Missed: Rafael and Lisa
By

Tess Thompson

I was so excited to take a trip back to Cliffside Bay in Missed! I got to meet some new character friends and spend some time with old friends, too! Picking up this novel gave me the feeling of a visit back "home" and how good it feels to connect again. To be with people you enjoy and want to spend time with. To meet new character friends who make up The Wolf Pack. This book is the story of Raphael and his journey with Lisa. I couldn't wait to read it and it lives up to all I love in a Tess Thompson novel.
Lisa and Raphael have an attraction to each other. "there was a soul connection between them", but insecurities, personal doubts, past relationship failures and emotional obstructions are hard to get past. These two characters find that they can share their feelings and trust each other to understand and know how it feels when panic and fear sets in. They allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other. Ms. Thompson takes the subject and trauma of PTSD up in this story and how it effects a person's ability to find a "normal" life style. She asks these characters to find strength after tragedy. Sometimes there are no answers as to why bad things happen. She does this in a very caring and sensitive way.
I love Lisa and Raphael. They bring the best out in each other. They are committed to each other. I love Raphael's sweet nickname for Lisa near the beginning of the book....Stardust. It's so cute and special. There are sparks, passion, compassion, devotion and finding "the one" in each other. Ms. Thompson has a way of creating a scene that takes the reader right into it but also lets the reader "fill in" the unwritten parts. There is feeling and emotion in each and every character. Sometimes good and sometimes bad, but the emotion is there for the reader to tap into. It's an all around experience turning the pages and being with the characters through highs and lows.
One of the things I took away from this book is a powerful message about how life can deal us some hard blows and we might never know why. Evil has no understanding and demons can be dark but faith, hope and love overcomes. Ms. Thompson wrote these passages that spoke to me so very much:
"No matter how hard hatred worked, evil forces had never been able to squelch love."
"She prayed silently that they could feel their loved ones near them, reassuring them that hope remained. That love won in the end."
"....how the threads of destiny weaved together in a complicated pattern until finally the woman he was meant to be with would appear. Together, they would make a beautiful tapestry."
Ms. Thompson creates this tapestry in words and puts her heart and soul into each book she writes and each book she writes touches my heart and soul. I love this book! I love this new group of Cliffside Bay family and I'm so looking forward to continuing on this journey with all of them.
I want to especially thank Ms. Thompson for the honor of reading Missed: Raphael and Lisa. It truly is a fantastic book! It's a huge five talented, award winning stars for me!

Emily, Gone
by
Bette Lee Crosby

There is nothing like the feeling of picking up a Bette Lee Crosby book to read. When I do, I know I'm in for a deeply emotional and heart tugging story that will take my emotions all over the feelings map. As I opened the pages of this book, I felt like I was meeting with an old friend and she was going to take me on a storytelling journey and she sure did! Emily, Gone is a book I couldn't put down.

If this book doesn't tug at your heartstrings, I don't know what will. Each progressively turned page brought me deeper into the heart of the story that drew rawness to my emotions. The horror of waking up in the morning finding little Emily gone was excruciating. Who would have taken her and why? The self blaming for not being there for Emily broke my heart. The yearning for a lost child was heart wrenching. This book took me on that proverbial roller coaster ride from heartache, to desperation, to despair, to a shocking turn of events, to hope, to forgiveness, to faith no matter what the situation or outcome.

Ms. Crosby has such a great way of putting wisdom in her books that reach into my heart. I come away from her books with words that I can apply to my life and use to be a better person. I love that. Her works feel personal and I feel connected to them. Each character has flaws just as we all do. Each character has emotions that in ways I could relate to. Ms. Crosby developed each character completely to create a story that pulled me in.

I'd like to share a couple passages that are indicative of Ms. Crosby's gift of writing:

"People make mistakes, and things happen-not because we want them to or don't care, but because life is a whole lot less than perfect."

"Fear settles in your heart the day you learn you're gonna be a mama, but somehow you stumble through doing the best you can, always hoping it's good enough."

I came to the end of this book knowing and feeling I had a true Bette Lee Crosby book experience. I loved it! I want to thank Ms. Crosby, Lake Union, and Netgalley for the absolute honor of getting to read this book.

Breakfast With the FBI
by
Erina Bridget Ring
Oh. My. Gosh! Knowing this book was written from real life events had me holding my breath in so many parts. This is the story of Rose Ryan and her position as a bank teller. She uncovers some suspicious activity concerning missing money from the bank. She knows that something is terribly wrong and has to do something about it. This book takes the reader on the crazy ride of going "undercover" with the FBI to expose the embezzlement scheme. I felt like I was going through the anxieties, worries, and fears with Rose as she had to keep from revealing her knowledge of what was going on in the bank. PLUS, she was told to not "say a word" to anyone. At all. How hard to go through so much and not be able to talk about it. Sometimes it felt like it wasn't worth the stress and fear but to protect herself and her family, she did what it took.
This is a fast read but so worth it. It's intense and kept me wanting to know how this whole ordeal was going to be resolved. It is a great read and I enjoyed it very much. The integrity that Rose presented is highly admirable....she endured so much.
Yes, Rose did the right thing!
This is the second book of Ms. Ring's that I've read and I can't wait to read another one!
Thank you, Erina Bridget Ring, for the copy of your book. I am so honored to have read it and I am a BIG fan of yours! A five star read...and I admire you for what you went through and that you are finally able to share that with us.

