Never Let Go ~ Review

Never Let Go
Uncommon Justice #1
By Elizabeth Goddard

Willow Anderson isn't sure she'll ever be as good as her Grandfather, or as good as he thought she was, but she's determined to close out his last case. But the case he took just before his death is different than any they had ever before taken on. As a forensic genealogist, Willow is used to tracking down records and finding long-lost family connections but Anderson Consulting has never before taken on a cold case abduction.

Worse someone seems intent on stopping Willow before she can even get started. Is it mere coincidence or is someone truly targeting Willow?

Learning that her grandfather reached out to her ex-boyfriend Austin McKade for his assistance on this case is an unexpected complication. For the two years following their devastating breakup, they've managed to avoid seeing one another but they now find themselves working together. Secrets kept have a way of dividing and Austin's past was a topic of non-disclosure - the wounds of his childhood and his father's death went too deep.

Time is running out to solve a 21-year-old case in which a newborn was abducted mere hours after birth. Is Jamie still alive? And what clues can they find when the police and FBI could find no traces when the case was fresh?

This is a book that will take you on a rollercoaster as the case progresses and the danger continually builds to a climax that is sure to keep the pages turning. The book is marked as being the first in Uncommon Justice series so I'm interested to see how this plays out. Will it follow Austin and Willow? Or will Austin's brothers take central roles? Will Anderson Consulting be a common denominator?

The characters were engaging and well worth getting to know. And as to the perpetrator's identity that is a well-twisted excursion that will misdirect the reader a time or two until the conclusion! 


About the Book:

The Case May Be Cold

But Things Are About to Heat Up

As a forensic genealogist, Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather’s footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years ago. The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up when someone makes an attempt on her life to keep her from discovering the truth.

Ex-FBI agent–and Willow’s ex-flame–Austin McKade readily offers his help to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they’ll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he’s spent much of his life trying to forget. And even if it puts Willow’s tender heart at risk

Courage Between Love and Death ~ Review with Giveaway

Courage Between Love and Death
By Joseph Pillitteri

Elspeth Shaughnesshey is determined to make the most of her post as a nurse at the Pan American Exposition Hospital. In 1901 there aren't many nursing opportunities for those of Irish heritage and Elspeth needs this job and the potential job that could follow if she does her job well. Her duties have her spending most of her time at the Expo as she, and her fellow nurses, are to be available whenever a need arises day or night.

Elspeth is determined to get a husband, and the richer he is, the better for her family. Having been once hurt she refuses to let her heart again take the lead, now if she could only catch the attention of the doctor she has decided will be her husband.

September brings a special excitement to the Expo - President McKinley is coming and Buffalo is beside itself in anticipation with the honor about to be bestowed upon it. The President's visit makes more work as hospital staff is assigned to be with President and Mrs. McKinley at the various Expo functions and excursions.

But when the nation's unrest makes its presence known the entire nation faces a crisis as does the staff at the hospital at the Pan American Exposition. With the life of the President in crisis, Elspeth is having her crisis at home - one that she has no idea how to fix.

Courage Between Love and Death gives the reader a look into early twentieth-century America, specifically Buffalo, New York. It is interesting to see how much has changed and yet we are still facing the same issues today. Prejudices against certain nationalities, unrest due to class differences, and the struggle to survive from one day to the next. I enjoyed how the relationship between President and Mrs. McKinley is presented and how they care for and look out for the needs of each other.

If you love historical fiction and don't want to read about it through rose-colored glasses I highly recommend this book to you. Life isn't easy and survival isn't a guarantee no matter your class. Do you like to discuss your books in a group setting, well, this one is certainly open for much discussion.

Just a word of warning for those who tend to shy away from books that deal with controversial issues that have a moral element to them - this book does deal with several that could upset your sensitivities.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through TLC Book Tours with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:

Elspeth has recently landed a nursing position at the 1901 Pan American Exposition Hospital in Buffalo, New York. This is a big boon for her, but things are not going as expected. She has to navigate mischievous patients, egotistical doctors, rival nurses, and prejudices. For an Irish girl with a temper, this is no easy feat. Now President McKinley is coming to visit the Expo and everyone is in an uproar. On the home front, her life is no less hectic as she struggles to put food on the table and look out for her younger siblings.

