The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

A dual-timeline murder mystery set in an English country manor, when an ambitious professor discovers the long-lost manuscript of a Reformation-era prophetess.

Historian Alison Sage has made a groundbreaking archival discovery—she found a manuscript containing the prophecies of a 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton’s prophecy condemning Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn led to her execution and the destruction of all copies of her prophecies—or so the world believed.

With Alison’s discovery, she is catapulted to academic superstardom and scores an invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium, a week of research among a select handful of fellow historians at a crumbling manor in England, located next to the ruins of the priory where Elizabeth herself once lived.

What begins as a promising conference turns into a nightmare as the eerie house becomes the site of a murder. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, and it seems that answers lie at the root of a local legend about centuries-old hidden treasure. Alison’s research makes her best-suited to solve the mystery—but when old feelings resurface for a former colleague, and the stakes of the search skyrocket, everyone's motives become murky.

Alison’s cutthroat world of academia is almost as dangerous as Elizabeth Barton’s sixteenth-century England, where heretics are beheaded, visions can kill, and knowing who to trust is a deadly art. The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a thrilling novel, crackling with the voices of the past and propelled by a mystery that will leave readers in suspense until the very last page.

Kindle Edition, 307 pages

Published April 14, 2026 

by St. Martin's Press

3/5 stars

This is my first time reading Jennifer N. Brown, the premise drew me in: a dual-timeline mystery connecting a present-day academic who discovers a lost manuscript to its author, Elizabeth Barton, a real sixteenth-century nun who prophesied against Henry VIII.  Dual timelines is a trope I always enjoy, and the way Brown connects the two centuries was interesting.

Present day there is Alison, she is presented as a brilliant academic, but I found myself wishing the page backed that up a little more.  Elizabeth, a woman whose visions and convictions put her directly in the path of danger. I found myself thinking that sometimes, especially in sixteenth-century England, it might have been wiser to keep both your mouth and your visions to yourself.

The story-line itself held my interest, but I found the characters a little flat on both sides of the timeline. The plot kept me reading, though I wouldn't call it unputdownable,  it was the kind of book you're happy to pick up but not desperate to get back to.

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a story of conviction, determination and treasure, yes there is a treasure, or is there really? 

A solid debut with an interesting historical thread. 

My thanks to St. Martin's Press (via NetGalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spotlight: The Rainy Day Bookshop by RaeAnne Thayne

A Contemporary Small-Town Story of Family, Community and Books

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication June 2, 2026

 by MIRA

Sandwiched between caring for her mother and rebuilding the relationship with her estranged daughter, Emma, Rosie Lucas’s life is full. In the best way. With Emma and her 3-year old daughter, Olive, back home, Rosie has a partner for The Rainy Day Bookshop, the family business, and a chance to fix the past. What she doesn’t have time for is a romantic relationship. And even if she did, Andrew Morgan is the last person she’d choose. Not only is he an arrogant and reclusive writer, but he’s a single dad with two young kids. She’s already been there, done that. Still as an irresistible flirtation builds between them, he becomes her unexpected confidante on the distance Rosie can’t seem to overcome with Emma, a secret she can’t quite unravel…

Emma isn’t proud of her past. But she’s pulled herself up by the bootstraps, caring for her own daughter, and protecting her mom at all costs. Just as she always has. She never told Rosie what she saw all those years ago and she never will. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction. Rosie and Emma will have to navigate an unimaginable path forward. Together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website, raeannethayne.com.

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart. 

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published May 5, 2026

 by Berkley

4/5 stars

Carley Fortune has built a reputation for grounding her books in Canadian settings that appeal to so many Canadian readers, not just myself. In Our Perfect Storm we are in Tofino on Vancouver Island, I've been there, so I felt every bit of it through the pages.

Frankie is jilted on her wedding day. While the beginning was reminiscent of another book I read recently, it quickly went in another direction (thank goodness). Childhood best friend George takes Frankie on her week-long honeymoon to Tofino for some healing and what unfolds is a week of adventure, good food, and fun banter. Also self-discovery and revealed secrets.

What Fortune does so well is weave the past into the present. The history between Frankie and George does a lot of the heavy lifting and it makes their journey all the more interesting to watch.

Our Perfect Storm is a story of friendship, self-discovery and healing. Frankie and George are likeable characters whose chemistry reflects a lifetime of knowing each other. Set against that gorgeous backdrop, I found myself right there with them, with memories of my own Tofino vacation flooding back. I'm pretty sure there will be a spike in tourism to the Island. I know I want to go back; the rain-forests are a sight to behold.

