I enjoy reading historical fiction books. However, this was a different focus from most of my reads. Unfortunately, this one just seemed to take too long to tell the story. I struggled to stay focused. It had promise but I did not feel like it delivered. The Roaring Twenties, murder mystery, and PTSD aspects could have developed into a relatable and inspiring story. Plus the random use of the “F-bomb” was totally unnecessary. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my a

I am so sad that this is the last book in the Salem B&B series! I have enjoyed the time I have spent with Charlene, Sam, Jack, Avery, Silva, and Minne. This book is set during the Halloween time period which is a perfect for the setting of Salem, Massachusetts. The characters have become friends on the page and I have grown to care about them. And while I am sad that this series is ending, the author created the perfect ending. My heart almost stopped beating and I gasped out

This was a different read for me. I appreciated the historical fiction aspect of this book. However, the magical realism focus was not engaging to me. The time period of Prohibition was interesting. But there were some aspects that did not appeal to me ... the gangsters that appeared late in the book for the purpose of turning the dancers against each other or the over-the-top discussion of Nora’s fears. This book had promise, but for me, it did not deliver. Thank you to NetG

This was a fun cozy mystery to start the new Maddie Penrose series by Fliss Chester. I love the thought of a grandmother and her granddaughter running a quaint teashop in the Cornish countryside. And while I am not a cat person, Crumpet and Toast were mischievous enough to add a positive aspect to the book. Maddie is a wonderful primary character. And her method of solving the murder mystery as if she was looking at a recipe was a unique twist. And good looking Detective Insp

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

This is a book that delves into the life of a boy, Austin, with major health issues. So it is not a light read. However, it was encouraging to read how Austin and his parents grow in their spiritual life. I think my biggest issue with the book is that I expected it to be more about Austin. Instead, you have to endure his dad’s whiny, selfish, and immature personality. I appreciated learning about Austin and his many challenges and experiencing the emotional and spiritual jour

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

This was a very different book than my typical read. The medical history aspect was informational and learning about female surgeon, Dr. Nora Gibson, and her strong and determined personality as she struggled in a world dominated by men was enlightening. The author (who is actually the writing team of Jaime Fixson and Regina Sirois) has obviously done a great amount of research. But it is presented in a way that showcases the lives of the characters with depth and care. A sto

I am loving the books in the Cozy Capers Book Group series by Maddie Day. The characters have begun to feel like friends. This particular book was a little more emotional with Mac’s sister-in-law missing. So you actually have two mysteries going on ... a murder and a missing relative. Mac and Tim also have the added responsibility of caring for his sister, Jaime’s, two young children. But the way they worked together along with family and friends to provide love and care for

While I have only read a few of the books in the Cat Café series by Cate Conte, I am a fan. I am not a cat fan, but this series has so much more to offer that I can enjoy my time with Maddie and her crew. The trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts is full of action and, of course, murder. So you are off on an adventure in the new Cat Café food truck. There are a lot of suspects and plenty of clues to keep Maddie working to discover who is guilty of murder. I enjoyed this latest

I have enjoyed the books I have read in the Pacific Northwest series by Kim Griswell. Saffi is one of my favorite characters. She is sassy, intelligent, independent, and caring. The mystery will pull you in and keep you guessing until the very end. There are a lot of suspects and Saffi continues to discover clues. There are some unsavory characters and plenty that will have you wondering if they could be guilty of murder. While Saffi is not on an adventure in her own RV, she

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

Oh my goodness! Such a story of lies, manipulation, hidden secrets, revenge, and suspense. I enjoyed the aspect of how each character, Amelia and Vivienne, expressed their personal point of view. And how psychopathic and manipulative was one particular character! (You will have to read the book to know who I am talking about!) This book will pull you in at the beginning and you will be in for a psychological thriller of a ride. A quick read that will have you giving a gasp in

One of my favorite new series! I have grown to love the gang in Little Wenborough. From Georgina to her sweet furry friend, Bert, to her boyfriend, DI Colin Bradshaw, to friends, Sybbie, Cesca, and Jodie, to the resident ghost, Doris, you will be in for an interesting adventure in the pages. One aspect I really enjoy about the Georgina Drake series is the present and past mystery that pulls her in to investigate. While Georgina and Colin are a couple, I like that while they d

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books. This one was a different focus than my typical read. I have never explored Egyptian history much other than what I have read in the Bible and about King Tut. While I enjoyed learning about two strong women and their role during their lifetimes, this book did not appeal to me. I did not enjoy the writing style or one the female characters, Lady Evelyn Herbert. I appreciate the amount of research that the author did. But the storylin

The premise of this book grabbed my attention and I looked forward to learning about the life of Bianca and the possible cure for malaria. However, the story seemed to drag on and on and could not keep my attention. The primary character, Bianca, is not a pleasant person. She is selfish, an adulteress, and so wrapped up in herself and motivation for wealth to the point of abandoning her child that I could not stand to read about her life. Not a pleasant read for me. Thank you

What an emotional read! James Patterson and Viola Davis have teamed up to bring a highly charged thriller. This story pulled me in from the beginning and I did not want to stop reading it until the end. I loved Judge Stone and the person she represented as a judge and member of the community. Her no-nonsense approach to dealing with people in her courtroom was admirable. Her willingness to care that true judgment was carried out instead of caving in to the pressure of those i

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and one that deals with books appeal to me. However, this book was so difficult to get into. The different characters and time periods were confusing. I did enjoy reading about the WPA (Works Progress Administration). A disorganized attempt to share multiple viewpoints and storylines. It just did not work for me. Though I have enjoyed previous books by the author, so I will read future books by her. Thank you to NetGalley and William M