Missing, Presumed: a mystery which will leave you guessing until the end!

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner is a mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young woman. While the police the searching for clues of her whereabouts, a new mystery arises. Are the two cases related? Edith Hinds is the only daughter of Sir Ian Hinds and his wife, Miriam. They discover she is missing when her boyfriend, Will, comes home to find the front door open and Edith is gone. Detective Sargent Manon Bradshaw and Detective Constable Davy Walker are assigned to investigate. Due to the high profile of the Edith’s family, the detectives are meant with rumors, innuendoes and a media frenzy. When the body of a young man is found, the search for Edith takes an unexpected turn. Is Edith alive? Who took her? Does her disappearance have any connection to a young man’s death?

I received an advance copy for the purpose of my review. I thoroughly enjoyed Missing, Presumed. It is a different take on a disappearance mystery. It is an interesting book with lots of twists and turns. It has an ending which will shock you and eager to fit the remaining pieces of the puzzle. I wish I could write about my favorite parts but due to their place in the story, I do not want to spoil the book for those who wish to read it. It is a fast pace, page turning mystery. I highly recommend Missing, Presumed.

Missing, Presumed

Is available for sale tomorrow, June 28^th

Hardcover $27.00 and Kindle/Nook $12.99

On Amazon and Barnes and Noble

By Helen's Hand: a new twist on a classic story

By Helen’s Hand by Amalia Carosella is the second book in the Helen of Sparta series. The series is a retelling of the famous story of Helen of Troy and the Trojan War. The story opens with Paris dreaming of glory, the protector of men. The reader first sees Helen as she reaches the home of her sister, Clytemnestra, and her husband, Agamemnon. Her husband, Theseus, is missing and Helen is afraid for her life as Menelaus seeks to gain, what he feels is rightfully his, Helen. Under the protection of her brothers, Pollux and Castor, Helen soon returns safely to her beloved Sparta where she must find her husband before it’s too late. For she dreams of war, pain and death. Will she be able to find her husband? Can she stop the tides of war?

As I had not read the first book in this series, I found By Helen’s Hand very confusing. I didn’t realize that this book was second in a series and it’s obvious that the book picks up immediately when the first left off. So these books must be read in order. However, I like that Ms. Carosella takes a classic story and weaves drama and mystery with a modern flair. The who’s who of Greek mythology are featured in this story. If you enjoy Greek mythology and classic stories with a new twist, I recommend this series. However, make sure to start with book 1, Helen of Sparta.

The Helen of Sparta series

Is available on Amazon

In paperback $14.95

And KindleUnlimited

And

Barnes and Noble

In paperback for $14.95

And Audiobook for $9.99

Deliver Her: when a mother's plan goes horribly wrong

Deliver Her by Patricia Perry Donovan is a story about one mother’s desperate decision to help her teenage daughter. When the decision leads to her daughter missing and the desperate search to get her back. Meg Carmody’s 16 year old daughter, Alex, has been in a downward spiral since her best friend died in a car accident after her Sweet Sixteen birthday party. Desperate to put her back on track, Meg contacts The Birches a behavior facility which helps troubled teens. She arranges for a transport service to take Alex to the school. Carl and his friend, Carolyn, pick up Alex and they are on their way. But during a rain storm, Carl loses control of the car and when he regains consciousness, Alex is missing. The search is on. While at home, awaiting on news of Alex, Meg begins to discover the truth behind the car accident which killed Alex’s best friend. Will Meg be able to find Alex in time? Will Alex learn the truth about the accident? Will she be able to get her life back on track?

Deliver Her is a fast-paced, heart wrenching story about a mother’s desperate attempt to help her daughter and her daughter’s inner turmoil about her life after a tragic accident. I was hooked from page one as I read Meg’s desperation and fighting against all odds in order to get her daughter back. The book was fast paced and with very new revelation, a new twist in the tragic story which led Alex down this path. I highly recommend Deliver Her.

Deliver Her

is available on Amazon

in paperback for $14.95

and with KindleUnlimited

Saving Abby: a story of a woman's determination to do anything for her child

Saving Abby by Steena Holmes is the story of one woman’s desperate fight to have the child she’s always dreamed of. She must fight her husband, her friends, and her family to make her dream come true. Claire Turner has dreamed of having children since she was a little girl. When she married her husband, Josh, they dreamed together. After seven years of marriage, the dream of children has been unfulfilled. Until one day, after they returned from a cruise vacation, Claire isn’t feeling well. She’s been having severe headaches and constantly sleeping. At the request of her husband, Claire sees their friend and doctor, Abby Cox. The exam reveals that Claire is finally pregnant. As the good news spreads, Claire seems to be getting more and more tired and the headaches getting worse. After several tests, the doctors reveal something is seriously wrong. Claire’s only thought is to her unborn child. Her family and friends say she is being foolish. Can Claire save the life of her child? Will her choice put her own life at risk?

Saving Abby is an emotional story of a woman’s journey to motherhood when she’s faced with an impossible choice. The story gives no indication at the ending of the story. The reader may be expecting one ending or another; however, the end will leave the reader shocked and sadden. I recommend Saving Abby as an emotional story which leaves the readers with a question, what would have been our choice?

