Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It's the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it's the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.

Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what's happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 10, 2024 

by Knopf Books for Young Readers

4.5/5 stars

Impossible Creatures, deemed to be the children's book to read this year, so I grabbed a copy. 

This was such a fun read. An adventurous story with 2 likeable characters and a whole cast of characters/creatures - the appendix was great with descriptions of each along with illustrations. Speaking of illustrations, they were wonderfully done throughout the pages.

Impossible Creatures is a multi-­layered story. As Mal and Christopher meet they develop a friendship and embark on a quest. Its not just an adventure story though. You've got these 2 with some baggage - grief, loss and the hardships of life. They are now running from someone who wants Mal dead and she has no clue why. It reminded me a little of Narnia, but on a different level.  

Though this is tabled as children literature, this adult quite enjoyed herself. Suffice to say I will be on the lookout for the sequel, The Poisoned King next September.  

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Greatest Gift by Kallie George

Mona the mouse has finally found a place to call home, the cozy Heartwood Hotel, where she works as a maid and sleeps snuggled up in a room with her best friend. Following the festive St. Slumber celebration, most of the guests have settled in to hibernate, and the staff is looking forward to a relaxing winter. But disruptions abound, from a difficult duchess to a mysterious midnight snacker. As the snow stacks higher, Mona will have to gather friends both old and new to keep the peace, finding help in some of the most unexpected places.

The second book in the enchanting Heartwood Hotel series, The Greatest Gift will warm your heart with its endearing characters and exquisite illustrations.

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published July 3, 2017 

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Heartwood Hotel Series is a story for young readers. It is wonderfully illustrated and features a heartwarming story.

From the point of view of Mona, the mouse, she has finally settled in to a place that she calls home. Winter has come and most of the guests have settled in to hibernate. The rest of the staff are looking forward to a relaxing couple of months. But of course that all changes when a difficult customer, a snowstorm and other adventures take over.

The Greatest Gift is a story of friendship, working together and finding support in unexpected places. This series has four books in it, I hope to review the remaining 2 before years end

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Situationship by Abby Jimenez

Find out how Maddy and Doug met in this sweet and hilarious short story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

Travel nurse Maddy doesn't have time for a relationship, not even with the ruggedly handsome farmer who she feels a spark of attraction to.

Doug is a walking green flag. After a run in with Maddy thanks to the Wakan town mascot, Kevin Bacon the pig, he can't help but feel the spark too.

Even though she doesn't plan on staying in Minnesota forever, Maddy believes she and Doug can still have a fling… or maybe they’ll just find themselves in a situationship.

“The Situationship”was originally published as a bonus chapter in the Target exclusive edition of Just for the Summer. This ebook original also includes a first look at Abby’s new release, Say You’ll Remember Me.

Kindle Edition, 37 pages

Published September 24, 2024

 by Forever 

5/5 stars

 A fun short story that is part of the book, Just for the Summer. I loved that book, which I reviewed on 10/17/24. Though this could be read as a standalone, it will contain spoilers for Just for the Summer.

Not alot to say other than this was a sweet, funny story about Maddy, a traveling nurse. The banter is one of Abby Jimenez's trademarks, which shines through in these 37 pages. Plus there is Kevin Bacon the pig, you can tell the author loves animals, they are always a welcome bonus. Critters make everything better. 

I would have loved for this to be a longer story, but it was still a great addition to Just For the Summer.

I purchased this novella from amazon for 99 cents and you can too!

The Hiding Place: a Graphic Novel by Corrie ten Boom

It's World War II.

Darkness has fallen over the world as the Nazis spread fear and hatred.

No one feels safe.

But on a quiet city corner in Holland one woman fights against injustice and darkness. In her quiet watchmaking shop, Corrie ten Boom and her close-knit family risk their lives to hide hundreds of Jews and others hunted by the Nazis in a secret hiding place they built into the old building.

Until one day when Corrie and her family are betrayed. They're captured and sent in cattle cars to the notorious Nazi concentration camps to die. Yet even in that darkest of places, Corrie still fights.

This is her true story, now a graphic novel.

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published April 9, 2024

 by Chosen Books

5/5 stars

I don’t read a lot of graphic novels, but I jumped when this became available at the library.

I already know the story of Corrie Ten Boom, her sister Betsy and the watchmaking shop.  But I was intrigued to see how this story would work since it's target audience is children. There are some mature things that take place and I was curious.

