Murder on Moloka'i - Slate Ridge Press Edition (Surfing Detective Mystery Series)
by Chip Hughes
 

Dec 27, 2015  

I give this book 3.5 stars. It was good but not as intense and a page turner crime mystery as I would have wanted it to be. There weren't enough twists and turns in the book.After reading Molokai by Alan Brennert a while back, I was able to connect the locations in both the books. I have never been to Hawaii, but I am learning more about it as I read books set in Hawaii.
I got this Kindle book as a freebie from Book Bub. I don't know if I will continue with the series. I will have to check out my library to see if the series is part of their inventory.

 

The Watcher (Bigler County #1)
by Jo Robertson 
 

Dec 20, 2015  

4*

 

Forensic psychiatrist Kate Myers believes the killer of two teenage girls in Bigler County, California, is the same man who savagely murdered her twin sister over fifteen years ago. Working with a single-minded tenacity, she sets out to prove it.

Deputy Sheriff Ben Slater hides his personal pain behind the job, but Kate's arrival in his county knocks his world on its axis. He wants to believe her wild theory, but the idea of a serial killer with the kind of pathology she proposes is too bizarre.

Together they work to find a killer whose roots began in a small town in Bigler County, but whose violence spread across the nation. A Janus-like killer, more monster than man, he fixates on Kate. The killer wants


Preview
This is a free book I downloaded from Book Bub. This was a new author for me. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

My Review:

I had no problem getting into this books since I like crime books.
This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in long time. The author doesn’t rush you through the story—you’re given time to get to know the two main characters and the villain—but everything you learn increases the tension and danger. By the way, the villian gave me the creeps. The story weaves in past and present. There are a number of unexpected twists and turns with an explosive ending. About the last 100 pages or so had me glued. There was no way I could put the book down at that point. If it ever becomes a movie, I know I will be sitting on the edge of my seat.

Cut Me Loose: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood
by Leah Vincent (Goodreads Author)
 

Phyllis Hoffman Jacobs's review 

Oct 29,20 15 

3 of 5 stars

Read in October, 2015

In the vein of Prozac Nation and Girl, Interrupted, an electrifying memoir about a young woman's promiscuous and self-destructive spiral after being cast out of her ultra-Orthodox Jewish family

Leah Vincent was born into the Yeshivish community, a fundamentalist sect of ultra-Orthodox Judaism. As the daughter of an influential rabbi, Leah and her ten siblings were raised to worship two things: God and the men who ruled their world. But the tradition-bound future Leah envisioned for herself was cut short when, at sixteen, she was caught exchanging letters with a male friend, a violation of religious law that forbids contact between members of the opposite sex. Leah's parents were unforgiving. Afraid, in part, that her behavior would affect the marriage prospects of their other children, they put her on a plane and cut off ties. Cast out in New York City, without a father or husband tethering her to the Orthodox community, Leah was unprepared to navigate the freedoms of secular life. She spent the next few years using her sexuality as a way of attracting the male approval she had been conditioned to seek out as a child, while becoming increasingly unfaithful to the religious dogma of her past. Fast-paced, mesmerizing, and brutally honest, Cut Me Loose tells the story of one woman's harrowing struggle to define herself as an individual. Through Leah's eyes, we confront not only the oppressive world of religious fundamentalism, but also the broader issues that face even the most secular young women as they grapple with sexuality and identity.

My Review:

I liked the book. It was a fast, interesting memoir of the author's life as a girl raised in an Orthodox Jewish home. I understand how she felt the need to reject the laws of her upbringing since they were very strict.
I found her to be very brave when she decided to set out and discover what it was like to live in a secular world. Her experiences were shocking and harrowing . I found this part of the book, which was a good majority of it, to be heartbreaking, too graphic and repetitive. This was the path Leah chose to follow.
I am glad the book ended on a positive note but it was too rushed and abrupt by ending in a couple of sentences. I would have liked to have seen more details about her new life. The author keeps the reader hanging as to the future of Leah's life. Too much of a cliffhanger.

