuelle to stay and work at her music studio. She knows her and Nicholas have spent many an hour over the year and they have many common interests.
This book is filled with holiday events, mystery and danger and twists and turns and love and believing in God.
Like the location and hope to read more from this locale. A note from the author about the book is included at the end, bonus recipe! acknowledgements, about the author, and other works by the author.
Excerpt from The Love Song to Cherish is included.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
....
A CHRISTMAS PUPPY TO CHERISH
A Christmas Puppy to Cherish by Josie Riviera
Story starts out with Max and he's returned after 30 years to stay in Cherish for a month til his job starts after the holidays.
He has a lot of past to deal with having grown up in foster homes, some good but most bad ones.
He heads to music store and is able to buy a replacement harmonica and after speaking to the shop owner he is looking for a guide hiking to show him the sights.
She knows Sarah will be the perfect one as she also loves to hike and be outside-he runs the flower shop there.
They get along just fine, having so many of the same things in common. Love the bear and how she wards off an attack while they are hiking.
Love hearing about all the animals, birds, dogs, etc throughout the book as well as proverbs quoted and scriptures.
Sarah is holding a medical secret to herself and I love the Christmas gift she gives herself and others in turn.
Lack of communication will not allow them to stay together.... Amazing what one puppy can do.
Love hiking ornament, so precious!
I received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
....
Holly’s Gift
Holly's Gift by Josie Riviera
This book starts out with a dedication and about the series.
Holly is a Korean born woman who tries to not only fix things but help others.
Holly Kim teaches piano and realizes there's something wrong with one of the students as she's late and has other excuses but she is able to track her down,at a homeless shelter.
She was there to find them, on a hunch, but runs into obstacles as the center is closing due to a deterioration that the electric is not up to code...
They must evacuate everyone. Story at this point follows the decision he has made as he tries to come to grips with it and the beautiful woman that's wandered into his life.
Never read a book where female is from Korea and I like how determined she is, strong and brave all in one as she goes after what she knows needs to happen.
He invites her to the ice rink and would even hold her up and she learns many things about him. Love what the charm bracelet means to her and why.
Love hearing about all the outside winter activities. Like the passages were the Bible is mentioned and quoted and how it fits in with the story.
Love that her friend has left her money for charity, now she has a reason to use it.
Love hearing from both sides as you get the full picture.
Love how she teaches him about herself and love of God. She understands his position but know she will stick true to her faith and maybe he will slide on her side.
Bonus of a Christmas cookie recipe is included, OH YUM! Dedication and acknowledgments and about the author are also included with nightlights of her other works.
Excerpt is also included of another holiday book. Knowing some things about the author I love how they are brought out in this book.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

The Resistance Girl Series Books 1-2: eBook Box Set by Hannah Byron

1.
Picardy's Fields by Hannah Byron
Enjoyed this book about Agnes and Maddie and how each are able to do their career and also help the resistance.
Maddy even finds a man in a German uniform claiming to be American and others question him and find him reputable and allow him to get medical attention.
Monkey is quite comical and many help to bring the animal back to health.
Family secrets and who her father is I found shocking, never saw that coming!
Love that this is NOT a predictable typical story.
Received this review copy from the author via LinkedIn connection and this is my honest opinion

2. The Diamond Courier by Hannah Byron
Book starts out table of contents, then quote from Runi. Story starts in 1939 and Lili is about to attend her engagement party to Iain, but then it's not that at all...
She ends up away from home in a finishing school, visits with her relatives in Paris and meets a boy.
She also makes friends with a few ladies at the school and they stay in touch with one another..
Love hearing of the farming practices, behind the scenes in the city about Communism and how she can help her friend Leo by getting the diamonds from a family friend.
Love listening to all the characters stories and what they are doing to help fight the war in their own way.
Like hearing about the mines and how she hopes to help those that must go down the shafts daily and are not getting their rightful pay or compensations.
Throughout the book I felt as if I was right there, the author does an excellent job of describing everything, the scenes, smells, sounds, etc.
Hated to see this one end as there are so many tragic events that go along with history of the war.
Never expected the story to end up at all as it did, brilliant!

3. The Parisian Spy by Hannah Byron
Note from the author and list of chapters starts this book.
Love this story. It starts out in Boston, a closeby city to me and 1938.
Radcliffe college. Oceanne (love this name) is studying near her friend Eliz and is worried she won't pass the final exam.
She wants to be a doctor and is so close to finishing. She meets up with her friend Martin and he tells her of the grade she received on her test....
Love references to the French songs, some I learned when in Catholic school as a young girl.
Tragedy, pain, war, love, romance and patriotism all play a part in this book. Glad it was so indepth and not just a short story.
Love how the story wraps up at the very end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

4. The Norwegian Assassin by Hannah Byron
This book starts with a table of contents where chapters are listed along with epilogue and excerpt of next book in the series, authors note, glossary of terms, about the author and other works by the author are highlighted.
A quote by Rumi is listed and note about historical things that were changed for sake of storytelling. Book starts in Austria Feb 1938 at the engagement party.
What I like about this book is how personable it is. It's about war but author makes it feel far from the front but there are scenes where the fighting in intense.
We learn so much more about Esther and her family as they are forced to flee for their lives. She is sent to a charm school in the mountains to learn how to become the mistress of her own house once she's married.
Love influence her grandmother has on her and her place in society and what that means to the whole family.
Took my time reading this book because I did not want it to end, so fascinating and heartbreaking.
So much travel over the years, Es's journey as she matures, surprises with who she finds at the end and how they are able to bond again.
Losses are so devastating they do bring tears to my eyes, nobody should have to go through what she and many others went through.
Glad there were no indepth parts of the camps, that would've spoiled the story for me but you know what happened all along.
Super enjoyed this story along with the history. Detailed descriptions of food, table settings, scenes outside, clothing, places they skied and traveled to, how they kept safe and swapped out clothes, etc to fit in, no matter what the circumstances were, anything to keep safe.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.