Nora Roberts' Inheritance, an ARC Review

 

Hello dear readers, 

I won Inheritance, the first book in Nora Roberts' new series The Lost Bride Trilogy, as an ARC through Goodreads Giveaways, WAHOO! I was surprised it was a ghost story; a juicy gothic love story. I don't come across ghost stories often but Roberts 100% nailed her goal she laid out in the novel's book blurb and author note of honoring her love and ghostly adventures from her youth. 

This was true to Nora Roberts writing style, with the depth and clarity she

is back to gifting us with. We are taken on a ride of friendship, fun dogs, sweet and scary ghost hauntings, curses and romance all in a haunted mansion, on the cliffs, overlooking a cute coastal town. Can it get any better than those elements combined?! Sonya, Cleo, Trey and Owen will never be the same again as the ghostly inhabitants weave tighter into Sonya's life and their relationships evolve, also weaving tighter together.  The Lost Bride's want their wedding rings found and the witch who cursed them, through the generations of Poole history, banished. 

I have read most all of Nora Roberts' books and this one... she has given us the drama, romance, and magic to keep your heart pounding and making going to sleep at night a little harder with Inheritance. Publication shows November 2023, but October, the spooky month, would have been so much more appropriate. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did when it comes out to read! 

J.R. Ward's The Bourbon Kings Trilogy

J.R. Ward, known for her ass kicking vampires, takes a turn into contemporary fiction with this romantic suspense trilogy. The Bourbon Kings follows the Bradford family, in Tennessee, as their legacy of bourbon, horses, fast women, tradition and dripping with money world is pulled apart. Ward gives us juicy and addictive drama. It’s on par with Dynasty with all the layers and levels of deceit and betrayal. It’s also steeped in tradition, hosed down with expectations, all while the reader gets to gleefully follow the machinations of family and their reactions that are riddled with love, sex, and death. This trilogy has it all (well, no paranormal friends come to visit) and will leave you thrilled you aren’t actually there but get to know all the things. LOL! I was a huge fan of this family saga. A few people have asked about the spice level and I would say it’s spicy enough. There are sexual exploitations, sex as a weapon and sex with love to enhance the story. Ward puts us in the location and the actions of what you might see if you came upon the characters, without pushing in and out with explicit descriptions and details.

Also, I loved the bourbon fun facts shared with us and the naming of each book. The angel’s share and the devil’s cut are actual things!

Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House

I started this book over a year ago, in the paperback format. I just couldn't get into the story but really wanted to read a Leigh Bardugo novel. Recently, I was able to get the audiobook version and was able to dive in and finally finish! Thanks for haunting me Goodreads "Currently Reading" shelf!

 I love the idea of magic, history, and secret societies within the university setting. There has always been so much speculation and myth attached to universities like Yale and the Bones societies. I did struggle and not love the characters. Galaxy (Alex) was hard to like purposely, I think. I also felt like the book was written in blocks, so while the reader is getting to know what Galaxy's job as Dante and responsibilities are, the implied mysteries seemed forced on me for much of the book. However, when the story started moving, it cozied in and away we went. Solving the mysteries was finally part of the story, propelling everything forward, and not a separate thing from Alex, Darlington and the societies.

 I wanted more Darlington info. They slept together?! When?! How?! 

 As I wished for, the writing was fantastic. It's detailed, descriptive and successfully puts you in the scene with smells, substances, temperatures, etc. For me, this is key to a talented author- the 5 senses need to be evoked to draw the reader in on their adventure. Bardugo is a gifted writer. I'm glad I finished Ninth House, but will probably read other people's reviews for book 2 information to see if Alex can rescue Darlington.

Nora Robert's Identity

 Hello Dear Readers! 

I just finished reading Nora Roberts new standalone, Identity. This book took me on a wild adventure running away from and tracking a serial killer. It was so plausible for real life, it made everything that much more real and sucked me into the storyline following Morgan trying to cling on to her life after tragedy and then going with Morgan as she rebuilds her life. The reader gets to have glimpses of the serial killer's journey and nefarious actions. You just hate him more and more! 

I wanted to be with Morgan and her family (both work and personal), tasting her testing drinks for the bar, learning self defense, going on hikes, attending family dinners, shopping for art, and just supporting everyone. I also found myself making mental notes of things to be aware of in my person life, to think of things to help keep my identity and person safe. YIKES! 

This is a great new addition to my Nora Roberts library. I will divulge, if she has a new book out, I am going to have to read it. I have no will power. Good thing she is a long time reigning queen of the romantic suspense industry. 

