Excellent in the beginning and the end, okay in the middle. I‘ll be thinking about making the choice to live life to the fullest for a long time. The characters were developed well and I enjoyed their connection. And the end was so emotional!

But the middle part was politically heavy-handed, without any real levity. Politics and social issues are not a bad thing in books, but it just felt like so much, densely packed into the middle.

It has rained nonstop all weekend, and I‘ve done almost nothing but read and snuggle with my pups. It‘s so nice to have days like this every now and then. #dogsoflitsy

My current read, and I‘m almost halfway thru. My mind keeps wandering as I‘m putting myself in the position of these characters. Would I want to know when my life will end or not?

A sweet romance with a mystery set in Alpine Ridge, VT. Millie, a photographer from Charleston, is hired by the local ski resort to take photos for a very specific marketing campaign. While in VT, she falls in love with the cold snowy weather, the warmth of the small town and its people, and the town‘s most eligible bachelor, Luke. She also learns a lot about herself and her hopes for the future. It‘s very festive, very magical, and very charming!

This is hands-down the most terrifying book I‘ve read in the past couple of years. It really got into my head and there are some scenes in here that I will probably never forget. But I loved reading it. I inhaled it! I *cannot wait* for his next book to drop in Spring 2026.

If you‘re a fan of theories and hidden clues and researching more about a book, this one is for you!!

Also, it‘ll be perfect for some of y‘all‘s spooky-season reading.

Another excellent Kate Burkholder novel. I really feel like Ms Castillo is among the best in her genre. Kate‘s anger at the violent nature of the crimes propelled her to find the bad guy quickly. And I‘m proud of her; she didn‘t put herself in *as much* danger without backup this time. It‘s super great to see the leap Kate and John Thomasetti took with their relationship, which has spanned the entire series. A solid addition to the series.

Another one that‘s been on my list to read for a long, long time! And I really liked it! It‘s not really a beach read, it‘s more of a rom-com with well developed characters that each have their own issues to work thru.

I especially loved how January worked thru the very complicated grief she felt over her father‘s death after secrets surfaced at his funeral. Her hurt and path to healing felt very honest and real to me.

I was excited to randomly pick this Koontz book off of my shelf, as I‘ve been meaning to read it for ages. It was okay-Koontz is entertaining but not quite the level of Stephen King for me. It was intense from the first page to the last, for sure. And the female MC made so many stupid decisions throughout!

Mostly, I just felt like this story was dark. Perhaps because the news has been so dark too recently? I enjoyed it, but it felt really dark.

This book is breathtaking. The writing is exquisite. SO worth the many months I waited for a library copy. The mystery/thriller element was entertaining, and there were enough twists that I was surprised by everything. But it was the nature writing that moved me so much, both vibrant and quiet. And the steady love Dominic had for his children, even though he wasn‘t very confident in his parenting. Hands-down my favorite book of the year so far.

I‘m so excited to finally be starting this, especially going into the weekend!

I had to wait for a library copy for-e-ver. I have high hopes!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

This was so much fun! Lots of twists. And an absolutely CRAZY MC…or is she? I was sure I knew the big reveal, but nope!

It drove me crazy to have to put the book down to do real life things. I thought about the story even when I wasn‘t reading. Which made for a really fun read. I haven‘t read Lisa Jewell, but if her others are like this one: I need to.

A coworker recommended this one to me. I‘m excited to talk to her about it at work tomorrow.

Sequel to Her Alaskan Summer, which I loved. I loved this one too. A friends-to-more story featuring Nate, who agrees to be a temporary nanny for Emily‘s young kids while she works out of town for a few weeks. The story takes place over Thanksgiving and Christmas and has loads of snow and cold weather ❄️🦃🎄 I love the found family aspect, the town of Swan Falls, and Emily‘s young kids Max and Lyla are a lot of fun. I hope this series continues!

Another great Kate Burkholder story! This is the 14th and it‘s exciting that I‘ll be up-to-date with them soon as this author is still releasing them. This case involves Kate traveling to Pennsylvania to prove the innocence of someone special from her past. I enjoyed the flashbacks into Kate‘s relationship with Jonas Bowman, and I was not surprised at all to find that Kate continues to put herself in harm‘s way without backup or her firearm!

