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  No Rest for the Wicket by Rachel Louise Adams  Published: September 16, 2025 Publisher: St Martins Press /Minotaur books Length: 322 pages Buy: Kindle | Audio  | Hardcover Thank you to Netgalley.com and St. Martins Press for the #Gifted copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.  Dolores hasn’t been home in almost 20 years but when she is informed that her father is missing, she leaves the secure life she built in LA as a forensic pathologist and heads home. Dolores is from a small town in Wisconsin that is known as the Halloween haven and Dolores doesn’t like Halloween.  This is a fabulous debut novel full of secrets from the past, someone hellbent on revenge, an awkward family reunion and missing memories from the past slowly coming back. I love that this small Halloween town is overrun by feral cats and that the police spend half their time tracking them down. The main local police officer has a huge chip on her s...

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci Published: April 16, 2024 Publisher: Grand Central Publishing  Length: 14 hours 28 Minutes  Buy: Kindle | Audio What a fantastic book. Another 5 star read for me this year and to think when I first started it I didn’t think I was going to like it and stopped to go on to something else only to come back and couldn’t put it down. Oh the life of a mood reader!  Set in Virginia in 1968 a black man is accused of killing a wealthy white couple that he worked for. Jack Lee is an white attorney who has never represented a black defendant. In a time of difficult racial tensions taking this case may cost Jack more than his reputation.  Desiree DuBose is a black attorney who has represented many black defendant, and civil rights cases even taking one to the supreme court. She shows up in town hoping Jack will turn the case over to her but he refuses to let it go and instead she joins him in the case.  There are a lot of moving pieces ...

 Nobody Knows You're Here by Bryn Greenwood  Publishing September 16, 2025 Buy: Kindle | Paperback A BIG thank you to the author for a free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.  This is a whole new genre for this author. Her first mystery thriller and I wasn’t sure about it at first. It seemed to much like any other mystery read. Her characters usually have some quirkiness to them. Something that sets them slightly apart and I didn’t get that from Beatice. But I found it in Aiden, the groundskeeper where she is being held and Isabel her keeper. Both Isabel and Aiden work for “Them”. The organization that kidnapped Beatrice and is holding her as a “nanny” to other children they have kidnapped.  Beatrice struggles to figure out who to survive, how to keep the children alive and relatively less traumatized and eventually how to escape. The relationships she builds with the kids and the others holding her are engaging and ...

Nine Elms (Kate Marshall book 1) by Robert Byndza Published: December 1, 2019 Buy: Kindle | Paperback What a great start to a series this was. Kate Marshall was a detective investigating a serial murderer who is targeting young women.  Accidently she discovers her boss is the perpetrator and almost doesn’t survive the encounter. Now many years later she has moved on as a university professor when a new string of murders mimicking the original murders start to occur. Kate is dragged back into the investigation bringing along her assistant. Little does she know from the start that this will blossom into her becoming a private investigator.  I really liked this story. I was immediately drawn in and it held my attention. Kate is an imperfect heroine which I love, and the story evolved in a satisfying way. I think this is going to be a great series and can’t wait to see what Kate and her assistant T...

Hemlock & Silver by T Kingfisher Publishing August 19, 2025 Buy: Kindle | Audio | Special Edition I received a free copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio . I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.  I didn’t realize while reading this that it was a twisted unique take on Snow White but now that I’ve read it I can totally see it. Healer Anja is something of an expert in poisons. Now asked by the King to help his daughter Snow who has taken ill – no healers have been able to cure her, and he fears it may be poison – she travels to the desert to see Snow and hopes that she can help. In her studies Anja has been known to drink poison to document the side effects, when she does something similar with a strange apple, she has found Snow eating she finds herself able to travel into mirrors and a shadow world of silver and gray.  This was a great retelling and kept me engaged. I loved Anja’s awkwardness and her busy mind wandering to tangents only t...

Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton   Published: March 4 2025 Buy: Kindle | Audio   Who hasn’t dreamed of touching and caring for a wild animal? The difference is that Chloe not only did this but kept the hare wild.     They grew to trust each other and learned about each other.   Chloe did extensive research after finding a baby hare on her country property however, information on caring for a hare was limited.  There was lots of information on folklore of the hare and even how to trap or kill a hare, but very little on care and feeding of a hare.  This book is the book Chloe was searching for.  It is beautifully written and detailed in the history of hares, the folklore (mad as a hare) how they live, give birth, eat and hide.  But its also about us, and how we live with the animals that live among us.   I wasn’t sure about this book when I picked it up, but I was riveted by this story of living with a wild crea...

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood  Published: August 20, 2019 Buy: Audio | Paperback | Kindle I’m not even sure how to describe this book but it was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. While Gentry speaking in Old English took some getting used to it was well worth it. If you think you may struggle reading the Old English try the audio book it is narrated beautifully.  Zee has relied on herself for a long time. Taking care of her younger sister and her nephew and helping her unappreciative hoarder mother. When her sister is abducted by dangerous inmates in a prison escape, Zee is desperate to find her.  Gentry is the only person who is consistently there for Zee and his unconditional support of her is something she doesn’t understand or know how to take. Gentry is used to people thinking he is odd and not understanding his quest. His parents treat him like a child, but Zee sees him for the adult he is and accepts his unique ways unconditionally....

