Books, Books, Books, and a Cat

 This is definitely a five star read!  I cannot believe how many different emotions I had while reading this book.  This will be one of the best books of 2026!  The story alternates between present day Elsie and her past as Mabel in the 1950s.  This is a story about an 81 year old murderer.  We start with Elsie discovering her neighbor has died.  She didn't particularly like him but suddenly she finds herself in the spotlight after he turns up dead.  The reader learns about each of Elsie's neighbors and their own stories.  In the past we learn about many of the tragic event's in her life that led up to her committing murder and being called Mad Mabel. This should not have been a book that made me cry like I did, but I could not help but be drawn to Elsie (Mabel). Her backstory grabbed me and I felt so deeply for this fictional character.   I loved all of the present day characters in her neighborhood as well.  I loved reading a...

 This dual timeline novel was an absolute delight.  I loved the musical elements infused in the novel.   In the present day, we have three different characters all with their secret battles and turmoil.  Devlin decides to buy a violin from the lost and found from Heathrow Airport instead of getting an engagement ring for his longtime girlfriend.  However it turns out that the violin is stolen.  Not knowing where to turn, Devlin reaches out to his old history teacher, Walter.  Walter had been on the verge of taking his own life when Devlin came by.  Together they try to figure out a plan but first try to determine the violin's history and if it truly has been stolen.  They go to Gabrielle, a former musician, who had to give up her career due to  pain that randomly appeared when she was young. She runs her family business and appraises musical instruments.  Together the three of them go on a wild ride to try and figure out what t...

 4.5 Stars- "Wildflower" is a cozy fantasy that will warm your heart and really make you want to run out and get some flowers.  Fliss is a florist who is cursed.  She can only speak the truth.  Fliss receives a request for a unique and rare flower.  To get it she has to travel out of the citadel to a place in the north that is rumored to be cursed.  Once there she gets the help of a sorcerer named Willoh Vane.  Fliss finds herself attracted to Will but her best friend, Card wants nothing to do with him.  Card is engaged to the prince who hates Will for some reason.  Fliss finds that her friendship is threatened as she grows closer to Will, but she also begins to find her own independence.  She soon figures out that something is going on in the kingdom and she has to do something fast before the people she loves get hurt.  First of all I loved the character Fliss and how hard she had to overcome her curse.  I love a novel with a...

I loved all of the elements of this novel!  I am obsessed with these characters  and their lives.  I truly hope there will be more books to come.  This fantasy novel sets five different students from different worlds together in the same magical school.  Each student has magic and has been recruited to attend Strixhaven.  Eula, our main character, can make magical shields and wants a better life than the one set out by her father.  Alandra is merfolk who hopes to learn more magic to help protect her homeland. Segante is from a dangerous world where every day it is about survival. Kequia is from Dominaria and can touch things to learn their history.  Lastly, Jamira, is a minotaur from a planet that was destroyed by the Phyrexians.  Each student has their own secrets and different reasons for attending this school.  However these trans-planar students are not wanted by everyone on the campus.  Threats mount against them and the five m...

With this book Jennifer Ryan has become a must read historical fiction author for me.  5 out of 5 Stars! "The Queen's Coronation" follows the lives of three different women in 1953 as they prepare for Queen Elizabeth's coronation.  Caroline, Lucy, and Miranda come from three different backgrounds but all three find themselves working at the palace as Queen Elizabeth prepares to accept the throne.  Caroline is trapped in an abusive marriage with no way out until she finds out that her first love is still alive.  For the first time she is able to dream of a different life.  Lucy, has big dreams of being a singer.  With her beautiful face, she thinks she might be able to make it if only she can find the right man to help her dreams come true.  Miranda is a widow trying to make it as a journalist in a man's world.  She has to do whatever it takes to not lose her job and find the next big story.  All three women face uphill battles as they try to ...

  This book was like the Real Housewives on steroids!   April hosts a Youtube baking show in which she shares secrets to make your bake even better.  She seems to have a perfect life with a great husband, son, friends, and being a baking influencer.  However one day she begins to receive threatening text messages.  Someone is anonymously contacting her and knows exactly what is going on in her life before she does.  April's life begins to spin out of control and she is desperate to take control before she loses everything.  One thing I really enjoy about a Freida McFadden book is figuring out the twist.  This book was no exception.  Set in Long Island with two different points of view.  The story features moms who just want what is best for their families and will do whatever it takes to keep their families together. It was dark at times but it also kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out what was going to happen next.  If ...

  Abigail Adams is an absolutely amazing woman and I feel lucky to have read about her life.  She is an inspiration to women everywhere, even though she lived more than 250 years ago.   This book took me through a gambit of emotions.  The story starts in 1765 when she is pregnant and the revolution has not quite begun.  The reader learns about her life through her many pregnancies and life with a husband who was often absent. She not only had to run a farm by herself but raise small children all the while a war was going on.  Not only did she raise children, kept the farm going, but she also managed to survive a war and make her own money during a time when women had no independence outside of their husband. I am in awe of all that she accomplished, plus she never stopped championing women's rights and the end of slavery.   Abigail Adams's life was fascinating to me.  She went through so much and never stopped helping others including he...