When the unthinkable happens, it is a turning point, not only for the medical industry and our country’s security but for Elspeth personally. With her career and reputation on the line, will she have the courage to overcome the challenges she faces to clear her name and continue to be there for the ones she loves?

“Joseph Pillitteri does a great job of bringing the Exposition and an engaging cast of characters to life in Courage Between Love and Death. Pillitteri spins a fast-paced, entertaining tale, and his medical background is well-utilized in the medical inquest after the bungled abdominal surgery which proved fatal to McKinley. If you love a strong-willed woman who can defend herself against personal and professional prejudice, and for a brief moment win a president’s heart, read Courage Between Love and Death.” -Historical Novel Society

..”.Joseph Pillitteri’s writing is flawless and delightful. The tension builds up very fast and doesn’t slow down until the satisfying conclusion. Courage Between Love and Death is focused, deft, and balanced, and the reader will follow the protagonist through her emotional and psychological turmoil until the very last page. A gripping story with great historical references, it’s an edge of the seat read. Courage Between Love and Death by Joseph Pillitteri is a historical novel that is well-researched and written to great satisfaction.” –Christian Sia, Readers’ Favorite

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

While working at Roswell Park Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, NY, Pillitteri became intrigued by the role Dr. Park played in the surgery of President McKinley at the 1901 Pan American Exposition. He shaped facts and fiction together to tell the story.

~ Book Giveaway ~

Be sure to enter for a chance to win a copy of this book.

Open to those with a US mailing address only

Must be 18 years of age to enter.

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Joseph Pillitteri’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, January 28th: Jessicamap Reviews and @jessicamap

Wednesday, January 30th: A Holland Reads

Thursday, January 31st: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, February 4th: Bookchickdi

Wednesday, February 6th: Amy’s Book-et List

Friday, February 8th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Monday, February 11th: Broken Teepee

Wednesday, February 13th: Laura’s Reviews

Monday, February 19th: Blooming With Books

Wednesday, February 21st: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Thursday, February 22nd: Lori’s Reading Corner – guest post from Adele Pillitteri

A Return of Devotion ~ Review

A Return of Devotion
Haven Manor #2
By Kristi Ann Hunter

For more than thirteen years Daphne Blakemoor has been out of the notice of society following the biggest misstep of her life - one that ruined not only her but her best friend as well. Kit has reclaimed the life that she gave up with her recent marriage but Daphne still calls Haven Manor home though everything is about to change. With most of the children that they've housed and cared for over the years placed in homes, Daphne and Jess have less to do but they are about to take on new rolls so that can stay on. Daphne has assumed the role of housekeeper while Jess the role of cook and the three remaining older children various roles in the estate staff.

William, the new Marquis of Chemford has decided to make the estate his temporary residence and his arrival has created a most unexpected situation, one that has Daphne's long-held secret teetering on the edge of discovery. She's sure she can come up with a plan to keep Lord Chemford from ever seeing Benjamin, the son she has never claimed as her own. She just needs a little time. Of course, her actions just might have Lord Chemford looking for a new housekeeper.

William needs to escape from the pressures that have come to him following his father's death. He's determined to be as different from his father as he can be and his first decision has him seeking the peace and solitude of the country estate his father never set foot on. But peace is the last thing he is about to find when his seemingly wacky housekeeper all but thwarts his every step with her demands.

Daphne has allowed herself one too many times to be caught up in her imaginings and Lord Chemford's coming has just added a new element to her dreams. But that is all they will ever be, even had she not ruined her future she would never have been within his social circle as she was on the outer edges. But what harm could come from dreaming?

This is the second book of the Haven Manor series. The first book A Defense of Honor introduced readers to the world of societies castoffs - children who could never be accepted by the society that brought them forth as they were the result of a lady's ruination and poor judgment. Daphne was one of these lady's but she refused to give up her son though none of the children that she, Kit, and Jess knew of her ties to Benjamin. The long-abandoned estate in which they had been living is now no longer an option for providing a safe haven for castoff children. Caring for the children has been Daphne's life and in a sense her identity with everything that has taken place she finds herself without a purpose. William comes to Haven Manor with his own deep wounds that are tied to his parents failed marriage and his father's lack of involvement. Can these two wounded souls find healing in letting go of their secrets?

