The Island Club - Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

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

Description:  1956: On idyllic Balboa Island, just off the California coast, life seems peaceful and welcoming. But when the lives of three women begin to unravel in shockingly different ways, an unlikely friendship―and the game of tennis―may be the only thing that can save them.

Milly Kinkaid's plan to fix her crumbling marriage seems to be falling apart before it even begins. She believed that moving her young family from Hollywood to Balboa Island might entice her increasingly distant husband to come home earlier after work. Instead, he's barely coming home at all.

Society matriarch Sylvia Johnson and her husband have been pillars of their community for decades, and have just recently begun a new business venture: The Island Club, a place for members to swim, play tennis and dine in style. But when she learns that he has been risking their financial security and putting their family's future in grave danger, she's not only poised to lose the club, but the entire community she holds dear.

Meanwhile, standoffish loner Adele Lambert's entire world is on the brink of being destroyed if the dark secrets of her past and her hidden identity is revealed. Twenty years ago, she ran from a shameful scandal and left behind the only thing she ever loved. Now, terrified that the anonymity she's spent decades guarding will be exposed, but desperate to stay afloat, she risks everything to return to the game that brought her to her knees all those years before.

Set against the sun-drenched beaches of Balboa Island, with its prim and proper 1950s facade, The Island Club is a story of love, loneliness and the lies we tell ourselves―and what can be gained when the truth is finally revealed.

Genre: Fiction 

Why I Picked This Book:  I've read another book by this author and enjoyed it - plus the blurb really appealed to me.

My Impression:  This author has the fantastic ability to really make settings and characters come to life.  I could visualize the island and the club and all the characters who made up the world of the book.  I didn't always like the characters.  They made decisions that didn't make sense or their reactions were emotional and sometimes a little petty (or in some cases way more than a little).  But Sylvia, Milly, and Adele all felt like real people.  

The story was at times frustrating, at times sad but always real.  All three women are somewhat powerless in steering their lives but are all doing the best they can with mixed results.  Sylvia's situation and her husband's attitude especially were absolutely maddening even though I was very much rooting for her.  I connected the most with Milly but was interested in all the characters.

This was interesting and very readable book with characters that feel very real and a world that comes alive.  The story isn't always easy but it's always interesting.  This is an author I'm looking forward to reading more from.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Yes!  I've enjoyed both books I've read by her and am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would - especially if you enjoy reading stories of women's lives.  

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

A Caribbean Mystery - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie

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

Description:   There is no rest or relaxation for Miss Marple. Agatha Christie's most appealing sleuth returns in this classic baffler of a vacation-turned-deadly.

Nephew Raymond West has given his favourite aunt a vacation at a beautiful resort in the Caribbean. While there she encounters an old wind-bag. One of his stories is about meeting a murderer. He has a snapshot. Suddenly he hesitates, and gets flustered. By the next morning he is dead, seemingly of natural causes. Miss Marple has doubts.

And well she should.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the April pick for the Read Christie 2026 Challenge and it is one I was especially looking forward to as I don't remember the last time I read it.

My Impression: I always forget just how much I love this book.  This is Miss Marple is at her best.  She should be out of her element at a resort on a Caribbean island, but Miss Marple is always a wonderful observer of human nature and a resort is peak people watching.  Her thoughts on each of the other characters was at time funny but always incredibly accurate.  I also really enjoyed how restless she's feeling at the beginning of the book as there's nothing to do.  I'm sure her nephew would be appalled by that thought.

The mystery is an intriguing one.  It's a bit of a locked door as well as a death that could easily be natural causes.  The solution is a good one though the thought processes getting there can be a little muddy at times.  The cast of characters all have their own dramas which add to the interest and the good pace of the book.  

While I wouldn't say this is one of Christie's best written books it is a fun read with excellent pacing and an entertaining cast of characters.  On a fun sidenote - if you're a fan of BBC's Death in Paradise the town in that show Honore is a nod to the island in this book St. Honore.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Of course!  I'm looking forward to May's book which is The Labours of Hercules for the category of Best Short Story Collection.  I'm not sure it's my favorite short story collection but it is a lot of fun and one I'm looking forward to revisiting.  

Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely!  This is one of her best later books and a thoroughly enjoyable read.  It's a fantastic appearance by Miss Marple.  

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.  Murder in the Crypt by Irina Shapiro - I love a good historical mystery and the premise of this one (English constable/American army surgeon who is also heir to title and manor solve crimes) so I couldn't resist giving this one a listen.  I liked this one pretty well.  The mystery was an interesting one with a pretty good twist as well as a solid motive.  The main characters complimented each other and were able to explore different avenues of investigation.  What kept it from being a winner for me was there was just too much description which slowed the pace and kept me from really being pulled into the story.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

