Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz & Chris Crabtree

From Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree comes an epic and inspiring novel—based on true events—about love, heroism, and resilience during the darkest chapters of World War II.

Sam Carlson is a projectionist in small-town Minnesota, where fantasies unspool in glorious black and white—for him and for his sweetheart, college-bound math whiz Sarah Haber. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Sam is sent to the Philippines and captured as a POW. Brutalized but unbroken by the Bataan Death March and POW camps, Sam is one of 1,800 starved and weakened prisoners herded into the cargo hold of a barbaric hell ship called the Arisan Maru, his survival doubtful.

Determined to use her math skills on the home front, Sarah is recruited to Washington, DC, into the covert field of code breaking. When Sarah intercepts a message about a Japanese convoy, the US Navy’s mission is sink the Arisan Maru and send it to the bottom of the South China Sea. Now, the lives of the two young lovers are about to inadvertently collide in one of the most shocking acts of World War II.

Anchored in an extraordinary true story and breathlessly recreated, Hold Strong is a one-of-a-kind novel that explores faith, courage, survival, and coming home against insurmountable odds.

Kindle Edition, 543 pages

Expected publication January 28, 2025

 by Lake Union Publishing

4.5/5 stars

Coming out in January Robert Dugoni has a new book that is also written by Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree, authors I am unfamiliar with. A departure from his usual courtroom drama books that I have read in the past Hold Strong takes place before, during and after the war.

Beginning in a small town in Minnesota, high school sweethearts, Sam and Sarah's lives changes when Sam enlists and Sarah goes off to college. What follows is a gritty story, especially for Sam as a Japanese POW.   I already knew that that is almost a death sentence and for some that survived wish that it had been. It is vivid, descriptive and heartbreaking, to the point that I put the book down for a few days.

For Sarah back home she is getting involved in the war effort herself.

This was a well written story that was rich in history to the point that the author notes were very descriptive in telling where they got their information to make this a story as authentic as possible. Hold Strong is a story of perseverance, survival and heartache.  I loved the conclusion, it just felt authentic.

Hold Strong is still a story I think about a month have finishing, it emotional and gripping.  You can find it on shelves the end of January.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

From New York Times bestselling author Elle Cosimano, comes Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank—a hilarious short story diving into Finlay Donovan's partner-in-crime Vero's past.

Anyone can spot a window of opportunity, but not everyone can manage to fall straight through one.

Veronica Ruiz is on the run for the first time in her life—though certainly not the last. After being falsely accused of stealing money from her college sorority, she packs up and heads to her cousin Ramón's apartment, planning to change her name and rebuild start over away from backstabbing girls and university drama (and far, far away from her arrest warrant in Maryland).

At the local bank on the first morning of her new life, it occurs to Vero that she'd be a better bank teller than most of the current employees: she may not have much money, but what little she does have, she knows how to manage. Unfortunately, the only available position is a cleaning job and so, desperate for a fresh start, she takes the bank manager’s offer.

But nothing in Vero's world has ever been simple, so of course shortly after she begins work, she overhears a conversation between her new boss and a security guard: someone who works there has been stealing. Seeing a window of opportunity, Vero sets out to find the identity of the thief, present the evidence, and then push for the perfect job. All of which would be easier if her irresistibly infuriating childhood crush Javi wasn’t living in the same damn town.

Offering the insight that listeners have been craving into fan-favorite Vero's past and a closer look at the moment Finlay and Vero first meet, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a can't-miss addition to the Finlay Donovan series.

Audiobook, 2 hours, 27 minutes

Published November 7, 2023

 by Macmillan Audio

3.5/5 stars

This is book 3.5 in the Finlay Donovan series. a novella/short story coming in just over 125 pages or 2 hours 27 minutes audio, which is the route I went.

My only disappointment with this book started with a different reader than the rest of the series. Maybe I was just used to her voice and can't handle the change, but suffice to say the other is spot on for Vero's voice.

The previous three books in the series hint at something that happened in Vero‘s past and here we finally get the story of what took place. It was a short listen/read, but gave insight into more of her character and what she is running from. It also offers more insight into how Finlay and Vero first meet.  Not required reading for this series but a fun break.

I obtained the audiobook via CloudLibrary

Back to Bainbridge by Norah Lally

Welcome to Bainbridge Avenue, where fourteen-year-old Vicki’s life takes a bumpy turn. She’s got a lot on her plate—sharing a cramped room with her siblings, worrying about her mom who can’t catch a break, and dreaming about a dad who’s nowhere to be found.

