Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

General Fiction – Contemporary Fiction – Southern Fiction –

Christian Fiction – Book Club Fiction – Mystery – Art Elements

THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi is described as an endearing story of a curious old man who quietly moves into a southern city and, for reasons unknown to anyone but himself, undertakes a campaign of anonymous generosity.

As popular as THEO OF GOLDEN has been, I probably don’t need to blog about it. It’s been highly publicized, but if this is one of your only sources of book recommendations, it’s possible you haven’t heard of it. Since I only blog about books I love, let me be the one to suggest you get a copy for yourself and one for a friend or relative who hasn’t read it yet. It’s a gentle book about being kind, the type of book we need today.

Book Summary

Eighty-six-year-old Theo arrives in Golden, a small town in Georgia. He has a calming spirit and takes interest in the lives of the people who live there. The walls of the local coffee shop is covered in a local artist’s pencil sketches. He takes time to admire the faces of the café’s patrons in each sketch with admiration and thoughtfulness. He decides to buy them all over time and gift them to the person portrayed in each sketch, no strings attached.

Theo invites them (one at a time) to join him on a bench in the center of town to receive his gift, unsure they will trust his pure intentions enough to meet him. When they arrive, Theo asks them each to tell him about themselves. Surprised that someone is taking an interest in them, most of the recipients feel comfortable enough to open up. They seem glad someone is taking the time to listen and to see them. Some ask him questions, but Theo has a way of turning the conversation away from himself. Through Theo’s interactions, we get small snapshots of everyday people in a small town and gradually learn who Theo is and why he picked Golden, Georgia.

My Thoughts

It’s a formidable task to review THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi because it’s that good. My words cannot do it justice. Although it’s more literary than I usually read, I love this book.

Books don’t often make me emotional, but this one touched my heart in a way other books haven’t. It’s something I felt deep in my soul as I read the last few chapters and closed the book. THEO OF GOLDEN may not be everyone’s cup of tea, no book is, but you should give it a try.

I was curious how characters would respond to Theo when he asks them to share about themselves. My guess is that most people today would clam up, closely guarding the private lives. And yet, the residents of Golden don’t. They don’t assume Theo would use information against them or scam them, like we might believe today. It’s reminiscent of days when people sat on front porches talking with neighbors and didn’t have to question everyone’s intentions. It’s about human connection, about taking time to just sit with someone and discover more about who they are. It’s about kindness and accepting people where they are.

THEO OF GOLDEN is a story about the joy of giving, but also how the receiving can change a person’s heart and view of themselves. I like that Theo chooses to use his wealth to help others. How often do we see that happen? Buying the sketches is only one way he does that.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a fast-pace, action book. It’s slow-paced, like Theo. He takes time to listen to others, and he develops relationships with people in the town. It’s a quiet book, like sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee. So, if that isn’t your thing, that’s okay. Move on to something else. I found it refreshing.

Theo has a gift to draw people out, to get them to share their hurts, desires, and problems. It’s as if these strangers crave someone who will take time to listen, someone who cares about their stories. Could many of us be in need of that kind of kindness? We wouldn’t expect strangers to open up like that, but perhaps it’s part of a deep human need that isn’t being met today. As we learn the stories of average, everyday people, we anticipate learning Theo’s story. He’s a bit of a mystery until the last part of the book.

I should tell you that Theo is a Christian. (Not knowing that up front put off some readers.) He is trying to do good, Christian acts, but I appreciate that Theo and other Christians in the story aren’t represented as perfect people. Theo is trying to face his regrets and make up for past mistakes. Also, he isn’t at his best when he reacts to a man sitting on “his bench.” On the other hand, when a certain visitor shows up for church service, only Theo and one woman have a Christian response toward her. The rest of the congregation, not so much. It just shows that even people in a church aren’t perfect and make mistakes. They aren’t there because they’re perfect. They’re there because they’re trying to do better.

Some readers have harshly judged some of the author’s choices concerning his characters. The world is so politically charged these days, and people seem to be looking for anything to criticize. Yes, I do believe some authors use their novels to support their opinion and advance an agenda. If Allen Levi has an agenda, it’s to spread kindness. Not much to argue about there. Even with some reader criticism, THEO OF GOLDEN has over 350,000 Goodreads ratings with a 4.5/5 star average. That speaks for itself.

