Blog Tour: The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz

Author; Tiffany Reisz

Publisher: MIRA

Date of publication: February 13, 2018

They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast. Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.

Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello’s oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She’s determined to find out what really happened that fateful night — was it an accident or, as she’s always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?

But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces tog

ether the story of her life, she’ll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.

The Lucky Ones is another book that I have recently finished that I needed to really think about before deciding if I like it or not.  In the end, I did like some of the book.  However there were parts that I thought unnecessary that kind of ruined the book for me.  The story involves Allison, who was fostered by Dr. Capello for a few years when she was a child.  After an accident, she went to live with her aunt.  Now Dr. Capello is dying and she has been asked by her foster brother to return to the house to say her final goodbyes.

I did enjoy the mystery aspect of the book. The truth of what happened was kind of shocking yet interesting. I thought the reveals and twists were well planned out and the ending was a surprise.  I actually liked Allison's character despite some of her choices.  She was kind of apologetically a breath of fresh air.  

What I didn't care for was the "romantic" part of the book.  It's hard to talk about without giving away spoilers.  I'll just say that two of the relationships in the book really didn't sit well with me.  They made me really uncomfortable and had a certain "ick" factor that I couldn't dismiss.  I'm not even sure they were necessary for the book at all.  It would have been fine without them.  So I'll chalk this one up to "liked it, but didn't love it".

About Tiffany Reisz

Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer.

Connect with Tiffany

Website | Facebook | Instagram

EXCERPT TOUR:

Monday, January 22nd: Books & Spoons

Tuesday, January 23rd: The Sassy Bookster

Wednesday, January 24th: A Literary Vacation

Thursday, January 25th: The Book Diva’s Reads

Friday, January 26th: What is That Book About

Monday, January 29th: Snowdrop Dreams

Tuesday, January 30th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Wednesday, January 31st: Palmer’s Page Turners

Thursday, February 1st: Suzy Approved

Friday, February 2nd: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Monday, February 5th: Clues and Reviews

Tuesday, February 6th: Bibliotica

Wednesday, February 7th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, February 8th: Books a la Mode

Friday, February 9th: Jathan & Heather

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REVIEW TOUR:

Monday, February 12th: Rockin’ & Reviewing

Monday, February 12th: Into the Hall of Books and @intothehallofbooks

Tuesday, February 13th: Clues and Reviews and @cluesandreviews

Tuesday, February 13th: Read Love Blog

Tuesday, February 13th: @anniabbauer and @beach.house.books

Wednesday, February 14th: Palmer’s Page Turners

Thursday, February 15th: 5 Minutes for Books

Friday, February 16th: Bibliotica

Monday, February 19th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Tuesday, February 20th: Books a la Mode

Tuesday, February 20th: Katy’s Library and @katyslibrary

Wednesday, February 21st: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind and @artbookscoffeee

Thursday, February 22nd: Tales of a Book Addict

Friday, February 23rd: Kritter’s Ramblings

Friday, February 23rd: Novel Gossip and @novelgossip

Monday, February 26th: Jathan & Heather

Monday, February 26th: Jenn’s Bookshelves

Tuesday, February 27th: @athousandbookstoread

Tuesday, February 27th: Kahakai Kitchen

Wednesday, February 28th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, February 28th: The Lit Bitch

Thursday, March 1st: A Chick Who Reads

Friday, March 2nd: Not in Jersey

Monday, March 5th: Snowdrop Dreams

Tuesday, March 6th: Bookchickdi

Wednesday, March 7th: West Metro Mommy Reads

Thursday, March 8th: Hoser’s Blook

Friday, March 9th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Friday, March 9th: What is That Book About

Books We Didn't Finish February Edition

The View From Rainshadow Bay:  It really made me sad to DNf this one. I am a fan of this author and have loved most of her books.  But this one was weird.  I felt like there was a lack of charterer development.  I was about 30% in and I didn't really have a sense of who was who.  It didn't read like the first in a series for me.  It was also really slow.  I just lost interest.

The Color of Love:  Another one I was sad to DNF.  I have loved this series from the start, but this one was just not good.  Ruby and Peanut felt like they were 80 years old to me, when they are under 45. There was zero chemistry between the two of them.  The whole town felt wrong. It just didn't have the feel of the other books in the series.