The illustrations were nicely done, the layout of the house along with the hiding places was illustrated with accuracy.  The story stayed true to history with sensitivity without shying away from what took place.  

I think it’s a story that all ages should read, to know what took place in the Netherlands during the war. A story that will open up opportunities for discussions.

Coming in at 240 pages it is condensed from the original but doesn’t shy away from the true events. A book I recommend for all ages.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni

A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her. Keera Duggan returns in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court—she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.

Three years earlier, Keera’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.

As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

Kindle Edition, 365 pages

Expected publication October 22, 2024

by Thomas & Mercer

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Keera Duggan Series, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, was one of my highly anticipated books of 2024. I loved Her Deadly Game and highly recommend reading it first - though not absolutely necessary.

Forced to give up her staycation, Keera is back in the office when another high profile case lands on her desk. What follows is another legal drama told from a couple POVs - Keera the lawyer and police detective, Frank Derossi.  Again Dugoni has written a compelling courtroom legal story that was authentic and had me reading the last 50% in one day.

The storyline, red herrings and characters were real (even if I didn't like them - looking at you Jenna). The backstory of Keera and Jenna's relationship was woven in nicely to get that big picture of what Keera was going through as she defended her. 

I am a relatively new fan of Robert Dugoni, my thanks to TheBakingBookworm for the recommendation and now I continue with his backlist to keep me occupied until book 3 comes out.

My thanks to Thomas Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.

In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.

Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.

Hardcover, 544 pages

Published August 20, 2024

 by Ballantine Books

4.5/5 stars

Jodi Picoult has turned into an auto-read author, though I do have a ways to go with her backlist. Before By Any Other Name was even published readers knew this was a departure from her usual style. Not being a Shakespeare fan, let alone read any of his works I was a little apprehensive. Now after turning the last page I am curious to try a couple plays. 

By Any Other Name is a dual time period story. Present day it's the story of Melina Green, a playwright who has written about Emilia Bassano from Shakespeare time. She is also a distant relative and the other POV.  As usual I enjoyed the past story more so, probably the history buff who liked reading the times. Without going into details, this was a well written and researched read. Her life was brought to life with vivid descriptions of the culture, treatment of women and general history of the times.  Honestly I would have been happy with this part being the whole book.

My only con would be the size. Over 500 pages was a tad too long, overly detailed at times. But still a book I recommend for the rich historical content.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

 

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

A cozy and uplifting debut novel about three clairvoyant sisters who face an unexpected twist of Fate at the bottom of their own delicate porcelain cups.

Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamom at the bottom of their customers’ cups. Their days at the teashop are filled with talk of butterflies and good fortune intertwined with the sound of cinnamon shortbread being snapped by laced fingers.

That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne’s magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters’, Beatrix’s writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus—and perhaps a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet. It seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters is taking effect.

With dwindling time to rewrite their future and help three other witches challenge their own destinies, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?

Paperback, 336 pages

Published October 1, 2024

 by Atria Books

4/5 stars

 A cozy debut about 3 sisters ( triples).

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a popular place for those looking to see into their future,. When some unexpected visitors arrive these witchy sisters discover 3 task they must complete or lose the tearoom. This was a lighthearted story that was just what I needed to read at the time. 

I loved the storyline, it was told from the POV of each of these women and also the house was a character/Pov. How unique is that? And it worked so nicely here.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a story of family, secrets and confronting the past to be able to move forward. It was nicely paced, I was able to connect with these sisters and feel their struggles for the future.  A cozy, well written debut, perfect for this time of the year.

Thanks to Simon Schuster CA for a print ARC in exchange for a honest review

Spotlight: The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne

The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season...

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication October 8, 2024

 by Canary Street Press

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

#1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today 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 seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine.

 RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

It's January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas are three siblings in seventh grade together in Park, Delaware.

Cash loves basketball, Dr. J, and a girl named Penny; he's also in danger of failing seventh grade for a second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn't understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA's first female shuttle commander, but feels like she's disappearing.

The Nelson Thomas siblings exist in their own orbits, circling a tense, crowded, and unpredictable household, dreaming of escape, dreaming of the future, dreaming of space. They have little in common except an enthusiastic science teacher named Ms. Salonga—a failed applicant to the Teacher in Space program—who encourages her students to live vicariously through the launch. Cash and Fitch take a passive interest, but Bird builds her dreams around it.

When the fated day arrives, it changes everything.