But things start to change when Vicki meets Rosa from Apartment 1A, who introduces her to the building’s basement, a hidden world full of forgotten stories and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

As Vicki sets out beyond her neighborhood, searching for her place in the world, she wonders if the imperfect family and friends she has on Bainbridge Avenue might just be the treasures she's been looking for all along. Join her on a journey of hope, heartache, and unexpected discoveries in Back to Bainbridge.

Kindle Edition, 134 pages

Expected publication December 10, 2024

 by Abbey Glen Press

4.5/5 stars

When Vicki’s family is forced to move in with her grandmother it turns into a very crowded apartment. Aside from grandma there is also her brother, sister and mother.

Vicki is 14 years old for, for me this bordered on the line between middle grade and YA, which isn’t a bad thing. This is a story of her family. It's also a story of friendship as Vicki makes friends with Rosa and James, 2 teens would live in the same building. 

I felt this book was well written, it flowed nicely with interesting characters, secrets, as well as dealing with past hurts. There was growth and not just for Vicki.  It's a short book, some might say you need more time for some depth but for me this length worked nicely.

My thanks to BooksGoSocial for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.

A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.

As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Expected publication January 14, 2025 

by Atria Books

2.5/5 stars

Ever feel like you have read a completely different book than everyone else?  That's how I felt with Cross My Heart.

I grabbed this book because the story revolved around someone who had a recent heart transplant. Organ transplants is something I am somewhat familiar with, so I was intrigued to see how this would play out.

<sigh> The long and short is that I wasn't a huge fan, so I'll just make a list.

Pros

-It started off good

-Authentic portrayal of an organ transplant recipient. It showcases life with anti-rejection drugs, feeling unwell and the adjustment to the body especially during that first year.  There is more in the cons.

-A couple of twists that I didn't see coming

-I was genuinely curious about the ending.

Cons

-Length of chapters.  They were just too long and discouraged me from reading at times.

-Plot a little farfetched

-Too many cringeworthy scenes

-The Danish pastries! How many Danishes should a heart recipient eat?  None or close to, especially as a meal.

-While I enjoy listening to Taylor Swift, apparently the author is a super fan.

-Couldn't get into the male leads email writing style, unrealistic.

-Unresolved issues

All said and done I was genuinely interested in what happened, so that’s kept me reading.  For that I rounded up to 3 stars.

Thank you to Atria Books for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a taut thriller about one author at the pinnacle of her career, whose past threatens to destroy everything she has—and everyone she knows.

A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.

With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.

Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on—at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?

Kindle Edition, 446 pages

Published November 1, 2024

 by Thomas & Mercer

3.5/5 stars

I know there is a lot of controversy these days about prologues. For me I enjoy them, it is a great spot for the author to grab my attention and invest my interest in their story. And I wish that was the case here with A Very Bad Thing, the prologue was just too long and repetitive, which was not a great first impression.

A Very Bad Thing is the story of an author who is found dead at the conclusion of a month-long book tour. I am all things bookish when it comes to reading, so I was looking forward to this, especially after reading some of the rave reviews. This is a hard review for me to write as I have mixed feelings. 

So lets just make a list

Pros - abundance of red herrings that kept me guessing

         - a story within a story

         - short chapters, that go by fast (don't let the 446 page count intimate you)

Cons - the slow pace

         - the number of characters, thankfully the chapters heading told which POV was being told
          - didn't feel some of the deaths were necessary

          - the ending was okay, though a certain aspect is something that I expected.

All in all an ok read that just fell flat for me, it didn't have the suspense unputdownable feel that I love in this genre.  This is my first time reading this author, I will give him another try.

My digital copy was obtained through Amazon First Reads (October).

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

Audiobook, 9 hours, 45 minutes

Published January 31, 2023

 by Macmillan Audio

3/5 stars

The 3rd book in this series was another audio read for me, so far I’ve read the whole series this way and with the accents and personality of the reader it was very nicely done.

So here we are again with Finlay and her nanny/partner in crime Vero where they get themselves caught in another hot mess. Continuing right where book 2 left off the Russian mob is still on Finlay‘s back and Nick the cop gets more time on the pages.  I loved the first book in this series but I find each consecutive one just becomes a bit more outlandish, convoluted, but it still has that fun vibe, even though it does deal with some serious subject matter.  I laughed at some of the antics and rolled my eyes at others.

The setting mostly took place at a Citizens Police Academy, which didn’t totally work, but still an entertaining read. It also paves the way for book 4, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (review coming soon).

