Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy
Published by The Penguin Group
ISBN: 978-0-425-23521-8
At the request of Kaye Publicity, a PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book):  Everyone wants a piece of millionaire Bennett Marshfield, owner of Marshfield Manor, and letters are coming in daily from those claiming to be poor relations. The elderly, reclusive heir trusts no one but his aged curator, Abe. But when Abe is killed in a case of mistaken identity, the tide changes…
  Although shaken by the murder, Grace Wheaton, whose lifelong dream has been to work at the manor, steps up to the challenge of assuming Abe’s job. But now some of the letters arriving for Bennett have taken a nasty turn, demanding millions-or else. When an uninvited stalker shows up at the manor and at Grace’s home, she and handsome grounds-keeper Jack Embers must protect their dear old Marshfield. But to do this, they’ll have to investigate a botched Ponzi scheme, some torrid Wheaton family secrets-and sour grapes out for revenge.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: This is the first book of Ms. Hyzy’s Manor House Mystery series and the first book that I read by this author. I thought that this would be a cozy mystery and that I would probably figure out the “who did it” person relatively early. But I was wrong on both accounts. From the first chapter, where assistant curator, Grace Wheaton, handles a disturbance that takes place in the Bird Cage Tea Room, while a murder takes place in the private living quarters. To the last chapters where the “who did it” person was revealed, flowed so smoothly but with a page turning suspenseful plot. Grace takes control, jumping into the head curator’s position and also trying to assist the small town police department in the hunt for a murderer. Ms. Hyzy introduces a cast of characters with quirky behaviors, which any one of them could be the murderer, but was surprised as to who it was. Along the way she also discovers secret passageways, a Ponzi scheme, which the owner of Marshfield Manor is involved in, in some way and even some very personal family secrets. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading Grace Under Pressure and will look forward to the next book in this series. Ms Julie Hyzy was “Guest Author” on this blog on July 14th.

Sidney Sheldons’s Mistress Of The Game by Tilly Bagshawe
Published by Harper Collins
ISBN 978-0-06-172839-6
At the request of Bestsellersworld, a PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Review format at the request of Bestsellersworld.

Matriarch, Kate Blackwell owner of Kruger-Brent, LTD an international multi billion dollar company, has died. Family members gather and attend the funeral but most of them are not in mourning, they are happy that she is no longer alive. And those members of this family have only one thought and that is who will be taking over as CEO of the company. In her will she named Alexandra, her granddaughter, to be her successor but Eve, Alexandra’s twin will fight to take over even though Kate was adamant that she have nothing to do with Kruger-Brent. Eve plans to change that.

Fortunately for Eve, her twin dies during childbirth, and thus starts the fight for control. She feels that “her” company was stolen from her, since Alexandra’s children are next in line according to the will. Eve, once a beautiful woman, lives as a recluse because her plastic surgeon husband, Keith Webster, has taken her beauty away, during a procedure knowing this is the only way he can be sure she won’t leave him. Eve, a very bitter and vengeful person, grooms her son for the takeover even if it means murder.

The Blackwell family are like royalty, one of the richest families that there is but along with those riches come unthinkable terror. Lexi Templeton, daughter of Alexandra who died during childbirth, is kidnapped at the age of eight (8). Lexi is rescued but the horror she endured molds her life.

This is a story of the Blackwell great grandchildren, the rich and famous, and fighting for control to become the next CEO. Along with the lavish lifestyle, this is a family of secrets, lies, betrayals, treachery, devious plotting and murder. Who will win? Who will take control? There is only one winner!!!

Sidney Sheldons’s Mistress Of The Game by Tilly Bagshawe
Published by Harper Collins
ISBN 978-0-06-172839-6
At the request of Bestsellersworld, a PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Review format at the request of Bestsellersworld.

