ChaosHappinessBookMama

⭐⭐.5 A woman struggles with balancing her family's needs when secrets are finally brought in the open.  Heidi's beloved husband, Johnny, has a fatal heart attack while out on a job. He has a draft message on his phone to Heidi - q picture of the street shortly before he breathed his last breath.  Heidi is convinced Johnny was sending her one last message. She struggles to find the meaning - until she finds a man who is the spitting image of her husband.   Heidi needs to decide how much to share with her daughters.  When seeking advice from her mother,  Rosalind shares her own dark secret.  I felt for Heidi as she tried to save everyone around her - William,  her son,  dealing with addiction, struggling to be a father. Her daughters' anger and grief. Her own half sister.  A lot going on in this book. And it just kind of ended without any resolution.  They are all on their way,  but it felt as though it was all swept under the ru...

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Funny.  Smart. Quick enjoyable read.   Jodie moves back to her hometown, Cornwall. After a tense situation, Jodie promises her daughter,  Daisey, to leave the police. After finishing chef college,  Jodie buys a house and they move.  Shortly after her return,  Jodie runs into her long time friend, Tony. He's about to be married, but the caterer bailed. Jodie gets a job - and a mystery to solve.  The morning of the wedding,  Tony's ex-wife is found murdered and no one can find the bride.   Determined to prove Tonya innocence, Jodie works the case,  much to DCI Withers' chagrin.  Great, loveable characters.  Romantic tension. Family love.  Great read.

⭐⭐⭐ In an effort to recover from caring for her ailing mother, long struggle with cancer, Brynn visits an old friend. Brynn stays at the town's small bed and breakfast - it has the feel of a home rather than hotel.  She becomes fast friends with the owner and staff as well as the other lodgers, including Dominic.  Dominic is covered in tattoos, obvious mention of Bradbury's classic The Illustrated Man. To add to his mystery,  Kate - Brynn's long time friend, mentions her police chief husband has investigated Dominic in relation to a suspicious death.  Brynn learns Dominic's career is assisting people with transition.  Not only does this resonate with Brynn but also Alice, the ex wife of a happily married gay man. Alice suffers from dementia,  seemingly straddling the veil between here and the after life.  There is a lot in this book.  Sacrifice to care for one's family. Self care. Death. Rebirth.   It was an interesting read....

⭐⭐⭐⭐ On her 62 birthday,  Olivia learns the truth about her life.  After a morning of lovemaking with her husband, Olivia goes to her family law office to finalize the sale of her practice.  She has dreamed of this for years - finally able to travel with Richard, a very successful lawyer as well.  Olivia opens an email, watches the attached video and her world collapses.   The body of Richard's secretary and lover is found. Olivia is charged with murder and placed on house arrest. With the help of her lawyer and his investigator,  Olivia fights to prove her innocence.   I have been looking forward to reading this book - it did not disappoint.  Fast paced plot. Great twists. Family drama. Strong female investigator.  Culprit was easy to identify  - still finished and loved it. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rebecca is covering a demonstration; the local council want to place a sex offender, caught with child porn on his computer,  in a neighborhood nicknamed the Ferry. Mo Burke, the matriarch ruling her family's crime business, fronts the demonstration.  A local candidate,  super conservative and racist attends.  While talking with Cruz, freelance photographer, they receive a tip about a murder.  DCI Roache is called to handle the case. A man dressed in traditional highland dress, murdered with historical sword. No leads. No identity.  Rebecca teams up with her previous boss, Elsbeth to investigate this murder. She befriends a historical consultant for a movie being filmed.  Meanwhile Rebecca has caught the attention of the oldest Burke son. Though he has taken part in his family's business,  Nolan wants out.  I could not put this book down. The characters.  Plot. Suspense.  Twists. Loved it. Highly recommend. ...

⭐⭐⭐ Mabel runs the diner and motel in a small town. A single mother raising two boys and her neice - both parents dead. She is certainly struggling but helps all those she can.  Over the years, it's been overcome with drugs and racists.  Mabel hates seeing her community failing each other as Larson,  the leader of the drug trade and racists, continues to run things. He has people on his payroll - the state police, business owners, etc.  A young couple enter Maybel's dinner,  clearly in love, having an argument.  The young woman is found brutally murdered.  The young black man arrested and assumed guilty.  Mabel knows he's innocent - she struggles to find anyone to believe him, no one willing to investigate the murder. She begins her own investigation - quickly on the bad sad of Larson.  Courage. Integrity.  Mabel fights for what she believes,  providing a struggling town with an exemplary example of what a woman can accomplish....

Erica and her bestie Tish take their children to the neighborhood pool to swim, cool off and watch the annual Fourth of July fireworks.  It's an annual event well attended by the neighborhood,  including the wealthy Sabine, Carol and Monika. After sharing a weird look, Sabine leaves the pool. Shortly after her husband,  Mark, arrives. Looking for Sabine. He goes home only to find the back door broken, blood and Sabine missing.   A whirlwind of activity and confessions ensue, including an online poll for the likelihood of Sabine still being alive.  Tish and Erica have their own secrets,  closely guarded but about to pull them into the investigation.   Slow burn plot. Good twists. I loved the women's solidarity and friendships,  support and kindess.