Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon – a Review

Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon – a Review

 

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Description:
Her husband’s cheating on her. She hates Boca. Sylvia is mad and she isn’t going to take it anymore. She’s moving back north, to the city of her dreams—with her best friend, Evie, in tow. Think a screwball comedy featuring a sophisticated Thelma and Louise with martinis in hand . . .

When sixty-three-year-old Sylvia finds her husband in bed with the floozy of their Boca retirement community, she’s shocked and furious . . . at first. By the time her head stops spinning, Sylvia realizes that actually, this isn’t what she wants anymore anyway.

So she enlists her best friend, the glamorous older widow Evie, to join her in setting up a new life in Manhattan. Sylvia’s ex-husband may have lost her life savings, but Sylvia and Evie are scrappy and determined, unopposed to pawning jewelry and roughing it in tiny apartments. And before long, Sylvia signs on to revive her decades-old wedding planning business with a former professional rival. Sylvia has a lot to prove, and beneath it all, she can’t help but Will she ever be able to get back into the dating game?

Sylvia doesn’t want to be twenty-five or thirty again. Her age gives her wisdom, experience, and perspective. A career, sex, fun, and a new romance—her entire second act is stretched out in front of her, beckoning to her. It’s her time, and watch out, world, Sylvia is coming!

 

 

Review:

Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon is a standalone humorous novel that was a fun read. The story starts off when meet Sylvia, our heroine, who walks in on her husband having sex with a neighbor.  Sylvia hasn’t been happy for a while, and when her husband tells her they lost her life savings, due to bad investment; Sylvia decides to leave her husband, and start off at a second chance at life.  Sylvia is 63 years old, and convinces her bff, Evie (widow in her 70’s) to move to New York, in hope to work again as a wedding planner.

Sylvia takes all her jewelry and sells it at a pawn shop, to give her money to find a place that she and Evie can live.  It was fun when they did not like the small places they found, until someone tells her about finding nice places with people who go away for a year, and rent.  In a short time, Sylvia manages to get a job as a wedding planning business with her former rival.  She is assigned in helping a young lady planning her wedding, with many issues along the way; her boss is thrilled how well she is doing.  Evie, who used to play the piano, also revives her music at a restaurant.

What follows is a fun heartwarming story, with ups and downs in their new adventure; as both ladies find the courage to follow their dreams.  There was a lot of laughter, and even some weird moments. I did not like Sylvia ex-husband, as he was a jerk.  I also thought her meddling daughter wasn’t likeable, but that changed in the last third of the book. I did get a kick out of when her ex comes, and then the daughter, with her man hiding naked in the other room; pretty hysterical.

Sylvia life changes as her career escalates, a new romance, sex, fun, and together with Evie, their second chance becomes successful.  Even though this story revolves around sixty/seventy set, there is so much fun and laughter throughout the book, as well as some problems. Sylvia’s Second Act was a fun story of second chances.  Sylvia’s Second Act was very well written by Hillary Yablon.

Reviewed by Barb

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Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner – a Review

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner – a Review

 

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Description:
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.

She has called herself “death,” but people called her the devil.

The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats. Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:

When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?

Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…

 

 

Review:

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner is the 3rd book in her Frankie Elkin series. I have read a number of books by Gardner, and I think she is one of the best authors who write suspense thrillers, as I have loved all her books. Frankie Elkin, our heroine, is the star of this series; she is a recovering alcoholic, who is an expert in find missing people that are cold cases. Over the years she has found 15 people, with the majority not found alive.

The prologue has Frankie visiting a prison, where a serial killer (The Beautiful Butcher) is on death row, having viciously killed eighteen men; with her execution scheduled in three weeks. Kaylee receives a letter from her long-lost sister, who disappeared many years ago.  She believes her sister (Lea) was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, and she wants Frankie to find her and help her escape.  She convinces Frankie to take the job, which is in a remote lodge on a Hawaiian Island owned by the ex-boyfriend. 