Anatomy of a scandal:  I was so bored reading this book. The characters were uninteresting.  I hated James's character the most with his trying to justify his affair.  I just didn't care about any of them enough to get past 15%.

Sleeping Beauties: I think my love affair with Stephen King is slowly coming to an end.  I used to love his books and always named him as a favorite author.  However, the past few books of his that I have read just haven't done it for me. Sleeping Beauties was boring. Really, that is all I can say about it.  It was boring. I made it through about 30% and gave up.

I also tried Sleeping Beauties and didn't really get it.  I was confused about what it was supposed to be about and where the story was trying to go.  I was disappointed and like Kari said I'm kinda losing interest in Stephen King as an author.

Reservoir 13 was just uninteresting to me.  It was about the disappearance of a young girl that was visiting the town.  The story was told from the view point of how it affected the town.  I just didn't care for the storytelling style.  It was hard to keep straight the characters.

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Helping Her Remember by Kate Carley

Title: Helping Her Remember

Author: Kate Carley

Release Date: February 26, 2018

Publisher: Self-published

Series: The Crawford Falls Series

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Page Count: 265

Kelly’s back.

How can two simple words make Dylan Bronstad’s heart ache and sing at the same time?

Even seven years ago, Kelly Anne Leeson had possessed that power. Back then, all Dylan wanted to do was drink and make love to her. Really, it was no wonder she’d climbed out of his bed and walked out of his life, leaving him with nothing but a nasty hangover and the lonely memories of their time together.

Today, Dylan’s life is on track. He’s sober with the support of his family and his tight-knit group of friends. But Kelly could derail all he’s worked to accomplish. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to stay away from her.

Lured by the offer of her dream job, Kelly returns home to Crawford Falls and the friends she’d abandoned a lifetime ago. Mending those broken relationships will require some honest answers and a fair amount of forgiveness.

But facing Dylan will take a lot more—like maybe a suit of armor to protect her battle-weary heart and the secret she fears she’ll never be able to keep. 

While Kelly searches for a way to maintain the safe life she’s created for her son, Dylan works to remind her of the relationship they once had.

Just as they rekindle their relationship, secrets and half-truths threaten to destroy everything.

My thoughts:

Helping Her Remember is the first book in a new series set in the fictional town of  Crawford Falls.  In the foreword, the author stated that this series will start with the Bronstad siblings.  Dylan has a large group of friends and after reading about them, I hope they get their own stories.  This one is Dylan and Kelly's story.

I did ultimately enjoy the book.  It has one of my favorite tropes but it also has one of my least favorite tropes.  I love second chance stories, but I really don't enjoy hidden baby stories.  No excuse is ever good enough for me to keep a child away from his or her parent.  I can kind of understand Kelly's motivation, but a few simple questions about Dylan asked of her mother could have cleared up a lot.  But ultimately, Kelly and Dylan's second chance was a fun read. Their relationship was easy and it was fun watching Dylan win Kelly back.  

The aspect of the book that I was happy to see was the author's treatment of Dylan's alcoholism and recovery.  Sometimes in stories, it is mentioned once and never brought up again.  But here, Dylan still struggles four years into his sobriety.  We are able to see his struggle and the ways he deals with it by going to meetings and using his support system.  It made his situation more real to me.  

This is a solid first in a series.  The characters were enjoyable and I look forward to reading the rest of their stories.

HELPING HER REMEMBER Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Kate Carley

“Isn’t that your turn?” she asked, huffing embarrassingly loud when they passed the county road and made their way up a fairly steep incline.

“I’m running you home.”

“Don’t need to. I’m a big girl, you know?” Kelly could feel his lazy perusal from her head down to her toes and back again. She was sweaty and gross, and he was checking her out. Unbelievable.

“Mmm. Yes, I know,” he said.

They ran in silence the rest of the way, because it was just too damn hard for her to talk. And he knew it. When they reached the top of the hill and turned onto her street, he said, “Let’s cool down.” They slowed their pace to a casual walk. “I never get to run with anyone. That was nice.”

“But you cut your run short for me. And it’s obvious, you’re in far better shape than I am, given that you can actually talk and run at the same time.”

