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.  Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters - This may be my favorite of the standalone Peters books that I've read so far.  I loved the Scottish setting and the relationship between Susan and Jamie.  The mix of Susan's love for Scottish history and Jamie's disinterest was fun and the way Jamie's looks were used was really fun.  The mystery was a good one but got a bit lost in the chaos of all the escapes - which were so fun I didn't really feel the loss.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong - This is the third book in the Rockton series.  I love the setup here with the town of people hiding for whatever reason who must survive essentially on their own.  The addition of a new person caused quite a bit of chaos and was an interesting plot device.  Armstrong is fantastic at pacing and this was no exception.  My only issue - which is very much a case of it's not you it's me - was the level of violence in this one particularly with incidents involving animals.  It was borderline too much for me which impacted my enjoyment of the read.  I don't mind some violence but the animal addition and just the constant presence made this book not the most ideal read for me.  I will read another book in this series but if it continues in the same vein I don't think this series is for me.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Herbal Homicide by Fiona Grace - This the first book in the Penny Hawthorne series and I loved the premise.  Herbalist and tea shop owner, Penny Hawthorne, goes to Switzerland to create a line of teas for a resort and gets involved in a murder investigation.  Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.  Other than occasional mentions of skiing it was very easy to forget where the book was set.  As well, Penny seemed oddly famous in Switzerland for a shop owner in New England.  If she was famous for her botanical work there was no real explanation of that.  Despite all that the mystery wasn't bad and it was entertaining overall.  What knocked it down a star was the fact I listened to the audio which was read by an AI voice.  The inconsistencies of tone, inflection, and emotional nuance where distracting as well as the random mispronunciations.  I will be more careful to avoid AI voices in the future.  My Rating: Just Okay (2 Stars)

4.  Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern - The cover and the title pulled me in so I really didn't know too much about the plot going in.  It starts off with the beginning of the backstory of one of the characters that was a bit off-putting at first and I almost DNF'd it.  I'm glad I didn't!  Once I got through the first chapter I got to know Kit and Sonny and Rusty and all the other characters that live in the world of the library in small town New Hampshire.  Things are not easy and nothing ends wrapped up nicely in a bow but I really enjoyed the characters growth through the book.  I even enjoyed the backstory as it was woven into the story.  The audio is very well done and this is an author I would definitely read again.  It is kind of a quiet story that handles big topics with characters I found easy to like and to connect with.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5. A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson - This was my second book by Peter Swanson and I thoroughly enjoyed this wild ride of a story!  Every time I thought I had what was going to happen next pinned down it would take a sharp turn.  But with all the twists and turn the story never got confusing and the development made sense.  I discovered after I had started it that this is actually the third book in the series featuring Harry Kimball and Lily Kintner.  There may be some spoilers for the past two books but I had absolutely no issue jumping in with this one.  Their previous relationship had no bearing on the mystery and their past history is explained easily and without an info dump.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading more of this author.  The audiobook was nicely done with multiple narrators.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - The Summer Retreat

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:  The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

Blurb:  Celeste Jones has plans for a perfect summer with her boyfriend (and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé)—until he dumps her to be with the woman he’s had on the side for months. Heartbroken and furious, Celeste resolves to move on. When the going gets tough, the tough…okay, the not-so-tough go to the beach.
As soon as school lets out for the summer, she waves goodbye to her first-graders, packs up her bikini and heads for Moonlight Harbor, where she knows her big sister, Jenna, will receive her with open arms. Jenna could probably use some help at the Driftwood Inn, and Celeste is happy to do chores around the place in exchange for a relaxing summer escape. She just needs something—or someone—to distract her from her troubles.

Finding The One can be tricky, and Jenna is determined to make sure Celeste gets it right this time around. Not that Jenna’s an expert. She’s still trying to sort out her own love life. But if both sisters listen to their hearts, eventually they’re bound to discover that life—and love—is good at the beach.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have a couple of books by this author but I keep getting her confused with another author whose books I didn't enjoy.  This author's covers are lovely and the books always sound intriguing so I need to read one by her - and this looks like a great summer read.

