Get Ready for Summer 2026 Beach Read Season

by Susan Roberts

It’s officially spring now, and even though the weather is very warm in some places, there is also snow falling in some of the Northern States.  It’s gotten warm in my part of North Carolina, which makes me start thinking about trips to the beach and, of course, beach reads to enjoy while I’m there. Here are a few of the beach reads that I’m looking forward to this year.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

God Won't Leave You There by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

God Won't Leave You There: Joseph's Story, an incredible testimony of jaw-dropping faith and patient perseverance in the face of devastating trials, will leave you in awe at what God can do in and through one person. It's a powerful reminder that wherever you find yourself, God is at work putting the pieces of your life together to bring about His sovereign plan.

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

3 Fantasy Novels to Read

by MK French

I started off the month with a list of fantasy novels for you to read. Today, I have 3 more fantasy novels for you to end your month.

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

How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family 

Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.

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

Recipe for Joy by Monica Comas ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

A grieving woman finds healing and purpose through her late grandmother’s cherished recipes.

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

In Time With You by Kristin Dwyer ~ a Review

by MK French

Nieve Monroe is devastated after her boyfriend, Carter, dies saving her from drowning. She blames herself for his death, and so does his best friend, Max. Avoiding his accusing glances, Nieve goes to stay with her grandmother, who has always had strange stories to tell of uncanny happenings, of magic and make-believe. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on the first day of college, the year before. She's determined to do the year over to save Carter and make sure he never goes near the river. It means she might lose him in other ways, and the distance she puts between them makes her grow closer to Max. Does saving Carter mean that she must betray him? How can she forget the past and move on?

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

Spring is the Perfect Season for Southern Fiction

by Susan Roberts

I recently spent a week in the South Carolina low country, and while I was there, I re-read some of the books that I’ve enjoyed that take place in that beautiful area.

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

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

In the 1920s, archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

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

Death in a Scottish Tower by Lydia Travers ~ a Review

by MK French

Lady Poppy Proudfoot is visiting Glasgow University to celebrate the scholarship endowment she set up when a body falls from the tower. She instantly suspects it's murder because there had been a similar death eighteen years before. As she and Inspector MacKenzie investigate, they find clues and echoes of the prior death. While there are suspects, the timetable accelerates after another body is found. Poppy soon gets a note telling her to be at the tower. Will she be the next victim?

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

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Revenge...It's all relative.

Born three minutes apart, Penny and Nix Albright grew up doing everything together, close as only twins can be. But when Nix dies in a tragic accident soon after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail that has Penny guilt-ridden and desperate for justice.

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

Félicie by Georges Simenon ~ a Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

It’s the height of spring, and Maigret is grappling with doubly unfamiliar circumstances. He’s in the surreal new village of Jeanneville, outside Paris, where an elderly bachelor has been shot dead in his home. Тhe prime witness, his twenty-four-year-old housekeeper, Félicie, may well be among Maigret’s most unnerving adversaries. Infuriatingly clever, singularly self-possessed, and overtly antagonistic, she is surely hiding something—but what?

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

3 Horror Novels to Read on A Sunny Day

by MK French

If you have been waiting for the bright sun of spring to brighten your day before diving into dark and creepy stories, then Happy Spring reading! Here are three books to get your horror reading started this season.

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

3 Books to Read for International Read to Me Day

by Donna Huber

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of sitting on my mom's lap while she read to me. Reading to children is important for their own literacy development but it also creates a bond between the reader and the one being read to. I loved reading with my niece and nephew when they were little. If you are looking for a book or two to share with the kid(s) in your life, here are some of my recommendations.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille T. Dungy ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

In Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, poet and scholar Camille T. Dungy recounts the seven-year odyssey to diversify her garden in the predominantly white community of Fort Collins, Colorado.

