Linda's Sunflower

5 STARS Need to Know Karen Cleveland Ballantine Books RELEASE DATE: 1/23/2018 Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book by Karen Cleveland. Do books about the possibility of Russian sleeper cells in the US interest you? How about a CIA analyst who gets herself involved in a major "situation"? Need to Know kept me on the edge of my seat, from the first paragraph to the very last. I didn't want to put it down, but when I had to, all I did was think about it. I explained what was going on to my husband, who is not a reader. Even he was intrigued. If you like fast-paced, punch-you-in-the-face kind of action, this book is for you. Very highly recommend!

Crazy, busy Saturday! Started the day out with a pedicure with my daughter, son's girlfriend and some friends. Had breakfast at Panera afterwards. Took a drive to find the location of the interview I have on Wednesday, then ran by my nephew's for a few minutes. Hubby worked this morning, so he was home by the time I got there. We did our grocery shopping, and then drove to Kansas Star Casino for a little fun (and no, neither of us won big, but at least we didn't lose big either!). Son and his girlfriend asked us to let their dogs out and feed them since they aren't getting back from KC until later tonight. So basically, I left home at 9am this morning, and got home at 7pm tonight. Time for a margarita!

TURNED UP (Taking Chances #3) Erin Nicholas Montlake Romance August 29, 2017 4 STARS! Kit Derby and Dillon Alexander have been fighting, and loving, each other since they were young. Dillon, an emergency room physician has returned to Chance, Nebraska, and right back into fighting with Kit, who is a psychiatrist. But the sparks fly every time they are together. They are both strong people. Will they be able to find a middle ground and love? If you like a book with a pretty good helping of steamy sex in it, this book is for you. It's the third in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I haven't read the first two books, and I had no trouble getting into or following the story. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy to read, and this is my honest review.

Life changed for me on July 17, 2017. I was laid off from the place I worked for almost 41 years. I wasn't totally surprised. After all, layoffs have become the norm at newspapers. I was hoping I could make it at least another year. But...alas...I didn't. The Wichita Eagle has been my home and my life for so long. I started just after I turned 20 years old. Back in the good old days. What have I done over the years? Job 1 - Classified Ad Taker Job 2 - Classified Ad Support Staff Job 3 - Ad Services Head Typist Job 4 - Newspaper Layout Assistant Job 5 - Production Director Secretary Job 6 - VP/Operations Administrative Assistant Job 7 - Executive Administrative Assistant and Layout Coordinator Job 8 - Page Layout Manager Job 9 - Prepress Manager Job 10 - Advertising Customer Service Manager There are other job duties in between all of these milestones. I dedicated my heart and soul to the Eagle. I started when I was so young. I met my husband while I worked th...

Me, You and Tiramisu Charlotte Butterfield Feb. 23, 2017 HarperImpulse I wasn't sure about this book until I was about a third of the way into it. Oh my gosh, I loved Jayne and Will's story. Jayne, and her twin sister, Rachel, survived a less-than-ideal childhood. Jayne is a teacher, and when she meets back up with Will, who she knew as a teenager, it was so sweet. But what happens when Will becomes a You Tube sensation with his cooking show? One can only imagine how that changes your life. Loved this book!

No One But You Brenda Novak June 1st Mira Publishing Dawson Reed has been released from prison, ultimately not charged with the murder of his adopted parents. Sadie Harris, in the midst of a contentious divorce from her slime-ball husband, Sly, agrees to work for Dawson. She's helping to clean up the house Dawson inherited so he can bring his mentally-disabled sister home. I won't post any spoilers, but suffice it to say, Sadie and Dawson have a hard road ahead of them. Novak continues to write books with interesting characters. Can't wait for her next Silver Springs novel!

Man Overboard J.A. Jance March 21, 2017 Touchstone I'm a big fan of J.A. Jance, and this Ali Reynolds book is another winner. Stuart Ramey, an employee of Ali's business, High Noon, takes front and center. His childhood friend, Roger McGeary, supposedly commits suicide on a cruise. Stuart, Ali and Roger's therapist investigate on their own, and what they find is astounding. Someone, fueled by his father's own suicide, is committing murder.