What I'm Reading Right Now - May 6

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

Ebook

You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh - This is my first book by this author and so far I'm really enjoying it.  The pacing has been really good.

Print Book

The Dancing Floor by Barbara Michaels - I read this once so many years ago I don't count it as a reread.  I'm about halfway done with this one and I can see why I never felt like rereading it.  It's fine but I don't really care about any of the characters and the story isn't pulling me in just like Michaels books usually do.

Audiobooks

None.  Audiobooks just haven't been clicking with me lately so I've been focusing on podcasts.  I did finish All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie which I liked back at the end of April.

What are you reading right now?

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Writing

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 Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Writing.  

1.  Agatha Christie - This feels mandatory.  Specifically, 1940s/50s Agatha Christie where she was really playing with different concepts and her mysteries were so beautifully detailed.

2.  Barbara Michaels - I love her Gothic-y mysteries and her stories.  I just wish there were more.

3.  Dorothy Gilman - I have one more Mrs. Pollifax book to read before I have finished the series and that makes me very sad.

4.  Patricia Wentworth - I'm almost out of new to me books by her and have read all the Miss Silver books and I really want more.

5.  Victoria Thompson - I love her Gaslight Mystery series and have really loved how she grew her characters and the world they live in. I was so saddened to hear of her death though I am glad I have a few books in the backlist left to read.

6.  Mary Roberts Rinehart - I love her classic mysteries with a Noir-ish twist.  I still have a few to read but am not in a rush because I don't want to be finished.

7.  Maeve Binchy - She has written two of my very favorite found family books and this is another author where I'm so glad I have books left to read.

8.  Lisa Kleypas* - This has an asterisk because she has a new book up on NetGalley which I am very excited about but I have missed her!  

9.  Kate Morton - I'm pretty sure she's still writing but I need her to write faster!  I only have one book left of hers to read and haven't heard of any release date for a new book.

10. Brynn Bonner - Her genealogy cozy mysteries are some of my absolute favorite and there are only 4 books.  I've tried to find other books she's written but with no luck.   I would love more books in this series.

Which authors do you wish were still writing - or which authors do you need to write faster?

The Library After Dark - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

Rating: Not For Me
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Aria Stokes is finally feeling settled—she lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller at a local shop, and has even taken a leap of faith in love by indulging her attraction to bookstore regular Jasper. And he seems to already know her so well.

As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the Daedalus Library—the grandiose establishment famed for its immersive genre-based reading rooms and, more notoriously, its rumored hauntings. While Aria normally loves all things ghastly, this place holds more dark secrets than she’d prefer Jasper to know. Like that the last time she was here, she left a body behind.

But when the automatic-door entry malfunctions and Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group become trapped in the library, they are forced to venture through the storied rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape . . . and Aria quite literally has nowhere to hide from the shadows of her past. Then the group learns there’s a murderer in their midst.

Now, as she tries to break out of the library’s intricate reading rooms, Aria has to decide who she can trust—and what secrets are best kept buried—if she wants to make it out alive.

Genre: Mystery - Horror

Why I Picked This Book:  The blurb really caught my attention and how could I resist that cover?

My Impression: I wanted to love this.  I knew it was going to be a bit darker and potentially gorier than I'm used to but it's a haunted library with a very grim edge so how could I resist?  I was prepared for darker themes and more on page blood and violence.  However, what I wasn't prepared for and couldn't get past is that I just couldn't get into this at all.   I couldn't keep the characters straight and to be honest after a bit I didn't care enough to try.  

The writing style is very detailed with a lot of foreshadowing that I found frustratingly slow.  That said, from the other reviews I've read online it seems like this is either a love it or hate it kind of book.  Some people find the details and world building magical and very dark fairy tale-ish whereas others (me included) found it dull with hard to remember characters.    I think it's worth giving a try in case you're part of the former school of opinions but this may be one you try to find from the library just in case.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? No I don't think so.  I don't this author's style works for me.