Born in Fire (Born In Trilogy, #1)
by Nora Roberts (Goodreads Author)

Oct 11, 20 15  

3 of 5 stars

Three modern sisters bound by the timeless beauty of Ireland...

The eldest Concannon sister, Maggie, is a reclusive, stubborn and free-spirited glassmaker—with a heart worth winning.

Margaret Mary is a glass artist with an independent streak as fierce as her volatile temper. Hand-blowing glass is a difficult and exacting art, and while she may produce the delicate and the fragile, Maggie is a strong and opinionated woman, a Clare woman, with all the turbulence of that fascinating west country.

One man, Dublin gallery owner Rogan Sweeney, has seen the soul in Maggie’s art, and vows to help her build a career. When he comes to Maggie’s studio, her heart is inflamed by their fierce attraction—and her scarred past is slowly healed by love. Maggie is a young but lonely woman. She lost her beloved dad five years ago and her relationship with her mother is far from good. Actually, because of her mother she prefers loneliness and she doesn’t want to marry. She really doesn’t trust anyone, expect her sister Brianna who is very kind. Maggie is an artist and when in her life comes Rogan the owner of an international art gallery, many things will change in her life either she want it or not.

My Review:
I found the book to be very descriptive of the setting (Ireland) and characters. Nora Roberts has a way with words. She uses similes, metaphors and lots of adjectives. I felt like I was part of the setting and that I knew the characters.

I loved Maggie's stubborn character. She was a strong person but with a good heart even with a mother whose main purpose is to make her life a living hell but no matter what she was determined to keep her promise to her father, once he died, to care for her mother and sister.Maggie was a lonely woman because of her upbringing.I felt so sorry for her. I would be bitter if my mom treated me as evil as her mom, Maeve, did. What a horrible life to lead.She doesn’t want to marry either because she doesn't trust anyone, except her sister, Brianna, who is very kind. I certainly understood why she felt the way she did because of her evil mom.Another horrible thing to endure. I loved how her life started to change in a positive way as the story moved on even though she fought it all the way.

Parts of the book went at a slow pace. I found myself putting it down too often because of that, I gave it 3*. Even so, I will read the next book in the trilogy. I am curious to see how the characters' lives change or stay the same.

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio, Raquel Jaramillo

Sep 02, 2015  

5 of 5 stars

Read in September, 2015

You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.

My Review:

I found the book to be wonderful. It's the first book in a series. The themes included bullying, peer pressure and showing kindness to all people, no matter what abnormalities they may have. The book was heartwarming and emotional. Get the tissues ready. It talked about the struggles that Auggie had to encounter with other children because of his deformed physical appearance. My heart went out to him as I was reading. I think all children and adults should read this book so they can see what it feels like to be bullied. I definitely liked the ending. It taught a good lesson.

The Wednesday Letters
by Jason F. Wright (Goodreads Author)

Aug 15, 2015  

4 of 5 stars

The story of marriage, family, and forgiveness that has become not just a bestseller but an instant classic.


Their story begins with one letter on their wedding night, a letter from the groom, promising to write his bride every week—for as long they both shall live.

Thirty-nine years later, Jack and Laurel Cooper die in each other's arms. And when their grown children return to the family B&B to arrange the funeral, they discover thousands of letters.

The letters they read tell of surprising joys and sorrows. They also hint at a shocking family secret—and ultimately force the children to confront a life-changing moment of truth.

My Review::

I found the book to be a sweet, touching, emotional story about a family and the secrets they have kept from one another and their challenges they have had along the way. Each family member had a valid reason for their secrets. As the secrets start to unravel, the book becomes more mysterious. I like those kind of stories. I always try to guess the outcomes and I was quite surprised with some of them in this book. The author kept me guessing until the end.
I also like how Jack wrote letters to his wife every Wed. throughout their marriage. They turned into a diary about his feelings, events in their marriage, his devotion to her and their family challenges. The story unravels through these letters.
The book sends the message that whatever happens in life, good or bad, we should always forgive one another. I found it hard to forgive some of the things that happened in this book. You will have to read the book to see what they are.

