The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin

Combining heart-wrenching emotion with edge-of-your-seat tension, Charles Martin explores the true power of sacrificial love.

He shows up when all hope is lost.

Murphy Shepherd has made a career of finding those no one else could—survivors of human trafficking. His life’s mission is helping others find freedom.

But then the nightmare strikes too close to home .

When his new wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls are stolen, Murphy is left questioning all he has thought to be true. With more dead ends than leads, he has no idea how to find those he loves.

After everything is stripped away, love is what remains.

Hope feels lost, but Murphy is willing to expend his last breath trying to bring them home.

Audiobook, 9 hours, 49 minutes

Published June 8, 2021

 by Thomas Nelson

5/5 stars

This is booked 2 in Charles Martin’s Murphy Shepherd Series. The Letter Keeper pretty well continues where The Water Keeper ended. This is definitely a series that you need to read in order.

This is only my second Charles Martin book, but already I know that he writes emotional stories with heartbreaking subject matter. His writing again tackles the subject of human trafficking, but done with respect and compassion, while at the same time tells it like it is.

No longer on the Florida coast Murphy has returned to Freetown with those he rescued in The Water Keeper, there is hope for these women in Freetown, however evil is still crowding in on him. Here we get more backstory into his relationship with Bones and his first wife Marie. I have found that his stories tend to have a tell verse show to them which works perfectly fine here. Especially since I was given the audiobook from the publisher, it's like Murph is telling me his story.

Not to say too much about The Letter Keeper, because honestly, I am still reeling from the next book in series (review coming soon)..

I highly recommend the audiobook which is read by Jonathan K Riggs, who did another amazing job.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for the audiobook 

in exchange for a honest review.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

The New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with a novel spanning three generations of women about a famous lost book, a famous lost mother, and an artist searching for both.

In 1927, in Bluffton, South Carolina, a famous American—former child prodigy author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham—disappears, abandoning her eight-year-old daughter and husband. She leaves behind a sequel to her children’s fantasy blockbuster about a young girl named Emjie who is caught between worlds. But the sequel is written in the author’s secret and untranslatable created language.

Now in 1952, Bronwyn’s lost words have been discovered in a private library in England by a man called Charlie Jameson. Bronwyn’s daughter, Clara Harrington, a children’s book illustrator and divorced mother of one, goes on a quest to England to retrieve the lost words of her mother, words she believes will translate the sequel and help her discover what happened and why her mother abandoned her. Clara takes along her own eight-year-old daughter, Winnie, who is precocious, funny, and wise, and who has an imaginary friend, also called Emjie, after her lost grandmother’s novel.

But when Clara and Wynnie sail to England, they arrive during one of London’s greatest natural disasters—the Great Smog. Wynnie is a fragile child with asthma and the air is deadly. Charlie Jameson helps them escape London and make their way to his family’s country home in the Lake District, where the tale unfolds in the wild and glorious landscape of Esthwaite Water and the land of Beatrix Potter. It is there that the tangled roots that tie Charlie and Clara together will be revealed, and the fate—not only of Emjie, but of Bronwyn herself—will come to light.

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication March 18, 2025

 by Simon & Schuster 

5/5 

Patty Callahan Henry is an auto-read author for me. This, her latest book, releases in less than a week.

Clara is only eight years old when her mother disappears. No one hears from her again. Not only has she abandoned her child and husband, but the sequel to a novel she wrote is left with no closure, oh and she was 12 years old when she wrote this best seller.  Jump ahead to 1952, Clara has her own eight-year-old daughter when her mother's last words are found in a private library in England. What choice does Clara have but to take her daughter and sail to England for some answers and hopefully closure.

I was completely enraptured with this book. It is atmospheric with its vivid details and though some might find it a bit overwhelming I loved it with it poetic and fairy tale vibes. I fell in love with England, Clara, her daughter Winnie, and the landscape.  As Clara arrives in England so does The Great Smog along with other historical nuances that take place in that time.

The Story She Left Behind is an emotional story of longing and loss with some adventure and mystery.  A mother‘s love for her child along with some great characters had this well written story pulling at my heartstrings. The secret of the lost words are slowly revealed to a great conclusion.

My thanks to Simon and Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review.

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner

1956, Malibu, Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, Elwood, but the screenwriter’s agoraphobia allows for just short chats through open windows. He’s her sole confidante, though, as she and her housekeeper, Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe, rarely make conversation.

Then one early morning Melanie and Eva spot Elwood’s sister-in-law and caretaker, June, digging in his beloved rose garden. After that they don’t see Elwood at all anymore. Where could a man who never leaves the house possibly have gone?

As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…

Kindle Edition, 347 pages

Expected publication

March 18, 2025 by Berkley

3.5/5 stars

Susan Meissner is an auto read author for me and I was excited to get a advanced copy of A Map to Paradise which releases next week. Even though it has a trope that I am not really a fan of, being the Hollywood scene, I couldn’t not read one of her books.

Taking place in the 1950s it is more than just a story of Hollywood but of actress Melanie Cole, who was recently blacklisted because of ties to a possible Soviet sympathizer. While in seclusion she is with her maid Eva and the next-door neighbour June. Each of these women comes with assorted pasts, which includes some secrets that if got out in the open could have grave repercussions.

