I'm going to need a nap today and it's completely the fault of Sarah Penner. I was awake until 2:30 am finishing an ARC of her upcoming novel, THE AMAI'm going to need a nap today and it's completely the fault of Sarah Penner. I was awake until 2:30 am finishing an ARC of her upcoming novel, THE AMALFI CURSE. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Amalfi Coast (If you've visited, this will take you right back. If not, you'll be aching to go!). Sea witches. Dual timeline. Intrigue. Betrayal. Forbidden love (in one timeline). Maybe fated love in the other? Shipwrecks...sunken treasure...twists...turns...and OMG, what just happened??? This book has it all. I gasped. I cheered. And I turned the final page with a big ole happy smile. Pretty sure I'll be reading this one again. :)
THE AMALFI CURSE publishes on April 29, 2025. Highly recommend!
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley. ...more
The Summer Escape, the sixth (standalone) book in the Sunrise Cove series, is going straight to my personal Jill Shalvis Hall of Fame. In fact, I'd goThe Summer Escape, the sixth (standalone) book in the Sunrise Cove series, is going straight to my personal Jill Shalvis Hall of Fame. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's one of my top five all-time Shalvis favorites. I've already read it twice. I have no doubt I'll visit it again. It double checked all of my happy reader boxes.
Shalvis has packed this book with everything I enjoy about her writing and them some. The book is perfectly paced. At no point in the reading did it lag or lose my interest. The snappy banter between Anna and Owen barely conceals the growing chemistry between them in an adversaries-to-lovers trope that evolves into sleuthing partners before pesky feelings show up to play and things get real. I loved these two and the way their relationship unfolded, especially with Anna's sister along for the ride.
Let's talk about Wendy, Anna's bedridden-bored-out-of-her-mind-enornously-pregnant-with-triplets older sister. I adored the dynamics between these two. Love, snarky humor, exasperation...did I mention love? Their bond is unbreakable but also contains issues that need to be worked through. Such is the case when the older sibling has not only been your mother figure since birth but is also an unapologetic meddler/matchmaker (she just wants her sister to be happy!). Shalvis gives us all the emotion between the sisters, wrapping it up in a way that's poignant, relatable, and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Seriously, I lost count of the number of times I snort laughed when these two hit the page.
There's also a mystery/adventure/treasure hunt element to this book that kept me on my toes right up to the breath-stealing conclusion. I'd like to see Shalvis do more of this. She's really good at it.
And finally, is it really a Jill Shalvis book without an animal? I think not. Meet Turbo, Owen's big, fluffy, overly enthusiastic dog who is terrified of stairs, metal grates, and cats. I dare you to not fall in love with him.
If you're looking for a fun getaway this summer, complete with romance, adventure, a bit of danger, snappy banter, laugh-out-loud humor, and endearing emotional depth, add The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis to your reading list. It's a winner. ...more
I gobbled up this book like a bag of Peanut M&M's after a 40-day fast. Would I want to be part of this dysfunctional (dare I say, murderous?) family oI gobbled up this book like a bag of Peanut M&M's after a 40-day fast. Would I want to be part of this dysfunctional (dare I say, murderous?) family of con artists in real life? Absolutely not! But, in the capable hands of HelenKay Dimon, and a fictional story I happily immersed myself in, I couldn't get enough of them. These characters are fascinating. Each and every one of them has so many intriguing layers, keeping me off balance, wondering which - and on whose - side they would land. Some are obvious. Others, not so much. All of them keep the story moving forward at a brisk pace, skillfully guided by their creator through a myriad of twists and turns that kept me eagerly flipping pages to see what would happen next. And when I reached the end, somewhere around 3:00 AM? The first thing I wanted to do was go back to page one and read it all over again to soak in all of the clever lines, unexpected detours, and subtle nuances I may have missed the first time through.
Moorewood Family Rules is quirky, twisty, cringey, laugh-out-loud fun. If you've seen Knives Out, it has that same vibe. In fact, the publisher describes it as "Knives Out and Ocean’s 8 meets The Nest." I would agree. This one checked all of my happy reader boxes.
For you romance lovers out there, yes, there's a love interest for the heroine. And he's pretty yummy.
*ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review. ...more
After reading this book's blurb, I couldn't dig into it fast enough. Brenda Novak has always been able to spin a good story and the ones filled with sAfter reading this book's blurb, I couldn't dig into it fast enough. Brenda Novak has always been able to spin a good story and the ones filled with suspense always draw me in.