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, but with reservations.  This is one I would try and borrow or get a sample of before buying.

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

This Month in Reading - April 2026 Recap

Monthly Reading Total: 18 - This was better than I thought as I was pretty distracted this month.  I did finish the month strong, so I think that helped quite a lot.

Type:

Print: 7

Ebook: 5 

Audio: 6

Genre:

Mystery - 9 

Fiction - 8

Romance - 1 

Favorite Books of the Month:

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto - The beginning was a little slow but the last half was fantastic - especially the ending.  Mebel is a character that will stay with me.

Soyangri Book Kitchen by Jee Hye Kim - This was a lovely quiet book with delightful book references.  

This Month's Rereads:

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie - one of my favorites for a reason!

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - same as above!

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna - I was kind of meh on this book the first time I read it but it's definitely proof of just how much mood and expectations impact your reading experience.  This time I really enjoyed it.

This Month's Armchair Travel:

Domestic Travel:  I only visited one new state this month - North Carolina.  I revisited Maine, Connecticut, Kentucky, and New York.

International:  There was a lot of international travel!  I visited England 7 times, Australia, South Korea, Canada, and 1960s Barbados.

How was your reading for April?  Where did your reading take you?

Friday Fives - May 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 May, I'm planning my January TBR.  Here are 5 books I plan on reading in May. 

1.  You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh - I've been wanting to read this author for ages and this is the beginning of a new series and looks like a fun fast paced read.

2.  Year One by Nora Roberts - I'm going back and reading the Nora Roberts books that I've missed.  She's done a number of trilogies that were a bit more fantasy than appealed to me at the time.  I'm looking forward to giving these a try.

3.  Mrs. Jeffries on the Trail by Emily Brightwell - This is the next book in the Mrs. Jeffries series.  I really loved the most recent books of the series and have been enjoying reading the beginning of the series.  I'm really liking seeing the characters develop.

4.  The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 1 by Beth Brower - I've heard raves about this book series and I can no longer resist!  

5.  All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott - I read this book literally decades ago and have been wanting to reread it.  May is my birthday month so this is one of my presents to myself!

What are you hoping to read in May?

Books from the Backlog - The Secret to Southern Charm

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:  The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Blurb:  Leaving fans “practically [begging] for a sequel” (Bookpage), critically acclaimed author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with the second novel in her beloved Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family.
After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her children deserve.

Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.

But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I read the first book in this series back in 2024 and couldn't wait to read the next book.  So I bought it - and then promptly put it aside and forgot about it.  With the temperatures warming up it looks like the perfect time to pull this one off the shelf.

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block - Fiction Review

Goodreads:  Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q Sutanto

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

Description:  Retirement should mean long-awaited trips to the sapphire waters of Santorini or careening down a sand dune in Dubai. For sixty-three-year-old Mebel, retirement means her husband of more than forty years announcing that he's leaving her for their private chef. Mebel isn’t sure who's the bigger loss.

Not to worry, Mebel has the perfect plan: she’s going to win back her husband. No one knows what he needs better than her—after all, she's been anticipating his needs their whole marriage. And if he wants a wife who can cook (why else would he leave her for a chef?), she will simply go to cooking school. Luckily, class at the renowned Saint Honoré School of Culinary Arts in France starts in just four days!

However, Mebel quickly realizes that her culinary school is not in illustrious Paris but rather in England—and some small village outside of Oxford no less. Despite the less-than-warm welcome from her much younger classmates, Mebel manages to befriend Gemma, the breakout star of the program, who offers to help Mebel on their first day. When Gemma stops showing up to class, Mebel knows she must figure out what—or who—caused her friend’s sudden disappearance. After all, Mebel may not know the first thing about how to cut a potato, but she certainly knows how to identify a fraud, and there’s definitely something fishy going on.

Genre: Fiction 

Why I Picked This Book:  I loved the Vera Wong books by this author and I can't resist a main character starting over kind of story.