A Map to Paradise is the story of an unlikely friendship taking place during a time in history that had people looking over their shoulders. It was a well written story that had many layers with a few twists. For me it was a bit on the quiet side that wasn’t as addicting as her previous novels have been. But still it was entertaining.  I did love the time period, it seems to be trending lately with it strong female characters and historical setting.

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

How to Survive a Bear Attack: A Memoir by Claire Cameron

In this debut memoir from the bestselling author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal, Claire Cameron confronts the rare genetic mutation that gave her cancer by investigating an equally rare and terrifying event—a predatory bear attack.

When Claire Cameron was nine years old, her father, a professor of Old English, told her he was dying. In the years after he was gone, she found a way to overcome her grief among the rivers and lakes of Algonquin Park, a vast Canadian wilderness area.

 Around that same time, in 1991, a couple was killed by a black bear in a rare predatory attack in the park. Claire was shocked and, never fully sure of what happened, the attack haunted her.

Now older, with children of her own, Cameron was diagnosed with the same kind of deadly skin cancer as her father. Caught in a second wave of grief, she was told by her doctor, “the ideal exposure to UV light is none.” No longer able to venture into the wilderness as she once had, with long scars on her back, she became obsessed with the bear attack in Algonquin Park again.

 How could terror rip through such a beautiful place? Could she separate truth from fiction? She headed north to investigate.

Claire seamlessly weaves together nature writing with true crime investigation in this unflinching account of recovery. How to Survive a Bear Attack is at once an intimate portrait of an extraordinary animal, a bracing chronicle of pain, obsession, and love, and a profoundly moving exploration of how we can understand and survive the wildness that lives inside us.

Audiobook, 7 hours, 44 minutes

Expected publication March 25, 2025 

by Penguin Random House Audio

4.5/5 stars

I remember distinctly October 1991 when the tragic incident with the bear happened in Algonquin Park. I remember it because it was the same weekend my family was going on a canoe trip and their destination was somewhere within that park, but at the last minute they changed their mind. So reading this book brought back memories of family adventures in the great outdoors.

This was an audio read for me with the author being the reader, she did a great job and kept me captivated with her stories.  It was a blend of her life, information about bears, their wanderings and the park.

Relatively a fast listen I had a hard time putting it down, a lot of the area was familiar to me.  In fact on my first canoe trip we were visited in the wee hours of the night by a bear. This was an educational, personal and enlightening glimpse into her life, her motivation into why she investigated this tragedy.

I highly recommend the audiobook.

My thanks to Penguin Random House for the audio in exchange for a honest review.

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo

From master storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes an original fairy tale—with enchanting illustrations by Julie Morstad—in which five puppets confront circumstances beyond their control with patience, cunning, and high spirits.

Shut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends—a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl—bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark. Individually, they dream of song and light, freedom and flight, purpose and glory, but they all agree they are part of a larger story, bound each to each by chance, bonded by the heart’s mysteries. When at last their shared fate arrives, landing them on a mantel in a blue room in the home of two little girls, the truth is more astonishing than any of them could have imagined. A beloved author of modern classics draws on her most moving themes with humor, heart, and wisdom in the first of the Norendy Tales, a projected trio of novellas linked by place and mood, each illustrated in black and white by a different virtuoso illustrator. A magical and beautifully packaged gift volume designed to be read aloud and shared, The Puppets of Spelhorst is a tale that soothes and strengthens us on our journey, leading us through whatever dark forest we find ourselves in.

Hardcover, 149 pages

Published October 10, 2023

 by Candlewick Press

4/5 stars

As I slowly making my way through Kate DiCamillo's backlist, I came across this one, the start of a series. I am glad I had a print copy because the illustrations, thanks to Julie Morstad, were a wonderful addition.

This is a middle grade story however I think it would also be enjoyed by those of a younger age. As you can see from the cover, there are five puppets.  Each tell their story which begins after being released from an old sea captain’s trunk.

These five characters are sold off and land in the home with two young girls. This is a book that had a lot of heart as each puppet had ambitions and unique personalities. They go on adventures while learning a lot of about themselves.  It's a story of friendship, imagination and hope.

This is the first book in a trilogy with book 3 being released this fall.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is book #13

The Blackened Heart by Alison Weir

The Blackened Heart by foremost and beloved historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece that bridges the first two novels in the Six Tudor Queens series, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick will delight in this mysterious tale, drawn together from fragments of history - and a good dose of speculation. Or is it...?

Margery Otwell, a self-made gentleman's young daughter, gets her first taste of courtly life when she takes up a position as chamberer to Lady Peche of Lullingstone Castle. Dances, music, feasting - and a seduction - follow, and Margery learns the rules of courtly love the hard way.

Saved from disgrace by the kindly Sir John Peche, Margery finds herself at court waiting on Queen Katherine. Little does Margery know that she is already a pawn in a game of power, irrevocably bound to the fall of the lady she will come to love as her mistress, Queen and friend.

Kindle Edition, 45 pages

Published March 9, 2017 

by Review

3.5/5 stars

As I continue my reading through Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queen Series, I have been reading some of her short stories that are scattered throughout this series.  Available only through Amazon UK, a pity since I would like to read them all.

This is book 1.5, during the time of Katherine of Aragon, wife #1.  Coming in at 45 pages it was a relatively quick read.  As a teen Margery Otwell enters into service for the queen and is a life long companion through all the drama.  A story of mystery, drama and romance.

