The Paris Chase by David Lewis #bookreview @kensingtonbooks

Overview

In this cinematic, suspenseful World War II mystery, Caitrin Colline, the sharp-witted Welsh spy who has become one of Winston Churchill’s most trusted agents, is dropped into France to retrieve vital Nazi documents . . .

London, 1942: The threat of German invasion has abated, and the war has entered a new chapter, famously summed up by Winston Churchill as “the end of the beginning.” While Churchill faces mounting pressure and calls for his resignation, a dark new horror is unfolding across the channel, as the Nazis move forward with their plan to murder Europe’s Jews.

In the Berlin suburb of Wannsee, young SS officer Dieter Silber helps organize the conference where Reinhard Heydrich outlines his “Final Solution.” Horrified, Dieter steals a copy of Heydrich’s proposal and flees to Paris. Soon there are posters all over the city seeking his whereabouts. If he is not found swiftly, many innocents will die in his place.

Caitrin has her mission directly from Churchill himself: bring Dieter and the document back to London. Posing as a maid for another female spy, she takes up residence at the mansion opposite SS headquarters on Paris’s Avenue Foch. Once Dieter is located, the chase will begin in earnest.

Among Caitrin’s allies are a local gangster, and her aristocratic friend, Lord Hector Neville-Percy. The Resistance is formidable and courageous. But always, the SS are in close pursuit. And as Caitrin has learned, this is a war in which every moment and even the smallest decision can mean the difference between life and death.

Review

London, 1942: The threat of German invasion has abated. While Churchill faces mounting pressure and calls for his resignation, a dark new horror is unfolding across the channel, as the Nazis move forward with their plan to murder Europe’s Jews.

This has great drama and intrigue throughout the beginning and the end. But the middle of this tale is a tad bit slow.

Then there is Dieter, his story is one that is a bit unrealistic to me. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen, I just think he would have had a bit more drama surrounding his decision to turn state secrets against Germany. It is almost like he just woke up one day and did it. Yes, he was not happy with what was going on, but there was almost no elaboration surrounding his decision.

But I loved Caitrin and Winston Churchill. The author did a good job with both! I also enjoyed where Caitrin develops her skills in Scotland. This made the whole book for me. Trust me, you need to read this to find out.

Need a story with a strong female character…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

This is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

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

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City of Promises by Victoria Thompson with Ellen Thompson #bookreview #historicalmystery @berkleypub

Overview

Elizabeth Bates must use everything she knows about the art of the con to stop a fellow scammer in his tracks in this first-ever thrilling crossover in the Victoria Thompson universe, featuring characters from her bestselling Gaslight Mysteries.

Famed former police detective turned private investigator Frank Malloy and his wife, Sarah, come to Gideon Bates desperate for legal guidance. The Malloys’ adopted daughter, Catherine, a burgeoning star of the stage, has announced her engagement to a man she barely knows. Catherine has recently gained access to her trust fund, and Sebastian Talbot appears very eager to marry her as quickly as possible.

As Gideon and his wife, Elizabeth, investigate, it becomes all the clearer that Talbot may not be who he says he is. As a former con artist herself, Elizabeth suspects one may be in their midst. Undeterred by her pregnancy, she must pull out all the stops to out swindle a swindler and save another woman from ruin.

Review

Famed former police detective turned private investigator Frank Malloy and his wife, Sarah, come to Gideon Bates desperate for legal guidance. The Malloys’ adopted daughter, Catherine, a burgeoning star of the stage, has announced her engagement to a man she barely knows. Catherine has recently gained access to her trust fund, and Sebastian Talbot appears very eager to marry her as quickly as possible.

I enjoyed the setting and the time period. I also enjoyed learning about con artists. Nothing like some smart crooks to keep you reading.

This is a quick story and I almost finished it in one sitting. I did feel it is a bit simple, I mean…you knew where it was going from the first paragraph and it did not deviate!

This is part of a series. I have not read any in this series. It is not necessary that you do so, but I feel like I would have cared more for the characters if I had read at least one.