The Nanny Arrangement by Rachel Harris May 22, 2017 Entangled Publishing Hannah has been best friends with Deacon for years, ever since she befriended him and he became her protector. Now she's been asked to be the nanny for Deacon's son, while he's embarking on a tour with a famous country band. Hannah has loved him for years, and she's determined to make him see her as more than a best friend. Do her tactics work? Does Deacon's upbringing (absent dad, alcoholic mother) prevent him from being able to maintain a relationship? I loved the interaction that Hannah had with Deacon, as well as his band-mates wives and girlfriends. First book I've read by Harris, and I enjoyed it so much that I need to go back and read You're Still The One, the first book in the series.

The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse Lake Union Publishing Release date: March 21, 2017 5 STARS I was provided a copy of The Idea of You through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the story of Lucy and Jonah. Jonah has been married before and has a teen-age daughter. Lucy is nearing 40 and wants to have a child with Jonah. The book is about the struggles they endure trying to have a child, as well as having Jonah's daughter, Camille, come and stay with them for a while. Where does Lucy fit in the dynamic between her husband and his daughter? What secret is buried and threatens to destroy Lucy and Jonah's marriage? I really enjoyed this book! This is the first time I've read this author. It won't be the last.

THE LOST GIRLS by ALLISON BRENNAN St. Martin's Press November 1, 2016 5 STARS Love Brennan's Lucy Kincaid series! Siobhan Walsh has been looking for two sisters who disappeared 2 years ago. She feels responsible, so when she gets a phone call from a Texas priest, who has found an abandoned newborn with a locket nearby that she'd given one of the girls; she goes to Texas in hopes of finding them. She calls in her FBI friends, including Lucy Kincaid, and the search is on. Meanwhile, Lucy's fiance, Sean, has an unexpected visit from a former girlfriend. Her husband, and the 12 year old son he never knew he had, have disappeared in Mexico. So it's time for the Rogan family to find out what's going on. This is a suspenseful, hard-to-put-down book, so hang on for the ride! Be prepared for a human trafficking story that is hard to stomach, and more than likely, all too true in this day and age. Mexican cartels, murder and mayhem. This book has it all.  

A Million Little Things Susan Mallery February 28, 2017 Mira Books This is a story of friendship, family and things that happens to good people. Zoe's friend, Jen is a new mother, overly worried about why her 18 month old son won't talk. (By the way, this isn't unusual for boys). Jen's mom, Pam, is also Zoe's friend, until she begins dating Pam's son. Pam originally thought that Zoe would be good for Steven, but things happen and she changes her mind. (No spoilers here). Mallery always weaves strong characters in her books, and this was one of my favorites!

Size Matters Alison Bliss Hachette Book Group November 29, 2016 4.5 out of 5 stars! Even though parts of this book were frustrating, I still enjoyed it. Leah Martin owns a bakery, and, let's put it this way, she's not a skinny little thing. She meets Sam Cooper in a bar, but he's got his own issues. Past relationships didn't go so well, and even though he's ready to settle down, he's not sure what he's looking for. Leah's mom is judgmental about her weight - always trying to tell her to lose weight, eat better, etc. But when Sam meets her family, he can't stand how her mother treats her, so he says he's her fiance! Wildness ensues. I enjoyed almost all of Leah's family, but especially her dad and grandparents. Sam has to get past his previous relationships, and decide if Leah is the one for him. I'll be reading more books by Allison Bliss!

FINDING OUR FOREVER by BRENDA NOVAK Harlequin Special Edition Expected release date: April 1, 2017 If the first book in Brenda Novak's new Silver Springs series is any indication, it will be a GREAT series! Cora, who was adopted, finds her birth mother at the New Horizon Boys Ranch. She gets a job teaching art there, but can't decide whether to confide that she is the ranch owner, Aiyana's daughter. Elijah is one of Aiyana's adopted children, and Cora finds herself caring for him. He had an abusive childhood, and is determined not to have a relationship. But he finds himself caring very deeply for Cora. Will Cora tell Aiyana that she is her daughter? Why did Aiyana give her up for adoption? And how do Cora's adoptive parents feel? All these questions are answered. I loved the characters in Finding our Forever, and am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series! Highly recommend this book!