My copy through kindle - it pays to take kindle while traveling, in addition to reading but also to grab through editions not available in my location.

The Defence by Steve Cavanagh

The truth has no place in a courtroom. The truth doesn't matter in a trial.

The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.

Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turned out the two weren't that different.

It's been over a year since Eddie vowed never to set foot in a courtroom again. But now he doesn't have a choice. Olek Volchek, the infamous head of the Russian mafia in New York, has strapped a bomb to Eddie's back and kidnapped his ten-year-old daughter Amy.

Eddie only has 48 hours to defend Volchek in an impossible murder trial - and win - if wants to save his daughter.

Under the scrutiny of the media and the FBI, Eddie must use his razor-sharp wit and every con-artist trick in the book to defend his 'client' and ensure Amy's safety. With the timer on his back ticking away, can Eddie convince the jury of the impossible?

Lose this case and he loses everything.

Kindle Edition, 321 pages

Published September 1, 2023

 by Headline

3.5/5 stars

This is the first book in the Eddie Flynn series. A few months ago I read Witness 8, which is book 8, and while it was fine on its own. But I was intrigued with all the characters and how a con artist turned into a lawyer came to make that transition, so alas here I am having read The Defence.

I’ll be very honest here and say that I struggled for the first part of this book, there seemed to be a lot of suspending of belief and I just wasn’t enamored as I was with Witness 8. However I persevered and then read the last third in a day.

The Defence is a story of a father‘s love for his daughter and the lengths he will go to protect her. It is a story of the Russian mafia and the control it had on New York. And it is a story of a murder trial that Eddie needs to win to save his daughter. All in all, a fast paced story with many layers, characters and has what I have come to expect in Eddie Flynn, he has a lot of cards up his sleeves and you never know what his next move will be, he keeps those thoughts to himself until he shows his hand.

I will continue the series because I have had book 4, Thirteen on my shelf for a while and it sounds very intriguing.

My copy was obtained through my Kindle library, you can find this book in Canada for 4.99 via Kindle or Kobo, unfortunately I was never able to find it as an e-book through my library.

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

A riveting new story of heroism, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds.

Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners, and he’s dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.

When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, Murph’s mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.

With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past—and the ghosts who tried to bury them.

With Charles Martin’s trademark lyricism and poignant prose, The Water Keeper is at once a tender love story and a heartrending search for freedom.

Audiobook, 11 hours, 35 minutes

Published May 5, 2020 

by Thomas Nelson

4/5 stars

This is my first time reading a Charles Martin book, this was an audio read for me.

I didn’t know what to expect and honestly I didn't even read the blurb. Charles Martin is an author I have been debating about reading and I jumped at the chance to grab this audio from NetGalley . It is book 1 with book 4 coming out April 1, and yes, I have the series loaded and waiting for me.

Beginning with a scene that grabbed my attention. I was captivated with this audio. It is the story of Murphy Shepherd, a man of many secrets. His life is dedicated to rescuing those that are taken no matter how dangerous the situation is.

The Water Keeper is a fitting start as people are introduced, a bit of their past is shown, and the author has made me like all of them, not just Murph, but Clay, Ellie, Summer, and of course, to round everything up there is a dog named Gunner. Having cruised on the intercoastal waterways in Florida it wasn’t hard to feel the setting, envision things and get a real sense of what was taking place.

The Water Keeper is a heartbreaking story, it was emotional given that what takes place is so relevant these days. It is a story of love, danger and new beginnings. There is a cliffhanger ending which had me opening up book 2, The Letter Keeper right away.

If you haven’t started the series, I highly recommend the audio, Jonathan K Riggs was the narrator who brought the story to life.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audiobook in exchange for a honest review.

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

Two good neighbors make the best of a bad Valentine’s Day in a funny and improbably romantic short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.

Kindle Edition, 82 pages 

Expected publication March 1, 2025 

by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

The thing with any Abby Jimenez short story is that, though they are short and sweet, I would love this to be a full length novel.  But given that she has a new release next month this is a great teaser.  Not that the new book involves the same characters, its her writing and unique/fun stories that we get.

The Fall Risk actually does start with a bang or at least things that go bump in the night (or early morning).  What followed were 2 characters with trust/love issues that are forced to spend time together and develop a nice little friendship.  Kinda weird how it happened, but whatever this was a fun rom/com with great banter, strong subject matter and a couple zany friends that added that extra spark.

As with typical Jimenez fashion there is always a critter that tries to steal the show, in this case its Swim Shady.

I received a digital copy free via the Amazon First Reads program in exchange for a honest review.

The Champagne Letters by Kate Macintosh

Perfect for fans of bubbly wine and Kristin Harmel, this historical fiction novel follows Mme. Clicquot as she builds her legacy, and the modern divorcee who looks to her letters for inspiration.

Reims, France, 1805: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot has just lost her beloved husband but is determined to pursue their dream of creating the premier champagne house in France, now named for her new identity as a Veuve Clicquot. With the Russians poised to invade, competitors fighting for her customers, and the Napoleonic court politics complicating matters she must set herself apart quickly and permanently if she, and her business, are to survive. 

In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris. In a book stall by the Seine, Natalie finds a collection of the Widow Clicquot’s published letters and uses them as inspiration to step out of her comfort zone and create a new, empowered life for herself. But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking and unexpected turn, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she’s only dreamed about? What would the widow do?

