Book Review with Featured Author: The Mothers of Victory Street by Pam Howes

The Mothers of Victory Street 

by Pam Howes

 

Publisher & Release: Bookouture, July 23, 2021

Setting:  Aftermath of WWII, England

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 203 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

1946, Liverpool. Bella Harrison cannot believe the devastating war that stole the lives of her father and sister is truly over at last. She wonders how they will ever rebuild Victory Street with the city in ruins, and half their neighbours gone. But for now, she and her childhood sweetheart Bobby are happy newlyweds, doting on Bella’s little son, her child with black American pilot, Earl Franklin Junior.

With the other members of Bella’s wartime singing trio, The Bryant Sisters, busy starting families of their own, Bella focuses on recording and writing songs with her husband. Everything seems to be falling into place until they get a surprising letter: Earl is moving to England and wants to see them.

Earl arrives and is delighted to see that his son is well and happy. He joins them as a singer and together, they start recording songs. But one night as Earl leaves the recording studio, a racist gang brutally attacks him and sets the place alight, leaving Bobby trapped inside. Meanwhile, Bella is at home, waiting to tell Bobby a devastating secret…

With peace in Liverpool at last, Bella had hoped for a brighter future. But as she faces her life being ripped apart once again, can she rediscover the strength that carried her through the war?

A totally unputdownable, heart-wrenching historical novel, packed with family secrets, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.

 

 

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Mothers-Victory-Street-absolutely-heartbreaking-ebook/dp/B093HJ9J95

 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57975845-the-mothers-of-victory-street?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=6DBRIihvi1&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-mothers-of-victory-street-an-absolutely-heartbreaking-historical-family-saga-the-bryant-sisters-book-3-by-pam-howes

 

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thank go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Mothers of Victory Street by Pam Howes. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Mothers of Victory Street is a well written novel with amazing characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me riveted until the end. Ms. Howes kept me on the edge of my seat worried about what might happen next.

 

Bella Harrison has married her childhood sweetheart, Bobby, and together, they’re raising her little son, Levi. She is still close to Fran and Edie as the Bryant Sisters move beyond the war now that it’s ended. Fran’s dreams of a happy life with Frankie had not gone as she expected, and she leaves him and files for divorce. Edie and Stevie are happy awaiting the birth of their first child.

 

Bobby’s mum even finds love with Basil. Then divorced Earl Franklin Jr., his daughter and his sister Ruby move to England. This created anxiety for Bella and Bobby, but it goes much better than they had feared, and Earl joins them in their musical endeavors.

 

Just when they believe life is going well, things take a terrible turn. There is such a foreshadowing of what might happen, I held my breath, praying everyone would survive. It takes great talent for an author to keep the tension going without it becoming frustrating!

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with wonderful characters, and a plot that will pull at your heartstrings, then you will love The Mothers of the Victory Street as much as I did. Ms. Howes is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Pam Howes was born in Cheshire. She is an ex-Interior Designer who began writing seriously in the mid-nineties. The idea for her first novel, set in the sixties, was inspired by her time as a teenager, working in a local record store and hanging around with musicians who frequented the business. 

 

That first novel evolved into a series set in the fictional town of Pickford, based on her hometown of Stockport. Three Steps to Heaven; 'Til I Kissed You; Always On My Mind; Not Fade Away, and That'll Be The Day, follow the lives and loves through the decades of fictional Rock'n'Roll band The Raiders. Pam is a big fan of sixties music and it's this love that compelled her to write the series. 

 

A stand-alone true-life romance, Fast Movin' Train, set in the nineties, was published in early 2012. Pam is mum to three adult daughters, grandma to seven assorted grandchildren, and roadie to one musician partner.

 

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pam.howes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamHowes1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pam-howes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4097443.Pam_Howes

 

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle

The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle

 

Publisher & Release: Waterbrook, May 11, 2021

Setting: Carolina Coast

Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction

Length: 347 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

“A beautiful story full of love, loss, and second chances.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

A touching novel of a friendship that crosses generations, and learning how even the smallest gifts can change a life for good, from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

Two years after her husband’s death, Amanda Whittier has two children to raise alone, an abandoned dream of starting a business, and a fixer-upper cottage by the sea. She has no room in her life for anything else and little interest in moving on after losing the man she loved. 

