Death Was Not on the Guest List by Jenni L. Walsh #bookreview

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

From USA Today bestselling author Jenni L. Walsh comes a witty Jazz Age mystery where rivalry, ambition, and deceit glitter under every chandelier…and no one gets out until the killer is unmasked.

In Chicago’s Gold Coast district, twenty of the city’s most glamorous socialites gather for a charity whist drive at the Bellevue House mansion. Brightest among them are Ginevra King Mitchell and Edith Cummings, real-life debutantes who inspired Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby.

But when their sharp-tongued hostess turns up dead and a blizzard traps everyone inside, suspicion and gossip give way to fear. After all, one guest has a habit of burying husbands, another a proclivity for poison. Their charming veneers belie jealousies, ambitions, and deceits aplenty, enough to drive any one of them to kill.

As whispers turn to accusations, the police start closing in. Ginevra and Edith compete to solve the murder, uncovering secrets far more dangerous than the gossip columns ever revealed. But when a second body is found—strangled with Ginevra’s own pearls—their restless rivalry becomes a race for survival. Who’s next? And is the answer hidden in Fitzgerald’s exasperating novel?

Review

In Chicago’s Gold Coast district, twenty of the city’s most glamorous socialites gather for a charity whist drive at the Bellevue House mansion. Brightest among them are Ginevra King Mitchell and Edith Cummings. But when their sharp-tongued hostess turns up dead and a blizzard traps everyone inside, suspicion and gossip give way to fear.

The setting and the time period sold me on this book. I loved Chicago in the Jazz age. And these debutants…they pull no punches!! Two of them, Ginevra and Edith, were the inspiration for characters in the Great Gatsby. This just added so much to the story for me.

Now, this does have quite a few characters. But, they add so much to the story. I enjoyed how this unfolded. I truly felt like I was playing a game of Clue!

The narrators are Lauren Ezzo and Barrie Kreinik. They did an excellent job with all the voices. And they were distinctive with all of them.

Need a mystery set in the Jazz age….THIS IS IT! This publishes June 16! Add it to your list!

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Strangers Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Adel West #bookreview @harlequinbooks

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

A twisty thriller about a woman who vanishes from a luxury hotel, and the detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city.

Giovanni Mason worked hard to become the first Black head concierge at Chicago’s exclusive and glamorous Ivory Hotel. It’s a job that requires patience, perfection, and, above all, self-control. But when Giovanni reunites with her former best friend, makeup influencer Natalie Moore, things get heated as a mending of fences morphs into a public argument in the hotel restaurant, and Giovanni loses her cool. Hours later, Natalie is missing. Evidence piles against Giovanni—a ransacked, blood-spattered hotel room, fresh bruises on her body, and a troubling gap in her memory from the last twelve hours.

Detective Redding Stark is the only one unconvinced of Giovanni’s guilt. She sees disturbing parallels to a series of disappearances targeting Black women and believes Natalie’s case is part of something bigger. Together, she and Giovanni are pulled into a dangerous web of privilege, power, and betrayal inside—and far beyond—the walls of the Ivory Hotel.

Will Giovanni and Detective Stark find Natalie or join the missing?

Review

I love a smart read…and this is one you want to savor.

When Giovanni reunites with her former best friend, makeup influencer Natalie Moore, things get heated as a mending of fences morphs into a public argument in the hotel restaurant, and Giovanni loses her cool. Hours later, Natalie is missing.

This is a mystery that keeps you guessing and wondering who is involved and who is doing what to whom! Add in the complicated relationship between Giovanni and Redding…(heck, any relationship with Giovanni is complicated) and you have constant tension and unexpected twists.

I have loved this author since her very first book, Saving Ruby King. She never disappoints. She also always has some hidden gems in the phrasing of her books.

This was very close to a five star read for me. The only reason I did not give it five stars was I felt like it was a bit too long. The story could have been wrapped up 50 pages sooner. But talk about an intense ending…I did not see that coming.

Need a story to keep you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Rainy Day Bookshop by RaeAnne Thayne @harlequinbooks #bookreview

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

“A love letter to motherhood, mending fences, and, of course, the bookstores that save us when it all feels like too much.” –Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of Summer State of Mind

Life is full of plot twists…

Sandwiched between caring for her mother and rebuilding the relationship with her estranged daughter, Emma, Rosie Lucas’s life is full. In the best way. With Emma and her 3-year old daughter, Olive, back home, Rosie has a partner for The Rainy Day Bookshop, the family business, and a chance to fix the past. What she doesn’t have time for is a romantic relationship. And even if she did, Andrew Morgan is the last person she’d choose. Not only is he an arrogant and reclusive writer, but he’s a single dad with two young kids. She’s already been there, done that. Still as an irresistible flirtation builds between them, he becomes her unexpected confidante on the distance Rosie can’t seem to overcome with Emma, a secret she can’t quite unravel… 

Emma isn’t proud of her past. But she’s pulled herself up by the bootstraps, caring for her own daughter, and protecting her mom at all costs. Just as she always has. She never told Rosie what she saw all those years ago and she never will. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction. Rosie and Emma will have to navigate an unimaginable path forward. Together. 

