The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts #bookreview @harlequinbooks

Posted on October 15, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

Love in the Time of Serial Killers meets The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window in this delightful romp about a recently broke divorcee who moves in with her house-bound mother only to spend their days spying on her grumpy, mysterious, and sexy new neighbor.

Zona never thought her life was headed this way, but here she is, newly divorced and moving back in with her mom, Louise. After her gambling addicted ex-husband lost all of their savings, including their daughter’s college fund, she doesn’t really have a choice. She’s cutting every coupon she can and she’s going to help put her daughter through nursing school, even if it kills her.

This wasn’t Louise’s plan, either, laid up at home with a broken leg after one unfortunate tumble on the senior singles cruise she’d been looking forward to for months. But if she’s going to spend all her time at home, at least she’s got her daughter there with her. And there’s some hot new eye candy next door to distract them both from their troubles. He appears to be single and just around Zona’s age. Could his arrival be the universe making amends for everything it’s put her through?

Maybe the universe isn’t feeling as generous as Louise hoped. There’s something lurking under that mans surface charm, something…dangerous? And who’s the woman they can hear him in all-out shouting matches with on the other side of the fence? When the woman seems to disappear without a trace, imaginations run wild. Or at least, Zona hopes it’s just her mother’s imagination…

Review

Zona has had to move back in with her mother, Louise. She never planned on her life falling apart the way that it has. Her ex husband gambled all of their finances away and now Zona is trying to rebuild. Louise, on the other hand, is laid up at home after a fall on a singles cruise. And boy does this lead to some snooping and completely off base assumptions.

Zona is someone that tries so hard to do the right thing but life just keeps knocking her down. But to her credit, she just keeps getting right back up and fighting. Louise on the other hand…she tickled the mess out of me. She is every older lady in my home town…all up in someone’s business.

These two ladies along with Zona’s daughter Bree and Louise’s caretaker end up spying on the grumpy man next door, Alec. And don’t think this didn’t lead to some hilarious confrontations.

Now, this book started a bit slow. But I loved these characters. Add in the mystery, romance, and funny antics and you have a good tale to get you through the day.

The narrator, Courtney Patterson, nailed these characters, especially Louise!

Need a cute tale with great characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Bookbub

Chirp

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman #bookreview #historicalfiction

Posted on October 14, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

A ghost in a library. A story waiting to be told. The Missing Pages is a rich, lyrical novel that reminds us that books are as eternal as the soul.

1912:  Harry Widener, a promising and passionate book collector, boards the Titanic holding tight to a priceless volume he’s just purchased in London. After catastrophe strikes the ship, Harry’s last known words are that he must return to his cabin to retrieve his latest treasure. Neither the young man nor the book are ever seen again. Honoring her son’s memory, Harry’s mother builds the Harry Widener Memorial Library at Harvard to house his extensive book collection and ensure his legacy.

Decades later, Violet Hutchins, a Harvard sophomore recovering from her own great loss, is working as a page at the Widener Library. When mysterious things begin happening at the library, Violet wonders if Harry Widener’s ghost is trying to communicate with her, seeking Violet to uncover a long-buried secret that the ardent young Harry took with him to the grave.  

For fans of The Midnight Library and The Book Thief, bestselling author Alyson Richman has written a love story, a ghost story, and an elegy to the healing power of books.

Review

Well I certainly did not have falling in love with a ghost on my 2025 bingo card, but I fell hard for Harry!

1912:  Harry Widener, a promising and passionate book collector, boards the Titanic holding tight to a priceless volume he’s just purchased in London. Decades later, Violet Hutchins, a Harvard sophomore recovering from her own great loss, is working as a page at the Widener Library. When mysterious things begin happening at the library, Violet wonders if Harry Widener’s ghost is trying to communicate with her.

I enjoyed so much about this tale! Your heart goes out to Harry. But it also goes out to Violet. Both have tragedies in their worlds. And the way the author creates secrets and weaves their lives together is marvelous. Violet and Harry, in their two different worlds, will have your heart racing. Plus, when these two worlds collide…you have the answers to the questions. And you do not want to miss it!