Matriarch, Kate Blackwell owner of Kruger-Brent, LTD an international multi billion dollar company, has died. Family members gather and attend the funeral but most of them are not in mourning, they are happy that she is no longer alive. And those members of this family have only one thought and that is who will be taking over as CEO of the company. In her will she named Alexandra, her granddaughter, to be her successor but Eve, Alexandra’s twin will fight to take over even though Kate was adamant that she have nothing to do with Kruger-Brent. Eve plans to change that.

Fortunately for Eve, her twin dies during childbirth, and thus starts the fight for control. She feels that “her” company was stolen from her, since Alexandra’s children are next in line according to the will. Eve, once a beautiful woman, lives as a recluse because her plastic surgeon husband, Keith Webster, has taken her beauty away, during a procedure knowing this is the only way he can be sure she won’t leave him. Eve, a very bitter and vengeful person, grooms her son for the takeover even if it means murder.

The Blackwell family are like royalty, one of the richest families that there is but along with those riches come unthinkable terror. Lexi Templeton, daughter of Alexandra who died during childbirth, is kidnapped at the age of eight (8). Lexi is rescued but the horror she endured molds her life.

This is a story of the Blackwell great grandchildren, the rich and famous, and fighting for control to become the next CEO. Along with the lavish lifestyle, this is a family of secrets, lies, betrayals, treachery, devious plotting and murder. Who will win? Who will take control? There is only one winner!!!

Damaged by Pamela Callow
Published by Mira Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2750-9
At the request of Meryl Moss Media, The Book Trib, a PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): How far are you wiling to go to forget your past? Haunted by the death of her sister and wounded by her ex-fiance’s accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm.
  When grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it’s just another custody case. But then the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn’t only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl’s death.
  How far are you willing to go to redeem yourself? Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm’s charismatic managing partner, Kate must fight for her career for her reputation-and for redemption.
  Unwilling to live with the damage she may have caused, Kate pursues the case on her own and unearths some chilling facts.
  Facts that lead straight to the heart of a legal conspiracy.
  Facts that lead Kate directly into the surgically skilled hands of the Body Butcher.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Once again I am amazed. This is the 4th book that I read this year, as an author’s debut book, that blew me away. I was pulled in by the time I finished the first chapter to the very last page. This 453 page novel had all the elements and writing style of a seasoned author. Many twists and turns at a fast pace. It could be described as both a legal thriller and medical mystery page turning read. It is hard to explain some aspects of this book without giving away spoilers. However, what I will do, is highly recommend this book especially if you love legal/medical thrillers, because this book has it all.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

Damaged by Pamela Callow
Published by Mira Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2750-9
At the request of Meryl Moss Media, The Book Trib, a PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): How far are you wiling to go to forget your past? Haunted by the death of her sister and wounded by her ex-fiance’s accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm.
  When grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it’s just another custody case. But then the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn’t only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl’s death.
  How far are you willing to go to redeem yourself? Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm’s charismatic managing partner, Kate must fight for her career for her reputation-and for redemption.
  Unwilling to live with the damage she may have caused, Kate pursues the case on her own and unearths some chilling facts.
  Facts that lead straight to the heart of a legal conspiracy.
  Facts that lead Kate directly into the surgically skilled hands of the Body Butcher.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Once again I am amazed. This is the 4th book that I read this year, as an author’s debut book, that blew me away. I was pulled in by the time I finished the first chapter to the very last page. This 453 page novel had all the elements and writing style of a seasoned author. Many twists and turns at a fast pace. It could be described as both a legal thriller and medical mystery page turning read. It is hard to explain some aspects of this book without giving away spoilers. However, what I will do, is highly recommend this book especially if you love legal/medical thrillers, because this book has it all.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