 Do you ever want to read a book that gives you a good scare?  This is the book.  It was dark and creepy but I had to keep on reading.  Told from three points of view, this book packed surprise after surprise and left me guessing what was going to happen next.  Hazel has just moved back in with her parents after her husband filed for divorce.  Cathy is a single mother with two boys who has barely any contact with her parents or sister Hazel.  When Hazel moves back she calls Cathy to meet up and to try and reconcile.  Only Hazel never shows when Cathy and her are supposed to meet.  Cathy finds it strange especially when she runs into Suzie, an old friend of Hazel who had recently seen Hazel.  Together, Cathy and Suzie begin to piece together that all is not as it seems and something bad may have happened to Hazel.  Meanwhile Hazel finds herself trapped in a madman's basement.  She has no idea why she is there and she knows that ...

This was a delightful and satisfying read in more ways than one.   "Death Meets Cute" is a standalone fantasy novel about a witch determined to become more evil than she is.  Iris ends up resurrecting an orc to be her bodyguard because every evil villainess needs a bodyguard. Only she is not the most powerful witch and he comes back to life not quite right.  Talon is amazingly sweet, charming, a great cook, and just about everything a girl could want.  Iris has to decide what to do with Talon, figure out what has happened to her magic, increase her potion business, and deal with her two sisters.   There was so much to enjoy about this book.  I loved the fact that Talon was an orc but that did not stop him from being the perfect man.   I also enjoyed that Iris was a lovable character who was able to learn and grow.  Plus she has a hedgehog as a familiar.  How adorable is that!  There were so many fantastic characters and wo...

 This was the fourth book in this series but the first one I have read.  I was able to read this as a stand alone.  I do think reading the earlier books would have helped but the author did a great job explaining the past as the main character, Ernest, often referred to past events.   In this novel Ernest is in a bank with this fiance when it gets robbed.  Usually Ernest is one to solve murders not a bank robbery but things escalate.  There is a murder to solve and even Ernest's life is in danger.  What is interesting is that all of the hostages in the bank have a motive to rob the bank. and possibly one of them is even a murderer.  Ernest must do what is necessary to figure out who could behind not only the robbery but a murder before he loses his own life.  I did find this book a little confusing.  There were many characters and different motives that at times it was overwhelming keeping everyone straight.  I did not agree wi...

  This was a delightful romance that will make you want to go on a hiking trip and spend time in the great outdoors! Sadie has been recently dumped because she is too high maintenance.  She is out to prove her ex wrong so she goes on a hiking adventure in the Sierras.  This is way out side her comfort zone but she is determined to prove she can do it and not die like her ex suggests.  Thorn loves the outdoor and his job as a wilderness guide.  He is not however thrilled to go on his latest hiking tour with his ex-best friend who stole his girlfriend and moved to Peru together.  Thorn is determined to get through this trip but to his surprise he is really enjoying being with Sadie. Sparks fly and the great outdoors is the place to be.  This story was told from both Sadie and Thorn's point of view.  I always enjoy having the two perspectives when reading a romance.  There was drama, a love triangle, and adventure.  The characters also grew...

  3.5 Stars- This story was a unique blend of horror and thriller that will have you greedy for more.  First of all the setting of this book is perfect.  I love food and I enjoyed reading about the different types of food and other culinary experiences in Japan.  The writing in this book was good. The book flowed and I was interested until the very end.  However I did want more.  The end did not satisfy me but maybe that was the point.   Ed is from England but moved to Japan and fell in love.  He has a wife and a baby.  He also has a horrible gambling problem and is desperate for money to pay off his debts to the local Japanese mob or he or his family might be swimming with the fish. He takes a job as a chef for a high profile and wealthy woman, Hazeline, even though he has very little experience cooking.  He is able to impress her enough that he is able to pay down his debt a little and life becomes a little better.  The longe...

  A new Katherine Center novel is one of things I look forward to most in the year.  "The Shippers" did not disappoint and was a great way to start this year off.   In this novel JoJo has relationship issues.  In order to solve these issues, JoJo hatches a plan with her sister to win back the guy who was her first kiss and longtime crush, Finn Turner  He also happens to be on a cruise ship with her entire family and old neighborhood for her sister's wedding.  Also on that cruise ship is JoJo's best friend, Cooper.  They have been estranged for four years. At one time they were inseparable and have only now just started speaking again.  JoJo ends up roping in Cooper to try and help her win Finn, but as you can probably guess, things do not always go to plan.  I absolutely loved this book.  It was a great escape and a heart warming story.   I really enjoyed reading about all of the characters and seeing their growth especial...

  A great edition to this time traveling, action-packed series! In this novel Rabbit travels back in time to Jerusalem to help Helen.  She is being accused of being part of an illegal time traveling ring.  Only when he travels back he meets a younger Helen who has never met him before.  Helen is chasing after a man named Eshek who has stolen money and if Helen can get the money back she can help her sister.  The only problem is that there is also a killer on the loose who seems out to get Rabbit.   In this novel we learn a lot more about Helen and her back story.  We also get to see more of Rabbit and Helen's relationship.  This book has lots of action and adventure but the best part of the story for me is the time travel.  I love all of the historical detail and knowledge of the time periods they travel to.  I am excited to read more as I am really enjoying what is happening between Rabbit and Helen.  Thank you to Minotaur Boo...

 Beach Thriller is an excellent thriller to bring on the beach or really anywhere.  This is the second book I have read by Jamie Day and I am hooked.   Holly is a writer who is struggling financially.  After the loss of her mother she heads to where her family had a beach home in Beauport, Massachusetts.  She plans on fixing it up as she tries to get back on her feet.  While there she ends up meeting Jade, a runaway, who is trying to find out answers about herself.  There is also a third character called the watcher who gives some insight into the story.  Jade finds Holly's half-finished manuscript titled "Beach Thriller" that is really about the mystery surrounding Holly's sister, Anna's death.  Jade and Holly team up to try and find out what really happened to Anna.  What they don't expect is that there is so much more to this story and their own lives may be in danger.  This was a thrilling thriller and I especially loved th...

  This was a very dark and foreboding thriller.  Minnow leaves her life as a news anchor in an abusive relationship in the city, to go back to her hometown on the coast to move in with her brother.  I instantly felt compassion for Minnow as I learned that she had a rough life growing up.  She lost her mother when she was young and then shortly after her father.  On the night Minnow gets back she goes to see her brother at his job, running shark fishing tours.  She goes out with him and they happen upon a shark attack.  As the story continues we learn that there have been an unusually high number of shark attacks happen.  Minnow's investigative skills haven't left her and she starts to delve into these mysteries along with another journalist who is visiting her hometown.  Things get much darker as we learn more about Minnow's past and things she has seen and even done.  There is a hidden and darker side to this town.  There was an in...

 4.5 Stars- This novel is for all the women out there who have ever been scared or intimidated by a man.  In this fantastic twist on Psycho, the female is no longer the victim.   Marion is on the run with stolen money.  She didn't mean to steal the money, she is just trying to help her sister.  She ends up stuck in New Paltz, NY instead of getting to Saratoga Springs when the bus she was taking breaks down.  Marion ends up in a run down resort where she ends up renting a cabin from Norman Bates.  He is a handsome man who not only provides her with a room but also dinner.  He is nothing but charming and helpful as he also takes care of his sick mother.   Everything is going well until she finds him trying to kill her in her shower.  Marion is not about to let that happen as her survival instinct that has been drilled into her by her mom kicks in.  Now Marion must find a way to not only help her sister but get herself out of...

4.5 Stars-  This was such a good start to a new series.  It was an interesting blend of romance, fantasy, science, and a strong female protagonist. It also had vibes from a long ago TV show that I loved called Samantha Who, starring Christina Applegate.  I know this is a strange reference to put in a book review but I absolutely loved that show and I love that this book had a similar theme except with the added alchemy and dark academia world.   Amber Fallbrook has amnesia and has no memory of the last several years that she spent studying alchemy at The Alchemary.  Despite her memory loss she refuses to leave The Alchemary as it has been her dream since she was little to study alchemy.  The only problem is she is a mastery level student and has upcoming trials to take.  These trials are deadly and Amber has no memory of what she has learned the past couple of years.  She decides that she is going to study as hard as she can in the hopes that...

  This one got me!  I love a good thriller where you are not sure who the guilty party is.   This novel was told from two different point of views, Freya and Charlie.  Charlie and Freya seem to have the perfect marriage.  Charlie is a chef who is moving up in the world and Freya does charity work.  Everything is going well in their life until one night at a dinner for Charlie's boss, both of them drink too much and bad decisions are made.  Their lives spiral downwards as they try to pick up their pieces only to find that more bad things are in store for them.  The reader is left trying to figure out who is causing all of this chaos and what is their motivation.  This book had me hooked as I wanted to find out who was behind everything.  I found myself drawn into Freya and Charlie's story as I really wanted them to make it as a couple.  I also couldn't decide if one of them could be behind all of their bad luck.  This was a...

  This was a good start to a new romantasy series. It is a fantasy world but there are hints of Chinese culture that really drew me in.  This story is filled with lots of action, romance, and mystery. Rubi is a ribbon dancer who has no memory of her past and very little magic.  However all of that changes when she bonds with a royal tyger. She is an Azure and not trusted by the Silvers so when she bonds with one of their tygers it is a scandal.  The tyger makes it known that Rubi is not an ordinary person.  There is something special about her.  Hints are continually dropped throughout the story that there is a reason for Rubi's memory loss and she is not an inconsequential person. In this world there are constant threats of demons and since Rubi  bonded with the tyger she must train to be a warrior.  While training, she is placed with Blake, a man who is the reason she is in this mess. Rubi must learn how to fight fast and unlock not only her mag...