Simon and Schuster published THEO OF GOLDEN after noticing its success in the self-published world. If you’re going to buy a copy, I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. I am now an affiliate of Bookshop.org because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. To be transparent, I may receive a small commission from your order, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! Win-win! You can order THEO OF GOLDEN HERE. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE.

About the Author

Allen Levi grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He has degrees in English and Law from the University of Georgia and a degree in Scottish fiction from the University of Edinburgh, and he has worked as an attorney. He now works as a traveling musician, sharing his thought-provoking songwriting and storytelling to audiences across the U.S. With over twenty albums to his credit, Allen also has hundreds of unpublished songs.

Before THEO OF GOLDEN, Allen published a memoir, The Last Sweet Mile, about his close friendship with his brother who died in 2012, and a children’s book, Oliviatown. THEO OF GOLDEN is his first published novel.

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July 7, 2026June 30, 2026

The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

Mystery – Atmospheric/Lightly Gothic – Historical Fiction – Women’s Fiction

Book about Books – Spooky House – Australia – Family Secrets – Mother/Daughter Relationship

THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer has so much to like! Australian setting, an old mansion that “might” be haunted, a woman doing the renovations, a book within the book, buried family secrets, Gothically atmospheric but not scary. Yes! Sign me up. This was my first Kelly Rimmer book, and I was excited that it continued my streak of amazing books to recommend this year!

Book Summary

A famous author lives in a mansion called Wurimbirra in the small, country town of Forbes, Australia. He leaves his estate to his son, Jon, but included a section in the will suspiciously insisting that no big renovations be made to the house. Jon sells the house to his cousin, Fiona, a historical architect with a fond attachment to the house. She grew up there with Uncle Tad, Jon and her mother. After all, there is no way Uncle Tad’s no renovations request can be enforced, and the estate has been neglected for years.

Fiona is looking for a fresh start as she goes through a divorce after her husband and her best friend’s affair forced her out of their company. She begins the huge task of cleaning the house that’s been neglected for years, including the red Australian dust that’s settled everywhere.

A short time after Fiona arrives, strange things happen around the house. The locals think the house is haunted, but Fiona never experienced anything odd when she lived there. She thinks Uncle Tad would be laughing about it. He told ghost stories about the house to keep people away to maintain his privacy as he wrote. After all, he is THE STORY KEEPER. Fiona’s looking for logical answers, but the local lore about the house creeps back into her mind, as well as the stories of an indigenous tragedy that took place near the property generations ago. And then there’s the creepy, old cemetery on the property from the original owners of the house.

Old tombstones in a small cemetery photo by Rusty Watson on Unsplash — Photo by Rusty Watson/Unsplash.com

Fiona’s plan to renovate the mansion visibly shakes and angers her mother. Fiona’s mother has always kept her at a distance emotionally and buying/renovating the old mansion sets her off. She tells her daughter, “History doesn’t always stay in the past, Fiona. I hope to God you know what you’re doing.”

While clearing out Uncle Tad’s things, Fiona discovers a box of books titled The Midnight Estate. Not recognizing the author’s name, she assumes it was sent by an author friend of Uncle Tad’s. She immediately gets sucked into reading it. (Readers get to read it along with her – the book within the book.)

The story takes us back to 1960s with a character named Silas. He lives in Australia, but he has returned home to the U.S. because his mother is very sick. While in town, he notices a familiar, haunted look on a young woman at a cafe. His mother, who was a victim of domestic abuse, had the same look. He decides he must help the woman, if she’ll accept it. The story tells the great lengths and risks taken to get her out of her abusive marriage. When others turned away and ignored it, Silas was the only one to help.

As Fiona begins to understand her family’s connection to this story, she gains knowledge and empathy that allows for healing with her mother.

My Thoughts

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA and NetGalley for the ARC of THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer. The opinions are my own.

I was thrilled that I’d picked another winner of a novel to read this year, especially since I didn’t know this author. It’s been a great year for some wonderful writing that I’m happy to recommend! THE STORY KEEPER is a 5-star read.

The Australian setting, the “haunted” mansion, and a woman who wants to bring the home back to its former glory all drew me in. I’m absolutely NOT a fan of scary novels, so luckily, this isn’t. It’s more atmospheric with a few odd events, but it isn’t a book that will keep you up at night listening for all those suspicious noises.

