REVIEW: Bitter Burn by Sierra Simone

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a long time coming and was well worth the wait. The resolution to this series had all the things, action, emotion, conflict, and an ending that felt complete. By the end of it all, they'd all been villains and heroes and found a way to get through the distrust and hurt to an understanding and realization that what may have started out like a game of pawns on a chess board ended in all of those carefully laid plans upended for a new and better reality. 

After reading this series, I think I've learned that I either need to do a full rereading of prior linked texts or just hold off on reading everything until its all released because as much as I loved and adored this series, and everything Sierra Simone has written, I feel like I didn't fully appreciate all of the Easter eggs because it had been so long since I'd read the series that led into this one and the first two books of this series felt like a pleasant but hazy memory. That's a me problem and not an author problem--I realize she writes as quickly as she writes; I also know that my memory isn't what it used to be and I want to really get the full experience.

All of that being said, I wholeheartedly recommend this series, and everything else she's done.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3JNttgE

SYNOPSIS:

I think it's important that you know this about me, that you understand this: I'm not sorry. I'd do it again.

After Mark Trevena's husband died eight years ago, he made vengeance his only purpose, his religion, his destiny. But to get to his enemy, he had to make himself like his enemy. Mortimer Cashel had a kingdom of secrets? Then Mark would make an empire. Mortimer Cashel had blood on his hands? Then Mark would bathe in it.

But Tristan and Isolde changed everything. Mark hadn't counted on wanting them, needing them; he hadn't counted on how it felt to watch the two of them fall in love. He'd thought he had everything under control―he'd thought he was safe from his own long-dead heart. He'd never imagined that the wronged husband, the jealous king from his childhood fairy tales, would be played by none other than himself.

It no longer matters what he used to believe. His enemy is ready to finish the game, and for the first time in eight years, Mark has pieces on the board he can't afford to lose. He'll burn the entire world to keep Tristan and Isolde safe. He'll scorch the earth―but as any good assassin will tell you, fire will only get a man so far, because there's always something left in the ashes. And for Tristan and Isolde, what's left in the ashes is the cold, bitter bones of the truth: their story begins and ends with Mark.

And every story needs a villain…
 

REVIEW: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

OUR REVIEW:

I grabbed this one based on a recommendation from another book blogger (is that even a thing anymore? it sorta feels like I'm the only one actually writing these these days...a topic for another day..). Anyway, I when she mentioned a surprise pregnancy, I knew I had to try it. I don't know why that's such a fascination for me, but I'm always curious about how author's are going to resolve the obvious built in conflict that exists. In Ready or Not, I found Eve's choices and unease to be relatable while also thinking she had no idea what she was about to get into. I love that she had a Shep in her life- one person who was her constant cheerleader, helper, supporter...her everything. And yet, it took her a hot minute to figure out that his interest in her wasn't just pure friendship. That was a smidge annoying and yet I guess it also worked because I stuck with them to the very end and felt very satisfied with how it all went down. 

Surprisingly more serious, exploring more than I anticipated, and a little slower than I might have wanted, but all in all a solid read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/47VHwc2

SYNOPSIS:

A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.

Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life. Her apartment in Brooklyn is cozy and close to her childhood best friend Willa, but far from her midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. While her job is only dream- adjacent , she’s hoping her passion and hard work will soon help her land a more glamorous role. And sure, her most recent romantic history has consisted of not one but two disappointing men named Derek. At least she always knows what to expect…until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve's loyal friendship with Willa is feeling off , right when she needs her most. And it’s Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is… suddenly kinda hot? Then there’s the baby's father, who is supportive but conflicted. Before long, Eve is rethinking everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

REVIEW: Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

 OUR REVIEW:

This series is just fun, y'all. I know when I pick up the next one it'll be a good time with some giggles and some characters who have real feelings hiding in there somewhere. In the case of Pitcher Perfect, we'd seen both Robbie and Skyler in a scene before and it was memorable. We basically start there with their story and learn that that particular meet cute is started Robbie's fall for Skylar. It took a little longer for her, but the events and stories that bring them together are sweet and exactly what I needed for a quick, fun romance. 

If you enjoyed this series, I really think you'll enjoy Robbie and Skyler's story. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/47SE1TH

SYNOPSIS:

Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.

When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.

But it’s all just pretend…right?

