Road Trip Thursday - Books Set in Washington

Every year I track the states and countries that I visit in my reading.  I'm trying to visit a few more states and countries so I'm looking for places I haven't visited yet this year.  Last month was Florida which I visit in real life a good bit but somehow haven't read any books set in there yet this year.  Now I'm taking a look I usually visit fictionally quite a bit but haven't been this year - Washington.  

1.  Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - I had zero interest when this first came out but I've heard such good reviews that it's moved way up my TBR. 

2.  Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - Kristin Hannah has been on my TBR for ages.  I read one of her books not that long ago and enjoyed it though it was devastating.  I've heard her earlier books aren't quite as gut wrenching, so I want to give this a try.

3.  Violets of March by Sarah Jio - I've enjoyed this author and this looks like a good read and has been on my TBR for years.

4.  Smoke in Mirrors by Jayne Ann Krentz - I read this years and years ago and remember enjoying it though it was a bit of a fever dream.  I'd like to revisit it and Krentz is always a fun read.

5.  The Crepes of Wrath by Sarah Fox - I can't have a list without a cozy and this series has been on my TBR for awhile.  I didn't realize it is set in Washington and I absolutely love the title.

Next month I'm going to be back to a state that is close to home with another neighbor.  This time - Mississippi.  Do you have any favorites that are set in Washington?  

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot

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 2026.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot

Blurb:  FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land—and off the grid—in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event. But the crime scene details are eerily familiar to an unsolved mystery from Mercy’s past.
Sent by the FBI to assist local law enforcement, Mercy returns to Eagle’s Nest to face the family who shunned her while maintaining the facade of a law-abiding citizen. There, she meets police chief Truman Daly, whose uncle was the cave man’s latest victim. He sees the survivalist side of her that she desperately tries to hide, but if she lets him get close enough to learn her secret, she might not survive the fallout…

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this one.  Mercy grew up in a community and her perspective was really interesting.  I found the fact she couldn't put everything behind her even as she rebelled against some of the teachings authentic.  As well, the fact she really loved and missed her family - especially her siblings - added some depth to the story.  The mystery kept me hooked and I really enjoyed watching everything unravel as Mercy and Truman closed in on the truth.  The romance felt a bit unnecessary to me and like it was added in last minute to the plot.  It never took over the main storyline which I appreciated but I would have been fine with less of their thoughts about each other.  While the primary mystery was resolved there are a few plotlines in Mercy's personal life that will continue into the next book and I'm curious to see how things evolve.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Auto-Buy Authors

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 Authors I've Met.  I haven't met very many authors and meeting authors isn't high up on my To Do list so instead I'm just focusing on 10 of my auto-buy authors.

1.  Sarah Beth Durst - I've read 3 books by this author and loved every one of them.  I love her characters and her mix of reality and fantasy.

2.  Nora Roberts - While not all of her books are my favorite I always enjoy reading her latest books.

3.  Katie Tietjen - I've only read two books by this author (because that's all there are) but I really enjoyed her mystery series loosely based on the Nutshell crime reconstructions.  I've been keeping an eye on everything I can hoping there will be a third book in the series!

4.  Dorothy Gilman - I have one more book left in the Mrs. Pollifax series and I'm stalling because I don't want the series to end.  I'm also slowly collecting all of Gilman's other books.

5.  Patricia Wentworth - I have most of her books - and all of the Miss Silver books - but every time I go to the bookstore or am looking to add another book to an order I always look to see if they have any Wentworth books.

6.  Heather Webber - I have read most of Webber's books and loved them all.  I will definitely be buying any books she publishes and the future and catching up on her backlist.

7.  Ngaio Marsh - While Marsh wasn't as prolific as Wentworth there are still so many of her books I haven't read and am on the hunt for.  

8.  Kate Morton - I need Morton to write faster.  I've only got one book left that I haven't read and haven't heard of a new one coming out anytime soon.  

9.  Patti Callahan Henry - I have loved everything I've read by her and am anxiously waiting for her next book. 

10. Julia Kelly - This is a new addition to this list but the last couple of books I've read by her I've really enjoyed and will be picking up all of her next books.

Do you enjoy meeting authors?  Who are some of your auto-buy authors?

Reading What I Love: Hope Springs on Main Street by Olivia Miles

The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read.  There's no real rhyme or reason.  I just go through my library list and my shelves and pick the books that are calling to me.  My focus in 2026 is reading books I think I'll love - or at least really enjoy.