Through Hazel Eyes by Heather Hummel
Published by PathBinder Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 0-9776232-8-9
At the request of the author, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (from back of book): Through Hazel Eyes is a journey of life as seen through the eyes of Madison Ragnar, a high school English teacher who is struggling to recover from an emotionally abusive relationship. Madison’s speckled view of the world is seen through her troubled students, a fellow teacher, an intriguing man who enters her life, and a haunting past. Yet everything comes into focus when she learns to trust in herself for the first time in thirty years.
Madison discovers that the most commanding role played throughout out lives is fate. There are times when we embrace it, times when we curse it, and always times when we are blinded by it. As a result of blinding fate, Madison’s past catches up to her, and with the help of her students, she learns what a mockingbird is worthier than a diamond ring.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: One of my criteria as to if I think a book is good is when I can be transported into the story line and vividly imagine the characters, sense their emotions and can picture the setting through the descriptive words written by the author. And that happened when reading this book. I could sense Madison’s fear as she escaped from her boyfriend to start a job many states away. Her anxiety when she was always thinking he would find her. Her trepidation of starting a new relationship. Picturing her in her classroom teaching her students who she so much cared about. And the lessons she learned from her students as their young minds interpreted the classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. However, and this is my opinion only, I was a little disappointed that some parts of the storyline were not more extensive and detailed than it was. Some that I will not state, due to spoilers, but one example is her relationship with Michael, someone, who at one time, she thought was a stalker. Overall it was a likeable read.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

Through Hazel Eyes by Heather Hummel
Published by PathBinder Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 0-9776232-8-9
At the request of the author, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (from back of book): Through Hazel Eyes is a journey of life as seen through the eyes of Madison Ragnar, a high school English teacher who is struggling to recover from an emotionally abusive relationship. Madison’s speckled view of the world is seen through her troubled students, a fellow teacher, an intriguing man who enters her life, and a haunting past. Yet everything comes into focus when she learns to trust in herself for the first time in thirty years.
Madison discovers that the most commanding role played throughout out lives is fate. There are times when we embrace it, times when we curse it, and always times when we are blinded by it. As a result of blinding fate, Madison’s past catches up to her, and with the help of her students, she learns what a mockingbird is worthier than a diamond ring.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: One of my criteria as to if I think a book is good is when I can be transported into the story line and vividly imagine the characters, sense their emotions and can picture the setting through the descriptive words written by the author. And that happened when reading this book. I could sense Madison’s fear as she escaped from her boyfriend to start a job many states away. Her anxiety when she was always thinking he would find her. Her trepidation of starting a new relationship. Picturing her in her classroom teaching her students who she so much cared about. And the lessons she learned from her students as their young minds interpreted the classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. However, and this is my opinion only, I was a little disappointed that some parts of the storyline were not more extensive and detailed than it was. Some that I will not state, due to spoilers, but one example is her relationship with Michael, someone, who at one time, she thought was a stalker. Overall it was a likeable read.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

Finding Marco by Kenneth C. Cancellara
Published by Synergy Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-9842358-6-5
ISBN-10: 0-9842358-6-8
At the request of Phenix & Phenix Publishing, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from book jacket): As a young boy running through the mountain valleys of Italy, Mark Gentile dreams of success-the kind of success that happens in a boardroom, far away from the country life. So after graduating from a prestigious Canadian law school, Mark quickly climbs the corporate and legal ladder eventually becoming CEO of a leading North American auto manufacturer.
  But after butting heads with company leaders, Mark fears he has compromised his ethics and decides to resign to determine the next phrase in his life. With his wife’s blessing, Mark returns to Acerenza, his birthplace in southern Italy. In the small village, he seeks out his childhood friends, spends time among the grapevines at his family’s vineyard, and recalls his mischievous adventures as a young boy named “Marco”. While enjoying the leisurely pace of the new life he’s found in his old home, however, Mark must make a decision” Should he abandon his roots for a second time and satisfy his innate hunger for the struggles and rewards of corporate life? Or should he embrace his native land and create a more balanced life for himself and his family?
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I accepted this book for review thinking that being of Italian heritage and having vacationed in Italy years ago that I would thoroughly enjoy this plot. From when I started accepting books for reviews, I set my threshold at a minimum of 100 pages to read to determine if a book pulled me in. Unfortunately, that was not the case and I quickly saw that this book was not a good match for me. This is my opinion, and only my opinion, but I found that the first 100 pages of the story line seemed to drag and had a very dry writing style. Therefore, I had to put this novel aside.