The Golden Gate by Amy Chua ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

In 1944, Berkeley Homicide Detective Al Sullivan is called to the Claremont Hotel as a presidential hopeful has been murdered. The top suspects are the granddaughters of an affluent family who happened to have been involved in the death of a child at the hotel in 1930. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

10 Books to Read for Hispanic Heritage Month

by Donna Huber

Hispanic Heritage Month began September 15 and runs through October 15. This is a great time to add diversity to your reading and explore different cultures. If you aren't sure what to pick up, here are some of our recommendations.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

You can always depend on Mary Kay Andrews to give her readers a story with interesting characters and a good plot that leaves them with a smile at the end.  I don't read many Christmas books - especially not in 100-degree July - but I couldn't pass up the chance to read this new book.  I loved it!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown ~ a Review

by MK French

While the Reaper is a legend, Darrow has suffered because of this title. He wants to return to Mars and his family, while leading a rebellion against the Core Worlds even though he and his men suffered a devastating defeat at Mercury. Lysander is maneuvering to destroy the Rising and restore the Gold, all too willing to destroy worlds for his ambitions. To defend the Republic, Darrow must return home and collect allies, setting new alliances and conflicts on the battlefield.

 Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Novelist from Berlin by V.S. Alexander ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

The Novelist from Berlin covers the time period from the 1930s to the 1960s but most of the story is centered on World War II and the aftermath of the war in Berlin.  The book is based on a real person, Irmgard Keun, who was a novelist in Berlin before the war. When her books were banned by the Nazis, she knew she was in danger and fled Germany for the Netherlands where she did what she could to help fight against the Nazi regime.  

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli ~ a Review

by MK French

Zarya has forbidden magic, but no one will explain why it's such a dangerous secret to keep. She escapes to Dharati, she searches for answers with the help of blood-drinking rakshasa and magic-weaving Aazheri sorcerers. The city is attacked every night by dark creatures, and they've grown stronger since Zarya's arrival. She chooses to fight for the city as well as search for answers, and the mysterious and handsome Rabin haunts her dreams. He generates desire, but she doesn't know if she can trust him. As fighting intensifies in the city, Zarya must decide if saving the city is worth revealing her secret magic, or if it will destroy everything.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Shitty Craft Club: A Club for Gluing Beads to Trash, Talking about Our Feelings, and Making Silly Things by Sam Reece ~ a Review

by MK French

Sam Reece went viral several times across various social media sites, and built up a community called the Shitty Craft Club. In post-pandemic times, gathering odds and ends to make something silly and fun is a great way to inspire happiness. There's no need to be perfect, and that's the point of the club.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Two New Books with an Unreliable Narrator

by Susan Roberts

An unreliable narrator is an untrustworthy storyteller, most often used in narratives with a first-person point of view. The unreliable narrator is either deliberately deceptive or unintentionally misguided, forcing the reader to question their credibility as a storyteller.

This isn't one of my favorite genres but is something that many readers find intriguing trying to figure out what is true and what is deceptive.  If you enjoy narrators that you can't trust to tell you the real truth and add extra intrigue to the suspense, these books may be perfect for you.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

A big winter storm blows in during a neighborhood ball and not all the guests can make it home. The hostess quickly has rooms made up so everyone can retire for the night - but some of the guests continue the party under the cover of darkness. By morning, it becomes clear that they won't be heading home. Not only are they snowed in, but there is a dead body in the courtyard.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch ~ a Review

by MK French

Michael Bromley, Duke of Woriton, is more interested in chemistry than society balls. He can manage conversation and his aunt’s poodle Lancelot while she’s on holiday. Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering is having a wonderful Season with her precious black poodle, Galahad. Bitsy feels he’s perfect, but to everyone else, Galahad’s a terror. A potential suitor hires a thief to steal Galahad, but a chance encounter means Lancelot is stolen instead. Michael isn’t thrilled that Bitsy insists on helping, but he does love chemistry...