Otherwise Engaged
by Amanda Quick (Goodreads Author)

Phyllis Hoffman Jacobs's review

Jul 21,20 15  ·  edit

4 of 5 stars

I never read a book by Amanda Quick, but I will probably be reading some of her other books. She goes under other names just like Nora Roberts is also J.D. Robb. I usually don't read historical fiction books but this one was an exception. The setting took place in high society Victorian England. I liked the different expressions the characters used to explain different parts of the story. Quite different from what I am used to hearing.

This book involves 2 love stories but not overly done at all. I don't like reading books that include nothing but romance. This book also includes the murder of 5 women, and a spy scandal. There was something about the beginning of the book that pulled me in but I am not sure of what it was. Different characters were introduced and lots of clues as well. AS with any other mystery/suspense story the reader has to remember all of them in order to solve the mystery. I found the middle of the book not so captivating . As the story unraveled with all the clues coming together (last 100 pages or so)I was glued to the book. I was surprised to learn who the murderer was and why the events and people in his life lead up to his murder spree.

The Good Luck of Right Now
by Matthew Quick (Goodreads Author)

Jul 13,20 15  

4 of 5 stars

For thirty-eight years, Bartholomew Neil has lived with his mother. When she gets sick and dies, he has no idea how to be on his own. His redheaded grief counselor, Wendy, says he needs to find his flock and leave the nest. But how does a man whose whole life has been grounded in his mom, Saturday mass, and the library learn how to fly?

Bartholomew thinks he’s found a clue when he discovers a “Free Tibet” letter from Richard Gere hidden in his mother’s underwear drawer. In her final days, mom called him Richard—there must be a cosmic connection. Believing that the actor is meant to help him, Bartholomew awkwardly starts his new life, writing Richard Gere a series of highly intimate letters. Jung and the Dalai Lama, philosophy and faith, alien abduction and cat telepathy, the Catholic Church and the mystery of women are all explored in his soul-baring epistles. But mostly the letters reveal one man’s heartbreaking earnest attempt to assemble a family of his own.

A struggling bipolar priest, a “Girlbrarian, Elizabeth, who is obsessed with aliens. Her feline-loving, foul-mouthed brother, Max who has Tourette's syndrome , and the spirit of Richard Gere join the quest to help Bartholomew, who has Asperger's syndrome. In a rented Ford Focus, they travel to Canada to see the cat Parliament and find his biological father . . . and discover so much more.


My Review:

I liked this book because it had quirky characters who were there for each other. I found Bartholomew to be a caring person and he was trying to find himself and how he was trying to learn how to be on his own. I liked him the best. The bipolar priest had a secret that we learn about toward the end of the book. I didn't see the secret coming. Elizabeth was strange with her love for aliens. Her brother, Max, was the character that was really annoying. Every other word out of his mouth was f--k. It got old after awhile. I was skipping over some of the dialog because of the profanity.

All in all I will probably read another book by this author.

Nemesis
by Philip Roth

May 31, 2015 

4 of 5 stars

 

Read in May, 2015

This is a frightening story about a polio epidemic that spreads throughout the Jewish community of Newark during the excruciating hot summer of 1944, and the struggles of 23 year old Bucky Cantor who's 4-F military status keeps him from joining his buddies in the war.

Bucky, a physical education teacher, is an extremely conscientious and kind-hearted young man who sincerely cares for the children in his care and is well-liked and admired for his athletic ability and easy-going ways in return, but as his "kids" become infected, he continually questions his decisions, and fights a guilt-ridden battle within himself and his beliefs.

Review:

The reason I chose to read this book is because it takes place in the neighborhood I grew up in until I was thirteen years old. All the streets and places,in the book, brought back good memories of my childhood.The Yiddush words were always spoken by my parents and grandparents so they brought back memories for me as well. The author is from the area as well.