This is going to be great for people that like autumn-themed small-town romances. It has a lot of what I love in stories like these: a struggling inn, planning to host a Fall Festival with hopes of making enough money to stay open. Ellie and Aiden are the adult children of the owners of the Inn and farm, and they‘re both tasked with planning the festival. Romance ensues and there are dogs involved. Full of fall things! 🎃🍁🍎🐾 On sale 9.9.25

I loved everything about this story. Nathan and Amanda meet in Alaska, where they have traveled to a memorial service. There they learn that they both equally inherit Swan Lodge. The Alaskan setting is magnificent, the lodge staff and townspeople are wonderful, and the renovations made to the lodge were fun to watch. Amanda‘s daughter Paisley was a favorite too. She reminded me of myself at her young age. A sweet, easy read.

The best part of this story is Braden‘s dog, called Cary Grant, and Amelia‘s Flemish giant rabbit, called Gulliver. Cassie and her daughter Amelia move into Braden‘s building after Cassie‘s husband is killed, looking for a fresh start. The story was good, but I wanted a more emotive story as Cassie and Amelia moved thru their grief to open their lives up to Braden, who had also recently lost his sister. I wanted to feel more for them while I read.

#13 in the series. These books are so consistently good. The opening scene is the brutal murder of an ex-Amish woman, one that Kate knows from back when she used to be part of the Amish community.

I thought things were wrapping up when the investigation took a wild left turn, which kept me on my toes. I wish Kate didn‘t always put herself in dangerous circumstances-I think her propensity for danger gets a little old. But I do love this series.

Some of the awful things Lauren and Ryan said to each other when they were falling apart were the same things my husband and I have said to one another in our past. Lauren and Ryan took a full year apart to see if they could ever LIKE one another again or have a chance to LOVE one another again. That my husband and I were so close to a similar path in our past made this feel so personal.

I wasn‘t expecting this depth. It‘s astoundingly good.

#2 in the Love In Bloom series following a group of friends and family in fictional Bloom, NC. Following Mallory, a nurse suffering from burnout, and Hollis, who wants to start his own business training rescues. Hollis feels unworthy of love even though he is one of the most beloved town members. I loved the friends-to-lovers relationship Mallory and Hollis had, and I love keeping up with all the folks I met in the first book. So good!

This is #2 in a supernatural mystery series involving Anna Korey, a cop whose father was a notorious serial killer. This installment involves a cold case and its potential connections to current violent crimes. The fact that the law enforcement community doesn‘t know about Anna‘s dad adds a level of suspense, and the addition of Slavic folklore adds atmosphere and a lite horror element. If Ms Solvinic continues this series, I‘ll keep reading it.

Sometimes I‘m really surprised when a popular author‘s books are not in my library‘s collection. I feel like everyone has read books by TJR. I‘m really shocked that I had to order this one from another county.

(But I‘m grateful that we are able to do that here!)

First book of a series. This is a sweet romance story especially for book lovers, plant lovers, and gardeners. There is a central romance between Savannah and Evan, but Savannah‘s elderly aunt finds herself in a romance as well. There is a huge, supportive community of neighbors and friends in this book-all with subplots of their own-and I‘m very excited to follow their stories as each book in this series is released.

A great second installment in the Starr‘s Fall series. Featuring a widowed mother who moves to Starr‘s Fall with her 14yr old son to open a Boardgame Cafe. The town reminds me of Stars Hollow, and the townspeople are so much fun. The love interest, Zach, had great character development, and it was wonderful to see Laurie and Josh from the first book doing so well. I‘ll read as many Starr‘s Fall books as the author decides to write. I loved it.

A high pick! It‘s just as good as I hoped it would be! I‘ll say the beginning was starting to feel like a slog-the parts where we learn about why Phoebe went to the hotel to end her life. But I think that‘s because I was busy and stressed myself. Once I sat down to read with an open mind, I really appreciated Phoebe‘s story. The author really nailed some of the same thoughts we all have about womanhood, mental health, family. Felt very true.

I have today off from work and what a glorious way to start my day! 🐾 📖 ☕️

It‘s my 27th wedding anniversary today and instead of a more traditional celebration, I am driving my husband to/from his dental surgery appointment 😂 Poor guy!

I‘m 1/4 into this book and I have high hopes for it based on so many positive reviews! I‘m taking it with me for reading in the waiting room.

I liked this as more of a winter story than a Christmas story, and I love that it‘s full of snow and cold weather vibes. Sisters Jovi and Isabel are trying to convince their parents not to sell their family‘s candy company while Isabel and Mason work on their marriage and Jovi falls for the new single dad next door. There‘s a mystery-lite concerning a missing recipe. This was fun, easy winter reading that helped me forget it‘s 100 degrees outside.

