The Mystery Writer Sulari Gentill Poisoned Pen Press 400 pages Published March 19th, 2024 This is a contemporary mystery set in the small town of Lawrence, Kansas, by the author of bestseller The Woman in the Library. I had really enjoyed that one, so was looking forward to another clever story about the publishing world. Unfortunately instead I got a convoluted mess of a plot about an irritating heroine and a frankly ridiculous conspiracy, that took me ten days to finish because the middle part was so boring. Theo Benton has abandoned her law degree and fled Australia to visit her older bro ..read more

THE DAY SHELLEY WOODHOUSE WOKE UP Laura Pearson Boldwood Books April 6, 2024 305 pages Goodreads | Bookshop.org | Amazon I went into this book with blinders, I didn’t know what it was about or what to expect. It grabbed my interest very quickly. The theme of this story is generational abuse and violence. Naturally, this can be a trigger warning to many readers. The author handled it in a very professional and respectful manner. Shelley, the main character wakes up in a hospital thinking that her abusive husband had put her there. She has no idea how convoluted her past actually has been. It t ..read more

Before You Knew My Name Jacqueline Bublitz 320 pages Atria Published 2022   This was an unusual crime fiction story first published in 2022, about the murder of a young woman in New York City – the point of difference being that it’s told from the point of view of her ghost. It was last month’s selection for my book club – I had not heard of it previously, but note that it has won prizes and became something of a sleeper bestseller.   Alice Lee has run away to New York after her secret and highly inappropriate affair with her former art teacher turned sour. Her fortunes appear to b ..read more

1/2 THE SCANDALOUS LIFE OF NANCY RANDOLPH Kate Braithwaite Joffe Books | Lume Books Publication Date: May 2nd, 2024 358 Pages Goodreads | Amazon Genres: Historical Fiction | Women’s Fiction I enjoyed this historical book very much. Braithwaite’s writing was so easy to read, considering the dialogue was close to the time (late 18th/early 19th century) and her research was meticulous. It had to be…because this is a retelling of a true story. I was fascinated by these sisters, their bond and relationship. They may have come from wealth but they did not have easy lives, always ..read more

The Upper Crush Evie Alexander 530 pages Emlin Press published April 17, 2024 Amazon | Goodreads You know what I like about Evie’s books?  I am always rooting for the characters to both succeed personally and for the couple to come to their senses and get their HEA.  Estelle and James have great chemistry and can banter with the best of them.  At times both of them can be a little insufferable and rigid but they are also relatable and lovable.  Their story is part comedy, part figuring out who they are, part saving something that means a lot to them and of course part steam ..read more

Artificial Wisdom Thomas R Weaver 357 pages Chainmaker Press published January 1, 2023 Amazon | Goodreads I can’t quite remember all the world building in a fantasy series, but give me an edge of your seat sci fi book and I’m all in.  Set in 2050 but focusing on things I can grasp today, AI, climate change and political unrest are at the heart of this one and honestly, they all terrify me. It’s like today but on steroids.  A little bit of a mash up of genres being a sci fi, thriller, political and crime story all rolled into one. I was drawn in from the start and couldn’t put it down ..read more

The Women By: Kristin Hannah Publication Date: February 6, 2024 Published By: St. Martin’s Press 480 pages Find It On: Amazon | Goodreads *This post contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you purchase the book through the link. “Women can be heroes.” This book is WORTH the hype!! In this book, Kristin Hannah takes us on a journey with Frances (Frankie) McGrath, who decides she is going to join the military as a nurse and go over to Vietnam to serve her country. She joins the army, goes to bootcamp, and then she’s sent over to start working. It’s a huge shock to her. She mee ..read more

The Parting Glass JoJo Laurie 450 pages February 23, 2024 Amazon Goodreads I have appreciation for this story now the second time I read it. You don’t see mafia books on the Irish side too often, so this was tasty. I enjoyed the FMCs unraveling into the butterfly she became and even moreso towards the end, when she took back her life. I loved the MMC and even though I shook my head more than once about what he did to the FMC, it is understandable that pain makes people do things they wouldn’t normally do. Seeing the brother to the MMC apologize in the end was a nice touch, the FMC did ..read more

The Witch and the Wolf Erik Julkin 146 pages Published March 2024 Amazon Goodreads Book overview In a world devoid of magic, how does one sever a bond forged by its very essence? Like a raging storm, he swept into her life,tearing apart her home and taking away the only family she had. He went as far as attempting to suffocate her with his anger, giving birth to the curse they now tirelessly endeavor to break. Caves, ancient ruins, forbidden forests… They’ve been to places no other human dared to set foot in. They’ve met races that were thought to be long extinct. Yet, upon countless failures ..read more

Genies and Gibberish Elizabeth Pantley 188 pages Published April 2024 Amazon Goodreads This was a really fun one! Our book club goes into a book with….a book club! They end up at the estate of an eccentric couple who are in the midst of a divorce, and the book club in the story meets at their house. The characters are quirky and fun, and they discover that this murder mystery has not one, but two genies! Mollie is able to really help in this one, but despite that, our members are still stumped by who was responsible for the murder. They figure it out though, as always, and they’re ready for a ..read more