The Magnolia Palace.

 

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter’s life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists’ models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death. 

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City’s most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica’s financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family. 

 

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I shouldn’t be surprised, and yet here I am. The Magnolia Palace is the third book that I have read by Fiona Davis , and the third book that I have fallen in love with. I had discovered the author back in 2019 and couldn’t get enough of her books since then. I believe that she is the best author for dual timelines. Even though they tend to be connected, I feel as if I am reading two different stories. The Magnolia Palace did start a bit slower than her other books have, but it wasn’t long before I was hooked on the stories. I felt that Veronica’s storyline started slower and took time to get into. However, I couldn’t get enough once it picked up, and I wanted to see what would happen next and how it would end. The way Lillian’s story ended, I couldn’t help but wonder; what happened after? Somehow, I knew what Lillian was accused of; it wasn’t true. Now the question that was going through my mind, then who was? I knew that someone had to be responsible for what happened. 

I enjoyed Veronica’s storyline; however, I preferred Lillian’s storyline more. I felt that there was much more happening in Lillian’s storyline. There was not a single moment in Lillian’s storyline that didn’t have my attention. I can’t begin to imagine working for someone like Helen, and I would leave a long time ago. I know that Lillian started, so she could earn some money and then go. As the book progresses, I see a change in Lillian, and I know that she starts to like Helen, and I think Helen feels the same, even if she won’t admit it. Helen was one character that I didn’t know that I could like, but as time passed, just like Lillian, I learned to like her. I was hoping that Helen would never find out about Lillian’s past, knowing that it would not end well for them if the truth came out. Helen and Lillian had a hate/ love type of relationship. However, despite anything that was happening, they were still willing to help each other out in the end. 

One of my favorites in this book was the descriptions. Anytime I read Fiona Davis books, I find myself transformed into the time I am reading about. You can tell how much more research the author puts into her books. There is a reason that I am always looking forward to her books. I loved that both Lillian and Helen appeared in Veronica’s storyline and that the mystery behind the diamond and Helen's father’s death was finally resolved. After reading The Magnolia Palace , I am eager to visit The Frick Art Museum , which I did some research on after finishing the book. I love any museums that have to do with art, but the book sparked my interest in this one. The Magnolia Palace was astonishing, a must-read.

Run Rose Run.

 

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

Every song tells a story.
She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her.
She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past. 

Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her. 

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  I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I have read few of books from James Patterson Maxim Ride series, and I have enjoyed them. I’m not a big Dolly Parton fan, but I have seen some of her movies and like a few of her songs. When I found out that the two of them had written a book together, I couldn’t help but be curious. The title and the cover captured my attention first, and then I saw their names on the cover. Run Rose Run; how can you not but wonder what is happening there and the title. I knew that I was going to enjoy this book from the moment that I read the summary of the book. From the summary, I was curious about Rose’s past, wondering what she was hiding and how dark her past was. I knew there was a reason that she ran away from it. 

I loved that it took place in Nashville. In March, I visited my grandmother in Tennessee, and we went to Nashville. I might be in the areas that AnnieLee was in, but it was easier for me to picture everything since I have been to Nashville. I loved following AnnieLee’s music journey and the fact that she didn’t give up; despite the number of rejections, she was determined to make it as a musician. I believe that having Ruthanne and Ethan by her side; helped her. I’m glad that she was able to find friends like them. However, I couldn’t help but wonder what secret she left behind, and from what happened to her after she got to Nashville, it couldn’t be anything good. I hoped that whatever AnnieLee was running from wouldn’t come back and haunt her later. But mostly hoped that it wouldn’t hurt the people she loved. 

 
Run Rose Run didn’t have as much thriller as I assumed. I felt that the book focused on AnnieLee’s new start as an aspiring musician. There was some suspense in the book, mostly about her past, and I was curious what or who she was running from. I hoped that Ethan wouldn’t hold it against her if he found out. Despite that, I had enjoyed this book, and of course, I loved the lyrics to the songs and found myself singing along to them as AnnieLee and the others sang them. While reading the book, I couldn’t help but wonder how James and Dolly wrote the books, and I figured those lyrics were Dolly’s, but what about the rest of the book. Run Rose Run took me on an incredible journey and had me falling in love with most of the characters. I love the country music and thrillers, so this was my type of book. I highly recommend giving this book a try.

Boardwalk Summer.

