Category: Blog Tour

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The Irish Nanny (Taylor)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I had high hopes for this book, as it seemed that it would be a unique perspective on WWII on an Irish woman in London. While that is partially true, the larger story is much more than that.

In fact, and to be perfectly honest, the war actually serves as a minuscule backdrop to Rose’s story. It’s there only to provide a couple of plot points and not much else.

That doesn’t mean that the story itself is bad (it’s not). But if you’re looking for heroics in the face of war, or detailed scenes about London in wartime, this is not the place to find them.

I felt like this story was more of a lyrical retelling of a young girl’s journey – one that takes her from her small town in Ireland to places she never dreamed she would visit. If looked at through this lens, the book is highly successful.

I liked how the author used Polly and Rose as the differing opinions on their small town, and I especially liked the message that opportunity finds us when we least expect it. I can’t say more about Polly and Rose’s outcomes without giving the plot away, but it did follow in an orderly telling. The story is very linear.

There were parts of it that reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Quiet Man. Sure, it might be mostly because of the setting, but I think it’s more that the story seemed like it could be retold in an Irish Pub. There was a quality that just made it float along easily, moving from one part to the next.

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I liked the characters. I thought that Rose was enjoyable, and the author really hit on how a young girl might have felt leaving home and going to a big city. I also liked Bridgy – she was a hoot, and Agnes was also interesting. I didn’t get much of a feel for the third sister. (I actually had to go back into the book to even remember her name – she didn’t figure highly in the story).

Where the story faltered for me was in the details. I never felt like I got a good enough answer for why Alice was the way she was. Raffi just seemed like an impertinent brat. David was a mystery. None of it seemed to jibe together very well. I particularly did not like the resolution for Alice and Raffi. It was contrived and answered no questions.

There were also places where the writing became tedious. I got very tired of reading “darling girl” or “dear child.” It was repetitive and frankly annoying. And don’t get me started on the scenes set in Brooklyn. I thought those were the most manipulative of all.

In fact, upon reflection, it kind of felt like this was Forrest Gump for the Irish nanny population. Rose is buffeted from one “event” to the next and just happens to be there for whatever occurs.

But I did like the messages of hope and resilience, as well as following the path that God may have laid out for you, even if you can’t figure out why that is the case. Rose certainly grew up (as did Polly). It was a sweet story.

Facebook: SandyTaylorAuthor/
Twitter: @SandyTaylorAuth 

Author Bio:

Sandy Taylor grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist.

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One Night Only (Walsh)-BoT-Romantic Comedy-Available Now

One of the things I look for when I read a romantic comedy is how easily I can cast and visualize a movie version of it in my head. If it’s easy to do, it’s a winner of a story. If I have difficulty, there may still be good parts, but it also may come up lacking.

I’m happy to say that One Night Only fell firmly in the former category. From the opening to closing scenes, I was taken by the characters and their trajectory. I knew right away that this was going to be a good one, and I hoped that the author would be able to sustain it.

Spoiler alert: It was really good all the way through!

I liked the whole setup. Even though I had an idea of what was going to happen in the early pages (I mean, it’s in the blurb and book description!), I still literally laughed out loud at how it all went down.

The wedding that made up the opening chapters was not only a great way to start the book and set the tone, but it was a lot of fun as well. Call it “My Big Fat Irish Wedding,” complete with obnoxious family members, unseasonal weather, and members of the wedding party who indulge in too much Guinness.

Honestly, what’s not to like about that.

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As to the two main characters, I got a better feeling for Declan than I did for Sarah, or so I thought. She was prickly (for her own reasons) and he was brooding and charming. Certainly, a perfect case of “opposites attract.”

Sometimes, in between the initial meet and the final kiss, the relationship flags and it can seem drawn out. That wasn’t the case here. The author put enough in about the characters’ personal lives that it stayed interesting.