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 5, 2020

 by Greenwillow Books

4/5 stars

Erin Entrada Kelly takes us back to 1986 with the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. I distinctly remember the events leading up to the launch and the tragic aftermath.

Here we have 3 seven graders anxiously look forward to launch day. Told mostly from the point of view of 12 year-old Bird she dreams of one day becoming an astronaut herself, but with a disappointing homelife she knows her parents don't take her seriously.

I always enjoy reading this author. She highlights social issues in the middle grade field with a good story and an outcome that will hopefully encourage others going through the same issues.

We Dream of Space is the story of dreams, family, and loneliness even when part of a large person family.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Let's Roll!: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage by Lisa Beamer, Ken Abraham

Lisa Beamer was thrust into the national spotlight after her husband, Todd, led a counterattack against terrorists on United Flight 93. He―and all the other passenger heroes―lost their lives in a Pennsylvania field. But that plane was the only one of the four hijacked planes on 9-11 that didn't hit its target―most likely the White House or the Capitol. Todd's last known words, “Let's roll!” have become a rallying cry for the entire American nation to move ahead in hope, courage, and faith, despite today's troubled times, and to live real life...right now.

Paperback, 350 pages

 Audiobook 8 hours, 2 minutes

Published August 1, 2002

 by Living Books

3/5 stars

This was an audiobook for me, coming in around eight hours in length.

Lisa Beamer's world was turned upside down on September 11, 2001 when her husband Todd was a passenger on United flight 93. That was the flight that crashed into a Pennsylvania field.  Left with two small children and another on the way she shares her story.

I’m glad I went with the audiobook, it was told from her point of view, it was like she was telling her story which is exactly what it was. Most of the book deals with their life, their history, how they met, marriage, friends and family. Todd was one of the lucky ones who was able to make a phone call while on that doomed flight which brought out his courage, faith and sacrifice (by all on that flight) that was made.

There are things I struggled with in terms of grief, and I know everyone handles it differently. However, given the tragic way Todd and many others lost their lives that day, I struggled with how Lisa was able to give interviews and go on TV shows. I suppose it could be that maybe I couldn't imagine myself doing that so close to these events.

Let's Roll is ultimately a testament of faith, hope and the knowledge that one day Lisa and Todd will be reunited again.

This audiobook was obtained through my local library via Hoopla.

A Good Marriage by Stephen King

What happens when, on a perfectly ordinary evening, all the things you believed in and took for granted are turned upside down?

When her husband of more than 20 years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson looks for batteries in the garage. Her toe knocks up against a box under a worktable and she discovers the stranger inside her husband. It's a horrifying discovery, rendered with bristling intensity, and it definitively ends a good marriage.

Audiobook, 3 hours, 33 minutes

Published September 30, 2014

 by Simon & Schuster Audio

3.5/5 stars

After I read a book with a similar plot Goodreads recommended A Good Marriage. I believed this was only available in audio however there is a kindle version also. I think I might have preferred reading the Kindle since I wasn’t a huge fan of the reader.

Already knowing what to expect I wasn’t surprised by the story, but was by the wife’s reaction and the series of events that take place afterwards. This is one of those books that asked the question, what would you do? Honestly I don't know, but then a part of me me wonders how a wife would not know something was amiss. I would like to think that I would seriously catch on to something of this magnitude, but alas, I can just speculate on the outcome. 

True to Stephen King fashion he twists and turns this book around with an ending that I did not see coming. Looks of thinking, silence and future scenarios take place. 

Just a word of warning to those that grab the Kindle, though it says 270 pages it is actually two stories that are on related, at least that is what I am told by others.

I obtained this book through CloudLibrary

Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara

You thought you were home alone. Think again...

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise in the roof. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing open, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead.

You're not afraid of being alone in the dark. You're afraid you're not alone.

Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realises why the footage is eerily it was filmed inside her house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out.

And now your worst fears are coming true.

Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published August 20, 2024

 by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

Another book hyped up on social media had me with its blurb and cover.

This one started out grabbing my attention right away, fizzled for a little bit and then I was totally captivated, reading over half of it in one day.

Someone in the Attic is a creepy story of social media gone amuck. With videos of people walking or rather stalking through houses when no one is home - or are they? When Julia sees her home in one of these postings her life is now powered by suspicion, questions and fear of the past coming back to haunt.

There were many red herrings, creepy characters, along with unreliable ones and many many secrets. Moving at a good pace the story alternates between now and the past.  What started as a group of 4 friends, turns into 3 and now into 2.  What happened to make them a group of two?  