All in all, this might be one of my favourite Carley Fortune books. I can't wait to see where she takes us next.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading of my Shelf Challenge and is #22.

Spotlight: LOVE ON THE SHELF by Sheila Roberts

The battle lines are drawn—between a romance-loving bookseller and the shock jock determined to tear happily-ever-afters apart.

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication May 26, 2026

 by MIRA

Alice Willoughby and her mom run HEA Books, a cozy shop devoted to love stories and the people who crave them. Alice is great at matching customers with their perfect happily-ever-after…she just can’t seem to find her own.

Enter Parker Black, a disillusioned radio host who’s reinvented himself as a romance-bashing shock jock. Bitter from his breakup with a romance author who turned love into a four-letter word, Parker takes aim at the entire genre—and his on-air rants start stirring up trouble for Alice’s loyal customers and their partners. He’s arrogant, aggravating, and absolutely not book-boyfriend material.

Parker’s crusade leads to spirited debates and bookstore protests, but when unexpected sparks fly between the two of them Alice begins to wonder if her favorite trope—enemies to lovers—might actually be playing out in real life. Parker may claim romance is a lie…but is he protesting a little too much?

With sharp wit and plenty of charm, USA Today bestselling author Sheila Roberts delivers a modern battle of the sexes where the biggest question is simple:

Are romance novels ruining love—or rewriting it?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Sheila Roberts has written sixty books ranging from romance and relationship fiction to devotional and self-improvement. Her novels have been turned into movies for the Lifetime, Hallmark, and GAF channels. When she’s not out dancing with her husband or hanging out with friends, she can be found writing about the things dear to her heart: family, friends and love. And chocolate. Sheila splits her time between the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. You can visit her at sheilasplace.com.

The Mad Trapper: The Incredible Tale of a Famous Canadian Manhunt by Helena Katz

This is the incredible story of Canada's largest manhunt. Hundreds of men spent 7 weeks tracking the elusive Albert Johnson for 240 kilometres across the frozen North. He was eventually caught and killed but the identity of Albert Johnson, the Mad Trapper of Rat River, remains a mystery to this day.

Paperback, 128 pages

Published January 1, 2004

 by Heritage Amazing Stories

3.5/5 stars

Hearing little tidbits over the years about The Mad Trapper had me grabbing this book, or rather rescuing it from a thrift shop when I saw it. The Mad Trapper tells the true story of Canada's largest manhunt, whether that title still stands I am not sure.

The manhunt itself is extraordinary. Hundreds of men tracking one person across 240 kilometres of frozen northern wilderness... in the middle of blizzard conditions... by dogsled. That means carrying all supplies not just for themselves but food for the dogs as well. I got the sense of how in tune the searchers were with their environment - reading the weather, knowing when storms were coming, following tracks in the snow. And then there is the added element of an airplane being brought in, which feels almost out of place alongside the dogsleds.

As for Albert Johnson himself, I had no sympathy for him, he was out for himself and showed no regard for human life. But I was genuinely impressed by his cunning. He outmaneuvered hundreds of men for seven weeks, I got the sense he had real experience and knowledge of the land. As for who he actually was, they have their suspicions, but without the forensic means available today, his true identity remains unconfirmed. And honestly that intrigues me more than it frustrates me. Some of history's mysteries stay a mystery.

The Mad Trapper is a story of community, danger and determination. It is about survival and tragedy, and it is a piece of Canadian history that deserves to be known. At just over 130 pages, it is a quick read. I recommend it to anyone curious about Canadian history and the incredible things people were capable of long before the modern world made everything somewhat easier.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #17.

The Chambermaid's Key by Genevieve Graham

From #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham, comes a dazzling novel set at an elegant hotel in Toronto in 1929 about a young chambermaid, a handsome waiter, and a murder that will reverberate for a century.

Welcome to the Dominion, where secrets lurk behind every locked door.

1929: Rosie Ryan wants nothing more than to escape the poverty of The Ward, Toronto’s roughest neighbourhood, and become a chambermaid at the brand-new Dominion Hotel. Until she meets Damien, that is—a charming and ambitious waiter who promises her a better life—and adds him to the top of her list. The Dominion offers her a chance to do well, but behind the gleaming chandeliers and polished marble lurk dangerous secrets involving its most notorious guest, a wealthy gangster who’s about to profit from The Crash that will decimate the economy. When a friend is murdered, Rosie finds herself tangled in a web of betrayal—one that just might cost her everything.

