The Thing Is by Kathleen Gerard

Meredith Mancuso is depressed. Ever since the death of her fiancé, she has shrunk from the world. Even with her successful writing career, she's not motivated to work. When her sister, Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than to say no. But she’s ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire terrier named Prozac. 
Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a high IQ, Prozac is an active pet therapy dog. To heal broken-hearted Meredith, he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens, an independent living facility, where he visits each week. 
Prozac and the community of resilient older folks challenged by losses of their own propel Meredith, often against her will, back into the land of the living. Meredith learns that most people carry some sort of burden, but it's still possible to find meaning, purpose, and joy—and sometimes, even love—along the way.

 Review: I was given an ARC of The Thing Is from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
When I first started reading this book I kept asking myself what was I thinking? I mean a book about a dog named Prozac who is a spirit guide that comes back over and over again as a different dog to help people who are hurting I must be nuts. Well, the only thing that would have been nuts would have been not giving this book a chance because even if it sounds a bit out there it was an excellent read.
Prozac was a loveable dog that had me cracking up with some of his antics and by the end of the book he had me tears with how the book ended. As for Meredith the person that he is with I felt her pain throughout the book and kept hoping Prozac could help her. To loose the person you love the way she lost her fiance was just plain cruel. As for the rest of the characters in the book the were all special in their own way as well because they all had a story to tell that made this book all that more special. Some of those stories were for Prozac to help ease a bit of the pain from others were to help make things a bit easier for Meredith, but whomever the story related to it was beautifully written and added a deeper dimension to this story.
I would highly recommend The Thing Is because is is a beautifully written story about getting over loss and stepping out of your comfort zone. I have no choice but to give this book five out of five stars.

The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas

When it comes to family, Ruby Baxter hasn’t had much luck. The important men in her early life abandoned her, and any time a decent boyfriend came along, she ran away. But now Ruby is thirty-one and convinced she is failing her teenage daughter. Mia is the one good thing in her life, and Ruby hopes a move to Kansas will fix what’s broken between them.
But the road to redemption takes a detour. Hank McArthur, the biological father Ruby never knew existed, would like her to claim her inheritance: a dusty oil ranch just outside of Unforgiven, Oklahoma.
As far as first impressions go, the gruff, emotionally distant rancher isn’t what Ruby has hoped for in a father. Yet Hank seems to have a gift for rehabilitating abused horses—and for reaching Mia. And if Ruby wants to entertain the possibility of a relationship with Joe Dawson, the ranch foreman, she must find a way to open her heart to the very first man who left her behind.

 

Review: I was given an ARC of The Promise of Forgiveness for an honest from NetGalley and this is my review.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so heartfelt and real I was hooked from the beginning. This book draws you in and almost makes you feel like you are part of the the book and going through everything Ruby, Mia, Hank and Joe are.
The characters were all great. Ruby was a special lady who had gone through so much in her life already and I loved how she was learning to deal with her trust issues with men and how to fix things with her daughter. Mia was a typical teenager who was fun to watch grow throughout this book. Hank was really a special character because he was trying to make up for giving up his daughter and he was just a character one had to feel connected to. Then there was Joe with his pain that he had to overcome in order to more or less live life again. All four broken in some way but together make a very special family.
I also enjoyed the bit of mystery the book had going on. Even though I had parts of who wanted the land other parts where surprising.
I know my review is a bit of a mystery but I hate spoilers so I did not want to give the book away but I also wanted to relay that it has some really great things about it and it is worth reading. That is also why I am giving it five out of five stars.

Vulnerable by Mary Burton

The Smallest Mistake 

Three went in; one came out. For five years, no trace has been found of two high-school friends who went hiking in the woods near Nashville. The third teen, Amber Ryder, was discovered at the bottom of a ravine with a broken arm, head trauma--and zero memory of the horror that put her there.  

Will Put You 

What started as a cold case has become a fresh hell for forensic technician Georgia Morgan. Another woman's body is found in the woods, and it leads to the missing teens' remains. But while Georgia works with Amber to try and reawaken her memories, her gut tells her the worst is yet to come.  

At A Killer's Mercy 

Homicide Detective Jake Bishop can't be sure whether Amber is an expert manipulator or the killer's next target. Either way, he's determined to protect Georgia. Because the deeper she digs into the past, the deadlier the secrets that emerge, and a nightmare years in the making is about to come to a bloody, terrifying end…

Review: I was was given an ARC of Vulnerable from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
All I can say about this book is it was totally twisted and it keeps you guessing until the end and killer in this book is one sick puppy.
With all that being said I enjoyed Georgia and Jake's story. They added another chapter to the Morgan family saga and this one was one of my favorite killers and mysteries. It was well written and Georgia and Jake were great together. I also loved having the rest of the Morgan family in the book in on way or another. It is always nice to see old characters reappear in New books.
I am giving Vulnerable four out of five stars.

