Last Twilight in Paris - Historical Fiction Review

Goodreads:  Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:   A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff

London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe —and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.

Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan—a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.

Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.

Genre: Fiction - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I've been wanting to try this author and the premise really grabbed me.  

My Impression:  I always enjoy a historical fiction that deals with something I know very little about and has me wanting to research a particular subject after finishing the book.  This happened with this book because I wanted to read more about both Levitan and how the Red Cross went behind enemy lines.  I also enjoyed how post war relationships were portrayed with Louise and Joe as they try to get along with all the changes the post-war era has brought both to their relationship and themselves as individuals.  

Most of the reviews I've seen of this book are glowing so I'm not entirely sure this author is for me as for quite a good bit of the story I was seriously considering DNFing this book.  I never really cared for either of the main characters.  I found the pace for the first bit of the book very slow and Louise's reaction to the necklace feels a bit overblown until close to the end of the book.  

Once I was pulled into the story I did fly through the book.  While Helaine was impossibly naive for most of the story I was sympathetic to her and understood why she was the way she was even though I wanted to shake her.  I'm not sure I ever warmed to Louise and for quite awhile I couldn't comprehend why tracing the origin of this necklace she saw once during the war was so important.    I was happy with the ending and felt that most of the points were nicely resolved and I liked the path that the characters were beginning.  

Despite a first half that didn't really work for me I did end up enjoying this book overall.  I will probably try another book by this author and I definitely want to research a number of the history that was explored in the book - especially Levitan.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?   Yes, though I will more be focused on premise and not just anything written by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Yes, especially if you are a fan of other books by this author.   I would be prepared for a slower start when picking this one up though.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - February 2

 

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts - I'm so excited about this one!  I love her standalones and this one looks like quite the fast-paced read.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis and Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

Listening:  The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters

Last week we went up to Memphis to the main St. Jude campus for Will to have his 2 year post treatment scans.  Everything came back great and his growth is sky-rocketing.  He is now officially taller than me and I swear every time I blink he's a little bit taller.  This week had a lot going on and because of that and recovering from the Memphis trip which always takes a lot out of all of us I have been wiped out.  It hasn't helped that I'm feeling kind of meh about everything I'm reading right now.   I don't know if it's my mood or if the books themselves just aren't quite working for me.   I like them all but am just not feeling excited about any of them. 

What I did to make get some cozy in this week:  I made sure to get some extra rest which helped.  Also, on Saturday I went to lunch with a friend and we had such a good time.  Then afterwards Jason and I went to dinner and to see the theater production of The Girl on the Train which was really good.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

Strong Poison - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  Mystery novelist Harriet Vane knew all about poisons, and when her former lover died in the manner prescribed in one of her books, a jury of her peers had a hangman's noose in mind. But Lord Peter Wimsey was determined to find her innocent.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm slowly reading through the Lord Peter Wimsey books.  

My Impression:  I was so excited to get to this one since it is Harriet Vane's first appearance in print and what an impressive entrance it was!  Harriet Vane is not just accused of murder but actually on trial for murder when Wimsey decides that he is going to have her exonerated.  

It's a new experience for Wimsey working for the defense instead of the police though he does involve his friend who just happens to be a police detective who was never fully happy with the case.  

This was very cleverly plotted which I expect from Sayers but it was also incredibly entertaining and for the first time I found myself really liking Wimsey himself.  I loved the ending and am looking forward to continuing with the series - especially now that Harriet is on the scene.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to reading more in the series soon!

Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely!  Like Christie's Poirot books the mysteries are only very loosely linked so you could jump in with this one.