Present City building Inspector Bridget Kelly is assigned to scrutinize the recent renovations at the elegant old Dominion Hotel, a task she relishes as a lover of history and architecture, and that gets even better once she starts working with a brilliant and fascinating archivist. But when a routine inspection uncovers mysterious boxes, locked doors, and secret corridors, bringing to light a long-buried clue to a decades-old murder, her inspection is thwarted, and threats rise round her on every side. Bridget soon realizes someone doesn’t want the truth to surface—and they’ll do anything to keep it buried.

Spanning nearly a century, The Chambermaid’s Key is a gripping dual-timeline novel about ambition, betrayal, and the secrets that bind us across generations.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published April 21, 2026

 by Simon & Schuster

4.5/5 stars

Genevieve Graham is an auto read for me, I know I am always going to get a piece of Canadian history I didn't know I was missing and The Chambermaid's Key was no exception.

Rosie Ryan is determined to become a chambermaid at the grand Dominion Hotel. And I mean determined, she didn't talk about applying for the job, she said she was getting it. She took her job seriously, she took herself seriously and I rooted for her every step of the way. In the present day, building inspector Bridget Kelly begins what should be a routine inspection of the now aging Dominion, only to find herself pulled into a mystery that someone very much wants to stay buried. I was rooting for her just as hard.

The things that tie these timelines together was no different from both times. Though it looked different in 1929 than it does today, but the message is the same. Money talks. Graham wraps this all in a richly researched portrait of Toronto, the crash of 1929 and the hard lives of immigrants trying to build something from nothing. 

The Chambermaid's Key is a story of family, corruption and determination, there is mystery and scandal. Another look at Canadian history which Graham excels at.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am also thrilled to have a signed print copy on my shelf.

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm.

In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication May 5, 2026

 by Gallery Books

3/5 stars

Summer State of Mind has all the makings of a breezy beach read, a charming setting, an unexpected new arrival and a budding romance. And judging by the overwhelmingly positive response from readers, most people would agree. For me, however, a few elements kept pulling me out of the story.

The central premise revolves around an abandoned newborn discovered in a dumpster, which sets up what could be a gripping emotional journey. Unfortunately, the handling of this storyline required more suspension of disbelief than I was able to manage, making it difficult to fully invest in the plot.

The romance, while sweet, also felt rushed. The connection between the characters developed so quickly that it was hard to feel the emotional side.  A slower burn would have worked better (for me anyways).

Summer State of Mind is a story of new beginnings, healing past hurts and family - where family doesn't necessarily mean blood connections. Harvey has a warm, inviting writing style that keeps me reading her books.  She still delivered the feel-good resolution fans of her and this genre are looking for. If you're a Kristy Woodson Harvey fan or just need a light summer escape, check this one out, it releases today.

My thanks to to Gallery Books for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

From the author of Looking for Jane comes a riveting novel about one journalist's harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women's prison—and the detective who uncovers her story decades later.

Toronto, 1961: Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by the best female reporters in the country, whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women's publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women's Prison lands on Emily's desk, she sees the scoop of a lifetime—one that could launch her career as a journalist. But after going undercover to investigate the inmate's shocking claims, Emily discovers that getting into the prison is the easy part; the real challenge will be getting back out . . .

Huron County, 1996: Unidentified female remains are discovered in an unmarked grave in a small-town Ontario cemetery, and Detective Rachel Mackenzie is tasked with unraveling the mystery. But when the investigation leads her to the now-shuttered Mercer Women's Prison, the family trauma she's kept buried for years threatens to surface.

Inspired by true events, Liberty Street is at once poignant and dazzling—an unforgettable, intertwining story about resilience, mental health, and the power of female connection.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published February 24, 2026

 by Doubleday Canada

5/5 stars

I picked up Liberty Street for a number of reasons: Heather Marshall is a Canadian author whose previous books I'd really enjoyed, also for the historical stories and locations close to home. What I didn't expect was when Bayfield, Ontario appeared on the page. A small town I visited and the very place where I met Heather Marshall just a year ago. 

I knew going in that this story was rooted in Canadian history and setting, which this Canadian loves to read about. Being educated and entertained at the same time in a big win win.

