WHEN NEVER COMES by Barbara Davis
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Published by Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN-10: 1503950174
ISBN-13: 978-1503950177
Pages: 352
Review Copy From: Author
Edition: TPB
My Rating: 5+

Author Barbara Davis deftly explores an emotionally charged landscape of pain, loss, and despair—and the risk one woman will take in the hope of loving again.

As a teenage runaway and child of an addict, Christy-Lynn learned the hard way that no address was permanent, and no promise sacred. For a while, she found a safe haven in her marriage to bestselling crime novelist Stephen Ludlow—until his car skidded into Echo Bay. But Stephen’s wasn’t the only body pulled from the icy waters that night. When details about a mysterious violet-eyed blonde become public, a media circus ensues, and Christy-Lynn runs again.

Desperate for answers, she’s shattered to learn that Stephen and his mistress had a child—a little girl named Iris, who now lives in poverty with her ailing great-grandmother. The thought of Iris abandoned to the foster care system—as Christy-Lynn once was—is unbearable. But she’s spent her whole life running—determined never to be hurt again. Will she finally stand still long enough to open herself up to forgiveness and love?

This is the first book by this writer that I have read and she is now on my “authors to read” list.

I honestly don’t know where to start because this book blew me away. I don’t want to give anything away so I say ditto to the synopsis.

Even though I figured out how this book would end, it’s the journey to that point, that the author takes the reader on with her written words that cut me to my core and filled my heart and soul.

I read this book within 24 hours because I literally could not put it down. It is what I call a book that transports the reader into the story, being so engrossed and feeling that I was a bystander in Sweetwater, VA.

The characters felt like my friends. I could feel their emotions of betrayal, despair, excitement, grief, guilt, happiness, the bonds of friendship, love, and the complexity of their thoughts.

Sweetwater, a small and quaint town, reminded me of a town that I lived in for 4 years and was my 2nd home, especially with the scenes about the 4th of July traditions.

There were a few passages that hit me hard:

pg. 215 Never is all the doors we keep shut. It’s the things we won’t let ourselves have or be because we don’t think we’re good enough or strong enough for more.

pg. 219 …there are places in our minds where we lock up all the things we don’t want to remember…filled with all the stuff we don’t want anyone, including ourselves, to see and then one day something yanks these doors open.

A raw, emotional, realistic, and compelling read! Poignant and impassioned! A dynamic and powerful message. An intense story that will stay with me to my dying day!

Warning: you will need a box of tissues for both the happy and sad tears!

I can’t stress enough how much this book touched me. I highly recommend!

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

• This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book was obtained, and will continue to do so, even if it is through PICT or PBP.
• 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.
• I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND by Michele Campbell
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published by St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
ISBN-10: 1250081807
ISBN-13: 978-1250081803
Pages: 336
Review Copy From: St. Martin’s Press
Edition: HC
My Rating: 5

Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump.

How did things come to this?

As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?

There is a fine line between love and hate.

Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny have been friends since their freshman year at college. All three girls come with pasts that have shaped them, but despite the differences, they become inseparable. And then a horrific incident, the death of another student, which they all witnessed will test their friendship. Do they protect the truth or be honest with what they saw?

Twenty years later, the truth of that fateful night still haunts them. Then one of them loses her life at the same exact location. Was it suicide or murder? Who has the most to lose if the truth comes out from 20 years ago?

The police are convinced that the husband had a hand in his wife’s death, but the other 2 ladies know and believe that Griff could never harm his wife. He has loved her since their freshman year.

A twisted and gripping story that had me turning the pages. I thought I had it figured out but the ending was jaw dropping. An intense read!

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

Mailbox Monday

Tuesday:
LITTLE GIRL GONE by Stephen Edger ~ eBook from Harper Collins via NetGalley
THE LIAR’S WIFE by Samantha Hayes ~ eBook from Bookouture via NetGalley
BELOW THE FOLD by R.G. Belsky ~ ARC from Oceanview Publishing
Wednesday:
THE PERFECT LIAR by Thomas Christopher Greene ~ eBook from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley
Thursday:
GIRLS NIGHT OUTby Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke ~ PB from Lake Union Publishing via Amazon

1. I can’t wait to have _______________________ on Thanksgiving ( if not in the USA, substitute your next holiday).

2. I am thankful for ____________________________-.

3. When it comes to pie, _________.

4. A feast is not a feast without _________.

1. I can’t wait to have dessert on Thanksgiving.

2. I am thankful for my family.

3. When it comes to pie, apple and blueberry are my favorites.

4. A feast is not a feast without family and friends.

Mailbox Monday

Monday:
WHEN NEVER COMES by Barbara Davis ~ signed TPB with swag from Author
Tuesday:
THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER by Kaira Rouda ~ Harlequin via NetGalley
Wednesday:
25 TO LIFE by John Lansing ~ 1st draft for beta reading from Author
Thursday:
THE COLLECTOR by Fiona Cummins ~ from Kensington via GR win
Saturday:
DEAD IN A WEEK by Andrea Kane ~ Signed ARC from Author
A FATAL OBSESSION by James Hayman ~ TPB from Harper Collins/Witness Impulse