Friday Fives - 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.  How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin - I'm a big fan of cold case mysteries so this one appealed to me right from the beginning.  I went with the audio version and I'm so glad I did as I'm not sure I would have gotten through it if I had physically read it.  The beginning is slooooowww and while I liked the main character, Annie, it took me awhile to get into it.  The 1960s timeline especially took me awhile to become invested in.  However, as the book went on I slowly became more and more invested and really enjoyed the ending.  I'm curious to see how the series (and Annie) develop and will be reading the next book.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2.  The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 1 by Beth Brower - I feel like I'm seeing this series everywhere and everyone is raving about it so I was super excited to pick up this first volume.  At first I didn't get the hype.  I liked Emma and the story was interesting but I wasn't fully caught in her world.  As the journal went on that changed and while this wasn't a five star read for me it was thoroughly enjoyable and I'm so looking forward to reading the next book.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - I'd been in a bit of a slump with audiobooks and so when I picked this one up, I was a little hesitant.  It ended up being exactly what I needed.  Right from the start I was pulled into the story and I really had no idea how it was going to all unravel.  The audio was fantastic and contributed to my enjoyment.  This was a good mystery with lots of twists and turns.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - This book is a slice of life in a small village in England just as the world is about to change with the beginning of World War I.  Beatrice Nash has just been hired to be the new Latin teacher and is immediately immersed in small town politics.  There's a large number of characters - some delightful, some awful, most a complicated and realistic mix.   This was a little too long and sometimes I had trouble of keeping up with who was who but for the most part I enjoyed it - especially the ending.  I think it would have worked better as a slow read vs reading it for long periods of time.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

5.  Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen - This is the first book in the Maple Bishop series, set in post World War II Vermont.  Maple is inspired by Frances Glessner Lee and her Nutshell Crime Scenes that were used as an investigative tool.  Glessner Lee and her Nutshells have always fascinated me and so I was super excited to try this series.  It did not disappoint and I flew through this book.  Maple struggles with dealing with people but she has an amazing eye for detail and a love of the security and control her dollhouses bring.  When she accidentally stumbles on a crime scene she immediately notices things that the Sheriff dismisses or doesn't notice at all.  The mystery really hooked me but I was especially pulled in by Maple's investigation.  As well, I really loved the relationship between her and the Sheriff, his deputy Kenny, Ben, and a number of other townspeople.  I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Recipe Thursday: Crockpot Chicken Tortellini

One of my goals for 2026 is to sort through all the recipes I have laying around tucked into folders and notebooks as well as my gigantic Pinterest/food blog collection that hasn't been touched in years.  I've been having quite a good time with it.  I enjoy cooking but it can become a chore pretty easily and this has made it a lot more fun for me as I feel like I'm working on a project.   Around here we've taken to calling it Recipe Thunderdome as all recipes have to be auditioned before earning their place in the final recipe binder. 

*For context I'm a reasonably capable home cook but one who is often trying to multitask and who is pretty much completely self-taught. *

Today I'm sharing Crockpot Chicken Tortellini from Slow Cooker Recipes

Changes:  I forgot the Parmesan at the last step but other than that made it just as the recipe directed.

Thoughts on Recipe Difficulty:  This was pretty easy.  You do have to fiddle with a little in the last 30 minutes or so of cooking but for the most part you just put the ingredients in and walk away for 4 hours.  

Cook Time:  Actual prep time is probably about 15 minutes though it does cook for 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Served With: a green salad and rolls

Results:  It was good and easy but not remarkable.  Basically, my husband and I decided we'd be fine having it again and fine not having it again.  I really love tortellini but I have a baked tortellini recipe I'd pick over this one every time and I have a few more on deck.  

Verdict:  Exiled.  There's nothing wrong with this recipe but it's not special enough for the binder.  

What I'm Reading Right Now - June 10

I always have a few books going.  Here is what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about them.

Ebook:

When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams - I'm only a few chapters in but so far, I'm really enjoying it.  I'm really enjoying that it's set in the same places as last year's book so I'm seeing some of the characters from that book.

Print Book:

White Hot by Ilona Andrews - I still hate the cover - especially because it just doesn't fit the story - but I'm really enjoying the book.  It's not my usual genre but it's a fun story with snarky banter, teamwork, and some serious bad guys.

Audio Book:

Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman - This is a little bit biography but mostly a look at how Austen's work became as beloved and well known as it is today. I'm not the hugest Austen fan but I'm finding this pretty interesting.

Slow Read:

Code Name: Lise: The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy by Larry Loftis - This reads like a fast paced action story so far and I'm struggling to keep it as a slow read.  Odette's story is fascinating and I really enjoy Loftis's story telling.

What are you reading right now?

