The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

 

Tempèsta is a New York food critic with an unhappy family life.  Her French-born mother died when she was 13 and she doesn't feel accepted by the rest of her family who own a huge Foundation.  Her father and his mother always preferred her brother Wal and made no secret of the fact that they felt like she was too much like her mother for her to be a real part of such a prestigious family.  When her father died, his entire estate is left to her brother - no surprise there - and it made her want to make some changes in her life.  She has a bit of money that was left to her by her mother so sight unseen she buys the house where her mother was born in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence.  When she arrives at the house she questions her decision to buy the run-down and cluttered house where no one had lived for years.  A local builder assures her that the house has good bones and that it will be magnificent when it's cleaned out and updated.  She's also surprised at some of the negative feelings from the local residents who seem to be harboring bad feelings and memories about her mother.  

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

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden ~ a Review

by MK French

Laura Iven was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, but as far as she knew in January 1918, her brother was still fighting in the Great War. She receives word of his death, but it doesn't make sense. Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital, and hears about haunted trenches and a strange hotelier. She hopes to find out what really happened to her brother. In November 1917, Freddie Iven woke along with a wounded German soldier named Hans Winter in an overturned pillbox. The two formed an alliance to escape the pillbox, and neither wanted to kill again. They take refuge with a mysterious man with the power to make the war disappear.

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

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

A determined reporter and a reluctant FBI agent face off against fascist elements in World War II-era Boston.

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

2 Fun Romance Novels to Read This Month

by MK French

Happy Valentine's Day! If you are looking to spend the holiday finding love in the pages of a good book, I've got a couple of fun romance novels for you. One you can start reading today, the other you will have to wait until next week for.

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

The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace ~ a Review

by MK French

Jo Jones lost her job, her mother, and her marriage all within the space of one year, so she moves to an estate in North Yorkshire. She's not sure if people don't like her because she's autistic or from New York. When the moody town groundskeeper is found shot to death in the estate, she's the prime suspect. A family portrait vanishes, revealing a connection to the dead body and to Jo's family history. Jo works with a Welsh antiques dealer, the local detective, and the Irish innkeeper's wife, to clear her name and find the missing painting. Along the way she discovers secrets about the town and herself, and must solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.

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

Two Different Books to Read for Black History Month

by Donna Huber

The typical books you probably think of to read for Black History Month are nonfiction books about history or social justice or biographies and memoirs. Yet, there is value in reading fiction as well. I recently read two novels that would perfect if you are looking for something a little different to read for Black History Month.

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

The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond ~ a Review

by MK French

Dani Poissant's mother is the world's most famous art thief, using magic to get the job done. As a teen, Dani turned her mother over to the FBI. Now an adult, Dani is approached for a job only her mother and the rest of the crew could pull off, and she hopes this can help her reconcile with her mother and the rest of the old gang. Even with magic, it's an impossible heist, especially when she's given just a week to do it and more stakes than she ever knew.

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