Dylan just laughed at her comment, clasping his hand with hers, lacing their fingers together. “Go out with me, Kelly Anne. I’ve missed you, and I really want to get to know you again.”

The feel of his hand in hers and that sweet invitation sent a familiar surge of excitement through her. Kelly’s heart squeezed and her stomach did that little flip-flop rollercoaster thing again. As always, her body seemed to respond so naturally to Dylan’s attention. Or perhaps foolishly was a more appropriate definition of her response. While he apparently had warm memories of their time together, to her their relationship had been like watching an incredible firework display—spectacular, bright, loud—and then she’d been plunged into a dark, silent night all alone.

Kelly came to a stop near the side of her mom’s house and turned to face him, sucking in a deep breath and trying to ignore the nice hum of arousal playing through her body. “Jesse’s your best friend, right?” She didn’t wait, because she knew the answer. “Do you hold his hand like this when the two of you are together?” Classic Dylan reaction. He burst into laughter and then released her hand to give her a brief hug. When he stepped back, he wore that expression that generally got him exactly what he wanted. Kelly sighed and shook her head. “No, Dylan. I’m not interested in dating.”

Dylan moved in closer, tilting her chin up with one finger so she’d be forced to meet his eyes. Why did he insist on touching her like that? It did crazy things to her brain, not to mention the fact that it all but melted her resolve. “You’re kidding me. Come on, Kelly Anne. We were great together. Why not try it again?”

Because I know my heart will never survive.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card +

Three Runner-ups will win a HELPING HER REMEMBER eBook!

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About Kate Carley:

How Kate Carley went from majoring in mathematics and computer science in college to writing steamy contemporary romance still remains a mystery. She broke out into the indie publishing scene in 2015 with her debut novel, Challenged, a 2017 RONE award winner. Two more books completed her romantic suspense trilogy, Changing Krysset. With three published works under her belt, Kate is excited to launch her new contemporary romance series. Just like her first novels, the Crawford Falls series is set in a small town in Kate’s home state of Minnesota. When Kate isn’t busy at her desk writing, you’ll find her dreaming up new characters and plotting perfect ways to make their lives miserable before giving them their happily ever after.

Follow:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | Pinterest

Spotlight: Excerpt of Love Times Infinity by K.L. Ramsey

Author: K.L. Ramsey

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Black Velvet Seductions

Cover Designer: Jessica Greeley

The last thing Karlie Angel wants to do is travel home to attend her younger sister’s wedding. As if catching her boyfriend in bed with her little sister wasn’t humiliating enough, now she must watch them say, “I do.” Karlie has given up on love, men and her own happily ever after. She just wants to get this nightmare wedding over with and head back out of town. But she didn’t count on Drew Jackson.

Drew had been in love with Karlie since senior year of high school, but she belonged to Jake Ashbrook then. Now, he sees Karlie’s return as his only chance to claim her. He just needs to convince Karlie to let him into her heart. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words, especially when Karlie’s past comes back to haunt her. Drew must find a way to keep her safe and convince her not to run again.

Love Times Infinity is the first book of The Relinquished Series.

“Hey there,” he greeted. “You’re up. I was gonna let you sleep in. You must be tired.” He grimaced with his last statement.

“Yeah, well, someone didn’t let me get much sleep last night.” She winked at him.

“Um, sorry about that.” He crossed the kitchen, handing her a mug of coffee with cream and sugar. “I know that I can be a little demanding. I hope it wasn’t too much, baby.” He leaned in and kissed her. “How’s your coffee? I saw how you took it last night with dinner. Hope I got it right.”

God, she loved that he paid that much attention and took care of her. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

“Yes, perfect. Everything was perfect. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I kind of like you being so bossy in bed. It’s hot when you talk dirty to me.” She started to sip her coffee, but he took it away from her. He put both of their coffees on the counter and pulled her into him.

“Well, I guess it’s good that you like me bossy because that is all I know how to be with you in my bed. Baby, I just couldn’t get enough of you. If I am being totally truthful, I’m hard right now.” He ground his erection into her stomach.

She decided a distraction was in order, if she wanted any kind of nourishment. Good Lord, but the man was built for sin.