Someone in the Attic is a suspenseful story with a mixed cast of characters that kept me on my toes with a conclusion I did not see coming. I like the size of the chapters, they were nicely sized for JustOneMoreChapter (pun intented).

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

 

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

It's never too late for new beginnings.

On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.

As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.

Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Expected publication October 8, 2024

 by St. Martin's Pres

3.5/5 stars

This was a second chance story that spanned 60 years which centered around a feisty 80 year-old woman, Augusta Stern.

Told in dual times from the point of view of both Augusta and Irving, her friend and co-worker. Beginning in the 1920s when they were teens and spanning to current day. The start of this book was great, there was the mystery of Augusta, why she was hiding her age and ultimately her move to a retirement home in Florida. It was intriguing as to what took place with her great aunt Esther and Irving.

I love the author’s previous two books and whether my expectations were elevated with this one I found it had a slower pace and at times it dragged, especially in the middle. The ending was good, I appreciated the closure and what transpired all those years ago. I loved great aunt Esther and felt her character really gave the story some spark as well as her friend Shirley. But as for the main characters, I couldn’t really connect with them.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a story of secrets, friendship and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. Look for it on book shelves Oct 8th.

My thanks to St. Martin Press for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

Hardcover, 478 pages

Published July 2, 2024

 by Riverhead Books

3.5/5 stars

Another book that is getting a lot of chatter on social media. I grabbed a copy from Book of the Month so I wouldn’t miss out on all the hype.

Coming in at almost 480 pages I knew I was in for something. This book started out with the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara, it was enough to grab my attention.  It didn't take long to realize that this community is a community of secret keepers and liars.   What followed was a slow paced story that began in 1975 but backtracks to many years earlier with the disappearance of her brother and some family history.

There are many layers and told from a number of POV and timelines. Most of them settle around this summer camp. For myself I found I enjoyed the writing, the family drama and the mystery. However, I did find the length overwhelming with a lot of details that really weren't necessary. 

The ending was good, it was one I didn’t anticipate. However, I didn’t get that thriller vibe and in parts found it sad/depressing and like I said before rather a bit too long.

This is my first time reading a Liz Moore book, I might give her a try again though I will look closely at the length first and maybe go with the audio which I suspect would work.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

From Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead―the hilarious and heart-pounding follow-up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It.


Finlay Donovan is―once again―struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish.

On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like.

Meanwhile, Vero's keeping secrets, and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay's first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes... and if that means bending a few laws then so be it.

With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it...

Paperback, 357 pages

Published February 1, 2022

by Minotaur Books

4/5 stars

Finlay Donovan is still trying to finish her next novel, with two kids in tow, this single mom is struggling. Continuing pretty well where Finlay Donovan is Killing It left off she is caught in another game of secrets, possible romance, and dead bodies.  Honestly I went in this one blind and just thought it would be another chapter in Finlay's life, though the cliffhanger ending had me grabbing this right away.

Again this was a humous story as Finlay and her sidekick Vero dodge mystery and mayhem. It was entertaining, fast paced, great banter and full of coincidences.  Finlay's life gets more complicated and convoluted but for Finlay it is part of her nature and works. I went in with the audiobook, the reader was Angela Dawe, one of my favorites.  She knows how to bring a story to life with emphasis and change of voices done flawlessly when needed.

Definitely this series needs to be read in order. I highly recommend the audio, there are new characters here which has the story going in different directions but not hard to follow.

My copy of the audio was obtained through my public library via CloudLibrary.  It comes in just over 9 hours in length.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

…this classic story with a new magical twist, is sure to be a family favorite!

When Doctor John Dolittle’s love of animals scares away his human patients, he finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy. Luckily, his parrot, Polynesia, has a solution—she teaches him to talk to animals.

Using his new skill, Doctor Dolittle becomes a veterinarian, and his reputation soon spreads in the animal kingdom. With it, come requests for help from animals all over the world.

Sailing off with his band of animal companions, Doctor Dolittle seeks to help all he can while facing fierce storms, vicious pirates, angry kings, and more.

Hardcover, 156 pages

First published July 21, 1920

4/5 stars

Confession time, I have never read this book or watched the movie, so I know very little about what takes place.  I tried real hard to not have visions of Eddie Murphy floating around my brain.

First published in 1920 this is the story of Dr. John Dolittle, who loves animals more than people. This is a story of his relationship with people and the families he meets on his journey to Africa (note, by families I don't necessarily mean humans).  Its on this journey where mayhem ensures.