As I have mentioned in past reviews, I like to take notes in the books as I read. It makes it easier to write reviews later on. A recurring note in this book was “real.” I used it to describe emotions, reactions, statements, situations…it just all came across as plausible life experiences.

I did think that some of Sarah’s reasoning was a little suspect, and there were times that she seemed inconsistent, but I think that might have been on purpose. She wasn’t always honest with herself, so it was natural that she would appear so to the reader as well.

I really liked the way Declan handled her. I expected a little bit more out of her job revelations, and wanted a better resolution to the Matthias situation, especially in light of what she found out. But (again) I understand why the author wrote it the way she did.

All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that made me laugh in all the right places and gave me those little swoops of “real love” recognition. For once, the tag of “hilarious romantic comedy” is 100% accurate. I’d highly recommend it as a light, fun, beachy read.

Oh, and as to the casting – I’m not totally sold on my decisions, but I could see Adam Weafer or Eoin Macken as Declan and Anna Kendrick or Hailee Steinfeld as Sarah. But what do I know? 😊

Twitter: @CatWalshWriter
Instagram: catwalshwriter/

Author Bio:

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She has a degree in Popular Literature and the only prize she ever won for writing was at the age of 14 in school (but she still cherishes it.) 

She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

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The Rainbow (Schabowski)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I feel like I am getting repetitive, but I find historical fiction to be one of the most plentiful genres of books.

Not only are there multitudes of time periods and eras to choose from, but each one of those also has unlimited stories that can be researched and told. It’s a virtually never-ending supply of storylines.

This, in turn, means that there is always something new that can be explored, even in an era that has been used extensively as a setting.

A case in point is this book.

As always, you can read the blurb or other reviews for the gist of the story. What I found most fascinating about it was the level of detail about what happened to the Polish people after the Germans invaded in WWII.

While I thought Isla was an interesting character, there didn’t seem to be a whole lot to her other than as a vessel to get to the story at hand, which really starts when she sees a photo of her grandfather dressed in a German military uniform.

(By the way, you can read between the lines on what the military uniform really is – but I’m writing it specifically vague because I have had reviews censored recently for mentioning certain words in my reviews. Even though that’s what they were called in the 1940s and up until this year, for some reason, they are a bad word that triggers flags now).

But I digress.  

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Isla’s journey to find out the truth behind the photo makes up the plotline that is then enhanced by her encounters with various people who fill in the blanks to her grandfather’s story.

The storytelling is unique, because it is a mixture of letters (“read” in real-time), diary entries (read as flashbacks), and personal memories (read in flashbacks and as a narrative). While it sounds like this may be a mishmash of styles, it is very effective.

I liked how Isla discovered each section of the past. It painted a whole picture of her grandfather because it came from him (in some forms) with others’ memories as well.

The details are rich and plentiful. One of the things that stuck out the most is the mental strain that was put on the people of Poland, specifically the young men. They were indeed between a rock and a hard place.

One thing that really stuck out to me was how the author used the colors of the rainbow to describe certain memories that stood out: the blue associated with Zofia, the red of the blood spilled in war, etc. That was also effective.

I also was struck by the thought that our memories can be demons that make us afraid to remember – but when faced with them later, they can actually show strength and resilience. It’s all a matter of perspective.

Oh, and Isla’s purpose in the story becomes clear at the end. It’s a clever twist, and I appreciated it very much. I would definitely recommend this book for the insight it provides and the rich history it recounts.

Twitter: @carlyschab11

Author Bio:
Carly Schabowski worked as a journalist in both North Cyprus and Australia before returning to Oxford, where she studied for an MA and then a PhD in creative writing at Oxford Brookes University. Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.

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A Light in the Window (Kummerow)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

This was one of the more interesting historical fiction novels I have read lately, not necessarily because of a unique setting but more because of the story itself.

Let me see if I can explain without giving the plot away, but I will say that you can actually get a big chunk of it from the blurb itself.

At the very start of the book, Margarete is given a Hobson’s choice. I found her instantly relatable in this regard because I think many people would make a choice to live – even if it meant undertaking dangerous subterfuge.