My audiobook copy was obtained through CloudLibrary.

From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough

Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in this raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough.

In 2022, Lisa Marie Presley asked her daughter to help finally finish her long-gestating memoir.

A month later, Lisa Marie was dead, and the world would never know her story in her own words, never know the passionate, joyful, caring, and complicated woman that Riley loved and now grieved.

Riley got the tapes that her mother had recorded for the book, lay in her bed, and listened as Lisa Marie told story after story about smashing golf carts together in the yards of Graceland, about the unconditional love she felt from her father, about being upstairs, just the two of them. About getting dragged screaming out of the bathroom as she ran toward his body on the floor. About living in Los Angeles with her mother, getting sent to school after school, always kicked out, always in trouble. About her singular, lifelong relationship with Danny Keough, about being married to Michael Jackson, what they had in common. About motherhood. About deep addiction. About ever-present grief. Riley knew she had to fulfill her mother’s wish to reveal these memories, incandescent and painful, to the world.

To make her mother known.

This extraordinary book is written in both Lisa Marie’s and Riley’s voices, a mother and daughter communicating—from this world to the one beyond—as they try to heal each other. Profoundly moving and deeply revealing, From Here to the Great Unknown is a book like no other—the last words of the only child of an American icon.

Audible Audio, 5 hours, 42 minutes

Published October 8, 2024

 by Random House Audio

4/5 stars

Though celebrity stories are really not my thing I was intrigued about Lisa Marie Presley‘s story which released last month. It’s not a long book, the audio coming in at about 5 1/2 hours or 304 pages.  I went the audio route, but I am sure that the print copy would also include photos.

Told from Lisa Marie‘s point of view, she had begun this process before she passed away suddenly, and the audio includes excerpts of her recorded interviews. Other than that, Julie Roberts told her story along with Riley Keough, Lisa Marie's eldest daughter.

This is one of those audios that I found hard to listen to as she described her life at Graceland, the death of her father when she was quite young, the relationship with her mother, and then growing up with her addictions and grief.  A very open and honest look at Lisa Marie‘s life that evoked a lot of emotions. Sad for her upbringing without guidance that left her handling her grief on her own. How she married four times and still seemed like she was searching.

I knew very little about Lisa Marie’s life before reading this book and it has opened my eyes to her struggles.

My audio was obtained through my Spotify account

Spotlight: A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson

 

The fate of a cursed nation depends on a princess who must outwit a mortal enemy and outlast the trials of a death-defying ritual in a thrilling adventure by USA Today bestselling author Sariah Wilson.

Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess―one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion. Every year, Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple. In a millennium, no maiden has made it out of Ilion alive. This year, Lia is one of the hunted.

An education in battle gives her a fighting chance, but the challenges are greater than she feared: Lia’s beloved but untrained sister Quynh has been put in the path of danger. The winding streets of Ilion itself have been transformed into a labyrinthine maze of countless choices and dead ends. And if the risks weren’t significant enough, Lia is reluctantly drawn to the commandingly attractive Jason, an Ilionian sailor she loathes to trust and desires like no man before.

The tribute game is on. It’s up to Lia to lift the goddess’s curse, restore Locris to its former glory, and change the fate of every young woman destined to follow in her path.

527 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2024

by Montlake

About the author:

Sariah Wilson is the USA Today bestselling author of over two dozen contemporary romance and romantic fantasy novels, including A Tribute of Fire, The Chemistry of Love and Roommaid. 

She happens to be madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. She currently lives with her family and various pets in Utah, and harbors a lifelong devotion to ice cream. 

For more information, visit her at www.sariahwilson.com.

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber

A delicious and dark gothic romance from bestselling author Romina Garber!

THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY…

After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor’s guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.

Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents’ deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he’s been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.

As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra’s secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she’s chasing has already found her . . . and they’re closer than she ever realized.

Hardcover, 310 pages

Published August 1, 2024

 by Wednesday Books

2.5/5 stars

I received this book in a recent Owlcrate Box.I have mixed feelings about this special edition cover and that feeling flowed right in the story as well.

Starting with the dramatic death of her parents, 17 year old Estela is finally united with a distance relative, a relative she didn't even know existed. Moving to Spain sets in motion a series of events that makes her question the past she knew nothing about.