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

Jitterbug by Gareth L. Powell ~ a Review

by MK French

With the destruction of Jupiter and Saturn, a mysterious force built a huge habitable sphere from the remains. Criminals thrive in this new place, and bounty hunters like Copernicus Brown on his sentient ship Jitterbug hunt them down. When Brown rescues Amber Roth, the sole survivor of a pirate attack, he and his crew are now hunted by the different factions that want the data chip hidden in her stomach. At the same time, something ancient is approaching from deep space.

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

After We Break by Jill Hannah Anderson ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

Single mom Eden Everson reaches a breaking point in her high-pressure career when her soul-sucking job affects her health and relationship with her son, Ryan. Ready to jump from the corporate ladder but needing a safety net, Eden takes time off to regroup.

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

The Tree of Light and Flowers by Thomas Perry ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Jane Whitefield is used to protecting vulnerable people, but after she gives birth, the fugitives she must rescue are her own family.

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

2 Books for Gamers and Movie Buffs

by MK French

If you are a gamer or video buff, then these books will be a great addition to your memorabilia collection.

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

3 Gothic Stories to Read for Friday the 13th

by Donna Huber

Do you enjoy slasher movies and all things scary? Then you should read the classic Gothic stories from which many modern horror movies draw their tropes. Here are three to get you started on this Friday the 13th.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A wry and tender portrait of two families forever changed by one lovestruck decision that will reverberate for decades.

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

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett ~ a Reivew

by MK French

Pax Nomen is the manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub. The inn is on a magical journey, one day getting stranded in a non-magical world. Josie LaChusia is a single mom with debt, parenting doubts, and growing depression when she sees an ad for an apartment available in a building she’s never seen before. Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a nudge to restart her life. In a building occupied by faeries, gargoyles, and a gnome with a bad attitude, two souls from very different places come together to create a home like no other.

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

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

For sale: Greek cottage. One euro.

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

A Day of Judgment by Charles Todd ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard travels to England’s windswept coastline to investigate a murder in a place where, several years after the end of WWI, the memory of the war still runs strong.

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

It Girl by Allison Pataki ~ a Review

by MK French

In 1900, New York City, the It Girls are models and muses who get popular due to their charm and personalities. Evelyn Talbot is recruited as a studio model, and soon catches the eye of the preeminent artists of the age. When Broadway comes calling, Evelyn solidifies her status as the first self-made American female celebrity, a “Gibson Girl,” the most sought-after figure and face of her time. Enter a parade of powerful and power-hungry men, and she soon learns that she can only rely on herself. When Evelyn finds herself at the center of a murder of passion declared “the Crime of the Century,” she is blamed for the acts of the men in her life. Can this artists’ muse, turned showgirl, pull off the greatest act of her life? 

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

Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A pulse-pounding thriller about a young woman whose surrogate disappears just days before the baby’s due date, leading to a frantic search that uncovers dark truths and the power of a mother’s love.

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

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Welcome to the HMS Fairweather, Her Majesty's most luxurious interstellar passenger liner! Room and board are included, new bodies are graciously provided upon request, and should you desire a rest between lifetimes, your mind shall be most carefully preserved in glass in the Library, shielded from every danger.

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

7 Fantasy Novels You Don't Want to Miss

by MK French

I'm highlighting some great fantasy novels that you aren't going to want to miss. One you can get today, but go ahead and pre-order the others so you don't forget (plus it is fun to get a fun surprise in your mailbox or Kindle). Only like certain types of fantasy? No problem. I have you covered with a little bit of everything: young adult, dark fantasy, cozy fantasy, Asian fantasy, humorous fantasy, and more!

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

World War II History Books to Read for Women's History Month

by Donna Huber

I've been reading more nonfiction lately, and several of them have involved women in history. As it is Women's History Month, I thought I would share a few of those books in case you are looking for something to read. It probably isn't surprising that they all have something to do with WWII, but they aren't really war books. (If you are doing the Goodreads Challenges, these books will get you the Her Story bookmark.)

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

Out of the Loop by Katie Siegel ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

For the past two years, Amie Teller has been stuck in a time loop. Each day, she wakes up and it’s September 17th. Same day, same weather, same people, same conversations. Until, one day, it’s September 18th, and Amie is free.