Friday Five - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - I love this book and I think every time I read it I love it just a little bit more.  One thing that really stuck out to me is that there isn't the heavy religious or morale overtones that you see in quite a bit of Middle Grade books of this time period.  The focus isn't to be perfect ladylike little girls and whatnot but instead to run and play and do things for yourself as much as possible.   The imagery of the walled secret garden and the big house with a hundred rooms that no one goes in still captures my imagination.  I also love that Martha and Dickens mother isn't well liked and respected because of class or money or pureness of heart but rather because she is kind and sensible.  This is a lovely read and holds up well to a reread as an adult.  My Rating: Loved It! (5 Stars)

2.  Funny Story by Emily Henry - I had picked up another book by this author this summer and ended up DNFing it because I just didn't care what happened to the characters. I was a little nervous going into this one for that reason, but I ended up enjoying it.  Daphne and Miles both have some serious baggage before the great breakup happens and that definitely doesn't help.  I do like a fake dating premise but even more I love when characters connect as they get to know each other and themselves.  I adored the side characters (especially Ashley), and I liked how they all dealt with their various levels of baggage.  This has a found family feel without tipping into the overly perfect.  The fact that Julia Whelan does the audio really enhanced my enjoyment.  I don't know that Emily Henry's books will always work for me but I won't hesitate to pick one up if the premise connects with me.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh - I read the first book in the Westcott series and while Camille is definitely not the most likable character in that book I was curious to see how her story would unfold.  As well, I was looking forward to learning more about Anna's friend Joel who we met in the first book.  And for the most part I really loved this one.  Why Camille isn't always the easiest to like I felt connected to her from the first page as she struggled to come to terms with her new circumstances and her new identity.  I loved her relationship with the children at the orphanage and her struggle to figure out how to interact with her family and explain her current choices.  Her relationship with Joel was really sweet in a way that felt very true for both characters.  What kept this book from being a complete winner was the first physical interaction.  It just felt so out of character and like it came completely out of left field.  It took me completely out of the story for a bit.  Other than that I loved the characters and am looking forward to seeing more of the Westcott family.  My Rating: Really Liked it (4 Stars)

4.  Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins - It's been a long time since I read anything by Kristan Higgins but I'm so glad I picked this one up on a whim! This is a multi-generational multi-POV story about the London family - specifically matriarch and fashion icon Genieve London, her granddaughter Emma from whom she's been estranged for the last 17 years and Emma's daughter Riley who happens to be 17. There's a lot going on in this one with complicated family relationships, a missing child from 60 years before, and all the other complications that come with living and aging.  I really enjoyed all the different POVs and watching the characters develop relationships (especially Gigi and Pops).  The audio for this one is fantastic and I'm looking forward to reading or listening to more from this author.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

5.  The Irish Inheritance by M.J. Lee - I cannot resist a genealogical mystery, and this was an interesting one.  What starts as a straightforward investigation quickly becomes complicated as public records lead multiple ways and there is very little information to go on.  There is a bit of a dive into Irish politics and a dual timeline as well as a good dose of danger.  I liked Jayne Sinclair as the lead character - especially with her police experience.  I enjoyed this but not so much that I'm going to go out of my way to find the rest of the series.  If more are added to the Audible Plus catalog or I stumble across any at the bookstore I will definitely pick them up though.  My Rating Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

What have you read recently?

Books from the Backlog - Murder at Beechwood

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell

Blurb:  For Newport, Rhode Island’s high society, the summer of 1896 brings lawn parties, sailboat races…and murder. Having turned down the proposal of Derrick Andrews, Emma Cross has no imminent plans for matrimony—let alone motherhood. But when she discovers an infant left on her doorstep, she naturally takes the child into her care. Using her influence as a cousin to the Vanderbilts and a society page reporter for the Newport Observer , Emma launches a discreet search for the baby’s mother.

One of her first stops is a lawn party at Mrs. Caroline Astor’s Beechwood estate. But an idyllic summer’s day is soon clouded by tragedy. During a sailboat race, textile magnate Virgil Monroe falls overboard. There are prompt accusations of foul play—and even Derrick Andrews falls under suspicion. Deepening the intrigue, a telltale slip of lace may link the abandoned child to the drowned man. But as Emma navigates dark undercurrents of scandalous indiscretions and violent passions, she’ll need to watch her step to ensure that no one lowers the boom on her…

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This is a review book that has been sitting neglected for ages.  I've read a couple of books in the series and really enjoyed it but haven't gotten to this one.  