Saving Abby

is available on

Amazon in paperback $14.95

and with KindleUnimlited

as well as 

with Barnes and Noble

in paperback for $14.95

First Comes Love: a story of life, love and sisters

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin is the story of two sisters who are trying to live their lives with the memory of the tragic death of their brother. As the anniversary of his death approaches, these women must confront their role in the accident and in the events which followed. The story is told alternating between the sister’s perspectives. Josie is a first grade teacher who is confronted with her life as the daughter of her ex-fiancé is in her new class. Meredith is married to Nolan for 7 years and mother of 4 year old, Harper. Josie feels something is missing from her life and she realizes that she desperately wants a child. She considers a sperm donor to the dismay of Meredith. Meredith comes to terms that her choices in her life, her marriage and where to go in the future. Will the sisters be able to come together and discuss the night their brother died? Will Josie and Meredith be able to find what is missing in their lives?

I have mixed feelings about First Comes Love. First, I enjoyed the dramatic story. How one tragic event shaped the lives of those left behind. However, I feel it’s a bit cliché that the family is torn about by the loss of a family member. When I’ve seen in my personal life, some families pulled tighter together after a tragedy. Second, there is a joke made by a character about gluten-free individuals. As an individual who is gluten free and struggles with the diet every day, I am sick and tired of the jokes. If you never have had to live with the diet, knowing that everything you eats needs to be checked and rechecked to make sure it’s safe, you can’t joke about it! You don’t see jokes about people with diabetes or lactose intolerance or any other food allergy! Why is gluten free individuals fair game? Third, there is a line in the book which I can relate to completely. Meredith sees a counselor, who tells her “Grief is a mystery to be lived through, not a problem to be solved.” I love this because grief becomes a part of life which has no solution, it has no end. You learn to live with it and move on but grief will always be there. Overall, if you are a fan of Emily Giffin, you will most likely enjoy First Comes Love. However, if you haven’t read Ms. Giffin’s books, I recommend you skip First Comes Love.

First Comes Love

will be available June 28, 2016

at major book retailers

hardcover $28

Nook/Kindle $13.99

audiobook $45

Meantime Girl: a woman's desire to be something more

Meantime Girl by Sindhu S is a story about a young woman who thought she had her relationship all figured out. Until she learned that the relationship was not what she wanted in life. Anjali is a writer in India who has a relationship with a married man, Siddharth “Sid.” Despite her friends’ objections, she carries on their hidden love affair. She has convinced herself that she didn’t want a commitment, she wanted to be as sexually free as men were. As Anjali travels through India, writing her book and visiting various temples, she begins to grow increasingly aware that something is just not right. Will she be able to end her relationship with Sid? Will she continue the relationship, knowing she will always be the meantime girl?

Meantime Girl is an interesting story. A story about love and modern relationships. A story about the confusion and turmoil over a relationship that should not be. A story of a man who seduces a woman into the thrill of a secret relationship. I loved Anjali as she is a strong, independent and modern woman who thought she wanted a no-strings attached relationship until she realizes that there is a pattern of behavior she wasn’t aware of. I recommend Meantime Girl as a modern love story with a twist.

Meantime Girl

Is available for free

with KindleUnlimited

Mercer Girls: an excellent story about a little known piece of history

Mercer Girls by Libbie Hawker is a fictionalized story about a little known events of our history. In 1864, Asa Mercer traveled to the East Coast, recruiting single women to come to the Washington Territory. The story focuses on three woman: Josephine Carey, Doreen “Dovey” Mason and Sophronia Brandt. All three woman have their secrets and reasons for joining Mr. Mercer on the trip to Washington.

The story opens in March 1864, the city of Lowell, Massachusetts has been hit hard by the Civil War. Josephine Carey is on a race against time to see Mr. Mercer. She is determined to join the group of women. Dovey Mason joins the group as a runaway from home. Her father is forcing her to marry in order to restore the family’s wealth. Josephine first meets Dovey, she knows there is something more than the young girl is saying but doesn’t pry. Instead, she takes her under her wing. Sophronia joins the group as a missionary to bring God to the lawless town of Seattle. The women set off to New York City where they board a ship which will sail to Panama. From Panama, they will sail again to San Francisco before continuing on to Seattle. Once they arrive in Seattle, the women settle into their new lives with new jobs and possibly new beaus. But the lives they left behind seem to follow them and threaten to undo the new lives they have built.

I loved Mercer Girls as it is a great story with drama and adventure. It is a piece of history that I knew nothing about and I loved to read about the pioneering women who left all they knew for an unknown life in a new territory. I also enjoyed the chapter on the author’s notes and remarks about the book. Ms. Hawker wrote that many descendants of the Mercer Girls still live in Seattle and protect their memories and legacy very closely. I feel that Ms. Hawker gave the Mercer girls a worthy story of their brave resolve to find new and better lives. If I were in their position, I don’t know if I would have the some bravery and courage to head into the unknown like they did. Then again, maybe I would. I highly recommend Mercer Girls.

Mercer Girls

is available in paperback for $14.95

free with KindleUnilimited

and on Audiobook for $14.99