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?

Last Days of Summer Reading Retreat Reading List

 It's been a tough summer with lots of little inconveniences and not nearly enough reading time.  I always say I would love to just spend a month (or a week or even a weekend) with a stack of books just reading through a pile of books.  As summer starts to wind to a close (and we should see cooler temps in the next few months!) I'm thinking about actually doing it.  I don't have time to do nothing but read which is my dream but I do have more time than I think.  So, my goal is for the next month to plan my day around reading instead of planning reading around my day.   To be most efficient I need to have a stack of books ready to go and here is my stack!

1.  Rialto by Kate Milford - I think starting with a middle grade is a good idea and I love both the premise and cover.  I've also had good luck with this author.

2.  Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery - I do love a locked room mystery and this looks like the most locked room of locked room mysteries.

3.  The Lily of Ludgate Hall by Mimi Matthews - I've read the first two books in this series and really want to continue with it.

4.  The Third to Die by Allison Brennan - This is an author on my Must Read list and this one sounds fantastic.  I was thrilled when I saw it at a used bookstore.

5.  Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams - I've really enjoyed the first two and want to continue with it.

6.  The Love Haters by Katherine Center - This looks like the most perfect summer read and I really loved the other book I've read by this author.

7.  Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts - I reread the first book in this trilogy a couple of weeks ago and really want to continue with the trilogy.

8.  The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey - I loved the first book and it's been way to long since I've read it.  

9.  Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams - The previous book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and I've really been curious about how the story resolves itself.

10. Blue Moon by Wendy Corsi Staub - Pretty much ditto above.

I'm surprised how many series I ended up on this list but I think it looks like some fun end of summer reading!  What would you put on your reading list for an end of summer reading retreat?

The Mystic and the Missing Girl - Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle

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

Description: Drew Benson has a secret. She gets visions, something she hasn’t tapped into since she was a teenager, when her late aunt, a TV psychic known as Hannah Mystic, became the scapegoat in the unsolved disappearance of a local teenager. Twenty years later, Drew is happy to ignore her gift, focusing instead on keeping the metaphysical shop she inherited from Hannah afloat, wrangling her sole, astrology-obsessed employee, and dodging local rake Foster Banks in her picturesque lakeside hometown.

But when Drew's arch-nemesis from high school, now a big city reporter, decides to investigate the cold case from all those years ago, it’s Drew’s ability that could finally make a break in the decades old mystery. With bills piling up, a disapproving mother laying on the guilt, and a local vandal who wants Drew and her witchy store gone, Drew has a lot to lose. But what she stands to gain—finding out what happened to the missing teen, clearing her aunt’s name, and a second chance at belonging—could change everything.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book: The blurb really caught my attention!  It sounded like an interesting read.

My Impression:  This was a fun mystery and an interesting start to what I hope is a series.  Drew has inherited her aunt Hannah's shop and a whole host of problems regarding a cold case that destroyed Hannah's reputation.  Drew is trying to figure out how to keep things going but is hesitant to really commit to her new life.  

The start is a bit slow.  There's a lot of backstory to explain with the characters, Drew's relationship with Hannah, Hannah's downfall, the shop, and the community itself.  However, once the current day story starts going I really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to see how everything unraveled.  I loved the side characters, especially Foster and Drew's best friend Gigi.  They added a lot of humor to the book and having Drew team up with an investigative reporter, Nick also really worked well. 

The mystery was interesting and I really enjoyed how they explored new leads while examining what the original investigation had dug up or left out.  The ending was well down and entertaining.  I liked how it wrapped up the story and added character growth to Hannah.  I'm hoping this becomes a series because this is a world I'd really like to revisit.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  I ended up really enjoying this one and am looking forward to reading more.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like mysteries this is a fun read though I would recommend being patient with the begining.

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

This Month in Reading - August 2026

Monthly Reading Total: 18 - This was a pretty good month.  I had a few slower reads but for the most part I really enjoyed everything I read.  

Type:

Print - 8

Ebook - 6 

Audio - 4

Genre:

Mystery - 7 

Fiction - 7

Nonfiction - 1

Romance - 3 

Favorite Books of the Month:

Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly - I love this series and this was a fun one!

The Valentine Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - This series is one of the reasons I renewed my Audible subscription.  I love the characters and really enjoy the mystery solving.

Rereads: By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie and Flowers in the Rain and Other Stories by Rosamunde Pilcher

Monthly Armchair Reading: 

Domestic Travel:  This month I headed over to the US Virgin Islands and Arizona for the first time this year.  I also visited Vermont, Oregon, North Carolina, Idaho, and California (twice).

International Travel:  I went to Scotland twice, England three times, Australia, and Greece

How was your reading in August?  Where did your reading take you?