This was charming! It's the first book of a 2 book series originally published in 2013 and now updated and re-issued in print and audio by a new publiThis was charming! It's the first book of a 2 book series originally published in 2013 and now updated and re-issued in print and audio by a new publisher. I listened to the audio and was thoroughly entertained. Great narration!
Daisy McCrae has lost her job in the financial world in DC. Her family bakery in Alexandria is struggling and she goes back to help. She's a little lost in the world and has always felt a little out of place with her Irish family. She's adopted. There's a story to her adoption and when one day an elderly customer and long standing Alexandria resident passes away she leaves a journal for Daisy. What could it mean for her? Perhaps finally she will have some questions answered about her heritage.
I enjoyed every bit of this story and could easily see it turned into a tv series. It has a little bit of everything. Some history, mystery, hint of romance, and a loving family. One of the best parts - at the end there are recipes included! The Union Street Bakery sugar cookies, carrot cake cupcakes, biscuits and chocolate espresso torte. I've copied the recipes and the first one I'll make will be the sugar cookies! Mmm can't wait! ...more
Ok I had to totally look up, "tradwife." I'm not up-to-date with all these social media terminologies. It's basically just a "traditional wife" 3.5 ⭐️
Ok I had to totally look up, "tradwife." I'm not up-to-date with all these social media terminologies. It's basically just a "traditional wife" but not your normal everyday housewife. There's a twist. They are controlled by the men in their lives. Makes for a good story for books but not for real life.
Madison March is an instagrammer with over 1 million followers. She seems to have the perfect life living as a a "traditional wife." She is married to a rich Montana rancher, has 4 children (she home schools), cooks and keeps her house all nice and beautiful. Is it all true? She has Lori who is helping her with cooking and Cally who is the tutor for the children while Madison minds her account. We are also introduced to Brianna who is a teenager who has run away from home to live on a homestead with her boyfriend. Brianna seems to idolize the “tradwives” sites on-line. In alternating chapters we hear from Madison, Lori, Cally, and Brianna. The narrator did a very fine job!
I was entertained all throughout this story. It reminds me a bit of a LifeTime movie. That's not bad but just not as "thrilling" as I usually like although the ending was rather dramatic. I liked that I didn't guess the twist. It was good!
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the Advance Listeners Copy.
This was fantastic on Audio! There are several narrators. Each narrator brings a good pace and unique tone to their character.
This was a buddy read wThis was fantastic on Audio! There are several narrators. Each narrator brings a good pace and unique tone to their character.
This was a buddy read with my friend, "Darlin' Darla" and I can say it was equally good in print as she very much enjoyed it in that format.
I do enjoy a lot of WW II Historical Fiction but I can understand how hard it is to write something new and refreshing for the genre. Safe to say the renowned David Baldacci has succeeded! He writes a sad but resilient story about three people drawn together at the worst possible time - War. Charlie lives in the East End of London with his Gran. They are struggling to survive through the war. Molly, lives in the west end of London in fashionable Chelsea. She has just arrived back from the countryside and finds herself pretty much alone. They both meet Ignatius Oliver, who is a widower and owns a bookshop in London. He could be hiding something but the two teenagers begin to get close to him at a time when they really need the strength of a grown-up.
There's many twists and turns in this story and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys wartime fiction. Please do check out my friend Darla's perspective of this wonderful story!
Publishes April 15, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy....more
My first Marie Bostwick novel and I was very impressed! This is a gentle sort of "feminist" historical fiction story.
It's 1963 in suburban America. MaMy first Marie Bostwick novel and I was very impressed! This is a gentle sort of "feminist" historical fiction story.
It's 1963 in suburban America. Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte are all neighbours in Concordia. They form a book club and their first book is a new controversial one called,"The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Frieden. The book makes them question their lives, hopes and dreams at a time when women were very much at the mercy of their husbands. They soon start to refer to themselves as, "The Bettys" in honour of the author. The women all form a close bond and we follow all their lives for many months.
I listened to this on audio and it only enhanced my experience. It was very interesting to enter the world of 1963 where women were expected to keep the house clean, take care of the children and cook homemade meals every night. On the other hand many women were hooked on tranquilizers, stuck in loveless marriages, and could not even open a bank account without their husband's permission. Also weaved into the story were some real life events like the Martin Luther King March, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Even the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy made an appearance (loved that!)
I could very much see this book being made into a limited series. It sure would be fun to watch!
Publishes on April 22, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy....more
This is going down as one of my favourites of 2025! My first Mary Alice Monroe novel. Oh why did I wait so long to give this author a try? Exquisite wThis is going down as one of my favourites of 2025! My first Mary Alice Monroe novel. Oh why did I wait so long to give this author a try? Exquisite writing and the audio is hands down magnificent!
It's a dual-time line story about Eliza Rivers. In 1988 she is 88 years old and her son is trying to oust her from the board of her beloved family estate called Mayfield. At the board meeting a surprise guest appears. Eliza will later begin to tell her life story to this guest and her granddaughter. The timeline then shifts to 1908.