This was an interesting plot, it was intricately woven for the first 75 pages or so. But then the vibe changed, the pacing slowed down or went too fast, at times I was confused. Even the characters had trouble holding my attention. The blurb sounds really good, I'm disappointed I didn't enjoy this one more.  

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It's the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it's the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.

Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what's happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 10, 2024 

by Knopf Books for Young Readers

4.5/5 stars

Impossible Creatures, deemed to be the children's book to read this year, so I grabbed a copy. 

This was such a fun read. An adventurous story with 2 likeable characters and a whole cast of characters/creatures - the appendix was great with descriptions of each along with illustrations. Speaking of illustrations, they were wonderfully done throughout the pages.

Impossible Creatures is a multi-­layered story. As Mal and Christopher meet they develop a friendship and embark on a quest. Its not just an adventure story though. You've got these 2 with some baggage - grief, loss and the hardships of life. They are now running from someone who wants Mal dead and she has no clue why. It reminded me a little of Narnia, but on a different level.  

Though this is tabled as children literature, this adult quite enjoyed herself. Suffice to say I will be on the lookout for the sequel, The Poisoned King next September.  

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Greatest Gift by Kallie George

Mona the mouse has finally found a place to call home, the cozy Heartwood Hotel, where she works as a maid and sleeps snuggled up in a room with her best friend. Following the festive St. Slumber celebration, most of the guests have settled in to hibernate, and the staff is looking forward to a relaxing winter. But disruptions abound, from a difficult duchess to a mysterious midnight snacker. As the snow stacks higher, Mona will have to gather friends both old and new to keep the peace, finding help in some of the most unexpected places.

The second book in the enchanting Heartwood Hotel series, The Greatest Gift will warm your heart with its endearing characters and exquisite illustrations.

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published July 3, 2017 

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Heartwood Hotel Series is a story for young readers. It is wonderfully illustrated and features a heartwarming story.

From the point of view of Mona, the mouse, she has finally settled in to a place that she calls home. Winter has come and most of the guests have settled in to hibernate. The rest of the staff are looking forward to a relaxing couple of months. But of course that all changes when a difficult customer, a snowstorm and other adventures take over.

The Greatest Gift is a story of friendship, working together and finding support in unexpected places. This series has four books in it, I hope to review the remaining 2 before years end

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Situationship by Abby Jimenez

Find out how Maddy and Doug met in this sweet and hilarious short story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

Travel nurse Maddy doesn't have time for a relationship, not even with the ruggedly handsome farmer who she feels a spark of attraction to.

Doug is a walking green flag. After a run in with Maddy thanks to the Wakan town mascot, Kevin Bacon the pig, he can't help but feel the spark too.

Even though she doesn't plan on staying in Minnesota forever, Maddy believes she and Doug can still have a fling… or maybe they’ll just find themselves in a situationship.

“The Situationship”was originally published as a bonus chapter in the Target exclusive edition of Just for the Summer. This ebook original also includes a first look at Abby’s new release, Say You’ll Remember Me.

Kindle Edition, 37 pages

Published September 24, 2024

 by Forever 

5/5 stars

 A fun short story that is part of the book, Just for the Summer. I loved that book, which I reviewed on 10/17/24. Though this could be read as a standalone, it will contain spoilers for Just for the Summer.

Not alot to say other than this was a sweet, funny story about Maddy, a traveling nurse. The banter is one of Abby Jimenez's trademarks, which shines through in these 37 pages. Plus there is Kevin Bacon the pig, you can tell the author loves animals, they are always a welcome bonus. Critters make everything better. 

I would have loved for this to be a longer story, but it was still a great addition to Just For the Summer.

I purchased this novella from amazon for 99 cents and you can too!

The Hiding Place: a Graphic Novel by Corrie ten Boom

It's World War II.

Darkness has fallen over the world as the Nazis spread fear and hatred.

No one feels safe.

But on a quiet city corner in Holland one woman fights against injustice and darkness. In her quiet watchmaking shop, Corrie ten Boom and her close-knit family risk their lives to hide hundreds of Jews and others hunted by the Nazis in a secret hiding place they built into the old building.

Until one day when Corrie and her family are betrayed. They're captured and sent in cattle cars to the notorious Nazi concentration camps to die. Yet even in that darkest of places, Corrie still fights.

This is her true story, now a graphic novel.

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published April 9, 2024

 by Chosen Books

5/5 stars

I don’t read a lot of graphic novels, but I jumped when this became available at the library.

I already know the story of Corrie Ten Boom, her sister Betsy and the watchmaking shop.  But I was intrigued to see how this story would work since it's target audience is children. There are some mature things that take place and I was curious.