Need a quick read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Rewrite the Stars by Lindsay Hameroff @stmartinspress #bookreview #romance

Overview

Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. When her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.

The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water. As the summer days pass, Marissa starts centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving in to her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she questions if their fling could become something more.

After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa’s lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, Marissa and Jesse wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can the two of them chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?

Review

Since hitting pause on her career, actress Marissa Morgan has worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. When her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.

This is a wonderful story that will have you smiling one minute and wanting to throw something at Marissa’s ex the next! But don’t worry…Jesse has her back! I love it when an author gets the characters right. And Lindsay nailed Jesse and Marissa.

This is a charming story with a great setting and brilliant banter. And no, not everything is smooth sailing for these two. But, I loved reading about Marissa becoming her own self and putting her self first for a change.

Need a good romance with great characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Indie Darling by Lauren Nossett #bookreview @macmillanaudio

Overview

Nashville is a city of two faces, where the glitter often masks the grit. 

Kelly Williams, a Dolly Parton–loving, sports-car-driving private investigator in Nashville, helps women. Sisters in search of lost siblings. Wives determined to uncover affairs. Daughters haunted by men lingering outside their windows. Clients trust her because she listens, she believes them, and over the years she’s honed a specialized skill set.

Her latest client is Sarah Owens, better known as Seraph, the magnetic and polarizing lead singer of the indie sensation The Garden Snakes. After a series of threats turns violent, she hires Kelly to identify her assailant. With feminist anthems, cryptic lyrical easter eggs, and an electrifying stage presence, Seraph has built a fiercely loyal following—and attracted a number of critics. At that level of fame, her attacker could be anyone.

Then, in the middle of a Nashville performance, Seraph is shot on stage. The ambulance carrying her disappears. As the city reels and conspiracy theories swirl, Kelly is pulled into a dangerous web of secrets involving Seraph’s bandmates, her troubled past, and the high cost of stardom.

Propulsive and atmospheric, Indie Darling is both a page-turning mystery and a powerful meditation on art, obsession, and the perils of being a female artist in a celebrity-obsessed world.

Review

Kelly Williams, a Dolly Parton–loving, sports-car-driving private investigator in Nashville, helps women. Her latest client is Sarah Owens, better known as Seraph, the magnetic and polarizing lead singer of the indie sensation The Garden Snakes. After a series of threats turns violent, she hires Kelly to identify her assailant.

I have read all of this author’s books and I have enjoyed every one.

Boy, Sarah has a past that has come back to get her. But Kelly is determined to keep this from happening. However, there is quite a bit of information that Sarah keeps from Kelly. This leads to some intense situations that keep the reader guessing.

This story is full of drama, secrets and a past that just won’t quit. It also gives you a taste of the perils of stardom. And the setting of Nashville…it is spot on.

The narrator, Amara Jasper, is a bit overly dramatic is parts. But she did a pretty good job.

Need a story about a music star with a troubled past…THIS IS IT! This novel publishes July 28, 2026.

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

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Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison #bookreview @stmartinspress

Overview

When Babe—the complicated, magnetic matriarch of their teenage summers—dies, four estranged friends return to sleepy Mercy Island, a storm-swept stretch of coastal Georgia, summoned by the reading of her will.

Didion arrives at the timeworn pink house to find the friends she never thought she’d see again—along with the tensions, attractions, and unfinished business that once bound them together and broke them apart.

What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels when they wake up and discover…it’s Saturday. Again. And again. And again.

Trapped in a time loop with no end and no instructions, they’re forced to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that shattered them all those years ago. Because maybe, just maybe, an endless weekend is exactly what they all need to save their own lives.

Review

Well, this is a unique read!

When Babe—the complicated, magnetic matriarch of their teenage summers—dies, four estranged friends return to sleepy Mercy Island, a storm-swept stretch of coastal Georgia, summoned by the reading of her will.

When I started this, I had no idea where this was going to go. I did not read the blurb. I usually avoid doing that because I like to be surprised when I read and this book surprised me that is for sure. And to be honest, if I had read the blurb, I might not have read the book. Who would’ve thought that I would like a Groundhog Day trope.

