These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

Title: These Things Hidden
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: MIRA
Pub Date: 03/01/2011
ISBN:  9780778328797


Synopsis:

When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumors every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn—shy, quiet Brynn—who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her.

But then Allison is released to a halfway house, and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister.

Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.


The Things Hidden is a story about family love, siblings love. It started with Allison being released from the jail. Despite it happened 5 years ago but the town of Linden Falls never forget the heinous crime Allison committed in the darkness of that one night. The story covers many thoughts and emotion from Allison, Brynn and other characters that add to the mystery. The narration jumps between characters and intertwines their lives. Despite there are many sub-plots and twists that made the whole thing looks complicated, it is not difficult to understand. The author did a good job keeping the suspense at a high level throughout and it wasn't until the very last chapter the entire mystery is laid out for you. I enjoy reading it very much.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Galley.

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Title: My One and Only

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint:         HQN Books

Pub Date: 03/29/2011

ISBN: 9780373775576     

Harper James is a divorce attorney back in her hometown. She has a fire-fighter boy friend Dennis. She is going to be 34 years old and she wants to settle down. Thus she has proposed to Dennis. At the same time, Harper received a call from her stepsister Willa, that she's getting married to Christopher, who is Harper's ex-husband, Nick's half brother. 

Harper has not been staying in touch with Nick for the past 12 years after they have divorced. Harper always thought they were too young during that time. Dennis is the man that she is considering settle down with after Nick. However Dennis is not ready to settle down yet. As they could not get the same flight, Dennis took the earlier flight back to home after attending Willa's wedding. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Harper is stuck and in order to go to the nearest airport to fly back home, she is forced to make a cross-country road trip with Nick. 

During the trip, Harper can't help thinking back all the memories with Nick. Despite they have been separated for 12 years, Nick still loves Harper. In Nick's eyes, Harper is always been the one. Another person that Harper can't let go, is her mother who left her when she was 13 years old. They were very close, like sisters. Harper can't understand why her mom suddenly left the home, and throughout all the years she has just sent 4 postcards. And no news from her ever since. 

Things happen during the road trip. Harper finally realizes she still loves Nick. But she can't just leave her life back in Massachussetts and stay with Nick who is based in New York. Again, she has to leave Nick. Just when she is trying to step back, figuring the next step, something unexpected happen when she reaches home and thing become messy. 

It is a touching love story. It reveals many thoughts and emotions of Harper, on Nick, and on her mother. She misses her mother very much. The relationship between Willa and Christopher, her father and her stepmother, and also relationship of Nick with his family members made her think a lot. The storyline of Harper at presents, her thoughts and frequent flash back of her memory with Nick and her mother, is seamless and well written. The pace is good and enough suspense to make me keep reading, to wonder what actually has happened between Nick and Harper, and if they will eventually get together again. It is a good read. I enjoy reading it very much.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from Harlequin via Net Gallery. 

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Saving Grace is a home for 13 homeless girls, who age 18 and above. They cannot go to shelter because they are considered as adult at age of 18, but they are not capable to live by themselves yet. They still need to attend school before they can get a job, and become financially independent to live by themselves. Saving Grace is Lucy Wiltshire's everything.

However, Saving Grace's main contributor Sinclair Hotels has decided to cut off the donation. This has caused big financial problem to Saving Grace. Lucy is in desperate need of donations.

Alex Sinclair used to be a famous playboy football superstar. However due to injury he quits the game and decided to run for the First Congressional District of South Carolina. Although he has changed, but people still think he's a playboy and that does not make him looking good for the congress. To change his image in order to secure his vote, Alex has asked Lucy to be his fake fiancé. In return, she will get paid a lump sum of money after the election is over.

Lucy does not like Alex. But she needs the money desperately to keep Saving Grace. That made her very little choice but to agree with Alex to become his fake fiancé.