What follows is a story focused on the role she must play and the things she must be aware of in order to survive. She soon realizes that the seemingly simple choice at the beginning was in fact only the beginning of her journey, not the pass to freedom that she might have initially thought it to be.

Interspersed with her chapters are those from the perspective of Wilhelm, a relation of those who suffered a terrible fate in the opening chapter – an event that Margarete has arguably taken advantage of for her own interests.

I’m not sure what else to write about, because the story itself relies on Wilhelm’s perspective of his family (not very favorable) and Margarete’s cunning to propel itself to the conclusion.

In some ways, Margarete’s choices validate Wilhelm’s opinion of “her kind.” But that’s too simplistic, because it really was a matter of life or death, especially as Margarete had found out what was to become of her had the tragic event not happened.

What I have not mentioned in this review is that Margarete is a Jew and Wilhelm is an SS officer, and the time is 1941 Europe. You can see where this is going.

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I think what I found most strange was that the story itself could really have been set at any time and place. The identities of the two, and the situation, seemed to be more of a plot ploy instead of actually meaning something. I’m not quite sure why I feel that way.

I just kept thinking that everything was skimming along and seemed contrived in more than a few places, instead of having some actual depth to it. Characters came and went, some had one role to play and then disappeared.

A major plot twist occurred late in the book, which led to another twist. Neither of them seemed plausible to me. And in fact, almost derailed the story.

I realize this sounds like I didn’t like it, but I did. What kept me reading was that I was eager to see how Wilhelm and Margarete “ended” – if they would stay true to form or if they would buck tradition and expectations to forge a new path.

There was character growth from both of them, and that I enjoyed. And I seriously did NOT see the end coming – that was an interesting and bold choice by the author. I guess it ended up being about the sacrifices we are willing to make to protect the ones we love.

And that’s certainly enough to make a book worth the read.

Facebook: AutorinKummerow
Twitter: @MarionKummerow
Instagram: marionkummerow

Author Bio:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty, and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemmas, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

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What She knew (Rijks)-Book Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I’m of a mixed mind with this book.

On the other hand, it had all of the hallmarks of an excellent psych thriller. But just where everything should have exploded and had me gasping, instead I was just kind of…meh.

Let me try to explain.

For a majority of the book, I’d say at least 85-90%, the author spun a twisted story of secrets, traps, and a pretty darn good mystery.

Stephanie’s university roommate went missing several years prior. Stephanie is now married with two kids and living (what she thinks is) a happy life. Until something happens and the old tragedy becomes new again, bringing up all kinds of memories.

And then things get really weird.

The author does a great job of moving from section to section of the story seamlessly. There are flashbacks throughout the first half of the book that give the reader the backstory of Stephanie and her roommate, Allison.

It’s an effective way of storytelling, as we get to see the action as it happened then, rather than Stephanie just remembering it all. I do like it when an author shows us instead of telling us.

Ostensibly, old wounds are reopened by a documentary filmmaker who is researching cold cases/unsolved crimes. When forced to remember that time period, Stephanie regresses – with nightmares and suspicions hitting her often.

Then a few things occur that turn the story more sinister. This was still well-done. I suspected every character at one point or another, so the author definitely kept me guessing. I even thought there was a touch of gaslighting going on.

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0992PNS9Z
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0992PNS9Z

Where the book failed to deliver (for me at least) was in the climax. The big reveal should have been shocking and breathless. The author had laid such an amazing groundwork, that I expected it to be like a rollercoaster swooping around to the end of the ride.

But right when Stephanie found out what had really been happening, it all just kind of fizzled. What should have been pulse-pounding was just briefly described, and then the wrap-ups were tossed off with a sort “oh well, this happened.”

It’s such a shame because I couldn’t put the book down throughout most of it. But so much was just skimmed over at the end, the villain didn’t even really get to be enough of a villain. And other characters were dealt with in a very abrupt fashion.