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen

 

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2024.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen

Blurb:  The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them and leaving them for dead before penning them gruesome love letters in the local papers. Then he disappeared, and after twenty years with no trace of him, many believe that he's gone for good.
Not Grace Harper. A grocery store manager by day, at night Grace uses her snooping skills as part of an amateur sleuth group. She believes the Lovelorn Killer is still living in the same neighborhoods that he hunted in, and if she can figure out how he selected his victims, she will have the key to his identity.

Detective Annalisa Vega lost someone she loved to the killer. Now she's at a murder scene with the worst kind of déjà vu: Grace Harper lies bound and dead on the floor, surrounded by clues to the biggest murder case that Chicago homicide never solved. Annalisa has the chance to make it right and to heal her family, but first, she has to figure out what Grace knew―how to see a killer who may be standing right in front of you. This means tracing his steps back to her childhood, peering into dark corners she hadn't acknowledged before, and learning that despite everything the killer took, she has still so much more to lose.

My Thoughts:  I love a good procedural, and this author has been on my TBR for years because I had heard good things about several of her series.  The blurb of this one caught my eye and I was so excited when I saw it was the first of the Annalisa Vega series.  I really enjoyed the mystery and had no idea how everything was going to unravel until just before Annalisa did.  I liked the addition of Nick and how he and Annalisa worked together. This was a bit emotionally darker than I expected but the violence level was enough off screen that I was okay reading it - though there is nothing cozy about this one.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.  My Rating:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten New to Me Authors I Read in 2024

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is New to Me Authors I Read in 2024.

1.  Charlie Donlea - I picked up this one after his 2024 release caught my interest (my library had the audio of this one - not that one) and absolutely loved it. I liked this one better than the 2024 release!

2.  Heather Fawcett - Fawcett's Grace of Wild Things was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and I can't wait to read more from her this year.

3.  Jules Verne - I read Around the World in 80 Days last year and really enjoyed it.

4.  Abbi Waxman - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was one of my favorite reads of 2024.  I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

5.  Sally Hepworth - I found The Soulmate seriously unsettling and am looking forward to reading more books by her.

6.  Jennifer J. Chow - I have several books by this author on my TBR but finally picked up this cozy in 2024 and enjoyed it.  

7.  Megan Goldin - I read Dark Corners early in 2024 and it was such a great thriller that I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

8.  Helen Cooper - I picked up The Couple in the Photo on a whim and really enjoyed it - especially how nothing was what it seemed.

9.  Kelley Armstrong - Probably my favorite new to me author I read in 2024!  I'm reading another book by Armstrong currently and am looking forward to finishing the Rockton series and moving forward to the rest of her books.

10. Brianna Labuskes - The Lost Book of Bonn broke my heart a bit but also made me excited to try more historical fiction by this author.

Who are some of the new-to-you authors you read in 2024?

Beast of the North Woods - Mystery Review

Goodreads: Beast of the North Woods (Monster Hunter #3) by Annelise Ryan

Rating:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  An ice fisherman is savagely mauled to death in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and an eyewitness claims the man was attacked by a hodag. There's just one problem with it's well known that the creature is not real and was created by a local hoaxer. So how could an imaginary creature be chomping on local sportsmen?

The suggestion that a hodag killed someone isn’t well received by the townsfolk because of its beloved ties to the town and the money it generates from tourist dollars. Due to this, people begin to suspect the witness is the real killer, especially when it’s discovered he has a tangled past with the victim.

The witness to the attack happens to be the nephew of Morgan Carter’s bookstore employee, Rita Bosworth, who convinces the professional cryptozoologist to travel to Wisconsin to prove that a hodag not only exists but killed the victim.

Clues may be hard to come by, but one thing's for something killed that man, and that something now has its eyes focused on Morgan.

Genre: Mystery 

Why I Picked This Book:  I have enjoyed the previous two books in this series so of course I had to see what trouble Morgan was going to get into this time.

