Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Covers That Made Me Want to Read the Book


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 Cover Freebie so I'm focusing on 10 Covers That Made Me Want to Read the Book (and what I thought if I've actually read them)


1.  The Moonsingers by Robyn J. Pritzker - Rating: 3.5 Stars


2.  Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen - Rating: 4.5 Stars


3.  The Reimaging of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson - Rating: 5 Stars


4.  The Collector's Apprentice by B.A. Paris - Rating: 2 Stars


5.  The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - Rating: 5 Stars


6.  A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney - Rating: 4 Stars


7.  Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire - Rating: 4 Stars


8.  The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard - Rating: 3 Stars


9.  A Secret in the Garden by Jeneane O'Riley - Haven't Read Yet - I knew nothing about this one when I stumbled across it in the bookstore, but the cover is gorgeous (the picture doesn't do it justice) AND it had sprayed edges which apparently, I can't resist.  


10. The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick - Haven't Read Yet - I've read and really enjoyed another book by this author and while I wanted to read more from her this one wasn't high on the list.  However, again the cover is 10 times more gorgeous in person AND there are sprayed edges.

Other than a few misses shopping by the cover has gone pretty well for me and I can't wait to read the two I haven't read yet.

Monday, August 3, 2026

The Women in White - Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

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

Description:
 Extrasensory perception.
The Gift.
A Sixth Sense.
Or something else….

In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history. Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era - no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet. Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines - Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women - old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.

Genre: Fiction - Suspense

Why I Picked This Book:
This sounded interesting and I've had good luck with this author in the past.

My Impression:  I could not put this book down.  Like I would have to convince myself that it was way past my bedtime and when I hit the next chapter, I HAD to put the book down so I could get some sleep.  I almost always read just a few more chapters after that conversation.  I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a thriller.  There's a bit of cat and mouse and the atmosphere of the entire book is unsettling but for the bulk of the book the main characters aren't really in any kind of danger.  The story is told in two timelines.  One is set in 1964 and focuses on Betty and her friends as they fall more in more in control of a madman.  The second is present day as Riley tries to figure out just what happened to Betty all those years ago.
The pacing is fast and the story kept me hooked from page one.  I liked Riley and Betty and enjoyed watching them get to know each other.  As more and more of the past is revealed I couldn't wait to figure out just what happened.  
This was a fast paced read that I enjoyed from beginning to end.  It's unsettling and while what happens in the 1964 timeline is horrifying it's not one that will have you double checking the locks.  I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more of this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm really looking forward to reading more from her backlist and will be looking for new books.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like stories filled with suspense this is a good read.  

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