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

Return to Silent Hill by John Passarella ~ a Review

by MK French

James receives a letter from Mary Crane, the lover he left behind in Silent Hill. She's in trouble, and things have changed, so he returns to find her. The town is different from what he remembers, ruined and abandoned by most residents. Now monsters stalk the streets, and horrors exist, pushing him past his limits.

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

When the Sky Turned to Dust by Catherine Matthias ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

In the midst of America’s Great Depression, a devastating drought and violent winds brought destruction and added hardship to the Midwest. When the Sky Turned to Dust follows the journey of the courageous Dolan family as they face the ultimate test of strength and resilience and struggle to survive on the unforgiving prairie.

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

Murder in a Cornish Teashop by Fliss Chester ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

A Cornish clifftop, a sunny afternoon, a quaint little teashop…but wait a minute. Is that jam, or blood? Maddie Penrose is determined to find out!

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

To the Death by Andrea Tang ~ a Review

by MK French

Samantha Chan wants revenge for her brother’s death in an illegal magical duel. She’s been training with legitimate dueling champion Lysander Rook and planning to destroy her brother's killer, Mateus Blackwood. Mateus' daughter, Tamsin, is trying to escape that legacy by going the legitimate circuit. Lysander is undefeated and offers a challenge along with his assistant Sam, making Tamsin hope for enough fame and glory to finally escape her father’s influence. Tamsin doesn't know about Sam’s scheming, and the two grow closer. Even so, Sam won’t let anything get in the way of her revenge, not even Tamsin.

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

Six Little Words by Sally Page ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Can one small note give her the courage to find a new path? One Note. One Act of kindness. Her new beginning is closer than she thinks.

Kate gave up her dreams of being a painter years ago. But six little words pinned to the notice board of her local café could change her path forever.

‘To be, or not to be…’ – printed on orange card with no explanation – appears one morning.

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

Astral Library by Kate Quinn ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives...inside their favorite books.

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

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer ~ a Review

by MK French

Enola Holmes is attending a funeral in February 1891 when a bell rings elsewhere in the churchyard. Someone had been buried alive, and the bell is alerting others. Trevina Trairom can't remember much about herself or why she was buried, and protecting the girl makes Enola cross paths with her brother Sherlock's current case. Together, they are squaring off against none other than Moriarty. 

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

The Violin Maker's Secret by Evie Woods ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

On any given day, there are thousands of items slowly gathering dust in the Lost and Found of Heathrow Airport. Unknown to anyone, hidden among the clutter, is a very special object that can change the fortunes of those who possess it – a violin of rare beauty and power.

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

Murder at Sea by Helena Dixon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Devon, 1938. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a well-deserved rest when her very upset cousin Hattie suddenly bursts in. She sobs that the gentleman she had been seeing, Richard Westonholme, seems to have vanished, taking all of her jewellery with him. As Hattie describes Richard, he sounds eerily familiar, and Kitty and her husband Matt board a ship in hot pursuit – only to find him lying in a lifeboat… dead.

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

Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson ~ a Review

by MK French

Green is alone and terrified in the mountains, slowly transforming into something else. He's also starting to see impossible creatures. When he meets a hermit named Valentina, he discovers that she devoted centuries to researching the hidden world of cryptids. He begins to study the creatures and portals, finds clues about his own nature and the powerful beings who led him there. Alongside his sense of purpose is a deadly threat that might just take away everything he loves.

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

12 Short Stories to Get You Out of a Reading Slump

by Susan Roberts

I've been in a major reading slump lately.  Even though I missed reading, I just couldn't concentrate, and I kept trying new books with no luck.  Someone suggested that I try reading some short stories, and even though I don't normally like short stories, I was willing to give it a try.  One of my favorite authors had a book published by Amazon Original Stories - these are short stories by popular authors that are only available on Amazon Kindle. Each one can be read in an hour or less.  I decided to try short stories by some of my favorite authors, and I ended up reading 12 short stories, and my reading slump has ended!! 