Audiobook, 9 hours, 36 minutes

Published December 10, 2024 

by Blackstone Pub

3.5/5 stars

The Champagne Letters is a dual time period story taking place in France.

For Natalie Taylor, a recent divorcee, she takes an impulsive trip to Paris that sets her on a journey of self discovery. But it is a journey that isn’t easy with many bumps along the way. It is at a book stall that she discovers a collection of letters published by Barbe-Nicole Clicquot written in 1805. 

This was an audio read for me with the narrator being Cassandra Campbell and Jackie Sanders. Both are ones I’ve listened to before and have enjoyed. Again they brought the story to life with the required accents to make it as authentic as possible.

The Champagne Letters is a story or rather a journey for two women on their own and the decisions they make that will form their future. I’m glad I went the audio route, it was easy listening with emphasis on the wine market or rather champagne house in France.  I liked both characters and both storylines the same and like how they parallel each other.

Released just this past December it is readily available in all formats and I recommend for those that like their historical fiction with travel and relevant subject matter. Oh and yes I loved the fact that Clicquot was a real historical figure - yes I googled her.

I was able to obtain the audiobook via my library through CloudLibrary

The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley

1613: King James – sixth of Scotland, first of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots - has unified both countries under one crown. But the death of his eldest son, Henry, has plunged the nation into mourning, as the rumours rise the prince was poisoned.

Andrew Logan’s heard the rumours, but he’s paid them little heed. As one of the King’s Messengers he has enough secrets to guard, including his own. In these perilous times, when the merest suggestion of witchcraft can see someone tortured and hanged, men like Andrew must hide well the fact they were born with the Sight.

He’ll need all his gifts, though, when the king sends Andrew north to find and arrest Sir David Murray, once Prince Henry’s trusted courtier, and bring him a prisoner to London to stand trial before the dreaded Star Chamber.

A story of treachery, betrayal and love…

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication March 4, 2025

 by Simon & Schuster CA

3.5/5 stars

It has been a while since I ventured into historical fiction from the 1600's. I was glad to be reacquainted with that era by Susanna Kearsley‘s new book The King’s Messenger.

It is evident that the author knows the time period, I knew this from past experience. With an authentic story that takes place during the time of King James 1 of England/James IV of Scotland, who inherited the English throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He is the son of Mary Queen of Scots. Here we are a decade later when James‘s son Henry has died under mysterious circumstances.  Andrew Logan, a King‘s Messenger is tasked with travelling to find and arrest David Murray, a person of interest in his death. We get a clear picture of what a Messenger's job entails.

Told through a number of different points of view, first and foremost was Andrew Logan who takes his job very seriously and is very good at it. He also has a second sight and can sometimes see things others can’t, which added a nice twist to the story. There is also a scribe and his daughter, along with a wee lad Hector, who was an endearing fella.

The King’s Messenger is a slow paced story that was atmospheric with attention to historical facts. There was a touch of romance, adventure and some magical realism.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review

The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie

Three friends team up to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1940s fun house.

Twelve-year-old Sarah Kelley wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends West and Hannah. But when her house receives a foreclosure notice everything changes. After her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but she did not think they would become lose-your-house bad.

She feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned fun house. According to legend, Hans, Erik, and James Halloran were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the best fun house in existence. They wanted the experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside. Sarah, West, and Hannah decide to explore, but once in, they realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted.

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published April 2, 2024

 by Sourcebooks Young Readers

3.5/5 stars

I received this book in a Once Upon a BookClub box last year. I myself have never been in an escape room, it sounds like fun and maybe one day I’ll try it.  This book really went into great detail as to what it was like.

How fun as 12 year-olds to explore an abandoned Funhouse in search of hidden treasure. Which is exactly what Sarah did with her two best friends, West and Hannah. The motivation is that her home is in foreclosure and she is hoping to help her family out financially by discovering this lost treasure - they don't even know what the treasure is.

Taking place mostly over the day that they are searching gave the explicit workings of an escape room, the clues, the riddles, the adventure and even the risks.  It is a story of friendship, family and the bonds that keep them together. This was a fun read for the middle grade audience.

I have previously read a Lindsey Curry novel which I enjoyed and look forward to seeing some of her  backlist. 

This book was part of my 2025 reading of my shelf challenge and his book #11.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

Hardcover, 527 pages

Published January 21, 2025

by Red Tower Books

4/5 stars

I went into Onyx Storm with an open mind and low expectations, social media has been up and down.  But I did do a reread of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame so that I was prepared when this book was released. And to be honest, I wasn’t really a fan of Iron Flame until I did a reread and now question where my brain was during that initial read because there was so much that I forgot or didn’t pay attention to, I quite enjoyed it 2nd time around.

Onyx Storm continues where Iron Flame left off, approximately 18 months after Violet walked to the parapet. Even though this book comes in at 527 pages in hardcover, it’s tiny print so it might as well have been 800. I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time reading. There was lots of action, dragons, conflict as well as twists and family secrets. And of course it leaves us hanging with a cliffhanger and no estimated delivery time for book 4, but that’s fine because I’d rather have a well written book than one that is rushed.

Other than the tiny font size the only issues I had with Onyx Storm were the amount of characters. I got to the point where I didn’t even bother trying to remember who and what they were except for the ones that I see most often. I enjoyed the maps that came with the book which made their travels easier to keep track of.

