I have enjoyed all of the books in the Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger. So I was excited at the opportunity to read the latest book ... Spirit Crossing. Unfortunately, this was a major disappointment to me. It felt politically motivated and focused on the victimization of Native Americans instead of a mystery thriller component that I have come to expect in this author’s books. If I want to read about social justice and the woke moment, I will choose a nonfiction

I have really enjoyed the books in the Cupcake Bakery series by Jenn McKinlay. And the twist of football players wanting to start a cupcake bakery franchise just added to the story. A murder occurs and Mel, Angie, Tate, and the gang are ready to tackle all the clues and score a touchdown by solving the case. This is a wonderful series and I love spending time in the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakery and the gang in Scottsdale, Arizona. I recommend you go back to book one and read to

I have loved the books in The Haunted Library series by Allison Brook. I was thrilled to be back in Clover Ridge, Connecticut with Carrie, Dylan, Angela, and resident ghost, Evelyn. Of course there is a murder and Carrie will be helping to discover who is guilty of the crime. A lot of twists and turns are sprinkled throughout the pages with some complications such as difficult family relationships, jealousy, insurance fraud, etc. I am looking forward to the next book in the s

I was not the target audience for this book. Books in the magical realism and fantasy genres are not appealing to me. However, it was interesting to read about Jewish matchmaking. This seemed more like a storyline written for a Hallmark movie. And that is something else I do not enjoy. The story did not pull me into the book and I just did not care about the characters. It was just a “blah” read and one I will forget about now that I have finished the book. Thank you to NetGa

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially if they take place during WWII. The author obviously did a great amount of research. Reading about Operation Pied Piper and how children were sent to the countryside of England as well as Canada and other countries, was heart wrenching. I cannot begin to imagine the anguish of mothers having to decide whether to take a chance their children will survive the war if they stay in London ... or send them away to be cared for

Well, this was several hours of wasted time I will never get back. I simply could not get invested in the story and I did not care about the characters. If the “incident” was something worth discovering by the time I slogged through to the end, it might have redeemed itself. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I gave this one an extra star because it took place in Ireland. Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Fo

I have thoroughly enjoyed the books in the Maine Clambake series by Barbara Ross. I was sad, though, to discover that Torn Asunder is the last book in the series. I have grown to love the characters from Morrow Island in Maine. The story is filled with mystery and the warmth of family and friends. I have never been to a clambake, but after spending time with Julia, Zoey, Jamie, Tom, and the rest of the gang, I am ready to book a trip to Maine and find a place to enjoy a delic

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. This was a different focus than my typical read because it was set during the Civil War. The picture the author paints of Joetta McBride is interesting. What an amazing woman and I grew to admire her determined to remain neutral in the war between the states amidst the war that begins in her own back yard. Donna Everhart does a great job at creating characters for whom you care about and situations that will touch you emotionally. Tha

While like most people, I know a lot about Orville and Wilbur Wright, I was not familiar with the story of their sister, Katharine. I was looking forward to learning more about her personally as well as what part she may have played in the brothers’ efforts to fly. I was disappointed in the book because the characters were rather flat and I ended up not being drawn into their story. This ended up being more of a technical paper than a novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourceb

This is the first book I have read in the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon. However, this one worked well as a standalone. The characters are well developed and while some are featured in earlier books, there are several new ones you get to meet. And all of them are so relatable ... people you interact with on a daily basis. The expressions of faith are sprinkled throughout the pages with the blessing of romance and moments of wisdom that is shared. A feelgood read that wil

I have read several books in the Library Lover’s series by Jenn McKinlay. In fact, I enjoyed them so much that I plan to go back and read the rest of them. This is a great mystery with a lot happening to keep you invested in the story. I love the cast of characters and cannot wait to return to Briar Creek and see what adventure awaits them. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please visit my b

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

I have loved the books in the Amish Matchmaker series by Amanda Flower. Though you get to travel to Pinecraft, Florida from Harvest, Ohio, you are still treated to the same characters. Millie, Juliet, Jethro the pig, Rev. and Lois Brook, and Bishop and Ruth Yoder will keep you entertained. Of course Millie gets pulled into the murder investigation and she and Lois are determined to find the killer. Lots of clues are sprinkled throughout the pages which will have you invested

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

Historical fiction books are one of my favorite genres to read. And when they are set during WWII, I am always a huge fan. And I typically enjoy books from various time periods. However, the way this book covered the different times did not flow as smoothly and coherently as it could have. I did enjoy getting to know the characters ... Emilie, Danner, Otto, Felix, and Gertie. This is an emotional read and experiencing Emilie’s ability to deal with the difficult situations in

I love historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII time period. This also appealed to me because it has a dual timeline ... 1942 and 1994. The horrors that Irena experienced during the Nazi invasion of Poland is heartbreaking. The mental, physical, and emotional abuse that is exposed throughout the pages will touch you deeply. A story of love, loss, sacrifice, and relationships. A great twist at the end is different than any other WWII historical b

The author, Robert Whitlow, has become one of my favorite Christian fiction authors. He is able to bring to life characters that are relatable, add in the taste of suspense, and thread a Christian focus while keeping you fully invested in the story. There are lots of twists and turns and moments of intense danger, but the intensity is handled well. I enjoyed the witness protection aspect of the book and the added triggers this created. This is definitely one to put on your to

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

To begin with, I fell in love with AJ Winthrop. What an amazing man he was. There are a lot of characters and storylines woven throughout the pages. The tapestry that is created through the author’s words is unforgettable. There were so many quotes that touched me and had me grabbing a pen and paper to jot them down. When an author does that, I am completely invested in the story. One of my favorites was: “Love is two broken people fitted together to hold each other up, to po

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