The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietz – Review

February 18, 2020 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

About the Book

A Blizzard Changes Everything

Abigail Bracey arrives in Nebraska in January 1888 to teach school…and to execute a task for the government: to identify a student as the hidden son of a murderous counterfeiter—the man who killed her father.

Agent Dashiell Lassiter doesn’t want his childhood sweetheart Abby on this dangerous job, especially when he learns the counterfeiter is now searching for his son, too, and he’ll destroy anyone in his way. Now Dash must follow Abby to Nebraska to protect her…if she’ll let him within two feet of her. She’s still angry he didn’t fight to marry her six years ago, and he never told her the real reason he left her.

All Dash wants is to protect Abby, but when a horrifying blizzard sweeps over them, can Abby and Dash set aside the pain from their pasts and work together to catch a counterfeiter and protect his son—if they survive the storm?

Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green – Review

February 17, 2020 by Suzie Waltner 2 Comments

About the Book

Meg and Sylvie Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their father, Stephen, a veteran still suffering in mind and spirit from his time as a POW during the Civil War. But when the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago’s business district, they lose much more than just their store.

The sisters become separated from their father and make a harrowing escape from the flames with the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce. Once the smoke clears away, they reunite with Stephen, only to learn soon after that their family friend was murdered on the night of the fire. Even more shocking, Stephen is charged with the crime and committed to the Cook County Insane Asylum.

Though homeless and suddenly unemployed, Meg must not only gather the pieces of her shattered life, but prove her father’s innocence before the asylum truly drives him mad.

Crosscheck by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly, & Sophia Summers – Review

February 16, 2020 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

About the Book

He’s a hard hitter, she’s a straight shooter. Can they stop the sparks from flying? Do they want to?

Zane Winchester is a beast on the ice, known for racking up penalties and delivering hard blows. No one would suspect the complicated nature of his personal life, or just what it entailed. And no one, not even him, would have suspected what one unexpected encounter with a remarkable woman would do to his life.

Mara Matthews is a regular woman with a regular job and a regular life. Then she meets the father of one of her little students, and regular becomes the last word to describe her life. Zane is intense, funny, charming, and drop dead gorgeous; he shouldn’t pay any attention to someone like her. But Zane isn’t giving up, and Mara doesn’t want him to.

Welcome to Northbrook Hockey Elite!

Six professional hockey players used to play on an elite club team together, but have all separated and now play in the pro-hockey leagues. Not all of them were friends, yet circumstances bring them together, and for the greater good, maybe they can put aside their differences.

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Week in Review 2/9/20 – 2/14/20 & a Giveaway

February 15, 2020 by Suzie Waltner 21 Comments

Happy weekend reader friends! I am finally back on my schedule after a week away visiting my family and a few friends (just in time for the long weekend to throw my back off).

Even though I was away, there was a ton happening in the bookish community, and I don’t want you to miss any of it.

*Click on any image to be taken to that review/giveaway post.

Book Reviews, Spotlights & More

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

February 14, 2020 by Suzie Waltner 3 Comments

About the Book

Book: The Fifth Avenue Story Society
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Women’s Fiction
Release Date: February 4, 2020

An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bear their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

Get your copy of the book here.

In My Opinion

I’ve enjoyed any book written by Rachel Hauck, but with The Fifth Avenue Story Society, she exceeded all of my expectations.

From the ensemble cast (I can’t imagine the work of plotting and organization that went into each of these five people’s stories that made them so real) to the references to Hauck’s previous books (both specifically with The Writing Desk and generally with allusions to the Royal Weddings series), Hauck delivers a novel filled with a little bit of everything. Romance, lost love, mystery, family, and much more are all in there.

In fact, I can’t even choose a favorite character from this one because they are so well developed. Even though they have different backgrounds and stories, this group somehow goes together. As they get to know each other and open up to share their pain, challenges, fears, regrets, and dreams with each other week to week, they form life-changing and lasting friendships.

This book has earned a permanent place on my re-read shelf.

My Rating:

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

About the Author

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Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt here

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To read more reviews, visit The Fifth Avenue Story Society tour landing page.