The Winter Sea Trilogy by H.M. Long ~ a Review

by MK French

All week, we've been giving recommendations for books to get you through the hot dog days of summer. What better way to spend them than with a fantasy adventure? You can binge the whole trilogy now.

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

New and Notable Suspense Novels

by Susan Roberts

As the dog days of summer stretch on, it is too hot to do much more than sit in the air conditioning with a book you won't want to put down. 

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

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains steeped in tradition. Her roots there were Beckett’s parents taught at the college, and she never even imagined studying anywhere else—until a tragedy her senior year ended with two local men dead, and her roommate on the run, never to be seen again…

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

3 Hot Summer Romance Reads

by MK French

Heat up your summer with these romance novels.

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

Two Fantastical Historical Fiction Novels For You to Read

by Susan Roberts

I have a couple of historical fiction novels to recommend to you today. The first one is derived from the beloved children's classic The Wizard of Oz and is focused on the life of Dorothy's Auntie Em. The second one is set in the 1960s and is about a real reform school in Buffalo, New York. Both are great reads and should be added to your TBR if you haven't already picked them up.

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

Fever Beach by Carl Hiassen ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Welcome to Fever Beach, where the sun blazes, the politics are unhinged, and the characters are as volatile as a summer storm.

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

Forged In Battle by Marc Alan Edelheit ~ a Review

by MK French

Captain Jaxon Steele's first command is thrown into turmoil when the Union's allies betray them. His ship is built for stealth and not heavy battle. To survive the first strike, he'll need his wits, but the survival of the Union requires him to find the enemies lurking and waiting to destroy his ship.

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

Every Little Thing by Kay Bratt ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Hart's Ridge is a fantastic series by Kay Bratt. It is about Taylor Grey, who is a female police deputy in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Books 1 - 12 look at issues with Taylor, her family, her friends and her job on the police force.  The author has decided to continue the series with a big change.  In Book 13, Taylor no longer works for the police department and is a private investigator. But before we get book 13 (it comes out tomorrow), here is my review of book 12. If you haven't read this series yet, be sure to check out my reviews of books 1 - 10 and book 11.

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

Love is a War Song by Danica Nava ~ a Review

by MK French

Avery Fox had posed on the cover of Rolling Stone to celebrate her Native heritage, but it was seen as a stunt, and she was called a fake. Retreating from the threats, she returns to her estranged grandmother's home in the Oklahoma reservation. Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. He hates what Avery seems to represent, but the two strike up a deal. Avery will help raise funds for her grandmother's ranch, and Lucas will teach her Native traditions. What could possibly go wrong?

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

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A brand-new contemporary stand-alone novel about sisterhood, secrets and one woman’s reckoning with the past

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

Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

When Gigi Jenkins finds herself broke, unemployed, and out of options, she has no choice but to return to Mackinac Island, the horse-and-buggy hometown she swore she'd left behind forever.

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

Reading More Than Novels: Poetry and 2 Biographies

by Susan Roberts

I don't read a lot of non-fiction books, but have read several in the last few months that were very interesting and well-written.  Here are reviews of a book of poetry. a collection of Holocaust stories, and a book about the greatest rock band of all time.  

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

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

I had Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood on my list to read for Halloween last year, but as they say, best laid plans. Instead of waiting until this fall, I decided I needed something light and fun to read now that wasn't necessarily a cozy mystery. 

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

Two Thrillers for Your Summer Reading

by MK French

If you are looking for something a little on the dark side for your summer reading, check out these two new novels. 

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

Queen of the Orchard by Kimberly Thomas ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

Emma Carlisle has spent her entire life rooted in the red clay soil of her family’s Georgia peach orchard. While others dream of adventure, Emma finds solace among the trees, pouring her heart into the land her father built. 

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

Death and the Librarian by Victoria Gilbert ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

It’s summertime in Virginia, but things are about to get out of hand when murder darkens the annual arts festival.

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

4 Magical Reads to Add to Your TBR List

by MK French

Add a little magic to your summer reading with these four books. They aren't all pure fantasy, in case that's not your thing, but magic plays a role in each of the plots.  

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

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

I've listened to a LOT of audiobooks this year, and I was starting to think I might be experiencing burnout as none I've listened to recently have really held my attention. After listening to The Unraveling of Julia, I think it was just the books because I didn't want to put this one down.