I will say that I guessed one of the “twists” fairly early on, but the author did enough to dance around it that I was never quite sure that I was correct until the big reveal. And I’m not sure how I feel about the revelation of a pivotal character.

There was also a character that appeared in a flashback (albeit at a vital moment) who remained in the background until the end. That part didn’t exactly ring true to me but didn’t entirely bother me either.

Overall, I would still recommend this book, because 90% of it was one of the best psych thrillers that I have read this year. I just wish the ending had more oomph to it.

But I will continue to read this author because I think she is solid, and her writing keeps me engaged.

Author Bio:

Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.

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The Woman in the Water (Heard)-BoT-Mystery Suspense-Available Now

This is the second book I have read in as many days that has a character “returning home” in search of the truth about what happened to her sister. Interesting how reading sometimes goes in genres and themes like that.

Anyway, this book is a mystery thriller that verges on the spooky at times. It is atmospheric, the writing is evocative and very descriptive, and there are multi-layered incidents and relationships that are unraveled.

Due to a tragedy, Felicity has to return to the home that she left as a teenager. Her reasons for leaving are slowly revealed throughout the story via flashbacks. The chapters were clearly labeled, and I was never confused as to whether the action was occurring in the past or the present.

I thought she was a complex character. She obviously has a chip (or several of them) on her shoulder due to past events. She felt that her family betrayed her just as her friends did, so she has chosen to forge through life pretty much on her own.

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But how much of that is reality and how much of that is her perception – or her self-fulfilling prophecy – is what really makes this story so interesting. There were times that it was difficult to feel sorry for her because she was sometimes her own worst enemy when it came to doing the right thing.

Admittedly, she doesn’t have the easiest time of it. She feels guilty for not being able to talk to her sister more (due to past events) and when she arrives home, it soon becomes apparent that somebody (or more than one person) doesn’t want her there.

Is it because of the current events, or does it have something to do with the past that she ran away from several years prior?

Yeah….no. Not going to tell you.

But her realization about the people who have remained in or returned to town is believable and natural. The author does a fantastic job of dropping hints here and there keeping both Felicity and the reader guessing – and very off balance.

I thought the imagery of water and what a big part it plays in the plot was particularly effective. Whether it is murky and used to hide secrets or a violent but cleansing storm, a placid lake, or a swamp, it is used to great effect throughout the story.

I highly recommend this taut, atmospheric mystery thriller.

Twitter: @kheardbooks
Facebook: kellyheardbooks

Author Bio: Kelly Heard is a novelist from Afton, Virginia. She published poetry in literary magazines before signing her debut novel, Before You Go, with Bookouture.

Kelly prefers writing to most other pastimes, but you’ll occasionally find her in the garden, hiking, or exploring antique shops.

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Radar Girls (Ackerman)-Blog Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I picked this book up for a few reasons.

1) I like historical fiction.

2) I like new perspectives in historical fiction – learning about known events from a different point of view.

3) I have a soft spot and many fond memories of Hawaii.

One of my strongest memories of my first visit to Hawaii actually involves the memorial at Pearl Harbor, and it’s a place that I always associate with WWII. This made the book even more interesting to me.

The WARD (Women’s Air Raid Defense) program was vital to the War in the Pacific and the author certainly did her research to fully explain the jobs the women were tasked with. This was one of the strongest areas of the narrative. The historical parts were fascinating.

The author also did a nice job with the descriptions of the different women who joined the WARD program. The islands were rife with distrust (for good reason) and it is not unrealistic to believe that the women didn’t always get along, but understood the importance of being able to rely on each other.

I thought that the author captured “old Hawaii” in a very authentic manner. The words were correct (at least from my memory and the few that I looked up). That’s important because I remember how my friends’ grandparents stressed using Hawaiian as much as possible, so it didn’t get lost among new generations.

Buy Links can be found underneath Author Info

I realize I kind of skipped a beat there, but the Hawaiian language has always been magical to me. The words and phrases I learned still resonate in my head often. The same could be said with the locations.