This was so good!! I‘ve enjoyed everything I‘ve ever read by Sandra Dallas, but what stands out to me about this one is that it isn‘t sad at all. Some of her books are quite emotional. This was like a Western coming-of-age adventure story. I rooted so hard for young Haidie and her brother Boots as they traveled out west as part of a wagon train. Definitely inspired by True Grit. A huge pick, I loved it!

A fun, festive novella trilogy which follows Melissa as she moves from Boston to Inverness, Scotland for a new start after her husband files for divorce. I love that she chose to re-route her life in a whim-so unlike anything I would ever do! These stories cover Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year and Melissa‘s network of friends and family are the best part. Quick, easy reads. Perfect for holiday reading lists. I hope the series continues.

The third part in this novella trilogy takes place in January and finds Melissa‘s divorce finally official—or is it? Her ex-husband stirs up trouble where her inherited Scottish estate is concerned, and her old and new friends rally to protect her interests. There‘s a lot of Boston in this one, as well as Scotland, and some of the loose ends are tied up. I feel like the series really could keep going, if the author chose it, and I‘d keep reading.

Second novella in the Highlands Christmas trilogy, this time featuring Caitlin, Melissa‘s best friend from Boston, who comes to visit for New Year‘s festivities…only to get snowed in at a local inn with Melissa‘s friend Lindsey, two handsome Scottish guys, and a bunch of tourists. Tons of Scottish-ness in here as well as snow and cold weather. Easy reading, very festive. The community people and New Year‘s parties are so much fun to read about.

I decided to do my own #christmasinjuly because it‘s so doggone hot here in NC.

This is the first novella in a trilogy following Melissa, who learns on Thanksgiving that her husband wants a divorce. She has just inherited a home in Inverness, Scotland, so she goes there to start a new life. Fun story full of Scottish food and culture. Very easy to read, very festive. I love the novella length and the buildup to the next novella in the series.

This is a fun story that includes gardening and cooking which was the big draw for me. Also a lot of fun textile art in here. Sadie is edgy with an attitude and Josh is very sweet, very giving. I like the small town vibe here too. There is room for this to become a series. The romance is nice but the steam level is further than I normally like to read. Still, I would consider reading future work by this author especially if it builds on this one.

Brilliant Jess Walters made this story funny (in the way of the brilliant Kevin Wilson) while still including fairly serious themes. At heart is remarkable character growth for Rhys, who was “so far gone” in his thinking that he left society and went out to live in the woods where the world couldn‘t get to him anymore. But leaving society also meant leaving his family behind, and boy oh boy he worked hard to make things right. It‘s really good.

A low pick. The POV is that of a child, where her mother is a cannibal who traps “strays” along the forest road near their secluded cabin, cooks them, and feeds them to her daughter. It‘s gross, it really is. But the saddest part is that young Margot longs for love and acceptance from her mother, and no matter what she does, she can never be as important as her mother‘s hunger. It‘s a good debut, but could be tighter, more solid, more emotive.

I love this series. This is the 12th installment which follows Chief Kate Burkholder as she inadvertently becomes involved with a case of corruption in a neighboring department. I loved the more procedural-heavy tone of this story and the way Kate‘s beginnings with the police force were told. It gives more insight into why she is the way she is.

I also love the way the cold, snowy weather played into the story, since it‘s so hot where I am.

Pick! I read this super fast because it was fun. A morally gray MC with a complicated past, secrecy and distrust, a supernatural component. A serial killer years ago and a potential copycat now, with possible ties to the story‘s MC. The supernatural aspect is related to the forest and I loved all of the trees and nature bits. Requires suspension of disbelief in several different areas, which is spoilery so 🤐. A solid beginning for a series.

Final book in the trilogy and it‘s the best by far.

King Henry is now out of the picture. Eleanor spends her time as Queen Mother and advisor to her children. Tons of tragedy for Eleanor, plus plenty of backstabbing and betrayal which has always been commonplace for life as a royal. My favorite part is the politics and decision-making in this installment, always with the goal of protecting borders. Great series, I really enjoyed my time with it.

Kate Burkholder #11.5, less than 2 hours in length.