The illustrations were nicely done, the layout of the house along with the hiding places was illustrated with accuracy.  The story stayed true to history with sensitivity without shying away from what took place.  

I think it’s a story that all ages should read, to know what took place in the Netherlands during the war. A story that will open up opportunities for discussions.

Coming in at 240 pages it is condensed from the original but doesn’t shy away from the true events. A book I recommend for all ages.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni

A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her. Keera Duggan returns in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court—she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.

Three years earlier, Keera’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.

As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

Kindle Edition, 365 pages

Expected publication October 22, 2024

by Thomas & Mercer

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Keera Duggan Series, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, was one of my highly anticipated books of 2024. I loved Her Deadly Game and highly recommend reading it first - though not absolutely necessary.

Forced to give up her staycation, Keera is back in the office when another high profile case lands on her desk. What follows is another legal drama told from a couple POVs - Keera the lawyer and police detective, Frank Derossi.  Again Dugoni has written a compelling courtroom legal story that was authentic and had me reading the last 50% in one day.

The storyline, red herrings and characters were real (even if I didn't like them - looking at you Jenna). The backstory of Keera and Jenna's relationship was woven in nicely to get that big picture of what Keera was going through as she defended her. 

I am a relatively new fan of Robert Dugoni, my thanks to TheBakingBookworm for the recommendation and now I continue with his backlist to keep me occupied until book 3 comes out.

My thanks to Thomas Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.

In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.

Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.

Hardcover, 544 pages

Published August 20, 2024

 by Ballantine Books

4.5/5 stars

Jodi Picoult has turned into an auto-read author, though I do have a ways to go with her backlist. Before By Any Other Name was even published readers knew this was a departure from her usual style. Not being a Shakespeare fan, let alone read any of his works I was a little apprehensive. Now after turning the last page I am curious to try a couple plays. 

By Any Other Name is a dual time period story. Present day it's the story of Melina Green, a playwright who has written about Emilia Bassano from Shakespeare time. She is also a distant relative and the other POV.  As usual I enjoyed the past story more so, probably the history buff who liked reading the times. Without going into details, this was a well written and researched read. Her life was brought to life with vivid descriptions of the culture, treatment of women and general history of the times.  Honestly I would have been happy with this part being the whole book.

My only con would be the size. Over 500 pages was a tad too long, overly detailed at times. But still a book I recommend for the rich historical content.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

 

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

A cozy and uplifting debut novel about three clairvoyant sisters who face an unexpected twist of Fate at the bottom of their own delicate porcelain cups.

Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamom at the bottom of their customers’ cups. Their days at the teashop are filled with talk of butterflies and good fortune intertwined with the sound of cinnamon shortbread being snapped by laced fingers.

That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne’s magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters’, Beatrix’s writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus—and perhaps a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet. It seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters is taking effect.

With dwindling time to rewrite their future and help three other witches challenge their own destinies, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?

Paperback, 336 pages

Published October 1, 2024

 by Atria Books

4/5 stars

 A cozy debut about 3 sisters ( triples).

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a popular place for those looking to see into their future,. When some unexpected visitors arrive these witchy sisters discover 3 task they must complete or lose the tearoom. This was a lighthearted story that was just what I needed to read at the time. 

I loved the storyline, it was told from the POV of each of these women and also the house was a character/Pov. How unique is that? And it worked so nicely here.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a story of family, secrets and confronting the past to be able to move forward. It was nicely paced, I was able to connect with these sisters and feel their struggles for the future.  A cozy, well written debut, perfect for this time of the year.

Thanks to Simon Schuster CA for a print ARC in exchange for a honest review

Spotlight: The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne

The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season...

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication October 8, 2024

 by Canary Street Press

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

#1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. 

Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine.

 RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

It's January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas are three siblings in seventh grade together in Park, Delaware.

Cash loves basketball, Dr. J, and a girl named Penny; he's also in danger of failing seventh grade for a second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn't understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA's first female shuttle commander, but feels like she's disappearing.

The Nelson Thomas siblings exist in their own orbits, circling a tense, crowded, and unpredictable household, dreaming of escape, dreaming of the future, dreaming of space. They have little in common except an enthusiastic science teacher named Ms. Salonga—a failed applicant to the Teacher in Space program—who encourages her students to live vicariously through the launch. Cash and Fitch take a passive interest, but Bird builds her dreams around it.

When the fated day arrives, it changes everything.