Goodreads:  Hope Springs on Main Street by Olivia Miles

Blurb:  What do you do when your cheating husband proposes to the "other woman"? For Jane Madison, it means you keep calm, carry on, and sneak candy bars and wine for dinner. Jane's grateful for her adorable little girl, yet she yearns for the love that was missing from her marriage. Only one man ever really "got" Jane-and she's stunned when he returns to Briar Creek. But a single mom can't date her ex's best friend . . . can she?
Jane's still kind, beautiful-and far too good for the buddy Henry Birch tried to stop her from marrying years ago. Laying eyes on her now is like a much-needed ray of sunshine. Back in town to sell his family's old house, Henry wants to close a bad chapter in his life and move on. But time with Jane and her sweet daughter has him flirting with the idea of happily ever after-if he can convince her to take a second chance on love . . .

Why I Think I'll Love This One: I read an earlier book in this series years ago and really liked main character in this one.  I've been looking forward to reading Jane's story for awhile.  

My Thoughts:  I enjoyed this one.  It's a pretty straight forward romance with two main characters who have tough pasts who are trying to move forward.  I really liked Jane and Henry.  They're nice people who haven't had an easy time with it.  They also have some history - Henry had had a crush on Jane for most of his life though she was always involved with his best friend Adam.  I was a little concerned how that Henry would deal with that, but I thought he did a good job balancing loyalty and his feelings.  This was a nice romance with a nice community that isn't too perfect but is still likable.  Jane's relationship with her sisters felt real and I did enjoy the community of Briar Creek.  It makes me want to pick up Ivy's story next.  This is technically a series but like most romances functions perfectly as a standalone.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Friday Fives - Five Nonfiction Books on My 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 it's September and schools all over have started I'm going back to school and picking 5 nonfiction books on my TBR.

1.  Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep - I've heard such good things about this one and it sounds fascinating.

2.  The Gales of November: The Untold Story of Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon - I've watched a few documentaries of the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking so I'd like to read 

3.  The Scandalous Hamiltons by Bill Shaffer - This sounds absolutely fascinating - especially with the connections to Alexander Hamilton!  

4.  The Churchill Sisters: The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine's Daughters by Rachel Trewethewey - I read Marie Benedict's book about Clementine Churchill and became fascinated with her daughters.  

5.  Stealing Rembrandts: The Untold Stories of Notorious Art Heists by Anthony M. Amore - I read The Art Thief a couple of years ago and found it really interesting so I'm curious about this one.

Books Past and Present - September Edition

 

Today I'm looking at books I want to read in September - a new release and a backlist - and books I've read in Septembers past and what I thought of them.

New Release I'm Looking Forward To Getting:

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin - I have really enjoyed everything I've read by this author and while this looks a little different it also looks really good.

Backlist Title I'm Looking Forward To Reading

Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer by Lisa McCubbin - I read a biography on First Ladies (From Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama) several years ago and was so interested by Betty Ford.  She was one of the first "respectable" women to come forward and speak openly about struggles with mental health and addiction.  As well, she just seems like an interesting woman who found herself in the middle of a major controversary very much against her will.

Books from Septembers Past:

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill - This was a surprise hit for me.  I think the audio version made it even more enjoyable.

An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson - This was a modern take on the Henry VIII story and very entertaining and cleverly done.  I need to look for more books by this author as I really enjoyed this one.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris - I really enjoyed this one but I think this book convinced me that this author is just a bit too dark and gritty for me.  It was really good but seriously creped me out.  

What are some books you want to read this September or have enjoyed in past Septembers?

What I'm Reading - September 9

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

Ebook:

Murder on Sacred River by Tasha Alexander - This is the latest in the Lady Emily series and comes out later this month.  I've read the first few and the most recent few and have enjoyed them.  I'm about 40% in and so far really enjoying it.  

Print Book:

Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell - This series is fun though a bit inconsistent.  So far this is one of my favorites and I'm really enjoying it.  

Audio Book:

The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman - This was a TBR Jar pick from the library and I'm about 30% in.  So far it's okay.  A bit heavy on the adjectives with a main character who walks the line of getting on my nerves but I'm curious to see how the story plays out.

Slow Read:  

Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers - I'm not super far into this but so far I'm enjoying it.  I think the key to my enjoying Sayers books is less Lord Peter Wimsey and more Harriet Vane.

What are you reading today?