Review

Emma isn’t proud of her past. But she’s pulled herself up by the bootstraps, caring for her own daughter, and protecting her mom at all costs. Just as she always has. She never told Rosie what she saw all those years ago and she never will. But some secrets refuse to stay buried.

Emma’s life was diverted with drugs and bad decisions after an accident that killed her father. But she is back with her young daughter and she determined to make things right.

Sometimes you just need a sweet tale with family secrets and forgiveness to get you through your week. This is a story of loss, regrets and overcoming all of it!

Carly Robins narrates this book. I enjoyed her voice. She also did a great job with the child’s voice. I did not cringe…this is huge plus!

Need a sweet tale about family and little bit of a love story or two thrown in…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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The Queen’s Coronation by Jennifer Ryan #bookreview #historicalfiction

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to take the throne, three women in her employ will discover where they belong in a rapidly changing world in this heartwarming novel from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

London, 1953. Buckingham Palace and the many employees vital to the smooth running of the monarchy find themselves in bedlam as the Queen’s coronation quickly approaches.

Caroline Brimstone, assistant dresser to the queen, watches the queen finding the strength to rule—a woman taking charge of her future. Meanwhile, Caroline’s life is worn thin by her gambler husband, and she is barely holding on as every penny she earns seems to run out the door. When a trip to Balmoral brings her face-to-face with the man she once loved, she finds herself at a crossroads between what her life is and what her life could be. Can she, like the queen, find the strength to define her own future?

Lucy Jones is a junior wardrobe assistant who positively radiates life—she’s young, idealistic, and eager to become a famous singer. So when a handsome, wealthy man at the palace promises to help her on her way to stardom, she’s over the moon to have such a supportive husband-to-be. And if he’s asking some things of her that she’s not quite sure about, isn’t that just part of the glamorous life?

Miranda Miller has come over from America just in time to help with preparations as a temporary secretary in the palace. The job is a perfect way to gather information for the article she’s writing about the coronation for a magazine back in New York; the article that will keep her boss from firing her because of her gender.

But as all three women discover, just because a woman will soon be sitting upon the throne, it doesn’t mean that society will change overnight—and if they want to carve places for themselves in this world, they’ll have to do it together.

Review

This story follows Caroline, Miranda and Lucy. Caroline is the mother of a young girl and she is in a horrible marriage. Miranda is trying to save her job as a reporter in NYC by spying on the coronation preparations. Lucy is a naïve young lady who is struggling to be a star. All three are employees of the Queen.

Caroline’s story is my favorite. She found herself pregnant at the start of the war and she chose marriage with someone else to cover her mistake. But this was a huge mistake in itself.

Miranda is someone I wanted to pop upside the head. She is definitely spying for the newspaper she works for. And she is not taking into account how this is hurting everybody around her. She eventually comes around, but it does take her a little while. She is a bit stubborn.

Then there is Lucy. I so wanted to come through the pages and shake her. She truly did not see the manipulation that was happening to her by wealthy man in high power.

I enjoyed each of these three ladies’ plight. I love how they come together to help each other through their experiences. Jennifer Ryan sure knows how to weave a tale!

Need a book about friendship and overcoming your mistakes…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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The Final Target by Nora Roberts #bookreview @macmillanaudio

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude—but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.

Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden’s purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

Review

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

Dustin is one wicked character! He will do anything, and I mean anything, to get what he wants.

Then there is Arden. I really enjoyed her. She eventually has to be on guard and this does not stop her. She even falls for Gideon…and boy I REALLY liked him. He is my favorite type of book boyfriend…the strong, silent type!

I enjoyed the gradual building of intensity. This was very close to a five star read. I was engrossed in this story from the very first. I just figured out what was going to happen. In other words, there are no surprises.

The narrator is one of my all time favorites, January Lavoy! And she did not disappoint! She was a GREAT Dustin.

Need a fast paced drama to get your heart racing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

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Missed Connections by Aimie K. RUNYAN #bookreview @harpermusebooks

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

What if you had the chance to revisit every choice that mattered?