This was a fun quick read. It was well written and nicely illustrated.

I’m not sure I’ll watch the movie, I like the visuals I have in my mind of Dr. Dolittle, the animals and the crazy boat they were on.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman

In this star-crossed short story from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman, timing is everything as two sisters learn to let love follow its own path.

Isabel, the long-lost Gibson sister, is finally back home on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. With Sophie and Violet, her sister and her niece, she’s got the family bookstore—and with Johnny Lenox, she’s got something even more special.

But even as life settles, not everything is falling into place. Isabel and Johnny have set the date three times, baked three wedding cakes, invited the whole island to three parties, only to have each attempt at matrimony fall apart at the last minute. Disasters seem to be conspiring against their happy ending, and Isabel is starting to wonder if their love is meant to be.

When family history comes back to haunt the Gibson sisters, Isabel knows that if she wants to make it down the aisle with Johnny, first she and Sophie will have to face the pain of their past and their present, and decide what it means for their future.

Kindle Edition, 39 pages

Published August 1, 2024

by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Once Upon a Time Bookstore Series, this is a series of short stories about two sisters, Isabel and Sophie .

As the title reflects there is a wedding taking place within these 39 pages.  A lot transpires as some of the past comes back to hunt these women. Like I said in my review of The Bookstore Sisters I think these would make great full novels but alas I will enjoy these little versions.

What can I say that isn't mentioned in the blurb, other then this is a fun little series, can't wait to see what happens in The Bookstore Keepers which doesn't release till early 2025.

My copy obtained through Kindle Unlimited

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottage core tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published July 9, 2024

 by Bramble

4/5 stars

This book starts out as Kiela endeavors to save precious volumes from the great library of Alyssium, along with her trusty assistant Caz, who just happens to be a magical spider plant. They flee the city as fire engulfs it.

They flee to her childhood home where she takes refuge, to begin a new. Fearing the discovery of the stolen treasures, she tries to keep a low profile which isn’t easy. I guess this is what is called a romantasy debut for the author. I have read a couple of her previous books which I enjoyed, and looked forward to digging into this one.

I enjoyed this read. I enjoyed the magical characters, the world building and watching Kiela begin to make a life for herself.  She makes new friends and starts to feel comfortable. To risk doing any magic would be illegal and finally when she starts to feel comfortable strangers arrive. There is trouble afoot as.....lets just say things go awry and deceptions lurk.

The Spellshop is a story of friendship, trust and of course romance. The cover is one I love and with fingers crossed I hope there is a sequel just to see what this zany cast of characters are up to.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall... or maybe she's just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a What are you wearing? text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining--albeit anonymous--relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing....

Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend's annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she's turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He's sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she's the irresistible Miss Misdial he's been sort of sexting for weeks--and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into a thrilling anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 1, 2022

 by Berkley Books

2.5/5 stars

This is my first Lynn Painter book. I read it many months ago while on vacation, it was a hybrid read meaning I listened and I read. Did I love it, not really. So take this short review with a grain of salt.

It did start off good with some fun text messaging, it was funny in parts with some good banter. Olivia started out as an interesting, spontaneous character, but after a while she just got on my nerves with her selfish actions and immaturity.  

The concept for this book with the text messaging was cool but over time I just felt that the book dragged on longer than necessary. 

Will I try another Lynn Painter book, absolutely since I have a couple on my bookshelf, maybe on my next vacation.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…

Because it is.

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 25, 2024

by Berkley

3/5 stars

Oh man, I wanted to love this book, the previous three that I have read by Ashley Poston have been some of my favorite reads. This one sounded so interesting and fun, maybe my expectations were too high, so please take my review with a grain of salt,

The story starts out as Eileen gets lost on a dark stormy night ending up in a little town that is right out of the pages of her favourite romance series. The only problem with this romance series is the author passed away suddenly without finishing it, leaving loose ends. Sounds great right?

This fun premise, felt like it was missing some kind of spark to keep me glued to the pages. Which is sad because books about books are my thing. This was a slow paced story that talks about Eileen's past, her loneliness and desire to please everyone else. She deals through her issues in the story, which was great, but it just took a while and the other characters just didn’t do much for me.

The magical realism really didn’t feel all that magical as Poston‘s previous books have. But that’s okay, I’m still a devoted fan and look forward to what she comes up with next. And in the meantime I will continue with her backlist.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly

From New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly comes a revolutionary, gender-swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will forever change how you think about beauty, power, and what it really means to follow your heart.