Save the Date is a heart warming and touching story. Lucy sacrifices her happiness to marry the man that she thought she loves, to the fake relationship with Alex for the money. She feels guilty lying to the people around her. At the same time, she found out who is her real dad. And she struggles to forgive her grandmother of what the old lady has done to her mom and her. Alex also has his own problems that he could not share. He does not run for the congress for himself. To win the congress, he deserted himself from his family members. Even though he does not like Lucy, but he does not hesitate to help Lucy whenever she needs a helping hand on the issues with the girls in Saving Grace.

There are quite a number of spiritual content in the book. And again, it always made me ponder a lot and reflect myself.

I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Silken Thread

Title:         A Silken Thread Publisher:     Harlequin Imprint:     Kimani Press Pub Date:     02/22/2011 ISBN:         9780373534265 Erica Sanders and Brian Lawson are getting married soon. They are deeply in love with each other. However Erica's mother, Karen, prefers her daughter marry another man, Griffin. Erica's father, Wilson on the other hand, welcomes Brian into their family. Erica and Griffin are very good friend. Since long time ago, they already know that they do not love each other, but just very good friend. Griffin has fallen in love with April, Erica's best friend. Karen hires a private investigator to investigate Brian, hoping to find something to call off the wedding. But the truth he uncovers is something out of her expectation. Nonetheless, it is good enough to rip both families apart. At the very least, she manages to use it to manipulate Erica. The more I read, the more I hate this Karen. She thinks the children are selfish because Erica refuses to follow her advice to marry Griffin. But I think getting a private investigator, and go to the extend of making all sorts of lies and things to break the couple apart, this is just too much. Karen does not only break up Erica and Brian, she also tries to break up Griffin and April too. So that Erica and Griffin these two heart broken hearts can get together. I cannot imagine such selfish mother who would like to sacrifice her daughter's happiness for herself. On the other hand, Brian's mom, Rita is the opposite. Brian's father passed away when Brian was 15 years old. So Rita and Brian have very close relationship. After Brian has finished studying, Rita thinks now Brian has grown up, has his own life, and thus she moves on to do things that she would like to do - get a master degree and go back to working life. To me, this should be the way.  This is a story about the powerful of love and friendship. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher Harlequin through Net Gallery

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Blood is more thick?

Ever since I found out the girl eats the food behind us, I have been very cold to her. I made her pack her own bag to school. I said No to all the requests that she asked. I did not hug her. I did not talk to her. I scolded her for small little thing. Sigh, I just can't help it. Besides getting mad at her, I also feel heart broken at the same time as she did not feel sorry about what she has done. As if she has done nothing wrong. She still plays with the boy as usual. She still asks for this and that.

Last night, I read a book, about this man who is 40 years of age, consider successful in his life. He loves rodeo and has been winning a lots and thus become famous. However that is not what his parents want. His parents work in the military and his father always wanted him to be in the military as well. But military is just not in his blood. Thus he did not have a very good relationship with his parent. At 40 years old, suddenly he found out that he is not his parents' biological child. His mother took him from the hospital when she found out her newborn son has died. He is shock at the truth and he does not know how to cope and does not know how to face his biological parents. The biological parents have 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. The other 2 sons have died so only left this son. They are hoping to see him. One side is someone who actually has no relationship with him but has raised him up and with him for the past 40 years. Another side is his actual parents but know nothing about him for the past 40 years.

I turned to look at the gal who was sleeping soundly next to my bed. For a moment, I feel like want to hug her and kiss her. She looks so beautiful when sleeping. Sometimes she's like an angel to me; help me taking care of the boy so well. But when she becomes an evil, she made me so mad that I just feel like want to strangulate her and throw her out. Sigh I wish I can be more patient with her. This morning when I woke up, when I saw her face I back to the bad mommy mood again. Sometimes I feel defeated, don't know how to deal with her. We have tried different ways, but seems like all are not working. Sigh. It is so difficult to be a good parent.