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 5, 2020

 by Greenwillow Books

4/5 stars

Erin Entrada Kelly takes us back to 1986 with the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. I distinctly remember the events leading up to the launch and the tragic aftermath.

Here we have 3 seven graders anxiously look forward to launch day. Told mostly from the point of view of 12 year-old Bird she dreams of one day becoming an astronaut herself, but with a disappointing homelife she knows her parents don't take her seriously.

I always enjoy reading this author. She highlights social issues in the middle grade field with a good story and an outcome that will hopefully encourage others going through the same issues.

We Dream of Space is the story of dreams, family, and loneliness even when part of a large person family.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Let's Roll!: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage by Lisa Beamer, Ken Abraham

Lisa Beamer was thrust into the national spotlight after her husband, Todd, led a counterattack against terrorists on United Flight 93. He―and all the other passenger heroes―lost their lives in a Pennsylvania field. But that plane was the only one of the four hijacked planes on 9-11 that didn't hit its target―most likely the White House or the Capitol. Todd's last known words, “Let's roll!” have become a rallying cry for the entire American nation to move ahead in hope, courage, and faith, despite today's troubled times, and to live real life...right now.

Paperback, 350 pages

 Audiobook 8 hours, 2 minutes

Published August 1, 2002

 by Living Books

3/5 stars

This was an audiobook for me, coming in around eight hours in length.

Lisa Beamer's world was turned upside down on September 11, 2001 when her husband Todd was a passenger on United flight 93. That was the flight that crashed into a Pennsylvania field.  Left with two small children and another on the way she shares her story.

I’m glad I went with the audiobook, it was told from her point of view, it was like she was telling her story which is exactly what it was. Most of the book deals with their life, their history, how they met, marriage, friends and family. Todd was one of the lucky ones who was able to make a phone call while on that doomed flight which brought out his courage, faith and sacrifice (by all on that flight) that was made.

There are things I struggled with in terms of grief, and I know everyone handles it differently. However, given the tragic way Todd and many others lost their lives that day, I struggled with how Lisa was able to give interviews and go on TV shows. I suppose it could be that maybe I couldn't imagine myself doing that so close to these events.

Let's Roll is ultimately a testament of faith, hope and the knowledge that one day Lisa and Todd will be reunited again.

This audiobook was obtained through my local library via Hoopla.

A Good Marriage by Stephen King

What happens when, on a perfectly ordinary evening, all the things you believed in and took for granted are turned upside down?

When her husband of more than 20 years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson looks for batteries in the garage. Her toe knocks up against a box under a worktable and she discovers the stranger inside her husband. It's a horrifying discovery, rendered with bristling intensity, and it definitively ends a good marriage.

Audiobook, 3 hours, 33 minutes

Published September 30, 2014

 by Simon & Schuster Audio

3.5/5 stars

After I read a book with a similar plot Goodreads recommended A Good Marriage. I believed this was only available in audio however there is a kindle version also. I think I might have preferred reading the Kindle since I wasn’t a huge fan of the reader.

Already knowing what to expect I wasn’t surprised by the story, but was by the wife’s reaction and the series of events that take place afterwards. This is one of those books that asked the question, what would you do? Honestly I don't know, but then a part of me me wonders how a wife would not know something was amiss. I would like to think that I would seriously catch on to something of this magnitude, but alas, I can just speculate on the outcome. 

True to Stephen King fashion he twists and turns this book around with an ending that I did not see coming. Looks of thinking, silence and future scenarios take place. 

Just a word of warning to those that grab the Kindle, though it says 270 pages it is actually two stories that are on related, at least that is what I am told by others.

I obtained this book through CloudLibrary

Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara

You thought you were home alone. Think again...

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise in the roof. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing open, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead.

You're not afraid of being alone in the dark. You're afraid you're not alone.

Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realises why the footage is eerily it was filmed inside her house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out.

And now your worst fears are coming true.

Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published August 20, 2024

 by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

Another book hyped up on social media had me with its blurb and cover.

This one started out grabbing my attention right away, fizzled for a little bit and then I was totally captivated, reading over half of it in one day.

Someone in the Attic is a creepy story of social media gone amuck. With videos of people walking or rather stalking through houses when no one is home - or are they? When Julia sees her home in one of these postings her life is now powered by suspicion, questions and fear of the past coming back to haunt.

There were many red herrings, creepy characters, along with unreliable ones and many many secrets. Moving at a good pace the story alternates between now and the past.  What started as a group of 4 friends, turns into 3 and now into 2.  What happened to make them a group of two?  