Frankie flies to the private island, and poses as a staff member, helping with cooking and cleaning rooms; she gets to know many of the staff, as she learns more about MacManus and his protégé, Lea. I really liked many of the staff members, especially the cooks Ann and Trudy; and slowly becomes closer to all of them (Vaughn, Ronin, Charlie, etc.). Frankie needs to know who she can trust, especially with MacManus arriving with his security team, and Lea.  She begins to suspect there is someone who is possibly sabotaging the resort.  

When Frankie meets Lea, she tries to question her, but finds her not fully cooperative, claiming she knows nothing about a letter to her sister, whom she has not seen in 12 years. Frankie then discovers that Kaylee has escaped from death row, which is why MacManus has added extra security.  They all suspect that Kaylee will be coming for them; and Frankie begins to suspect that Lea is also very much involved.

What follows is an amazing, action-packed and exciting thriller, where Frankie finds herself in a number of dangerous situations. The last half of the book was an extremely tense thriller that kept me glued to my kindle.  Especially in the last quarter of the book, with the tension escalating as everyone was fighting for survival. Still See You Everywhere is a gripping fast pace story that is filled with danger, drama, fear, and everyone’s lives on the line. As we get closer to the end, there are a number of surprises and twists.

Once again, Lisa Gardner gives us a fabulous intense exciting story, that was very well written. As noted previously, you can never go wrong reading Lisa Gardner, who always writes fantastic suspense psychological thrillers.  I suggest you read Still See You Everywhere, which was a fantastic story.

Reviewed by Barb

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Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison – a Review

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison – a Review

 

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Description:
Petra Grady has known since adolescence that she has no talent for magic—and that’s never going to change. But as a sweeper first-class, she’s parlayed her rare ability to handle dross—the damaging, magical waste generated by her more talented kin’s spellwork—into a decent life working at the mages’ university.

Except Grady’s relatively predictable life is about to be upended. When the oblivious, sexy, and oh-so-out-of-reach Benedict Strom needs someone with her abilities for a research project studying dross and how to render it harmless, she’s stuck working on his team—whether she wants to or not.

Only Benedict doesn’t understand the characteristics of dross like Grady does. After an unthinkable accident, she and Benedict are forced to go on the run to seek out the one person who might be able to help: an outcast exiled ten years ago for the crime of using dross to cast spells. Now Grady must decide whether to stick with the magical status quo or embrace her own hidden talents . . . and risk shattering their entire world.

 

 

Review:

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison is the first book in her new The Shadow Age series. We meet Petra Grady, our heroine, who is a sweeper extraordinaire, who has the unique ability to handle dross, a damaging, magical waste. Dross is magical garbage that is left behind by mages performing magic. Petra has never been able to perform magic, but she has the rare talent to in handling the dross: dross if left lying around, can turn into bad luck for anyone who touches it.

Benedict Strom, a former friend, has been working to crack a code by neutralizing dross. He needs someone like Petra, with her unique abilities, to help research aimed at making it less dangerous. Petra wants nothing to do with what she feels is dangerous and hopeless, but her boss forces her to become part of Benedict’s team. Her life is about to change drastically.

After a terrible accident blows up the lab, both Petra and Benedict are on the run. Seems Benedict is being blamed for the explosion, and Petra decides to seek out an exiled outcast, who knows everything about the Mages, Dross and Shadows. Upon meeting the man who was close to her deceased father, Petra shortly will learn that she does have hidden talents, which will change everything.

Petra comes into contact with Shadow, which is feared by all magic users. Petra manages to build on her contact with shadow, with mental talking to each other, which also leads her to have magical ability.    I did felt bad when her lovable dog, Pluck, dies; but later on, the Shadow Pluck becomes an important part of the changes, especially her having weaver abilities.  What follows is an exciting last third of the book, with Petra, Benedict, her father’s friend, and Len (a militia member) who will fight the mages.  I will say I really hated her roommate, Ashley, who turned into an evil person. 

Three Kinds of Lucky was a very good start to this new series, and was very well written by Kim Harrison.  I look forward to what she has in store for us, with the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

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Murder Road by Simone St. James – a Review

Murder Road by Simone St. James – a Review

 

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Description:
July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to be a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.