What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything , too badly?

That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams.

When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle.

As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love.

When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion.

If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.

Hardcover, 324 pages

Published May 7, 2024

 by Scholastic Press

4/5 stars

Another Beauty & the Beast retelling, one would think that there are enough of them out in the literary world, but this one comes with a unique twist. Beauty is actually a male character while the beast is female. I was so excited to read this book and honestly could not understand the low ratings, especially since I am a fan of Jennifer Donnelly.

A captivating retelling, I found the characters strong, the world building unique and well thought out. They were parts of the story that made me think of Alice in Wonderland while other parts definitely had that beauty and the beast feel. With a nice cast of secondary characters who were just as quirky with their unique personalities as I am familiar with.

Although there might have been a few parts of the story I didn’t totally understand this was a fast paced story.  Arabella's dedication to her family and determination kept me reading. Beastly Beauty isn’t without heartache and consequences.

I haven’t read too many Donnelly fairytale retellings, but her books are some of my favorites. I will continue with her backlist until she has something new coming out.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward

A story of loss, hope and redemption against the most impossible odds. 1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nora Crowell wants more than her sister’s life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corp. But trouble is looming and it won’t be long before the truth comes to light.

Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no-one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life.

When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy its wake…

Paperback, 374 pages

Published August 1, 2024

 by One More Chapter

3/5 stars

I grabbed this book because of the Canadian setting, a debut Canadian author and that it revolves around real Canadian history.  It’s 1917 when the Halifax explosion rocks Canada.  Do you see the theme?  Yea I love reading about this great country.

I wanted to love this book.  The social media hype was high so maybe my expectations were way up there.  But for a number of reasons I was left wanting more.

I love that this story highlights an almost forgotten tragedy in our history but I wanted more details, like the how, why and who was responsible.  It almost seems that this was more a background story with Nora and Charlotte's story front and center.

Told from the point of view of these two young women, who I found similar and at times hard to distinguish.  They have both lost so much between the war and the explosion, and now they struggle to carry on afterwards.

This is falling between a 2.5 and a 3 star book for me. While I didn’t love it, I also didn’t hate it. It was a predictable story with a lot of inner dialogue and at times repetitive. 

It was just a so-so read that would have taken me longer to finish if it was not for the audio.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Coming Out of the Ice by Victor Herman

In 1931, a young American named Victor Herman accompanied his parents to the Soviet Union, where his father was to set up a Ford Motor Company plant. 

In 1938, he was inexplicably thrown into a Soviet prison.

 It was forty-five years before he was able to return to America. His was a common nightmare during the Stalin years. Those who survived imprisonment and torture were either sent north to hard labor in the icy forests and mines or into exile. Victor Herman was one of the few who survived. 

During his life in and out of Russian prisons, he fell in love with a Russian gymnast, who followed him into exile. She lived with him and their child for a year in Siberia in a cave chopped out of ice. Theirs was a romance destined to thrive even under desperate conditions.

Audiobook, 13 hrs and 48 mins

Published October 1, 2007 

by Blackstone Audiobooks

5/5 stars

The blurb on the print copy starts by saying this is an astonishing true story, I can think of other words to use instead, like heartbreaking, unbelievable and even cruel.

To be honest there are not words to describe this story. I went in listening to the audiobook, the reader was stellar, he brought the story to life.

Victor Herman is in his teens when his parents or rather his father decides to work for the Ford Motor Company in Russia, the year is 1931. Just knowing that part one can already feel the tension. Things don’t go as planned, in 1938 Victor is thrown in prison, this is a Russian prison with Siberia on the horizon,

Coming Out Of The Ice is a story of resilience, heartache, and injustice. It's a story of determination and sacrifice. Just by reading the blurb it wasn’t hard to visualize what would take place.

After listening to Victor's story, I think it's an injustice that Victor Herman is not more widely known and his story as he struggles to get back to his birthplace of Detroit Michigan. Yes, he is a US citizen.

This audio from free on Audible through member exclusives.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the back of wardrobes—just in case—from the author of The Wishing Game.

As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.

Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.

Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.

Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published July 16, 2024 

by Ballantine Books

5/5 stars

I loved Meg Shaffer's debut, The Wishing Game, my expectations for The Lost Story was pretty high. Was disappointed? Not at all. As with her previous book, I loved her writing, the witty banter between the characters (and maybe some non-human folks as well) and the whimsical storytelling.

