Plan a visit: Welcome to Beach Town (by Susan Wiggs)-an e book bargain

#WelcometoBeachTown #NetGalley

Welcome to Beach Town will be a real treat for both new and old readers of Susan Wiggs’s books. WTBT is a well written, emotional novel with characters about whom readers will care. The plot is carefully developed and the locales are well described. As a bonus, readers will learn a lot about surfing, to say nothing of human relationships; there are those of parent figure/child, romantic partners, friends and others whom the characters meet along the way.

The story opens as Nikki is about to give her valedictory address at high school graduation. This poor student at a prestigious private school changes her planned remarks at the last minute. Why does she say what she does? How will this decision impact the rest of her life? Pick up this novel to find out.

Nikki grew up in Alara Cove where she was raised by a widowed father and later by an artistic foster mother/family friend. Both of these people had influence on her as did her love of surfing. Readers will get to know others who are important to Nikki as well including her foster sister and close friend Cal as well as Nikki’s first love.

Nikki faces both tragedies and good moments in these pages. As a reader, I longed for her to find happiness and hoped that Ms. Wiggs would not disappoint in that respect. Well, read the story to find out for yourself.

I highly recommend this book. It is one of the author’s best. Library Journal agrees and gave it a starred review. They state: Fans of the prolific Wiggs and of strong women protagonists will stay up all night to finish this speeding bullet to the best-seller list.

Many thanks to NetGally and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date; 20 June 2023

From the Publisher

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In whose mind were they: Wayward Girls

A Novel

by Susan Wiggs

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Wayward Girls tells the stories of six young women who, for various reasons, were sent to an institution in Buffalo, New York that was much like Ireland’s Magdalen Laundries. These were places were vulnerable young girls, many times the victims of others, were sent when they became pregnant when they were single or otherwise were not conforming to society’s rules. Even worse, one character was sent to this hell, when it was her stepfather who was the offending party. The men often seemed to be able to continue as they had been with little consequence for their mistreatment of their victims.

Anyone who wonders about the historic (lack of) rights for young women will be justifiably appalled by what happened to these girls who were further victimized and judged by those who should have helped them. Readers will very much hope that somehow these six young women will be able to go on to better lives post institution. Their friendships should help.

Disclosure: I have worked with birth mothers from this time and know many of their stories. This made a book, that was excellent, very difficult for me to read.

One note: The story begins with a girl who says that she needs a pre-adoption certificate to get a passport. I have never heard of that requirement.

Kudos to Wiggs for bravely showing readers what life was like for some young women. I believe that she hopes that a time like this will not come again.

This is definitely a worthwhile read. It is not all depressing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 15 July 2025

400 pages

From the Publisher

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The Examiner by Janice Hallett

I love Hallett’s original and somewhat unconventional crime stories. She does not write traditional narratives but rather uses documents and other devices to tell her stories with great effect, just as she does in this, her fifth book, with emails, text messages and essays. It is a book that asks a reader to pay attention and then richly rewards them.

Six students have embarked on a Master’s level course. They are Jem, Cameron, Jonathan, Ludya, Patrick and Alyson. They are from different backgrounds, vary in age and have different talents and histories. They are intensely thrown together in the program.

The Examiner of the title is tasked with reviewing the work of these students. This examiner has many questions. Will there be answers?

This book is such an intriguing one. I very much enjoyed it.

A note: I listened to part of this as an audio book. This helped me to distinguish the characters early on.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 September 2024

464 pages

Mystery & Thrillers

From the Publisher

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Editorial Reviews

Others by this author:

Coming in September 2025

Earlier novels

Will The Appeal appeal to you? The Appeal by Janice Hallett
Can you crack: The Twyford Code (by Janice Hallett)
Can you solve it? The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels (Janice Hallett)
There is trouble ahead: The Christmas Appeal (Hallett)-ane book bargain

Who is responsible for: A Killing of Innocents

A Novel

by Deborah Crombie

An e book bargain today

#AKillingofInnocents #NetGalley

My only wish is that Deborah Crombie wrote faster and more frequently. Her Gemma Jones and Duncan Kincaid mysteries are among my very favorites. This American author writes a terrific British set series. I have been reading them ever since the first title, A Share in Death, was published in 1993. Over time, the characters and their relationships change and develop, keeping readers riveted. For full enjoyment, the books could be read in order but that is not strictly necessary; enough backstory is provided to keep a new reader from being lost.

In this, the 19th, entry, a young doctor has been murdered and hers is but the first, not the only, death. Sasha had friends and family. She also had a complicated work relationship with one of the nurses at her hospital. The case is brought to both Duncan and Gemma along with their teams. It goes to Duncan because of the murder and Gemma because of there being knife crimes.

Readers get to know Sasha’s family which includes a brother with some tricky history. They also get to know her artist roommate; she too has a brother who may well be suspicious. Sasha was supposed to have been meeting him on the night that she was murdered.

Regular readers of the series will be delighted to catch up with Duncan and Gemma’s children. They will also be interested in finding out how Doug (Kincaid’s team) and Melody (Gemma’s) are doing after the events of the previous books.

The book and series are just a delight. Mark your calendar for this title’s release date!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 07 February 2023

368 pages

List Price: $28.99 (hardcover)

Meet: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Readers are introduced to Katie. She works making promotional videos with her own sideline highlighting 24 hours in a subject’s life. When the story opens, many at her company are about to be laid off. So, when Katie is offered an opportunity, she takes it! There are a few problems though-the gig involves following a Coast Guard member (Hutch) at their job so includes flying in helicopters, and needing to swim. Katie does not know how to swim and is not crazy about flying in what feels like it could be an unsafe aircraft.

Cole, who offered the job and the subject has some agenda of his own. The very famous (for rescuing Jennifer Aniston’s dog), Coast Guard member is his brother and the two do not get along well.

So, readers can see that the stage is set and going into romance territory.

This book has more though in that there is a lot about weight issues. The problems began with Katie’s critical stepmother. They got worse for Katie after some bad comments on social media when she was at a music awards dinner with her then boyfriend. Readers are told that Katie is very stressed about having to reveal her weight before getting on the copter due to her past.

I am not sure how this topic will sit with readers in what is billed as a light read, so know this going in.

This was a solid novel but not my favorite by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 20 May 2025

320 pages

Romance/Women’s fiction

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

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Dangerous Women is an e book bargain today

Ethel is 73 years old. She can play the senior citizen card when needed but there is so much more to this vibrant woman. Ethel has retired from the FBI but her quick brain, skills, and schemes are as fresh and effective as ever. Get to know her in this enjoyable mystery/caper about murders and shenanigans affecting the Supreme Court.

The author juggles a lot in terms of a complicated scheme in which it takes a little while for readers to figure out what is going on. There are senators, supreme court justices and their clerks, the FBI, Ethel’s relative and friends along with all living in a DC that comes to life here. There is a serious issue underpinning the story that has to do with a Supreme Court’s pending decision on precious metals and mining. The issue feels quite timely.

Those who enjoy cozy thrillers (is there such a thing?) are certain to want to read this one. There is an earlier title in the series as well and I hope that there will be a third to come.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.