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

Uncovering long-held family secrets may sting at first--but the result can be sweeter than honey.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Sarah is a shy freshman who largely doesn't fit in with the rest of her class. When she meets Katrina and Alicia who are in their own ways on the fringes, she finds the place she fits. Together they discover magic but on the night they decide to secure their futures their fates are sealed as the spell goes wrong. Now on the 20th anniversary of the big fire, the three witches reunite for the first time. Can they control the magic this time?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

3 Thrillers to Get Your Heart Rate Up

by MK French

The weather is cooling, and it is the perfect time to curl up in a comfy chair with a hot beverage and a book you can't put down. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

Cora and her mom spent a lot of time with Cora's grandparents when she was growing up.  When she was seven, her mom moved them away and she never saw her grandparents again.  Because of the estrangement between her mom and grandparents, Cora and her mom were never close.  She felt like her mom had removed her from a place where she was truly happy.  Now almost 20 years later, her mom has died and wants to be buried in the town she grew up in.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Willia is excited to show off her new cheese shop to her former co-workers who are in town for the Northwest Cheese Invitation. It's not all fun and games though as they are also there to honor their late boss Max and hear the reading of the will. Most of all, they hope to discover the secret to his famous Church Bleu cheese. Max was known for puzzles and secrecy - what he expected would be a fun game turns deadly.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

9 Fantastic Fantasy Novels You Won't Want to Miss

by MK French

Halloween will be here before we know it and to get us ready for the holiday there are so many fantasy novels coming out this month that you might not know where to start. I round up 9 fantastic novels you will want to your reading list. There is a little of everything - dark fantasy, humorous fantasy, paranormal romance, young adult, supernatural thriller, and more.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

A Bakery in Paris is a captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post-World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

It's the fall of 1938 and Otto Silbermann's world is turned upside down. It has become clear that Germany is no longer safe for Jews. When the pounding starts on his door, he may be too late to do anything but flee out the back door.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Bessie by Linda Kass ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

 

If you are of a certain age, you may remember Bess Myerson on television in the 1950s.  She often appeared on game shows such as I've Got a Secret and on the Today show.  Her road to fame started with her being crowned as Miss America in 1945  the first (and still the only) Jewish Miss America.  This historical fiction book is a look at her early years until she was crowned Miss American and goes into very little detail about her life after this achievement.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Why I Swore to Never Hire a Goon (Except in Emergencies) by JF Lee ~ a Review

by MK French

Shi Baizhe's sister is kidnapped, and a hero would be able to find her. Unfortunately, he doesn't have money and heroes aren't cheap. Goons, on the other hand, are far more affordable. A retired gang boss, two brutes, a thief and cats are now the crew to find his sister.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Kerry is at loose ends after being made redundant after the ad agency she worked for merged with another larger company. Back home in North Carolina, she hasn't figured out what to do next but she knows staying in the small town is not what she wants. When her father has a heart attack and can't make the annual trip to New York City to sell the family's Christmas trees. Her brother can't do the trip on his own so Kerry is roped into. While she can't imagine a worse time than spending a month with a taciturn brother she barely knows in an old "spam can" camper that doesn't have a working toilet or stove, perhaps NYC at Christmas will work its magic on her.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon ~ a Review

by MK French

Poppy Banks has a dead-end job at Thought Buzz and feels like she's living her entire life on the sidelines. Her aunt Margot keeps telling her to live out her dreams at their secret yearly lunches, but Poppy hasn't been able to start yet. When her aunt dies, Poppy is left a writer's residency in the French Riveria—if she can finish her novel in six months. When the writing countdown begins, Poppy realizes she has more to confront than her writer’s block.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

California Golden by Melanie Benjamin ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