 

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

Santa Cruz, Summer 1940: When auburn-haired Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss California on the boardwalk of her hometown, she knows she is one step closer to her cherished dream: a Hollywood screen test. But Violet’s victory comes with a price—discord in her seemingly perfect marriage—and she grapples with how much more she is willing to pay. 

Summer 2007: Single mother Marisol Cruz lives with her parents in the charming beach cottage that belonged to her grandfather, Ricardo, once a famed performer on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Drawn to the town’s local history and the quaint gazebo where her grandparents danced beneath the stars, Mari sells raffle tickets at the Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, and meets Jason, a California transplant from Chicago. 

When Mari discovers the obituary of Violet Harcourt, a beauty queen who died too young, she and Jason are sent on a journey together that will uncover her grandfather’s lifelong secret—his connection to Violet—a story of tragedy and courage that will forever transform them. 

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  I love books told from dual timelines. Those are my favorite books, especially if it’s historical fiction. When I picked up Boardwalk Summer , I didn’t know what to expect from the book since it was the first book I had read by the author. The title captured my attention first, followed by the summary of the book, which sounded like the type of book that I would enjoy. Within the first couple of chapters, I was hooked and wondered how I haven’t read this author earlier. Don’t you love it when you discover an author by accident? When I come across an author I haven’t read before, I never know what to expect, so I don’t have high expectations. I wish that I did for this book. I felt that I was reading two different stories, even though the two characters somehow connected. If I were asked if Violet or Marisol were my favorites, I wouldn’t be able to pick because I loved them both. Violet and Marisol were both unique in their way. Two strong women. 

I loved reading about Miss California and how different it was back then. I found it interested that you had to be single to compete. I was curious if she would be discovered at the end, and if her husband didn’t show up, what would happen? My heart broke for Violet, especially when she couldn’t seem to escape her abusive husband. After she ran away, I was afraid of what might happen to Violet if her husband found her. I was hoping that he wouldn’t be able to find her. Her husband, Charles, got even more violent when he found her and brought her back home. I was sure that he would kill her this time. Violet’s emotions were vivid that even I could feel her fear. I loved that Marisol’s grandfather and Violet were connected, and like Marisol, I was curious about what happened to Violet. I loved the mystery behind it. 

Marisol had her own story to tell. It’s interesting how one photograph of Violet sparked her interest in what happened to Violet. Marisol didn’t stop until she discovered the truth, and it was far from what I expected it to be. I could tell how much research went into Boardwalk Summer . I couldn’t get enough of both Violet’s and Mari’s stories. I loved both of their stories, but I did feel that Violet’s story was more emotional, and I had teared up on multiple occasions. Boardwalk Summer had a few hard discussions within the book that will leave you emotional and thinking. Now that I have read this book, I am eager to check out other work of Meredith Jaeger.

The Lights Along Majesto.

 

 

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 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Set to the backdrop of life on the road for the working class musician, The Lights Along Majesto is a fictional story that follows the adventure of four unlikely companions as they find themselves in a tour van headed all over the country and straight to hell.

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I don’t know how to explain my emotions through this book. The Lights Along Majesto is one of those books you can’t get out of your mind. I finished it a while back, and I am still thinking about it. I even recommended it to a few of my friends. There is so much going on in the book that it’s impossible to find a spot to put it down. I had to force myself to put the book down a few times. Every page had me wondering what was coming next, how it would end. I felt as if I was on tour along with the band. JD Eicher is a close friend, and I had no idea he was writing a book until it was close to the release date. I was excited once I found out about the book and fell in love with the book in the first chapter. I was on the edge of my seat by then and was eager to see what would happen next. 

I have read a book about a band in the past, but it wasn’t anything like The Lights Along Majesto . Everything that was described in the book, felt so real. I could see everything that happened on that tour happening in real life. I could visualize it all. Out of all the characters, Beckett was my favorite in the book, and I loved to read the story from his point of view. Honestly, I don’t know how he dealt with Simon for as long as he had; if it were me, I would quit long ago. But, I wondered if something would happen between Beckett and Annie, I was hoping that it would. It’s probably why I didn’t see the ending coming. 

Simon. Now that’s a character I knew I was never going to like. I don’t know how anyone can deal with someone like him. Annie deserved much better than Simon. Although, there were times when I did wonder what Simon was thinking during the tour. The Lights Along Majesto is not a story that you will forget; a story that will have you on edge, from beginning to the end. Once you turn the last page, you will be curious about what will happen after. I’m hoping that JD Eicher will write more books in the future. This was astounding.