The Lost Story is about Ralph and Jeremy how they went missing for 6 months, that was 15 years ago. Parting ways they are now reunited and ready to finish the story. This was such a unique plot and I’m not gonna give anything about it away. Suffice to say this is a magical story of friendship, family, and searching. The characters are likable and there is even another point of view from the storyteller.

This is a modern day fairytale, which has me yearning to read some of the classics of the past. It was  lighthearted and whimsical, but does have it's fair share of drama. The characters were likeable, except for the ones that weren't. The cover is one of my favorites.

If you are looking for something different, something that will make you smile at the dialogue as well as adding to your tbr, I highly recommend this read.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge, it was one of my highly anticipated books of the year and I purchased it through book of the month.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

Paperback, 320 pages

Published May 7, 2024

by Berkley

3.5/5 stars

Canadian author, Carly Fortune has written another summer read with a Canadian setting. I hope she continues her books within Canada, it’s refreshing to read about places that one is familiar with.

This story alternates between Toronto and PEI. When Lucy goes to visit, her friends family’s home in PEI she was given explicit instructions to stay away from the brother… but obviously we know how that’s gonna end up.

This Summer Will Be Different is the story of Lucy, still grieving the loss of a beloved aunt, it is also about her relationship with her friend Bridget and Bridget‘s brother Felix. It feels very much like a coming of age story for these adults. As I’ve come to expect with Fortune's writing, it is entertaining. 

Is this my favorite Fortune book, probably not, I loved the Canadian vibe. Having only ever visited PEI for a couple hours I am anxious to go back and get a good taste of the island.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

The Paris Understudy by Aurelie Thiele

This powerful debut novel brings to life the hard choices Parisians made--or failed to make--under Nazi occupation, in the tradition of Pam Jenoff and Fiona Davis.

1938. Paris Opera legend Madeleine Moreau must keep newcomer Yvonne Chevallier, whose talent she fears, off the stage. As the long-standing star of the opera, she is nowhere near ready to give up her spotlight. The perfect enlist Yvonne as her understudy so she can never be upstaged. When Madeleine is invited to headline at Germany’s pre-eminent opera festival, she is sure this will cement her legacy. But war is looming, and when she learns that Adolf Hitler himself will be in attendance, she knows she’s made a grave error. As Madeleine makes a hurried escape back to France, Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the limelight on the German stage.

When a newspaper photograph shows Hitler seemingly enraptured by Yvonne, Yvonne’s life is upended. While she is trying frantically to repair her reputation at home, Yvonne’s son is captured and held as a prisoner of war. Desperate to free her son, she makes an impossible turn to the enemy.

As the Nazis invade Paris, both women must decide what they are willing to do in pursuit of their art. They form an unlikely alliance, using their fame to protect themselves and the people they love from the maelstrom of history.

Painting an enrapturing portrait of resilient wartime women, The Paris Understudy is a love letter to the arts and a stark depiction of the choices we make to survive, for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristen Harmel.

Kindle Edition, 313 pages

Expected publication September 10, 2024 

by Alcove Press

4/5 stars

It’s 1938 and Yvonne Chevallier has dreams of the stage. For Madeline, her dream is to prevent Yvonne from outshining her. France is on the brink of war, but these 2 women only have eyes on themselves. They will be forced to make decisions with deathly repercussions. 

The Paris Understudy is a story of family, greed and ultimately sacrifice. This was a captivating read, it was well written and as much as it was entertaining it was also educational.  Loosely based on a real historical figure added to the heartache.  I actually didn’t realize the opera was still running during the war years, I kind of felt everything came (or should have) to a standstill during the war years.. However, when you have the attention of the Germans life is a little easier in terms of rations and accommodations. 

Told from the point of view of both women tells their struggles as well as their strength and lengths they will go to save those they love. It’s actually a story that will stay with me.

Debut author Aurelie Thiele has written a story that is well researched, can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

My thanks to Alcove Press (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

The New York Times bestselling author of No Time for Goodbye returns with a haunting psychological thriller that blends the twists and turns of Gillian Flynn with the driving suspense of Harlan Coben, in which a man is troubled by odd sounds for which there is no rational explanation.

College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. Until, driving along a deserted road late one night, he surprises a murderer disposing of a couple of bodies. That’s when Paul’s "normal" existence is turned upside down. After nearly losing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work. His wife, Charlotte, desperate to cheer him up, brings home a vintage typewriter—complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys—to encourage him to get started on that novel he’s always intended to write.