My Impression:    I enjoyed this read. Sutanto has the ability to make the most flawed characters sympathetic and thoroughly likable.  I loved reading about Mebel's journey with learning to cook as well as understanding the different place she has ended up in with a culture so very much different from her own.

I think the book suffers a bit in comparison to the Vera Wong series.  Mebel has a surface level similarity to Vera.  She's completely sure in her own opinions and not afraid to use the age card to guilt people into doing what she wants.  However, there's no mystery here so the focus especially at the beginning is very much on Mebel.  While I grew to love Mebel as the book went on at the beginning it took me a bit to warm to her and to get involved in the book.  

This is a great story with an interesting dynamic - young vs old, East vs West, rich vs poor - all with a touch of humor and a bit of grace.  Once I got into it I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking foward to reading more from her.  If you're finding this a bit of a slow start or not loving Mebel give it a bit longer.  I don't think you'll regret it.  

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

Would I Recommend this Book?  Absolutely though I do recommend a little patience at the beginning.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books from Previous Spring TBRs That I Still Haven't Read

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 a Freebie.  When I made my Spring TBR for this year I started wondering just how many books on previous Spring TBRs I have yet to read.   I figured I could easily get 10 books off my lists from the last 10 years.  However, once I started looking it turns out I apparently crush Spring TBRs so I went with Spring related TBRs that I have yet to read.

Spring TBR

1. Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn (2025)

2.  Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann (2025)

3.  Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett (2020)

4.  Be Afraid by Mary Burton (2015)

5.  The Body in the Birches by Katherine Hall Page (2015)

Spring Reading Retreat - 2025

6.  A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

7.  The Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart

8.  Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

Springy Covers on My TBR - 2023

9.  The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee

10.  The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis

Do you have any books from Spring-y TBRs that you haven't gotten to quite yet?

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. *

Jane of Lantern Hill - Classic Middle Grade Review

Goodreads:  Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery

Rating: Loved It! (5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  For as long as she could remember, Jane Stuart and her mother lived with her grandmother in a dreary mansion in Toronto. Jane always believed her father was dead until she accidentally learned he was alive and well and living on Prince Edward Island. When Jane spends the summer at his cottage on Lantern Hill, doing all the wonderful things Grandmother deems unladylike, she dares to dream that there could be such a house back in Toronto... a house where she, Mother, and Father could live together without Grandmother directing their lives — a house that could be called home.

Genre: Middle Grade - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I've been wanting to reread this one for awhile as I remember it being one of my favorites.  

My Impression: This was just a delight.  Jane is miserably unhappy in her home in Toronto that is tightly controlled by her grandmother.  She's not sure why her parents are no longer together but is quite sure it is her fault.   She's awkward and clumsy and just not sure where she belongs - that is until a letter arrives summoning her to Prince Edward Island for the summer.  There she meets her dad and more importantly gets to know herself.  Her adventures aren't particularly dramatic but with each one Jane becomes more comfortable with herself which was truly enjoyable to read about.

Jane is a bit different from the typical Montgomery heroine.  She's not a dreamer or particularly ambitious.  She has farm more common sense than whimsy but she's incredibly kind and thoughtful with a bit of spunk to her.  I loved her return to Toronto and how her life changes.  Montgomery does a fantastic job here with two bullies.  The first - Grandmother Kennedy - is a fairly typical villain.  She's cold and controlling and determined to have things her way.  The second is a very different kind but one I think we've all encountered.  She's oh so sweet but everything she says is guaranteed to make the person she's speaking to feel a little less confident and just in general a little less.  The ending is a bit trite but I loved the book so much that I wasn't sad about it.  I'm so glad I took the time to revisit this one and I enjoyed it just as much as I remembered.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  Montgomery is one of my favorite authors and I always enjoy a reread.  I'm thinking of picking up one of her short story collections next.  

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, definitely.  It's a bit different from the typical Montgomery book but is an absolutely delightful read.