But there is more to the story besides a time loop. This is about friendship. This is about grief and it is about forgiveness. I will say a lot that happens to Didion, she brings on herself. I’m not gonna lie, I really want to slap her at times. 😂.

Even though this story has some serious themes, it will make you smile and even laugh in places. I loved the contrast the author creates.

Need a story about unfinished business…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer @harlequinbooks

Overview

In the aftermath of a tumultuous year, Fiona Winslow finds solace in the decaying grandeur of Wurimbirra, the rambling family estate 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 curious 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 herself: 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 in a dual narrative and set against the Gothic backdrop of Wurimbirra, Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say, weaves an intricate and compelling tale, inviting readers into the heart of a family’s deepest secrets with an absorbing book-within-a-book mystery.

Review

Fiona has decided to buy her uncle’s estate, Wurimbirra. But this absolutely flusters her mother. Fiona cannot figure out why. But, Wurimbirra has its own issues. Fiona is not falling for the ghost stories about the place. But the strange happenings are definitely giving her cause for concern.

This is a story within a story.

Fiona discovers a hidden novel written by her uncle, The Midnight Estate. It tells the story of a young woman and her abusive husband. But Fiona also sees some parallels with her own life. And this opens some huge family secrets that pull at all your emotions.

Nothing like a creepy house, a great setting and family secrets to keep me glued to the pages. Kelly Rimmer has done it again.

Plus, the narrator, Siho Ellsmore, is absolutely excellent.

Need a well written, creepy, family mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from honest review.

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A Girl Like Janet by Debbie Macomber #bookreview @recordedbooks

Overview

Enjoy a vintage workplace romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber!

There’s nothing efficient office assistant Janet Montgomery can’t do for her demanding boss, Reese Edwards, from organizing his calendar to consoling his many ex-girlfriends. Yet, after two years, Reese barely notices the warm-hearted woman behind the professional armor and carefully coiled chignon. Until after-work computer classes shake up their Monday to Friday routine and Reese begins to see the realJanet— sweet, fun…and irresistible. But it’ll take more than flowers and candy to win a girl like Janet!

Review

There’s nothing efficient office assistant Janet Montgomery can’t do for her demanding boss, Reese Edwards. She even consoles his many ex girlfriends. But then sparks fly between these two after they attend a computer class together. But all is not as smooth as you expect.

This was first published in July 1984.

I have heard of this author my whole life. I just have never read her for some reason. And to be honest, I may have to try an updated novel next. This would have been something I loved to read in high school. But it is VERY predictable and it has quite a few eye roll moments. It is also a bit more christiany than I like. But for some reason, I could not stop listening.

The chemistry between the characters takes a bit to get there. I enjoyed Janet but I did want to slap Reese a time or two. Then he would do something to redeem himself.

The narrator, Susan Bennett did a very good job with all the voices.

Need a sweet tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell #bookreview @bookouture

Overview

A dead body. A very bookish clue. Can Judy and her book club crack the case?

Undertaker Judy is used to spending more time with the dead than the living and along with her crime-loving friends, enjoys nothing more than cracking fictional cases over a glass of wine in their book group. Complete with a lawyer, a chemist and a bona fide bookworm, there’s not a murder they haven’t been able to solve.

But when the local librarian is found dead, clutching a copy of Romeo and Juliet, the book club is thrust into their first real-life case. Was their friend part of a doomed love affair too, or has there been foul play?

Then in a twist no one saw coming, another death comes to light. And when the book club realise one of their own is in danger, can they find the killer before one of them is shelved away for good?

Review

When the local librarian is found dead, clutching a copy of Romeo and Juliet, this book club is thrust into their first real-life case. Was their friend part of a doomed love affair too, or has there been foul play?

This story started out pretty strong. It has some cute characters and their interactions will make you smile. I also enjoyed all the book references. But, it did start dragging for me. I kept wanting it to move faster.

The narrator, Jilly Bond, started out pretty well. I liked her for voice for the older women in this book. But she did get a bit shrill when something exciting happened.

