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

What an amazing Jeannette Rankin was. I had never heard of her before picking up this book and getting to learn about her life. The author has done a phenomenal amount of research into the time period in which Jeannette lived, the political climate, the male-dominated world, and the strength of so many women who fought for women's right to vote and pave the way for their many future achievements. A very interesting and enlightening read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’

I love reading historical fiction books, and especially if they are set during the WWII time period. When there is a dual timeline, I'm definitely hooked. Once again, I'm in all of the efforts, so many individuals were willing to make to help the people mistreated by Hitler's army of evil. I was not familiar with the Croatian fight for freedom and the devastation that has played the country … families, and the community … for years. The impact on the lives of the children is

This is a great book to start The Highland Bookshop Murders series. I love cozy mysteries, and especially when they take place in a bookshop. Great characters, a delightful location, and an intriguing mystery will have you pulled into the story as Beth and her staff at The Wild Haggis Bookshop try to solve the murder mystery and keep Beth from being seriously considered the prime suspect. There are lots of twist and turns with plenty of suspects. I'm looking forward to gettin

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

Well, this was more than 12 hours of wasted time I will never get back. A lot of characters with very little development which meant I had no interest in their lives. Way too many things going on in the pages which meant it could not hold my attention. Two political. TDS flooded the pages and made it a slog through to the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please visit my blog at:...

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 is a great first book the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series. The characters are well developed and the murder mystery will keep you invested in the story. There are a lot of suspects and I was surprised when the person guilty is finally revealed. Tiffany does a great job of using her talent as a food blogger and former chef to sniff out the clues. And, of course, she finds herself in some precarious situations. But that just adds to the angst and will have you flipping

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

I really enjoyed this exploration through the pages of friendship. What a difference that can make in a person's life. This is an emotional read, as you feel the pain of loss, fear, guilt, secrets, and healing. And the friendship between the ladies is a tool to help Elisavet heal. The Bridge Between Friends is not just a physical bridge, Cora, Megan, and Gladdie go to share their friendship. It also represents a link from the past to the present and a connection from friends

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

The title and synopsis of this book caught my attention and I knew it was a had-to-read book. However, it was just an okay read. It did not grab me and hold me captive until I had finished reading it. The characters are well developed and are pretty much what drives the storyline. There is no real wow factor. It is just a story of friendships between the women. Their three POVs is interesting and the way they truly care for each other is touching. I think the best way to desc

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

The true-crime element of this book was intriguing. But I felt like I was plodding through the pages to get to the twists that pulled me into the story. A lot of characters and it was hard to remember who was who. I typically enjoy dual timeline books. But this one made it hard to keep track. An okay read for me. But there are enough very positive reviews, so it may appeal to you. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and though

I have to admit that I struggled reading this book. It took a while for me to become interested in the storyline. But it did finally catch my interest. There were twists and a slow build in the tension of the book that helped keep my attention. An okay read but I am not sure whether the struggle to force myself to finish it was worth the time I spent in the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. 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