The story is set in South Carolina's Lowcountry and there's various snippets of descriptions of the landscape, flowers and birds at the start of the chapters. This is a family saga southern story with some harsh historical themes. Eliza Rivers is a strong female character and the story ends with a cliffhanger. This is Book 1 of a two part series. I can't wait to read Book 2 called, "River's End." Highly recommend this on Audio.
Published May 13, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for granting me access to this Advance Listeners Copy. ...more
This is my second Jean Grainger novel and I love her writing! I listened to this one on audio and it included an excellent cast of three narrator4.5 *
This is my second Jean Grainger novel and I love her writing! I listened to this one on audio and it included an excellent cast of three narrators as well as the author herself! The book that I listened to had a different cover and was dubbed, "The Aisling Series" Book One. I think this series was previously called, "Cullen's Celtic Cabaret."
What a storyteller Grainger is! It's 1915 and we meet Peter Cullen. He's an aspiring actor from Dublin, Ireland whose family is very poor. His Father is a drinker and is merciless. Peter meets May Gallagher, a girl from the other side of Dublin. Her family is wealthy and she hides the fact she is seeing Peter. As the Great War looms Peter enlists and leaves his family (and namely his Father) behind. He continues to write to May and they keep in touch while he is away. At the Warfront he meets some interesting characters. Nick Gerrity, is an aristocrat from England who is fleeing his family as he is shunned because he has a stutter. He does not want anyone on the warfront to know his real identity but he is also a gifted pianist. There's a Spaniard, named Ramon who is also musically inclined. Also, a man from London named, Enzo who has Italian heritage and can dance. There's also a Scotsman affectionally called, "Two-Soups" who is a comedian. They become friends of sorts and begin to entertain the troops. After the war they all go to London and form, "Cullen's Celtic Cabaret." There they are joined by Celine, A French girl they had previously met, Aida, who is Ramon's friend who is a dancer and Betty who is, "Two-Soups" girlfriend.
I was completely immersed in this story from the beginning. It was a 5 star book right up until that epilogue. It left me confused and I rewound it a couple of times. It's random to introduce completely new characters but perhaps it's gearing up for Book 2 that I will most certainly read.
Audio Publication October 3, 2024
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for granting me access to this Advance Listening Copy....more
This is my second Marybeth Mayhew Whalen book that I've enjoyed. She's a gifted writer who puts a lot of feeling into her stories.
In 1985 in a small-This is my second Marybeth Mayhew Whalen book that I've enjoyed. She's a gifted writer who puts a lot of feeling into her stories.
In 1985 in a small-town in North Carolina an 11 year old boy named Davy Malcor went missing. Now over 20 years later his jacket is found in an old abandoned shed. The police once again begin to search for his possible remains. The story goes back to that fateful night but also jumps to the present (2006) to the lives of the people that were most affected by his disappearance. His grief-stricken mother Tabitha, his older brother Thaddeus who was in charge of him that night, Anissa, a girl who he was with that same night, and a mysterious man named Gordon Swift. In between their stories we get "snippets" from a best-selling memoir that Thaddeus wrote in 2005 about his missing brother.
I listened to this audio and the narrators were perfect for the story. A little over half way through I also received a digital copy so I began to read as I listened.
This story is told slowly and it works quite well. There's a mystery to what really happened that terrible night that kept me listening and turning those pages quickly. This was an emotional read that left me somewhat forlorn at the end.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Harper Muse for the Advanced Listening Copy and the Advance Reader's Copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was exactly like a Hallmark movie! A cute enough story on audio with just a little bit of extra sugar coating.
Elena, works for a big cookie compaThis was exactly like a Hallmark movie! A cute enough story on audio with just a little bit of extra sugar coating.
Elena, works for a big cookie company called, "Sparkle Cookie" (think Crumbl) and Lawrence owns a small cookie bakery in a cute town called, New Hope. Sparkle is looking to expand its stores and Elena's boss sends her to the town meeting. Of course a rivalry begins between the two of them but then they join forces for the annual cookie competition. To me it was a bit of, "insta-love" that I don't care much for.
There's a lot of Christmas in this story (and cookies ...more
I liked this one! It's a slow building plot that kept me mostly engaged throughout.
A story about motherhood, grief and loss with some suspense and mysI liked this one! It's a slow building plot that kept me mostly engaged throughout.
A story about motherhood, grief and loss with some suspense and mystery. It's told in the alternating voices of Laurel and Corey. Both women are struggling. Laurel has moved into a new home on Cold Creek Lane with her husband and two very young children. She is trying to fit into the neighbourhood. Corey is living with her Mother at a Retirement Facility. She is not happy with her life.
I enjoyed the writing and the story. I listened to this one and both narrators were very good. Towards the end this one was more of a 3.5 stars. I liked the ending! It was an entertaining story and I'd gladly read another one from this author.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy.