With Fiona’s recent failed marriage, I cheered her on. It’s time for her to get a break. Throughout the novel, Fiona does basic things in the mansion (cleaning, turning on the electricity and water, sorting papers, etc.), rather than getting to the actual renovations, but by the end of THE STORY KEEPER, I was sure she would continue with those plans. It’s a huge house so it definitely would take time to simply organize it.

The first chapter that switched from Fiona’s story to her reading the book in the box threw me for a minute, even though the chapter was clearly titled The Midnight Estate. Once I realized I was reading the novel along with Fiona, it made sense. It’s actually a brilliant and unusual technique to create a dual timeline story. It wasn’t long before I realized this “fictional” story would tie into Fiona’s family secrets, but that didn’t detract from my interest in the story.

Trigger warnings: infidelity/cheating, coercive control/spousal abuse, and historical violence to indigenous people.

Order Your Copy

You can preorder now anywhere books are sold (pub date is July 21, 2026); however, may I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org? I am now an affiliate of Bookshop.org because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. To be transparent, I may receive a small commission, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! It’s a Win-Win! You can order THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer here. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE.

About the Author

Kelly told her father she was going to be an author back when she was in kindergarten. Her storytelling dreams have come true, and her books can be found in bookstores all over the world. Kelly’s books have been Top 10 bestsellers in her home country of Australia, and in the U.S., she’s been on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists. Some of her well-known books are historical fiction. Previous books include Things We Cannot Say, Before I Let You Go, and The Warsaw Orphan.

If You Like…

If THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer sounds like a book you’d enjoy, also check out my past reviews on these books: The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross, The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. I don’t have a review on my blog for these books that I’ve read, but they would be great books you may enjoy: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow and Slade House by Davide Mitchell.

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June 24, 2026June 18, 2026

Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

Romance – Contemporary Fiction with Historical References – Women’s Fiction

MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel is described as Love Actually meets The Notebook in a tale of love, loss, and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris.

In this contemporary story the novel follows the lives of multiple Americans, unknown to each other, who have come to the City of Light for very different reasons, and yet their stories intertwine among the bookstores, bistros, bars, hotels, and tourist sites.

Book Summary

Julia and Piper

Julia always planned on returning to the city, but a recent diagnosis has finally pushed her to take the trip now to give her daughter, Piper, a special memory to hold onto. Piper, in her early twenties, intends on spending all her time with her mother. After Piper meets a cute waiter, she squeezes in time for him when Julia needs to rest. Julia’s amazed when she also meets someone who stirs unexpected feelings in her, but she must tell him about her diagnosis.

Jackson

Jackson, a 90s rock star, has come to Paris to launch his reunion tour to reignite interest with his fans. Even so, fame doesn’t sit well with him because others have used it to their advantage in the past. That deep connection of being loved for who he is on the inside has eluded him until Jackson meets a woman who doesn’t recognize him while in a Paris bar. She could be the missing part of his life.

Henry and Celeste

Henry, now in his 90s, writes hit songs, including Jackson’s big hit, City of Light. What fans don’t know is this well-loved song is about Celeste, a woman Henry loved during WWII. When he returned for her after the war, he thought she died. All these years later, a letter told him she’s alive but has dementia. Henry hopes his love song can break through her fog long enough for her to realize he came back for her. As he stays in Paris with his granddaughter, Melanie, Henry discovers Melanie’s marriage is in trouble.

Kayla

Kayla moved to Paris to get to know her French father. She’s settled into a job at a nursing home to support herself. A young artist in the park has noticed her walking past nearly every day and asks if he can paint her. Some Parisians are more welcoming to a foreigner living there than others.

Shelby and Jack

Shelby’s two girlfriends have brought her to Paris for a celebration of her divorce, only days away from being finalized. Shelby becomes interested Jack, a bar owner, who treats her with care and respect. Meanwhile, her almost-ex calls because he wants to try again. He broke it off with his girlfriend, but the reason is a red flag. Shelby is stuck between a decision to return to what she knows or to have the courage to believe she deserves more.

George and Lou

George and Lou fought together in Vietnam. After fifty years, the two widowers are still best friends. Lou convinces George to go on a Paris group tour with other Vietnam vets. He wants to see where the peace accords ending the war were signed.