No Safe Secret by Fern Michaels

From her silver Mercedes to her designer kitchen, Molly's life is gleaming and beautiful--at least on the surface. Married to Tanner, a top cosmetic dentist, she has a wonderful daughter finishing high school and twin stepsons from Tanner's first marriage. No one in her exclusive neighborhood in Goldenhills, Massachusetts, knows what living with the demanding Tanner is really like. They know even less about the life she left behind in Florida almost two decades ago. 
Back then, Molly was Maddy Carmichael, living with her twin brother and neglectful mother in a run-down trailer park amid the orange groves of Florida. After the terrible events of her high school prom night--and the act of vengeance that followed--she fled north and reinvented herself. But the veneer of Molly's polished existence is finally cracking. 
As secrets old and new are revealed, Molly must face painful truths and the choices she made in their wake--and find the strength to become the woman she once hoped to be.

Review: I was given an ARC of No Safe Secret from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
I really enjoyed this book. Molly was one of those characters that the reader had no choice but to want to come out on top with everything that she had to endure throughout the book. I will admit there were times that I wanted to shake her because she seemed like she was being a doormat to her abusive husband or just too naive it was driving me nuts but in the end that is what made her such a special character.
This book shows the reader how someone can overcome almost anything and set their life into motion the way they want it to go. Fern Michaels told this beautiful through Molly's story.
I am giving No Safe Secret five out of five stars.

All the Pretty Faces (Graveyard Falls #2) by Rita Herron

Josie DuKane is on shaky ground. Having narrowly escaped the notorious Bride Killer, she penned a tell-all memoir that dug up a town’s dark past. Now the book is being made into a movie, and Josie must visit the very place that will trigger an avalanche of unwanted memories—Graveyard Falls. On the heels of her arrival, she receives a gruesome photograph of a dead woman with talon marks carved into her face. And worse, Josie just might be the next victim.
Torn between guilt, justice, and revenge, Special Agent Dane Hamrick will do anything to find the man who brutally murdered his sister. When he realizes the recent tragedies in Graveyard Falls bear an uncanny resemblance to her death, he volunteers to spearhead the investigation. But doing so means teaming up with Josie.
Nothing prepares him for the feelings the beautiful, tough woman evokes. As the body count rises and the suspect pool widens, Josie and Dane must put aside their growing attraction to run down the killer who devastated both their lives.
A killer who seems determined to destroy all the pretty faces…

 Review: I was given an ARC of All the Pretty Faces from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
The first thing I am going to do is suggest that you read the first book in the series, All the Beautiful Brides, because this book is a huge spoiler for that book and reading that book will help you understand what is going on in some parts that are not explained.
With that said, I really enjoyed Josie and Dane's story in this book. I also enjoyed how it picked up from the last one and let the reader know how Josie dealt with what happened to her when she was abducted and overcame her time with the psycho who had her half sister. In this book you got to see how smart and strong Josie is and how she may have trust issues but she has come a long way.
In this book again, the author keeps the reader guessing who killer is that has their sites on Josie. With a number is suspects to choose from I was guessing until the end.
I am giving All the Pretty Faces four out of five stars.

Edge of Surrender (Alpha Crew #1 part 2) by Laura Griffin

Ryan had one job: keep Emma safe at all costs. But after a night of passion, Emma takes off and Ryan soon realizes he’s not the only one looking for her. Can he figure out who’s after the beautiful government aide, and why, before she falls into the wrong hands…if she hasn’t already?
Emma’s fighting to get justice for her fallen comrades, but she can’t do it alone. She needs Ryan’s help, but that means trusting him--and dealing with the out-of-control desire blazing between them. Can there be any future for a marked woman and a man trained to kill? She hopes they live long enough to find out…
Don’t get spoiled! Be sure to read At the Edge: Alpha Crew Part One before devouring this sizzling romance!

Review: I was given an ARC of Edge of Surrender for an honest review and this is my review.
The first thing I am going to do recommend that the reader reads the first book or else they will have no idea what is going on. With that said I must say I was a bit disappointed with the ending of this book. To me it was a bit rushed and I was like really that is all that you are going to leave me with?
In fact, this entire book was a bit rushed. I think it would have been as good if both parts would have been one book because really this was more or less a novella that told the reader who the killer was and added more to Emma and Ryan's relationship and then started setting up Jake's story. I am not saying it was not good but the first part flowed so much better and did not seem as rushed.
I enjoyed this second part but not as much as the first and that is why I am giving it four out of five stars.

At the Edge: Alpha Crew Part I (Alpha Crew #1 part 1) by Laura Griffin

Dive into Part One of this heart-pounding romantic suspense story, which continues in Edge of Surrender: Alpha Crew Part Two!
When Emma Wright’s government plane goes down over the Philippine jungle, she’s forced to survive alone until an ultra-elite SEAL team goes in after her. As the leader of Alpha Crew, Ryan Owen is no stranger to challenges, but he’s never tackled anything quite like this sexy, smart, and resourceful woman. The mission is to get Emma home safely, but danger is everywhere, and Ryan’s unexpected desire for Emma could be a deadly distraction.
Back home in California, Ryan’s mission is over—but Emma’s has just begun. She knows her plane crash was no accident, and she’s determined to uncover the truth about what happened—even if her quest for answers puts her at risk. Torn between duty and desire, Ryan searches for a way win Emma’s heart while protecting her from an invisible enemy who wants her dead.