My Impression:   Morgan really didn't want to get involved in this case and had some serious doubts regarding the validity of the monster siting.  After all the hoax was exposed by it's creator decades ago.   But the person asking for help is Rita, Morgan's close friend and employee, and she can't turn her down.  I really enjoyed getting more backstory about Rita and just getting to know her a bit more as she can be a bit stern in earlier books.  As well, more regarding Morgan's own backstory is exposed as the potential for it become more present than past seems to be around.  

The mystery was an intriguing one as I have come to expect from this series.  This is a combination of a whodunnit or a whatdunnit and does the what really exist.  Through in a very motivated small town and things get very interested.  It did take a bit to really start making progress but I really enjoyed the read - and Morgan's dog Newt frequently steals the show.  I like that Morgan's personal life is also progressing and she's realizing that to be in a relationship she may need to get better at communicating.

This is a good mystery with a sympathetic main character and a unique twist. I love the setting and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and this series.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?   Absolutely!  I've really enjoyed the three books by this author that I've read and am looking forward to reading more.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like mysteries with a little bit of extra weird this is a fun series and I can definitely recommend it!

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

The Franchise Affair - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  Robert Blair was about to knock off from a slow day at his law firm when the phone rang. It was Marion Sharpe on the line, a local woman of quiet disposition who lived with her mother at their decrepit country house, The Franchise. It appeared that she was in some serious trouble: Miss Sharpe and her mother were accused of brutally kidnapping a demure young woman named Betty Kane. Miss Kane's claims seemed highly unlikely, even to Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, until she described her prison -- the attic room with its cracked window, the kitchen, and the old trunks -- which sounded remarkably like The Franchise. Yet Marion Sharpe claimed the Kane girl had never been there, let alone been held captive for an entire month! Not believing Betty Kane's story, Solicitor Blair takes up the case and, in a dazzling feat of amateur detective work, solves the unbelievable mystery that stumped even Inspector Grant.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm slowly reading through Josephine Tey's mysteries.

My Impression: I'm not exactly sure while Inspector Grant is in this at all because Robert Blair is definitely the star of the show.  The premise is an interesting one that I haven't come across before.  I really wasn't sure at all how it was going to unravel and how everything was going to be explained.  

This was an interesting read from beginning to end.  I loved the world that built up around the Sharpe's as the case came to light.  Stanley and Nevil were definitely my favorite characters though I couldn't help but like Robert as well.  This wasn't the fastest paced book but it never lagged and I always looked forward to picking it up and getting a little more of the story.  

My only real issue with this was Betty Kane's age.  By today's standard she's a child but I suppose at the time the book was published a 15/16 year old wasn't viewed quite the same.  It was still a bit jarring at times but for the most part didn't impact my enjoyment of the mystery I just wish she had been a bit older.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I had been on the fence about her after having mixed results with some her books but with the last few I have read I'm definitely looking forward to trying more.

Would I Recommend this Book?   Yes, I would.  It's definitely a mystery unlike any other I've come across and I thought it was very well done.

Friday Fives - Five Books I'm Taking On a Road Trip

 

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.   We have a road trip coming up and this trip will have some down time so I am bringing a stack of books in addition to my Kindle.  Normally I mostly rely on my Kindle and have one print book just in case for space reasons but that isn't as much of an issue this time.  Here are 5 books I'm planning on bringing.

1. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - The first half of the trip will be medical appointments for Will - nothing bad but just yearly checkups since he is now coming up on 2 years post-treatment.  Even though I have no worries about the test results just being there brings up a lot of stress and this book sounds like the perfect antidote.  It's a reread and one of my favorites though I haven't read it in awhile.

2.  A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong - I really enjoyed the first book in this series and if this is half as fast paced and distracting as the first book it will be the perfect read for a trip.

3.  Shady Hollow by Juneau Black - This looks so lovely and cozy.  Plus I really enjoyed a later book in the series.

4.  Incident at Badamya by Dorothy Gilman - Gilman is one of my comfort read authors and I haven't read this standalone yet despite it being on my shelf for a bit thanks to the kind gift from my friend Tina.