Two sisters navigate the turbulent, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and longing for a family they never had.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Dead on Target by M.C. Beaton ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Carsely is having their harvest fete and Agatha takes an interest in the archery demonstration. She even tries her hand at it, unfortunately, a lost puppy from the dog show distracts her and she totally flubs her first try. But we know everything Agatha is done perfectly and successfully so her second attempt is a bullseye shot. While she's trying to discreetly eat a sausage roll, the puppy makes another appearance. The puppy drags Agatha into the tree line where she discovers a dead body with an arrow shot through the heart.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Oak Harbor Series by Kimberly Thomas ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Kimberly Thomas has become on of my favorite new authors of women's fiction series.  Her new series is about an estranged family who are learning to trust and love each other again

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free Books were provided for honest reviews.

Scenes of the Crime by Jilly Gagnon ~ a Review

by MK French

Five friends go to a remote Oregon winery for spring break, which seemed perfect until Vanessa disappeared. Years later, Emily spots Vanessa’s doppelganger at a local café. This inspires her to figure out what happened that fateful day, so she invites everyone back to the scene of the crime. Each woman has a story, but how will Emily learn the truth?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Madelaine is in Paris doing her semester abroad at The Sorbonne when she meets the charismatic Giles. He warns her when they first meet that she shouldn't fall in love with her. But of course, they fall in love. While it isn't without its rocky moments, they live a good life until Hitler invades France.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Postcard by Carly Schabowski ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

Holding the faded postcard in her trembling hands, Mia begins to read the one story her grandmother could never tell her, revealing a secret that will change her own life forever…

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Big Little Spells by Hazel Beck ~ a Review

by MK French

Rebekah Wilde was stripped of her magic when she left St. Cyprian at eighteen. Ten years later, she’s back and facing the Joywood Coven, who rule over the magical world and had banished her in the first place. She's glad to be with her sister and friends again, but if they can't prove they're not a danger to witchkind, they'll be killed. The only one who knows how to stop the Joywood is the immortal Nicholas Frost, who deliberately set himself apart. It's anyone's guess now if he'll actually help.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Parasites: The Inside Story by Scott Lyell Gardner, Judy Diamond, and Gabor R. Rácz ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

November will be here before we know it and if you are participating in Nonfiction November then you need to start putting together your reading list. If you enjoy science nonfiction and looking to learn about parasites, then you should consider adding Parasites; The Inside Story to your list.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Blue, Beautiful World by Karen Lord ~ a Review

by MK French

As the Earth's climate changes, aliens observe and deem them ready for contact. Leading the charge for first contact are dreamers and changemakers. Peter Hendrix invented the most advanced VR tech. Charyssa is a celebrity with a passion for humanitarian work. Kanoa is a member of a global council hoping to reimagine the relationship between humans and aliens. The group's secret weapon is pop superstar Owen, who uses more than charisma to connect with fans and might help humanity connect with aliens. This gift means others can't control him, and he also feels compelled to use it. What will happen to the rest of humanity?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Nine Lives and Alibis by Cate Conte ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Maddie (and many of her family members) are deep in the planning for the biggest off-season event on the island. She is worried something will go wrong, but I'm sure the headline attraction being murdered wasn't even something she considered. Even if he was staying on the haunted floor of the local hotel.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

 

"War had altered and removed so many things, but perhaps the greatest loss was certainly.  Everything was a question, and - like many things - answers were in short supply." (p29).

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Dead and Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Annalisa Vega and her partner (and ex-husband and current lover) Nick are on a case that has hit a dead end when Vega's boss calls her to a crime season. She wants Vega to personally oversee the death of a former cop, turned PI. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Windfall by Wendy Corsi Staub ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