I've had a lot of projects on my plate recently and haven't been keeping up with the book reviews on here as much as I would like. I also think I was a bit burned out. I will start this blog back up by posting reviews for a few of the books I've read recently that really moved me. Look for them in the coming days! I tore apart my garden and moved my planters to make way for a chicken coop and run - life is just getting too expensive and I think I'd rather know where some of my food comes from. Not to mention it will be nice to have some fresh eggs! My garden has been flourishing this year, and I have had to come up with some creative ideas for some of the produce I've had. (I will say that the zucchini noodle lasagna I made was fantastic!) I am also canning a bunch of stuff to use during the winter. (I have hobbies and interests outside of reading!)  I am also super excited for the Philly bookstore crawl! I can't wait to share what I found while exploring some ...

REVIEW:  A whirlwind romance between a wealthy man and a not so wealthy woman leads to him inviting her to the family cabins to meet the family. While there she is struck by a feeling of deja vu. Of feeling like she had been there before. And his family? Well most are welcoming but some are just creepy or downright rude. As memories come flooding back she has to determine if she was lured up here or if her fiancé really has no clue as to her real identity.   Fast paced this family has a lot of secrets and some strange things going on. Set in a remote camp with multiple family cabins and no cell service or wifi you aren't sure who to trust, who is hiding what and where this will all lead.   I've read books like this before and the who premise felt very a little too familiar but it was a good listen. I think I started to have deja vu feelings while listening to it. It had just the right level of suspense and believability to keep me listening and the narration was exce...

REVIEW:  This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. After being called to an active shooter situation at the local high school, Sheriff Titus discovers that there is only 1 victim and the shooter tells him that the beloved teacher he killed is actually a monster before committing suicide by cop.   Digging deeper Titus finds a long history of racism and violence, dead bodies of young men and women of color and a ringleader still on the loose.   I really enjoyed this book with its eye on history and racism in the United States. The reasoning behind some if not all of the confederate statues and how evil hides in plain sight. Dysfunctional families and the attempt to heal them is also a key theme. Overall this police procedural mystery by a fantastic black author is worth your time. I'm glad I stumbled upon it when I fell for the cover on bookstagram. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. Any recommendations on which on to choose next? ...

REVIEW:  Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced readers copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.  What a beautiful and heart wrenching read. This book flips time frames from when the characters were young and in high school to when they are older, married and to a more current period where someone is on trial. The who is not given away until somewhere in the middle and the why as well.   There were definitely things I figured out before they were revealed to me but some that just left my jaw hitting the floor. Over the course of about a year two families lives will be shattered and a whole small rural town left reeling. Secrets are revealed, and scandal and rumors descend on the town that leave devastation and heartbreak in their wake.   There is so much loss and so much heartbreak in this book but also joy, the wonder of first love, the intimacy of a long relationship, and the sacrifices we ma...

REVIEW:  I really enjoy this light hearted cozy mystery series narrated by the author Ian Moore. As the main character stumbles his way through murder mysteries with the help of a pushy French woman who has remarkably deadly skills and an annoying yet lovable dog.   With the filming of a historical movie being filmed in his French B&B, film buff Richard Aimsworth is happy to provide catering and watch the behind the scenes production. But when one of the main actors dies under suspicious circumstances he finds himself and his friend Valerie asking questions that may get them in trouble.   This is the 3rd book in the Follet Valley Mysteries. These books are quirky, light and entertaining. I love them.   Publication Date:  May 30, 2023 Format:   Audio Genre:    Mystery Narrator:  Ian Moore Publisher:   Farrago Length:   ...

REVIEW:  This is the second book in this series. The first book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and this one picks up where that one left off. With the Villain captured and his Assistant, Evie, struggling to come up with a plan on how to save him.   During her rescue not only is she unveiled to the entire kingdom but so is the villain. Now there are wanted posters with their faces on them throughout the kingdom.   Magic seems to be failing all across the kingdom and even the Villain's magic seems to be going haywire. They need to find Evie's mother but her location is very elusive and they have the kings guard after them.   The witty banter throughout this book and Evie continuing to deny her feelings toward the Villain and the Villain trying to stem his feelings toward Evie are incredibly entertaining. The addition of a frog who communicates by holding up cards with words on them is equally entertaining.   The narrator is brilliant in keeping each characte...