At First Light Mari Madison Publish Date: March 7, 2017 Berkley Publishing Group Troy Young and Sarah Martin were lovers 5 years ago. But Troy broke Sarah's trust, then left for a reporting gig in war-ravaged Syria. After being kidnapped and tortured, he is finally released. When he comes home, he suffers from PTSD. Sarah is working for a TV station as their entertainment reporter. When Troy is hired at the same station, they end up doing "fluffy" entertainment reviews together. The chemistry is still there, but can they overcome what happened in the past? Will Troy get help for his PTSD? And who is trying to harm Sarah? I loved this book. I won't post any spoilers, but it was hard to put down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book to me. This is an honest review.

Staying for Good Catherine Bybee January 24, 2017 Montlake Romance 5 Stars What a book! Zoe Brown left River Bend right out of high school, determined to make something of her life. She left behind her high-school sweetheart, Luke; and her dysfunctional family, all abused at the hands of her father, who is now in prison. Zoe goes on to make her name as a chef, winning a TV competition and continuing to star in cooking specials. But can she continue to stay away from River Bend, or will her love for Luke bring her home, finally? And what happens when her father gets out of prison after 17 years and returns home like nothing has changed? I absolutely loved this book, even though it had a dark side. The underlying abusive relationship between Zoe's father and mother may seem hard to understand, but I've known women in this position and it is tough to break that cycle of abuse. And the ending leaves us to believe the next story is going to be about Zoe's friend, Jo.  

Little Girl Lost Carol Wyer January 19, 2017 Bookouture 4 Stars This book features Detective Robyn Carter, who has recently suffered a horrible loss. A teacher disappears. A millionaire is murdered. What part does Abigail, mother to little Izzy, play in the puzzle? Is there a serial killer loose? It took me a little while to get into this book because it was confusing with the amount of characters and going back and forth from the past to present; but once you get a little further into it, you see where the story is headed, and the pace picks up. There are a lot of twists and turns, and just when you think you have it figured out, something else comes up and changes your mind. Enjoyed it a lot! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review.

The Girl Before JP Delaney Ballantine Books On Sale 1/24/17 This was one of those books that was hard to put down. We had Emma, from the past, and Jane, from the present moving into 1 Folgate Street. The house was designed by an "out-there" architect, Edward, and it's definitely like no other house. And the contract to rent the house is very involved. What possessions can you live without? Are you willing to move into a house that seems cold and sterile? What does that do to your mind? Definitely a psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in return for an honest review.

Karen Bloom and her doctor husband, Noel, are parents to a blended family: Noel has a daughter, Verity, from his first marriage. Karen has a son, Ewan, whose father she won't identify. Together, they have a daughter, Bronte. Each of them are hiding secrets. Noel abuses alcohol and sleeps around on his wife. Karen is one of those overbearing moms who pushes Bronte to do more and more. Early in the book, Bronte disappears for 24 hours. Where did she go? Was she kidnapped? She returns home, but keeps silent about what happened..Verity had a violent incident with her stepmother so she is in counseling. Last, but not least, is Ewan, who abuses drugs. When there is a murder, everyone is a suspect. This book highlights what can happen when parents are pushing their children too hard. Thought provoking.

Veterinarian Jade Johnson comes home after breaking up with her boyfriend (who turns into somewhat of a stalker). She's always had her eye on Rex Braden, the son of a neighboring rancher. However, her dad and Rex's dad are feuding, and have been for years. After sparks fly between Jade and Rex, they must decide how to approach their families and end the feud. Rex's late mother plays a part in the outcome of the book. I really appreciated how the main characters felt, and that they didn't want to upset their fathers. Enjoyed how this one turned out.

By Barbara Nickless Publisher: Thomas & Mercer Expected Publication Date: October 1, 2016 Genre: Mystery/suspense From the back cover: "A sadistic murder draws a war-haunted cop into the deadly world of a rail-riding gang." My review: Sydney Rose Parnell, a special agent for the railroad police, is suffering from PTSD after her time in the war. So when she is drawn into a murder mystery, the ghosts that haunt her appear more and more often. She is looking for the murderer of a young lady who helped the homeless. With the help of her K9 companion, Clyde, who is also a war veteran; she sets out to solve the crime. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way. I loved Sydney's strength and determination, even though she had bouts of mental fragility from the war. Who wouldn't? I highly recommend this author's first book.