Top Ten Tuesday - Books with Handwriting (or Font That Looks Like Handwriting)

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 Books with Handwriting (or Font that Looks Like Handwriting) on the cover.  I pulled up my various TBRs and here are ten I found.  

1.  The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman

2.  The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom

3.   Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel

4.  Recipe for Joy by Monica Comas

5.  The Shippers by Katherine Center

6.  West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge

7.  Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

8.  The Rainy Day Bookshop by RaeAnne Thayne

9.  The Butler by Clair Mackintosh

10. Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Have you read any of these?

The Reimaging of Thornwood House - Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Reimaging of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

Rating: Loved It (5 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description: Evelyn Sharpe is accustomed to dealing with natural disasters as a land witch, but she longs for a life with a little less danger for her and her adopted daughter, Ruby. So when the opportunity to take over as Caretaker of Thornwood House—a sentient home that acts as the magical heart of the village of Iskendra—arises, it seems almost fated.

When they arrive in sunny Iskendra, Evie and Ruby find the house is nothing like what they thought. First of all, it has walked away from the address. Thornwood House is grumpy, guarded, and extremely hesitant to allow the two witches through its doors.

Armed with gentle hearts and wild magic, Evie and Ruby begin to form tentative bonds with the house and the citizens of the small town. But there’s something deeply damaged about the building seeping into the forests surrounding Iskendra, and Evie will have to use all her power to protect the roots she’s started to grow.

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy

Why I Picked This Book: The blurb just sounded to magical to pass up.

My Impression: This was just absolutely lovely.  I loved Evie and Ruby right from the start and the community of Iskendra.  Thornwood House is incredibly special.  It has such a personality right from the start sometimes pitching temper tantrums, sometimes protecting, and sometimes offering wonderous surprises but always making itself felt. 

There's quite a journey here as Evie has to get to know her new community and forge a new life for her and for Ruby.  Her most important and most challenging task is getting the house to trust her and learning its secrets.  And what secrets it has!   

This was a delightful read from start to finish.  I rooted for Evie from the start and really enjoyed getting to know her.  I loved seeing the community develop around them and getting to know that as well.  There's a bit of a sweet romance and supportive friends.  I loved how Evie tackled some really challenging issues.  I've been in a bit of a reading funk lately and this was exactly the salve I needed.  It was lovely and poignant and full of hope but with a lot of heart.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and I'll also be looking for more books involving sentient houses as it turns out I'm a fan.  

Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely!  Especially if you enjoy fantasy and don't mind a touch of romance.  

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

This Month in Reading - May 2026 Recap

Monthly Reading Total: 10 - This was a tough reading month.  The weather was terrible which triggered a ton of migraines which tanked my reading.  As well, I've been in a bit of a slump with audio books.  I have a lot of books that are half finished though so I'm hoping June will be a much better month.

Type:

Print: 5

Ebook: 2 

Audio: 3

Genre:

Mystery - 5 

Fiction - 4

Nonfiction - 1 

Favorite Books of the Month:

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - This was my favorite audio of the month.  It was a solid 4 star read (probably a 4.25).  I found the plot entertaining and compelling and I really enjoyed the listening experience.

Mrs. Jeffries on the Trail by Emily Brightwell - This was my favorite print book of the month.  It's got a bit of a classic mystery feel and I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of upstairs/downstairs and who knows what.  Also, the mystery was just a solid one.

Rereads:  Only one in May - The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie.  I really enjoyed this one and it's one where I really feel like Christie's enjoyment of the plot and the writing comes through

Monthly Armchair Bookish Travel:

Domestic Travel - I only visited 2 states this month.  I visited Louisiana for the first time this year and had a revisit to New York.

International Travel - This month I only visited England though I did visit 5 times.  

Other than that, I had 2 fantasy books and 1 nonfiction (though that one did take place in England).

How was your reading in May?  Where did your books take you?

Friday Fives - June TBR

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. Since this is the first Friday in June, I'm planning my June TBR.  Here are 5 books I plan on reading in June. 

1.  When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams - I really enjoyed the last book by this author that was also set on Winthrop Island and I'm so looking forward to reading this one!

2.  Code Name: Lise: The True Story of World War II's Most Highly Decorated Spy by Larry Loftis - I've enjoyed other biographies by this author and this sounds like a fascinating story.

3.  Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh - I'm a little hit or miss with this author but the last few books have been hits and I love that this one takes place in New Zealand where Marsh was from.

4. Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates - This is the latest book in the Lighthouse Library series which usually makes for perfect summer reading.

5.  White Hot by Ilona Andrews - The covers for this series are really dreadful but I really enjoyed the first book and want to finish the series.  

What are you hoping to read in June?