5.  Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter - I picked this one up at a book fair for adults back a few years ago.  It looks interesting and a bit different with a multimedia setup.  I'm looking forward to reading it.

Have you read any of these?  Do you take a stack of books on a road trip or are you more of a Kindle reader?

Better Than Friends - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads: Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  When Olive Porter’s off-the-grid parents go missing, she reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, her ex and the only person she both trusts implicitly and not at all.

As a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, Noah’s used to living under intense pressure. Or he was until he got injured on the job. Now unhappily recuperating at home while being smothered by his loving but nosy family, he’d love nothing more than a good distraction.

So when Olive shows up looking like a million bucks, he has to do a gut and heart check. Because nope, no matter what, he can’t fall for her again, the woman who once blew up his entire life and never looked back. How ironic then that his own personal hell (Olive) is also his ticket out of town. The question is, will the risk be worth the reward?

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoy this author's books so I always try and pick up the newest ones.

My Impression:  I really like Jill Shalvis's books and I especially love how she creates friendships.  This book is a perfect example as the relationship between Olive and Katie is really wonderful despite their differences and some past issues.  Olive's relationship with her grandmother is also really sweet - especially since they are very much alike.  Olive's relationship with Noah however is not quite so smooth.  

It took me a bit to really connect to Olive and Noah's relationship.  I liked them both and was enjoying the book but I wasn't really rooting for their relationship.  I wish I had understood a bit more about the past confrontation earlier in the story.  

I did enjoy the mix of character growth, mystery investigation, and romance in this book.  As I expect from a Jill Shalvis, this was a fast paced fun read that tackled some deeper issues.  I really liked Olive and Katie from the start even though I wish there was a bit more communication.  I'm looking forward to reading more books from Shalvis in the future.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I always enjoy any time spent with a Jill Shalvis book!

Would I Recommend this Book?  This is a good contemporary romance with a bit more too it and would be a great read to pick up if you're in the mood for a good story.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

A Death in Diamonds - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Death in Diamonds (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #4) by S.J. Bennett

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  1957 - A young woman is found dead in a mews house a mile from Buckingham Palace, wearing only silk underwear and a a diamond tiara. An older man is discovered nearby, garrotted and pierced through the eye with a long, sharp implement.

According to the police, a high society card game was going on downstairs that night. One of the players surely committed the murders, but each of them can give the others an alibi.

When someone very close to her is implicated, the young Queen is drawn in to the investigation...

Genre: Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I've had this series on my TBR since the first book came out so when I was offered this one I couldn't turn it down.

My Impression: So, this is the 4th in the series but while books 1 through 3 seem to be set more in the recent past this one takes place in 1957 so it doesn't feel quite like jumping into the middle of the series.

I really enjoyed this book. I adored Joan and her relationship with the Queen was lovely.  I really enjoyed the Queen herself with her commonsense attitude and her way of dealing with the "mustaches" that are always around her telling her what to do.   I really liked that we see her as both a leader and mother and wife though sometimes her different roles do conflict with each other.  The investigation was interesting as while the Queen has quite a lot of resources and access she's can't exactly go running around freely asking questions.

The ending was a surprise, and I loved how it unraveled.  What kept this book from being a solid 4 stars for me is that the beginning was a bit slow and felt disjointed as two different plots had to be woven together.  After the first 10 or 15% I was fully hooked but it did take a bit of pushing through to get there.  Overall, I really enjoyed this and am excited to read the earlier books in the series.  After a slow start this was an engaging and entertaining mystery with an interesting take on a historical mystery.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I would!  I'm really looking forward to getting caught up on this series and will be reading the next book when it comes out.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like historical mysteries this is a great read though you may need to be a little patient with the beginning.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Newest Additions to My TBR

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is the Ten Newest Additions to My TBR.  I bought a ridiculous number of books back at the end of 2024 so I'm not buying books right now but here are 10 I've added to my To Buy list when I get my inventory read down a bit!