Sabrina Sorensen is 37, single, and just lost a fabulous job as manager of a posh Parisian restaurant. She heads home to California for her younger sister’s engagement party, and it’s an open door for her mother and siblings to chide Sabrina for her inability to commit to any of her previous jobs and relationships. What they don’t know is that Sabrina, for fifteen long years, has been building her résumé in hopes of becoming an inspector for the famed MICHELIN guides—a path that has required keeping her ambitions hidden, even from her family. And, with the job loss, all she’s worked for is in jeopardy. After her mother’s final clumsy attempt to fix her up with the charming “boy next door,” Sabrina leaves the party and retreats to the Burbank Airport.

The problem? She has nowhere to go. 

She arrives at the airport, resolved to put the family conflict behind her and focus on her work, but now her mother’s critical voice fills her with doubts. Has she been wasting her life? Faced with the enormity of her next decision, Sabrina breaks down at the ticket counter. The ticket agent pulls her aside and offers her the life-altering opportunity to revisit some of her key life choices, both personal and professional. Sabrina suddenly is given the rare chance to answer the burning question: has she been foolish to sacrifice so much for her dream of becoming a Michelin inspector? And will a spark with an aspiring Danish chef change her priorities altogether?

Review

Sabrina Sorensen is 37, single, and just lost a fabulous job as manager of a posh Parisian restaurant. For fifteen long years, has been building her résumé in hopes of becoming an inspector for the famed MICHELIN guides. Has she been wasting her life? Faced with the enormity of her next decision, Sabrina breaks down at the airport ticket counter. The ticket agent pulls her aside and offers her the life-altering opportunity to revisit some of her key life choices, both personal and professional.

Sabrina gets a chance of a lifetime. She gets a chance to go back and fix her past mistakes. And trust me, she does not waste it. I love how the author makes her character grow with knowledge, grace and wisdom.

And just a little sidenote, don’t read this hungry. Trust me the food in here is going to make your mouth water. Plus, it has recipes!!

I have loved this author since I have read The School for German Brides. So make sure you read that one too!

The narrator, Caroline Hewitt, did a great job. There are quite a few male voices and she nailed them.

Need a book about second chances…THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews #bookreview @macmillanaudio @stmartinspress

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

Pack your bags for a summer journey shaped by family secrets, long-buried history, and charming men with Irish accents.

Maeve and Therese Dunigan haven’t spoken in years. Raised under the same roof in Savannah, the two sisters could not be more opposite—Maeve the rule follower, Therese the unapologetic rebel. But when their mother’s death pulls them back together, they inherit more than just grief: a mysterious painting that may be worth millions…if it’s real.

Determined to uncover the truth—and desperately in need of the money—the sisters set out on a journey to Ireland, tracing their family’s roots and the origins of the portrait. What begins as a search for answers soon becomes something deeper—a reckoning with the past, as they uncover secrets that span generations and reshape everything they thought they knew about their family.

With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm. 

Can Maeve and Therese actually survive the journey without killing each other? Join Mary Kay Andrews on a road trip that will entertain you for miles

Review

MKA has done it again!

Maeve and Therese Dunigan haven’t spoken in years. Raised under the same roof in Savannah, the two sisters could not be more opposite—Maeve the rule follower, Therese the unapologetic rebel. But when their mother’s death pulls them back together, they inherit more than just grief: a mysterious painting that may be worth millions…if it’s real.

Y’all know I love a good family mystery and this one is written by one of my favorite authors!

Maeve and Therese do not have the best relationship and trust me…it just might make you feel right at home, the sibling squabbles, the jealousy…it is all there. The tension between these two definitely keeps you on the edge. Then there is the painting. And boy does this add to the drama between the two. But nothing is better than the trip to Ireland.

There is just so much to love about this book! (My favorite is still Hissy Fit)

And as always, Kathleen McInerney, is one of the best narrators! She is perfect for this book.

Need a book that takes you on a great trip to Ireland…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin #bookreview

Posted on June 1, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American social climber. In this electrifying novel, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenuetells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all.

“As deliciously dishy as an English cream tea and the royal gossip whispered over it!”—Kate Quinn, author of The Astral Library

Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors. The first novel to be dedicated to this infamous rivalry, The Windsor Affairbrings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals.

As Queen, Elizabeth would become the symbol of British pluck and courage during World War II and remain a British institution the rest of her long life. Wallis would be forever forced to enact the World’s Greatest Love Story even after it sours, as she goes from being admired to vilified and, ultimately, pitied. Against the backdrop of the Abdication Crisis, World War II, coronations, funerals, births, and deaths, these two women maintain a biting, sharp-tongued feud—until age and the long arm of history bring about a kind of understanding. For the last communication between these bitter rivals was a simple, surprising message: “In friendship, Elizabeth.”