“Do I smell bacon?” Yeah, that would work. He smiled, seeming to know her ploy of distraction.

“Yeah, I thought you’d be hungry after last night.” He winked at her and started to make her a plate.

“I can do that for myself,” she said, shooing him away.

“No, I like taking care of you, Karlie. You will just need to get used to me doing things for you.” She didn’t want to feel hopeful about what he just said. She didn’t want to read too much into their relationship or whatever this was that they were doing. But she couldn’t help but feel anything but hope in what he said to her. He wanted to take care of her.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder, pressing her front to his back.

“Mmm, baby, if you keep that up we won’t be eating breakfast.”

Her hands dipped lower, cupping his cock and rubbing him through his boxer briefs.

“Baby,” he growled, turning to lift her up to sit her ass on the kitchen table. He started kissing up her neck, standing between her spread legs.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he said, taking her mouth, hard, fast, licking and nipping her lips. “Fuck, you’re not wearing underwear!”

She smiled at his realization. He seemed to pick up speed, pulling down his boxers and sliding past her slick folds.

“This is better than breakfast anyway,” Karlie purred, as Drew lifted her T-shirt up, exposing her breasts.

“Hell yeah, it is,” he agreed.

Amazon ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Smashwords ✯ B&N ✯ Goodreads

K. L. Ramsey currently resides in West Virginia (Go Mountaineers!). In her spare time, she likes to read romance novels, go to WVU football games and attend book club (aka-drink wine) with girlfriends.

K. L. Ramsey was born and raised in Maryland where her life changed when she signed up for a creative writing class. Knowing that someday she wanted to become a writer, K.L. received her BA in English from Salisbury State University.

Somewhere in her mid-forties, K.L. decided to write her first romance novel, proving that dreams can be realized at any age.

Facebook ✯ Instagram ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon

Mini Musings - February Edition

Dirty Talk - This one ended up being an OK read for me.  I normally love second chance romances, but this one was frustrating.  The lack of communication was annoying.  There was too much internal dialogue, especially in the middle of a conversation.  That drives me crazy. The whole man whore thing was kind of cliche and gross. He is hoping to win her back, but still mentions his little black book a few times.  The audio production was pretty good.  I did like the alternating narrators.  But it wasn't enough to make me love it.

Follow Me (Amateurs 2) - This one was slightly better than the first book.  There was more of a mystery.  The characters were slightly more interesting.  They have changed some since the first book so that was a plus.  I did like Maddox and Seneca's relationship.  The book again ends in a cliff hanger, so I'll probably read the third book to see how it all plays out.  Warning: Don't read this one before the first one.  If you do, it will spoil a big reveal in the first book.

Twisted Truth: I enjoyed this novella.  It's a quick story, but packed with a good mystery and a lot of action.  I had not read any of the other stories featuring these characters but it stood up well as a stand alone.  There were a couple of unanswered questions that hopefully the sequel Truth Be Told will clear up. 

Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Author: Jane Harper
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Date of publication: February 2018

Five women go on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, asks: How well do you really know the people you work with?

When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path.

But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?

Force of Nature is the second book featuring agent Aaron Falk.  We first met him in The Dry.  I enjoyed that book, so I was looking forward to reading this one.  This time around, five women go into the woods for a corporate team building weekend and only four come back out.  The missing woman, Alice is involved in a case that Falk is working on.  

I actually liked this one a bit more than the first one.  The story is told through flashbacks and the present just like the first book.  I found the pacing smoother and faster here.  I was engaged the entire time and definitely didn't call the ending. I'm not going to give anything away so I won't talk plot too much.  With a lot of suspects, I was kept guessing. We learn a bit more about Falk in this one.  I still really like him as a character.  I didn't feel like you really needed to read the first book to get a sense of his character and motivations.  References are made to the happenings in the first book, but this is an easy stand alone. I highly recommend this one as well as The Dry.  I look forward to following Falk on his next case.

Blog Tour: Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

Author:Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date of publication: January 30, 2018

Doesn’t matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It’s over.”

When Drix was convicted of a crime—one he didn’t commit—he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor’s newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor’s daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn’t may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle’s parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix’s messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can’t imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves—Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence—and each other to finally get what they deserve.