It is also considered a historical fiction novel. The characters' names are fiction but the events are very real. The book opened my eyes to the Polio Epidemic that was happening in the 1940s. I remember getting the Polio Vaccine when I was a kid. I was definitely able to relate to this book.

Fax Me a Bagel
by Sharon Kahn

May 18, 2015  

3 of 5 stars

Read in May, 2015

This first title in the new Agatha Award-acclaimed series features Ruby, the widow of the rabbi in Eternal, Texas. When a patron drops dead in The Hot Bagel, Ruby's friend the baker faces interrogation--and Ruby starts wondering about a connection to her husband's still-unsolved hit-and-run death.

My Review:

I picked up this book to read because I liked the title. It has a lot of humor even though it involved a murder. It wasn't a very deep murder though as in not a lot of twists at all. It was a fast read. I liked the main character, Ruby but didn't care for Essie Sue or the new Rabbi. I connected with this book because of the Yiddish words in the book. They were words that my parents and grandparents always spoke. There were also settings that I was familiar with which made the book more personable I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

The Stranger
by Harlan Coben

May 01,20 15 

5 of 5 stars

Read in April, 2015

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

Review:::

Harlan Coben writes crime thrillers that keeps the reader guessing until the end of the book. This book was no different. There were twists and turns which I love in a book.I found some of them shocking and surprising and some were predictable. Even though some of the characters had secrets about their growing up years, it was selfish of them to ruin the lives of other people to compensate for those secrets. The book was engrossing and I didn't go to bed until I finished it. It was a page turner for me. I felt like a detective trying to solve the crimes. I had mixed feelings about the ending. Some events were upsetting while others were the way I wanted them to be. Coben finished the book with a cliffhanger which he basically did with all his chapters in the book. He is one of my favorite crime thriller author and i always look forward to reading his books.

What Alice Forgot
by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)

Apr 24,20 15

4 of 5 stars

Read in April, 2015

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.

So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes.

Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

My Review;

I enjoyed this book. As I was reading it , I put myself into Alice's shoes and wondered how I would feel if I didn't remember the last 10 years of my life. What a scary feeling. I like how the story unraveled and how Alice found out about all the events in her life that occured before the accident. She was in for a shock. All in all, I like how the book ended.

This was a new author to me book. I plan on contuing to read books by her.

The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins (Goodreads Author)

Apr 03, 2015  

5 of 5 stars

 

Read in April, 2015

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories.

My Review::

I absolutely loved this book. It was very hard to put it down. I was so engrossed with trying to solve the crime. Any character could have committed it. I was definitely surprised with the ending!!

One Wish (Thunder Point, #7)
by Robyn Carr (Goodreads Author)

Mar 30, 2015

4 of 5 stars

Read in March, 2015

Grace Dillon was a champion figure skater until she moved to Thunder Point to escape the ruthless world of fame and competition. And though she's proud of the quiet, self-sufficient life she's created running a successful flower shop, she knows something is missing. Her life could use a little excitement.

In a community where there are few eligible singles, high school teacher Troy Headly appoints himself Grace's fun coach. When he suggests a little companionship with no strings attached, Grace is eager to take him up on his offer, and the two enjoy…getting to know each other.

But things get complicated when Grace's past catches up with her, and she knows that's not what Troy signed up for. Faced with losing her, Troy realizes Grace is more than just a friend with benefits. He's determined to help her fight for the life she always wished for but never believed she could have—and maybe they can find real love along the way.

My Review:

I liked this 7th book of the Thunder Point Series. Previous characters' lives, from the series, continue into this book with the introduction of new characters. As I learn more about the characters, I feel like we are friends since the reader learns so much about them.

What I personally find unrealistic is when two people meet one another and immediately fall in love and the sex begins. They don't even get to know one another first. I find this happens too often in the romance/chick lit books I read and it gets old after awhile.

I liked how Grace and Troy were good for each other. Even though there was a little hurdle that they had to get over at the end, I am glad it worked out for them. I am also glad that Grace's relationship with her mother changes for the good. Unfortunately it was under sad circumstances. Since their story was left as a cliffhanger, I am looking forward to see what life has in store for them. There were other cliff hangers in the book as well. So I am also looking forward to the continuations in the Thunder Point characters' lives as well.

