Ashley Farley has the gift of bringing the characters to life ... ordinary people you would know from your everyday life. This story is full of emotion which is something else the author does well. A sense of community and caring with a little twist with have you absorbing the words. The characters are richly developed and will have you emotionally invested in the story. From grief to hoe to second chances to love ... you will close the book with a sigh and a smile on your f

When I open up a book by Karen King, I know I will be treated to a delightful story with wonderful characters and an interesting setting. They are always a fun read featuring “older” adults and whatever is going on in their lives at that mature age. I particularly loved the focus on second chances and making the most of your life. What decisions have I made in the past and am I going to let societal expectations dictate who I am and what I can or cannot do because I have achi

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially if there is a dual timeline aspect. I was disappointed when I had finished the book, though. The story was interesting and the characters were well developed, but it felt like it took forever to trudge through the pages. The constant focus on Amanda’s perimenopause condition was overdone a little too much! We got it the first 100 times it was mentioned. The reveal at the end did help it earn an extra star from me. This w

What a wonderful series to get lost in. The lighthouse library series is one of my favorites. And as soon as I see that a new book is being released, it is at the top of my to-buy list. The setting of a library in a lighthouse in Nags Head on the Outer Banks of NC is pretty much my idea of the ideal place. Lucy is once again pulled into a murder mystery, though as a suspect this time. I love the family of friends and coworkers who make up the cast of characters. It demonstrat

I have read all but three of the earlier books in the Secret, Books, and Scone Society series. And I know I will go back and read them too. The characters are well developed and the setting of a psychic reading in the Miracle Books bookstore has you flipping through the pages to figure out who committed murder. There are a lot of clues and twists and turns that will take you on an emotional journey with The Secret, Book, and Scone Society. The coded messages in the psychic’s

I know that when I open a Maddie Please book, I will be in for an entertaining read. I cannot imagine going on a painting holiday, but the author had me wondering if that is something to put on my bucket list. I so admired Meg for being willing to step out of her comfort zone and take on a new challenge ... being open to new experiences. I loved journeying with Meg as she grew and began to blossom into a wonderful woman with a colorful life. One of the things I love most abou

I looked forward to reading The Filling Station by Vanessa Miller. However, it took all I had to trudge through the pages to get to the end. This is definitely a difficult read as you experience the racial tension and prejudices that were so prevalent at that period of time. The Tulsa Race Massacre was a horrendous incident. But while a story I struggled to get through, watching Margaret and Evelyn wrestled to cope with the trauma of the massacre was emotionally challenging.

This is the first book I have read in the Lady Petra Inquires series. However, I enjoyed it enough that I plan to go back and read the first two books in the series. The characters are well developed and I did not feel that I was at a disadvantage with jumping into the series at the third book. The murder mystery was handled well and bits of historical detail added to the pleasure of reading this book. Between the snarky dialogue and the behind-the-scenes romance between Lady

I love reading historical fiction books and especially those that take place during WWII. While I have read many books that are set in Auschwitz, I have not read many that cover the women’s camp at Ravensbrück. But what I have read describes the horrible experiences of the women who suffered in that concentration camp. I have also not had the opportunity to read about seamstresses and their responsibilities at both locations. This is an emotional story of loss, family, friend

I love reading historical fiction books and especially if they take place during WWII. And because I have read so many over the years, I find that it is harder to find one that covers a new aspect of the horrors of that time period or touches me deeply. So the fact that Siobhan Curham’s latest gift of words earned 5 stars says a lot. Told through the lives of three individuals ... Adela and Azriel and Izabel. Their efforts with the Resistance is courageous. You will experienc

I looked forward to reading this book and anticipated being drawn into a suspense story filled with intense moments. However, when I discovered was a young adult book that was full of mostly teenage drama. There were too many repetitions scattered throughout the pages. If I read “I love him so much” or that Craig broke up with Zoey via text once, I read it multiple times. The character development was lacking, the story line did not hold my focus, and it seemed the dialogue w

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I loved the storyline itself, but I felt like it went on and on and on ... repeating the same emotions. It could have definitely done with some serious editing and many pages removed. I was, however, drawn into the story and felt for Simon and the situation in which he found himself. Though by no means a highly respectable individual ... personally or as a lawyer ... his struggles to prove his innocence was painful to experience. My pri

For me, books by Catherine Ryan Hyde are hit or miss. While I have absolutely loved some of her books, others have not appealed to me. Unfortunately, this is one that I did connect with and was definitely not one of my favorites. There are some trigger aspects in this story ... alcoholism, homelessness, and sexual abuse of young people. While heavy topics, the relationship that developed between Addie and Jonathan was touching. Though I did think it was a little unrealistic.

While books in the romance genre are not my favorite, this book was a delight to read. I loved the characters ... from Mary to Beckett to Gramps, Beckett’s elderly father. They were realistic and like people you know in your everyday life. The people who welcomed Mary into their group of friends were amazing. They surrounded her with love, support, baby gifts, and encouragement. And I hope there are still some men like Beckett out there ... a man with a heart of gold with his

I have loved the books in the Key West Food Critic series. The characters are delightful ... from Haley to her husband and family to her houseboat neighbor, Miss Gloria. And the opportunity to celebrate Miss Gloria’s 85th birthday is definitely going to bring up the chance for a murder mystery. The mystery “explodes” at the beginning and will have you invested in the story and sleuthing with Hayley and her mother-in-law and stepmother to reveal the person guilty of murder. Mi

I have enjoyed every moment I have spent with Emmy Lake and am sad that our time together has come to and end. We are still ensconced in WWII and bombs are still being dropped on London. The Women’s Friend magazine continues to play a role in helping readers deal with the difficulties the war has brought into their lives as well as everyday concerns and questions. The characters feel like friends and I have come to care about their lives and their struggles. Emmy provides a

Now that I have sped through the pages anxious to see what will happen next, I have closed the book and my initial response is, “Wow!” As the book cover promises, itis “an ending you’ll never forget.” There are so many twists and turns as you absorb the words on the page that your mind is reeling. Just as you think you have things figured out, the authors pull ... no JERK ... the rug out from under your feet. As I said at the beginning, “WOW!!!” Thank you to NetGalley and Lit

When I open up an Alex Delaware book by Jonathan Kellerman, I know I am in for an adventurous ride. Between Alex and his detective friend, Milo, you will be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what clues they will uncover. They make a great team and their ability to bounce thoughts and ideas off each other always helps them solve whatever murder case in which they are involved. The characters are well developed and you will be treated to some of the people from earlier bo

I have enjoyed the variety of books by the author, Karen White. She is one of my favorite authors and I am ready to jump into whatever book she has just released! This story was a journey through the pages of family, relationships, loss, aging, dealing with dementia, and the value of being appreciated. There are moments when your heart breaks for Phoebe as she endures one attack after another from her mother. You understand the decisions she has made as you discover her famil

This was a fun read. I loved the character interactions. They were well developed and the varied personalities were entertaining. As someone who has played the piano at many weddings and the former chair of the Wedding Hostess Committee at church, I have experienced wedding drama for which I should write a book! So this particular story was one I found myself enjoying. While experiencing wedding planning with the bride and groom and the MOB (mother of the bride) and MOG (moth