The Berenstain Bears

 Hello Dear Readers! 

Today I am feeling a bit nostalgic and blessed. My work has been doing a 30 day emotional health challenge and one of todays prompts is to write down something I am grateful for. Today, I am grateful for my parents, for storage space and for the blessing of my kids actually both loving something I also loved. What am I talking about? Let me tell you. Growing up, we moved often with my dad's job. One of the constants I always had was my parents reading Berenstain Bear books to me at night, before tucking me in for adventures in the land of dream. We had quite the collection of Berenstain Bear books too! 

As I grew and switched to R.L. Stine and The Baby Sitters Club, all books that ended up in other peoples libraries, I had no idea that my mom had saved all our Berenstain Bear books for the future potential of grandchildren. When my first child was born, my parents brought the collection over to our house. I was so shocked and so excited! I couldn't believe with all our moves, this was one of the collections she had kept safe. When my daughter was old enough to enjoy and not destroy the books, I pulled out our first adventure down the sunny dirt road. My daughter loved it. A few years later, my son was born and unbelievably, he also loves them. 

We have continued to grow our collection of Berenstain Bear books and what's delightful is both kiddos can tell me when we find the books in the store, if we have that one already or not. I also love that we will go to a party or shopping or wherever, one of them might reference a book or moral or behavior correction from reading the books... especially when one of them gets the gimmies while shopping. 

Is there any books or series that you grew up loving you have been able to share and love all over again with your kids, cousins, nieces, nephews, whomever? 

Kate Morton's Homecoming

“Home is where the heart is, and the heart could be a dark and damaged place.” -Kate Morton

Homecoming brings current day secrets and past secrets colliding into a mystery of how the Turner family really died. The reader is cast into a small town in South Australia that takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s a story that starts with a shocking crime that leaves ripples and mysteries for decades to come. Morton does an amazing job leading the reader through the interviews, characters, and stories, casting shadows and theories at you until you get to the satisfying ending and all has been revealed. I will admit, I wasn’t sure until the very end that we would ever know the whole truth but rest assured, Morton doesn’t disappoint. 

On a personal note, I come from the West Coast in a location that has 4 seasons and usually months of snow, so thinking of Christmas time as hot weather was so crazy! 

I love Kate Morton’s stories and endeavor to read everything she writes: beautiful almost gothic settings, layered times in history for unfolding the story and mysteries set before us, & voices that suck you in as the joy of portable magic with words should.

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

Hello Dear Readers, 

I just finished reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. This book seemed to be everywhere I looked at books. I decided to follow the hype on it and try reading it. The Housemaid definitely tugged me in and sparked my curiosity. Pretty soon it started getting really frustrating and causing anxiety because of the characters actions. I decided to pause my reading and not take it with me for my vacation. I was worried I would be on the plane, angry at the book, and no one wants that. When I got back home (from an amazing vacation!!) the book, or rather the face in the keyhole, stared at me from my nightstand, taunting me to pick it back up and finish it. I was over halfway through the novel and it was pretty dang good as things finally started being revealed (although the cover does tell you there will be a twist so read on until you get twisty). I was glad I fell back into the story for some much needed character closure but I won't read the next book in the series. I would also caution there are potential triggers in this book so know your comfort zones beyond wanting to try out a mystery thriller novel being buzzed about. 

The Expanded World of Jane Austen

 Hello Dear Readers,

Today I wanted to spill the tea chatting about the world of Jane Austen novels. Austen novels are one of my oldest and most steadfast loves. Like with all our favorite authors, we poor readers are left in sad dry spells when we realize we have read all our beloved authors novels! For Diana Gabaldon fans this is known as “Droughtlander.” LOL!  Never fear fellow Austenite fans! Today, I want to share my top 6 favorite novels by authors who have either continued a Jane Austen novel or wrote fun (usually spicier) tales around Ms. Austen’s world. I love reading books reimagining the characters she wrote. The wit, wisdom, and romance of Jane Austen is eternal.

Becky Banks' The Clan MacLaoch Curse Series Books 1 & 2!

I spent an amazing weekend reading these lovelies: book 1 is The Legend of Lady MacLaoch and Book 2 is The Legend of the Viking. Want to go on vacation but can't? Have you been to Scotland and want to remember all the luscious memories? Romance fan? Craving adventure and figuring out how to break curses? BOOM! Magic awaits you within these pages... this series has it all. Get ready to fall in love. Plus, Ms. Banks has other books you can read while we wait for book 3!