Trial by Fury (J.P. Beaumont #3)
by J.A. Jance (Goodreads Author)

Mar 24, 2015  · 

5 of 5 stars

Read in March, 2015

The dead body discovered in a Seattle dumpster was shocking enough--but equally disturbing was the manner of death. The victim, a high school coach, had been lynched, leaving behind a very pregnant wife to grieve over his passing, and to wonder what dark and disturbing secrets he took to his grave. A homicide detective with twenty years on the job, J.P. Beaumont knows this case is a powder keg and he fears where this investigation will lead him. Because the answers lie on the extreme lethal edge of passion and hate, where the wrong kind of love can breed the most terrible brand of justice.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I am starting to realize that I really like reading suspense books. They hold my attention and are page turners for me. I like to put all the clues together and figure out the outcome of the story. This book was no exception. I like J.A. Jance's style of writing. This is the third book I read by her. She will be added to my list of suspense writers. This particular book is part of her J.P. Beaumont series. Eventually, I plan on continuing with the rest of the series.

Injustice for All (J.P. Beaumont #2)
by J.A. Jance (Goodreads Author)

Feb 27, 15  

5 of 5 stars

Read from February 05 to 09, 2015

It was like a scene from a movie: the beautiful blond screaming on a Washington beach, a dead man lying at her feet; the dashing Homicide detective arriving to offer kindness and solace to the distressed lady. What it wasn't was a restful vacation for J.P. Beaumont. And now a murderous mix of politics and passion is turning Beau's holiday into a nightmare – and leading the dedicated Seattle cop into the path of a killer whose bloodlust is rapidly becoming an obsession.

My Review

This is my second book to read in the J.P. Beaumont detective series. I found this book to be more intense then the first book in the series (Until Proven Guilty.) The book pulled me in right away because of a dead man being pulled out of the water by a woman. We learn this on the first page. With a beginning like that it made me want to go on to see why and how that happened. Of course in most mysteries parts of them are not as intense as other parts. So I didn't find the book to be intense throughout but the ending definitely was and brought everything together. When I read a suspense book I am always trying to put the pieces together to solve the mystery/crime. That is another reason why they hold my attention. There are 20 books in the J.P. Beaumont series and I know I will continue reading them.

Winter in Sweetwater County
by Ciara Knight (Goodreads Author)

Feb 21, 2015

4 of 5 stars

Lisa Mortan’s ideal life crumbles when her rich and powerful fiancé demands she ends an unwanted pregnancy. With no job or social support, she flees to a small town in hopes of finding a good family for her unborn baby, but instead finds a man who is as broken as she is.

Eric Gaylord returns to his home town for a respite after a tragic loss, but when his spitfire mother takes on an unknown woman as a business partner, he is forced to face the nightmare he’d left behind or risk losing the one woman who could heal his heart.

My Review:

I wasn't sure if I would like this book. The beginning was totally unrealistic. People do not start a business with a person they don't know especially from a social network site. Also people do not fall in love with someone after only 2 days. I almost put the book down, but I am happy I continued reading it. The setting is in a small cozy town which is a setting I seem to like lately. The book became more realistic when the main characters, Lisa and Eric, have very similar secrets in their lives. Once they get to know each other the secrets are revealed. I found the book had some tension and drama which kept me going to a point I couldn't put the book down. I am glad it only had a little less than 200 pages (EBook book that I downloaded for free.) The plot was not dragged out so I didn't become bored with it. I found the characters to be caring people but of course there was one evil character in the book. There always seem to be one of them included in books. Even though the story was a romance , it didn't have smut in it which is fine with me. This is my first book to read by this author. I will be interested in reading the other 4 in the series. I am hoping I can get them from the library.