Fans of Kristi Ann Hunter's work will enjoy her return to Regency-era England. This book could be read on its own but readers will be left with questions much like William is if they don't read the first book before starting this one. I highly recommend this book it is the perfect way to spend a long snowy weekend (the last two weeks have brought several feet - so a cozy corner with a warm cup of tea and a pile of books is my weekend plan).

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts are my own.


About the Book:
Daphne Blakemoor was content living in her own secluded world for the last twelve years. She had everything she needed--loved ones, a true home, and time to indulge her imagination. But when ownership of the estate where she works as a housekeeper passes to a new marquis with an undeniable connection to her past, everything she's come to rely upon is threatened.

William, Marquis of Chemsford's main goal in life is to be the exact opposite of his father. Starting a new life in the peace and quiet of the country sounds perfect . . . until his housekeeper turns his life upside down. 

Both Daphne and William have spent their lives hiding from the past. Can they find the courage to face their deepest wounds and, perhaps, forge a new path for the future together?

When I Pray for You ~ Review

When I Pray for You
By Matthew Paul Turner
Illustrated by Kimberly Barnes

When I Pray for You is a story that shares the love of a parent for their child each and every time they pray for them. Each day brings growth and new prayers and wonders. From the moment of first knowing one's child and through the years of change one prays for growth and a purpose that brings caring, love and light to the world.

This picture book is less than 40 pages with approximately 20 to 40 words per page. The book has a lyrical flow that is well suited to the illustrations (or I should perhaps say the illustrations are well suited to the textual flow). The illustrations are well developed, colored throughout with a blend of brights, pastels, and primaries. The friends of the main child that are portrayed are a well-balanced variance of skin tones which is, in my opinion, a definite plus.

This is a lovely story that you'll love sharing with all the little ones in your life and it may become a favorite bedtime go-to choice. Know someone expecting a little one? This would be the perfect gift.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through their book launch program.

About the Book:

From the moment I saw you,

I started to pray. Big prayers and

small ones I have sent God's way.

With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender feelings connected with watching a beloved child grow and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes's vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book in which children and parents see their own stories come to life. When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, while sharing with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them. This is a book you will read to your child again and again.

I prayed you felt safe, full of joy and content.

That when I whispered "I love you,"

you knew what I meant.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair ~ Review

The Curse of Misty Wayfair
By Jaime Jo Wright

If you love a book that has two different threads of time that are woven together by a common factor you will love The Curse of Misty Wayfair. The early 1900s and present-day Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, have one thing in common Misty Wayfair. Who or what is Misty Wayfair you ask? It is from her murder in 1851 that the legends that have haunted Pleasant Valley ever since have come from.

When Thea (Dorothea) Reed photographer of memento mori, also known as a mourning portrait, comes to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908 she is looking for clues to her past. A past that she has been lead to believe has roots there. Her only clues - scant memories of her mother and a letter detailing what little was known of her past. But Pleasant Valley seems anything but pleasant with secrets and rumors of a haunting by a woman whose appearance seems to foretell death. And the deaths all seem to be focused upon the Coyle family whom suspicion and rumor swirl in connection to the tale of Misty Wayfair. Thea wants to find the truth of who she is but most seem determined to discourage her attempts and she is warned away from the remaining Coyles, Rose and Simeon. But Thea is drawn to them in their grief and her curiosity keeps her from heeding the well-intentioned advice of the local residents or that of her late employer.

