Book Review and GIVEAWAY: The Den, by Cara Reinard {ends 1/1/23}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

On her drive home, Valerie phoned Luke. The flutters that erupted in her chest when her fingers scrolled over his number were annoying. Get it together.

“Hey, I was just going to call you,” he said, his voice gruff.

“Good. I was thinking we should probably get security for Father’s hospital room.” She remembered that she really needed to stop and see her mother soon. She wasn’t even sure if Mother knew about Christian’s accident yet. She should text Marian and find out. Lucy’s accusations about Mother revealing the changes in the trust early had rattled Valerie.

Who else could Mother have told? Valerie had known about the trust for a while, but back then it’d seemed insignificant because both of her parents had been relatively healthy, and in the old disclaimer, the children could collect on it only after both parents had passed. Even though she’d been the only one who usually visited Mother, the others could have stopped by to see her too.

The Fox siblings weren’t what anyone would call close to each other, but the time has come to find out if they actually hate each other enough to kill for a bigger inheritance.

Official synopsis:

Nothing brings the four Fox siblings together like their detestable father’s heart attack—and a hefty inheritance to be divided equally. At his deathbed is his oldest daughter, Valerie; her irresponsible sister, Lucy; and their two embattled brothers, Christian and Jeremy. Even the former housekeeper, Marian, who’s been with the family for forty years, is on watch. All Valerie hopes for is an amicable reunion, despite the damages of the past.

By punishing means, Stefan Fox raised his children to be competitors. The cruel lessons now serve them well in a game of life and death. When it comes to the family fortune, the rules are simple: fewer siblings means a bigger share.

After a suspicious accident, Valerie knows the worst is yet to come—and confiding in the wrong person could be the most dangerous thing she’s ever done.

 

The book opens with someone being dragged, already beaten and bloodied, through the woods. Before the reader finds out who it might be, the author flashes back to the family home, where all four siblings have reunited with their parents—and all of the family business’s clients. None of the siblings seem happy to be there, but they all accept it as one of the responsibilities in the wealthy family to which they belong.

 

The catastrophes follow quickly—a heart attack, a car accident, and then suspicions of murder! An announcement at the attorney’s office of a new distribution of the family wealth in case the patriarch dies has everyone looking over their shoulder and wondering who the next victim might be.

 

The story moved quickly with lots of unexpected twists before the end. The book deserved 4 out of 5 stars as a thrilling family drama. It could be recommended to those who enjoy rich family stories with mysteries and complicated relationships and histories.

{click here to purchase—currently free for Kindle Unlimited users!}

 

Becki Bayley enjoys reading, making plans, and spreading kindness. She tries to remember to post a few photos of life on Instagram as PoshBecki.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my lucky readers will win a copy of The Den!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Sunday, January 1, 2023, at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be notified via email the next day, and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

The Den, by Cara Reinard

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: The Great Tree, by Able Barrett {ends 12/28}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

Just as the sun was setting, Nicholas could see the outline of the Great Tree in the distance. He began to remember the nightmare he had been having since he was a young boy. It made him sad and angry, even without the knowledge of what was happening to Andrew inside the castle.

When he reached the castle, he parked the carriage and quickly entered the castle with the Great Black Wolf. He heard Andrew’s voice in the great hall.

Nicholas entered the great hall, worried about what he was going to find.

Andrew is in search of his brother Nicholas, who was taken when they were just young boys. He may not succeed, but he had to try to fulfill their mother’s dying wish.

Official synopsis:

A young man, Andrew and his older brother Nicholas were separated long ago. Andrew is now trying to find Nicholas even against his mother's wishes driven by her fears of what he will face in his quest. Andrew wants to tell Nicholas their mother is dying and he must see her one last time before she passes. Andrew and his dog Jenny begin a journey or even a better word would be crusade, which takes them well beyond their wildest imagination into the world of danger, evil protectors, giant wolves, dark magic, Sorcerers, Goblins, and the Prince of Darkness himself all centered around an enormous tree. This is story that blends the magic of how Christmas evolved for eternity. It is a story for the whole family including children, young people and adults of all ages will enjoy this fable in the same way we all have enjoyed other great Christmas stories of the past, but this is a thrilling and exciting story to how Christmas came to be today!

Andrew has been traveling for a while when he comes across a town with a view of the Great Tree and frightening evil sorcerer’s castle. He quickly makes friends with a young brother and sister who lead him to a room for the night, to rest for the final leg of his journey.

It doesn’t take long before Andrew is on the right path to finding the brother he has missed for most of his life. But there are still more battles for good to triumph over evil, happily-ever-after to win, and several Christmas traditions to be explained.

Overall, this story was a quick read, good for most ages. The story was 3 out of 5 stars, with likable characters and a satisfying ending. 

{click here to purchase}

Becki Bayley is a wife and mother of two. When she’s not reading, she enjoys taking care of her family, cuddling with her cats, and indulging in chips and dip. Check out the photos she posts on Instagram as PoshBecki.

GIVEAWAY:

*Five* of my lucky readers will win a copy of The Great Tree!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Thursday, December 28th, at 11:59pm EST, and winners will be notified via email on December 29th, and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner(s) will be chosen.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

The Great Tree, by Able Barrett

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: Island Time, by Georgia Clark {ends 12/22}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

The first thing Jules had been focused on missing while stranded on Mun’dai was Matty’s first IUI appointment. The second was her own birthday, the coming Friday. She’d be turning sixty-one on Mun’dai, which, all things considered, wasn’t a bad place to celebrate another trip around the sun. 

“It’ll be a full moon on Friday,” Ludmila remarked. “And high tide at just after seven p.m.”

Mildly confused as to why Ludmilla knew the tide times for a date days away, Jules asked what she meant.

Ludmilla looked at her like she was a bit slow. “Maybe a good night for a party?”

A party! A moonlit swim, dinner outside, firepit at the Barefoot Bar. It’d be nice to do something as a family, considering the last time they did was the infamous ballroom-dancing-dentist Games Night.

A tropical vacation sounds fabulous, but six weeks on a tropical island might not be as glorious as it sounds if it isn’t the trip you planned. 

Official synopsis:

The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.

With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.

Amelia is hoping that her superior organization of this trip, and the fabulous man who will be joining her, will bring her to the spotlight as an important adult family member. She thinks that she has left nothing to chance, but the trip is soon nothing but chance! With most of the group living in the one guest house left standing, she may be destined to be the kid on the couch yet again. 

Matty and Parker are using this little vacation as a stop over between the years they’ve lived in New York, to their new life and parenthood in Sydney. Nothing may ever be the same again, but are they both sure that’s what they want? While it would have been easy to overlook the parents of the girls, the author gave them their own individual and relationship trials, and the story could have gone so many different ways!

Overall, the rich characterization of the unexpected island dwellers made them all likable and frustrating in turn. The book earned 4 out of 5 stars and would be recommended for those who like vacation stories, family drama, and love relationships at all their stages. 

{click here to purchase - currently free for Kindle Unlimited members!}

Becki Bayley is a Tina Turner fan who enjoys snack foods, bubbly drinks, and reading while cozy under her weighted blanket. Find out more of what she reads at her blog, SweetlyBSquared.com.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my lucky readers will win a copy of Island Time!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Thursday, December 22nd, at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be emailed the next day and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

Island Time, by Georgia Clark