Need a story you will be thinking about weeks after it is over…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Purchase Here

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

From Malice to Ashes by Gary W. Toyn #historicalfiction #bookreview

Posted on October 13, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

Sobering, meticulously researched, and emotionally raw.” —BookLife Reviews (Publisher’s Weekly) – Editor’s Pick

“A piercing and detailed look at a lesser-known aspect of the Second World War.” — Kirkus Reviews


Before Auschwitz, before the gas chambers, there was Ponary—a forest outside Vilnius where 75,000 Jews were executed during World War II. In the beginning, the killers weren’t the Nazis. They were neighbors. From Malice to Ashes: is a haunting historical novel that reveals one of the Holocaust’s earliest and most overlooked atrocities—the Ponary Massacre in Lithuania—where local militias carried out mass murder while SS officers stood by and took notes.

Olek Kosmen, a young Jewish man, becomes an unwilling eyewitness and chronicler. Hiding in the woods, he secretly records the horrors in a journal—until he’s captured and forced into the “Burning Brigade,” a prisoner unit ordered to exhume and destroy the bodies to hide the crime. Meanwhile, his fiancée escapes to neutral Sweden, and her family is exiled to the frozen gulags of Siberia. Their survival depends on impossible choices—and an escape tunnel dug with bare hands beneath a mass grave. Meticulously researched and deeply moving, this story is not just a look back at history—it’s a warning. In an age when antisemitism is once again on the rise, From Malice to Ashes reminds us what happens when hatred goes unchallenged and silence becomes complicity.

Review

Olek Kosmen, a young Jewish man, becomes an unwilling eyewitness and chronicler of the Ponary massacre. Meanwhile, his fiancée escapes to neutral Sweden, and her family is exiled to the frozen gulags of Siberia. Their survival depends on impossible choices.

One of the main things I loved about this book was the setting. The setting is not Germany or England as with most of the WWII novels. This is set in Lithuania and Siberia. I found this unique. But the tragic circumstances are the same. And this author brings those front and center.

I will say, some of the conversations were a bit “canned” and it is a bit wordy in places. But the intensity just keeps building.

This is a moving story that will break your heart but shows true resilience and strength.

The narrator, Matt Strong, did a good job. He did keep the story moving smoothly. I do believe the conversations in certain areas were the issue for me.

Need a unique WWII novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bon App! by Isabelle Dunn #bookreview #cookbook

Posted on October 11, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

French food doesn’t need to be complicated or intimidating. In Bon App!, Isabelle Dunn shares how to make delicious and simple dishes, perfect for any night of the week.

This book is packed with no-fuss, delicious recipes that are fun, easy to follow, and completely accessible for everyday cooks. It’s all about bringing the deliciousness of French food to your kitchen—without the stress of complex techniques or hard-to-find ingredients, no matter where you are in the world.

The recipes in this book include viral hits from Dunn’s Instagram account @tastyfeedsdaily such as her cocktail desserts and apéro series, which have garnered millions of views. In Bon App!, Dunn brings these crowd-pleasers into your kitchen alongside indulgent bistro classics, seaside feasts, cheesy staples and much, much more. Join Dunn on this culinary adventure and discover how rewarding and fun French cooking can be. Bon appétit!

Review

This book is absolutely beautiful. I especially loved the cover. And the pictures of the food…made my mouth water!

Now, I am not one that enjoys cooking. That is not where my talent lies. But y’all! These recipes are made for people who are not chefs. They give foolproof, easy directions for each recipe. This is perfect for busy people that need good, delicious meals for family and friends.

This would make a great gift! This whole book is a beautiful collection of great recipes.

I received this for a honest review.

Purchase Here

Amazon

Posted in Reviews | Tagged | Leave a comment

Over Yonder by Sean Dietrich #bookreview #audiobook @tnzfiction

Posted on October 10, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

A story of deeply complicated people having a deeply human experience.” –Laura Kate Whitney, Editor at Large, Good Grit Magazine

It’s never too late to find purpose.

Woody Barker steps out of prison planning to live out his years on his houseboat docked on the Alabama Gulf Coast. As a defrocked priest with a heart condition and an ex-wife who still runs his life, he needs peace and a path to redemption.

Caroline Boyer is seventeen, pregnant, and stuck in a loop of bad choices. At her mother’s deathbed, Caroline finds herself at the center of an unexpected plot that has the potential to turn her world upside down. At the funeral, she discovers a father she’s never known. Whether she likes it or not, her life will never be the same.