A Summer in Sonoma
by Robyn Carr (Goodreads Author)

Feb 18, 2015  

3 of 5 stars

Read in February, 2015

THEY'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE SEVENTH GRADE. BUT THIS SUMMER, TEETERING ON THE THRESHOLD OF THIRTY, FOUR WOMEN ARE GOING TO NEED EACH OTHER MORE THAN EVER.

Review:

I thought the book was good but not my favorite Robyn Carr book. I was able to relate to the fact that I am still in touch with former childhood friends but not as close as these four women were. I found that part to be amazing. Each one had their own crises or secrets and helped one another to deal with them. I liked that part, but I found the story to be to predictable and slow moving and too long. The only relationship I was surprised over was Cassie and Walt's . They were so different from one another. Walt's secret was not what I suspected so I was surprised with that one. I am glad I got to read this book since it is one of Robyn Carr's stand alone novels and I am used to her series books such as Virgin River and Thunder Point.

Dying to Read (The Cate Kinkaid Files, #1)
by Lorena McCourtney (Goodreads Author)

Jan 29,20 15  

4 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2015

Cate Kinkaid is just dipping her toe into the world of private investigating until one of the many resumes she has floating around lands her a real job. All she has to do is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? When the big and brooding house happens to contain a dead body, this routine PI job turns out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?
Readers will be hooked from the very first chapter of this fast-paced and witty romantic mystery from bestselling and award-winning author Lorena McCourtney.

My Review:

I downloaded this free Kindle book onto my tablet and I am glad I did. I like mysteries with suspense. This book turned out to be a light hearted cozy mystery. Some of the characters (older women) are part of the Whodunit Book Club. They are all suspected of playing a role in the killing of one of the members. There are other suspects as well. The Whodunit members each had their own quirky personalities. Even though this was a mystery there was still humor throughout the book. The story had me guessing to the end as to who committed the murder and why. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

The Potluck Club (The Potluck Club #1)
by Linda Evans Shepherd , Eva Marie Everson

 

4 of 5 stars

 

Read in January, 2015

In the Colorado town of Summit View, women from Grace Church meet once a week to pass a hot dish and to pray. But the Potluck Club, as they call themselves, is a recipe for disaster when they send up enough misinformed prayers to bring down a church.

MY REVIEW:
When I downloaded this free ebook for my Kindle app, I had no idea that it was Christian literature and ended up liking the book even with the references and scriptures sprinkled in. There were many strong women characters of various ages with the same problems we all face or have faced. Marriage, family, secrets, regret, work, misunderstandings, nosey neighbors and dealing with difficult personalities. The majority of the characters stand by each other through thick and thin. The title of the book includes the word "potluck" because the group of ladies met once a week to discuss issues and they each brought a potluck dish.The recipes to the foods mentioned in each chapter can be found in the back of the book. There are two more books in this series and I hope to read them both.

The Homecoming (Thunder Point, #6)
by Robyn Carr (Goodreads Author)

Jan 08, 2015  

3 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2015

At the age of nineteen, Seth Sileski had everything. A superb athlete and scholar, handsome and popular, he was the pride of Thunder Point. Destined for greatness, he lost it all in a terrible accident that put an end to his professional football career when it had barely begun. The people in his hometown have never forgotten what might have been.

Seth has come to terms with the turns his life has taken. But now he's been presented with an opportunity to return home and show his father—and the people of Thunder Point—he's become a better, humbler version of his former self.

Winning over his father isn't the only challenge. Seth must also find a way to convince his childhood neighbor and best friend, Iris McKinley, to forgive him for breaking her heart. With his homecoming, will Seth be able to convince the town, his family and especially Iris that he's finally ready to be the man who will make them all proud?

My Review:

I only gave this book 3 *. It was good but kind of flat. It had the same storyline as most romance books do but not as much romance. I would say half the book was a slow read for me. I feel like it got more suspenseful when it got into the society issue of abuse. I was curious to see what the outcome would be with the case and I was pleased with the outcome. I also found Seth's relationship with Oscar and how it came about was unrealistic. When people become involved in an accident, they don't become friends with one another.
Since I love Robyn Carr books I am still interested in continuing with the series.