Reading What I Love - Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis

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:  Code Name: Lise: The True Story of WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy by Larry Loftis

Blurb:  The year is 1942, and World War II is in full swing. Odette Sansom decides to follow in her war hero father’s footsteps by becoming an SOE agent to aid Britain and her beloved homeland, France. Five failed attempts and one plane crash later, she finally lands in occupied France to begin her mission. It is here that she meets her commanding officer Captain Peter Churchill.
As they successfully complete mission after mission, Peter and Odette fall in love. All the while, they are being hunted by the cunning German secret police sergeant, Hugo Bleicher, who finally succeeds in capturing them. They are sent to Paris’s Fresnes prison, and from there to concentration camps in Germany where they are starved, beaten, and tortured. But in the face of despair, they never give up hope, their love for each other, or the whereabouts of their colleagues.

In Code Name: Lise, Larry Loftis paints a portrait of true courage, patriotism, and love—of two incredibly heroic people who endured unimaginable horrors and degradations. He seamlessly weaves together the touching romance between Odette and Peter and the thrilling cat and mouse game between them and Sergeant Bleicher.

Why I Think I'll Love This One: I've read another biography by Loftis and enjoyed his writing style.  This sounded like a fascinating story.  

My Thoughts:  This wasn't the easiest read but nor was it an easy one to put down.  It starts with a dramatic cat and mouse chase through French countryside and really the pace doesn't let up from there. Odette is a complicated woman.  She loves her children dearly but at the same time is able to leave them for what could potentially be a death sentence all while their father is in combat.  She is fiercely patriotic and has never wavering integrity which at times causes her great pain but also sees her through.   The story is both incredibly horrible but all with bits of humanity and pure kindness woven in.  I really appreciated that the author included an afterward to talk more about the lives of those in the book after the war for those that survived.  This is the second book I've read by this author and I'm eager to read more from him.  Given the intense and often disturbing events I read this one a few chapters at a time but always found it a little difficult to put down once my goal was hit.  My Rating: Loved It (5 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Books That Live in My Head Rent Free

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 That Live in My Head Rent Free.  

1.  The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - Valency is one of those characters that just sticks with me even long after I put the book down. 

2.  Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie - When I think about Christie's books this one is the one that comes to mind most often for me.  I love how she plotted it and really just everything about it.

3.  Vanish with the Rose by Barbara Michaels - I'm not sure that this is my favorite Michaels book but it is the one that pups in my mind the most.  

4.  Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell - I last read this more than 20 years ago but I remember pretty much everything about it and it still gives me the creeps.

5.  The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier - Anytime I see a bunch of birds on a powerline I think of this story.  It makes the movie look like a children's cartoon.

6.  Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright - My only complaint about this book is that I didn't read it as a child.  I love this visual of all the fading houses around Gone Away Lake.

7.  The Case of William Smith by Patricia Wentworth - I love this story and it's one I get the urge to reread periodically.

8.  Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas - Another one I get the urge to reread periodically.  Last time I read the entire book in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it.

9.  Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry - This is one that pops into my head frequently and it is also one of the books I recommend the most.

10.  Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - This is probably my favorite Christie.  I love things involving restoring old houses so anytime that subject comes up I think of this book.

What books live in your head rent fee?

The Story Keeper - Fiction Review

 Goodreads: The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

Rating: 
Source: 

Description: In the aftermath of a tumultuous year, Fiona Winslow finds solace in the decaying grandeur of Wurimbirra, the rambling family estate on the east coast of Australia she once called home. Intent on restoring it, she discovers the keys to more than just the dilapidated mansion—beneath the crumbling plaster and dust are secrets that have been buried for a generation.

When a misshelved book, The Midnight Estate, catches her attention in her late uncle's library, Fiona is plunged into a tale that mirrors her own—a story of love, loss and betrayal. But as the lines between fiction and reality blur, Fiona must ask Is the true mystery the one hidden within the walls of her ancestral home, or is it within the pages of a book that chose her as much as she chose it?

Told across three timelines and set against the Gothic backdrop of Wurimbirra, The Midnight Estate weaves a tale as intricate and haunting as Kate Morton's Homecoming, inviting readers into the heart of a family's darkest secrets with an absorbing book-within-a-book mystery.

Genre: Fiction

Why I Picked This Book: The premise grabbed me.  I just can't resist a decaying house and the bookish elements definitely added an extra pull.