Paul Grant is a relative newcomer to the area, and his work with former military dogs needing rehabilitation has been good for the town. Though he loved once before, he’s convinced he’s not suited for romance and is determined to find meaning—alone—through his work and role in the community. 

Widowed Maeve Lindsay was born and raised on Whelk’s Island. Spirited, kind, and a little mischievous, she pours her life into the town. But she carries a secret that shapes her every move. 

Together, these three souls find encouragement in the most mysterious places and discover a love that’s bigger than their pain, healing their wounded hearts in ways none of them could have hoped for or expected.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Shell-Collector-Novel-Nancy-Naigle-ebook/dp/B08HLB7Y3N

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shell-collector-nancy-naigle/1137597639

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-shell-collector-6

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Nancy_Naigle_The_Shell_Collector?id=roP7DwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Shell-Collector-Audiobook/0593400208?qid=1619984913&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=5X9MHK2NMAQ0NTVHKX5G

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56579723-the-shell-collector

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-shell-collector-by-nancy-naigle

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this heartwarming novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

The Shell Collector is another heartfelt story with endearing characters and a plot that will touch your heart. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. Ms. Naigle has set this novel in a small coastal beach town with a close community.

Amanda Whittier is the heroine, and I quickly became enmeshed with her character from the start. I loved her courage, her stamina and determination. When she befriends Maeve, my heart melted. Her love of her adorable children is admirable, and although her grief is deep from the losing her husband, she doesn’t allow it to pull her under.

 Paul Grant is the hero, and he has the characteristics I most admire. Not only is he ex-military, but he’s also a dog lover and has formed a company to rehabilitate ex-military animals. When he meets Amanda on the beach, it amazed him. The last time he’d seen her was at her husband, and his best friend’s, funeral, where she placed the blame on him for Jack’s death.

 Maeve Lindsay is the third major character in this tale, and she’s feisty, quirky and will steal your heart. Her love and unconditional acceptance of Amanda is amazing, and her deep relationships with the folks in their community are heartwarming.

 The romance between Amanda and Paul is not the central focus of this novel, but added to my enjoyment. While they have a good bit of angst to overcome from their past, they don’t antagonize each other. I enjoyed their romance and wanted them to find their happy ending.

 If you enjoy novels that deal with grief, friendship and unconditional love, and with characters that will grab your heart, then you will love The Shell Collector as much as I did. I always know I’m in for an emotional reading experience with one of Ms. Naigle’s novels. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career as an SVP for Bank of America and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. 

 

Now enjoying an early retirement from the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, cooking, trail riding on her Palomino, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she now calls North Carolina home. 

 

Best known for her small town stories set in Adams Grove, Sweet Tea and Secrets leads off this small town series. Stay tuned for news about the release of Porch Swings and Promises.

 

Nancy writes romance and women's fiction for Montlake Romance and St. Martin's Press and enjoys the diversity of adding mysteries to her list of accomplishments through Crossroads Publishing House. She's also working on several projects with Hallmark. Watch for Nancy's novels, Christmas Joy, Christmas in Evergreen and Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa on Hallmark Channel, and Hope at Christmas, on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. New in 2020, The Secret Ingredient made its Hallmark Channel debut, and stay tuned for news about the movie based on Sand Dollar Cove.

​

Sign up for Nancy's newsletter at the bottom of this page to be the first to hear about the new movie.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.nancynaigle.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyNaigle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancynaigle/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancynaigle/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-naigle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575284.Nancy_Naigle

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Dead to Me by Lesley Pearse

Dead to Me by Lesley Pease

 

Publisher & Release: Agora books, February 18, 2021

Setting:  WWII, England

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 459 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Hampstead Heath, Spring 1935. Two girls meet by chance and become fast friends. They share their romances and heartbreaks, their struggles and dreams. But most of all, they share a sinister secret.