REVIEW: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

REVIEW:

It's been a while since I've read an Ariel Lawhon novel and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed her writing. I was immediately interested in the character of Martha Ballard and the story she had to tell. Maybe it's because I'd recently read The Crucible with my students, but I honestly think if I didn't have that frame of reference I'd still enjoy this novel. Martha's story is one that seems so familiar, despite its setting of 1789. Unfortunately, as much as things have changed, many things remain the same. Women not being believed? Check. Women being preyed upon by men who think they're untouchable? Check. People automatically thought of as less than or suspicious because they're different? Check. People behaving badly? Check. Even with all of that, though, there were bright spots. There was so much love and hope and goodness. The characters are rich and the setting and historical details fascinated me, while reminding me of how good I have it. 

This novel is one I've been recommending to those who want a rich and interesting story. It's well researched and imagines the lives and stories surrounding real people in a way that captivated me. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4reNIov

SYNOPSIS:

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon's newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.

 

REVIEW: Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder

OUR REVIEW:

Some Kind of Famous was such a nice surprise. I've read both of Wilder's previous novels and remember enjoying them so was excited at the opportunity to read this one too. When I reflect on what makes it such a good read for me, I think it's the focus on two characters that I don't get to meet very often. Merritt is coming off a long recovery period-life post being a world famous musician who ends up burning up and burning out. She starts off as tentative and internal--lots of things going on inside, lots of guilt or shame, and without the nudge of her sister (and Niko) I feel like she'd still be living with her sister, hiding from life. But she's nudged and she hires Niko and life begins to begin again. 

With Niko, we learn that this man who seems pretty stable and steady, is that because it's his armor and shield from his previous hurts. He craves a certain certainty and has been burned so many times that he sets the bar low for everyone else but himself. And so getting to know Merritt challenged him just as he challenged her. 

Seeing their care and respect for each other, their desire for the other to succeed, and their willingness to put the other's happiness first made this an all around superior read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3VBGOef

SYNOPSIS:
In this steamy and emotional small-town romance, a disgraced ex-musician and a local handyman try to resist their growing attraction for each other—until a broken-down house forces them together—from the author of How to Fake It in Hollywood and Will They or Won't They

It’s been a decade since Merritt Valentine’s peak as a celebrated singer-songwriter… and her subsequent career-ending mental breakdown. Since then, she’s abandoned the glitz of Los Angeles to move in with her sister, Olivia, in the sleepy Colorado ski town of Crested Peak, hoping to heal her lingering emotional wounds of the spotlight.

Life in Crested Peak would be uncomplicated if not for Merritt’s inconvenient crush on the local contractor and handyman, Nikolaos Petrakis. Niko is disarmingly handsome and too kind-hearted to ever be right for the complex and prickly Merritt. Though tempting, a fling with Niko would only bring the kind of drama Merritt has vowed to leave behind.

After his last heartbreak, Niko is done dating his fellow townies. Still, he can’t shake his fascination with the brilliant Merritt, even as he heeds their mutual friends’ warnings to steer clear of her chaos. But when Merritt needs help fixing up a house of her own, Niko is glad to be the only man for the job.

As the two spend more time together, their mutual attraction sparking a deeper connection than either one expects, they’re forced to confront the idea that they may have underestimated each other– and themselves.

 

REVIEW: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

OUR REVIEW:

This is the first time I've ever read a Kristin Harmel novel and I can see why she has a huge following; she clearly loves her characters and treats them with as much care as the world she's building allows. In The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau we get to know an octogenarian jewelry thief--words I never thought I'd type. lol. Of course it's not that simple. We come to know Colette and her family history-one that sees justice in theft--and it's with that in mind that we find her contemplating one important heist. In order to really understand this, we have to know the history and in alternating chapters we learn about her life in France during WW2 and her life in America after. Lots of grief and fear and tragedy that also includes hope and contentment and love. 

As we learn more about Colette and her history, we get to know the people in her life now--and how all of this impacts them. It's an interesting intwining of past and present and found family. Love and loss and grief. And while all of that seems grim, I left feeling satisfied and content with the ending.

While this novel isn't breaking new ground, it's definitely engaging and would be a great book club read. I enjoyed it and I know others will too. 

BUY IT:https://amzn.to/4gLKwfe

SYNOPSIS:

Colette Marceau has been stealing jewels for nearly as long as she can remember, following the centuries-old code of honor instilled in her by her mother, take only from the cruel and unkind, and give to those in need. Never was their family tradition more important than seven decades earlier, during the Second World War, when Annabel and Colette worked side by side in Paris to fund the French Resistance.

