Books from the Backlog - Wedding of the Season

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:  Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

Blurb:  The duke may have returned, but she has no intention of falling back into his arms...

Abandoned at the altar...

Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever, and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter...and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke...

Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable...the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I used to be a big historical romance reader but that had really tapered off in the last few years.  I've started kind of gravitating back towards the genre and I have so many books by this author on my shelf that I need to work through.  I used to love her books but the last book I read of hers was a DNF and the one before that was a "meh" so I think this will be the tiebraker on whether I read the books I have or declutter.

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

 

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 2025.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

Blurb:  Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people - though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she's invisible.
All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend - her grandmother Zelda - who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda's past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick's signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming and poignant tale of how one woman must take control of her destiny to write her own happy ending.

My Thoughts:  This had one of my absolute favorite things - a bookish main character and not only was the main character bookish but she also needed to take a long hard look at her life and figure out what actually makes her happy.   There's also family secrets and complicated familial relationships which are also things that I usually enjoy.  Martha really frustrated me at times but as the book went on and I learned more about her upbringing the more I understood why she was the way she was.   I really enjoyed following her as she got to know herself and those around her better.  It also hit home a bit for me when she realized that she's let all of these other jobs get in the way of her reading and decides to fix the problem.  I find myself doing the same thing when I really need to take a moment here and there to recharge and read.  This is the first book I've read by this author but I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from her.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the 2nd Half of 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 Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the 2nd Half of 2025.

1.  The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - I love this author and how can I resist a book by this author that has the world Library in the title?  

2.  Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke - I really enjoyed the first book in the series and I'm really curious to see how this series develops.

3. The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan - Colgan's books are either Loves or DNFs for me.  This looks gorgeous so I'm hoping it's the former.

4.  A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber - I enjoyed the other books in the series and the previous book kind of ended on a cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop.

5.  The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson - I haven't read this author but I've heard great reviews and I just love the title.

6.  The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst - I loved the first book I read by this author and this also looks wonderful.

7.  Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams - I typically really enjoy this author's books and this one looks good.

8.  Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca - I'm so excited to see another book set in Boneyard Key.  I'm really looking forward to reading it.

9.  Murder on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connolly - I've really enjoyed the previous books in this cozy-ish mystery series and this one involves a train.

10. The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts - I have adored the first two books in this series and am so excited for the conclusion of the trilogy.

What releases are you excited to read during the 2nd half the year?

The Love Fix - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads:   The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis

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

Description:  Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged. So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to.

Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.

Genre:  Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:   I always enjoy a Jill Shalvis book and so of course I couldn't resist this one.

My Impression:   I love how Shalvis writes familial relationships and this was no different.  Lexi and Ashley are step-sisters who shared a mother-figure (it's complicated) but the mother that Lexi had was very different from the mother that Ashley had.  In addition, Lexi's carefully planned life has come apart at the seams.

Now she's back where she never wanted to be trying to settle her estranged mother's estate and come to terms with all the people who knew her mother as a very different person than the one who continuously let Lexi down.  And there's also Heath - of the missed opportunities and the childhood rivalries.

I enjoyed this story.  It reminded me a bit of the first Lucky Harbor trilogy which was one of my favorites but it was a new take on the premise.  Lexi isn't the most likable main character at first. She's prickly and defensive but as the story goes on I understood her a bit better and she began to listen to those around her.  I liked how the mother's final wishes were setup and how the range of emotions those actions evoked were dealt with. 

This is the 8th book in the Sunrise Cove series but reads like a standalone and not like part of a series.  I thoroughly enjoyed being back in a Shalvis-created world and look forward to reading more from her soon. 

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm already looking forward to the next book by hers that I pick up.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy stories with a solid romance and strong family connections this is a great read.

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

This Week in Reading - June 22

 

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 do have a used bookstore trip planned for next week though - and maybe a visit to another bookstore.

Currently:

Reading: Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran and Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie

Listening: The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

We spent this weekend flooring shopping and are starting the process to replace the flooring downstairs.  I'm so excited but so dreading the upheaval of the whole thing.  

Summer decided to finally show up here.  We've had some sunshine and the temperatures are in the 90s with humidity about 80% or so.  I know I'll be sick of it in a couple of months but right now I'm enjoying the pool time.

Have a great week and happy reading!

Crooked House - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Crooked House by Agatha Christie

Rating: Loved It (5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  The Leonides are one big happy family living in a sprawling, ramshackle mansion. That is until the head of the household, Aristide, is murdered with a fatal barbiturate injection.

Suspicion naturally falls on the old man’s young widow, fifty years his junior. But the murderer has reckoned without the tenacity of Charles Hayward, fiancé of the late millionaire’s granddaughter.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:   This was the June pick for the Read Christie reading challenge and is one of my favorites.

My Impression:  This is such a good one.  This is a standalone so no Poirot or Marple or any of her other regular sleuths.  Instead, there is Charles Hayward, son of the Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard and his fiancé (kind of) Sophie Leonides.  

I really enjoyed Charles's interactions with his father and the fact that he was completely upfront with Sophia when he comes down to investigate.  The family is a good one from Christie with 2 sons and their wives, various grandchildren, an elderly aunt, and the new wife who is no one's favorite and everyone else is eying suspiciously.  The dynamics are different, and each character has their own motives.  

I enjoyed this one from start to finish and through all the twists and turns.  If you're looking for a Christie to try this would be a good and out of the ordinary choice.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm really looking forward to the July Christie read.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!   This is a good Christie and a good choice if you're wanting a stand alone.

Friday Fives - Five Non-Cozies Set During Summer

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.  Last week I found 5 cozy mysteries that are set during summer. This week I'm looking at 5 non-cozy books set during summer!

1.  Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore - This book looks gloriously summer-y and is a retelling of The Great Gatsby

2.  One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - Summer in Italy with a story that touches on some deeper more emotional subjects.   

3.  A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey - Two timelines in North Carolina with family drama and a bit of summer.

4.  The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman - Another summer while touching on heavier topics and a heaping helping of family secrets.

5.  Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan - This is an author I haven't read anything from yet but have been wanting to try some of her books.  There's some starting over and a dog which are subjects I enjoy!

What summer-y books do you have on your TBR?