Need a cute murder mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Pretty as a Peach by Grace Helena Walz @tnfiction #bookreview

Overview

Delilah Thomas has a stellar track record of avoiding conflict. Her life mantra? Keep the peace. Born to a family she has never fit in, Delilah learned early that no matter what it costs her, it’s best to keep quiet, nod, and agree. Now in her late thirties, she has mastered the art and employs it daily with the preschoolers she teaches.

Then Peach Pit sets up shop in her small hometown and infiltrates every female relationship, including Delilah’s lifelong best-friend group. A direct sales business, Peach Pit claims its beauty products are organic and all-natural and recruits women to become “Darlings” who host parties to sell products to friends and family. Delilah’s friend Betsy is ecstatic to join, drawn by promises of sisterhood and easy income. But something seems off to Delilah.

When customers, including her pregnant friend Eliza, start reporting rashes, Peach Pit refuses to take responsibility. Then Betsy lets an unsettling secret slip, and Delilah can’t hold her tongue any longer. With the help of her retired neighbor, Mrs. Chopra, and travel journalist Jasper–Delilah’s longtime pen pal and childhood crush, finally in town for a visit–Delilah investigates the company and uncovers the grim truth. She is faced with a choice: Stop pushing and keep the peace, or find her courage and expose Peach Pit’s shady business practices, even if it costs her the unthinkable

Review

Delilah Thomas has a stellar track record of avoiding conflict. Born to a family she has never fit in, Delilah learned early that no matter what it costs her, it’s best to keep quiet, nod, and agree. Then Peach Pit sets up shop in her small hometown and infiltrates every female relationship, including Delilah’s lifelong best-friend group. A direct sales business, Peach Pit claims its beauty products are organic and all-natural. But something seems off to Delilah.

I enjoyed reading about Delilah. It takes her a while to find her voice. But when she does, she leaves no stone unturned getting to the bottom of this shady business. And that has a surprising twist surrounding it.

This is an uplifting read that has a little bit of everything, friendship, family drama, romance, motherhood and financial hardship. This does have quite a bit of characters but the author did a great job with all their differences.

The narrator, Brittany Goodwin, is a good one. She does not try to do a fake southern accent, for this I am very appreciative! 😜

Need a novel of friendship and shady business practices…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Leave Your Mess At Home by Tolani Akinola #bookreview @vikingbooks

Overview

The Longe siblings are really botching their parents’ American Dream.

Sola Longe, eldest daughter, estranged from the family, is secretly back home in Chicago for the first time in a decade. She’s a newly single and recently disgraced influencer trying to quietly put her life back together again. The other three Longe siblings aren’t doing much better.

Anjola is in love with her best friend, who just got engaged to someone else; Karen, a college junior and the baby of the family, is grappling with her sexuality and self-image; and Ola, the golden child with a baby of his own on the way, is questioning his marriage and how to raise a Black son in America.

Sola’s unexpected return sets them on a crash course towards each other, and when the four siblings find themselves together again at their Nigerian immigrant parents’ Thanksgiving table, a decade’s worth of secrets and a lifetime of resentments explode to the fore.

In the wreckage of their fateful reunion, each Longe is forced to reckon with the past, take stock of what really matters, and find a way back to each other. Big-hearted, hilarious, and wise, Leave Your Mess At Home is a poignant exploration of forgiveness, unconditional love, and becoming who you want to be, asking the question: what do we owe to our families, and what do we owe to ourselves?

Review

I will be honest, this had a slow start but I am so glad I read it! It turned out to be a very good read!

Sola Longe has really experienced a great deal in her short life. Her mother threw her out at very young age and then lied about it to her siblings and her father. But she is secretly back in Chicago. She “inconveniently” comes across her dad and this opens some communication with her family. Then tragedy strikes.

This story takes you on an unforgettable journey with the Longe family. And boy, is it full of secrets!

My heart went out to Sola. She was abused in more ways than one. And as a reader, you really want her to achieve, if for any reason, than to prove her mother wrong. And as hard as she has been treated…Sola is the one keeping this family together through all of the drama.

Need a story about loss, family and overcoming your past….THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.

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

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