Two young boys go missing-one Amish and one English-and Chief Kate Burkholder is racing to find them before the bad weather claims their lives. Nothing added to the series at large in terms of plot, but these shorts are always enjoyable reads or listens while I‘m out running errands.

Beach reading 🏖️🍹☀️

Excellent!! But stressful toward the end, with the Revolt of 1173 and Eleanor‘s subsequent capture. These are not spoilers; history tells us these things. What stood out most was Henry and Eleanor‘s tumultuous relationship and the way Henry forged alliances with neighboring lands to solidify his empire. So much scandal and betrayal! I‘m eager to continue with the third book, but I may take a short break since they‘re such dense reads.

Loved! Sequel to Her Fairy Tale Farmer. Maya Monroe is a baker and author of romance novels. One of her books is being adapted into a movie, directed by her high school boyfriend, the very famous Will Hastings. It‘s a second chance romance featuring Will‘s persnickety father, a troubled teen called Lucas, and a sweet little dog called Bruce. Takes place in autumn, but the movie is a Christmas story, so lots of cool-weather holiday vibes in here.

Nearly halfway thru this one and I‘m enjoying this [fictional] deep dive into Eleanor of Aquitaine‘s life! I love her.

Every time I read medieval stories I‘m just blown away by how little agency women had in that era-even rich and powerful ones-and by how pregnancy and childbirth really sort of ruled their lives.

I absolutely inhaled this 11th installment in the Kate Burkholder series. A grandmother is out picking walnuts with two of her grandchildren when she is brutally murdered. The killer abducts one of the little girls and soon other community people begin dying. Because of the danger to the child, Kate worked extra hard to find her alive and being her home. The stakes were super high throughout. Really good, I couldn‘t turn the pages fast enough.

I enjoyed it! Although there‘s no telling how accurate Chadwick‘s depiction of Eleanor is here given the lack of info and the fact that this author uses Akashic Records (👀) for her research, but I still enjoyed it. Chadwick has no love for King Louis VII, and I felt for Eleanor throughout her marriage to him, but I‘m really excited to see read about her marriage to King Henry II in the subsequent books. Great story, very much in my wheelhouse.

#currentlyreading Nearly a week into this book, I‘m approaching halfway thru. It‘s dense but really good. I keep stopping to read more about historical names and places. My first time reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine!

My best reading buddy Beau is keeping me warm! 🐾

I read this sweet story over the past two weeks while I was providing end of life care for my sweet aunt, who passed a couple of days ago. It‘s a second chance romance between a former country music superstar and a music therapy teacher in small-town Truelove, NC. Their relationship includes his young niece Lili, who he is raising after his sister‘s death. I loved the small town and all of the friends and family. This book is connected to several…

Very sweet best friends-to-more story of Knox, a farmer that has been in love with his best friend since high school, and Andie, a single mom of twin boys. Andie loves him too but Knox has to grow up and show a little bit of responsibility before she takes his feelings seriously. There‘s a lot of hiking, coffee, and horses in this story. Knox is also a line-dancing instructor for seniors, which is a lot of fun.

This is a super sweet story about two neighbors joining together. Both Torryn and Matthew had had heartbreaking losses recently, so they leaned on one another and grew closer. There are themes of forgiveness and facing your fears throughout, and one of my favorite things about the story was that Torryn was at a crossroads in her life, needing to make some life-altering choices. The sunflowers on the cover were prevalent and important in the story.

After 43 days, I am calling it. I can‘t push myself any further. I tried the digital arc that I received, then I added the audio, then I added a print copy, in hopes that I would be able to push thru. I love this period of US History, but the slow meandering plot just did me in. Also, at this part of the book, some things were added to the story that I felt just slowed it down further and didn‘t make sense with where things were going. I read 👇🏻

2nd in the Return to Hopewell series featuring Drew and Tamara, who have tight ties to the characters from the first book. I adore this town‘s quirky, meddling residents and I love the way the Trombo and Longfellow families have blended together. This author gave this series a great sense of place and I could easily see myself living in Hopewell. The best part of the story is Buddy the dog, who also played a huge role in the first book.

This cover made choose this romantic suspense book from HQN‘s Love Inspired line—my first romantic suspense. It was good, with kidnapping and pursuit of murderers against the backdrop of a sweet romance. I like these characters a lot, although I‘m bummed to find they star in three books written previous to this one. I‘d have liked to read them in order, but these connected books aren‘t tagged anywhere as a series. Still, I enjoyed. A quick read.