 

 

Review:

Murder Road by Simone St. James is another one of her excellent psychological thrillers.  Murder Road takes place in the summer of 1995, centered between newlyweds April and Eddie. They are embarking on road trip to for their honeymoon destination, only to discover they had taken a wrong turn to Coldlake Falls; as they end up on a deserted highway called Atticus Line. On the dark road, a flash of lightning shows a woman slowly walking; they stop and offer her a ride, which she hesitates, but then accepts.  April notices blood on the girl, and they rush to find a hospital, to help the her; who in a short period dies. 

 Detectives Quentin and Beam show up at the hospital, and after being interrogated, they warn April and Eddie, not to leave town.  Instead of being good Samaritans, they now are considered suspects. Unexplained murders have been happening along the Atticus line for many years, and legend has it that a vengeful spirit roams the road, hunting for hitchhikers.  Rumors say twenty years ago, someone was murdered, unable to identify her, they name her Jane Doe, but legend calls her The Lost Girl.

Unable to leave, April and Eddie manage to have the owner of a B&B allow them to stay. At first Rose, was very weird, but in a short time, Rose opens up, and beings to help them, explaining the stories from the past. They learn more about the ghostly legends of The Lost Girl.  They also meet Beatrice and Gracie Snell, two teenage sisters, who are wannabe detectives, with lots of information about the missing people.  Truly, they were better then the detectives.  Both Eddie and April have their own secrets, which neither knew about; they both suffered from domestic abuse, adoptions, and personal drama.  As we reach closer to the end, there is a surprise that will reveal some things from the past.  Besides that, I really liked April and Eddie.

What follows is an exciting, dark, suspenseful and creepy mystery in both time periods, which kept me hooked to find out what happened.  Murder Road was an exciting and awesome mystery, with a slight paranormal element, as well as being chilling and captivating.  The mystery has so many surprises, which were gripping and horrifying at times; a page turner all the way. Simone St. James did an amazing job writing this captivating thriller. If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers with a ghostly background, you should be reading Murder Road.

Reviewed by Barb

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Dark Angel/The Investigator by John Sandford – Reviews

Dark Angel/The Investigator by John Sandford – Reviews

 

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Description:
Letty Davenport, the tough-as-nails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes on an undercover assignment that brings her across the country and into the crosshairs of a dangerous group of hackers.

Letty Davenport’s days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas—and her incredible skills with firearms—draw the attention of several branches of the US government, and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group’s California headquarters.

While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them, and has ulterior motives that place their mission—and their lives—in grave danger.

 

Review:
Dark Angel by John Sandford is the second book in his exciting Letty Davenport series. Letty is an investigator for Department of Homeland Security, but her real boss is with Senator Christopher Colles. She has garnered a lot attention from her last case, with other government leaders interested; but she is asked to help with a joint operation between Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.  Letty will partner up with Rod Baxter, an NSA security computer programmer; as they will need to go undercover to infiltrate an organized cell of hackers known as “Ordinary People”.  Both Letty and Rod agree that they suspect NSA leaders are not telling them all the facts. 

Letty is smart, calm, fantastic ability with guns, and determined to find the information that they need; Baxter is the programmer/hacker guru, who is not a fan of any violence.  They are both opposites, but they each have a sense of humor and focus on what needs to be done. They make contact with some hackers, showing them, they can break down Ordinary People. After they complete the work, things turn violent, as the breakdown brings in a dangerous adversary; a Russian crew is murdering people from the Ordinary People hacker group. Letty and Baxter realize the real danger is with the Russians who are bent on revenge against the OP group, as well as fighting a battle with Ukraine.

What follows is an exciting and intense thriller in the last half of the book.  Letty asks for help bringing in her CIA friend Barbara, who also is great with guns, and Kaiser (her previous partner), as well as other help from NSA.  The hackers, who they worked with earlier, and Baxter are trying to bring down the Russian attack on Ukraine; while Letty and her team prepare for the Russian invasion.