With a full cast of characters, MEET ME IN PARIS addresses tough experiences real people go through such as dementia, lost love, first love, loneliness, life after widowhood and divorce, infidelity, lies, cancer, desire to connect with a distant parent, difficulties of fame, love that seems to have arrived too late, and the need for connection.

My Thoughts

Kristin Harmel is known best for her brilliant historical novels, mostly based in WWII. This new book is different but just as brilliant. It’s a contemporary story with touches of historical references to WWII and Vietnam. It’s clear that Kristin is right at home writing about Paris, having lived there for a while herself.

Photo of the Eiffel tower in Paris — Eiffel tower in Paris

I loved this book so much. It’s full of interesting, complex characters and situations. Kristin’s characters come alive during a week in Paris, walking the street, entering the hotels, enjoying the bars and bistros, and seeing the sites of Paris. Piper and Julia’s story takes center stage with Henry and Celeste coming in a close second. I adored both of these stories and how Kristin expertly wove them together.

My only small criticism is about the number of characters. Generally, it wasn’t too hard to keep track of, but the story may have been better with a few less. Personally, I would have cut the veteran storyline since it didn’t closely tie in to the others. George and Lou’s story felt like it was thrown in after the rest of the book was written to give more character diversity. They are old, one is white and one is black, and (SPOILER ALERT) they express their long-time, unspoken love for each other. Character diversity is a good thing, but this storyline just didn’t feel connected to the other stories and added more characters to keep track of. I would have preferred more depth in Kayla’s story.

Rating

Due to my last point, I rank this novel 4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5). I loved how the stories and characters transported me into their lives. Paris isn’t on my bucket list, but I wasn’t ready to leave this city or these characters at the end of the book. Your summer vacation may only be sunbathing in your own backyard, but MEET ME IN PARIS can sweep you away in your mind.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC of MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel. The opinions are my own.

Order Your Copy

You can preorder now or purchase soon anywhere books are sold (pub date is July 28, 2026); however, may I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org? I am now an affiliate of Bookshop.org because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. To be transparent, I may receive a small commission, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! It’s a Win-Win! You can order MEET ME IN PARIS HERE. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE.

About the Author

Kristin Harmel is a New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author, and a breast cancer survivor. She spent her childhood in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Florida, and after earning her journalism degree from the University of Florida, she lived in Paris and Los Angeles. Orlando, Florida, is now her home with her husband and son.

Paris, often the setting for her WWII novels, is one of Kristin’s favorite places. (Her other favorite place is Disney World. How convenient that she lives in Orlando!) She is also a co-founder and co-host of Friends and Fiction, a weekly web show where authors interview other authors.

If You Like…

If MEET ME IN PARIS sounds like a book you’d enjoy, also check out my past reviews on these books by Kristin Harmel: The Book of Lost Names, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, The Winemaker’s Wife, The Paris Daughter, and The Forest of Vanishing Stars.

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@author.robin.shelley

May 28, 2026May 22, 2026

Lost in the Summer of ’69

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

General Fiction – Women’s Fiction – Summer Read – ’60s nostalgia – Rock ‘n’ Roll

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight: a grandmother with early Alzheimer’s lives out her dream of being a musician by joining a band in the rock festival circuit while her worried daughter and granddaughter go on a road trip to find her.

If you like books with ’60s nostalgia and rock ‘n’ roll, LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight is for you! It comes out in paperback on June 9, just in time for summer reading. Embark on a road trip across the country to music festivals in the golden era of rock.

Book Summary

Doctors have given Eleanor a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s. Regretting she never pursued her dream to be a professional musician, she leaves her Atlanta home to go to a California music festival. After performing in an open mic tent, Shep Moon invites her to play on the big stage with his band. Next thing she knows, she’s traveling the country, playing with Shep’s band on the festival circuit.

Straight-laced Leanne always wears pearls and a dress and always has her husband’s dinner on the table when he gets home from work. Lately she’s been longing for more in her marriage and life than the restraints put on 1950s and ’60s housewives. She’s shocked and worried when her mother left home without leaving a note. She asks her daughter, Nora, to ride with her to track down Eleanor. Leanne hopes time together will strengthen their relationship before Nora goes off to college.

Nora wants to hang out with her friends before she faces her freshman year at Yale as one of the first women students. She planned on spending her summer at the lake with friends, but her mom and grandmother need her help. Being trapped in a car all day, day-after-day, with her mom sounds like torture, but she agrees to go.