Healed: Stone and Pepper
by
Tess Thompson
Destination: Cliffside Bay! It's a perfect place to travel to in a Tess Thompson book. There you meet up with family and friends you've connected with in this amazing series. The Dogs, Wags, and Wolves are people you love having in your life. I for sure do! I am so excited when the next book comes out in this series. Each one focuses on a couple that will grab your heart and take you on their journey of finding happiness. This novel is about Stone and Pepper.
Each of these characters have come from a traumatic and painful past or events they've had happen in their lives. They have scars that they try to keep from being exposed and revealed but they keep tearing open. What will it take to have those scars heal and help them move forward from the past?
Stone is Gentle Giant and has served the country in the Marines. He's seen a lot and experienced many difficult things in his life. Even still, he's loyal, full of integrity, has the patience of Job and he's full of compassion, determination, optimism and humility. He's got it bad for Pepper.
Pepper is a spitfire! She has gumption, a loyalty to her best friends and a feistiness that I loved. She is a person I would want to be my friend for the steadfastness she shows those she loves. She has had a bad tragedy in her past and she closes herself up to letting her feelings be exposed. She protects herself from being hurt.
I love the way how Ms. Thompson brings personality into her books. There are so many passages and phrases that make this book fun to read. There were also parts of this book that tore my heart out. Since these people are my friends and family, I wanted to help them and be there for them. That's how much this book became a part of me.
The characters in this book are so well written. It was great how the characters from previous books are also included in this one. The are all one and a part of each other.
Ms. Thompson can create metaphors that paint a picture in my mind so very well. Here's one from the beginning of the book that I will always think about:
This is Stone speaking: "Today was all rainbows and unicorns. Given the number of canned-pea type days he'd had during his thirty years of life, he soaked up the unicorns and rainbows, grateful for each one."
There are adorable and cute names Stone and Pepper have for each other throughout the book. I found them endearing and they added so much to the connection between Stone and Pepper.
This book is a true Tess Thompson work. I know I am always in for a great read! I love this series and know each one is going to have me feeling all the emotions with all her wonderful characters.
I do want to thank her for the dedication in the front of the book to those who have served in the military. I appreciate that so very much.
I do believe this book will take the reader on a rewarding and fascinating adventure with Stone and Pepper. I loved every word of it!
I want to thank Ms. Thompson for the honor and privilege of reading an ARC of another amazing book that she's written. I love returning to Cliffside Bay and look forward to the next visit!

A Season of Surprises
at the

Villa des Violettes

By
Patricia Sands
Bienvenue à la Villa des Violettes! Welcome to Villa des Violettes! This is a charming and delightful read that I loved very much! I felt like I took a return "vacances" to Côte d’Azur and reconnected with friends I couldn't wait to visit! Kat and Phillipe are the perfect host and hostess to take me through the pages of this book. I love their love story!
It was very exciting to be a part of the opening of their B & B along with their first guests. All of Kat's and Phillipe's friends are involved in this exciting business venture! The characters are all so likeable and have become my friends, too. Each character adds a layer to this story that makes it a totally enjoyable read.
I felt like I was on one of Patricia Sand's tours that she hosts in France. From the "pictures" of the characters to their emotions, from the locations to the scenery, from the French celebrations to the scenic road trip and add in all the yummy and tasty foods....it's an all around experience to France. It's easily put into my mind because of her very descriptive writing. It becomes so vivid that I have felt I've actually been to France!
Ms. Sands takes on a very difficult issue with one of the characters that involves human trafficking. She did this in a way that brings attention to a serious problem but in a very sensitive way. It added an element of mystery to the book.
Oh! I can't forget the antics of the pets! I love that Coco and Rocco, Belle and her kittens are a part of bringing the book together, too. They just add a perfect touch to the "family" at Villa des Violettes.
This is a passage that Phillipe says to Kat:
"We have a way of making beautiful memories, Minou. And we will keep doing it. There's so much more to discover together."
I have beautiful memories from reading this book and I can't wait to discover more and make more memories in the next book of this series.
I want to thank Ms. Sands for the opportunity and privilege of reading this book. It's a cinq étoiles lire....five star read for me!

The Art of Remembering
by
Alison Ragsdale
"There's an art to remembering, Ailsa, but if anyone can master it, you can." This book is amazing! It's so beautifully written! From the very beginning of the story, I loved the character, Ailsa. She infiltrated my heart. I felt her emotions and thoughts as if I were a part of her. This is such a heart wrenching read. It's a journey that Ailsa never thought she would be taking...the struggles that she would have to tackle or the events that would change her life. Sometimes things happen and you have no idea why. This is what happens in this story.
Alison Ragdale took me behind the scenes of what being a prima ballerina all entailed. From the detailed descriptions of the intense and long hours of practice to the exquisite descriptions of the costumes, the ballet positions and the feelings Ailsa has when she's on stage, I felt like I was experiencing it with her. I could feel the tulle on my legs, the floor beneath my toes and the thrill of the music as it was flowing through her body. Perfection in writing.
Likewise in the shocking diagnosis, I felt the fear, pain and what the unknown results could cause. It was a heart wrenching, gut punching feeling. I had so many tears. Ms. Ragsdale totally immersed me into Ailsa's life. I was yearning for her to find herself and what was right for her.
The life she's meant to live.
This book is so wonderful and I felt the heart Ms. Ragsdale wrote it from. It touched my heart deeply. There is an "art to remembering" and I will remember this book for a very long time. It's like this passage says, "When you lose someone they're always with you, like a molecule of something you've breathed into your soul." That's how I feel about this book. I have finished reading it but there will always be a part of it I've breathed into my soul and will be a part of me for the amazing experience I had.
I want to thank Kate Rock and Ms. Ragsdale for the unbelievable journey I took in this ARC copy of this book. I give this book a standing ovation and stars upon stars beyond five.