THE MIDWIFE’S CONFESSION by Diane Chamberlain

Published by MIRA Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2986-2
At the request of Meryl L. Moss Media, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): Dear Anna,
  What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I’m so sorry…
  The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle’s suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle—her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—described a woman who embraced life.
  Yet there was so much they didn’t know.
  With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle’s friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives—and the life of a desperate stranger—with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I became a fan of this author after reading her novel, The Lies We Told, which I rated a 5/5. Because of such a high rating, I quite honestly was a bit leery if this book would be as good. Ms. Chamberlain did not disappoint. Another phenomenal read. The author with her creative writing style brings the characters to life and transports the reader into the story line. I truly felt the ambivalence of emotions that the characters were dealing with. The chapters alternate between the past and present of the characters’ lives. An engrossing read where secrets and lies can alter so many innocent lives ( vague due to not wanting to include spoilers). A page turning, must read book!! This story will stay with you long after you finish the last page. I will be anxiously awaiting and look forward to her next novel. I highly recommend!!

THE MIDWIFE’S CONFESSION by Diane Chamberlain

Published by MIRA Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2986-2
At the request of Meryl L. Moss Media, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): Dear Anna,
  What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I’m so sorry…
  The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle’s suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle—her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—described a woman who embraced life.
  Yet there was so much they didn’t know.
  With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle’s friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives—and the life of a desperate stranger—with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I became a fan of this author after reading her novel, The Lies We Told, which I rated a 5/5. Because of such a high rating, I quite honestly was a bit leery if this book would be as good. Ms. Chamberlain did not disappoint. Another phenomenal read. The author with her creative writing style brings the characters to life and transports the reader into the story line. I truly felt the ambivalence of emotions that the characters were dealing with. The chapters alternate between the past and present of the characters’ lives. An engrossing read where secrets and lies can alter so many innocent lives ( vague due to not wanting to include spoilers). A page turning, must read book!! This story will stay with you long after you finish the last page. I will be anxiously awaiting and look forward to her next novel. I highly recommend!!

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that I became a huge fan of this author when I read his first book Moonlight Falls back in May. Since that time, I have read his subsequent novels, The Remains, The Innocent and Godchild, and all have been exceptional. Before leaving to go on vacation, Mr. Zandri honored me by entrusting me to read and review a galley of his latest novel that will be out today.

CONCRETE PEARL by Vincent Zandri

  Synopsis: Ava “Spike” Harrison might be a beautiful, classically schooled woman, but the single, 38 year old construction business owner is also plenty ballsy. Her late father taught her long ago how to handle the rough boys in an industry that’s almost entirely filled with hard-boiled men on the make. But now, with “the business dad built” from the ground up failing due to an unusual series of job-site injuries and just plain bad luck, Spike has no choice but to take on one last project she believes can pull the fledgling commercial firm from the depths of almost certain bankruptcy and family shame: The Renovation of Albany PS 20.
  Problem is, Spike had no choice but to take the job on the cheap or, what’s known in the industry as, “at cost.” To make matters worse, she’s not only hired an asbestos removal contractor who, unbeknownst to her, low-balled his price, but she’s advanced him $10Gs from her own dwindling cash account as a “good faith” incentive to beat the project deadline.
  Now, when that same asbestos contractor goes missing and it’s discovered by OSHA officials that he’s cheated on the project exposing more than 300 students to deadly asbestos fibers for months, the ever responsible Spike takes matters into her own callused hands and goes in search of him. What she discovers along the way however, is a path paved with deception, greed, murder, and eventually, her own ultimate demise.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Another hole in one!!! Zandri, once again, proves that he is a master story teller. With this book, he lures you onto a Tower of Terror ride and buckles you in before you have the ability to get off. Brilliant!!! This is what I call a “transport” book, whereas I was so engrossed in the plot that I was unaware of my surroundings. Because of his superb writing style, both the characters and settings, I was able to create vivid visualizations in my mind. Gifted!! Ava “Spike” Harrison, the main character, was charismatic who fought on principals but also had to deal with emotions of loss (vague due to not wanting to include spoilers). Throughout the book she “wondered how a headstrong girl like me” would get into different situations, which made her a likeable character that had this reader rooting for her and hoping that there will be sequels. A nonstop read of twists and turns until the very last word!!!! And just when you think you are nearing the end of the ride, Mr Zandri catapults the reader to the top of the tower at break neck speed. Not wanting to include spoilers, all I could picture in my mind when this happened, was a theater full of people and everyone at the same time sits back in their seats and gasps, which is exactly what I did when I read it!! Zandri delivers another page turning, can’t put down novel!!!!! Fantastic!!!!