As for the storyline, my usual non-fantasy brain was able to follow even though it might have dragged a bit and could have been a few dozen pages shorter.  I loved that Andarna got more pages and Tairn was his grumpy self, well most of the time.  All in all  I found Onyx Storm to be an entertaining read and look forward to what comes next

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and this book #12

Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets by Alison Weir

Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir tells the little-known story of Henry VIII’s fourth wife, as a grieving king chooses a bride sight unseen in the fourth novel in the epic and intrigue-filled Six Tudor Queens series.

Newly widowed and the father of an infant son, Henry VIII realizes he must marry again to insure the royal succession. Now forty-six, overweight and unwell, Henry is soundly rejected by some of Europe’s most eligible princesses, but Anna of Kleve—a small German duchy—is twenty-four and eager to wed. Henry requests Anna’s portrait from his court painter, who enhances her looks, painting her straight-on in order not to emphasize her rather long nose. Henry is entranced by the lovely image, only to be bitterly surprised when Anna arrives in England and he sees her in the flesh. She is pleasant looking, just not the lady that Henry had expected.

What follows is a fascinating story of this awkward royal union that had to somehow be terminated tactfully. Alison Weir takes a fresh and surprising look at this remarkable royal marriage by describing it from the point of view of Queen Anna, a young woman with hopes and dreams of her own, alone in a royal court that rejected her from the day she arrived.

Hardcover, 511 pages

Published May 2, 2019 

by Headline Review

4/5 stars

This is Book 4 in the Six Tudor Queen Series, the wives of King Henry VIII. What makes this series unique is that they are told from the point of view of the Queen.

Beginning when Anna is still a teen, we get a glimpse of her earlier life in Kleve, which is a small German Dutchy. I enjoyed reading about how important her marriage to Henry VIII was, for an alliance and the steps that went into making the wedding happen. I already knew abit of what happened in Anna‘s life after she married the King, but it was nice to read the story through her eyes. I also listened to part of the audiobook, which was well done. 

What I really liked about this book was that it almost felt like a standalone given that the previous three Queens had overlapping storylines. Meaning in Catherine of Aragon‘s story towards the end has Anne Boleyn entering the picture, so we see Catherine‘s view of Anne. Then in book 2 we get Anne's view of Catherine through her narrative.  Same with Jane Seymour (Queen 3). With this book Katherine Howard doesn't enter till near the ending, so really Anna of Kleve's story.

All in all I recommend the series for historical fiction lovers and those that are fascinated with the Tudor dynasty and their queens. I have read a number of Alison Weir books and have always enjoyed them. I bought this series from book depository (oh I miss them) when they were first released, thankfully I have a matching set of covers. 

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is book #10.

Rabbit Rabbit by Dori Hillestad Butler & Sunshine Bacon

To rebuild their broken family, a pair of audacious tween cousins must confront the long-buried secrets that destroyed it in this upper middle grade novel told from dual perspectives.

Twelve-year-olds Alice and Bee are practically strangers when their grandparents’ anniversary party reunites their estranged families and ignites their own fast friendship.

But their reunion doesn’t last long—Bee’s mother and grandfather are dead set on keeping the liberal Seattle faction of the family away from the conservative Minnesota crew. “It’s complicated,” the grown ups tell them over and over (and over!) again.

Bee and Alice grow closer despite their geographical distance, determined to keep their friendship going—and to uncover the big family secret. What happened all those years ago, and why did it tear their family apart?

Just when they've started to make progress, the COVID pandemic strikes. Bee and Alice watch as the world shuts down and their loved ones grow further divided along their fractured lines. Somehow, it’s up to the twelve-year-olds to clean up the mess that the grown ups have made.

This powerful, timely story cuts deep, touching on recent historic events and intimate family details alike. With an age-appropriate approach, Rabbit Rabbit tackles religion, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and other juicy stuff you're not supposed to talk about at Thanksgiving.

Readers will fall headfirst for Alice and Bee as the unforgettable tweens make space for their friendship and shifting identities while standing up to their far-from-perfect family, with all the love and grace they can muster.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication April 15, 2025

 by Holiday House

3/5 stars

This book had such an interesting premise, two cousins that set out to discover what fractured their family. Why their mothers don’t talk therefore separating these two.

It’s been seven years since Alice and Bethany have seen each other. Now they are reunited at their grandparents 50th wedding anniversary celebration. And though this reunion started off great, the past comes back to haunt them and the reunion is short-lived.

Rabbit, Rabbit (weird title I know,  but you need to read the book for its reasons) is a story with many layers, in fact, all those layers distracted from the ultimate goal, which was to uncover what happened seven years ago. There is the pandemic, lockdown, which shuts so many aspects of the world down but still these two managed to secretly communicate.

But it isn’t always about the original goal of uncovering what happened. I found myself distracted from the ultimate goal and with the many other things going on.  And then when it was finally revealed what happened it was underwhelming and turned into just an okay read for me. While I enjoyed getting to know Alice and Bee be I found other members of the family not that authentic and the grandfather just way too much. Being 335 pages long might seem daunting but it did go by fast.

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

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living.
But she wasn’t always that way.
Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen.
But he wasn’t always that way.

And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school—and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it.

As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love—which is the riskiest move of all.

With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published July 13, 2021

 by Griffin

3.5/5 stars

As I continue to make my way slowly through Katherine Center's backlist I listened to the audiobook of What You Wish For on a travel day recently.

What You Wish For started out as a fun and quirky story. When Samantha meets up with your former coworker, she realizes how much he has changed from his past quirky fun loving self. She wants to know what happened, well one part of her wants to know what happened the other is trying to make him fun again.

This was a lighthearted story that also dealt with some serious subject matter, not just for Duncan, but for Samantha as well

What You Wish For is a story of healing, friendship, and standing up for something you believe in.
Though this isn’t one of my favourite Katherine Centre books I did enjoy it. I love the message and the ending.

My audiobook was obtained through my CloudLibrary subscription from my local library.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

There’s power in a book…

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.

Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who knows she’s going to go home and marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.

Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood.

Papaerback, 477 pages

Published January 14, 2025 

by Berkley

3.5/5 stars

A couple years ago, I read Grady Hendrix's How to Sell a Haunted House,  which was a quirky horror story and honestly I thought I was getting something like that with Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I didn’t read the blurb or if I did I forgot about it by the time my pre-order arrived.  I honestly did not realize that this was based on a home for unwed mothers, most of them being teenagers.

It is the 1970s when  a 15 year-old girl arrives at the home, scared and alone. There she meets other girls her age, all in the same condition.  Not just pregnant but without any control of their own lives. Along with being forced into giving their babies up for adoption. Things begin to change when a local librarian gives one of the girls a book on witchcraft and they decide to take the power given even though it comes with grave consequences.

The historical aspect of this book I found very interesting and heartbreaking, places like this existed and babies were taken away with neither the mom or the child knowing any of the history. The horror part of the story was more than I anticipated, it was descriptive and rather spooky, but I guess that is what horror is.

Ultimately Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a story of our friendship, coming of age and resilience. At times I found it was a bit longer than necessary and maybe a tad over descriptive in the delivery room. It was an eye-opener and entertaining read.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is book #9

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave—the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

Audiobook, 10 hours, 18 minutes

Expected publication March 4, 2025

 by Macmillan Audio

4/5 stars

Book 5 in the Finlay Donovan Series continues as has her earlier ones, right where the previous book left off.  Her neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty has been arrested after a body was found buried in her backyard. She is the neighborhood busy body, watcher of all that is going on and quite cranky. But when she turns to Finlay for help, how could Finlay say no. Well she tired will little success.

This book had a different feel than the previous ones in this series. The previous ones sometimes had a outrageous convoluted feel with too much suspending of belief while at the same time still being entertaining. With Digs Her Own Grave, it is a story that had relevant and poignant themes while still being mysterious and humorous.

I was given the audio, which is how I have read the other books.  The reader is Angela Dawe who again delivered an awesome performance. She brings the book and characters to life. If you haven’t read any of the series, I highly suggest you start at the beginning otherwise nothing really is going to make sense. 

Digs Her Own Grave shows a side of Mrs. Haggerty that no one expects.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

A middle-grade story about family, friendship, and growing up when you're one step away from homelessness.

Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix's mom, Astrid, is loving but can't seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy. He can't tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he'll be taken away from her and put in foster care.

As their circumstances go from bad to worse, Felix gets a chance to audition for a junior edition of Who What Where When, and he's determined to earn a spot on the show. Winning the cash prize could make everything okay again. But things don't turn out the way he expects. . . .

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published September 11, 2018

 by Tundra Books

4.5/5 stars

This is my first time reading, Canadian author Susan Nelson, I will definitely be back for more. No Fixed Address is a heartwarming story about 12 year-old Felix and his mother, they suddenly find themselves homeless or almost since they are living in a van.

I really like Felix, he is smart, caring, kinda quirky while dealing alot with a lot of stuff that he shouldn’t be. His mother tries, she’s a complicated character and though I felt her love for her son she just has issues.

No Fixed Address pulls at the heart strings as it deals with the stigma attached to poverty and homelessness, while being a strong story involving friendship, family, and hope. The author’s writing style made this for an addicting read that only took me a couple days to finish. It is a great book to open up discussions while also showing a good side of human nature.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is booked #8.

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben

A year after the devastating events that took place in Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben’s bestselling thriller and #1 Netflix series, a secret from former Detective Sami Kierce's college days comes back to haunt him. Present day is hard enough for the disgraced Kierce, but his past isn’t through with him yet…

MALAGA – 2000
Sami Kierce, a young man backpacking in Spain with friends, wakes up one morning. He is covered in blood. There’s a knife in his hand. Beside him, the body of a woman. Anna. Dead. He doesn’t know what happened. He begins to scream.

NEW YORK CITY – 2025
Kierce, now a disgraced detective, is teaching night classes when he recognizes a familiar face in the crowd. Anna. It’s unmistakably her. As soon as Kierce makes eye contact with her, she runs. For Kierce there is no choice. He knows he must find this woman and solve the impossible mystery that has haunted his every waking moment since that day.

His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past. Soon he discovers that some secrets should stay buried . . .

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication March 25, 2025

 by Grand Central Publishing

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Detective Sammi Kierce Series takes place over two timelines. One being 2000 in Malaga  and the other current day in New York City. First introduced to Sammi in Fool Me Once where he had a low profile, here he takes centre stage as his past comes back to haunt him. 

