VBT# The Overnight Guest - Heather Gudenkauf

VBT# Review: The Overnight Guest - Heather Gudenkauf - January 2022

Lately, I have been reading more thrillers than romances as at the beginning of January I felt that every romance book I tried was just blah and ended up being a DNF. I have seemed to have more luck with thrillers and this particular author, I have read 5 of her prior books - one I didn't enjoy which was Missing Pieces but the other 4 were amazing and ranged from 1 - 3 star, 1 - 4 star and 2 - 5 stars. The Overnight Guest will be added to the 4-star pile. The book starts with a murder that rocked the small town of Burden and remained unsolved - a murder that left one girl alive Josie and the other Becky missing. Now twenty years later, a true-crime writer who has a dark secret Wylie Lark is back in Burden and writing a book about the crime. What she doesn't expect is that by the end of the book she will have discovered the "real truth" about what happened that fateful night twenty years ago and uncover some horrible secrets. During her stay, there is a massive snowstorm and Wylie hears her dog barking and out in the snow discovers a child left for dead. It turns out that the child and her mother were in a horrible truck accident and running for their lives. Can Wylie help save them both before it's too late and what happens when she learns the identities of the woman and child? The Overnight Guest has three storylines POV's running through the book - we have Josie from twenty years ago leading up to that night and the night in question, Wylie - in the present writing her book and then a family where the mother/daughter are in danger. I liked the twist of this book and it also happened to encompass my favorite tropes of new identities that the last chapter was another of my favorites and one of the reasons I forever recommend the book The Never List by Koethi Zan. So, if you loved The Never List by Koethi Zan, Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy, or The Ice-Cream Girls series by Dorothy Koomson - then you will love The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KvH9IB

 

Review: Somebody's Home - Kaira Rouda

Review: Somebody's Home - Kaira Rouda - January 2022

I have read a couple of this author's previous books and also lately have been on a bit of a thriller kick so was excited to read Somebody's Home by Kaira Rouda. Somebody's Home starts with Sandi and her husband Doug moving away and selling their house in Oceanside to Julie and her daughter Jess. We learn that Doug's son and Sandi's stepson Tom have been living in the carriage house and have been given two days to move out. I have to admit, I wasn't keen on the fact that he was given only a short timeframe and, in a way, I understood why he acted out in the book. Julie and her daughter Jess are looking for a fresh start and have brought the new house to Cherry Lane. Both Sandi and Julie's husbands are control freaks and it's their way all the highway. Julie has the guts to leave but Sandi hasn't quite hit the spot. Though by the end of this book both will finally be set free in an unexpected way. One of my other qualms about this book is when they talk about God, they called God her instead of him and as Julie was Jewish and the Jewish aspect is featured heavily as another storyline, this annoyed me a bit as being brought up as a Christian myself. I don't condone murder and killing normally but I do have to say with Somebody's Home, in a way everybody that deserved justice got it and everybody that was scum - also got what was coming to them which I loved to see. Everything is in the right place. Somebody's Home by Kaira Rouda is the perfect read for those who love scandals and psychological thrillers.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KvopJ5

Review: Snowed Over - Angie Stanton

Review: Snowed Over - Angie Stanton - October 2012


Scrolling through my kindle, I came across Snowed Over which I have had for a while and lately the author has been on my mind, so I decided it was time to finally read it. I am glad I did as I did already have an inkling, I would enjoy this story as I am a fan of this author's works. This Christmas, Katie isn't looking forward to it as she loves her family traditions but this is the first Christmas where her parents are getting divorced. Her dad is with his new family and her Mum is spending Christmas with Tom - her "not-boyfriend". Being short- notice, Katie gets a ride with a friend of a friend Alex. He is headed home to not only break up with his fiancée but also spend Christmas with his family and has offered to give Katie a ride. The two start their travels but are soon derailed as their plans go awry as a massive snowstorm has hit and then their truck lands in a river. Now the pair must find someone safe to camp out during the storm as they are stuck in the middle of nowhere. During this time, we also see sparks starting to sizzle and of course, readers can see this couple are meant to be together but of course, Katie isn't a cheater and so Alex must finally grow some balls and dump Trina before he can get his HEA. One of the main things I loved about this book was you had the insta friends and you could feel the genuineness of the characters and the potential romance yet it also was a very clean read which was nice to read for a change.  If you love Christmas reads and looking for a new author to discover, then check out Angie Stanton today with her book "Snowed Over".


Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rvwZPD

Cover Reveal - Romeo by Sybil Bartel.

Romeo
Sybil Bartel
Publication date: February 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Pilot.

Aviator.

Marine.

My first memory was in the cockpit of a plane. My second was of a uniform. All I’d ever wanted was to be a pilot. The Marines gave me wings and I gave them my all.

Half a dozen deployments, countless flight hours—I knew the controls in the cockpit better than I knew my own name. I never made mistakes. But war didn’t care how good you were. One surface-to-air missile and my career was over.

Thinking I’d left dangerous missions and adrenaline rushes in my rearview, I was piloting a seaplane in the Florida Keys when a beat to hell, dark-eyed blonde washed ashore. In nothing but a bikini, she asked me for help. Help I couldn’t give without an assist from Alpha Elite Security. Except AES wanted a favor in return… one that would put me right back in the line of fire.

Code name: Romeo.

Mission: Rescue.

ROMEO is a standalone book in the exciting Alpha Elite Series by USA Today Bestselling author, Sybil Bartel. Come meet Roark “Romeo” MacElheran and the dominant, alpha heroes who work for AES!

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Author Bio:

Sybil Bartel is a USA Today Bestselling author of unapologetic alpha heroes. Whether you're reading her deliciously dominant mercenaries, bodyguards or military heroes, all of her heart-stopping, page-turning romantic suspense novels have sexy-as-sin alpha heroes!

Sybil resides in South Florida and she is forever Oliver’s mom.

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All the Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond Cover Reveal

All the Broken Girls
Linda Hurtado Bond
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: August 23rd 2022
Genres: Adult, Thriller

A Cuban American crime reporter races to interpret a serial killer’s dropped clues, by Emmy, AP, Edward R Murrow award winning TV news anchor Linda Hurtado Bond.

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Author Bio:

Author Linda Bond works as a television news reporter and anchor in Florida. For the past twenty years she's been sharing important information with viewers on the latest medical breakthroughs and writing emotional, human-interest stories on those who have the courage and spirit to fight for their lives.

She's been writing every day, under deadline, but has always loved losing herself in a good fiction story. Her love for writing fiction actually started in high school, but a thriving, busy professional life, along with five kids kept her busy for many years.

Entangled Publishing released two romantic adventures, Alive at 5 and Cuba Undercover. Think James Bond meets Romancing the Stone. She has received numerous writing awards for Alive at 5 and Cuba Undercover. Her latest book, Flatline, is a medical thriller.

She has also won 12 Emmy awards, numerous Society of Professional Journalist awards, Associated Press awards, as well as a Florida Bar award and an Edward R. Murrow award.

This former baton-twirling beauty queen from the deep south, now lives in Tampa Florida with her husband, adopted son from Cuba, two daughters, and two stubborn Bulldogs named Sanford and Athens.

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VBT# Happenstance Farms - A New Home - S.McMichael

Review: Happenstance Farms : A New Home - S. McMichael - January 2022 

If you have a child who loves horses, then this picture book is a great step into reading and perfect for those young horse lovers who aren't quite at Saddle Club, Canterwood Crest, and Pony Pals level. Happenstance Farms: A New Home is also a great read if you are moving houses and to a new area where your child doesn't know anyone and has to start over and make new friends. Growing up, we moved a lot and by the time I was 18, I had lived in 20 different houses. Whereas my sister didn't mind, as she was extroverted and made friends easily, I was the opposite and struggled which is why I don't have close friends to this day. Savanna has moved to a new home and feeling beside herself and worried and her new horse etc will become her trusted confidant and her new friend while she settles into the new house and routine with her new horse trainer etc. In the end, Savanna can't believe how she was scared for nothing. This picture book is perfect for children aged 5-9 years old. The illustrations in this book also are very bright, colorful, and vibrant which makes an even better story as each page is full color.


Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EMO9O4