Someone in the Attic is a suspenseful story with a mixed cast of characters that kept me on my toes with a conclusion I did not see coming. I like the size of the chapters, they were nicely sized for JustOneMoreChapter (pun intented).

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

 

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

It's never too late for new beginnings.

On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.

As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.

Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Expected publication October 8, 2024

 by St. Martin's Pres

3.5/5 stars

This was a second chance story that spanned 60 years which centered around a feisty 80 year-old woman, Augusta Stern.

Told in dual times from the point of view of both Augusta and Irving, her friend and co-worker. Beginning in the 1920s when they were teens and spanning to current day. The start of this book was great, there was the mystery of Augusta, why she was hiding her age and ultimately her move to a retirement home in Florida. It was intriguing as to what took place with her great aunt Esther and Irving.

I love the author’s previous two books and whether my expectations were elevated with this one I found it had a slower pace and at times it dragged, especially in the middle. The ending was good, I appreciated the closure and what transpired all those years ago. I loved great aunt Esther and felt her character really gave the story some spark as well as her friend Shirley. But as for the main characters, I couldn’t really connect with them.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a story of secrets, friendship and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. Look for it on book shelves Oct 8th.

My thanks to St. Martin Press for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

Hardcover, 478 pages

Published July 2, 2024

 by Riverhead Books

3.5/5 stars

Another book that is getting a lot of chatter on social media. I grabbed a copy from Book of the Month so I wouldn’t miss out on all the hype.

Coming in at almost 480 pages I knew I was in for something. This book started out with the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara, it was enough to grab my attention.  It didn't take long to realize that this community is a community of secret keepers and liars.   What followed was a slow paced story that began in 1975 but backtracks to many years earlier with the disappearance of her brother and some family history.

There are many layers and told from a number of POV and timelines. Most of them settle around this summer camp. For myself I found I enjoyed the writing, the family drama and the mystery. However, I did find the length overwhelming with a lot of details that really weren't necessary. 

The ending was good, it was one I didn’t anticipate. However, I didn’t get that thriller vibe and in parts found it sad/depressing and like I said before rather a bit too long.

This is my first time reading a Liz Moore book, I might give her a try again though I will look closely at the length first and maybe go with the audio which I suspect would work.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

From Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead―the hilarious and heart-pounding follow-up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It.


Finlay Donovan is―once again―struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish.

On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like.

Meanwhile, Vero's keeping secrets, and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay's first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes... and if that means bending a few laws then so be it.

With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it...

Paperback, 357 pages

Published February 1, 2022

by Minotaur Books

4/5 stars

Finlay Donovan is still trying to finish her next novel, with two kids in tow, this single mom is struggling. Continuing pretty well where Finlay Donovan is Killing It left off she is caught in another game of secrets, possible romance, and dead bodies.  Honestly I went in this one blind and just thought it would be another chapter in Finlay's life, though the cliffhanger ending had me grabbing this right away.

Again this was a humous story as Finlay and her sidekick Vero dodge mystery and mayhem. It was entertaining, fast paced, great banter and full of coincidences.  Finlay's life gets more complicated and convoluted but for Finlay it is part of her nature and works. I went in with the audiobook, the reader was Angela Dawe, one of my favorites.  She knows how to bring a story to life with emphasis and change of voices done flawlessly when needed.

Definitely this series needs to be read in order. I highly recommend the audio, there are new characters here which has the story going in different directions but not hard to follow.

My copy of the audio was obtained through my public library via CloudLibrary.  It comes in just over 9 hours in length.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

…this classic story with a new magical twist, is sure to be a family favorite!

When Doctor John Dolittle’s love of animals scares away his human patients, he finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy. Luckily, his parrot, Polynesia, has a solution—she teaches him to talk to animals.

Using his new skill, Doctor Dolittle becomes a veterinarian, and his reputation soon spreads in the animal kingdom. With it, come requests for help from animals all over the world.

Sailing off with his band of animal companions, Doctor Dolittle seeks to help all he can while facing fierce storms, vicious pirates, angry kings, and more.

Hardcover, 156 pages

First published July 21, 1920

4/5 stars

Confession time, I have never read this book or watched the movie, so I know very little about what takes place.  I tried real hard to not have visions of Eddie Murphy floating around my brain.

First published in 1920 this is the story of Dr. John Dolittle, who loves animals more than people. This is a story of his relationship with people and the families he meets on his journey to Africa (note, by families I don't necessarily mean humans).  Its on this journey where mayhem ensures.