Eleanor is having the time of her life. She is worried that if her daughter finds her, she’ll spoil all her fun and make her come home. Her daughter and granddaughter are hot on her trail, but every time they arrive at a festival, Eleanor has already moved on to the next one. They continue to track her without any modern technology. No cell phones. No computers. No GPS. Meanwhile, Leanne and Nora are being more adventurous than they’ve ever been. Their fun and troubles bring them closer together as they enjoy a new found freedom on the trip.

And yes! The do get to Woodstock. Is IS the summer of ’69, after all.

My Thoughts

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight is an enjoyable, light-hearted story about Grandma Eleanor being lost (although she knows where she is—most of the time), and her daughter and granddaughter tracking her down.

I love that Eleanor gets a chance to experience the spotlight as an entertainer, a dream she’d given up in her youth to marry and have a family. She gets to prove to herself that she could have done it and that she still has value at her age. She gets to live that life, even if only for a summer. She’s the most interesting character for me. However, Leanne is at the most interesting crossroads, historically.

Leanne has played the dutiful wife with all the restrictions on women in the 1950s-’60s, but she dips a toe in the evolution of women’s rights. She’s the transitional woman, glimpsing future possibilities. Drowning in her marriage and life while dreading becoming an empty-nester, she gets a taste of adventure and freedom while on the road with her daughter. She recognizes she wants more for both of them. She goes from always wearing a dress and her pearls to wearing tie dye shirts and bell bottom jeans. What would the ladies back home think?!

Nora represents the generation that will change societal expectations of women, including being one of the first women to attend Yale. On the verge of adulthood, Nora moves from seeing her mother through a child’s eyes to seeing her from a more adult perspective. She also experiences young love with Joe, a reporter she keeps running into at the festivals.

All three women, three generations, learn about being themselves and about breaking out of the mold the world imposes on them. (Can’t help but think of Jell-o molds from the ’60s!) These women learn they have agency. They discover the joy in getting ‘lost’ on purpose—and, through the process, being found and seen.

Eliza Knight has done her research. She did a fabulous job creating the world of 1969 through many historical touches. She hit right on with sensory details of the hotel rooms, diners, and pay phones, as well as the festivals, from the patchouli to the mud to the tear gas. The only criticism I have is some of the festivals could have been cut out. It began to feel repetitive, even though different experiences happen at each. Perhaps a few could have been combined together.

I really enjoyed taking a road trip with these three ladies. Watching Eleanor get her moment to shine and the transformation of Leanne and Nora, both individually and as mother/daughter, was entertaining. LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 should go on your summer reading list. Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight comes out in paperback on June 9, 2026. It’s almost here! Pre-ordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. Since it’s a paperback, it’s very affordable. Order here.

About the Author

Eliza Knight, an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author, currently lives in Florida with her knight in shining armor, three princesses, two naughty Newfies, and a turtle names Fish.

Her love of history began as a young girl, traipsing the halls of Versailles and running through the fields in Southern France. Standing before the great golden palace, she imagined what life must have been like. Today she takes readers on historical journeys around the world.

She is the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, and hosts the History, Books and Wine podcast.

If You Like…

If you like the description of LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul.

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@author.robin.shelley

May 21, 2026May 12, 2026

Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

Contemporary Romance – Mystery – Beach Read

ROAD TRIP by Mary Kay Andrews: a summer romp in Ireland with romance, Irish whiskey, family secrets, colorful characters, an art heist of an Irish aristocrat’s portrait, and two American sisters researching their ancestral ties to the subject of the painting.

Yes, please! Doesn’t that sound amazing? Pull up a chair next to the pool or beach this summer with ROAD TRIP in your beach bag.

Book Summary

Maeve and Therese’s mother has recently passed away. Maeve, the conservative, rule-following sister, carries a grudge against free-spirited Therese who was no help during their mother’s illness. Therese was off chasing her acting dreams. The funeral has brought the girls together, but they don’t have to like it. Friction slows progress to get the house ready to sell, but Therese, nearly destitute, and Maeve, her job on the line from her time off caring for her mother, could both use a financial boost from its sale.