What follows is in engaging story that came with the usual Harlan Cohen style in terms of red herrings, twists, unreliable characters and an interesting plot. Though it did take me a little bit to get captivated with the story once I did I was thoroughly entertained as I tried to decipher the clues and figure out what was actually taking place. There were many layers that wove together to an ending I really didn't see coming - that's why Harlan Coben is one of my auto-read author, he keeps me guessing.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.  You can find Nobody’s Fool on sale March 25

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.

It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris’s mother’s chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris’s grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans—wild, impractical, illuminating plans. How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons?

As Charisse likes to say, “Every good story is a love story,” and Kate DiCamillo has written one for the ages: emotionally resonant and healing, showing the two-time Newbery Medalist at her most playful, universal, and profound.

Hardcover, 226 pages

Published March 5, 2024

 by Candlewick Press

5/5 stars

This is one of the reasons why Kate DiCamillo is one of my favourite MG authors. Sadly, it’s been a while since I have read any of her books, but I was instantly reminded when I dove in and found myself falling in love with her writing again.

Ferris just finished fourth grade. She lives with her grandmother, her parents, her uncle Ted has moved into the basement and apparently there is a ghost roaming the house . Well, not really it roaming seems to have built a connection with the grandmother. Plus, there is her little sister Pinky who is quite the handful, she packs a punch with her antics and confidence, though that confidence isn’t always directed in the right places.

Not only was it the writing that I enjoyed but the story. This book made me smile, laugh out loud with its zany characters, witty banter but ultimately it pulls at your heart string when you really get to the zest of the story. I loved Ferris and I would love to see another book with this family again, I miss them already.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.

Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.

But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.

If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?

Audiobook, 9 hours, 5 minutes

Published March 5, 2024

 by Macmillan Audio

3.5/5 stars

This is Book 4 in Finlay Donovan Series, right now I am in the middle of book 5, which releases in March and just realized that I have not done my review for Rolls the Dice. The thing is I listened to this book way back in July and I still remember it. I remember my drive home from north as I listened, shaking my head and thinking oh my what do we have here?

I can honestly say this was an entertaining listen.  It seems as the series progresses it gets a little more outrageous and far-fetched.  And that's not always a bad thing. That being said, it was funny and mysterious all at the same time. If I had to suspend my belief in book 3 at the Police Academy, Roll the Dice takes it up a whole other level. If something is gonna go wrong, then it’s gonna go wrong a hundred fold. And it wasn’t just a case of Finley and her sidekick Vero, but the rest of the family gets involved also.

What has been consistent throughout all her books is a mystery, the mob, Finley‘s new boyfriend who happens to be the police detective, her ex-husband, her kids, her sister, and a very strong case of suspending one’s belief. The star of the show... Kevin Bacon. 

Not much more I can say other than you have to read this series in order. And I highly recommend the audiobook as the narrator does an amazing job.

My copy of the audiobook was obtained through my local library via CloudLibrary

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count.

Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards.

Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.

But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming.

A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora ...

Paperback, 530 pages

Published February 1, 2007

 by Gollancz

4.5/5 stars

This book has been languishing on my shelf forever. Finally back in November it was our pic for our family book club. This group reads at a slow pace, but once I got hooked I had the last half finished in a matter of days.

Somewhat of a Robin Hood type story except they only steal are from the rich. Locke Lamora has his gang with him known as The Gentleman Bastard. What a twisted conniving and interesting bunch.

First introduced to Locke when he was a child, an orphan as are all of his gang members, the story weaves back-and-forth to current and his growing up years. Seeing the trouble he got into makes sense of how his adult years are what they are. There is a lot to take in at the beginning, between the world building and characters. The story, at the beginning jumps around a lot but once they start to weave together everything makes sense.  I think I read the last 40% in two days, that is saying something because this book is over 500 pages long.

I was kept guessing a lot and had to trust the author as he twisted and turned the story into an outcome that I did not see coming. This is the first book in a trilogy and I look forward to continuing this series. And did I mention that this is Scott Lynch‘s debut, I’d say he is off to a great start.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is booked # 4.

The Cross by Steve Cavanagh

An exclusive race against time ebook short thriller.

Eddie Flynn, con-man turned criminal lawyer, has an impossible choice.

He has damning evidence against a corrupt NYPD detective who stands accused of killing a suspect.

But if he uses this evidence in court, both he and his client - the dead man's widow - will be in mortal danger.

Should he risk their lives to win the case? Or keep quiet and let a murderer go free.

KOBO Edition, 173 pages

Published December 17, 2015

 by Headline

4/5 stars

This is book .5 in the Eddie Flynn Series. Whether you need to read this before book 1, I am not sure because I have not read the first book yet. But I did read book 8, Witness 8, which comes out the end of this month, it has me wanting to start the series from the beginning.

Eddie Flynn is a former con-man turned criminal lawyer with his current case set against a corrupt NYPD detective. Within the 173 pages there is a lot of action going on here. As I have come to expect from Witness 8 I knew I had to pay attention to all the characters, drama, and little things that Eddy does because everything means something and at the end all will be revealed.

I like the conclusion and though I want to say things wrap up neat and tidy, when you’re dealing with corrupt police, other bad guys, it’s not always neat and tidy if you know what I mean.

I look forward to spending 2025 getting caught up on this series especially since I’ve heard that book 9 is in the works.