That’s another area where the author did her homework. I could easily picture the different places where the action took place – even though some of the areas have become much more commercial and developed since the 1940s, the relation to each other remains clear.

Less successful in the book were smaller subplots about a horse that went missing the day Pearl Harbor was bombed and some of Daisy’s other personal issues (like with her dad). While they weren’t awful, I thought they were unnecessarily distracting from the main story at hand.

Especially the horse. Pretty sure there were more important things to worry about at the time. But I do understand the importance of a touchstone, as that’s what its purpose seemed to be.

There were also places where the writing didn’t exactly feel polished. I felt that this author’s Red Sky Over Hawaii was slightly more…advanced? That’s not exactly the correct word. Maybe the story in the previous one flowed better?

That’s not to say that this one was bad in any way. In fact, reading both of them will certainly give the reader an excellent feel for World War II Hawaii. It’s a place that was pivotal in U.S. involvement but is often overlooked beyond the one fateful day.

I’m thankful that there are authors like this who work to keep history alive.

Facebook: @ackermanbooks
Twitter: @AckermanBooks
Instagram: @saraackermanbooks

About the author: USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman was born and raised in Hawaii. She studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals.

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One Left Behind (Kovach)-BoT-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I’ve read several of the books in this series, so I thought I knew what to expect in this one (book #9). I was partially right about some of it, totally wrong in my expectations in other ways.

I like how the author picks right up where the action left off from the previous book but also doesn’t dwell too much on detailing past plot points. There are enough references that somebody new to the series wouldn’t be too lost. Usually.

In this case, however, there are some things from Gina’s past that make reappearances and take more of a central focus. In fact, pretty much most of Gina’s personal life is wrapped up in these points in this book.

In some ways, it felt a little bit long in the tooth, because the event in question has been examined at length in past books. And Gina is still dealing with it.

I think I understand the reasons that the author brought it back into focus in a particular manner because there were similarities with the police case Gina was working on. The things that kept occurring made for blurred lines between professional and personal, and caused Gina to steer her investigation in several directions.

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Audible:
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The case itself was okay. I don’t know if it was because teenagers were the main characters or if the story just didn’t grab me, but I didn’t feel the pop that I have felt from past cases with Gina.

Maybe because teenagers always seem to have so many secrets from adults to begin with, it was difficult to understand and get behind the lies and secrets from this group? I’m not sure. Maybe it would have been better if they were adults.

I did like how the characters were human. For example, PC Kapoor still has scars from the last story but is working through them, and the visual scars are lasting longer than the mental ones (supposedly). There is great continuity to be found in these characters and their work.

All in all, I suppose this is a good entry in the series, but not the best of stories. I’ll still look forward to the next outing by Gina Harte, though, because I want to see where her relationship goes with her daughter, and I have become invested in the characters.  

Facebook: CarlaKovachAuthor/
Twitter: ckovachauthor
Instagram: carla_kovach/

Author Bio: Carla Kovach is a crime and horror author from Worcestershire. Her most popular work, the DI Gina Harte series is published by Bookouture. As well as books, she also writes stage and screenplays

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Her Sister’s Secret (Lynes)-BoT-Suspense Thriller-Available Now

What a twisted story this was. Part psychological thriller, part family drama, with mystery and a bit of courtroom drama added in, it definitely had me enthralled – especially as it picked up speed toward the middle.

The first thing that jumped out at me about this book was the atmosphere that the author managed to create. Usually, that is done through descriptions of places, seasons, etc.

But in this case, I felt it was more through the characters’ actions and stories that related. Ultimately, what was revealed was a multi-layered web of lies created by several different people.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of Isla. In some ways, she stayed a little bit of a mystery throughout, because it really wasn’t her story. She was trying to get to the bottom of what had happened to her sister, Annie.