1.  Olive, Mable, and Me by Andrew Cotter - This is entirely Tina's fault but I am looking forward to reading this one!

2.  Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell - It'll be several months before this one comes out but I love her books and can't wait to pick this one up.

3.  West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge - My aunt recommended this one over Christmas and while our reading tastes don't always line up this one looks really interesting.

4.  One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman - I read a book by this author last year and loved it.  This one looks really good.

5.  Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks - This looks really fun and a bit different.

6.  The Sorority Murders by Allison Brennan - I love the sound of the premise and this is an author I've been wanting to read.

7.  The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes - The premise of this looks gorgeous.

8.  The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score - For whatever reason this author has never really landed on my radar evne though she has a lot of books that look like I'd enjoy them.

9.  Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson - This was another family recommendation and it looks intriguing if a bit darker than what I normally read.

10. The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper - Secret dollhouses in a secret room found by a librarian.  Yes please!  I also read and very much enjoyed her book - The Other Alcott so I have high hopes for this one.

What books have you added to your TBR recently?

The Rainfall Market - Fiction Review

Goodreads:  The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang (Translated by Slin Jung)

Rating: Liked It!  (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears. This is The Rainfall Market. Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires.

But you cannot enter without an invitation.

Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside The Rainfall Market.

Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one. A better one.

Accompanied by Isha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness.

However, there is a catch.

If she doesn’t find her dream life, she'll be trapped inside the market forever . . .

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy

Why I Picked This Book:  I couldn't resist the cover and the premise sounded interesting.

My Impression: This was an interesting read.  Serin is a girl about to come an adult without much hope for the future.  Her sister has runaway and not come back, her mother is working herself into a shadow of who she was, and Serin feels alone.  The Rainfall Market is like an answer to everything she's ever wished for and the day the invitation comes is perhaps the most exciting of her life.

This was a bit of a slower read and there is a bit of repetitiveness as Serin spends time in the Rainfall Market.  While I enjoyed it, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it in smaller doses - a chapter at a time.  As well, I think this would be more enjoyable in print form - partly because the cover is gorgeous but mostly because there is a guide to the Market at the beginning and it would have been easier to flip back and forth if I had a physical copy of the book.  

This was a nice read with an interesting cast of characters and an endearing main character and sidekick.  I'm also very glad I read the book knowing as little about the story as possible as it was fun to see how the story played out.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I'm not sure the author is an auto-read just yet but I will be keeping an eye out for future books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like unusual reads with an interesting world of characters this is a good choice though I do recommend reading it a chapter at a time.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - January 19

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

Nothing!  I'm trying to keep my acquiring down for at least January though I may extend to the first quarter.  I have so much stuff that I want to make a bit of progress on stuff I already own before adding to it and that includes books.

Currently:

Reading:  Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis and Murder in Retrospect/Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

Listening:  The Irish Inheritance by M.J. Lee

Watching:  J and I have been watching Death in Paradise together and really enjoying it.  I've also been watching Murder Mystery & My Family which is old cases being reinvestigated by family members of the convicted.  Both are on BritBox and I've been enjoying both.

How I Made This Week a Little Cozy - This week got away from me a bit as regular life with classes and meetings and homeschool stuff keeping me busy.  I did do some baking which I always enjoy.  Friday I got a massage which I've been trying to do regularly for both pain and stress management and was able to take a nap afterwards.  I spent some more time going through my cookbooks which I always enjoy.  It was definitely a good reminder that as my regular schedule gets going, I'm going to have to be more intentional about my down time.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

My 2025 Classics List

 

Every year I make a list of classic mysteries to read and I always enjoy it.  This year I'm going slightly rogue and mixing in two non-mystery classics as well - though I'm staying on the light side.

1.  Midsummer Mysteries: Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie - Several collections of Agatha Christie short stories have been released.  Some are rereads for me though some aren't and I will always take an excuse to read Agatha Christie short stories.

2.  Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers - This isn't the next Lord Peter Wimsey that I have to read but it is the next one that I have on my shelves and I'm looking forward to it.

3.  Mr. Zero by Patricia Wentworth - I'm slowly making progress through the non-Miss Silver mysteries from Patricia Wentworth.

