reecaspieces

Overview

Oxford, Mississippi, 1933.

Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed.

Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies.

Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg’s—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan for them to take control of their lives. But in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife and women’s freedom is fragile, even the smallest act of defiance can have dangerous consequences.

The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

Review

Eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed.

Then there is Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken. She has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family. But Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies.

I can honestly say, this is the best book of the year for me. And I never have best books. But these characters live so heavily in your heart and your mind that it is so difficult to let them go. I know this book is over 600 pages, but it did not feel like I was reading a book that long.

Meg’s situation will break your heart. But then again, so will Birdie’s. But when the solution to all their problems is “The Calamity Club”, you will laugh, cry, and then gasp for air. Not only that, the way this story wraps around itself and the characters become intertwined…it is brilliant.

Need a story that will keep you wanting more…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

When Cora provides a safe haven for Jewish refugee children, she discovers that opening her doors means risking everything, including her heart.

In 1939 Georgia, far removed from the war brewing overseas, Cora Cain’s world feels small–and shrinking. There, she runs The Brunswick, her family’s once-grand hotel, which is now struggling as the town’s general store. When Thomas Watkins arrives seeking work and solace after his mother’s death, a connection sparks between them. Through Thomas, Cora glimpses a life beyond obligation and her war hero father’s unpredictable moods. 

But everything changes when Cora is asked to turn The Brunswick into a sanctuary for Jewish children fleeing persecution in Germany. As Cora and Thomas prepare for the children’s arrival, they struggle to confront their pasts–and the prejudice of their neighbors–as their fragile hope is put to the test.

Meanwhile, in Vienna, ten-year-old Charlotte is offered refuge in America. But even with the horrors she sees around her, she wonders how her parents could possibly send her away. As war’s shadow begins to reach small-town Georgia, each person must face what love demands and decide what to hold on to and what to let go.

Review

Cora Cain runs The Brunswick, her family’s once-grand hotel, which is now struggling as the town’s general store. When Thomas Watkins arrives seeking work and solace after his mother’s death, a connection sparks between them. Through Thomas, Cora glimpses a life beyond obligation and her war hero father’s unpredictable moods. 

Not only is this a romance, this is a family drama and war tale all rolled into one.

My favorite part of this tale is the kinder transport. This will break your heart. I do not know how these parents did this. But it was their only option. This part of the novel added so much to the story.

There are some slow spots but these characters keep you reading! I loved Cora and Thomas.

Need a tale with a little bit of everything…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

A tantalizing novel about a struggling chocolatier who is granted a magical vision of the future of her dreams, only to realize that her heart may desire something else entirely, from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family’s struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.

Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.

But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making?

Review

Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family’s struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.

I enjoyed Emmie. She is just an all-around good woman. Then there is Jakob. He is the strong silent type and I fell for him from the get go. I will say, I wish their relationship had a bit more depth. Towards the end of the book, it is like the whole thing is rushed a bit.

But my favorite character in the whole book is Emmie’s mother. She has the sweetest Frenchie and she dresses him up in all these different outfits. This made me grin. I could just picture him! 🐶

As with all Rachel Linden’s books, this is full of sweetness, good food, good characters, and magic!

Need a wholesome story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

1919, Washington D.C. Elisabeth Beaumont comes from a renowned jeweler family, but after the untimely death of her twin brother, she’s left on her own to run the failing family business. Desperate for work, she approaches the affluent crowd her brother Julien once courted to expand Beaumont Jewelers. Their ringleader is wealthy socialite Evalyn McLean, owner of the world’s most infamous gemstone, rumored to curse all who travel within its orbit. 

The Hope Diamond.

As Elisabeth is swept into Evalyn’s toxic world of dark opulence, the lines defining who she is and where she belongs begin to blur, leading Elisabeth to question all she once believed. She’s no longer certain she wants to take over the family business and be beholden to the wealthy elite of D.C. But she can’t fathom leaving her father in the lurch. There’s also Evalyn to consider, and the Hope Diamond, which beckons Elisabeth to admire it, touch it, care for it, despite every warning she’s been told.

When tragedy strikes one night, not only is Elisabeth’s fragile friendship with Evalyn put to the test, but her carefully constructed glamorous new life comes crashing down. Now Elisabeth must face the truth about her brother’s death and decide what matters most. 

Review

Desperate for work, Elisabeth Beaumont, approaches the affluent crowd her brother Julien once courted to expand Beaumont Jewelers. Their ringleader is wealthy socialite Evalyn McLean, owner of the world’s most infamous gemstone, The Hope Diamond, rumored to curse all who travel within its orbit. 

Evalyn and her crowd of socialites really keep Elisabeth on her toes. She is struggling to bring the business back to the forefront of society and it is taking all she has to break into this opulent society.

Plus, there is a mystery surrounding Julien’s death and Elisabeth is determined to find out what happened to her brother. It may not be exactly what she thinks! You need to read this to find out!

Y’all know, I love a book that has me researching. I had no idea what all this diamond went through. Heather Webb did a lot of great research to write this book and it shows.

Need a novel about the Hope Diamond…THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

Three women walk into a post office. This is no joke–it’s the spark that ignites a life-altering crisis.