This was a fun quick read. It was well written and nicely illustrated.

I’m not sure I’ll watch the movie, I like the visuals I have in my mind of Dr. Dolittle, the animals and the crazy boat they were on.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman

In this star-crossed short story from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman, timing is everything as two sisters learn to let love follow its own path.

Isabel, the long-lost Gibson sister, is finally back home on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. With Sophie and Violet, her sister and her niece, she’s got the family bookstore—and with Johnny Lenox, she’s got something even more special.

But even as life settles, not everything is falling into place. Isabel and Johnny have set the date three times, baked three wedding cakes, invited the whole island to three parties, only to have each attempt at matrimony fall apart at the last minute. Disasters seem to be conspiring against their happy ending, and Isabel is starting to wonder if their love is meant to be.

When family history comes back to haunt the Gibson sisters, Isabel knows that if she wants to make it down the aisle with Johnny, first she and Sophie will have to face the pain of their past and their present, and decide what it means for their future.

Kindle Edition, 39 pages

Published August 1, 2024

by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Once Upon a Time Bookstore Series, this is a series of short stories about two sisters, Isabel and Sophie .

As the title reflects there is a wedding taking place within these 39 pages.  A lot transpires as some of the past comes back to hunt these women. Like I said in my review of The Bookstore Sisters I think these would make great full novels but alas I will enjoy these little versions.

What can I say that isn't mentioned in the blurb, other then this is a fun little series, can't wait to see what happens in The Bookstore Keepers which doesn't release till early 2025.

My copy obtained through Kindle Unlimited

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottage core tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published July 9, 2024

 by Bramble

4/5 stars

This book starts out as Kiela endeavors to save precious volumes from the great library of Alyssium, along with her trusty assistant Caz, who just happens to be a magical spider plant. They flee the city as fire engulfs it.

They flee to her childhood home where she takes refuge, to begin a new. Fearing the discovery of the stolen treasures, she tries to keep a low profile which isn’t easy. I guess this is what is called a romantasy debut for the author. I have read a couple of her previous books which I enjoyed, and looked forward to digging into this one.

I enjoyed this read. I enjoyed the magical characters, the world building and watching Kiela begin to make a life for herself.  She makes new friends and starts to feel comfortable. To risk doing any magic would be illegal and finally when she starts to feel comfortable strangers arrive. There is trouble afoot as.....lets just say things go awry and deceptions lurk.

The Spellshop is a story of friendship, trust and of course romance. The cover is one I love and with fingers crossed I hope there is a sequel just to see what this zany cast of characters are up to.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall... or maybe she's just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a What are you wearing? text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining--albeit anonymous--relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing....

Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend's annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she's turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He's sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she's the irresistible Miss Misdial he's been sort of sexting for weeks--and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into a thrilling anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 1, 2022

 by Berkley Books

2.5/5 stars

This is my first Lynn Painter book. I read it many months ago while on vacation, it was a hybrid read meaning I listened and I read. Did I love it, not really. So take this short review with a grain of salt.

It did start off good with some fun text messaging, it was funny in parts with some good banter. Olivia started out as an interesting, spontaneous character, but after a while she just got on my nerves with her selfish actions and immaturity.  

The concept for this book with the text messaging was cool but over time I just felt that the book dragged on longer than necessary. 

Will I try another Lynn Painter book, absolutely since I have a couple on my bookshelf, maybe on my next vacation.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…

Because it is.

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 25, 2024

by Berkley

3/5 stars

Oh man, I wanted to love this book, the previous three that I have read by Ashley Poston have been some of my favorite reads. This one sounded so interesting and fun, maybe my expectations were too high, so please take my review with a grain of salt,

The story starts out as Eileen gets lost on a dark stormy night ending up in a little town that is right out of the pages of her favourite romance series. The only problem with this romance series is the author passed away suddenly without finishing it, leaving loose ends. Sounds great right?

This fun premise, felt like it was missing some kind of spark to keep me glued to the pages. Which is sad because books about books are my thing. This was a slow paced story that talks about Eileen's past, her loneliness and desire to please everyone else. She deals through her issues in the story, which was great, but it just took a while and the other characters just didn’t do much for me.

The magical realism really didn’t feel all that magical as Poston‘s previous books have. But that’s okay, I’m still a devoted fan and look forward to what she comes up with next. And in the meantime I will continue with her backlist.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge