I love reading historical books. This was a different focus than my typical read. I have never heard of illegal abortion clinics operating in the 1930s and 1940s. The characters are well developed and you will be drawn into their lives. From the doctors and nurses who performed the procedures to the women who chose to endure the abortion, you will be affected by their stories. The reasons for their decisions were varied and factors into the strong emotions you will experience

When I open a Judy Leigh book, I know I will be in for a delightful journey through the pages. How much trouble can two octogenarians get into? Well pick up this book and you will be treated to loads of fun, laughter, adventure, and a desire to experience life at full speed ... especially if it is in a red Ferrari! The animal rescue aspect was endearing. And the relationships Sally and Bronagh develop along the way are entertaining and heartwarming. Once again I was treated t

Once again we are treated to a glimpse into life in Normal, Kentucky. I have fallen in love with the characters in this quirky ... far from normal ... small town. From Mae to Dottie and the rest of the Laundry Club Ladies, you are in for a tasty and entertaining time. As is typical, there is a murder mystery and Mae and the gang set out to help solve it. The southern setting, lingo, culture, and small town nosiness had me chuckling. While you could read this as a standalone,

This second book in the Marsh Point series is family drama to the extreme. I loved the addition of Julia Becker and her son who were part of the Witness Protection Program. The siblings from the first book have returned but this one focuses more on the brother, Will. Once again you are pulled into the story and will be sitting on the edge of your seat as you discover lies, truths, hidden agendas, and misuser of power and authority. You will grow to love and care about the cha

I loved this first book in the Marh Point series. Getting to know the four siblings, Ashton, Carri, Savannah (though she has been missing for 30 years), and Will was an exploration into family dysfunction. Pealing away all the layers of life with an alcohol mother and basically a father who was there but did nothing to help his son and daughters was heart wrenching. Ashton is such a good soul and your heart will break at the abuse she endures by her husband and siblings. This

I am enjoying the books I have read in the Charlie Kingsley series and plan to go back and read those I haven’t had the opportunity to read so far. The characters are well developed and the town of Redemption will pull you into the story and keep you flipping the pages. Once again Charlie is in the middle of a murder mystery. Her caring nature gets her into trouble more times than not and her willingness to do whatever it takes to solve the mystery is heartwarming. Lots of tw

Once again Jonathan Kellerman has pulled me into the story from the beginning and held me captive until the end. Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are the perfect murder mystery solving team. I love how their thoughts are shared in working the clues ... putting the pieces of the puzzle together to solve the crime. The psychological viewpoint provided by Alex is a trip into the dark recesses of the human psyche. One of my favorite series to read and I look forward to whatever dep

While this is the 4th book in the Vintage Cookbook series, it is the first one I have read. And though I enjoyed it, I think it would have appealed to me more if I had read the first three books. However, that is something I will remedy. The book is filled with great characters, a delightful setting (in New Orleans), delicious food, a taste of the history of the area, and a murder mystery. That is a recipe for success! There are some nail biting moments sprinkled throughout t

I have to say that I have enjoyed many of the books I have read that are published by Black Rose Writing. They publish unique books that are outside the normal real of books typically read. And I appreciate that. However, Carousel Grift was just a little too wonky for my taste. Such a random group of quirky characters that fill the pages along with a dose of magical realism. There are plenty of positive reviews. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the story or the characters. But

I have really enjoyed reading the books in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek series. What an amazing woman. Cussy Mary Lovett was such a strong, dedicated, and caring person. It was so difficult to endure the prejudices against her because she was “Blue.” But, once again, books bring healing and connections. Cussy approaches life with grace and hope. The people whose lives she touches through books will encourage you. An emotional journey through the pages with racism, eug

I recently discovered author Carly Winter. Enjoying the Patty Byrne series, I was looking forward to getting lost in another one. This first book in the Heywood Hounds series was a fun read. I love getting to know, Gina and her rescue fur friends, Daisy, Banshee, and Sing. Reading how Daisy "spoke" to Gina had me laughing out loud. I could picture her behavior as she expressed her thoughts and emotions. A delightful cozy mystery, this book will introduce you to a great cast o

This is the first book I have read in the Detective Inspector series by Lynn Marie Taylor. A different time. Then the murder mysteries I typically read. Based in the 1800s, you will have the opportunity to discover the background into Sam McQueen's personal life. You will easily be drawn into the story as you wait to see how the investigation will be resolved. Thank you to the author and Bloodhound Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For m

I enjoy reading historical fiction books, and especially if they are set during a World War II. I continue to be amazed at the dedication and willingness of people to do all they could to stop the atrocities of Hitler's reign of terror. The characters are richly developed, and you will be pulled into their lives and grow to love and admire the young people who became part of the resistance in Italy. Watching Giulia grow and mature was heartwarming while viewing the dangers sh

This is the first book I have read by Fiona Gibson, but it will not be the last. She is now on my radar and I will be looking for any new books. She releases and will be going back and reading earlier ones. This book will take you on a journey … a real road trip as well as one through the emotions of friendship, love, loss, the opportunity for new beginnings, and a chance to discover what we expect in life. The characters are true to life and relatable. Your heart will ache a

Celia Anderson is one of my go to authors when I want to get lost in the pages of a delightful story that takes place in Britain with a group of ladies of a certain age. And Life in the Old Girls Yet fits that to a tee. The characters are full of life, sassiness, and spunk. There are secrets hidden throughout the pages and journeying along with Vee, Althea, Beryl, and Winnie … and local handyman, Rick … will have you enjoying the ride. A story of new beginnings, learning how

This is the first book I have read by the author, Emerson Ford. However, it will not be the last! I will go back and read her debut novel, What the Silent Say, and am looking forward to reading Beyond the Frozen Sea when it is released in January 2027. I fell in love with Rosanna Waters. She was a free-spirited child who grew up to be a strong-willed, capable, amazing woman. This book will pull you into the story and the lives of the characters. From Rosanna to Callum, your h

Ugh! I really dislike writing negative book reviews. But this book was far from a spectacular thing. While a look into family dynamics, I am so glad that even with the less than perfect family I grew up in, it put Liz and Mia’s to shame. I did not care for the characters and I struggled to make myself keep reading to get to the end. There are several positive reviews. So I would encourage you to see if this appeals to you. Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback

I loved the time I spent in the pages of Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. The book is full of delightful ... and a few less than delightful ... characters. As I lost myself in the story, it made me wonder how often we make our lives look better, more glamorous, richer, full of love than it really is. For those of us who struggle with self-esteem issues, this book will hit close to home. Experiencing Rosie’s struggle to be who she wants to be and how she feels inept compared to h

After starting this book, I went back and read the first book in the series, After the Storm. It definitely helped to set up the lives of the characters so I knew about relationships and where life had taken them. This one was an emotional rollercoasters. The pages are filled with drama extraordinaire. Current, potential, and past romantic relationships are put to the test and I found myself flipping through the pages as quickly as possible to see how things would be resolved

I have really enjoyed reading the books in the Death by Chocolate series by Sarah Graves. I have grown to love the characters and enjoy the time I spend with them as I race through the pages. Once again Jake (Jacobia) finds herself in many situations which end up being rather painful. Her internal dialogue had me chuckling though cringing at the same time. Jake and Ellie make a great team, both in the chocolate bakeshop and as amateur sleuthers. I was invested in the story fr