The Lady in the Coppergate Tower by Nancy Campbell Allen ~ a Review

by MK French

Hazel Hughes had always thought she had a connection with ghosts, but her real skills lay with her photographic memory, reasoning skills, and healing ability. It helps her work with Sam MacInnes, a surgeon who values hard work and medical skills rather than his noble lineage. When she hears from Count Petrescu that she is actually of Romanian nobility abducted from birth and her twin sister is gravely ill, of course, Hazel wants to help her sister. Sam won't let her go alone, and neither can explain the unease they feel around the Count. The journey to Romania grows steadily worse, and the truth is stranger than Hazel originally thought.

Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts by Charles Kowalski ~ a Review

by MK French

The seventh son of an English family, Simon Grey became a cabin boy on a voyage to Japan in 1620. The ship was involved in a mysterious shipwreck, and he is able to see the yokai, the spirits, and monsters of Japanese mythology. While there had been some trade with English and Dutch ships before, the Tokugawa shogunate is less willing to have these people within the country. The Shogun's main advisor is also a magician interested in the secret of seeing ghosts and yokai and will do whatever it takes to steal the ability from Simon and Oyuki, the daughter of an English merchant that became a samurai years before.

Ragnarok Unwound by Kristin Jacques ~ a Review

by MK French

Ikepela Ives is a mortal, but her immortal mother had the ability to unbind fate. That ability was passed to Ives when she turned eighteen, and she had done her best to avoid dealing with the power as best as she could out of anger at her mother for disappearing. The problem is, a very determined Valkyrie needs her help to stop Ragnarok.

Our Favorite Reads of July

There's always a bunch of great summer reads. Almost too many to get through in one summer. We have read and reviewed some awesome books, which makes our task of naming our favorite read of the month even more difficult. If you are looking for one more book to read before summer is over, then check out these titles.

Last Summer by @KerryLonsdale ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

November 2018
"Ella."
A soft murmur comes from somewhere beyond her dreams. Her name.
"Ella."
Another whisper.
Damien.
He says her name again. It draws her from the depths of slumber. She was dreaming. Dreaming about...what?
Biting tongues and keeping secrets. (p. 5)

July Reading and Blog Wrap Up

by Donna Huber

How I like to spend my summer days.

Work has continued to be stressful though things are a little better this month as the new accountant started. We still have one vacant position. I took a few days off to spend with my niece when she came over to visit my parents. The break from work was nice, but not really relaxing as I couldn't shake off the list of things that needed to be done at work. My reading life though is definitely benefiting from the stress as I lose myself in a book every evening (well, until I started reading a nonfiction book on the history of the mosquito). It is also helping my waistline - I've lost 5 pounds since the end of May. Four more pounds and I will be back to my high school weight.

A Highlander Walks Into A Bar by Laura Trentham ~ a Review

by MK French

Isabel Buchanan was at a loss for words when her mother returned from her trip to Scotland with a new boyfriend, Gareth. It gets even worse when Gareth's friend Alasdair Blackmoor arrives to see how he's faring. While the two couples clearly have feelings for each other, the Scotsmen have a few secrets that need revealing.