2.  The House on Blackberry Hill by Donna Alward - This was a reread for me though it had been so long it barely counted as I remembered just about nothing.  Overall, I enjoyed it.  I really liked the story of the house and the Foster family and I also liked Tom's family.  I would have liked more ghosts and more focus on the house but it is a romance and not a ghost story so the focus makes sense.  I never really warmed to Abby and Tom as it seemed like neither was really ready for a serious relationship.  I did like the community and it was a quick enjoyable read but not one that I will probably reread.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  The Blackout Murders by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - This was so fun!  This is set during World War II in a small English village.  Newly widowed (and American) Evie has recently inherited her grandmother's cottage/tea shop and has come to Crofter's Green to heal.  When the local air raid warden is found dead she is drawn into the investigation and the village itself.  I loved all the characters and was completely caught up in the mystery.  This is a series I'm really looking forward to continuing (and is the only reason I haven't canceled my Audible account as it's on Audible Plus).  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams - I really wanted to love this one.  I was excited at the inside look at the fairly recently abdicated Duke of Windsor and I loved the World War II Bahamas setting.  Unfortunately, it just wasn't a favorite.  I didn't warm to any of the characters and there were so many different storylines I never felt really connected to any of them.  This probably would 3.5 Stars but I really didn't like the ending.  There was a major twist that was never fully explained and a major plot point that was only partially resolved with very little explanation.  I was left feeling pretty unsatisfied and with more questions than answers.  My Rating: Just Okay (2.5 Stars)

5.  The Dead Sea Cipher by Elizabeth Peters - Peters' standalone books are a lot of fun.  Are they realistic?  Not in the slightest and they're a bit formulaic as well but they are always a fun read.  This book takes place in 1960s (maybe 1970s?) Beirut and features solo traveler Dinah van der Lyn who is shocked to hear a murder happen in the hotel room next door to hers.  Next follows an adventure full of hidden agendas, misunderstandings, and secrets all with the goal of uncovering lost biblical scrolls.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

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:  Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess Carnarvon

Blurb:  The real-life inspiration and setting for the Emmy Award-winning Downton Abbey , Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war. Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home. Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman. This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  It's been on my TBR for years and I had kind of forgotten about it but I find it no less fascinating now than I did when I first came across it.

Reading What I Love - The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

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:  The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

Blurb:   Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they’re frozen—or so their inside joke goes. Nobody knows that her team has a secret: they can travel back in time to look for evidence.
The latest assignment sees Ali venture back farther than they have dared before: to 1850s London to clear the name of Cain Templeton, an eccentric patron of the arts. Rumor has it that Cain is part of a sinister group called The Collectors. Ali arrives in the Victorian era to another dead woman at her feet and far too many unanswered questions.

As the clock counts down, Ali becomes more entangled in the mystery, yet danger lurks around every corner. She soon finds herself trapped, unable to make her way back to her beloved son, Finn, who is battling his own accusations in the present day.

Could the two cases be connected? In a race through and against time, Ali must find out before it’s too late.

Why I Think I'll Love This One:  I adore a cold case investigation and this looks like an interesting twist on that.

My Thoughts:  I love the concept but when it comes down to it I'm just not a big fan of time travel.  Ali going back to 1850 seemed so overly risky to me that it leaned into TSTL territory pretty heavily.  I wasn't fully satisfied with the solution to the cold mystery itself.  It looks like that a continuing plot line so hopefully it will be resolved in later books.  As well, while the solution to the modern day mystery did make sense one major aspect seemed a bit unnecessary.  Griffiths' pacing is excellent and her writing style kept me engaged even when I wasn't really enjoying the story.  I probably won't continue with this series but I will read more by this author.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I'd Read on a Rainy Day in April

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 April Showers and I'm doing ten books on my shelves that I'd read on a rainy day in April.  

1.  Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter - This sounds like a fast paced mystery with a few interesting twists and written in the style of a documentary.  It sounds like such a good read!

2.  The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan - I've read one book by this author which I really loved and this one sounds amazing.

3.  Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams - I usually really enjoy Williams' books and this looks a bit different and very intriguing.

4.  The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White - I could use a virtual trip to New Orleans right about now!  It's been too long.

5.  What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - I read the first book in this series about a family discovering that everything is not what it seems with their father and absolutely loved it.  I've been really excited to read the second book but haven't picked it up yet.  A rainy day seems like the perfect time.

6.  The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner - Did I get this book because the cover is gorgeous and there are sprayed edges involved?  Absolutely.  Thankfully, the story does look good and it looks like it'd be a good read for a rainy day.

7.  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - This is a short book that I've heard wonderful things about.  

8.  At the Coffee of Curiosities by Heather Webber - I always love Webber's books and this one is on my shelf.

9.  Hardcastle's Spy by Graham Ison - I loved another book in this historical mystery series and had to pick up the first one.  I'm really looking forward to it.  

10. Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James - And we have to end a rainy day reading binge with a bit of eerie atmosphere that St. James does so well.

What books would you pull off your shelves to read on a rainy April day?

Our Extraordinary Summer - Contemporary Fiction Review

Goodreads: Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde

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

Description:  Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?

Genre: Fiction - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  Honestly, I got this confused with an author of a similar name but I really like the sound of the book so I'm not sad I grabbed it by accident.

My Impression:  I love a book about sisters and this was very much that.  Calista and Athena had a very messed up childhood with a father determined to pit them against each other and keep them from their mother.  Every event in their childhood and young adulthood was a power play with a father whispering in one ear and then the other.  Now as adults it's been years since they've spoken until they are reunited after their death of their estranged mother.  

Hobby Island was a magical setting with interesting characters.  It's a place of a healing and grief and reconnecting and Eloise Hobby is right in the center steering those around her.  Athena and Calista's story is heartbreaking and so frustrating and my heart broke for them and for their mother.  I enjoyed seeing how this whole story evolved.  There is a romance but it definitely feels like a subplot and while I did enjoy it I was much more focused on the story of the sisters.

This is the first book by this author and it won't be my last.  I'm looking forward to going back and reading the first Hobby Island book.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Definitely.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.  

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy books involving family relationships, I definitely recommend this one.  

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