But one night in 1942, it all went wrong. Annabel was arrested by the Germans, and Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane, disappeared in the chaos of the raid, along with an exquisite diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown for safekeeping. Soon after, Annabel was executed, and Liliane’s body was found floating in the Seine—but the bracelet was nowhere to be found.

Seventy years later, Colette—who has “redistributed” $30 million in jewels over the decades to fund many worthy organizations—has done her best to put her tragic past behind her, but her life begins to unravel when the long-missing bracelet suddenly turns up in a museum exhibit in Boston. If Colette can discover where it has been all this time—and who owns it now—she may finally learn the truth about what happened to her sister. But she isn’t the only one for whom the bracelet holds answers, and when someone from her childhood lays claim to the diamonds, she’s forced to confront the ghosts of her past as never before. Against all odds, there may still be a chance to bring a murderer to justice—but first, Colette will have to summon the courage to open her own battered heart.
 

REVIEW: Nocturne by Karina Halle

OUR REVIEW:

Karina Halle is someone we've read again and again because she always seems to be willing to challenge herself to write in new worlds, and by doing that, challenges us to try to follow her. It's been a while since we've read anything by her and so when Nocturne came across the screen, it was time to jump back in. 

In Nocturne she not only put us back in 1947 Hollywood, but she also added vampires. Fun! I've read some of her other vampire novels and enjoyed them, as I enjoyed this one too. Her take on the Black Dahlia murder(s) and the corrupt underbelly of the city of stars, plus the sinister desires of one brand of vampire added up to quite a lot of things going on. And while this wasn't my favorite thing I've ever read (sometimes it felt like it dragged a little), I did enjoy it.

A nice escape for the norm..but definitely pay attention to the warnings before the book-this may not be for everyone. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3IAF81y

SYNOPSIS:Los Angeles, 1947.
The city is drowning in secrets and blood—and Lena Reid just lost her best friend to the shadows.
Elizabeth Short is dead. The press calls her the Black Dahlia.
Lena wants answers. Closure. Revenge.
What she finds instead… is him.

Victor Callahan is danger in a three-piece suit. An ex-boxer with fists like thunder and eyes that promise ruin. He’s supposed to help her.
Instead, he haunts her. Follows her. Wants her.
He doesn’t remember what happens after dark.
The blackouts. The blood.
The hunger.

But Lena’s not afraid of monsters.
She falls for them.
She is one.

Now, with a serial killer circling closer and a secret society pulling strings behind the curtain, Lena has one rule
Don’t let a vampire fall in love with you.
Because once he does…
He’ll never let you go.

Seven meets L.A. Confidential with a vampire twist, in this true crime and film noir-inspired standalone dark romance from New York Times Bestselling author Karina Halle. This book contains mature content with potential triggers--please consult the Content Warning at the start of the book.
 

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar

OUR REVIEW:

Admittedly I'm a huge van Gogh fan, so when I heard about The Secret Life of Sunflowers a friend I knew I had to read it. The novel follows the meeting and eventual love story of Johanna Bonger and Theo van Gogh paired with the modern story of Emsley Wilson- a woman who ends up with the diary of Bonger. As we flip between chapters and their alternating narratives, we watch as they encounter huge challenges and deep grief, with moments of joy and hope. 

Johanna finds love and marriage and talent, all wrapped up in Theo. They fall in love and have a son all while trying to support Vincent. We are flies on the wall as Theo and Vincent descend into madness and Johanna has to figure out to financially support her family and stay true to Theo's mission: to make Vincent into a world famous artist. She believes deeply in the mission and refuses to give up, despite the impossible obstacles...and as we know that she was successful because who doesn't know about Vincent van Gogh?

Meanwhile, Emsley is grappling with a change in her business and the death of one of the most important people in her life. She had to somehow deal with the aftermath of the loss of her person and the betrayal that happened in her business. Thankfully she had assistance with a small cadre of people and we see her at the end of the novel on the cusp of many triumphs.

This novel was a surprise--interesting and easy to read and a tragic but triumphant take on the van Gogh family.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/46Flvh7

SYNOPSIS:

When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother's diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn't her grandmother's. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law.

