Review~Annie Cosby~Learning to Swim

****4 Stars****

While Learning to Swim is not my usual genre of books I found that it was a great distraction to my usual fare.  Ms. Cosby’s characters are engaging, interesting, and well developed. The story line was intriguing and kept me reading, wondering how things would resolve themselves.  I can honestly say that I don’t think I have ever read anything about the Celtic folk lore of Selkies.  This in and of itself is extremely interesting and I hope that the author doesn’t abandon that story line, I find myself curious to know more about them.  All in all this is a great first novel. I look forward to the next installment and watching this author grow.  

****4 Stars****

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Learning to Swim

Review~M.L. Gardner~1929 Jonathan's Cross

*****5 STARS*****

Have you ever read a book that you just wanted to devour? That you just could not wait for the turn of the page to find out what happens next? You simply must marathon read so you can get to the next installment? Yeah, that was me, reading this book.

The 1920's-1930's is probably my most favorite period of time.  I have studied the era intently for many years and am glad the author felt no need to take on the onerous task of rewriting history. Instead choosing to follow where the characters lead her. Yes, there were some details that weren't specific to the era, but this is a work of fiction and the few liberties taken by Mrs. Gardner worked for the story and were by no means unforgivable.

The characters are well developed, very personable and extremely human.  I found myself laughing with them, sympathizing with them, and more than once crying with them.  Several times I caught myself arguing with a couple of the characters about choices that were being made, I couldn't help myself.  I am very glad that I came into this series late because now I don't have to wait for the next one to come out, I can start it tonight! 

I don't say this lightly, ML Gardner has written a story that has captured my imagination and my heart.  Her book reminds  me of one of my favorite series, The Clifton Chronicles.  Mrs Gardner, you are my new Jeffrey Archer. 

Highly recommend this series- 5 Stars

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1929: Jonathan's Cross

Review~The Lake~AnnaLisaGrant~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

Surprised myself at how much I enjoyed this novel, considering that the recommendation came from my 16 year old daughter, who never reads and has never been interested in reading. When she devoured the whole trilogy in 2 weeks, I decided I needed to check this out for myself and discover why. I eagerly anticipate having some free time to be able to read the next two novels in the series.

Written from the point of view of a 17 year old child, AnnaLisa Grant managed to capture and nuance the emotions and thought processes of a girl of this age; from her guilt about the accident that claimed her parent’s lives, to her perception of her grandparents feelings about her. These feelings are on par with someone who has been through awful tragedy in those tender formative years; they are all feelings that I have experienced personally from the loss of my father at a young age. 

I am completely blown away, not just from the emotion conveyed, but from the superb story line, the complex twisting plot, and the breathless anticipation of a beautiful love story.  AnnaLisa Grant, thank you for such an amazing story and for grasping not only my daughter’s attention but mine as well!  5 stars!

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THE LAKE

Review~St. Charles at Dusk~Sarah M. Cradit~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

Thank you Sarah for taking me home! From the bayous of Abbeville, to the plantations of River Road, and on to the music, sights and smells of the French Quarter and Garden District, the descriptions were on point, the prose lovely, and the story, oh the story...

The story of Oz and Adrienne is almost Shakespearean in its tragedy, yet has a Bronte-esque feel at its conclusion. Complemented throughout with wit and humor, it is a tender and sad love story. It is a story of true and lasting love, two people coming of age, fighting adversity, and finding their way home to each other.

Sarah has created a world that is rich and vivid and alive! I want to be a part of it! I look forward to delving deeper in to the world of the House of Crimson and Clover!

**I received an ARC of this novel for an honest review.

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ST. CHARLES AT DUSK

Review~Beautiful Addictions~Season Vining~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

Gritty, raw, emotional, poetic…..simply beautiful. This is not, and I must repeat, NOT your average love story mystery. Forget everything you know and think about the romance genre because Season Vining just threw it out the window!

Season managed to write real characters, flawed and emotional, so that you can feel the emotion, the raw pain, the isolation, despair and heartache. Yet she manages to show that the great power of love, one that changes a person to their core, one that carries for all time, even in the absence of a physical person, exists.

Both hunted, both haunted. Will there be a happily ever after? This one will keep you up all night turning pages to find out what happens next. Well done Season! I am excited to see what you come up with next! 

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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BEAUTIFUL ADDICTIONS

Review~Magnolia Blossoms~Rhonda R. Dennis~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

Just a few pages into this book and I was laughing hysterically. Not just a haha laugh, but honest to goodness gut busting, pee your pants, people think you are crazy laughing. But that isn’t all this book has to offer. There is an underlying theme of redemption throughout this book. It’s a late coming of age story in which our heroine, Magnolia Berrybush at the age of 32 transforms from the shy, introverted, clumsy, ugly duckling to an amazing swan. Along the way, Maggie forms what should be an unlikely, and definitely unconventional friendship with a hooker named Honey LaReaux. Mayhem and hi-jinxs rule the day. It seems that where ever Magnolia goes, trouble follows.

Rhonda’s descriptions of the people and places, harken me back to the hot and humid days of my youth where the author and I grew up. I can vividly picture each of the characters in this book like I knew them at one time in my life. She has masterfully painted a colorful picture of the transformation of the dull and boring life in which Maggie was afraid of the world and herself, into the joie de vivre that Louisianans hold so dear. Along the way she weaves in characters that are endearing and entertaining. Rhonda Dennis, you are the Cajun Janet Evanovich!

The story doesn’t end there, Rhonda wraps it up so tightly and completely that in a way, I was a little disappointed, as I would have loved to have the story continue. But what an ending!! Be sure to empty your bladder, grab a box of tissues, clear the room of people who don’t want you laugh-reading to them, and get comfy because you won’t want to put this one down until the very end! 5 Stars!!

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MAGNOLIA BLOSSOMS

Review~Beyond Dusk:Anne~Sarah M. Cradit~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

A breathless 40 pages, was it really only 40 pages? Sarah put so much into this short, that I really did feel like I read a full book, and it left me craving more more more.

.

I was introduced to Anne in St. Charles at Dusk and while I really did not care for her character, I was sort of ambivalent toward her. Now I am totally rethinking it. We saw her unleash a fury that left me breathless and slack jawed. She is going to be formidable! I want to go back and reread Dusk to see if those feelings still exist now that I know more of her history. As far as Nicholas, he has some work to do to get redemption I think. But as I have learned, with Anne, I will reserve judgement for now!

That being said, Sarah, I want more ANNE! My question is still “Why did you end it there!?!?” I am a Crimson and Clover fan for life and cannot wait to see what else Sarah comes up with!

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BEYOND DUSK: ANNE