REVIEW:  Thank you to netgalley.com for the free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.  This book was not what I expected and I was pleasantly surprised.  Jeep is the new police detective in the town he grew up in filled with the haves and the have nots. Jeep is a have not, Johnny a trust fund kid, but they become the best of friends. While they no longer spend a lot of time together Johnny still considered Jeep his go to person.  When Jeep rolls up on a murder scene he discovers it's his old friend Johnny is the victim It appears that people high up would like to close this case as an accident. There also seems to be a high end car jacking ring operating in the same area. There doesn't seem to be a connection and Jeep is tasked with stopping the ring or possibly losing his job. Meanwhile Johnny's ex-wife and Jeeps good friend, and boyhood crush, Niven keeps showing up at his house.  This is a great story that...

REVIEW:  Told through transcribed interviews, phone calls, emails and conversations this book was unique in its format.   The Alperton Angel cult proclaimed that they were Angels and that the baby was the Anti-Christ and they planned on sacrificing it at a specific day and time. This did not occur since one of the young women escaped with the baby. No one knows where the baby went afterward.   Amanda Bailey is asked by her publisher to write a book about the Alperton Angels focusing on the baby that lived. She is tasked to find the baby that is now almost 18 and interview them. Another rival author Oliver is also asked to write about the baby. Soon they are forced to work together and Oliver seems to be falling a little to much under the spell of the Angels.   This is a twisty story that you don't fully understand until the end. It is crazy ride and yet the ending is so simple I really enjoyed the way it was written and was narrated by a cast of people that real...

REVIEW:  I was super excited to be approved for this book, I loved Wilkersons first book Black Cake and this one was an equally amazing read. Told from different perspectives and different time frames we learn the history of a jar that had been in the Freeman family for decades. Thrown by a slave named Moses and traveled from the south to the North. The jar becomes affectionately known as Ole Mo for the initials Moses carved into it. The saying he carved into the bottom became a symbol of hope to the family.   Ebby Freeman's whole life is changed when her brother Baz is murdered and Ole Mo broken. When she is left at the altar on her wedding day she runs off to France to try to heal but the real healing comes when the family stops keeping their feelings and their secrets to themselves.   This is a brilliant book with a beautiful story of family, legacy and freedom. Wilkerson has shown again, how she can revolve a story around a family legacy and have it not only make ...

REVIEW:  This was an adorable fake dating, grumpy/sunshine romance. Abby runs a cafe in New England and Seth is her unshakably upbeat customer. Desperate for help putting together a Hanukkah Festival she turns to a Jewish dating app. However the only Jew for miles around seems to be Seth. They strike a bargain but in the process Abby starts to break down her walls.   This is a book about healing, finding a community, and making each other better people. I loved how Jewish this book was, with prayers and stories about Hanukkah and standing by your values in creating a festival that truly celebrates Hanukkah not just a Christmas Festival disguised as a Hanukkah Festival. This was a refreshing read on the holiday themed books out there.   Publication Date:  October 8, 2024 Format:   Audio Genre:    Romance Narrator:  Kelli Tager Publisher: ...

REVIEW:  This was my last book for 2024 and it makes me wonder what took me so long to read this. Narration alternates between Tova who works for the Aquarium as a janitor, Marcellus, a giant Pacific Octopus and Cameron a young man who is struggling through life. Each has their own story and how they intersect is brilliantly done. I love Marcellus and the antics he gets up to in the Aquarium after hours. This book brought all the feels. I was crying, I was laughing. Brilliantly written and beautifully narrated this book is one that will stick with me. A story of redemption, found family and compassion. It reminded me of My Octopus Teacher the 2020 film, which is also brilliant.  Publication Date:  May 3, 2022 Format:   Audio Genre:    Mystery Narrator:  Marin Ireland & Michael Urie Publisher:   Harper Audio Length:    11 Hours...

REVIEW:  Neurodivergent FBI agent Gardner Camden is part of the PAR (Patterns and Recognition) team. He works with a group of equally quirky officers, each with a special skillset. Each has had their issues within the FBI and have been sent to PAR as a last resort. They are the misfits or "Head Cases" of the Agency. Now they are being assigned to work on a serial murder investigation tracking down a murderer of criminals.   This was a fun read. I loved all the team members of PAR and felt that their quirkiness added a levity that the book needed. The mystery runs deep in this book and I loved how it all wrapped up. I'm very excited to read more in this series.   The narrator for the audio book, William Damron is excellent. He is able to give the characters different voices in way that works and also keeps the story flowing.   Publication Date:  January 28, 2025 Format:   Audio Genre:   ...

REVIEW:  Set in Ireland in the 1950's during a horrific snowstorm that is making travel almost impossible. A parish priest is found dead and there are many suspects who are all part of the same family.   The town is hesitant to help, and the detectives partner goes missing. This book focuses on the atrocities of the Catholic Church who would cover up crimes by priests by moving them around.   While the mystery is compelling and the writing excellent the material is dark. You do get to hear from the villain and victim justifying his actions. Some people have found this book to be depressing, and it definitely wasn't uplifting, but it was interesting and delves into an interesting time period.   I'm interesting to see what the other books in this series are like.   Publication Date:  October 6, 2020 Format:   Audio Genre:    Mystery Narrator:  John Lee ...