Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany

Genre: Adult, Realistic Fiction
Source:  I received a copy through Netgalley to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I seem to be reading a lot of books lately that work my emotions. This is the story of a mother who gives up her children, ages four and six-months in hopes of them having a better life. She believes they will be kept together, but they aren't.

This story is told from three points of view. First we have Jennifer, the mother who gave up her children when she got in trouble with the law. Then we have Brooke who was the oldest of the girls. She grew up in the foster system and has always felt like she belonged nowhere. Now she is pregnant and trying to decide what is best for her own child. Finally we have Natalie who has never questioned her adoptive parents about her birth mother. When her daughter comes home from school with an assignment to create a family tree, Natalie sets out to find her birth mother and a sister she never knew. The author has done a phenomenal job developing the characters. You can't read this book and not feel for all of them involved. This is a story of finding love, forgiveness in a heartrending story.

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Genre: Adult, Romance, Suspence
Source: I received a copy from Netgalley to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.

They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother's hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn't be bothering them anymore...ever. Still their lives would never be the same. 

Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother's mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.

Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts...and wants. 

Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack's brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth....

My Thoughts:
This book is all about secrets and the effect they have on those keeping them. Madeline and Daphne haven't spoken for years. However, when they reconnect it is like they have never been apart. They are bound together by a past secret that has come back to haunt them. Jack has his own secret and while trying to protect Madeline finds himself falling for her. This is an edge of your seat, suspenseful romance. If you are into the mushy, gushy type of romance don't bother picking this up. The suspense, twists and turns kept me reading. I really didn't know how it was going to turn out until the end. That made this book especially wonderful for me. This is definitely a book I'll recommend.

Blogging For Profit or Not

Blogging For Money???

When I started blogging several years ago it was at my husband's suggestion. He was trying to think of a way to help me help my students. I wanted them to read and write more. They constantly said there weren't any good books out there or they didn't know what to read. He suggested I start writing reviews for the books I pulled from my shelves, or bought and read. I did. Now I give my parents and students my blog URL so that they can find books for anyone. I read and review everything from picture books to adult books. I have been asked by many if I get paid for my reviews. I receive no money for my reviews. I am on occasion given a book by an author or publicist to read and review. Often these books are ARCs (advanced reader copies) and have mistakes. All books I receive are either put on my shelves at school or passed on to others to enjoy. I have not desire to make money from my blog. I believe the moment I start getting paid for my blog then a couple of things will happen.

First thing to happen is that I will need to write to someone else's standards. I want the freedom to write things the way I see fit. I want to be able to write about a book, or a DVD, or a CD if I want.
The second thing to happen is that it will suddenly seem like a job.  I do this because I want to and because I enjoy it. The day I stop enjoying this process is the day I will close down my blog. I still have a mission to read and enjoy books and share that love with others in hopes they will find a book they love.

By having my own blog and doing it my way I can take a break as needed. I recently had major surgery and knew I would have to be gone for a couple of months. I was able to do that because I control my blog.

Now some of you may want to start a blog and make money from it. I can't help you there. However, if you go to this link, you will find a blog that tells you how to make money from your blog. This is a decision you must make for yourself. Either way I do believe blogging is worth it. Go ahead and check out the link and see if "How to Make Money from Your Blog" is for you.

Good luck and have a great day!