That thread unravels through flashbacks to Annie’s story as told from Annie’s own perspective. The chapters were clearly marked, so there was never any confusion as to whose perspective I was reading or where in time the action was taking place.

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As Isla asks questions of the people who knew her sister best, what at first seemed to be a straightforward domestic incident soon appears to be much more complicated. I said that she was a bit of a mystery, but I think she was off-balance, not knowing who to believe and not even trusting herself.

I think this was purposeful to keep the reader just as off-balance. It was well-done and a very effective way to relate the story.

For example, Isla constantly wonders how she and her sister could have drifted so far apart from each other, and she struggles with townspeople knowing more about Annie than she does.

However, in Annie’s flashbacks, the reader learns that it’s not just Isla who became distant (physically) but also Annie who became distant because if she talked to Isla about one thing, she would have to admit to other things. And Annie didn’t want to do that.

I’ve said in several past reviews that I am a firm believer in NOT giving spoilers or relating too much as to spoil the experience for other readers. This is certainly the case in point for this book.

I will say that by the time I got to the end of it, I was amazed at the author’s ability to craft a story of love and betrayal, what people put up with to hold on to what they see as love (even if it’s not) and the lengths that people will go to in efforts to protect those who they love.

It was a well-crafted book that held my interest from beginning to end and I highly recommend it.

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Other People’s Marriages-BoT-Family Drama-Available Now

“Gripping and emotional family drama” is not always my favorite genre. I often feel that there is enough family drama in real life that I don’t need to read about other people’s problems.
However, every once in a while, a book comes along that strikes a chord and makes me realize that all families have their own issues.
This is that book.
Now, I realize that it’s fiction, but this author has a gift for writing approachable stories with realistic characters who have plausible reactions. That’s a fancy way of saying this book is totally relatable and I imagine just about anyone could find something or someone familiar in its pages.
I liked how the author made Steph, Evie, and Teresa distinct individuals. They were clear cut and well-defined.
However, each of them also had a bit of each of the others in them, which only became apparent as later events transpired.
For example, Evie was the “go along to get along” type – until she wasn’t. We didn’t get the realization in actual time (due to the way the plot transpired), but it was an event that was obviously a long time coming. And when it happened, she became more like how she perceived Steph to be.
At the same time, Steph was the Alpha personality who thought she had everything under control, until she realized that she was actually making excuse after excuse to maintain a status quo that made her unhappy.
Teresa seemed to be the floater, not a strong or weak personality, just stable. But she was put in awkward positions multiple times.

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I thought the author’s perspective on friendships and marriages was extremely interesting and well represented. One can never know what is going on in someone else’s life, and making assumptions serves no purpose.
That being said, the book really centers around secrets. Should a person keep a secret from a best friend? Does the severity of the secret determine whether or not it should be shared? Is it ever too late to tell the truth about something? Is a lifelong friendship and automatic allowance to sharing everything, even if something happened decades before?
The author wisely addresses all of these questions through the interactions of Teresa, Steph, and Evie. At the same time, the reader is challenged to evaluate those questions for themselves.
As to plot details, well…look elsewhere. I was more taken by how the author managed to explore friendships and marriages in an entertaining but provocative manner.
This is indeed an emotional page turner with lots of family drama. You’ll be challenged to do some deep-thinking (if you so choose) but you’ll also be captivated by how obviously simple some of the realizations are (once the characters come to them, that is).
Ultimately, it’s an excellent book that is heartfelt and realistic with relatable characters and a plot that will keep you turning pages.

Author Bio:
Kerry Fisher is a million-copy bestselling author. She writes women’s contemporary fiction, is a USA Today bestseller and her books have been translated into twelve languages. She was born in Peterborough, studied French and Italian at the University of Bath and spent several years living in Spain, Italy and Corsica. After returning to England to work as a journalist, she eventually abandoned real life stories for the secrets of fictional families. She lives in Surrey with her husband, and a naughty Lab/Schnauzer called Poppy, who joins in the huge dances of joy when her young adult children come home.

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