Three friends’ lives terrifyingly unravel when they win a billion-dollar lottery jackpot—and one goes missing. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Meet Me in River's Edge by Nan Reinhardt ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Jo Weaver shies away from eligible men, particularly the river rats who have big boats. When Alex literally bowls her over at her reunion because he needs a mechanic, it may not be how she expected to be swept off her feet but she might not be able to fight the attraction this time.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror & Delight ed. by Shelly Page & Alex Brown ~ a Review

by MK French

Night of the Living Queers has stories written by Vanessa Montalban; Kalynn Bayron; Rebecca Kim Wells; Kosoko Jackson; SMP Alex Brown; Trang Thanh Tran; Maya Gittelman; Em X. Liu; Shelly Page; Tara Sim; Ayida Shonibar; Ryan Douglas.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Glass Chateau by Stephen P. Kiernan ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A novel of hope, healing, and the redemptive power of art, set against the turmoil of post-World War II France.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

To Charm a Dark Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley ~ a Review

by MK French

When Gwen is transported to an Avalon trapped in crystal by Mordred, the Prince in Iron, she sees little means to escape. Striking a deal to get home, she joins Mordred's court intending to ruin his plans. The two have an instant attraction, complicating everything.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

World War II Books That You May Have Missed

by Susan Roberts

World War II historical fiction is one of the most popular genres right now.  It's impossible to read all of them but here are reviews of 3 that I've read recently.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for honest reviews.  

Grave Mistakes by Kitty Curran ~ a Review

by MK French

Molly Dade is trying to hide a secret from the rest of her little Maine community. Her family was living in a house reportedly haunted and next to the cemetery, but then her mother and twin brother were killed in an accident. Only, her mother is a ghost and her brother is a poltergeist. Molly’s younger sister is a zombie. While she's trying to keep it a secret, she has a violin audition coming up that her family wants to see. Her father's new assistant at the cemetery seems to know the Dade family secret, and the explosion that killed her mother and brother might not have been an accident. Someone might be after the Dade family—but who? And why?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Meg's grandmother Cordelia is being profiled by a Southern magazine, but she is not the reporter's typical subject. Instead of wanting to visit the fancy restaurants, Cordelia rather traipse into the woods looking for an unmarked slave graveyard. Meg tags along with the group going into the woods which includes cadaver dogs in training. The dogs though find more than century-old graves - they discover a much more recent corpse. With a friend, who could either be the prime suspect or another victim, is missing Meg knows she has to pitch in to find the true murderer.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

Not everyone who is lost should be found…

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

4 Books of Fantastic Folklore and Fantasy

by MK French

If you love losing yourself in the pages of a great fantasy novel or story based on folklore, then you will want to pick up these four books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Murder at the Village Fair by Helena Dixon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Kitty and Matt are on holiday to Yorkshire as part of their belated honeymoon. After almost dying in a fire during their last case, they are looking forward to the peace and quiet of the countryside. However, when their dog Bertie gets away from them during the village fair they stumble upon a dead body. They could end their vacation and head home. Kitty's inquisitive mind won't let her rest so when they are retained by Matt's aunt's neighbors to help clear their name, Matt and Kitty are once again on the case!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse ~A Review

by Susan Roberts

Two Sisters. One Single Event. A Family Changed Forever.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

More Perfect by Temi Oh ~ a Review

by MK French

People have small implants that allow social media to exist as an augmented reality layer. The British government has now decided to step in citing public safety, veering into severe overreach.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

3 Character Driven Stories That You Don't Want to Miss

by Donna Huber

I've gotten a bit of a break from the sorching heat during these dog days of summer. It's still plenty hot enough in the sun, but it is quite pleasant sitting in the shade, plus there have been a few wonderful thunderstorms. All perfect for reading. If you love a story that focuses on the characters, I have three novels for your consideration. 

Amazon affilate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

2 Crime Novels You Won't Be Able to Put Down

by MK French

We are in the dog days of summer and it is much too hot to do much of anything. So it is the perfect time to pick up a novel you won't be able to put down. Forget the heat as you lose yourself in the pages of these crime novels.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

"There's an old rule of thumb in prisons.  Actually it's more of a life lesson.  Always know what you're walking into.  Dark corners can be danger points." (p 49)

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.