In present-day Pleasant Valley, Heidi Lane is making a visit to the family she has avoided for the last several years. Feeling that she never quite fit in and that she was never good enough for them she went away to college and has been running from her demons ever since. But a letter from her mentally failing mother has her returning to a home she never knew. A happy reunion is not about to happen anytime soon and when Heidi starts experiencing events that have her questioning just what is going on. And worse it seems as if someone is determined to push her mentally over the edge. And the old photograph that she discovered marked Misty Wayfair is seemingly linked to whatever is occurring and Heidi wants answers. But getting answers from her family may be a tad difficult and she's managed to annoy some of the local residents almost immediately, whoops.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair is Contemporary Gothic Fiction at its best. I really liked how the rumors about Misty Wayfair are engaged with by the various characters. Do you believe the souls of the deceased are trapped here forced to wander or did you believe that there is something beyond this that we know and see an afterlife that is not a wandering torment just beyond our physical life? Thea's upbringing was one that believed in spiritual hauntings. Heidi's upbringing was one as the youngest surprise child of a pastor and she chafed at the rules and don't that she felt stifled her. These two women with more than a century dividing them are linked by a place that is about to define what their futures will be but only if they can determine the truth of who they are.

Get ready for some suspense that will keep you reading, as you promise yourself just one more chapter until you reach the conclusion which for both story-threads has some unexpected results. Jaime Jo Wright has again worked wonders with her wordcraft and the winner in this is the reader who picks up this newest work. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to turn-of-the-century Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. When the clues she finds lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a postmortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death. 

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman haunting the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.
As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, they must overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined. 

The Bright Empires ~ Series Review

The Bright Empires series

By Stephen R. Lawhead

Read by Simon Bubb

In a change of pace, I'm doing a look back at one of my favorite series. This time instead of reading the books I went the audiobook route, which I borrowed from my local library. 

(And if you have to read the books in order to fully enjoy and understand everything!) 

The Universe is vast- more vast than most people can possibly fathom.  There are billions of galaxies in our Universe alone.  In addition there an unknown number of dimensions as equally vast as our own Universe.  If you don't believe me just ask Kit Livingstone (if you can find him, that is!)




The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead opens with The Skin Map.  In this we are introduced to Cosimo "Kit" Christopher Livingstone who is about to begin the adventure of a lifetime.  Kit is about to follow his great-grandfather Cosimo Livingstone on a search for the Skin Map, a search that will span centuries and dimensions.  A search that could destroy everything in the omniverse if they accidentally change history in just one dimension.

But what is this Skin Map and why is it so sought after?  The skin map was created by Arthur Flinders-Petrie as a series of various symbols tattooed upon his body that were turned into parchment upon his death.  The greatest of his various mapped symbols lead to the greatest of treasures - the Well of Souls.

But nothing is ever easy and Kit, his great-grandfather and the Questors are not the only ones seeking the map.  Burley and his men are seeking it too and he plans to use the power he would gain in untold evil.

But due to his inexperience Kit, Cosimo and Sir Henry have a secondary quest, to rescue Kit's girlfriend Wilhelmina "Mina" from whatever time/dimension she was pulled into.  But nothing ever goes as planned and the three are separated.  The Skin Map is filled with unexpected twists and turns up until the very end so that you are left wondering what comes next in The Bone House book 2.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead continues with The Bone House.  

With the unexpected deaths of Cosimo Livingstone and Sir Henry at the hands of Archelaeus Burleigh, Kit  must rely on the Ley traveling skills that Mina has developed since she was transported to 17th century Prague.

But with time/dimensional travel there are a variety of trips covered in The Bone House including Kit's visit to Egypt in 1822 where he meets up with Doctor Thomas Young who are both on a mission that was brought about by Mina. While Kit is in Egypt with Dr. Young, Mina and Giles are with Dr. Young in Edinburgh.

Arthur Flinders-Petrie's life is further revealed as are the exploits of his great-grandson Douglas Flinders-Petrie to obtain the Skin Map that Arthur created.

When Mina, Kit, and Giles finally arrive at Mina's new home in Prague, they are shocked to discover the one man that they are trying to avoid is there!  Burleigh is in Prague and all too soon discovers that Kit and Giles did not die in the Egyptian tomb they were imprisoned in.  In their attempt to escape Burleigh, Giles is injured and Kit manages to make it to the Ley line that Mina had directed them to.  But Kit finds himself in the Stone Age where he makes a discovery he was not expecting the Bone House.

