BURIED TREASURES

BURIED TREASURES                                     MARY MANNERS

When Caroline flees Chicago following the brutal murder of her husband, the last thing she expects-or wants-is to fall for Matt Carlson, a builder with strong roots in the small town of Mountainview, Tennessee. She needs to focus on raising her six-year-old daughter and protecting both their hearts from ever being shattered again. Matt is struggling with issues of his own...guilt over the death of his wife and the responsibility of raising a cynical teenaged nephew who is dropped on his doorstep, abandoned by Matt's alcoholic sister. He doesn't have time to fall in love, yet he can't help being drawn to the woman who is ready to defend her home-and her daughter-with nothing more than a feisty attitude and a broom handle. Can Matt's help and friendship convince Caroline to trust again...and when Caroline's daughter goes missing, will Matt be able to find the girl before it's too late and he loses everything he loves...again?


MY REVIEW:

This is a Christian based book but one that doesn’t beat you over the head with it, every other word.  This deals with real life situations and issues you are.  Most of all believable.
     Caroline La Fofollette a widow and a young mother of a five-year-old girl Callie.  They move from Chicago to Mountainview, Tenn.  When her aunt Nora passes away and leaves her the old home and pond on the property to she finally decides to move when the trial for her murdered husband is about to begin.  She’s glad to have it because she doesn’t think she can handle the trial.
     You see her husband was murdered in their home church.  Although, her faith in God had not failed but her faith in those that managed his house sure had because the lock for the door had been busted for a long time and the person that was to fix it did not have experience and because of that lock a thief was able to get in and killed her husband.
     This is a book about faith more so than religion. And about moving forward after tragic losses.  You see Matt Carlson lost his wife Mandy and their unborn child in a car accident.  It had been two years for him.  He was now caring for his soon to be sixteen-year-old nephew, Paul.  Who was filled with resentments toward his alcoholic mother who abandoned him.  She is Matt’s sister.  Making things touchy for Matt.
     The two, Matt and Caroline, had hurdles to face and emotions to overcome.  After their first unsteady meet and greet friendships grew.  A faith in God just not in his four walls at first.  Once that was overcome things started to gel.  Until, Matt could understand the puzzle pieces that solved why she was retreating emotionally.  They were estranged after getting to the dating phase of the relationship then she wanted nothing.  See if he can solve it.  Or if God had a way of putting the puzzle piece to use.

     I give this 5++++ stars.  Provided by netgalley.com  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

INTENDED FOR BRISTOL (Second Chances #9)

INTENDED FOR BRISTOL                            L.P. DOVER

Trying to live down his very public indiscretions, Carolina Cougars kicker Jaxon Reed feels like the most hated man in the NFL. When he’s traded away, his new teammates in California don’t waste any time making his life miserable. Unfortunately for them, Jaxon’s no easy target. As payback, he sets his sights on the quarterback’s sister: a sultry brunette who’s curvy, confident, and sexy as hell. But what begins as a revenge fling turns into so much more.
 
Bristol Thomas doesn’t have time for games, especially those played by her brother’s Neanderthal teammates. A talented interior designer with lofty goals, she doesn’t know the first thing about football, or Jaxon—except that he’s exactly the type of man she usually avoids. But when his deep laugh and deeper kisses break through her walls, she becomes the target of a fan who’s obsessed with Jaxon. Now she needs to know that Jaxon has her back . . . because he already has her heart.

MY REVIEW:
     This author is amazing how she can pull you into the story.  So much that without knowing your emotions are held hostage.  The next thing you know you are laughing one minute, pissed and then crying.
     This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and the characters themselves give you the backstory as the friends and foes to Jaxon Reed the place kicker for the Carolina Cougars.
     He was one scandalous player who was a known for is one
nightery only with ladies.  He had a jealous streak with his teammates, because he liked being number one and bragging about it and when others tried to take the like that’s where the jealousy came in.  Pitting team members against one another.
     Another of his team members Cooper Davis was injured and was out for the season maybe for good.  The team picked up another guy but an outsider from Texas.  Someone everyone on the team dislike more than him.  A lot more.  Ryan Delaney, a hot shot quarterback, who liked to run off at the mouth.  There was only one person in all of Carolina that knew it was all for show.
     That person was Bristol Thomas.  A hot shot in her own right at M&M Architectural Design, as an interior designer.  When people see the picture of them on her desk they think they are a couple but they’re not, far from it.  What they are is close and she is glad to have someone from home moving into town.
     So, when she is at the bar waiting for him after his first day with the team and she meets up with Jax but he never gives his name.  She gives her card when after she states her job and he says he may need a decorator.  Then he gets a call and has to step away.  From that moment on she can do nothing all but fantasies about him.  She hasn’t dated in a very long time. 
     When he returns his main friend on the team Derek McLaughlin asks if he’s alright he says no his mom’s cancer is progressing faster.  He looks around Derek ask if he’s looking for the sexy vixen who had been sitting there he nods and he tilts his head towards some tables.  Where he sees, her sitting with who else but Ryan Delaney.
     It was time to leave only on his way out he was intercepted by a chick named Sadie and a one night to remember.  Or so he might have thought. 
     This was a fun yet suspenseful story.  I give it 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley. 

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Coming Tomorrow 7pm PST. Author of: Marc Zappulla: See Review

Coming Tomorrow 
7pm PST.
Author of:
Marc
Zappulla

Anthony “Tony” Costa grew up admiring his Uncle Dom—a made member of the New England mafia— so when Dom asks him to collect gambling debts from around the neighborhood, Tony is happy to help. Even after his uncle gets thrown in jail, he does his nephew a good turn from behind bars, getting him a job as a longshoreman on the Boston waterfront. The year is 1958, and Tony is only eighteen. His new job quickly teaches him what it will take to survive on the docks.

Tony and his violent new friend Butchie Shea soon carve out a life for themselves on the pier. But when Butchie convinces him to take desperate, brutal action against an adversary, Tony realizes just how badly his criminal lifestyle has tainted him. He vows to go straight and focus on his wife and family—but old habits die hard, and the opportunity of a lifetime yanks Tony back in. The job could lead to big rewards, but Tony might not see just how risky it is until it’s too late.


HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is an excellent story that follows a man Anthony “Tony” Costa, from 1958 working on the docks in Boston to after his retirement. You met Butchie Shea also at the beginning and he becomes a big part of Tony’s life on and off the docks. The author takes you back in time through Tony’s childhood and how his uncle Dom who is a made member of the Mafia. The journey the author takes you feels like you are actually following a real person that is what makes this a very good book. The cast of characters are people that at least for me are believable, his uncle Dom reminded me of an old uncle of mine from New York. You get see Tony married and have two children with his wife Marie, and the struggles they have. There is one scene where Marie is cooking they get an argument and she throws a potato at him, that is something at least for me is believable, for an Italian woman potato, rolling pin, whatever is close glad she didn’t pick up the knife or the story might have ended. Needless to say these men get into messes and because of those Tony is forced to something he does not want to do but needs to protect his family. This book will keep you going and you won’t want to put it down. A very good book with excellent characters. A must read. My wife got me this book from the author so thank you very much. I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
History Buffs will love this.




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