I was genuinely taken aback to discover that a place like the Mercer Reformatory existed right in Toronto, a piece of Canadian history I knew nothing about. I'll also admit that the premise of a journalist going undercover by faking her way into an institution is a trope that doesn't usually work for me. But it worked here. Partly because of how Marshall handles it, but mostly because of what Emily finds once she's inside. The women in Mercer weren't insane - they were women ahead of their time, dismissed and discarded by men who couldn't or wouldn't take the time to understand them. That realization creeped up as I read, and it hits hard.

The 1996 story-line follows Detective Rachel Mackenzie, and she quickly became just as compelling to me as Emily. Rachel is flawed, shaped by a past trauma that Marshall reveals slowly and deliberately. I found myself rooting for her while at the same time being quietly enticed by the mystery of her background, who she is, what made her that way and how it all connects to the case she's unraveling. I won't say more than that without spoiling it, but the way her story concludes is deeply satisfying.

Liberty Street is a story of heartache, for the women forgotten inside Mercer's walls, of friendship found in the most unlikely places and of the grit and determination it takes to unravel the truth at all costs. 

I can't wait to see what Heather Marshall comes up with next.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #20

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

From the author of The Collected Regrets of Clover comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived.

Break the rules. Find your joy.

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played by the rules: she's been a devoted wife and mother, contributing to the community in her small Hudson Valley town. But her quiet existence is jolted when she learns that her best friend, Hazel, only has months left to live. Hazel has always been the more adventurous one of their duo, and she seems at peace with all that she’s squeezed out of her long life. Yet Joy realizes she can’t say the same.

Determined to live boldly and make the most of the time that she and Hazel have left together, Joy steps outside of her comfort zone—and into a bit of trouble. But as her foray into rule-breaking escalates into committing petty crime, Joy must consider what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind, and whether there's a way for her to embrace the liberation that "Bad Joy" offers without losing all that she holds dear.

Is it ever too late to become who we're meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, Good Joy, Bad Joy is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.

Audiobook, 11 hours 5 minutes

Expected publication May 5, 2026

 by Macmillan Audio

3/5 stars

This is one of those books that everyone and their uncle seems to absolutely love…but for me, it just didn't land in that category.

Good Joy, Bad Joy has such a great premise, lifelong friendship, facing the end of life and the idea of finally breaking the rules after decades of playing it safe. Joy and Hazel’s relationship was easily the strongest part of the story, I appreciated the themes around legacy, regret and what it means to truly live. There are definitely some heartfelt and touching moments.

That said, I never fully connected with the story the way I expected to. The emotional impact didn’t hit as deeply as I’d hoped and parts of Joy’s journey, especially the  'rule-breaking' and petty crime elements felt a bit uneven for me. I could see what the author was going for, but it didn’t always land.

I’m really glad I listened this to the audiobook, the narration helped keep me engaged, especially during the slower sections.  

All in all I can understand why this resonates with so many readers, it just didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Not a bad read by any means, just not a standout.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Widow by Fiona Barton

A loving husband or a heartless killer...she'd know, wouldn't she?

There's a lot Jean hasn't said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with accusing glares and anonymous harassment. Now her husband is dead, and there's no reason to stay quiet. People want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth--that's all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything. For the reporter who has secured the exclusive interview, this is the scoop of a lifetime. For the detective who has lived a half-life since he failed to get justice for the victim, it is a chance to get at the truth that has eluded him for so long. For Jean, it's a chance to defend herself, what she knew--and when.

This is the tale of a missing child, narrated by the wife of the main suspect, the detective leading the hunt, and the journalist covering the case.

 

Paperback, 324 pages

Audiobook, 10 hours, 18 minutes

Published February 16, 2016

 by Penguin Canada

2.5/5 stars

I picked up The Widow because I have the second book, The Child sitting on my NetGalley backlist and figured I should start here first. This is also my first time reading a Fiona Barton book.

The premise is strong and I liked the idea behind the story. The blurb sounds mysterious with a lot of potential.  Even the 3 different pov's usual works for me.  But I did struggle, which is why I switched over to the audiobook. The slow pace and flat tone made it hard to engage, I even struggled to connect with the characters. I never felt any real emotional pull, which made the slower pacing stand out even more.

Overall, an okay read, but not one I was ever fully pulled into. 

Hoping The Child works better for me.

Print copy was rescued from local thrift store (hopefully readers at resort in Mexico are enjoying it), the audiobook obtained via CloudLibrary.