Upon their meeting, Verity and Ruby could not be more different: Verity is the epitome of money and class; Ruby lives a life of squalor and survival. Despite the disparity, an instant affinity forms a resilient bond between the two girls.

Yet, as the outbreak of WWII rumbles throughout Britain, Verity and Ruby’s relationship starts to develop fault lines. Ruby finds herself blissful and in love, while Verity is haunted by a shadow from her past. Separated by more than just distance, the two friends struggle to maintain their relationship until Verity does the one thing she can never take back.

With Britain blitzed by the raging war, will Verity and Ruby find a way back to each other before it’s too late?

In this sweeping wartime saga of friendship and love, Pearse explores the depths of lifelong bonds, compassion, betrayal, and forgiveness.

 

Buy Link:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Dead-Me-Lesley-Pearse-ebook/dp/B08PS7NTV3

 

Add to Goodreads:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56636007-dead-to-me

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the electronic copy of Dead to Me by Lesley Pearse. An historical fiction novel set in WWII England. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating of this book.

 

Dead to Me is a wartime saga that follows Ruby and Verity from the tender age of thirteen into adulthood. It’s a sweeping tale of friendship, betrayal and recovery from a childhood destroyed by uncaring mothers and an abusive father for Verity. The pacing pulled me in from the start and kept me enmeshed until the last page.

 

Verity is the main protagonist. She’s living a posh life with all the advantages a child could want. She meets Ruby, a child who lives in squalor and has to fight to survive. On the surface the two have little in common. 

 

When Verity ends up in trouble for trying to help Ruby, her life is turned upside down when her father almost beats her to death, then disappears before the police can arrest him for embezzlement. Verity and her mother move in with her mother’s sister, Aunt Hazel. 

 

Verity is a flawed character with dark secrets that make it difficult for her to trust, especially males. She makes unwise decisions that have a lasting effect on her life for years. Her teenage years become a struggle when her abusive father disappears, and she and her mother move in with Aunt Hazel. 

 

Ruby is the second protagonist of this tale. At the beginning of the story, she almost a feral child. Her drunken prostitute mother doesn’t protect her, but Ruby quickly learns to keep away from the men who frequent her mother’s bed. When she gets in trouble with the police, she is sent to Devon to live with a woman who helps troubled teens, and she has a chance for a different life.

 

Even though Ruby and Verity weren’t together long, they formed an unbreakable bond that even distance could not break. Even when Ruby’s unwise decisions appear to break it, it’s not permanent. 

 

In the midst of war-torn England, the girls grow into young women. Verity in London where she works for the telephone company, and Ruby works at a hotel that is turned into a hospital in Devon. After years of separation, Ruby and Verity reunite and live together with Wilby, the kind woman who helped Ruby.

 

Wilby is a wonderful character. She loves with her whole heart and does not judge or condemn. She’s generous to a fault and has no hidden agenda. When the war breaks out, she’s the first to open her home to the children fleeing London when the German Blitz starts.

 

Ms. Pearse vivid descriptions of London and Devon during the war put me right in the middle of the bombing. When a church is bombed taking twenty-one children’s lives, I had an amazing visual of what it must have looked like because I saw a bombed-out shell of a church in Devon on a trip to that area in 2016. The tour guide explained that it had been left that way so British citizens would never forget the harsh reality of that brutal war.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with unforgettable characters and amazing descriptive writing woven into a fantastic plot, then you will love Dead to Me as much as I did. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Pearse, but it will not be the last. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Born in Rochester, Kent, Lesley Pearse has lived a life as varied as the adventures in her novels. After working in various offices as a lowly clerk, a children’s nanny, then moving into the more glamorous work of Promotion and a spell as a Playboy Bunny, Pearse eventually turned her hand to writing and published her debut novel, Georgia, in 1993. Now living in a cliff-top house in Devon, alone with her King Charles Cavalier, Stan, Pearse has published over 25 titles and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. 