I really enjoyed this one! It comes across as fun and light but delves into some serious issues. It's really entertaining on audio. The narration is tI really enjoyed this one! It comes across as fun and light but delves into some serious issues. It's really entertaining on audio. The narration is top-notch!
The book opens as Nora is awakening from a surfing accident. It's a Near Death Experience (NDR) and it really makes Nora evaluate her life now. She decides upon a "reverse bucket list." She's a lawyer and works at her family's Personal Injury Law Firm but she's not happy there. She vows to get a new job and learn new things and wants to tend to her late Grandfather's garden in his old apartment complex. She also wants to be more supportive of her sister and cousin. Before her NDR she was caught up in a Cornerstore Robbery and met a guy that she connected with. She vows to find him too.
Nora has a lot going on but she's found new strength and really wants things to change. You'll be rooting for Nora (and her mystery man) from the start. I really enjoyed this buddy read with my Darlin' Darla ...more
Oh this was a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed this audiobook and always wanted to keep listening. I enjoyed both narrators and found them captivatOh this was a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed this audiobook and always wanted to keep listening. I enjoyed both narrators and found them captivating. They definitely added to the story!
You don't need to play golf or really be a fan of it for this story. It's just in the backdrop. I personally found it pretty neat and especially perfect for this time of year ☀️...more
I'm so glad I gave this debut novel a chance. Great writing and narration! A perfect summertime 'second chance' love story I'm so glad I gave this debut novel a chance. Great writing and narration! A perfect summertime 'second chance' love story ...more
This is my first Irina Shapiro novel but definitely not my last! She is a captivating writer! I listened to the audio and the great Imogen Church hitsThis is my first Irina Shapiro novel but definitely not my last! She is a captivating writer! I listened to the audio and the great Imogen Church hits this one out of the park!! I was totally mesmerized and invested in this story from the first to the last page. Church's different tones and exclamations and slower pace made this ever so entertaining. I thought it was a perfect narration ...more
I've heard of Edith Wharton the famous author but I've never read anything by her (now I want to look up her books!) I enjoy stories in the Gilde3.5 *
I've heard of Edith Wharton the famous author but I've never read anything by her (now I want to look up her books!) I enjoy stories in the Gilded Age so that in itself drew me to this book.
The narrator has a perfect voice and inclination for the era.
This is a fictitious account of a murder that occurs and Edith Wharton becomes a bit of a sleuth in trying to solve the crime.
I really enjoyed Edith and her life around this period. She's 49 years old and starting to feel old. She's stuck in a loveless marriage and still writing her stories. One day she meets a fellow author whom she dislikes right away. The next day he is found dead! Edith is surprised but also intrigued and starts to dig for answers.
I enjoyed meeting Edith. She's a bit snobbish but she rubs shoulders with the upper class so that's not surprising especially in that era. She does have a kind heart though. Where the book missed the mark a little for me was the mystery. I would have enjoyed a bit more complexity. Overall, I was entertained and it's a good book.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy.
A story of redemption and forgiveness set in the Gilded Age.
This is a Christian Historical Fiction novel. While I usually don't read this genre I deciA story of redemption and forgiveness set in the Gilded Age.
This is a Christian Historical Fiction novel. While I usually don't read this genre I decided to give this a try as I love books set in the Gilded Age. It did not disappoint!
The story begins with the passing of the wealthy Arthur Stanhope. He leaves behind his wife, mother and unmarried daughter. He also leaves his vast fortune to a distant male cousin. His wife Sylvia is at her wits' end. She is scrambling to marry off her youngest daughter, Adelaide to a wealthy man before it becomes known that the family has lost their fortune. Junietta, Arthur's mother feels her granddaughter Addy should marry for love. Will she be able to sway Sylvia's mind? Junietta tries by beginning to tell Sylvia and Addy her life story. The book then begins to go back and forth in time.
It's a beautifully written story that is well narrated. I loved the narrator's tone and inflection. It was perfect for the time period.
Now Available
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and RB Media for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy....more
I really enjoy Sarah Ready's books and they are fantastic on Audio too! This is the second book from the, "Ghosted" series. It can most definitel 3.75*
I really enjoy Sarah Ready's books and they are fantastic on Audio too! This is the second book from the, "Ghosted" series. It can most definitely be read as a standalone. The series is a fun and unique concept.
Serena is a physicist and Star Trek junkie (she's Gillian's best friend from the first book.). She meets the strait laced British man, Henry and one night sparks fly. Literally! There's an electrical storm and suddenly their bodies switch! It's a fun story. I liked the first one slightly more than this one but still an entertaining listen ⚡️⚡️⚡️
I'd like to kind thank NetGalley and W.W. Crown for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy.
Tina (East Coast bound will check in when I can)
>
Books:
netgalley-audiobooks
(40)