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

The Odds of Getting Even by Amanda Sellet ~ a Review

by MK French

Resort employee Jean Harrington meets Charlie in the middle of the night, and the two click. She teaches him poker, and they get to know each other, but there are people trying to find him. Charlie leaves without a word, and Jean won't let that go. She chases him across an ocean and to the small town where his famous family lives. Jean wants the upper hand, but maybe Charlie can call her bluff.

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

Falling for You Again by Kerry Lonsdale ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

Fate reunites a young woman with her ex-husband in a delightful and inspiring novel about family, old loves, and marriage on a dare.

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

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

An exclusive locked-room murder mystery party hosted by a legendary thriller writer on his private island for his fellow thriller writer friends turns lethal when a guest is found murdered in this twisty debut novel.

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

Sea of Thieves: The Art of Piracy by Chris Allcock ~ a Review

by MK French

Written by game developer Chris Allcock, this book has art, commentary, and new material regarding the game Sea of Thieves. There are full-color illustrations, previously unpublished concept art, information on gear and weapons, enemy and location information, and galleries for fans of the game.

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

Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

As readers, we are often lovers of words in general. I love learning about what words mean and how we got certain phrases. Social media is shaping so much of our lives, I'm not shocked that it is also transforming language.

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

Fast Boys and Pretty Girls by Lo Patrick ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

They say you can never go home again. And sometimes, you shouldn't.

 

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

4 Fantastic Fantasy Novels to Read

by MK French

Whether you prefer young adult or adult fantasy, I'm sure there is something on this list that you will enjoy.

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

2 New Books for Superhero Science Fiction Fans

by MK French

If you are an avid superhero science fiction fan, then these superheroes will be familiar to you, but you will still enjoy the new books. 

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

2 Historical Fiction Books You Might Have Missed

by Donna Huber

I've been catching up on some of the books I missed earlier in the year. I recently read two really good historical fiction books set during times and places that I don't usually read.

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

Echoes of Camano Island Series by Kimberly Thomas ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

If you are in the U.S., you might be enjoying a long weekend, but even if it is just a regular weekend, this is a great series to binge-read. All the ebooks are currently free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

 

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

The Antidote by Karen Russell ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

The Antidote opens on Black Sunday, as a historic dust storm ravages the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska. But Uz is already collapsing—not just under the weight of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drought, but beneath its own violent histories. The Antidote follows a "Prairie Witch," whose body serves as a bank vault for peoples’ memories and secrets; a Polish wheat farmer who learns how quickly a hoarded blessing can become a curse; his orphan niece, a basketball star and witch’s apprentice in furious flight from her grief; a voluble scarecrow; and a New Deal photographer whose time-traveling camera threatens to reveal both the town’s secrets and its fate.

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

2 Fun Murder Mysteries to Read

by MK French

It's too hot to do anything but sit in the AC (or in the pool) and read. Here are two fun murder mysteries that would be great for a day of reading.

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

The Night Sparrow by Shelly Sanders ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A gripping story of a young Jewish girl who joins an elite Russian sniper unit and embarks on a mission targeting the highest prize of World War II: Adolph Hitler.

 

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

The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

The propulsive story of a young father who, after an unbearable tragedy, reckons with the possibility of atonement for the unforgivable.

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

One Final Turn by Ashley Weaver ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Ellie McDonnell is about to embark on her most perilous mission go to Lisbon, Portugal to save her beloved cousin Toby who has reportedly escaped from a German prisoner of war camp. Toby has been missing since the Battle of Dunkirk and Ellie had all but lost hope in ever seeing him again until Major Ramsey, the British military intelligence officer she had been working closely with over the past few months, shared the news he’d intercepted.

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

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown ~ a Review

by MK French

In the mid-1990s, Jane and her father lived in an isolated cabin in Montana, homesteading. Her father offers few clues about their pasts, saying that her mother's death in a car crash in the Bay Area led to their move. When Jane realizes she might be an accomplice to her father's crimes, she flees for San Francisco to look for answers. The city itself is in the middle of many changes, including the burgeoning Internet, leading Jane to question everything she values.

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

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for over twenty-five years. They live in a beautiful Victorian on the north shore of Massachusetts. Wendy is a published poet and Thom teaches English literature at a nearby university. Their son, Jason, is all grown up. All is well…except that Wendy wants to murder her husband.