Soon Woody, Caroline, and an emotional support goldfish named Gary are on a grand adventure through the Deep South. Chased by the men who are desperate to learn what Caroline’s mother told her before she passed away, they use every skill they have as a new family to stay one step ahead of danger. To make it worse, former parishioners of the church that cast Woody out are determined to throw him a welcome home party. As Caroline and Woody look for answers and try to avoid disaster, they also learn how to redefine family, hope, and faith they thought they’d lost.

With dry humor and compassion, beloved writer Sean Dietrich highlights the good of humanity and the light that’s always just around the corner. This standalone novel includes discussion questions, which makes it perfect for book clubs. Also by Sean Dietrich: Kinfolk, The Incredible Winston Browne, Stars of Alabama, and You Are My Sunshine

Review

Caroline Boyer is seventeen, pregnant, and stuck in a loop of bad choices. At her mother’s deathbed, Caroline finds herself at the center of an unexpected plot that has the potential to turn her world upside down. At the funeral, she discovers a father she’s never known. Whether she likes it or not, her life will never be the same.

I enjoyed these complex characters. Woody, Amos and Caroline are fabulous. But I loved Amos the most. He tickled the mess out of me. This book has some pretty good sarcastic wit. It is sprinkled through some pretty intense sections. Very well done!

This story is a bit long and wordy in places. But it has some fierce dramatic scenes that will have you gripping your seat in anticipation. And don’t get me started on this ending…I really wanted to call this author up and ask “WHAT THE??! You will need to read this to find out!

The narrator is the author himself, Sean Dietrich. And you could not ask for a better narration! Absolutely fantastic! 

Need an action packed southern drama…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Bookbub

Chirp

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne #christmasread #bookreview @harlequinbooks

Posted on October 9, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

Tis the season for a little white lie…

Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now.

Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So they make a deal: he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away.

Review

Ryan is a naval helicopter pilot living in San Diego. He has been on desk duty because of an injury. So, when his sister called him and said she needs help, he heads to Shelter Springs.

Well y’all! This book will put you in the Christmas spirit! This is a heartwarming tale that is down to earth.

This story has some great characters and I fell hard for Ryan! He is the perfect amount of tough and sweet. I loved his thoughtfulness and his interactions with Lydia and Holly. Lydia is the special needs daughter of Holly. These two change Ryan for the better…if that is even possible.

If you follow me at all you know one of my pet peeves in an audiobook is the child’s voice. It is very difficult for a narrator to get this right and not sound like an idiot. 🤦🏻‍♀️. But, Vanessa Johansson, (one of my favs!) is excellent at the voice of Lydia. Kudos!

Need a jingle of a tale to get you in a wonderful Christmas mood…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter #bookreview @thomasnelson

Posted on October 8, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she’s helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Granville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago.

Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn’t skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he’d fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he’s back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend’s will. Facing the town’s animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram’s beyond-the-grave scheme is working—Shelby’s old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces—one that threatens Gram’s beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?

Review

Shelby Thatcher has always adored working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Her grandma recently passed away and Shelby inherited the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram left half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago.

Gray is a stand up guy but he has a past that he is trying to outrun. The people of Granville are not making it easy. But Shelby remembers all that occurred in his past and she is not going to stand by and let the same thing happen again.

I liked these two together. And the author did a wonderful job weaving their past and their present together.

Now this is what I call a “sweet” read. Sometimes these types of books hit me just right. And this one did. It has great book references, good characters and a small town setting to make you feel right at home.

I enjoyed the narrator, Kim Churchill. She has distinctive voices for everyone. Always makes the book so much better.

Need a hometown tale, full of books and good characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens @stmartinspress #bookreview

Posted on October 7, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

The open road beckons.
A chance for them to reconnect.
Then they make a fatal mistake.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy. 

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day? 

A chilling, twist-laden ride to the final page, THE HITCHHIKERS is that rare novel that will break your heart as well as hold you in suspense. The author of the classic thrillers STILL MISSING and THOSE GIRLS has delivered her next breathtaking novel.

Review

I love this author’s books and believe me…THIS BOOK IS INTENSE! It is intense from start to finish. I had to take breaks and breathe.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Simon is one crazy dude! He is determined not to get caught and he doesn’t care who he kills to achieve this goal. Then there is Jenny. And boy does she have a secret! These two terrorize everyone they come in contact with and the top of the list is Alice and Tom.