A painting of an Irish aristocratic has hung in their living room their entire childhood. Their mother claimed a famous artist painted this distant relative’s portrait. After a similar painting went to auction, the girls realize this one could be worth a million dollars. An art expert explains they must know its provenance to authenticate it. Tracking how it was handed down from the family who commissioned the painting means using the money Mom saved for them to explore their roots in Ireland. Their mom’s intention was to bring them closer together after her death. The girls just might kill each other first.

Maeve and Therese arrive in Ireland and stay at an inn on the Tarrymore House estate, the manor where their grandmother grew up and lived before she emigrated to America. While on tour of the estate, Maeve meets Liam, a local whiskey maker. Maeve will be heading back to the States soon, but her interest in him grows.

While they’re there, the girls dig into their family background, which stirs up some unfriendly responses, including from crotchety, old Lady Esme Rossington. She doesn’t want anything to do with these American relatives stirring up the past. She’s especially dismissive when Therese asks about a 1970’s art heist at Tarrymore carried out by the IRA. The girls must solve this cold case and make the connections needed to authenticate their painting, but they just might kill each other first, if someone else doesn’t do it first.

My Thoughts

Who doesn’t like an adventure in Ireland with romance? If you have Irish roots, or want to pretend you do, ROAD TRIP by Mary Kay Andrews will be a fun, light read for you. Keep in mind, if you’re a Mary Kay Andrews fan, this isn’t her usual Southern beach/coastal book. It starts in Savannah, but most of the story takes place in Ireland.

Personally, I’ll take a romance set in an American coastal town every day, but Ireland and Scotland are my next best places! The story’s set-up in Savannah was a bit too drawn out for me because I couldn’t wait to get the girls in Ireland. MKA fills the story with the romance, mystery, and masterful storytelling she’s known for.

I loved the Tarrymore estate and the local color. You may find yourself longing to get a whiskey or Guinness at an Irish pub or to wander the Irish countryside. As the spring rains in Ohio turn my world into an intense green, I’m reminded of the lush Irish countryside in this novel.

I’ve always wanted a sister, but I also recognize having a sister doesn’t guarantee you’ll get along as adults. Maeve and Therese are as opposite as you can get, but both experience personal growth. They stay true to themselves and yet mature as people and in their sisterhood.

Liam is a boyfriend readers will swoon over – a great guy with a kind heart, a wonderful family, a good job, and, of course, an Irish accent. The romance world calls his type of character a cinnamon roll love interest, an overall good man to fall for.

You, reader, at first may find Lady Esme Rossington’s personality crusty at best, but your heart will soften for this strange, old bird. One of the few Rossingtons left, she lives like a shadow of the aristocratic family she comes from. Men have overlooked and underestimated her her whole life. Now in her 80’s, she’s set in her ways and is very private. The girls must crack through the hard exterior to truly understand past events that affect uncovering the provenance of their portrait.

I always enjoy that Mary Kay adds mystery to her romances to keep the suspense high. As the girls try to piece together what happened generations ago, they encounter some strange and dangerous events. This story will also attract readers interested in learning about family lineage. The girls dive into genealogical research, conversations with the locals about their family, letters they were given that their grandmother wrote, and even stumble upon family gravestones. I felt that the girls, through their research, began to see their ancestor as a real person, not just a portrait of a stranger. They discover that women in their family are strong and have been for generations.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own. ROAD TRIP by Mary Kay Andrews comes out June 2, 2026. Pre-ordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support independent bookstores across the country. Order here. Book mail of a new release is the best!

About the Author

Mary Kay Andrews, a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels. After a 14-year career as a reporter, she left journalism to write fiction. Harper Collins published her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, in 1992. She wrote ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Trocheck, but in 2002, she began writing under her pen name, Mary Kay Andrews, starting with Savannah Blues.

Mary Kay and her husband divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, Georgia. On Tybee they’ve restored two beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide, for the rental market where she displays treasures from her “junking” passion.

Also a co-founder and co-anchor on the Friends and Fiction weekly podcast, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patty Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel interview authors every Wednesday at 7 PM ET. It’s a great way to discover new titles and authors! Join the Friends and Fiction Facebook group or go to their YouTube channel where you can watch live and catch up on older episodes. Maybe I’ll see you there!

If You Like…

If you like the description of ROAD TRIP by Mary Kay Andrews, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan and The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel.

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May 12, 2026May 1, 2026

Tourist Season by Brenda Novak

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

If TOURIST SEASON by Brenda Novak isn’t on your summer TBR list yet, it is now! You’ll love the romance tied to a mystery, creating suspense throughout.