However, the typewriter itself is a problem. Paul swears it’s possessed and types by itself at night. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn’t hear a thing. And she worries he’s going off the rails.

Paul believes the typewriter is somehow connected to the murderer he discovered nearly a year ago. The killer had made his victims type apologies to him before ending their lives. Has another sick twist of fate entwined his life with the killer—could this be the same machine? Increasingly tormented but determined to discover the truth and confront his nightmare, Paul begins investigating the deaths himself.

But that may not be the best thing to do. Maybe Paul should just take the typewriter back to where his wife found it. Maybe he should stop asking questions and simply walk away while he can. . .

Audiobook, Duration: 9 hours, 9 minutes

Published July 24, 2018

 by HarperAudio

4/5 stars

A Noise Downstairs is my next stop as I go through Linwood Barclay's backlist. This was mostly an audio read with George Newburn and Jared Zeus doing a great job.

Life changes for college professor Paul Davis, one dark night when he stumbles across someone disposing of a couple bodies. His life is threatened and as he battles PTSD and other issues he slowly begins to think he’s losing his mind. Things take a drastic turn after his wife surprises him with a vintage typewriter.

A Noise Downstairs is a story of paranoia, trust and the battle within yourself. As with other Barclay stories there were many twists and turns along the road as Paul struggles. Whether it be trust of his friends, his wife and even his therapist. There is mystery as to what is going on with the typewriter as it seemingly comes to life in the middle of the night. All reaching a conclusion that took me by surprise on one hand and not on the other.

An enjoyable read with a unique premise and flawed cast of characters.

I obtained the audiobook through  CloudLibrary.

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman

From New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman comes a heartfelt short story about family, independence, and finding your place in the world.

Isabel Gibson has all but perfected the art of forgetting. She’s a New Yorker now, with nothing left to tie her to Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Her parents are gone, the family bookstore is all but bankrupt, and her sister, Sophie, will probably never speak to her again.

But when a mysterious letter arrives in her mailbox, Isabel feels herself drawn to the past. After years of fighting for her independence, she dreads the thought of going back to the island. What she finds there may forever alter her path—and change everything she thought she knew about her family, her home, and herself.

Kindle Edition, 36 pages

Published November 1, 2022

 by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

A series of short stories, this being the 1st in the series  (the 3rd coming in the new year). My first thought is that this would make a nice full length novel. 

The Booksellers Sisters is the story of 2 sisters, a quick version of their separation and what brought them back together. It’s a story of grief, family and relationships. Figuring out what’s important with a sassy 12 year old and the dog - it’s always fun having a dog on scene.

I’m not sure how long this series will last, but I will be there for the ride.

My copy obtained through Kindle Unlimited

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life is turned upside down when she gets the call Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier, has resurfaced in the woods of Washington state—but Ellie’s reappearance leaves Chelsey with more questions than answers.

It’s been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s sister vanished when they were teenagers, and ever since she’s been searching: for signs, for closure, for other missing girls. But happy endings are rare in Chelsey’s line of work.

Then a glimmer: local teenager Ellie Black, who disappeared without a trace two years earlier, has been found alive in the woods of Washington State.

But something is not right with Ellie. She won’t say where she’s been, or who she’s protecting, and it’s up to Chelsey to find the answers. She needs to get to the bottom of what happened to Ellie: for herself, and for the memory of her sister, but mostly for the next girl who could be taken—and who, unlike Ellie, might never return.

The debut thriller from New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean, The Return of Ellie Black is both a feminist tour de force about the embers of hope that burn in the aftermath of tragedy and a twisty page-turner that will shock and surprise you right up until the final page.

Paperwork, 320 pages

Published May 7, 2024 by

by Simon & Schuster

4.5/5 stars

This is one of those books that was hyped up on social media and this reader did the only thing one can do and did an impulse purchase. The author is new to me, but the story sounded intriguing.

Eli Block disappeared when she was 17 years old and two years later she comes stumbling out of the forest.  As to where she was and what happened she is very tight lipped about. The story came from her point of view and also that of the detective assigned her case.

This was such a captivating story, it was frustrating not knowing what happened to Ellie, not just for this reader but the detective as well.  The story alternated with Ellie reliving her years in captivity and present day.  It is somewhat of a slow burn but that didn't hinder my reading at all.  The author had great pacing and the ending was something that threw me for a curve.  Well done Emiko Jean!!

This is the author's debut, I can't wait to see what she is working on next.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.