Review: I was given an ARC of At the Edge from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
What a way to end a book to leave the reading screaming for the next one. Ms Griffin not nice, not nice at all. With that said this was an excellent book with one heck of an ending. I love both Emma and Ryan as characters.
This book was excellent and I can't wait to get into the second part to see what really happened with crash that Emma was in that led to Ryan saving her when she was lost in another country's rainforest and what will happen between them as a couple. Them chemistry between them was off the charts.
I am giving At the Edge five out of five stars.

Nowhere Girl: A Novel by Susan Strecker

"The day Savannah was killed she was fifteen minutes late to meet me." So begins bookseller favorite Susan Strecker's second novel of twin sisters and the murder that left one twin behind.
Savannah was the popular bad girl skipping school and moving quickly from one boyfriend to the next, so when she didn't meet Cady as promised, Cady wasn't surprised and the truth was Cady was already a bit mad at her. When Cady suddenly becomes short of breath she realizes Savannah is in trouble, but within minutes Savannah is gone.
Years later Cady, now a bestselling author of suspense, spends her time interviewing killers, hoping each interview will help her understand what happened to her sister. Despite Savannah's death, the bond Savannah and Cady share has never been broken. Savannah still comes to Cady, but the clues her sister sends don't add up until a chance encounter while researching her latest novel provides a missing piece of the puzzle.

Review: I was given an ARC of Nowhere Girl from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
This book was very well written even though I was able to figure out parts of the plot the author still left some surprises for the end that made this book all that more enjoyable and not as predictable as I thought it was going to be therefore earning it the five stars.
I really enjoyed Cady as a character because she was such a "normal" person and not perfect like a lot of main characters are today. She was also flawed in many was that also endeared her to me and made her relatable. It was nice understanding her so well and respecting her so much it made her pain all that more real about looking her sister and not knowing what happened.
Nowhere Girl was well written with real characters and a believable storyline. I am giving it five out of five stars.  

Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

Lisa Scottoline delivers another searing, powerful blockbuster novel that explores hot-button issues within the framework of an intricately plotted thriller. When a woman and her husband, desperate for a baby, find themselves unable to conceive, they decide to take further steps. Since it is the husband who is infertile, the heroine decides to use a donor. And all seems to be well. Three months pass and she is happily pregnant. But a shocking revelation occurs when she discovers that a man arrested for a series of brutal murders is her donor - the biological father of the child she is carrying. Delving deeper to uncover the truth, the heroine must face her worst fears, and confront a terrifying truth. Nine Months is sure to be Lisa Scottoline's most discussed, bestselling novel yet.

Review: I was given an ARC of Most Wanted from NetGally for an honest review and this is my review.

This book was one of those books that makes a reader ask themselves what they would do if they were in a certain situation and how they would handle it. What would you do if you found out you may be carrying the baby of a serial killer due to who you picked as a sperm donor? Would you just accept it or would you want to get rid of it?
That's what faces Marcus and Christine when she sees the man who she believes is their anonymous donor getting arrested for murdering three nurses. Marcus wants to know, if in fact, the man is biological father because he is unsure if the child will have violent tendencies of the father and if it will he is not sure if going through with the pregnancy is right. Christine love the child no matter who or what the father is and believes that her baby will be okay.
This leads to all kinds of drama in their marriage, a lawsuit towards the sperm hospital and Christine going in search of finding the answers from Zachary, the man who was arrested herself. I am not going to give spoilers but this book is a discovery of the strength of a woman who wants to be a mother above everything else, the true bond of friendship and building great relationship.
I loved Christine as a character because that woman had spunk and was willing to go for what she wanted. Marcus was so weak I would have kicked his booty to the curb and found someone who could have matched her much better. That is the one thing I will fault this book for. He was way to weak for her and he needed to go far far away.
With that said I am giving Most Wanted four out of five stars.

A Girl's Guide to Moving On (New Beginnings #2) by Debbie Macomber

When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back—including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.
Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures—until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.

Review: I was given an ARC of A Girl's Guide to Moving On from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
I really enjoyed this book about second chances and rebuilding your life after you think you have lost everything that you know and hold dear when a relationship comes to an end. This book gives readers hope and with the two strong main characters it shows them that anything can be overcome and bitterness does not have to rule your life.
I loved both Nichole and Leanne and how strong women they were in this book. They did not let what their ex-husbands did to them impact their future instead it made them both stronger and I look bed that. This is a must read for someone who as had a not so great breakup to see that if you look at things differently they really are not so bad.
I am giving this book four out of five stars.