 

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesleyPearseAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lesleypearse?lang=en

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lesley-pearse

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/458937.Lesley_Pearse

 

Book Review with featured author: The Friendship List by Susan Mallery

The Friendship List by Susan Mallery

Publisher & Release: HQN, August 4, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Washington

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Length: 327 Pages

Heat Level: Mild

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Two best friends jump-start their lives in a summer that will change them forever…
Single mom Ellen Fox couldn’t be more content—until she overhears her son saying he can’t go to his dream college because she needs him too much. If she wants him to live his best life, she has to convince him she’s living hers.

So Unity Leandre, her best friend since forever, creates a list of challenges to push Ellen out of her comfort zone. Unity will complete the list, too, but not because she needs to change. What’s wrong with a thirtysomething widow still sleeping in her late husband’s childhood bed?

The Friendship List begins as a way to make others believe they’re just fine. But somewhere between “wear three-inch heels” and “have sex with a gorgeous guy,” Ellen and Unity discover that life is meant to be lived with joy and abandon, in a story filled with humor, heartache and regrettable tattoos.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Friendship-List-Novel-Susan-Mallery-ebook/dp/B07WYPSZKP

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-friendship-list-susan-mallery

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-friendship-list

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-friendship-list

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50888345-the-friendship-list

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-friendship-list-by-susan-mallery

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Friendship List by Susan Mallery for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

The Friendship List is a well-written novel with complex characters and a plot that will tug at your heart. The pacing pulled me in from the start and held me in its thrall until the fulfilling ending. 

The MCs are two women who have been friends most of their lives. Each finds themselves stuck in the past and afraid to move forward. The story follows each woman through their journey to overcome their fear. They put together a list to help them and make it a competition.

Ellen Fox’s character has a seventeen-year-old son and has lived for him. She got pregnant the only time she had sex at seventeen and has never ventured into the dating pool. She’d become great friends with the coach and teacher at the school where she teaches. 

Unity Leandre’s character is a jack of all trades, a woman who married her childhood sweetheart. Her husband was in the military and lost his life while serving his country. Unity can’t let him go. They had lived with his mother in her house, and although both the mother and her husband have died, she still sleeps in the bed in his childhood bedroom and has changed nothing. She truly stuck in the past and sees no reason to move on.

The Friendship List shows tremendous growth for Ellen and Unity as they go about accomplishing their lists. While Unity only suggested the list to help Ellen, who fears her son will miss out on the full college experience because she’s overheard him telling this to a friend, but when Ellen begins accomplishing her objectives, she feels compelled to do so as well.

Ellen finds out her good buddy, Keith, the coach is hot and can be more than a friend. I loved them together and wanted them to find their happy ending, which proves complicated, to say the least. 

Unity meets Thaddeus through a friend, and because of the list, she jumps into a sexual relationship before she’s ready. They too are perfect for each other, but how does Unity become ready? Their romance is also complex, making it difficult for them to find their happy ending, but I really want that for them.

If you enjoy novels with massive character development where each MS learns life lessons along the way and a story that pulls you into their lives and the lives of their children and friends, then you will love The Friendship List as much as I did. While I’ve read and listened to many of Ms. Mallery’s books, this is the first I’ve had the privilege of receiving an advance copy. I am so pleased I had the chance to read this book and will continue to read and listen to other stories by her. Happy reading!

Author Bio:

SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.

Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as mom.

Social Media:

Website: https://www.susanmallery.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanMallery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanmallery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanmallery/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/susanmallery/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-mallery

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8716.Susan_Mallery

Book and Audio Review: Breeze: Capturing the Heart of Agility by C.S. Bills

Breeze: Capturing the Heart of Agility by C.S. Bills

Publisher & Release: Self-published, November 18, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Book Length: 233 pages

Heat Level: Sweet

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

“Weave,” Kate said, in her most positive and encouraging voice. Breeze hit the weaves and Kate ran alongside of him, “Weave, weave, weave, weave,” she said as he pulled through and out the last one.
“Yes!” Kate raced to the tunnel, willing Breeze to take the far entry. He did it. Kate felt herself tense. Her heart was pounding.
We just might do this. We just might do this...