My Impression: Oh, this book was a creepy one.  For the first half of the book nothing spectacularly creepy happens - a few glasses are broken, and a bucket is knocked over - but the author infuses the whole atmosphere around Fiona with something unsettling.  The book within a book is an interesting setup.  I'm usually not the hugest fan of the book inside the book and do a lot of skimming through that but that wasn't the case here.  Reading The Midnight Estate portion, I would forget there was a whole other story happening alongside.  The two storylines worked together very well.

I liked Fiona.  She's definitely struggling to re-find her identity and get herself figured out and I understood why moving back to Wurimbirra appealed to her.  I liked her complicated relationships with her family.  It felt very believable and authentic.  I also really enjoyed her cousin and mother's perspectives on what was happening around her.  The book within the book is heartbreaking and infuriating.  

This isn't a story I want to reveal too much about, but it is one I very much enjoyed.  Rimmer's writing style is fast paced and brings the characters and setting to life.  I had tried another book by her and found it on the angsty side.  While this book does tackle some emotions I didn't find it angsty.  Creepy and compelling definitely but not angsty.  

There are some trigger warnings for coercive control and spousal abuse.  While it isn't overly descriptive it is present in the book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm curious to dive into her backlist and will be looking forward to seeing her new books.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would.  This was atmospheric, creepy, and incredibly interesting.

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

Mid-Year Reading Questionnaire

I saw this over on Gulfside Musings and enjoyed reading JoAnn's answers I had to post my own version.

1. Best book so far in 2026?  Dolly All the Time by Annabel Mongahan - This was my first book by Monaghan and I absolutely loved it and every character in the book.

2. Favorite Sequel of the 1st half of 2026?  Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates.  I have been reading this series since the beginning and I was really pleased with the new direction the author is taking it in.  Moving the main character into more of a side character and getting a new main character with a completely different backstory gives the series a really nice refresh.  We get the same comfy community but shaken up just a touch.

3. A new release that you are excited for but haven’t read yet? Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict.  I really enjoy this author and the subject matter.  I can't believe I haven't read this one yet!

4. Most anticipated release of the second half of 2026? Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts.  I always enjoy Roberts' trilogies and they are always the perfect escape reading.

5. Biggest (reading) disappointment so far?  The Dancing Floor by Barbara Michaels.  Michaels is one of my favorite go-to authors for slump busting reading.  I love her Gothic-y romantic suspense stories made even more intriguing because the author was an Egyptologist.  Unfortunately, this book fell really flat for me.   This isn't the worst book I've read this year (That is A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham hands down) but it was the biggest disappointment

6. Biggest (reading) surprise so far? The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.  This is so different from my usual preferences, but I ended up really enjoying it.

7. Who is your favorite new-to-you or debut author this year? Katie Tietjen's Maple Bishop series.  I have thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series and will be looking for more from this author.

8. Your favorite character so far this year? Mebel from Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

9. A book that made you cry? Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis.  This biography of WWII's most highly decorated spy was brutal and at times had me in tears.

10. A book that made you happy? Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye - This was such a peaceful read that I felt happy and calm when I finished it.

11. What is the most beautiful book cover you have bought this year? The River Muse by Laura Resau.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  The book cover is absolutely gorgeous and that is 95% of the reason I bought it.

12. What book(s) do you want to read by the end of the year? Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst.  I have loved the previous two books in this series and I can't wait to read this next book.

Friday Fives - My Five Favorite Books for the First Half of 2026

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 my 5 favorite books from the first half of the year.  My reading year so far has been a lot of ups and downs.  I think I've had more 5 star reads than I've ever had but on the other had I've had more books that just flat out annoyed me than I've ever had!  Here are my 5 favorites looking back over the past 6 months.

1.  The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst - I'm not usually a YA fan but this was such a fun read.  I loved the characters and the whole setup of the inn.  The side characters really added to magic, and I really enjoyed watching Calisa grow into herself and become more confident.

2.  Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan - This was my first book by the author and I absolutely loved it.  The audio is fantastic, but I loved Dolly and the people around her.   It was sweet and funny and poignant and uplifting.  I'm glad I bought it as it's one I can definitely see revisiting.

3.  Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen - This was the first book in a (right now) 2 book mystery series loosely based on Frances Glessner Lee and her "Nutshells".  I really enjoyed both the premise and the writing and I'm really hoping there will be more to this series.

