Super excited to welcome author Eva Stachniak to my blog via zoom today to discuss her historical novel and the research that went into it. Join us – even if you have not had a chance to read or finish her book. 3:00-4:30 PM EST. Join My Zoom Meeting! My Zoom Link Or Meeting ID: 398 022 7365 ..read more

I am thrilled to be here today to write about Hester Fox’s newest historical novel: The Book of Thorns. I love Ms. Fox’s writing and this story was so interesting and compelling I could not put it down. I loved the historical setting but I also loved learning about different flowers and herbs. And what a beautiful cover!! I have added a photo of Hester Fox and I am always so impressed with authors that are SO amazing and are probably young enough that I could be their mother. Whether this is your first novel by this author or your latest, I think you will enjoy it! Thank you for my copy throu ..read more

I’m super excited to share with readers the opportunity for a zoom book chat with author Eva Stachniak regarding her novel: The School of Mirrors. Here’s the overview from Amazon: “A riveting epic, keenly observed and shining with lush historical detail. You’ll never forget this journey.”–Cara Black, New York Times bestselling author of Three Hours in Paris “A sweeping tale of tumult and tragedy— intricate, absorbing, and impeccably depicted, The School of Mirrors will linger in your imagination long after you turn the last page.”–Ann Mah, bestselling author of Ja ..read more

Today I’m dishing about Tarryn Fisher’s latest suspenseful thriller Good Half Gone, a story about a young woman whose twin was abducted and trafficked when they were teens. Needless to say this is heavy stuff and disturbing, but the story is told mostly in the present, roughly ten years later, with flashbacks of memory as opposed to in real time once Piper is taken. Still, good to know in advance if you find reading about these topics disturbing. Here’s the scoop: (and can I say I love this cover??) GOOD HALF GONEAuthor: Tarryn FisherISBN: 9781525804885 Publication Date: March 19, 2024 Publi ..read more

I’m excited to be part of the Harper-Collins blog tour for The Day Tripper by James Goodhand – a novel of time travel and (possible) redemption. If you know me, you know I’ve been obsessed with time travel since I was a little girl and I love stories that focus on this theme. What if we could travel in time? How can our actions affect our outcomes? What can we learn about ourselves? I cannot say too much about the plot without giving spoilers, but suffice it to say that if you enjoy reading and thinking about this type of thing – this is a great choice for you! Here’s the scoop: The Day Trip ..read more

I just finished reading this amazing new book by Ariel Lawhon and it is destined to be one of my top picks of 2024. When I first started this novel, I thought “this feels SO familiar” and I was reminded of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s book about a midwife’s diary from the 1700’s in Maine (A Midwife’s Tale, which won the Pulitzer in 1991). This is the same Martha Ballard, but Ms. Lawhon has taken the facts of the diary and written a story around them, making it a true gem of historical fiction. Here’s the scoop: GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times  ..read more

Recently, Rachel LaBerge reached out to me about her new novel, A Lodge Affair. This was a sweet and fun light romance and I enjoyed it a lot! It was the perfect read to combat my winter doldrums. Thank you for the opportunity to read your book and for my copy, Rachel! Here’s the scoop: In “A Lodge Affair,” Ivy Lawson, a meticulous planner with a penchant for predictability, finds her life upended when she discovers her long-term boyfriend’s infidelity. Suddenly thrust into managing a high-profile event at The Emerald Canopy Lodge, Ivy is desperate to complete her task and escape the wildernes ..read more

If you read me, you know I love the Julia Bird mystery series! Julia is middle-aged and always seems to be bumping into mysteries, but she isn’t annoying (like Jessica Fletcher) or as elderly as Miss Marple. And I love that she has her black lab in tow for her adventures. This one focuses on her ex-husband’s wedding and a death that happens as part of the events. I did find the pacing of it a bit slower than in the former books, with more dialogue and less description and actions — but that could just be me. I didn’t do an analysis or anything, it was just my feeling as I read it. It was well ..read more

I’m excited today to be part of the blog tour for Vera Kurian’s new thriller A Step Past Darkness. This was a fast and exciting read, following 6 friends who witness something terrible and come back together twenty years later when one of them dies from a supposed accident. I could see this book being for adults or YA or new age readers. What I really could see would be it as a Netflix or Hulu limited series. Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour! Here’s the scoop: A Step Past Darkness : A Novel  Vera Kurian On Sale Date: February 20, 2024 9780778310761 Hardcover ..read more

Jan Capps, the author of Bird’s Eye View, reached out to me earlier in the winter so offer her memoir which tells of her year living and working at a medical clinic, with her ten-year-old daughter, in Guatemala. This was such an interesting story that I will admit I read it in pretty much one sitting (it’s 388 pages but who’s counting). Here’s the scoop: When Jan Moves to Guatemala with her young daughter to run a medical clinic on the heels of her divorce, she knows the experience will be difficult and life-changing. But she doesn’t anticipate all the ways she will change. To make sense of h ..read more