Say You'll Remember Me is a YA contemporary featuring two teens from opposite side of the tracks.  Hendrix "Drix" is back from doing a year in a juvenile delinquent rehab program.  He was there for a crime he didn't commit.  Ellie is the governor's daughter who is feeling stifled by her parents and her life. This ended up being just an OK read for me.  I didn't like it as much as I was hoping I would.

I had a hard time finding a character other than Drix to like.  He was the one person that really seemed to grow.  Ellie was really annoying and frustrating.   Her parents were over the top and Drix's family wasn't all that likable either.  One thing I did like about Drix and Ellie's relationship was that they really became friends first before they got physical.  Not that they really do much.  This is a pretty clean YA. 

But, there were a lot of cheesy and cliche moments throughout the book. I rolled my eyes a few times.  The whole scenario with the dog and the hotel was a bit too much.  I can't really see any hotel acting the way they did when it comes to the governor of a state.  They usually bend over backwards to accommodate and it was a puppy who did no damage. The reaction was not one I would have expected.  One part of the book did ring true for me.  There are way too many kids who are too poor to have good representation and end up taking plea bargains for crimes they didn't commit.  One other thing I would have liked was if the issue of domestic violence was better handled.  A follow up to Holiday and her situation would have been nice. 

I think fans of this author will enjoy the book.  It wasn't bad, it was just OK.  Give it a try and see for yourself.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About the author:

Katie was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

She is the author of the Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road series. Say You’ll Remember Me will be released in 2018.

Katie loves to hear from her readers.

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Connect with Katie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Excerpt tour for SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME:

Monday, January 8th: What is That Book About

Tuesday, January 9th: Girls in Books

Wednesday, January 10th: Just One More Chapter

Wednesday, January 10th: @everlasting.charm – IG feature

Thursday, January 11th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, January 12th: Stuck in Books

Tuesday, January 16th: Books and Spoons

Wednesday, January 17th: Snowdrop Dreams

Thursday, January 18th: Mama Reads Blog

Friday, January 19th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Monday, January 22nd: Books a la Mode

Tuesday, January 23rd: Bewitched Bookworms

Wednesday, January 24th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Thursday, January 25th: A Holland Reads

Friday, January 26th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Review tour for SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME:

Monday, January 29th: What is That Book About

Tuesday, January 30th: Katy’s Library blog and @katyslibrary

Tuesday, January 30th: Lost in a Great Book

Wednesday, January 31st: @annikabbauer / @beach.house.books

Thursday, February 1st: Bewitched Bookworms

Friday, February 2nd: Not in Jersey

Monday, February 5th: Girls in Books blog and @girlsinbooks

Tuesday, February 6th: Just Commonly

Tuesday, February 6th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Wednesday, February 7th: Jathan and Heather

Thursday, February 8th: Rockin’ & Reviewing

Friday, February 9th: Stuck in Books

Monday, February 12th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Tuesday, February 13th: Snowdrop Dreams

Wednesday, February 14th: @athousandbookstoread

Thursday, February 15th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Friday, February 16th:Mama Reads Blog

Monday, February 19th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Tuesday, February 20th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Wednesday, February 21st: Novel Gossip blog and @novelgossip

Thursday, February 22nd: From the TBR Pile

Friday, February 23rd: Read Love Blog

Wednesday, February 28th: Bookworm Everlasting blog and @bookwormeverlasting

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Asleep From Day by Margarita Montimore

Author: Margarita Montimore
Publisher: Black Wing Books
Date of publication: January 2018

A traumatic car accident erases Astrid’s memories of September 9th, the day she spent with an oddly charming stranger named Theo. Ever since, she’s been haunted by surreal dreams and an urgent sense that she’s forgotten something important. One night, she gets a mysterious call from Oliver, who knows more about her than he should and claims he can help her remember. She accepts his help, even as she questions his motives and fights a strange attraction to him.

In order to find Theo and piece together that lost day in September, Astrid must navigate a maze of eccentric Boston nightlife, from the seedy corners of Chinatown to a drug-fueled Alice-in-Wonderland-themed party to a club where everyone dresses like the dead. In between headaches and nightmares, she struggles to differentiate between memory, fantasy, and reality, and starts to wonder if Theo really exists. Eventually, she’ll need to choose between continuing her search for him or following her growing feelings for Oliver. Astrid might go to extreme lengths to find what she’s lost . . . or might lose even more in her pursuit to remember (like her sanity).