Review

This follows the lives of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon who was married to King George VI and Wallis Simpson who was married to his brother Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII.

I don’t think I have ever read a book about the Queen Mother. I have read some books with her in it, but not one that put her front and center.

I love anything about the Windsors. And this book pulled no punches. This reads just like a soap opera and I enjoyed every minute of it. Talk about dropping some juicy tidbits! This also brings out the flaws of almost everyone involved. This is such a fascinating time period in history!

Need a story about feuding royals…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Dog Person by Camille Pagán #bookreview

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Reecaspieces
Of course, Peanut is the queen!

Overview

Harold may be an aging mutt—but Amelia May, the romance novelist who adopted him, taught him a thing or two about the human heart before she died. And she left Harold with a final task: to help her partner, Miguel, find love again.

Trouble is, the grief-ridden recluse rarely goes out, not even to the bookstore he and Amelia owned together. Now it’s in danger of going under, and when a renowned author doesn’t show up for his event, it pushes the store’s already precarious finances into the red. In a final attempt to save the bookstore, Miguel and Harold set out to find the no-show and insist he fulfill his obligation. But instead they’re greeted by Fiona, his sunny yet secretive sister.

Fiona is intent on protecting her brother’s privacy—and to Harold’s horror, she doesn’t like dogs. But her precocious eleven-year-old daughter, who’s also named Amelia, immediately befriends Harold . . . and he can’t help but wonder if his Amelia was right when she said there are no coincidences in life.

Harold is quickly running out of time to accomplish his mission, but if he can just convince his infuriatingly stubborn person to let Fiona in, he’s certain Miguel will find something far more important than a missing author: his own happy ending.

Uplifting, smartly observed, and hilariously insightful, Dog Person is as undeniably charming as its beloved narrator, Harold, and offers a much-needed reminder that while not all love is unconditional, it is still always worthwhile.

Review

If you are a book lover and a dog person…this book is for you!

This is told from the point of view of the dog, Harold. Harold is an aging spaniel. He was adopted by Amelia and Amelia has recently passed away. Harold is determined to find love for Amelia’s partner, Miguel. Plus, keep Amelia’s bookstore open.

This story is so heartwarming. I was so afraid when I first started reading this book that I was going to completely fall apart. But trust me, the author does a magical job keeping your emotions and your love for Miguel and Harold all in check. Now don’t get me wrong, it is an emotional read, but it is one that helps you find joy as well.

This is about love, grief, friendship and it also has some wonderful book references to fill your book lover’s heart.

This is narrated by Mark Bramhall and he is absolutely perfect for this book!

Need an all around good story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts #bookreview @htp_hive

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Reecaspieces

Overview

The battle lines are drawn—between a romance-loving bookseller and the shock jock determined to tear happily-ever-afters apart.
Alice Willoughby and her mom run HEA Books, a cozy shop devoted to love stories and the people who crave them. Alice is great at matching customers with their perfect happily-ever-after…she just can’t seem to find her own.
Enter Parker Black, a disillusioned radio host who’s reinvented himself as a romance-bashing shock jock. Bitter from his breakup with a romance author who turned love into a four-letter word, Parker takes aim at the entire genre—and his on-air rants start stirring up trouble for Alice’s loyal customers and their partners. He’s arrogant, aggravating, and absolutely not book-boyfriend material.
Parker’s crusade leads to spirited debates and bookstore protests, but when unexpected sparks fly between the two of them Alice begins to wonder if her favorite trope—enemies to lovers—might actually be playing out in real life. Parker may claim romance is a lie…but is he protesting a little too much?
With sharp wit and plenty of charm, USA Today bestselling author Sheila Roberts delivers a modern battle of the sexes where the biggest question is simple:
Are romance novels ruining love—or rewriting it?

Review

This is a cute one!

Alice is great at matching customers with their perfect happily-ever-after…she just can’t seem to find her own.
Enter Parker Black, a disillusioned radio host who’s reinvented himself as a romance-bashing shock jock. Bitter from his breakup with a romance author who turned love into a four-letter word, Parker takes aim at the entire genre—and his on-air rants start stirring up trouble for Alice’s loyal customers.

I will say, I wanted to slap Parker on occasions. But it just adds so much to the story. The animosity between Parker and Alice really keeps this story moving. I will say, Alice and Parker do not actually meet till towards the end. So not sure how much of a romance you want to call this. But I enjoyed their banter or their fighting over romance books! And yes, you know how it is going to end but it is so cute getting there.

I enjoy Sheila Roberts! I have read quite a few of her books and she has some cute characters with some great little quips.

I also liked this narrator. This is narrated by Ann Marie Gideon. I really enjoyed her as Parker.

Need a quick read for summer vacation…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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