The final attack was wild, haunting and riveting, with violence, murder, and a fantastic ending.   Dark Angel was suspenseful, fast paced, and action packed throughout, with a lots of violence, murder, espionage and hackers.  I loved Letty, who was a sensational leader, and happy to see Kaiser join closer to the end, as well as Barbara.  I also like the rest of the team and hackers who were very good characters. Dark Angel was very well written by John Sandford.

 

 

 

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Description:
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.  Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her.  He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumor has it that a fairly ugly militia group might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.  Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas.  When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger.  The militia group has set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.

 

Review:

The Investigator by John Sandford is the 1st book in his new Letty Davenport series. This is a spin off of Sandford’s US Marshall Lucas Davenport series, with his adopted daughter, Letty taking center stage. At the age of 24, Letty is working for US Senator Colles, but she is bored and ready to quit, but Colles is impressed with her skills and offers her a job doing investigative work along side of the Department of Homeland Security. Letty learned at a young age from her father, on handling firearms, knowledge of police procedures, handling tense situations as well understanding all kinds of investigative reports.

Letty is pared with Homeland Security investigator John Kaiser; at first John wasn’t sure that Letty would make a good partner. But she quickly proved that she knew what she was doing, not to mention her sharp abilities using guns. In a short time, they began to trust each other, making them have a great working relationship.  

Their mission involves checking out recent oil thefts in small Texas towns, as a number of oil companies have reported thefts. Rumors are reported that a militia group may be involved, and what are they doing with the profits from the stolen oil?  While doing their investigations, they discover an oil company employee, and wife is murdered in their home; with some other people also being murdered. Letty and John begin to suspect that this militia group is planning a possible anti-immigration explosive attack at the Tex-Mex border. With time running out, Letty and Kaiser alert Homeland Security and local police to help stop the attack. Who will survive?

The Investigator was an exciting, intense story line, with the last third of the book had me unable to put the book down.  I really liked Letty, who was a compelling heroine, with her overall intelligence, amazing ability with guns, and so very confident and independent. The Investigator was very well written by John Sandford. I look forward to more of Letty Davenport.

Reviewed by Barb

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Rift in the Soul by Faith Hunter – a Review

Rift in the Soul by Faith Hunter – a Review

 

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Description:
Nell Ingram draws her powers from deep in the earth, and uses them to help Psy-LED, the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. When a local vampire calls to report a dead body on her compound, Nell knows she and her team have to be ready for anything.

But the dead body is just the beginning of a mystery that involves supernaturals of all kinds, including some of the most powerful vampires in the country. As Nell gets closer to the truth, she begins to understand that the perpetrator is tracking her too—and that there is something personal about this crime. Something with roots that go almost as deep as those in Soulwood.

 

 

Review:

Rift in the Soul by Faith Hunter is the 6th book in her terrific Soulwood series.  Brief refresher: Nell Ingram is a member of PsyLed (Unit Eighteen), a Homeland Security division that investigates paranormal cases and is based in Knoxville, TN, close to Soulwood.  The PsyLed team is made up of witches, werewolves, empaths and Nell fits right in with her Soulwood powers; they make a great team, as they are all very likeable (Occam, Ayatas, T-Laine, JoJo, Tandy & Rick). Nell has really come into her own, as she is a powerful woman controlling her Soulwood land and plants.

Rift in the Soul begins with Nell summoned by the Master of the City, vampire Ming of Glass, reporting a dead body; both Ayatas and Rick also respond, making sure to protect Nell. Ming tries to get Nell to kill a powerful and ancient vampire, who plans to destroy everything.  Nell senses things are not right, with Ming and her team; soon after, an attack destroys Ming’s home by the ancient vampire, who is searching for the Blood Tarot.  While on the site, both Nell and Occam find the Blood Tarot, which is now hidden at PsyLed.