Note: While a sequel is possible, it is currently intended as a standalone.

I had to think about Asleep From Day for a bit before deciding if I liked it or not.  I am still torn. The story involves Astrid who loses her memory about the day before she was hit by a car.  We take a journey with her to discover what happened on that day and who she spent the day with.

On one hand, I was definitely sucked in and found the story compelling.  I wanted to join with Astrid as she discovered what happened on her missing day.  The author did a great job of building the suspense as Astrid begins to remember bits and pieces.  The story flashes back to that day as she starts to remember, so we get to see what really happened.  I also enjoyed the book because  I graduated from college in Boston a few years before this story takes place. The setting made me feel very nostalgic for the 90s Cambridge/Boston scene.  A lot of the landscape has changed now, so it definitely brought back memories.

On the other hand, I found the book frustrating in a couple of ways.  First, the book is set in 1999.  I know it was 1999, not because of the title pages with the date, but because the story was riddled with pop culture references from that year.  You all know how I feel about those.  It was a bit too in your face. As if for some reason, I needed to be reminded that is was 1999. This story really could have taken place in any year and it would have held up fine.  The other reason is the ending.  I hated that ending; I'm not going to lie.  I really felt cheated especially since this is intended to be a stand alone book.  I don't want to fill in the blanks myself.  I want to know what happened.

So, would I recommend it?  Yes.  Despite my issues with it, the story overall is enjoyable and the writing is good.  I thought the characters were engaging and ones I grew to really like.  Give it a shot and try it for yourself.

Enjoy this excerpt:

Outside a pizza place is a pay phone. Who else can I call? Hand on receiver, before I can decide, the phone rings. I pull back, like I’ve been burned.

Briiiiiing!!! Briiiiiing!!!

There’s absolutely nobody around, no one who might be waiting for a call.

Briiiiiing!!!

“Hello?” Why am I answering the phone? It’s not like--

“Astrid?”

If déjà vu is a feather down the spine, this sensation is a razor.

I must have misheard.

“Astrid, are you there?” The same male voice from my dream, the static now on my end in the form of the noisy downpour.

“Who is this?” I ask. “How did you know I would answer the phone?”

Before he replies, tranquility trickles into my veins like one of those lovely drugs pumped into me at the hospital. Of course. There’s no need to worry about any of it. This is just another dream.

“You’ll find out who I am soon enough,” he says. “There are more important things you need to deal with first.”

“Sure there are. Like what kind of snack I’ll have when I wake up.”

A pause on his end. “You’re not dreaming, Astrid.”

It stops raining, abruptly.

“The car accident, the fire, your friend’s overdose,” he continues, “All of those are real things.”

“Who are you? You’re scaring me.” I look around, expect to see someone lurking in a dark trench coat.

“I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have called. But I wanted... to reassure you, tell you you’ll get through this. I’ll be able to help you more later on.”

“Do you...” My mouth is parched, my voice hoarse. “Do you go by your middle name?” I clear my throat, hold onto the phone with both hands. “Please tell me your name.”

“You already know my name, Astrid. You just need to remember it. But first, you need to find a place to sleep.”

“You mean a place to wake up. Right here would be perfect.”

He sighs. “Don’t do that. Don’t deny what’s real.”

How am I supposed to tell the difference?

“Astrid, you’re going to be fine. That’s all I wanted to tell you. We’ll speak again soon.”

The line goes dead.

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About the author:

Margarita Montimore received a BFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She worked for over a decade in publishing and social media before deciding to focus on the writing dream full-time. She has blogged for Marvel, Google, Quirk Books, and XOJane.com. When not writing, she freelances as a book coach and editor. She grew up in Brooklyn but currently lives in a different part of the Northeast with her husband and dog.

Margarita writes upmarket/literary fiction that tends to be left of center and flirt with multiple genres. While she loves all things dark, strange, and surreal, she’s also optimistic—verging on quixotic—and a pop culture geek, so her work tends to incorporate all those elements to varying degrees.

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