What would you be willing to do to protect a friend? That's the question Novak explores in this book about three friends, a tragic event of two decades past, and the consequences decisions made then have on each of their lives today. I enjoyed the shifting dynamics among Ivy, Ariana, and Cam. Things were bound to be a bit awkward after losing touch over the years of separation or, in Cam's case, breaking off contact due to his jealous wife but the discovery of a body and the resurrection of the murder case from that summer long ago have intensified the swirling emotions - and doubts - among the recently reunited best friends. It's an interesting exploration of the ebb and flow of friendships as well as secrets, lies, and the weight they place on one's conscience.
The mystery of what actually happened that fateful night is tightly constructed and filled with surprising twists and turns, playing out with subtle clues effectively placed throughout the book. I was sure I knew who the murderer wasn't but it took me a while to discover who it was. Though even figuring out the identity of the murderer before the reveal didn't lessen my eagerness to find out how it all would play out. I was not disappointed.
There's also a romantic thread in the story that significantly impacts the dynamics of the three friends. Though it's secondary to the mystery, it's important to actions the friends take. It offers a happily ever after but I wasn't as emotionally invested in the romantic couple as I wanted to be - for reasons - including the fact that I was more emotionally attached to the character who became the third wheel. Others may have different feelings. I will say though that by the time the epilogue (a year later) rolled around I was able to be happy with the couple's HEA and satisfied with where life had taken all three of the friends.
If you enjoy a blend of women's fiction and twisty suspense with strong threads of friendship, coming home, and friends-to-lovers romance, I recommend adding The Seaside Library to your summer reading list.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley. Fair and unbiased review. ...more
I fell in love with Amanda Quick's writing more than thirty years ago, long before I was aware that she was also Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle. ThI fell in love with Amanda Quick's writing more than thirty years ago, long before I was aware that she was also Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle. Through the years, the eras and locations of her stories have changed but what hasn't is the amazing storytelling. Quick is a master of atmosphere, character, and plot. I wasn't more than a handful of pages into When She Dreams before I was totally immersed in the ambiance of 1930's Southern California and the premise of the story. Not to mention the two main characters.
Quick knows how to set the hook quickly and reel her readers in. Maggie and Sam were complex, multi-layered, fully-developed characters, gradually revealed as the story progressed. I loved watching them evolve as they worked together, played off one another, and challenged each other, all while the chemistry between them simmered and deepened. The banter between these two was superb!
As with most Quick books, the mystery is on an equal footing with the romance. This one was superbly crafted, with a touch of psychic dreaming at its core. I had a hard time putting the book down, so eager was I to discover what would happen next. And I'm happy to say there were some pretty significant surprises along the way!
If you enjoy (closed door) historical romance, with great dialog, immersive atmosphere, intriguing characters, and an expertly-woven mystery at its core, don't miss out on When She Dreams by Amanda Quick. This book is part of Quick's Burning Cove, California series. There's an appearance by a couple characters from a previous book but readers should be able to jump into the series with this book without missing a beat.
Magical realism is a tricky thing. In many books, I can enjoy the concept while being fully aware that it isn't real. But then there are those few, shMagical realism is a tricky thing. In many books, I can enjoy the concept while being fully aware that it isn't real. But then there are those few, shall we say "magical," books where I willingly suspend disbelief, immersing myself in all the story has to offer, knowing logically that it's fiction but believing with everything in me that it's real. In the Shadow Garden is one of those books.
Parker's writing is perfectly pitched, with a dreamy - almost mystical - quality that drew me in, kept me enthralled, and left me with the firm certainty that somewhere in Kentucky there is an actual Shadow Garden, in a small town shrouded in gloom, where grief is softened, traditions are revered, bourbon flows, and magical produce thrives under the gentle care of multiple generations of Haywood women.
The characters are engaging, with interesting backs stories, tangled relationships, and more than a few obstacles ahead. I love that the story is told from different generational perspectives. It gives the reader views into the past and present, offering a more complete picture of events that led to current situations. The family dynamics, a key element of the story, are realistic and believable, not only between the Haywoods and Bonners but within each family as well, and volatile enough to keep me eagerly flipping pages to find out what was going to happen next.
Nothing is as it seems as the author takes the characters, as well as the reader, along a twisted path laced with magical mysteries, unexpected revelations, betrayal, danger, and the possibility of love reclaimed. I was fully invested before I reached the end of Chapter One and read late into the night, finishing the book somewhere around 3:30 AM. Then, when I woke up the next morning, I went back and re-read my favorite parts, savoring the various nuances that were so expertly rendered. It's a book I can see myself reading again and again, probably each fall, a perfect time to lose myself in the murky, magical, mysteries of Yarrow, Kentucky.
*Advance copy received from HachetteUS/ReadForeverPub for fair and unbiased review...more