Monday, March 9, 2020

The Vineyards of Champagne

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~


Synopsis (from Amazon):  Deep within the labyrinth of caves that lies below the lush, rolling vineyards of the Champagne region, an underground city of women and children hums with life. Forced to take shelter from the unrelenting onslaught of German shellfire above, the bravest and most defiant women venture out to pluck sweet grapes for the harvest. But wine is not the only secret preserved in the cool, dark cellars...

In present day, Rosalyn Acosta travels to Champagne to select vintages for her Napa-based employer. Rosalyn doesn't much care for champagne--or France, for that matter. Since the untimely death of her young husband, Rosalyn finds it a challenge to enjoy anything at all. But as she reads through a precious cache of WWI letters and retraces the lives lived in the limestone tunnels, Rosalyn will unravel a mystery hidden for decades...and find a way to savor her own life again.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  The Vineyards of Champagne was enjoyable.  I liked the secrets that were discovered, it was a different twist to the story.  I really liked the characters and how they were different from one another.  The back and forth between present day and WWI was perfect for this story.  An enjoyable trip to France!

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I would like to read other books by Juliet Blackwell….The Paris Key, Letters from Paris, and The Lost Carousel of Provence



Juliet Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Key, Letters from Paris, and The Lost Carousel of Provence. She makes her home in Northern California.

Xe Sands is an award-winning narrator known for her authentic characterizations and intimate delivery. She has more than a decade of experience bringing stories to life through narration, performance, and visual art, and she has been recognized for her engaging romance narrations.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Ten Days Gone

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~



Synopsis (from Amazon):  They know exactly when he’ll strike… They just have to find him first.

In all their years working for the Baywood police department, detectives A.L. McKittridge and Rena Morgan have never seen anything like it. Four women dead in forty days, each killed ten days apart. With nothing connecting the victims and very little evidence, the clock is already counting down to when the next body drops. A.L. and Rena will have to act fast if they’re going to find the killer’s next victim before he does.

But identifying the killer’s next likely target is only half the battle. With pressure pushing in from all sides, a promising breakthrough leads the detectives to Tess Lyons, a woman whose past trauma has left her too damaged to appreciate the danger she’s in. Unwilling to let another woman die, A.L. and Rena will put everything on the line to keep Tess safe and end the killer’s deadly spree once and for all—before time runs out again. 

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  I really enjoyed this mystery. It wasn't too complicated, but left you still guessing and trying to figure it out.  The story moved very quickly. I really liked the main characters and we are left hanging with unfinished business with both detectives A.L and Rena.  I can't wait for the sequel!

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Most definitely, I am so excited that Ten Days Gone is the first in a new series and book 2, No One Saw, will be out this June. Beverly Long has a lot of books published and I am not sure how I have never read one.  Always happy when I find a new author.




Beverly Long's writing career has spanned more than two decades and twenty novels. She writes romantic suspense with sexy heroes and smart heroines. She can often be found with her laptop in a coffee shop with a cafe au lait and anything made with dark chocolate by her side.

Monday, March 2, 2020

Better Believe It

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~




Synopsis (from Amazon):  Jada Marlone’s life appears to be perfect on social media. She has a loving husband, a beautiful child, and a successful career. What she doesn’t post about is the disconnect she feels in her marriage, the difficulties of motherhood, and her strained relationship with her mother.

Resigned to never being truly happy, Jada runs into an ex-boyfriend. While trying to decide whether the coincidence is her second chance at happiness, Jada begins having dreams that feature her dead cousin Gina.

With Gina’s help, Jada starts to uncover the real reasons behind her life decisions. As Jada tries to figure out her future, uncontrollable events threaten her resolve. Will she be able to draw from all she learned from Gina, or will she risk making the same mistakes twice?

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  I really liked how Better Believe It is written and Jada has visitors from heaven.  Oh how I would love to experience it! I loved all the characters and they seemed so real. Jada's life is pretty much like a rollercoaster (slowly going up, just to come crashing down, with a sharp twist and turn).  I did enjoy the ride along side her.

Once I started,  I didn't want to stop. Very quick and enjoyable read!

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Yes, I really enjoyed Better Believe It and would love to read Better in the Morning.



Fern Ronay has lived in NYC, Chicago, and now sunny Los Angeles with her husband, but she will always consider herself a Jersey girl. She is the author of two novels, Better in the Morning and Better Believe It, and is the host of the podcast Signs from the Other Side, as well as a host at AfterBuzzTV network.