 The Bone House is filled with trips that span the centuries and the globe will leave you anticipating what will come next in The Spirit Well book 3.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead continues with The Spirit Well.  

The Bone House left us with Kit having discovered what he believes to be the Spirit Well, a conclusion he came to after observing Arthur Flinders-Petrie enter a deep water-filled environment with a dead woman who is restored to life.

Mina, after being warned by Haven of Burleigh's suspicions, has left Prague in the hopes of somehow locating Kit.  When she can find no sign of him, Mina goes to Spain in the hopes that Brother Lazarus can help her in her quest.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to Cassandra Clarke who, while on a dig in Arizona, discovers by accident the Ghost Walk.  But when she determines to study this phenomenon she jumps to other places and becomes lost to her time and place, ending up in 1950s Damascus.  There she finds the Zetetic Society who are seeking to achieve God's purpose for His creation - unity and harmony as the Creator intended and to be fully realized at "the end of time and the beginning of eternity.

In the Spirit Well we discover the circumstances that resulted in the creation of the Skin Map and its separation as well as Burleigh's discovery of the ley lines.

The Zetetic Society is searching for Sir Henry, Cosimo, and Kit who have disappeared along with Sir Henry's portion of the map.  The society feels that discovering them is of the highest priority and assign this task to Cassandra.

Treachery and betrayals abound as many search for the greatest discovery of Arthur Flinders-Petrie.  A discovery that Kit has discovered, but can he find his way back?

As is often mentioned by various characters throughout the series There are no coincidences.  There is a purpose behind everything that happens in our lives though we may not be able to ascertain it at the time.

The Spirit Well is filled with trips that span the centuries and the globe will leave you anticipating what will come next in book 4 The Shadow Lamp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead continues with The Shadow Lamp.

Ley travel is imprecise, but it can be done to within a few days of when one wants to arrive unless something goes wrong.  And as is often the case something does go wrong for several of our ley travelers.  But this is all part of the journey.  The journey to reach the Spirit Well that Kit discovered by accident when he was misdirected into the Stone Age.  But the Bone House is no longer accessible and a large tree is in its place.  And the gargantuan yew is channeling an enormous amount of energy from the ley in which it is growing.

Cassandra points out an amazing coincidence to Kit in that the yew tree is a symbol of immortality and eternity and in a sense that is what they are searching for in the Spirit Well. But little does Kit know that he may hold the answer to saving the Omniverse, the known and unknown, from complete and total annihilation!

Time from the first moments of Creation is at stake if the event that caused the imbalance is not found. The ever-expanding universe is beginning to retract upon itself and time is growing short.  An act of Arthur Flinders-Petrie may destroy everything, and we will be alive to witness our own obliteration!

The Shadow Lamp will span centuries and dimensions and if you are very observant you just may see the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning in book 5 The Fatal Tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead concludes with The Fatal Tree.

It starts with odd little wrinkles in reality and when the anomalies accumulate to a level that a dimension can no longer sustain - that dimension along with all those living in it will be extinguished as if they had never existed... THE END OF EVERYTHING is here and we are about to slip over a cosmic cliff.

Our questors have been separated by both time and space.  The ley lines have become unreliable as the anomalies increase.  And the physical side effects are increasing with each jump making each trip increasingly dangerous.  But the Spirit Well must be reached and they have to discover a way around the Fatal Tree which now guards that which they seek.

One man may have the knowledge they seek, but can they trust the man who has sought to destroy them?  And what ulterior motives could Archelaeus Burleigh be hiding?  Kit knows that the man responsible for his great grandfather's death can't be trusted but Mina, Cass, and Gianni feel that the preservation of the Omniverse is worth the risk.

In this the final book we revisit scenes from the previous books but from the viewpoint of other characters who were part of the original scene.  A true merging of past, present, and future. 

Get ready to go on an adventure that will test your ability to adapt and prepare to grow your mind! Paradoxes, Time loops, and Quantum mechanics, oh my!  The unknown is greater than you ever imagined and one misstep or decision can destroy it all! 

