reecaspieces

Overview

From the author of Not Quite by the Book comes a deliciously witty novel about second chances, secret identities, and the art of rising above life’s bitter moments.

At forty-six, Sophie Bianco’s life is half baked—trapped in a controlling marriage and estranged from her critical mother. Her only solace? The Invisible Baker, her secret business helping overwhelmed moms create Pinterest-worthy moments.

When her mother’s death coincides with the last straw in her marriage, Sophie grabs her chance. Armed with divorce papers and her savings, she reclaims her childhood home. But freedom comes with complications: hoarder-level chaos, plumbing disasters, and an ex-husband plotting revenge. When her daughter announces an engagement that echoes Sophie’s own mistakes, the past threatens to repeat itself.

Desperate for income, Sophie takes a position as a pastry chef, finding unexpected sweetness in both the work and the charming restaurant owner. But as family drama and professional opportunities collide, Sophie must finally answer the question she’s been avoiding: Who is she when she’s no longer invisible?

Review

I absolutely loved Sophie!

At forty-six, Sophie Bianco’s life is half baked—trapped in a controlling marriage and estranged from her critical mother. Her only solace? The Invisible Baker, her secret business helping overwhelmed moms create Pinterest-worthy moments.

There is so much I loved about this book. I loved Sophie. I loved the premise for her hidden bakery. I enjoyed the family secret, just to name a few. Add in the secrets her ex husband is keeping and you will be quickly engrossed in this book.

This was very close to a five star read for me. The only reason I floundered in that rating is the money. There are quite a few places that Sophie talks about being out of money, but yet she turns around and spends a lot on certain things like a forensic accountant and yet she can’t pay a plumber. It’s minor I know. This just bothered me a little bit.

But y’all! This book will keep you glued to the pages…yes I know that is a cliché..but it really will!

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

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

Between the living and the lost, one woman delivers the truth.

Josie Gray has always believed Miss Sylvie’s Bistrot could be a sanctuary for the living… and the dead, with whom she can communicate. As the restaurant struggles to survive in Greenwich Village, the challenges of running a kitchen collide with the demands of her gift, and Josie finds herself stretched thinner than ever.

Her partner, Derek, is becoming distant, unable to reconcile Josie’s insistence on setting the ghost table each night with the practical realities of their business. The tension between them grows, threatening the dream they once shared. Meanwhile, the staff begins to unravel, caught in the schemes of a manipulative new manager and a mysterious sous chef, and the spirits Josie communicates with grow increasingly restless.

Pulled into the unfinished stories of the living and the dead, Josie is tasked with delivering long-buried truths and messages that could alter lives. Each encounter forces her to confront what she owes to others and to herself, and to question whether she can remain anchored in a world that rarely believes in the things she sees.

In the second installment of The Ghost Table trilogy, Josie discovers that every haunting begins with a longing to be heard. Amid the clatter of the kitchen and the whispers of the departed, she must learn how to nourish not just the living, but her own restless heart.

Review

Let me start with…I love this cover.

Josie Gray has always believed Miss Sylvie’s Bistrot could be a sanctuary for the living… and the dead, with whom she can communicate. As the restaurant struggles to survive in Greenwich Village, the challenges of running a kitchen collide with the demands of her gift, and Josie finds herself stretched thinner than ever.

I enjoy a good ghost story and this one is full of ghosts. This added so much to the charm and secrecy of this tale.

However, this is 3.5 stars rounded up. I got a bit bored with all the restaurant stuff. And to tell you the truth, I wanted to slap Derek on more than one occasion. He does realize how he is treating Josie. And Josie is a bit too forgiving. This drove me a bit nuts as well. She does it with everyone. I wanted her to grow a backbone.

But like I said, I love the ghosts. And the ghost table is a unique idea!

Need a good ghost story to start your week…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Purchase Here

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Overview

Elle Magazine Best Fantasy and Science-Fiction Book of 2025

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones—and forbidden magic—of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can’t convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.

“Draws readers into its spell before asking readers to consider who pays the true price of power—and what it means to refuse to let the powerful win.” — Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins on Their Bones

Review

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

This is very descriptive. Honestly, this author would use 3 adjectives to describe one thing. This occurred in the first half of the book pretty regularly. The second half had quite a bit of drama so it wasn’t as bad. So, in other words, the pacing is a bit off.

This also had some great potential. It could have been a ghost story, a secret society, a magical fantasy tale. But, to me, it failed to meet any of these until the very end. I wanted so much more.

I did love the setting of the Ivy League college. I also loved Ellory. She is a very determined young lady!

Need a fantasy tale set on an Ivy League campus…THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

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Overview

Revisit this small-town holiday romance by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak.

Cierra Santos is looking for a refuge and a place she can call home. After uprooting her whole life looking for a better future, her fiancé’s death leaves Cierra lost and confused. When she gets stuck in a snowstorm in the small town of Dundee, Ken Holbrook offers her a place to stay for the holidays, and during the time they spend together, Cierra finds safety and comfort in the man who showed her kindness at the lowest moment of her life. Now Cierra must be brave enough to trust and open her heart again for the prospect of true love and a new place she can call home.

Review

Cierra has shown up at Ken Holbrooks’ door. She is half frozen and needs a place to stay. Ken opens his home and his heart to this young lady. Now Cierra needs to be brave and let him in!

This is a lightening fast read. And I enjoyed it.

I loved Ken and his toughness. But Cierra and her vulnerability is what drew me into this story. I did feel these two needed of a jolt of chemistry. But this is a cute romance with a good bit of holiday cheer!

I did enjoy the narrator, Amy McFadden. She did a good job especially with the Spanish!

Need a quick romance to end out your reading year…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this from the publisher for a honest review.

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Chirp

Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time. 

1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette’s efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined.

1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized.

A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few—the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above—Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.

Review

The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time. 

This book has some beautiful phrasing. I actually wanted to take notes…and I am NOT a note taker. It is not a perfect book either. It has some places that drag just a bit. But Y’all! I just could not put it down. I had to know what was happening in each time period.

Alouette Voland’s situation broke my heart on so many levels. And then there is Kristof Larson whose bravery will make you gasp!

The author masterfully wove these two tales together through the tunnels under Paris. And believe me you learn a great deal and want to know more!

This book publishes January 6! Add it to your list today! This is one you do not want to miss.

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

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