4.  Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh - This is the next Roderick Alleyn book that's on my shelf though I missing quite a few.  If I enjoy this one even close to as much as I enjoyed the Marsh I read in 2024 I have a lot of shopping to do!

5.  Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart - I have really enjoyed the Mary Stewarts that I have read and this is one I found at the used bookstore this year.

6.  Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod - I loved the first book in another series by MacLeod so of course I have to try the first in her Peter Shandy series

7.  Parting Breath by Catherine Aird - This is the next in the Inspector Sloan series that I have on my shelf.

8.  Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey - This is a non-Inspector Grant book from Tey but is one that I've been wanting to read.

9.  Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - This is a reread of one of my favorite books and I'm so looking forward to it.

10.  My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - I've read a few Jeeves books but never the first one.  Plus, my grandmother was a big fan of the Jeeves books and they remind me of her.

Any classics you're hoping to read this year? 

Friday Fives - These Books Will Self Destruct

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.   There's a project I've seen on Beauty YouTube called These Projects will self-destruct where basically if you don't use a certain project by the end of the year you have to toss it.  I thought I might apply it to my TBR and pick 5 books that if I don't read in 2025 it will be time to declutter them.  These are 5 books that have been sitting on my shelf for way too long and if I'm not tempted to pick them up within a year I'm not destined to read them.

1.  Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow - I got this one right after it came out and though it looked really fun.

2.  Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis - I've read a lot of the books in this series but never this one though it's been sitting on my shelf for years.  

3.  The Murders of Mrs. Austin and Mrs. Beale by Jill McGown - I have had this book since pre-blogging days (so at least 12 years) and really enjoyed another book by this author.  Plus, it's a really short mystery.

4.  Old Haunts by E.J. Copperman - This is the third book in a series and I own a lot of the books.  I read and really enjoyed the first book, read and liked the second book but years have passed and I still haven't read this book.  It's time to read it and see if it's one I want to continue or clear out the books.  And if I don't read it then I think that pretty much answers the question on whether I want to read it.

5.  Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson - I have no idea where this book came from or how long I've had it.  It looks lovely and cozy though.

So those are my 5 books to read this year or they'll self-destruct (or go into the bin for the used bookstore more likely).  Do you have any self destruct books?

Books from the Backlog - Grave Reservations

 

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

Blurb:  A psychic travel agent and a Seattle PD detective solve a murder in this quirky mystery in the vein of Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files and Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series.
Meet Leda devoted friend, struggling travel agent, and inconsistent psychic. When Leda, sole proprietor of Foley's Flights of Fancy, impulsively re-books Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt’s flight, her life changes in ways she couldn’t have predicted.

After watching his original plane blow up from the safety of the airport, Grady realizes that Leda’s special abilities could help him with a cold case he just can’t crack.

Despite her scattershot premonitions, she agrees for a secret her fiancé’s murder remains unsolved. Leda’s psychic abilities couldn’t help the case several years before, but she’s been honing her skills and drawing a crowd at her favorite bar’s open-mic nights, where she performs Klairvoyant Karaoke—singing whatever song comes to mind when she holds people’s personal effects. Now joined by a rag-tag group of bar patrons and pals alike, Leda and Grady set out to catch a killer—and learn how the two cases that haunt them have more in common than they ever suspected.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf: This looks fun and fast paced and January seems to demand that kind of book. 

Haunting and Homicide - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Haunting and Homicide (A Ghost Tour Mystery #1) by Ava Burke

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher has a she can see dead people. But in New Orleans, Louisiana, this is not a drawback. On the contrary, her ability to see ghosts helps her host viral ghost tours through the historic Garden District. When rival tour guide Adam Brandt–who accused her of faking her encounters to undercut his business–is found murdered, Lou is the only one who can see him . . . his ghost, that is.

It’s no secret Adam and Lou were feuding and with the absence of a suspect, she’s the only one with a clear motive. After detective Dylan Finch, Lou’s longtime crush, reveals the murder weapon was a ceremonial dagger from Lou’s shop, she’s officially declared the prime suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, Lou starts investigating right away.