4.  Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto - This has a bit of a slow start for me but as the book went on it got better and better.  The ending was a homerun and took the book from enjoyable to a favorite.

5.  When in Rome by Sarah Adams - I'm very hit or miss with rom-coms but this was very much a hit.  I loved the two main characters - especially Amelia.  This was another book where I really enjoyed seeing the main character figure out what she wanted in life.

The common thread in all of these is likable main characters figuring out what they want in life and taking the necessary steps to get the life they want.  I think I'm going to do some digging in my TBR list to see what other books I have in this line of reading!

Recipe Thursday: AllRecipes Lime Chicken Picante

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. *

Cookbooks aren't exempt from the Thunderdome and here's this week's candidate from All Recipes 30 Minutes to Cook

Lime Chicken Picante

1/2 c chunky salsa
1/4 c dijon style mustard
2 T fresh lime juice
6 chicken breasts
2 T butter
6 T plain yogurt
6 lime wedges

In a shallow bowl, combine the salsa, mustard, and lime juice.  Mix well.  Add chicken, cover and refrigerate.  Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Remove chicken from marinade and add to skillet, reserving marinade.  Sauté, turning chicken frequently until browned on all sides.  Meanwhile, boil reserved marinade in a saucepan for 4 - 5 minutes.

Add boiled marinade to chicken and sauté 3 to 5 more minutes or until chicken is no longar pink and juices run clear.  Remove chicken to a serving platter, increase heat to high and boil marinade 1 minute.  Spoon marinade over chicken and top evenly with yogurt and lime wedges.

Changes:  I used sour cream instead of yogurt just because of taste preference

Thoughts on Recipe Difficulty:  This is pretty easy. I like that the marinating is done ahead of time and it didn't have tons of ingredients.

Cook Time: I marinated the chicken for about an hour and the rest probably took about 20 minutes.

Served With: Rice and black beans

Verdict: Survived! It was easy and flavorful.

When I First Met You - Romance Review

Goodreads: When I First Met You by Lori Foster

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

Description: When he stepped in to help out a city girl, no one expected a “pretend” rescue would lead to something real.

When Glory McCallahan’s cousin moved to Hoker, Kentucky, she felt like she’d lost her best friend. Then, Callie fell in love. To help with wedding arrangements, Glory joins her, but after, the plan is to get back to her perfectly ordered life. Glory has always played it safe, keeping her polished smile in place and her heart on lockdown. No way is she going to let the rugged, too-handsome younger brother of her cousin’s new husband mess with her plans. No matter how infuriating, irreverent, and impossible to ignore Kam may be.

Kam Norwood sees past Glory’s flawless surface, and when he notices she’s being accosted by a wedding guest, he gallantly steps in. What starts as a pretend rescue turns into a night of unexpected sparks. Kam’s not afraid of Glory’s sharp edges—or her secrets. So when the rejected guest turns out to be Glory’s angry ex and things escalate, Kam’s protective instincts kick in big-time.

Turns out, the sizzling attraction may be the one thing that can keep them both safe.

Genre: Romance - Contemporary 

Why I Picked This Book: I've enjoyed other books by this author, and this sounded like a good read.

My Impression: When I picked this one up I didn't realize this was the second in a series but that really wasn't a problem.  I might have had a touch more explanation as to the character's backgrounds but it didn't affect my understanding of the characters.  I liked Glory.  She's got a tough backstory and tries to be perfect all the time. Her relationship with her cousin, Callie, was nice and supportive.  I also really liked Kam's mother, Aida.  Kam took me a bit more to really like.  He's a super protective guy with a history of being a pretty major flirt.  I didn't feel like he really communicated well with Glory (or she with him for that matter) at first.

Kam and Glory are thrown together pretty quickly in the book as Glory encounters a stalker at her cousin's wedding.  It does lean a bit towards insta-love (or at least major insta-lust) but there are circumstances that make it make a bit more sense.  I enjoy the writer's writing style and her characters.  This definitely touches on some pretty dark topics but doesn't deep dive or focus on them.  

If you're looking for a romance that edges towards romantic suspense with likable if somewhat standard main characters this is a good choice.  It's a great pick for some escapist/need a break reading.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would.  I'd like to read the first book in this series and I've enjoyed the other books I've read by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're a contemporary romance fan this is a good choice.  

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