Julia Brewer Daily’s ‘The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch’ Is an Unexpected Delight [REVIEW]

(Photo courtesy Canva)

She may be a recent college graduate, but her life is about to change in ways even she did not expect. Soon, she is about to face off with the past on the sprawling Texas ranch where she grew up. As a result, she will come to know the land better than anyone in her family could have ever hoped. But at what cost? And will these ghosts of the past be her downfall or her salvation? Find out in Julia Brewer Daily’s The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch.

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Plan Your Next Vacation with National Geographic’s ‘100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime’ [REVIEW]

Mickey and Minnie Mouse await your visit.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse await your visit. (Photo by Bo shou on Pexels.com)

For many, their relationship with Disney may not extend beyond the beloved films and television shows Walt and company have created over the years. Then there are others whose childhoods included trips to Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. (I’m grateful to be among this group!) Still, if these vacations max out your Disney experiences, you have only scratched the tip of the iceberg of what the company now offers. Since Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt never stopped dreaming up new ways to entertain his guests. Now, in National Geographic’s 100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime, Marcy Carriker Smothers shows us all the magic we’ve been missing, and I promise you’re going to want in on the action!

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Robin Bielman’s ‘The Matchmaker and the Cowboy’ Radiates Sunshine [REVIEW]

Couple holding hands
A couple finds love in a small town. (Photo by Anastasiya Lobanovskaya on Pexels.com)

Windsong may be the “happiest seaside and mountain town in California,” but even picturesque tourist destinations are populated by full time residents with real world problems. In Robin Bielman’s second installment of her enchanting series (after The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy), a talented seamstress who is done with romance must share close quarters with the friendliest, most eligible cowboy in town. But are their newfound circumstances enough to draw them together? Or will past trauma keep them apart?

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Indulge Your Wanderlust and Engage Your Palate with National Geographic’s ‘Food Journeys of a Lifetime’ [REVIEW]

There’s nothing quite as memorable as a fine meal. (Photo by Elina Sazonova on Pexels.com)

We are definite foodies. Anytime we travel, our trips almost always include exploring a farmer’s market, taking a cooking class to learn how to prepare regional cuisine, perching on a stool inside the tasting room at a vineyard to sample delicious wines, or finding the restaurants the locals love to eat at most and sinking our teeth into their most renowned dishes. So, when National Geographic’s second edition of Food Journeys of a Lifetime crossed our desk, we couldn’t wait to read it. Within its pages, we were delighted to discover that several of our favorite places made the cut and made an appearance. But we were equally delighted to learn even more about the very topic that makes us reach for our luggage and call our travel agent: food!

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Secrets and Lies Abound in Briana Cole’s New Thriller, ‘Behind Her Lives’ [EXCERPT]

Young black woman's eyes
A woman must find her sister in Briana Cole’s Behind Her Lives. (Photo courtesy Canva)

We love a good thriller, especially when it is packed with psychological suspense, instances of mistaken identity, and an unidentified corpse that has folks scratching their heads. In Briana Cole’s Behind Her Lives, the author of Wanted, The Appraisal, and The Marriage Pass returns with her most baffling, multicultural novel yet. We know you will devour this twisty tale chock full of secrets and lies. Read the following excerpt from the first chapter to get started. Enjoy! —J&H

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