Between Before and After ~ Review with Giveaway

Between Before and After
By Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Sometimes the Most Important

         Story to Discover Is Your Own

Molly Donnelly's life is changing yet again and her mother is slipping further into a depression that is somehow linked to the secrets of her past. A past that her father has declared would bury her unless she buried it first. Molly is determined to discover the past her mother has so closely guarded and why she declares that she wasn't "beautiful and good" like her mother who died from the plague known as the Great Flu of 1918.

Elaine Fitzgerald was fourteen years old when influenza changed life for most of the nation and for her family. She lost her mother, her baby sister, her aunt, and though he didn't die she lost her father. Keeping her family together was what mattered most and providing as normal a life as possible for her eight-year-old brother Stephen takes precedence. But in 1919 Brooklyn life is not easy especially without her mother to be a wall between them and their father.

In 1955 Molly is fourteen, the same age her mother was when her life was forever altered. But searching for clues to the past isn't easy when San Jose is a so far removed from Brooklyn. And when Uncle Stephen is linked to a miraculous healing life takes another twist that further threatens the normal life Molly longs for. Molly's search into the past will have unexpected results that she never imagined.

Between Before and After is a most engaging book that is told from both Elaine and Molly's perspectives. There are approximately 35 years between the before and the after of this book. This is a story of family, despair, hope, loss, betrayal, faith, and love. In other words, this is a book that looks at life and embraces it in all its facets good or bad. This is a story of mothers and daughters and of brothers and sisters and the bond that exists between them. This is most definitely a book for teens (or older) readers and not middle-grade readers. It is interesting to see just how different life in 1919 and 1955 differs from what we experience today - in no way is simpler (technologically speaking) easier.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectation but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

“The carnage began with the roses. She hacked at their ruffled blooms until they dropped into monstrous drifts of red on the parched yellow lawn … Only two things kept my mother grounded to us: my uncle Stephen and stories.”

Fourteen-year-old Molly worries about school, friends, and her parents’ failed marriage, but mostly about her mother’s growing depression. Molly knows her mother is nursing a carefully-kept secret. A writer with an obsession for other people’s life stories, Elaine Donnelly is the poster child of repressed emotions.

Molly spends her California summer alternately watching out for her little brother Angus and tip-toeing around her mother’s raw feelings. Molly needs her mother more than ever, but Elaine shuts herself off from real human connections and buries herself in the lives and deaths of the strangers she writes about. When Uncle Stephen is pressed into the limelight because of his miracle cure of a young man, Elaine can no longer hide behind other people’s stories. And as Molly digs into her mother’s past, she finds a secret hidden in her mother’s dresser that may be the key to unlocking a family mystery dating to 1918 New York—a secret that could destroy or save their future.

Told in dual narratives between 1918 New York City and 1955 San Jose, California, Between Before and After, by award-winning author Maureen McQuerry, explores the nature of family secrets, resiliency, and redemption. This is a historical coming-of-age Young Adult story about the complex bonds between mothers and daughters.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and; Noble

About the Author:  

Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Maureen McQuerry is an award-winning poet, novelist, and teacher.  Her YA novel, The Peculiars is an ALA Best Book for YA 2013, Bank Street and Home Book recommended book. Her MG fantasy duo, Beyond the Door and The Telling Stone, were a Booklist Top Ten Fantasy/SciFi for Youth and a finalist for the WA State Book awards.  Her poetry appears in many journals and anthologies.  She lives in Washington State.

Connect with Maureen

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Maureen’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS

Monday, February 4th: @girlsinbooks

Tuesday, February 5th: @the_readers_nook

Wednesday, February 6th: Blooming with Books

Thursday, February 7th: Books and Cats and Coffee

Monday, February 11th: A Bookish Way of Life

Tuesday, February 12th: Write Read Life

Wednesday, February 13th: @read.write.coffee

Thursday, February 14th: 100 Pages a Day

Monday, February 18th: @prose_and_palate

Tuesday, February 19th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, February 19th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 20th: @createexploreread

Monday, February 25th: Run Wright

Tuesday, February 26th: @librarycutie

Wednesday, February 27th: Jessicamap Reviews and @jessicamap

Thursday, February 28th: Book Fidelity

Friday, March 1st: What is That Book About