This book was filled with three short sweet stories that featured characters who were discovering who they were and what they wanted out of life. The characters are richly developed and you will grow to love and care about each of them. I loved the older women you meet as you wander through the pages. They have so much spunk and sass and prove that they still have much to contribute to the younger generation. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my advanced r

This historical fiction book was different than my typical read. While it took me a while to get into the story, the last third of the book made it a satisfying read. I was unfamiliar with byssus and the weavers. (Byssus is the fine amber filament that anchors mollusks to the ocean floor.) Learning the tradition of harvesting the sea silk was so interesting. The author has done an amazing amount of research and sharing the story of Sardinia’s water women allowed you to discov

I love reading historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII time period. Because I have read so many books in this genre, it is hard to find one that covers an aspect I am not familiar with. This book covered Lenny’s life as a spy for the SOE. But what really caught my attention was the title and the synopsis which hinted at coded messages being shared through the knitting of clothing. While this is introduced, I was disappointed that there was very

This is the first book in the Oregon Honeycomb series I have read. But it did well as a standalone. And because I have read several books in another series by the author, I felt comfortable jumping into this one a little later. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed getting to know the people of Oceanview, Oregon. The town sounded delightful and I would love to spend time there and especially in Wren’s gift shop, Let It Be. There are lots of twists and turns that wil

I loved this cozy book about family, relationships, love, loss, forgiveness, and second chances. Centered around The Sweet Life Café and the characters of Addie, Susanna, and Aunt Gayle, you will find your heart breaking at some moments while overflowing with love at others. Family relationships may be difficult, but experiencing life from the viewpoint of the three main characters will bring comfort as they discover long health, secrets, find healing, and grow together as a

This was a wonderful opportunity to spend time in the pages of a book about love, loss, longing, forgiveness, and mystery. I loved getting lost in the world of Bronwyn, Clara, and Wynnie. In fact, eight-year-old Wynnie stole my heart! As the fog covers the streets of London, so does the mystery of Bronwyn’s (Clara's mother) disappearance more than 20 years ago cover the lives of Clara and Wynnie. There is wonder, mystery, make-believe, family connections, and the blossoming o

I have loved the books. I have read in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails series by the writing team of Lee Hollis. I enjoy the time I get to spend with Hayley, Liddy, and Mona. And Sergio's misuse of the English language always has me chuckling. You need to read the books in the series to understand and appreciate this. The murder mystery was very misguided and more time was spent in the courtroom trying the case, then trying to solve the mystery. That was a little bit of

This is probably one of the most difficult books I have read from an emotional standpoint in a long time. The exploration through the pages of the individuals who work and are inmates in a prison will allow you a glimpse into their hearts and minds. There is a darkness through which you will have to navigate. However, the thread of God's acceptance and forgiveness will reach down deep in your soul. As a mother of a police officer, I understand the difficult experiences they f

I have read five of the previous books in the Beyond the Page Bookstore series. I enjoyed them so much that I could not wait to get lost in the pages of this 11th book in the series. And the fact that this will be the last book in the series because the author passed away unexpectedly in 2025 makes it even sadder. I enjoyed the Christmas theme … always a plus for me. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed Addie’s efforts to solve the murder mystery and prevent her fr

This was the first book I have read the Marius Quin series by Benedict Brown. I do believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had more background into the primary characters, Marius Quin and Lady Bella Montague. However, I still liked spending time trying to solve the murder mysteries and getting to know Marius and Bella more. The relationship between the two of them is entertaining, and I loved that while they have such different personalities, their relationship is built on

It does not get much better when you are given the opportunity to read a book about a library that centers around friendships. The Croatian Island Library is full of a delightful and varied cast of character characters. The ability to experience summer days while sailing from one island to another aboard the floating library would be a dream come true for me. Getting to know this group of people who developed such a strong and heartwarming connection and experiencing the reve

I really enjoy historical fiction and especially when it revolves around books. This book took a while to have me invested in the story. I enjoyed reading about the three sisters, Olivia, Daphne, and Celia. Observing them running a bookstore in the early 1900s ... a time when men would have been in that role. Each sister has a focus and it was interesting to explore their lives and the secrets they kept from each other. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for

This is definitely an emotional read that will have you angry at how society treated women in the early 20th century. Their treatment at the institutions was horrendous and eye-opening. The fact that the book is based on real events is appalling. A very difficult and uncomfortable read, but also important that we learn about this type of unacceptable treatment of women in the hopes that history does not repeat itself. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advance

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially when they take place during the WWII time period. The dual timeline aspect of this story was an added plus. There are some deep subjects covered throughout the pages ... mental illness, persecution of the Jews, mistreatment of residents of an insane asylum. The author does a wonderful job of creating two separate timelines but merges them together that is so subtle I had to spend time thinking about the connection. Thank

I love historical fiction books and especially those that are about books. The magical aspect of this particular story flowed well with the historical fiction focus. The characters are well developed and the mystery pulled me in and kept my interest. There is a touch of romance and I really wanted to discover where the relationship between Lillian and Harry would go. This book will take you on a journey into another time and place with mystery and intrigue. Thank you to NetGa

I have read quite a few of the books in the Booktown series by Lorna Barrett. I was not as invested in this book as others I have read. As many reviewers have commented, the bickering between the sisters is getting old. And while I have never cared for Angelica, I feel like she redeemed herself slightly at the end of the book. I cannot imagine having Tricia and Angelica’s parents. It is amazing they turned out as normal as they did. The mystery was interesting and kept my att

If you are in the mood for a light and fun rom-com, this is the perfect book for you. And as seems to be the case for most of this type of book, it is filled with well-to-do people who are misbehaving. For me, I think this type of book is not appealing. The author does a good job with character development and the storyline is interesting. But the romance aspect was awkward, the mystery was just okay, and I did not care for many of the characters. So for me, this was a lot of

The synopsis of this book caught my interest and I looked forward to the character development. However, I could not connect with any of them. The story did not pull me in and hold my attention. I felt like it was a slow plod through the pages and I found myself struggling to finish the book. There appear to be many reviewers who really enjoyed the book. So I would encourage you to read it and decide for yourself if it appeals to you Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books

I have enjoyed previous books by the author, T. Greenwood. I liked the dual timeline focus. The storyline was handled well. It did seem to plod along more than I like in books. Experiencing Edie’s pain and guilt was emotional. This is a book I think many readers will enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000

I love historical fiction books and especially those that deal with books and libraries. So many magical things can happen in the pages of a wonderful book. So this one caught my attention and I looked forward to time spent with Lily. The history of the American Library in Paris was interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the many characters featured in the book. The shelves of books and the comfort of friendship makes this a story worth exploring. Thank you to NetGalley an