“Vincent Zandri is the No. 1 Internationally Bestselling Kindle E-Book author of THE REMAINS, THE INNOCENT, GODCHILD and MOONLIGHT FALLS. CONCRETE PEARL is his fifth thriller. A freelance photojournalist and foreign correspondent, he divides his time between New York and Florence, Italy.
For more information, please visit his website.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that I became a huge fan of this author when I read his first book Moonlight Falls back in May. Since that time, I have read his subsequent novels, The Remains, The Innocent and Godchild, and all have been exceptional. Before leaving to go on vacation, Mr. Zandri honored me by entrusting me to read and review a galley of his latest novel that will be out today.

CONCRETE PEARL by Vincent Zandri

  Synopsis: Ava “Spike” Harrison might be a beautiful, classically schooled woman, but the single, 38 year old construction business owner is also plenty ballsy. Her late father taught her long ago how to handle the rough boys in an industry that’s almost entirely filled with hard-boiled men on the make. But now, with “the business dad built” from the ground up failing due to an unusual series of job-site injuries and just plain bad luck, Spike has no choice but to take on one last project she believes can pull the fledgling commercial firm from the depths of almost certain bankruptcy and family shame: The Renovation of Albany PS 20.
  Problem is, Spike had no choice but to take the job on the cheap or, what’s known in the industry as, “at cost.” To make matters worse, she’s not only hired an asbestos removal contractor who, unbeknownst to her, low-balled his price, but she’s advanced him $10Gs from her own dwindling cash account as a “good faith” incentive to beat the project deadline.
  Now, when that same asbestos contractor goes missing and it’s discovered by OSHA officials that he’s cheated on the project exposing more than 300 students to deadly asbestos fibers for months, the ever responsible Spike takes matters into her own callused hands and goes in search of him. What she discovers along the way however, is a path paved with deception, greed, murder, and eventually, her own ultimate demise.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Another hole in one!!! Zandri, once again, proves that he is a master story teller. With this book, he lures you onto a Tower of Terror ride and buckles you in before you have the ability to get off. Brilliant!!! This is what I call a “transport” book, whereas I was so engrossed in the plot that I was unaware of my surroundings. Because of his superb writing style, both the characters and settings, I was able to create vivid visualizations in my mind. Gifted!! Ava “Spike” Harrison, the main character, was charismatic who fought on principals but also had to deal with emotions of loss (vague due to not wanting to include spoilers). Throughout the book she “wondered how a headstrong girl like me” would get into different situations, which made her a likeable character that had this reader rooting for her and hoping that there will be sequels. A nonstop read of twists and turns until the very last word!!!! And just when you think you are nearing the end of the ride, Mr Zandri catapults the reader to the top of the tower at break neck speed. Not wanting to include spoilers, all I could picture in my mind when this happened, was a theater full of people and everyone at the same time sits back in their seats and gasps, which is exactly what I did when I read it!! Zandri delivers another page turning, can’t put down novel!!!!! Fantastic!!!!

“Vincent Zandri is the No. 1 Internationally Bestselling Kindle E-Book author of THE REMAINS, THE INNOCENT, GODCHILD and MOONLIGHT FALLS. CONCRETE PEARL is his fifth thriller. A freelance photojournalist and foreign correspondent, he divides his time between New York and Florence, Italy.
For more information, please visit his website.

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION by Marcia Clark

ISBN: 9780316186353
I received an ARC-EBook Bound galley Edition from NetGalley, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from NetGalley): Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city’s most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.
  But she can’t stop herself from digging deeper into Jake’s death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation–and her life–to find the truth.
  With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: After reading the synopsis, the vast reviews and yes, being one of the millions, glued to the infamous TV trial of the century, my curiosity was piqued as to Ms. Clark’s debut novel. I was a bit leery, however, that it would be filled with a lot of legal jargon but after reading a few chapters I knew that wouldn’t be the case (no pun intended). The suspense pulled me in within the first few pages. I immediately liked the strong willed main character Rachel Knight. The writing style flowed and it kept my interest for the entire read. The author created a story line that wove a cast of characters and 2 separate crimes together to the end, keeping the reader guessing to the last page. However, I felt that there was more “detective” work by the main character than her role as a D.A., not much in the way of a “legal” storyline. As I said, the book held my interest, but I wouldn’t say it was a page turner, can’t put down read. I also thought, and this is my opinion only, that there was too much “filler” of where and what the characters ate and drank. I expected, and again this is only my opinion, more substance.

