I enjoy reading historical fiction books. This was more of a women’s fiction book with a historical fiction aspect. I have read another book about the 1917 Halifax Explosion in Nova Scotia, so I had more details about that incident. This was an okay read. I just was not drawn into the story or made to care about the lives of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please v

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

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 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 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

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

I am sorry that I committed to reading this book before I discovered it was of the fantasy and magical realism genres. There must be a new trend for books with that focus because, unfortunately, I have been trying to read quite a few lately. However, even though I was not the intended audience, I did enjoy the book. The characters were well-developed and I learned a lot about restaurant management. I have never contemplated what it would take to be a Michelin restaurant inspe

I have evidently been on a tangent with reading books with a fantasy and magical realism focus. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of books in that genre. I had really enjoyed the author’s previous book, Ghosts of Harvard, so I was looking forward to reading this one. Alas, I felt like I was on a ride through an ADHD experience. There were too many topics and none of them received the focus needed to make it a cohesive read. I will probably read future books by this author, but I

I have loved the author, Fannie Flagg, for many years. So any time a new book is released, I will definitely have it on my to-be-read list. So I was excited at the opportunity to read her latest book. However, this one just did not appeal to me. The collection of short stories was okay, but not what I was expecting. “My bad” that I did not read the synopsis first. As with most of her books, there are some quirky individuals which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, the random stories w

Though the second book in the Old Juniper Bookstore series, it is the first one I have read. I am not sure if that made a difference in my opinion. While there are some positive aspects to the book, there were more negatives that kept me from wanting to actually finish the book. I am sure there are plenty of readers who will not be bothered by the pastor discussing the fact of why she is not having sex ... especially when she is NOT married. I am sorry, but I did not find thi

First of all, I was not the intended audience for this book. While I have enjoyed other books by the author, Evie Woods, I do not find those in the magical realism genre appealing. As a musician myself, I did appreciate the focus on musicians. Being exposed to how violins are made as well as played was informative and a positive aspect to this book. At times, I felt like the story dragged on and I had a difficult time staying focused. There are many individuals, though, who w

I love reading books from the historical fiction genre ... and especially when they are set during the WWII time period. The synopsis of this book intrigued me and I anticipated learning more about the enigma machines and codebreaking. While you will be exposed to a lot of information about the codebreaking efforts throughout WWII and how the Polish teams led the way in that accomplishment, the book just seemed to drag on. The romance between Beata and Harry took up too much

I am definitely not a cat person, but the synopsis appeal to me and so I took a chance. The book was okay. There were some positive and funny aspects to the story, i.e., the people who are part of the Brooklyn neighborhood each come up with their own names for the cat ... and the cat has created names for each of the humans. I felt like it was really more of a YA book. Each chapter gives you a different character’s point of view ... even the cat! One major negative comment is

While I am not a fan of books in the romance genre, this one had so many other aspects to it that I really enjoyed my time in St. Aidan. I fell in love with Floss. She and the other characters added such depth to the story. You will explore a true sense of friendship, possible romantic relationships, a recovery from a life-threatening illness, exploration into what Floss wants out of life, a precious furry dog companion, and a wonderful sense of community. This is perfect for

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII timeframe. This particular story is different than those I typically read because it takes place in Portugal. Getting to know Avery and Camille and journey with them through this difficult period of time was engaging. This was a story of love, loss, friendship, survival, and espionage. It will pull you in and keep you invested in the story until the final reveal. And what a great shocki

The Tea by the Sea series by Vicki Delaney is one of y favorites. As soon as a new book has been released by the author, it is on my to-be-read list. This particular book does not take place in the typical location of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But you are treated to a trip to Yorkshire, England and the Thornecroft Castle where Lily’s grandmother, Rose, used to work. And once again Lily is pulled into a murder investigation. Luckily her cohorts from Cape Cod are with her on thi

This is a perfect beach read! And it was actually a nice time for me to read it amidst frigid temperatures and an ice storm. I love Cape Cod and spending time there through the pages of the book brought back good memories. Reading books about bookshops is always a positive experience for me. And watching Leah develop self-confidence and grow the bookstore into more than a place to discover your next read warmed my heart. The sense of community was heartwarming. A story of lov

What a wonderful series this has been. I have grown to love Annie, Fletcher, Liam, Hal, and the other individuals who are prat of the Redwood Grove, CA community. There are so many secrets sprinkled throughout the pages ... not just the secret bookcase. Watching Annie and Liam’s relationship develop was heartwarming. With each book you are treated to a great mystery with lots of clues and a wonderful and supportive group of friends. I am sad to see this one end. But I am exci

I have thoroughly enjoyed the books I have read in the Hideaway House series. They are heart wrenching yet full of love, fulfilling relationships, hope, and healing. I have fallen in love with the characters. From Carrie to Guy, Jules, Lance, Rita, Erin, Tansy, the Major, as well as Eliza and Isaac, the resident spirits of The Hideaway House ... you will feel like you know them personally. After reading this series, I want to plan an escape to the Isle of Wight and a stay at

I love historical fiction books and the mystery aspect of this one was a positive spin that I really enjoyed. Metting Freddie Archer, a columnist of Gotham Magazine was enlightening. Freddie’s character was based on one of the first female columnists at The New Yorker. Life as an independent and strong female in the 20s was difficult. But Freddie was up for the challenge. Experiencing this time period and the speakeasies, bootlegging, fashion designers, and glamorous lifestyl