Review: The Gift - Freida McFadden - December 2022 I had heard a bit about this author and her mystery/thriller reads, but I had yet to read any books by Freida McFadden. Being Christmas eve when I read this book, I felt it was the right moment to get stuck into the story especially since it was set on Christmas Eve /Christmas Day. This is Justin and Stella's first Christmas as husband and wife, and she wants to get him something special that he will remember and treasure. What happens though when she learns she can't pay for it and the storekeeper offers a trade - her pretty blonde hair for the gift. Will Stella go through it to prove her love to Justin? What happens when Stella realizes it was all for nothing and learns about Justin's plans to leave her? If she can't have him then no one will. I have to admit, I did enjoy reading the old lady's POV as it tells the reasoning behind her taking a trade and trying to turn Justin away from Stella. Except for this time,...

Review: And Then She Vanished - Book #1 Joseph Bridgeman Series - Nick Jones - February 2021 When I picked this book up, I had assumed it was going to be a straight mystery story about a female vanishing as lately had been going through a mystery/crime buzz with my reading. The book starts with Joseph watching his 7-year-old sister Amy at the local fair back in 1997. After winning a prize for her and turning his back for a few minutes, Amy vanishes and disappears. People search and scour but there is no sign of her and after a few years, the case becomes cold and Amy is another statistic for the list of missing children. Joseph has never forgotten her and the incident and blames himself. As he is getting older, Joseph has the gift of psychometry but after taking the advice of his best friend, Joseph decides to visit a hypnotherapist and get her to take him back to that day. However, his visit will open him up to other gifts he never knew he had - in particular, time-traveling. At first...