Johanna inherited Vincent van Gogh's paintings. They were all she had, and they weren't worth anything. She was a 28 year old widow with a baby in the 1800s, without any means of supporting herself, living in Paris where she barely spoke the language. Yet she managed to introduce Vincent's legacy to the world.

The inspiration couldn't come at a better time for Emsley. With her business failing, an unexpected love turning up in her life, and family secrets unraveling, can she find answers in the past?

 

REVIEW: Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

OUR REVIEW:

Listen, I get it. Some people couldn't get over the issue Conor had with the age gap between him and Maya. I didn't have a problem with it, per se....I mean it was annoying that he was so weird about it and yet, it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I suppose that's because Ali Hazelwood has a way of drawing me and holding my interest. She writes smart (but sometimes stupid) characters who seem relatable. I enjoy the tension she creates between her characters, the conundrums they find themselves in, and the humor she often employs to take the edge off any of the high emotion that you feel. For me it works. In this novel, I appreciated the history Maya and Conor had. The way he clearly cared for her. The way she persisted, despite all of the road blocks he put in her way. The way that they were drawn to each other, no matter what. So yeah, maybe for some this would be a problematic summer romance, but for me, it was a great escape from all that the end of summer brought. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4mSb8gc

SYNOPSIS:

Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.

Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.

 

REVIEW: How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin

 

OUR REVIEW:

I first fell in love with Alexa Martin when she published her football series and I've followed her from book to book ever since. In How to Sell a Romance we get to know the hilarious and delightful Emerson-a kindergarten teacher, animal shelter volunteer, and all around good person. As most teachers know, teaching is a profession that doesn't pay, no matter how good you are. To stave off the poorhouse, Emerson finds herself in a MLM situation that makes her finances worse instead of better. She also finds herself involved with one of her students' fathers, inadvertently, because of one night stand prior to school starting. That one night ends in anger, but eventually Emerson and Lucas find themselves in kahoots...and then in love. Throughout her teaching and spying, we get ton know her and her hilarious inner monologue, her inability to ask for help, which actually ends up putting her in the path of Lucas time and again.

Fun and funny, How to Sell a Romance is a good time.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4fTTiXR

SYNOPSIS:

Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?

Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder…until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.

When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?

REVIEW: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

 OUR REVIEW:

Without scrolling very far at all, I can see that Deep End has generated some FEELINGS of dislike or discontent and while that's a thing that happens, I can't imagine why. But then again, I didn't care to read the reviews for fear of spoiling, so I closed out as soon as I saw low stars and all caps. 

I've enjoyed Ali Hazelwood's novels and wanted to see if I'd enjoy this one. Turns out, I did. I don't know much about the world of diving, so living through the ups and downs of Scarlett's season was interesting. That plus the secret kinky relationship she starts with Lukas + both of them applying to medical school while also competing in various championships had me hooked. I haven't been the fasted reader lately and I found myself flying through this. I think it was the combination of being in a new world, the spicy nature of their romance, the wondering if they'd get caught, the delight of the inevitability of them falling in love, and that they were funny and fun to read had me flying through the pages. I suppose if you're into clean romcoms or not a fan of anything medical or smart you may not like this novel. But I liked the spice. I liked the diving. I liked the use of therapy, of Lukas's dad being super evolved, as were his brothers, that Lukas was really cool, and that Scarlett was a really good friend to someone who could've been a difficult friend to be with? Solid choices that made for a really happy reader. I wish I hadn't read all of Ali Hazelwood's novels because I can see how I'd immediately dive into her backlist if I could. 

Definitely a fun read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/40ZvlZ6

SYNOPSIS:

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...

REVIEW: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

 

OUR REVIEW:

I very much let my mood determine what I'm reading and I've been psychotically jumping from lighthearted romcoms to heavy emotional reads to more literary fiction, with seemingly no rhyme or reason. So obviously, when I picked up The Marriage Portrait, I was in the mood to read something more character driven, which is how I remembered the other thing I've read by O'Farrell, Hamnet. And yes, this novel was character driven, but I also found it to be action-y too. Rather than feeling like I was slogging through a lit fic work, I was flying through it. I found the story of Lucre to be engaging and surprising, and while I didn't enjoy the stifling misogyny that Lucre faced, I did enjoy her observations and her strength. I can't imagine living in that era, but Maggie O'Farrell brought it to life and made a time period that I'd never really want to live in, not feel quite as bad as I imagine it might have been. She fills the page with color and sights and sounds and even though Lucre's life wasn't the most evolved feminist life by a long shot, and I felt for her plight, I was also entertained by it all. I'm really not explaining this well, so ultimately my take away is that literary fiction can sometimes feel like a slog that I don't want to take and Maggie O'Farrell's novels never feel that way to me. I always (wrongly) assume that I'm going to have to work harder for less pay off and in the two novels I've read of hers, I walk away feeling happy that I read her work. Definitely a literary fiction writer that I'll always read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4mhPNMN

SYNOPSIS:

Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.

Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble?

As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess’s future hangs entirely in the balance.

Full of the beauty and emotion with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell turns her talents to Renaissance Italy in an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young woman’s battle for her very survival.

REVIEW: If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia

 

OUR REVIEW:

This book is a great fall read--it is filled with the perfect images of small town and fall and family and coziness. It takes all of the things we've romanticized about fall and immerses you while you follow the grumpy sunshine romance of Michelle and Cliff. I should also note that in addition to the fall setting, we're also in the 1990s--pre-cellphones and internet. 

These two are an unlikely pairing for a variety of reasons, some are expected: grumpy/sunshine, city girl/small town guy but the deeper you get in to their narratives, you see other things that make them hesitate to explore anything more. However, love prevails and despite a looming deadline for her to return to big city life, these two find themselves unable to stay away from each other.

Cliff was adorable. Michelle was annoying. The burn was slow. The setting: perfectly idealized. A solid 3.5 read for me. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4m1d3yu

SYNOPSIS:

My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.

I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out.

Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.

Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.

Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe.

Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards.

So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.

Mini-REVIEW: The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe

 MINI-REVIEW:

Typically I enjoy Joanna Shupe's historical romances and while I did end up liking The Gilded Heiress, it didn't hold my attention like her other works have. It felt a little long in places and the spark between Josie and Leo was a little lacking and the 'mystery' was easily solvable, not that that is a dealbreaker. However, once I got to know the characters and they got into NYC, it became more interesting and I found myself more engaged. A solid 3 star read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4e6gGRb

SYNOPSIS:

In 1880 a baby was stolen from the wealthiest family in America. Though no ransom was ever demanded, the Pendelton family never gave up hope . . . and their reward became the stuff of legend.

After being raised in a children’s asylum, Josie Smith ends up on the streets and quickly learns how to take care of herself. Her singing voice draws crowds on every corner, and she’ll stop at nothing to become famous and travel the world, loved and adored by all. Maybe then she won’t think about the family who gave her away as an infant.

Leo Hardy isn’t afraid to use his charm and wits to make a fast buck, especially with a mother and five siblings to support. When he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman singing on the street, Leo notices her striking resemblance to the infamous missing baby’s mother, Mrs. Thomas Pendelton. The Hardys lost everything thanks to the Pendeltons, and once Leo sees Josie, he seizes the opportunity to settle the score. All he needs to do is pull off the biggest swindle of his career.

As the two are catapulted into Knickerbocker High Society, they grow closer to their goal, as well as to each other. But secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon the truth unfolds, and both Josie and Leo must separate what’s real from what’s just gilding.

REVIEW: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

 

OUR REVIEW:

I'm reading this for a book club meeting and it was definitely a book that tackles a lot of issues that fall under the censorship/book banning umbrella. While none of the book provides any earthshattering revelations, it does provide readers an opportunity to explore why some people try to rationalize their support for book bans and why others vehemently oppose them. Of course I'm on the side of those who oppose them and was heartened in each chapter to feel that opposition come through, though I'm sure supporters of book bans wouldn't like how they're portrayed or what's attributed to their 'side'. I think many people could benefit from reading this book and converse about it, and I'm very interested in hearing what my book club counterparts will think.

Things to know about this novel:

Each chapter features different characters in the town and their experiences with the book ban. That being understood, the same main characters are featured again and again--so it doesn't feel like a series of short stories, it's definitely interconnected. 

Each of the polarizing characters almost feel like caricatures--but having seen some of this play out in real life, these over the top people do exist, strangely enough. 

By the time you reach the end, you'll feel satisfied with the way the loose ends are tied up. 

I think this is a very good book club read. 4 stars 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3UiuG0X

SYNOPSIS:

The provocative and hilarious summer read that will have book lovers cheering and everyone talking! Kirsten Miller, author of The Change, brings us a bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything.

Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.

REVIEW: Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

OUR REVIEW:

I listened to this on the family road trip to the beach this summer--not exactly what you would call light listening, but I found it to be an interesting thing to ponder as I drove. There are many more people invested in and more knowledgeable and opinionated about this book and having seen a little of the discourse, I get it...I get the controversy. I also think that if even half of this reporting is accurate, people should be pissed at so many people and so many things. I'm not going to get into it because while I'm fairly politically curious and opinionated, I know this is not my lane. I also know that after listening to this, I once again thought about term limits and checks and balances, and age. I don't know what the answer is, I just know that I'd never want a repeat of what this book proposes happened at the end of the Biden administration.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/46hYF0r

SYNOPSIS:

From two of America’s most respected journalists, an unflinching and explosive reckoning with one of the most fateful decisions in American political life: Joe Biden’s run for reelection despite evidence of his serious decline—amid desperate efforts to hide the extent of that deterioration. In Greek tragedy, the protagonist’s effort to avoid his fate is what seals his fate. In 2024, American politics became a Greek tragedy.

Joe Biden launched his successful 2020 bid for the White House with the stated goal of saving the nation from a second Trump presidential term. He, his family, and his senior aides were so convinced that only he could beat Trump again, they lied to themselves, allies, and the public about his condition and limitations. At his debate with Trump on June 27, 2024, the consequences of that deception were exposed to the world. It was shocking and upsetting.

Now the full, unsettling truth is being told for the first time. Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson take us behind closed doors and into private conversations between the heaviest of hitters, revealing how big the problem was and how many people knew about it. From White House staffers at the highest to lowest levels, to leaders of Congress and the Cabinet, from governors to donors and Hollywood players, the truth is finally being told. What you will learn makes President Biden’s decision to run for reelection seem shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless—a desperate bet that went bust—and part of a larger act of extended public deception that has few precedents. The story the authors tell raises fundamental issues of accountability and responsibility that will continue for decades.

The irony is that in the name of defeating what they called an existential threat to democracy, Biden and his inner circle ensured it, tossing aside his implicit promise to serve for only one term, denying the existence of health issues the nation had been watching for years, dooming the Democrats to defeat. The decision to run again, the Original Sin of this president, led to a campaign of denial and gaslighting, leading directly to Donald Trump's return to power and all that has happened as a consequence. Rarely does hubris meet nemesis more explosively. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, Original Sin is essential reading.
 

REVIEW: The Woman Left Behind by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

Can you tell I was on a KA kick? I was....and have been. Anytime I find myself in a reading slump I start a reread of one of her series and immerse myself until I either read through her entire list of novels or am forced to read something else. I was so into rereading her previous works that I totally missed some of her newer releases and had to jump into her current books.

In the Misted Pines series, I find the books to be a little more serious or somber, a little more leaning into the mystery of it all, while still fully embracing the romance aspect. In The Woman Left Behind, we finally get to know more about Harry and get to see him fall head over heels with Lillian--someone right under his nose the entire time. From their very first encounter in this novel we know that they are destined to be together and within days are inseparable...initially for her safety, but eventually because of their attraction and care of/for each other. As Harry works on solving cold cases, primarily hers, we see the depth of the corruption the previous administration, see cases get solved, and watch two lonely people find love. All in all, a winning combination.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4lVA9qi

SYNOPSIS:

There are two dead bodies in Idaho, and the gun used to kill them has been traced back to a sixteen-year-old robbery in Misted Pines.

Sheriff Harry Moran has a broken heart and a stack of case files on his desk that the corrupt sheriff who came before him might have bungled.

Or he may have framed innocent people.

The first case Harry dives into, the woman left behind lives just a block away from his office.

When Lillian Rainier opens the door to the sheriff, Harry, who’s been a dead man walking since his wife died, comes back to life.

As for Lillian, she’s had a crush on Harry for forever, Harry showing at her door, and how he is when he does only makes her fall deeper.

As Harry and his team dive into these suspicious cases, Harry and Lillian have to figure out what to do with all they feel for each other, how hard it hits them, and how deep it goes.

But as a voice from the past becomes a witness in the present, and Harry and his crew dig deeper, they sense something sinister happened years ago.

As they weave together the threads of a cold case, they realize how messy it is.

Worse, the man behind the mess is desperately cleaning it up …

And no one in Misted Pines is safe.