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION by Marcia Clark

ISBN: 9780316186353
I received an ARC-EBook Bound galley Edition from NetGalley, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from NetGalley): Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city’s most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.
  But she can’t stop herself from digging deeper into Jake’s death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation–and her life–to find the truth.
  With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: After reading the synopsis, the vast reviews and yes, being one of the millions, glued to the infamous TV trial of the century, my curiosity was piqued as to Ms. Clark’s debut novel. I was a bit leery, however, that it would be filled with a lot of legal jargon but after reading a few chapters I knew that wouldn’t be the case (no pun intended). The suspense pulled me in within the first few pages. I immediately liked the strong willed main character Rachel Knight. The writing style flowed and it kept my interest for the entire read. The author created a story line that wove a cast of characters and 2 separate crimes together to the end, keeping the reader guessing to the last page. However, I felt that there was more “detective” work by the main character than her role as a D.A., not much in the way of a “legal” storyline. As I said, the book held my interest, but I wouldn’t say it was a page turner, can’t put down read. I also thought, and this is my opinion only, that there was too much “filler” of where and what the characters ate and drank. I expected, and again this is only my opinion, more substance.

BLOOD OF MY BROTHER by James LePore

Published by The Story Plant

ISBN-13: 978-0-9819568-8-6
At the request of The Story Plant, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): “When Jay Cassio’s best friend is murdered in a job clearly done by professionals, the walls that he has built to protect himself from the world of others begin to shatter. Dan Del Colliano had been his confidante and protector since the men were children on the savage streets of Newark, New Jersey. When Dan supports and revives Jay after Jay’s parents die in a plane crash, their bond deepens to something beyond brotherhood, beyond blood. Now Jay, a successful lawyer, must find out why Dan died and find a way to seek justice for his murder.
  Isabel Perez has lived a life both tainted and charmed since she was a teenager in Mexico. She holds powerful sway over men and has even more powerful alliances with people no one should ever try to cross. She desperately wants her freedom from the chains these people have placed on her. When Jay catapults into her world, their connection is electric, their alliance is lethal, and their future is anything but certain.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I was a bit skeptical when I picked up this book to read for a couple of reasons, one being this was my introduction to this author, never having read any of his work and the fact that this book was part of a “Tristate Triology” and not reading the first book of the series, would I be able to give this author justice, if I wasn’t able to follow the story line out of sequence(I do have his latest one, Sons and Princes, also on my requested review shelf). I was proven wrong after reading the prologue, I was hooked. The plot started when the main character, Jay, and his best friend Dan were children in 1967. A story of true friendship, loyalty, betrayal, “street justice”, corruption, murder, trust, love and much more. The cast of characters is quite long and at times, I would have to go back in the book to try and find them to see what their roles were. The beginning of the book hooked me, the middle of the book was a bit confusing, and the end of the book was action packed and page turning with some surprises. And as far as the triology, this book can be read as a “stand alone” novel. I look forward to reading Sons and Princes.

BLOOD OF MY BROTHER by James LePore

Published by The Story Plant

ISBN-13: 978-0-9819568-8-6
At the request of The Story Plant, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): “When Jay Cassio’s best friend is murdered in a job clearly done by professionals, the walls that he has built to protect himself from the world of others begin to shatter. Dan Del Colliano had been his confidante and protector since the men were children on the savage streets of Newark, New Jersey. When Dan supports and revives Jay after Jay’s parents die in a plane crash, their bond deepens to something beyond brotherhood, beyond blood. Now Jay, a successful lawyer, must find out why Dan died and find a way to seek justice for his murder.
  Isabel Perez has lived a life both tainted and charmed since she was a teenager in Mexico. She holds powerful sway over men and has even more powerful alliances with people no one should ever try to cross. She desperately wants her freedom from the chains these people have placed on her. When Jay catapults into her world, their connection is electric, their alliance is lethal, and their future is anything but certain.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I was a bit skeptical when I picked up this book to read for a couple of reasons, one being this was my introduction to this author, never having read any of his work and the fact that this book was part of a “Tristate Triology” and not reading the first book of the series, would I be able to give this author justice, if I wasn’t able to follow the story line out of sequence(I do have his latest one, Sons and Princes, also on my requested review shelf). I was proven wrong after reading the prologue, I was hooked. The plot started when the main character, Jay, and his best friend Dan were children in 1967. A story of true friendship, loyalty, betrayal, “street justice”, corruption, murder, trust, love and much more. The cast of characters is quite long and at times, I would have to go back in the book to try and find them to see what their roles were. The beginning of the book hooked me, the middle of the book was a bit confusing, and the end of the book was action packed and page turning with some surprises. And as far as the triology, this book can be read as a “stand alone” novel. I look forward to reading Sons and Princes.