On a quiet spring afternoon, an ordinary small-town post office becomes ground zero for a domestic dispute. A husband draws a weapon and seals the doors, holding four women captive: his frightened wife, a young woman searching for meaning amid uncertainty, a mother on the brink of letting go as her only daughter graduates, and an elderly woman concealing a secret that could shatter everything she knows.

Outside, the negotiator works to keep a fragile peace, forced to confront her own issues as every word becomes a lifeline.

Each of the three women who walked into the post office is carrying something that, if mailed, would profoundly change her life. As minutes become hours in this daylong siege, these strangers forge lasting bonds. Handle with Care shines a light on hope found even in the darkest moments, and illuminates how even strangers, thrown together by chance and hardship, have the power to change each other’s lives.

Review

On a quiet spring afternoon, an ordinary small-town post office becomes ground zero for a domestic dispute. A husband draws a weapon and seals the doors, holding four women captive.

I enjoyed the distinctiveness between these ladies. Each one has a different life challenge and each one has a different way of handling this intense situation. And trust me…not all handle their differences well!

I haven’t read too many books with a hostage situation. This added a unique touch. It definitely kept the intensity high because you never knew what the perpetrator was gonna do next. And he is just a little bit unhinged. But somehow the author made you have some empathy for him. I love when an author can make you have feelings for the bad guy.

Need an intense story that just might give you hope…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline comes a boldly original reimagining of the astonishing true story of two sisters in nineteenth-century North Carolina — Kline’s own distant relatives — who married world-famous conjoined twins from Siam.

When Eng and Chang Bunker arrive in Wilkes County in 1839, they’re not just a curiosity—they’re a sensation. Everyone is eager to learn whether the salacious rumors about them are true. Within months, the twins have opened a general store, bought land, and begun building a plantation. Now, word has it, they’re looking for wives—and in a place that thrives on gossip and legacy, their ambitions set the community on edge.

Sarah and Adelaide Yates, daughters of a once-prominent local family brought low by scandal, are drawn into their orbit. Bold, beautiful Adelaide sees in the twins’ fame a chance to reclaim her future. Sarah, quiet and observant, isn’t so sure. When the twins’ lives become entangled with theirs, they must navigate loyalty, longing, and identity in a world where everything—including race, class, and gender—is rigidly defined.

Spanning five decades and unfolding against the backdrop of a fractured nation hurtling toward war, The Foursome is both intimate and epic: a story of love and constraint, identity and reinvention. With piercing insight and emotional precision, Kline brings to life a forgotten chapter of American history and the complex, boundary-defying marriages at its center.

Review

I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

When Eng and Chang Bunker arrive in Wilkes County in 1839, they’re not just a curiosity—they’re a sensation. Now, word has it, they’re looking for wives. Sarah and Adelaide Yates, daughters of a once-prominent local family brought low by scandal, are drawn into their orbit. Bold, beautiful Adelaide sees in the twins’ fame a chance to reclaim her future. Sarah, quiet and observant, isn’t so sure.

Y’all have heard me say this in the past, I love a book that has me researching. I was almost immediately researching these twins from the moment I started this book. And yes, I have heard about them, I just never really knew a lot about their lives. But, these two and their wives had me intrigued from start to finish.

Not only is this union and this family unique, the time period of 1830 prior to the Civil War is also very riveting. These twins owned slaves and when the war comes it throws their whole world into chaos.

This is a captivating, emotional and down right unique tale you do not want to miss! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I know you are not supposed to quote an arc but this quote got me!

“Grief does not end. It’s shifts, settling into the crevices of your days.”

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Overview

A French chateau. A forest with secrets. A magical spring. Welcome to La Chanson, where lost souls are found again…

At the brink of summer, Callie arrives in a secluded village in the South of France with her young daughter, after barely escaping her menacing ex-partner. Desperate to hide, she rents a cottage on the grounds of the Chateau of the Lost. Her new home sings with flowing water, rustling olive trees, and whispering poppies—an otherworldly nook of hidden magic. Little by little, she warms to her quirky neighbors—a witchy landlady, an acclaimed truffle hunter, his kind veterinarian son, and their lovable dogs. Oh, and a mischievous ghost boy.

Slowly but surely, her new friends help her discover herself again. Years earlier, she gave up music at the insistence of her ex, but as she reclaims her voice, everyone finds that her songs open hearts and heal old wounds. When her ex tracks her down, the stakes grow deadly, and she must tap into her most powerful self to protect her newfound family.

Whimsical and atmospheric, The River Muse will enchant readers with its myth and music—showing how we can find friendship, love, and our truest selves in the most unexpected places.

Review

Talk about atmospheric! I could just hear the river!

At the brink of summer, Callie arrives in a secluded village in the South of France with her young daughter, after barely escaping her menacing ex-partner. Slowly but surely, her new friends help her discover herself again.

I loved reading about Callie as she came back into her own. After her ordeal with her ex, it was so enjoyable to read about her growth and her strength as it slowly returned!

I loved so much about this tale. There is a mystery surrounding the chateau, the truffle dogs, the characters, the setting and a unique story you will love! And isn’t this cover gorgeous!

Need a story to take you away and give you hope…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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