NOTE:  All of these books are available on  Kindle Unlimited, and most are part of Amazon Prime Reading too (with free listening).

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

Messenger Cat Café by Nagi Shimeno ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Tabby cat Fuuta has passed into the afterlife and will do anything to see his human again . . . if only he can not disrupt the balance of the universe.

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

A Forest, Darkly by A.G. Slatter ~ a Review

by MK French

Mehrab the witch lives in the forest alone. When a young woman fleeing the godhounds for possessing magic seeks help, Mehrab lets her in and agrees to teach her how to control her magic. In the local village, children are disappearing. If they return at all, they are changed. Mehrab finds offerings on her doorstep and shadows in the trees as the villagers turn hostile and the godhounds close in. It's up to Mehrab to save the soul of the forest and save her newfound family.

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

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett ~ a Review

by MK French

Widow Agnes Aubert manages a cat rescue charity and must find a new home for it. The only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock, who also runs an illegal magic shop out of his basement. There are rumors of Havelock's dark past, so Agnes absolutely refuses to consider him anything else but her landlord. When a magician comes looking for Havelock, the magic shop and the cat shelter are in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world and may now be trying to steal her heart.

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

The Second World by Jake Korell ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

Mars has declared its independence from Earth. But building a country takes more than a new flag, an arena-worthy anthem, and naming Pluto the donkey the national animal. As the Red Planet spirals into political upheaval, Flip Buchanan—the irreverent, reluctant son of the most powerful man on Mars—stumbles through two tumultuous decades of alien discoveries, killer clones, and the chaos of a new nation still working out the kinks.

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

Bad Asians by Lillian Li ~ a Review

by MK French

Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian followed the checklist to success: They worked hard, got A's, and attended a good university. Because of the Great Recession of 2008, they're unemployed and back in their hypercompetitive Chinese American community. So when Grace—once the neighborhood golden child, now a Harvard Law School dropout—asks to make a documentary, they agree, not thinking it would go anywhere. The video “Bad Asians” goes viral, and now millions of people know them as cruel caricatures, each full of pent-up frustrations with the others. Attempts at damage control don't work, so now the friends must face harsh truths about themselves and coming of age in the new millennium.

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

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a gift for you...

by Donna Huber

I'm single, so I'm celebrating with a date for 1. I'm going on a hike, and then I'll curl up with a book tonight. If you are alone (or just not interested in going out), you can still celebrate. Grab a box of chocolates and treat yourself to a free ebook.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Toggling between the lives of three individuals, Keeper of Lost Children explores how one woman’s vision will change the course of countless lives, and demonstrates that love in its myriad of forms—familial, parental, and forbidden, even love of self—can be transcendent.

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

Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan ~ a Review

by MK French

Charlotte “Charlie” Ashford left behind a life with famous parents to become a counselor. A viral video disrupts that plan, and she's considering learning more about her late father. Grayson Keller is content with his life as the owner of Get Lost Lodge, finally with steady profit after three years. When Grayson meets Charlie, the attraction is instant, but trust is hard to come by. They decide to date and avoid anything serious. But maybe this once, they can see what the future has in store for them.

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

Valentine's Day Reading: The Improbably Meet-Cute Second Chances series

by Donna Huber

Do you have a hot date for Saturday? Are you going to hang out with friends for Galentines? Or are you looking forward to a quiet night at home by yourself, finding love in the pages of a book? Whatever your plans for the weekend, you should check out this romantic collection of novellas. They are short enough for you to fit in a little reading before the date. You could have a little book club with your girlfriends, with each reading a different one. With 6 books, you can binge-read to your heart's content while you enjoy pizza, ice cream, and/or chocolates in your pajamas.

Bonus: If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can read/listen to the series for FREE!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

In this cozy, witchy romcom, a young woman works to turn a run-down small-town video store into the bookshop of her dreams, only to discover a powerful magic that’s been lying dormant—and a forbidden love she can’t resist.

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