The only reason for the 4 star read is Alice. Y’all, this woman could have escaped 250 times in the first half of the book. But the intensity in this book will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Need a book which will have you gasping for air…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Christmas at the Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley #bookreview #christmasread @sbkslandmark

Posted on October 6, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller Pamela Kelley invites readers to experience the warm glow of family, friends, and festivities this Christmas. Come spend the holidays on Nantucket.

Nantucket’s famous Christmas Stroll is always the first week of December and this year Mimi’s Place co-owners want to do something extra special for the restaurant. It will be Emma and Paul’s first Christmas together as a couple and Mandy’s first holiday as a newly divorced mother of two. Although Mandy does have a promising new relationship, she wants to take things very slow, and the holidays are for sure not the time to dive in too deep.

Their sister Jill and her new husband, Billy, are planning to spend the whole month of December on Nantucket too, juggling remote work for the executive search firm they own together in Manhattan with relaxing, spending time with family, and helping out at the restaurant too. 

Gina Caruso, the awesome bar manager, is spending her first winter on Nantucket after having lived for years in Boston. It’s a bit of an adjustment—winters on Nantucket are so much quieter than the city life she was used to. She’s even more confused when someone she had a major crush on back in the city moves to Nantucket, while Jared Hawthorne, the new sous chef at Mimi’s Place makes it his mission to introduce Gina to all of Nantucket’s holiday festivities. Suddenly her boring winter is starting to look a lot more interesting.

Review

Nantucket’s famous Christmas Stroll is always the first week of December and this year Mimi’s Place co-owners want to do something extra special for the restaurant. Gina Caruso, the awesome bar manager, is spending her first winter on Nantucket. Jared Hawthorne, the new sous chef at Mimi’s Place makes it his mission to introduce Gina to all of Nantucket’s holiday festivities.

This is a sweet read and the characters and the setting are great. Add in all the holiday festivities on Nantucket and it just adds to your Christmas spirit.

But y’all, nothing happened in this book. I kept waiting for something to happen except eating at the restaurant but it just did not move forward. Yes it is about Christmas and yes it is set on Nantucket but I expected more. And I love this author’s books. My favorite is The Bookshop by the Bay.

But, it was worth the time because Nantucket is on my bucket list. Add in the Christmas charm and you have an ok book to get you into the Christmas spirit.

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

Purchase Here

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Where Light Lingers by Ashley Farley #bookreview

Posted on October 4, 2025 by fredreeca

Overview

Sometimes the quietest miracles grow in the darkest seasons.

After six years of caring for her ailing parents, literature professor Selwyn Aldridge is alone in the weathered Victorian house where she grew up. Grief hangs heavy in every room, and her mother’s once-glorious garden is buried beneath weeds. When a bottle of morphine disappears during a moment of despair, Selwyn begins to question her grip on reality—until a radiant stranger named Blossom appears, arriving with uncanny timing and an instinct for exactly what Selwyn needs.

With Blossom’s quiet guidance, Selwyn begins to restore her mother’s garden—and, slowly, her own sense of purpose. But when an old flame resurfaces, a pregnant student turns up in need, and strange disturbances echo from the garage apartment, it becomes clear Selwyn’s story is far from over.

Set against the lush, literary backdrop of Oxford, Mississippi, Where the Light Lingers is a soulful novel about second chances, chosen family, and the quiet miracles that take root when we begin again.

For readers who loved The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey or The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton—this soulful Southern novel will speak to your heart.

Review

First off…this is set in Oxford, MS. You cannot go wrong with this setting. However, I wish the author had talked more about the area.

Selwyn’s mother has just passed away after a long illness. Selwyn is a bit unmoored. She is struggling to find the right balance when Blossom comes across her path. Blossom seems to know just what to say. But, when a pregnant student, an old flame, and a young runaway girl come into Selwyn’s life, even Blossom has some struggles!

I enjoyed so much about this novel. These characters are people you know. As a reader, you fight right along side them. I also enjoyed the bit of magical realism. This just added to the charm!

And let’s not forget the family secret…a twist I did not see coming!

Need a hometown novel you will adore…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel for a honest review.

Purchase Here

Amazon

Bookbub

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment