False Start: when tutoring sessions turn romantic and leads to heartbreak

False Start by Piper Rayne is a prequel story to the Kingsmen Football series. Lee Burrows is the most popular guy on campus. The starting quarterback who needs tutoring. He is in trouble of failing his biology class and losing his scholarship. Enter Shayna, the quiet, studious introvert in his class. The study sessions start off fine until Lee starts flirting and acting jealous when he sees her with other guys and asking personal questions. When their tutoring sessions turn romantic, it is every girl’s fantasy and her heart is on cloud nine. Until she overhears a conversation that reveals the truth. Shayna vows that Lee Burrows will never hurt her again. Lee is determined to win her back. 

False Start is a quick romance story which ends in heartbreak; however, it immediately leads into the first book of the series, You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. Lee is a big man on campus; however, he does care about his education. He reluctantly agrees to tutoring until he is face to face with Shayna, then he’s all in. Shayna is the typical introvert who doesn’t believe a guy like Lee would ever look twice at her. As they spend time together, the sparks are evident. Just as their romantic relationship gets off the ground, Shayna learns a shocking secret that tears them apart. I look forward to reading their second chance. I highly recommend False Start. 

False Start is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Under the Maui Sky: one secret, one betrayal threatens to tear apart a family

Under the Maui Sky is the first book in the Maui Island series by Kellie Coates Gilbert. It is the story of Ava Briscoe and her four children as they deal with the loss of a loved one and a betrayal that will shake them to the core. Ava Briscoe’s strength and resilience will be put to the test. Christel is the oldest Briscoe child and the foundation that she trusted to stand firm will be shaken. Katie is a wife, mother and businesswoman, she yearns for a chance to shine. Aiden makes a living rescuing people in trouble but can he rescue his family when they need him the most? Lastly, Shane, the baby, has been tagged as the ne'er-do-well. He does what he can to live up to it but deep down he wishes for the chance to prove his worth. Will they find a way to come together, stronger than ever? Or will this secret break them beyond repair?

With the beautiful tropical island atmosphere, Under the Maui Sky is an emotional ride of grief, heartache, and devastation. It is a story that will have readers quickly turning the pages to the end. It is a story that takes hold and will not let go. A dark secret is revealed that will turn their grief and heartache to anger. Ms. Coates Gilbert has an amazing ability to capture families and their dynamics. The reactions of each character were very authentic. The interactions between the siblings were realistic. I could easily imagine myself and my siblings bickering and bantering the same way. There were moments of tears and moments of laughter. There were moments of shock and despair. I closed the book with tears in my eyes and my heart filled with hope. I look forward to the rest of the series as the Briscoe family continues to deal with their issues. I highly recommend Under the Maui Sky! 

Under the Maui Sky is available in paperback and eBook

A Fire Sparkling: a family secret buried in the story of World War II

 A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean is a story of love, loss, and courage in war time. After a crushing betrayal by her boyfriend, Gillian Gibbons flees to her family home in Connecticut. While she is there, her father, Edward, finds old photographs of his mother, Vivian, in the arms of a Nazi officer. Confused and possibly wounded that his mother could have been in love with a Nazi, he and Gillian confront Vivian with the pictures. The story that Vivian reveals will send Gillian and her father into a journey to the past. In 1939 England, the country is on the verge of war when Vivian Hughes meets and falls in love with Theodore Gibbons, the son of an earl and deputy minister at the new Ministry of Supply. The bombs fall and the London Blitz destroys everything she holds dear, Vivian decides to do whatever she can to protect those she loves. As Gillian learns more of her grandmother’s story, the answers only bring more questions. She decides to go to Europe to find out more information. Will the mysteries of her grandmother’s past help answer her own questions about her own future? 

A Fire Sparkling is my first book by Julianne MacLean and came highly recommended by other readers. I was intrigued by the mystery of the photos and the links to Vivian. Unfortunately, the twists and turns in the mystery were predictable and easily deciphered very early on, even the ending was predictable. The characters were hard to like especially Gillian as she deals with “the betrayal.” Her indecision whether to forgive her boyfriend was annoying and her “final straw” felt straight from a soap opera. It felt more like a romance than a historical fiction. Overall, I did enjoy the story as it was an easy read but when compared to other World War II stories that feature the London Blitz and the spy activity in France, I feel it missed the mark. It lacked the depth and intrigue that I would expect from a World War II story. A Fire Sparkling has been compared to Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, which is why I picked it up. However, in my opinion, the books don’t even compare. I would recommend A Fire Sparkling as a quick, weekend read but not as an in depth story of World War II. 

 

A Fire Sparkling is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Winter Garden: a story of a mother, her daughters and a painful secret

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah is a story about two sisters who try to reconnect with a mother who shut them out many years ago. When a fairy tale from their childhood is retold, they discover that their mother was hiding a deep and painful secret.

Meredith and Nina Witson are daughter of Evan and Anya. The story begins in December 1972 as Meredith writes a play based on a fairy tale her mother tells her. After her mother abruptly stops the play and vows to never tell the fairy tale again, a wedge is placed between Anya and her daughters. Fast forward to 2000, Meredith is now married to her childhood sweetheart with two grown daughters and Nina is a world traveling photographer. When Evan suddenly dies, Nina is determined to hear the fairy tale again. At first Anya is resistant but soon she begins to tell the story again, Meredith and Nina realize that more and more elements of the story are different. They begin to realize that this story is no fairy tale but a story of their mother’s deepest secret. A secret she wanted to die with her. Will Meredith and Nina get the real story? Or will their mother keep her wall of secrecy?

I’ve been a fan of Kristin Hannah for many years and have read nearly all of her books. None of her books have affected me more than Winter Garden. The reader discovers the facts of the story along with Meredith and Nina and there are a great many heart gasping moments. I can’t give too many details about the fairy tale as it will ruin the course of discovery. I can say that this book is among the few in which I cried. My heart broke for Anya as she finally reveals the painful secret of many years ago. Events are described in vivid detail. My favorite line in the book is from Anya who tells her daughters, “You would be amazed at what the human heart can endure.” I highly recommend Winter Garden as it is a story of a mother and her daughters and the painful events in which human often must endure.

Winter Garden and other titles by Kristin Hannah

are available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and a bookstore near you.