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

What We Leave Behind by Sue Halpern ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A tenderhearted story of two very different women grappling with the messy emotional legacies passed down by their parents.

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

3 Romance Novels to Read This Summer

by MK French

Are you looking for love? You will find it in the pages of these books.

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

Eliza and the Duke by Harper St. George ~ a Review

by MK French

Eliza Dove is a hopeless romantic, hoping for a night of freedom before she settles into a respectable marriage of convenience. Simon Cavell is known as "The Duke," and a prizefighter hoping to secure one last win and leave the streets. He's willing to tangle with Eliza long enough to ensure her secrecy, but one night isn't enough for her. Now Eliza must come up with a plan that will secure him, or both will be ruined.

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

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Mrs. Blossom is not the kind of woman to play the lottery. She is practical, a devoted grandmother, and has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when Mrs. Blossom finds a winning ticket in a parking lot, everything changes...including Mrs. Blossom. She is determined to see the world that sometimes feels as if it’s passing her by.

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

No More Yesterdays by Catherine Bybee ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Catherine Bybee lights the fuse, and the Stone siblings must rely on their wits and hearts to uncover a dangerous enemy…and an explosive secret.

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

Free Read! Fireworks and Frenemies by Elle Rush

by Donna Huber

I'm on vacation, enjoying lots of time reading and other fun things. Here is a free ebook that you can enjoy whether you are on vacation or just hanging out at the pool for the weekend.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Two Female-Centric Stories to Read

by MK French

Women's fiction is a catch-all category for books that focus on the growth of a female character. Sometimes it involves romance, and other times it is more focused on the career or other life goals of the character.

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

Holocaust Stories in Fiction and Nonfiction

by Susan Roberts

I read a lot of historical fiction and am always interested in WWII-era fiction.  Even though the market is very saturated with books from this time period, authors continue to find heroes who have been forgotten or write about fictional brave people who made a difference in their worlds during this time.  Today I have reviews of three new books that look at this time period from new directions - one is historical fiction closely based on the true story of one man and his goal to help children, one is fiction about a 16 year old girl that was inspired by a true story and the third is a nonfiction book about a family that hid in a small building for 2 years while being helped by their brave neighbors. 

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

2 Interesting Books Set in England

by Susan Roberts

Summer is a time for travel and relaxation. Sometimes we don't get to travel very far but that's the great thing about books - you can travel through time and space in the pages of a book. Today, I have two books set in England. The first book will also have you traveling back to the 1800s. Even if you don't have a trip planned, you can grab some relaxation time with these two novels.

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

The Everyday Naturalist by Rebecca Lexa ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

When I saw this book was coming out in June, I thought it was the perfect book to read while preparing for my summer vacation at Naturalist Camp. 

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

5 Books for Fans of Speculative Fiction

by MK French

Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre. It encompasses all genres that deviate from reality: fantasy, mythology, dystopian, science fiction, magical realism, etc. This is a fun genre as it lets us explore what-ifs and dig deeper into sensitive issues that might be more difficult to address in real life. 

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

Books to Read for Juneteenth

by Donna Huber

Probably before Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021, many people hadn't heard of it (I hadn't). The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act made it an official federal holiday. My state has also added it as a state holiday so I have the day off. For those who might not be familiar with what Juneteenth is - it commemorates the day in 1865 when the slaves in Texas were declared free (more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation). Here is a list of books to read to celebrate Juneteenth. Don't worry; it isn't all history books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja ~ a Review

by MK French

Ziya Khan is a legal secretary and aspiring novelist, getting frustrated with her many rejection letters. On her thirtieth birthday, Ziya finds the living version of her muse standing in her kitchen. Aashiq inspires Ziya to write, to live and stand up for herself at work. They grow closer, but as she takes joy in writing again, he starts to disappear. Ziya will have to choose between Aashiq and her writing.

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

The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

The Call of the Wrens introduces the little-known story of the daring women who rode through war-torn Europe carrying secrets on their shoulders.

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

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais ~ a Review

by MK French

Former prodigy and orphan Destiny Whip is alone, but she was used to it. A letter invites her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian, but she never applied in the first place. Encoded in the letter is a promise to learn her own family secrets, so she goes to Eerie Island to meet the Scruffmores. They all mistrust one another and carry untold secrets themselves. In the midst of cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and the family’s magical line of succession, Destiny is certain of two things: one of the Scruffmores is going to die and she’s running out of time to stop it.

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