My copy was purchased via KOBO for 99cents.

Storm Child by Ele Fountain

An exciting, thought-provoking novel about parental unemployment and facing your problems, from the prize-winning author of Boy 87 and Fake

Maya's life is about to be upended. After her dad's fishing boat is ravaged by a relentless storm, Maya's parents make the decision to start over-by moving to a tropical island. But making a change doesn't always make a difference.

Far from her friends and her quiet seaside home where she spent all her time surfing, Maya is swept away by a storm much larger than herself. As Maya begins to realise that paradise is not always what it seems, can she bring her family back home again?

Kindle Edition, 205 pages

Published February 11, 2025 

by Pushkin Children's Books

3/5 stars

This was a relatively short novel coming in at 205 pages, it was also my first time reading this author.

An interesting story that had a lot of potential. It deals with serious subject matter in terms of financial problems within the home and a rash decision to relocate. For Maya, it’s a big change being separated from her friends, surfing and the only place she called home.

I am going to go against the general flow in my feelings for this book. Aside from the fact that I struggled with the formatting of my digital arc, but I don’t feel that I can blame that for how disjointed I felt the story was at times. I hope the final copy corrects the run-on of conversations in the same paragraph that left me confused as to who was talking. 

However, within the story I was left wondering where it actually took place.  I don't think I've every encountered a story, that wasn't fantasy and not know the location.  It felt weird and actually took away from the story.  Someone mentioned a jumper versus a jacket once, so I can assume it’s either Australia or England.  Then the move 1000's of miles away to paradise, again location, location, location.   It would’ve been nice to know where paradise was especially when there is talk of the sea, the waves and global changes. 

The story itself was missing something more.  Lots going on in terms of the move, loneliness, financial hardship, starting over, learning the lay of this new island (paradise), new jobs, lack of jobs, being secluded and more. All in 205 pages.

 On the plus side, it does open up for discussion our responsibility to clean up after ourselves.

My thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy

Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their "separate but together" partnership is running up against the realities of late middle Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.

When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying either Grant is truly lost, or this time he’s really left her.

Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be—and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.

Kindle Edition, 295 pages

Expected publication February 4, 2025

 by St. Martin's Press

3/5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. When I started reading the e-book I really struggled and wanted to give up but then, McMillan Audio very graciously gave me the audio book and I went from there. This wasn’t a 'I can’t wait to sit down and read this' type of book. So I continued with Kim and Grant's story by listening to it.  

This story starts with the disappearance of Grant after what was supposed to be a day trip of hiking in the mountains. But Kim is giving off vibes as to whether he is truly lost or something else has happened. The book goes back-and-forth in time to a year previous and present day, with time reflected on the early years of their relationship. Now Kim's initial thoughts into his disappearance begin to make sense. It was an interesting story that showed their developing relationship, struggles and hidden feelings.

For me this just felt flat, I had a hard time feeling any emotion towards Kim, Grant and their story. Which, of course, makes it hard to have an invested interest.  Those are my feelings, but others seem to have loved it so it could just be a situation here.

The Snowbirds releases today. My thanks to St Martin’s Press for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Perfect Rom-Com: A Romance Novel for Book Lovers by Melissa Ferguson

She's written dozens of smash hit romance novels. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitch session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either.

Don't miss the delightful romantic comedy, The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson, a story of two seemingly mismatched hearts brought together by fate, proving that sometimes, the perfect love story is hidden in the pages of a well-loved book.

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Expected publication February 11, 2025

by Thomas Nelson

4/5

Sometimes after some heavy books, you need something light, laugh out loud funny, and a cute story. Which is exactly what I got with The Perfect Rom-Com. I was sucked in with the opening chapter as Bryony attends her first writing conference. Struggling and nervous she prepares for her pitch sessions. As one who has been to a number of conferences I totally felt for her.

While trying to save her grandmother‘s school for ESL Bryony walks away from said conference with an opportunity that just might save it, even if her manuscript is door stopper in size. While there were times, I found the story dragged a little in terms of the plot I was thoroughly entertained with the witty banter, a look into the publishing world along with some characters that I liked. Well, until there was one that I didn’t.

A lot of the story took place in Bryony’s mind which was fine for me as it made me root for her and understand her way of thinking. She has had an interesting life and always puts others before herself, so it was nice to see her transformation throughout. Jack is her agent who is somewhat mysterious, well charming at the same time. Yes there is romance but this is more about Bryony's journey as she endeavors to follow her dreams.

You can find The Perfect Rom-Com on your book shelves on February 11. My thanks to Thomas Nelson for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

Hardcover, 419 pages

Published February 27, 2024

 by Del Rey

4/5 stars

This is my first time reading a Danielle L. Jensen novel.  Yes I was sold on the lovely sprayed edges but captivated by the story - even if I'm really not into mythology.

This was a combo audio and read, I like doing that as it helps me to really get into the story by knowing pronunciations of names and places. Plus when there is an accent involved, well I am hooked.

A Fate Inked in Blood is the story of Freya, forced into a marriage not of her choosing things but then things take a drastic turn.  What follows is a fast paced story of magic, action, family dynamics and some spice. Lots of world building with a mixed cast of characters. All while Freya fights for her place in the world.  

The door has been left open for book 2,  A Curse Carved in Bone which releases in May.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge with the audiobook obtained through my local library via CloudLibrary.