In a short time, Nell learns that the perpetrator, has a demon inside him, making things even more dangerous.  All of the PsyLed team join Nell at Soulwood, where attacks are at full force; with Nell’s magical connection to the land, fighting off the vampires. We learn so much more about Nell’s family, and how her powers in the land continue to grow. I really love how her younger sister, Mud is also gaining powers as a plant-woman, throughout Soulwood’s land.  We get to see Esther, who recently divorced, and has two babies, now living in Soulwood, and is also gaining powers. Nell, her family and PsyLed friends do everything in their power to stop the baddies.

While all this is ongoing, the whole family is in the process of preparing Nell’s wedding to Occam (her cat man). I loved how much the relationship between and Occam and Nell became totally filled with deep love.  Though Jane Yellowrock (she is the Dark Queen), is not fully part of the story line, there were so many mentions of her; especially with her on her honeymoon, as well as her approving many issues to help.

What follows is an intense, exciting, gripping and violent story.  Rift in the Soul is another fabulous addition to this series, as it is non-stop action, suspenseful and intense..  The last half of the book was an edge of your seat thriller, and Nell was totally amazing stepping up in a wild and fantastic ride to the climax. We are used to Faith Hunter always having a fantastic group of characters, an amazing heroine in her series. Nell is a great heroine, and in this book, she evolves to be even more powerful.  I loved her sisters joining together to fight the evil. The epilogue was wonderful, as we get to see Nell marry Occam, with everyone there.  Faith Hunter has once again given us a fantastic story, with so many emotions throughout.

Reviewed by Barb

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Sprites & Scuttlebutt by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

Sprites & Scuttlebutt by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

 

 

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Description:
This book club is hooked on traveling into books to become the amateur sleuths! In this journey, the club travels to the Kingdom of Everglow.

The royal family is rocked to the core when a key staff member falls dead at a community event. In the turmoil that follows, any evidence of what happened is destroyed, so they must go by the recollection of witnesses who were too busy enjoying the celebration to offer any valuable testimony.

The royal family is further distressed when they return to the castle to see signs of a break in that somehow defied their complex security system. They wake the next day to discover that one member of the royal family has fallen into a deep, deathlike sleep.

Can the Snapdragon Inn Book Club uncover the plot behind this attack on the royal family? Can they find the antidote to wake the sleeping royal from a supernatural slumber? Can they bring peace back to the worried royal family and the frightened community?

Let’s hope they can, since they must solve the mystery and reach The End to get out of the book and back to their home in Colorado.

 

 

Review:

Sprites & Scuttlebutt by Elizabeth Pantley is the 6th book in another enchanting and fun Magical Mystery Book Club series.  Refresher: Paige and Glo, inherited the grandmother’s country inn, which comes with a magical library.  The magical library consists of 8 members, who choose a book, and they are transported into the story, with cozy mysteries that they have to solve. This is a fun, enjoyable, lighthearted series, with wonderful characters and a magical cozy mystery.

The surprise beginning has us discovering that there is more to our wonderful talking cat, Frank.  We learn everything about Frank’s past, which covers hundreds of years, including being a king, with an evil sorcerer changing him into a cat. Of course, now, Frank is a very content enjoying the mystery trips that are part of the mystery book club.

The Snapdragon club members pick a book and they are whisked away into the Kingdom of Everglow, which is comes across as a fairyland location, with sprites.  Upon arrival, they see a key member of the staff being killed during a celebration, shocking the royal family.   The Royal family welcomes the group, to help solve the murder, with them treated like royalty; especially king Frank, who is considered and treated like royalty.  Lots of fun with this.

The next day, everyone is shocked that one of the princesses is in a deep sleep, and no one can wake her.  The Snapdragon members are assigned to try and discover who did this to the Princess, as well as solving the murder of the staff member.  The crew will need to interview people within the community, who may have clues to both incidents.  A garden party gathering with most people in the community, enables them to find information as they mingle, eavesdrop, question and observe those attending.  Can the Snapdragon Inn Book Club uncover the plot behind this attack on the royal family, as well as find the antidote to wake the princess?

What follows is a fun story that has all the members trying to find clues, as well as suspects. I really enjoy this series, as it is so very entertaining.  All the characters in the Magical Mystery Book Club are very good, with Paige leading the way. I loved most of the characters, especially Frank, my favorite.  I also like Mollie, the resident ghost, who in Everglow is unseen, and she secretly discovers some clues. 