Weaving her way through Adam’s business partnerships, friendships, and kinships, Lou must uncover who wished to see him dead before the killer tries to silence her forever.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  A cozy mystery set in New Orleans with ghosts sounds like too much fun to pass up.

My Impression:  Growing up I spent a lot of time during the summer in New Orleans and in 20219 we lived in New Orleans for about 5 months and spent a lot of time in the area that this book takes place.   I was so pleased to virtually visit New Orleans that it probably raised my rating from 3.5 stars to 4 stars.  

The setup was a little slow and it took a few chapters for me to warm to the execution of the premise and completely get hooked by the story.  Adam is pretty terrible at first and Lou is not a natural at the investigative business.  However, as the story went on I really began to enjoy it.  I really love the side characters especially Lou's  grandmother and her boyfriend.  This is a fun take on a ghost tour which is big business in New Orleans and really helps set the scene.  

The mystery was good and kept me guessing and the romantic angle (very minor) didn't go the way I expected which I liked.  I'm hoping the world around the murder will be more fleshed out as the series continues and that we can meet more ghosts and learn their backstories - but not lose Mamie!  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm really curious to see how this series develops.

Would I Recommend this Book?   If you enjoy cozy mysteries and like a good helping of ghosts then I think you will enjoy this start of a new series.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - My Reading Goals for 2025

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is My Bookish Reading Goals for 2025.

1.  Read 200 Books - I've done this the last two years and I'm starting this year off strong.  I have a long list of books to tackle and hopefully I can make some real progress this year!

2.  Complete the Read Christie Challenge - I did this in 2024 for the first time and it was so fun!  The theme this year is professions and the books chosen are a good mix of Christie books - some I've read a number of times and others I've kind of forgotten about.

3.  Complete my 2025 Priority List - I picked 5 books from my shelves and 5 books from the library that I really want to read.  I've done this the last two years and have really enjoyed it.  I'm super excited about my book picks this year.

4.  Complete my Authors I Plan to Read in 2025 list - Last year I picked 10 authors I kept meaning to read but never did.  It was so fun I picked 10 more and am so looking forward to reading this new list.

5.  Read my Classics List - I love Agatha Christie but there are a lot of classic mystery authors out there that I have yet to read and this is a good way to do it. 

6.  Make progress on 10 series - I read a lot of cozy mysteries and where there are cozies there are series and it is so easy to neglect them!

7.  Read 5 Overdue Review Books - I have so many overdue reviews on NetGalley and I'm trying to slowly chip away at it.

8.  Read 5 Nonfiction Books - I read a lot of mysteries and cozy books so I like to throw in some nonfiction here are there.

9.  Finish All of My 2025 ARCs - In the past I've gotten way more ARCs then I can realistically read in a year and I'm trying to make sure I don't add to that list of overdue reviews this year.

10.  Get My TBR Jar Updated (and use it at least twice) - I got a TBR jar setup last year but since then I've gotten rid of some books, the library has gotten rid of some books and I've added a ton of books to my TBR.  I need to update it and then pick at least two books to read using the TBR jar.

What are your reading goals for 2025?

  

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2024.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Blurb:  Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

My Thoughts:  I have finally read a Kristin Hannah book!  Hannah has been on my TBR for probably a decade, but I've always been scared off by the intensity of her books.  I heard great things about the narrator for this one, so I picked it up on an Audible sale and finally listened to it at the end of 2024.  And I liked it.  The beginning was pretty slow, but I did connect with Meredith (even though I frequently wanted to shake her) and I felt invested in the story of the two sisters getting to know their formable and distant mother.  Once the fairy tale really got started, I was pulled in completely and guessed the twist before Nina and Meredith.  The story is absolutely heartbreaking, and I can't think I've ever read any historical fiction set during this period of time or this location.  I'm still not sure how I felt about the ending though I did love the epilogue. Kristin Hannah isn't a must read for me but I will definitely read another book by her.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)