When Kate buys Breeze, a black and white border collie puppy, he soon becomes the center of her life. And when they see agility for the first time, both Kate and Breeze are hooked.
But Kate is still struggling with a pain-filled past. She wants to stop grieving and start living again, and now, with Breeze, has come a glimmer of hope. Agility may just be the ticket to a bright new life for the two of them.

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Breeze-Capturing-Heart-Agility-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0FX73G

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1996702269

Vikki’s Musings

Wow! What an awesome read. This book is so far from my usual read, and I didn't have any idea how I would feel since there isn't even a romantic element to this story. This is a tale of grief, friendships, new beginnings and embracing what life sends your way.

I loved the healing Breeze brings to Kate. I've never heard of agility training, but it was the best thing that could have ever happened for Kate. While there is no romantic HEA, there is a fantastic happy ending for the heroine!

If you're looking for an uplifting story that will have you cheering and wiping a few years away, then this is a book you will not want to miss. I'm so glad Wendy Stetson suggested this one. She is the narrator, and as always she brings the characters to life, reading with just the right level of emotion. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs especially, but whether that is the case of not, you will love this story. Happy reading!

Making it Right by Catherine Bybee

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, May 9, 2017

Time and setting:  Present Day, Northwest Pacific

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length: 350 pages

Heat Level: 1.5 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

In the final book in bestselling author Catherine Bybee’s Most Likely To trilogy, River Bend’s rebel follows in her father’s footsteps to become sheriff. But it might be time to forge her own path…

Some kids inherit a family business; Jo Ward inherited a badge. Once voted Most Likely to End Up in Jail, the town wild child has become sheriff—hell-bent on uncovering the truth about her father’s mysterious death. Life is quiet in rustic River Bend, but Jo longs for something beyond her small hometown and the painful memories it holds. All that keeps her sane is the support of her best friends, Melanie and Zoe.

But when Jo signs up for an expert law enforcement training seminar, she meets Gill Clausen, whose haunting eyes and dangerously sexy vibe just may challenge her single-minded focus. Commitment-phobic Jo can’t deny her attraction to the arrogant federal agent, and when odd things start happening around River Bend and danger surrounds her, she realizes she’ll need his help to discover who’s out to remove her from River Bend…permanently.

As Jo and Gill work together, it’s clear they make a great team. But can Jo loosen her grip on the past enough to let love in and reach for the future?

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Making-Right-Most-Likely-Novel-ebook/dp/B01L76IOSU

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31933569-making-it-right

Vikki’s Musings

Catherine Bybee is fast becoming one of my auto-buy authors. This is the third book in the Most Likely to series and completes the stories of three best friends. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review, I immediately accepted.

Jo Ward is sheriff of River Bend. Her father was sheriff before his untimely death, and Jo believes his death was no accident. Although many years have passed, she is not willing to let it go.

While attending a law enforcement seminar to gain additional tools in her investigation, she meets Gill Clausen. The attraction between them is too strong to deny, and she believes she is involved in a fling that will end when the seminar does. Imagine her surprise when Gill shows up in River Bend determined to turn their brief affair into something more permanent.

Will Gill convince Jo he is worth giving up her commitment phobia, or will Jo keep her heart locked up?

Making it Right is a nice finish to this excellent series. This romance has a fantastic hero and a snarky heroine, great pacing, and an intriguing plot. While this one is not my favorite of the three books, I did enjoy it and was glad to see Jo get her happy ending.

Jo is a kick-some-butt kind of heroine, yet is still able to show her vulnerable side. I ended up liking her more than I expected since that is not my favorite character arch. What I liked most about her character was her desire to help teens. Her heart was in the right place.

Gill is yummy as the hero. He has all the ingredients I love in the male lead. He’s honorable, loyal and caring. He truly wants to earn Jo’s trust and her love and is willing to hang in there when she tries to push him away.

If you enjoy a romance with a great set of characters, and one with plenty of action mixed in, then you will love Making it Right. While it is not necessary to read the books in this series, I do recommend reading the other two books as well. Happy reading!