Sprites & Scuttlebutt was another terrific, enchanting and fun magical addition to this series, with wonderful characters. There were a few surprises, especially learning all about our hero, Frank.  Sprites & Scuttlebutt was a wonderful lighthearted fun magical mystery, which was very well written by Elizabeth Pantley.  I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

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Never Too Late by Danielle Steel – a Review

Never Too Late by Danielle Steel – a Review

 

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Description:
Kezia Cooper Hobson, recently widowed, arrives in New York from San Francisco.  Determined to make a fresh start, she has just completed the sale of her Pacific Heights home, not to mention her husband’s venture capital firm, and in doing so, is also freed from her responsibility as a board member of the company. Bringing with her only a few personal treasures, she is excited to move into the blank slate of a beautiful midtown penthouse, in the city that she has always loved. It is also where her two adult daughters now live.

As Kezia settles into her new apartment, she meets her movie-star next-door neighbor, Sam Stewart, whose terrace borders hers. Just a couple of weeks after she arrives, however, a devastating crisis strikes New York City. Kezia and Sam find themselves connecting over their strong impulse to help those in need. As they share a life-changing experience of volunteering, a bond is sparked and a friendship is formed.

Kezia’s daughters, Kate and Felicity, are taken aback by their mother’s new friendship, both more focused on their own love lives than hers. But Kezia is learning that the changes she’s making are just what she needs to open new horizons.

In this powerful and moving new novel, Danielle Steel illuminates the importance of human connection and embracing brave change, proving it’s never too late for a brand-new start.

 

 

Review:

Never too Late by Danielle Steel is another one of her wonderful novels. We meet Kezia Cooper, who has lived in San Francisco, California for a long time, but after her husband died, she spent 5 years on his board and now decides to sell her place and the business and move to NYC. Kezia’s grown daughters both live in NYC, and with her 60th birthday upcoming, she wanted to try something new, and enjoy life in New York City, as well as be able to see her daughters. Kezia’s two daughters were very different, especially with Kate being 14 years older.

Kezia arrived in NYC in June, settling into her new midtown penthouse, awaiting more of her furniture, but she is happy to start out fresh, living on the 60th floor; and enjoy everything in the city. Her youngest daughter Felicity, is 23 years old, and a very successful model; currently in Paris for Fashion Week. Kezia has a warm close relationship with Felicity, who never let her success go to her head and was very well grounded.   

Kate has always been more complicated to deal with. She wants to write a novel, and felt she needed to learn more about her biological father, and why he wanted nothing to do with Kezia and her pregnancy.   Kezia married Andrew when Kate was very young, and he treated her like his own daughter, and he adopted her.  When Andrew died (5 years ago) he split the inheritance between Kezia, Kate and Felicity.  Though she was close to her adopted father, Kate needed to learn more about her biological father. She decided to go with her boyfriend to Africa and meet him. 

With both daughters away, Kezia sits on her Terrance watching the July 4th fireworks, and she meets Sam Stewart, a movie star; he lives on the terrace next to her, which has a hedge plant dividing them.  Sam lost his wife two years ago.  He manages to get into the hedge to talk to Kezia, as they watch a horrific attack in New York City, with bombs exploding at the Empire State Building and Hudson Yard. Both Kezia and Sam volunteer to help hospitals, police, who are understaffed.

In a short time, the friendship between Sam and Kezia slowly turns into love and happiness.  Felicity is happily in love with her boyfriend, and she accepts his proposal of marriage, making Kezia very happy, as plans begin for a wedding.  Kate after her return from Africa, recognized that her biological father, was nice but she knew he was never there for her, and her adopted father was always the one who loved her.   Kate will also break up with her boyfriend, and find love with Sam’s son.

Never Too Late was a compelling, inspiring, captivating and engaging story that kept our attention from start to finish.  The story follows the main characters as they find love, second chances and discover that it is never too late to pursue happiness.

Reviewed by Barb

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