Contemporary Romance – Mystery – Romantic Suspense-

Family Drama/Secrets – Beach Read – Forbidden Love

Book Summary

This summer, the path Ismay has been on may unexpectedly take a major turn.

In a big city away from family, two young adults form a long-term romantic relationship that always comes second to building their careers. The question emerges—Will their relationship ever come first? This is the situation Ismay is in with her fiancé, Remy.

Remy has invited her to use his family’s beachfront house on Cape Cod that’s sitting unused. At his suggestion, Ismay plans to relax on her own for a few weeks until Remy can join her. She isn’t expecting to ride out a hurricane in the large, unfamiliar house alone. While searching for matches or a lighter to go with the candles she found, Ismay makes a disturbing discovery in her fiancé’s childhood closet.

Due to the hurricane, Bo, the property caretaker, checks in on Ismay and gets the generator running. After the hurricane damages the caretaker’s house, Ismay invites Bo to shelter temporarily in the main house with her. Bastian, her fiancé’s twin, shows up unexpectedly, and the mood in the house shifts dramatically. With Bastian’s innuendos and condescension, Bo returns to his damaged home. Bastian’s words and actions toward Ismay make her feel unsettled in the house alone with him. Her stress is also increased because she doesn’t know if Remy or Bastian is connected to the discovery in the closet. Ismay turns to the security of Bo’s quiet strength. Her growing feelings for Bo make her question if she’s made the right choices in her love life, and if she truly wants to marry Remy. But Bo is also keeping secrets about his past that might make her question if she can trust him.

TOURIST SEASON by Brenda Novak touches on themes of love and trust. Ismay must re-evaluate if what she thought she wanted is still what she wants, or if she’s staying with the wrong guy just because they have history. Does she really know the person she loves? Is this the man she wants to spend her life with?

My Thoughts

It’s a story set-up that’s been done before—young adults fixating on building their careers rather than their romantic relationships, but I enjoyed the unique twists and turns that came out of it.

The (physical and emotional) distance between Remy and Ismay, as well as the discovery in the closet, cause Ismay to question her relationship with him. When she is most vulnerable, Bo’s kindness gives her reassurance of safety. Ismay and Bo’s relationship is a classic example of forbidden love and creates a love triangle with dangerous ramifications. She’s engaged to the son of the homeowner, and he works for the family. For her, her choices risk her planned marriage, and for him, he risks his job and anonymity. I loved the suspense of whether they would get together or if Ismay and Remy would solve their problems.

The uncertainty of the love triangle and the suspicious items in the closet kept me reading. Remy’s family’s secrets kept me guessing as to who might be dangerous, or at least in need of a cover-up. Add to it that Bo has secrets of his own that could blow up the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and I needed to keep turning the pages.

Even though I’m not a big mystery reader, (TOURIST SEASON is as heavy on the mystery/suspense as the romance), it was the romance and the author’s reputation that drew me to this book. I read for the romance, but I enjoyed the psychological twists and light creep factor that gave depth to the story. I don’t like anything horror, so be assured, this book doesn’t step near that genre. The mystery adds interest and suspense, not scares.

Here comes the honest part, based on my personal tastes, that explains giving TOURIST SEASON a 4 instead of a 5-star rating. First, it took me a bit to get used to the unusual character names (Ismay, Remy and Bastian). Next, it really irks me when a title doesn’t match the story. It’s misleading. The “tourist season” on Cape Cod has little to do with the story. (To be fair, this isn’t the author’s fault. The author rarely has much say in the final title of a book that is traditionally published.) I also would have liked more scenes that involved the beach or being in a beach town. Last, I found it unrealistic that Bo repairs the hurricane damage to the caretaker’s house with no mention of insurance or insurance adjusters. He just takes it upon himself to fix it. Overall, these are small things, but details can snap a reader out of the magic of being lost in a story.

With all that said, I was invested in both the story and the characters, and I’m glad I read it. It was worth my time. TOURIST SEASON is a comfort read even though it has a bit of creepiness in it. I also like the theme of trusting your heart and having the courage to take a different path in life than you expected. Mira Books released TOURIST SEASON by Brenda Novak in 2024, and it’s available in bookstores and libraries near you.

Consider ordering it through this link to Bookshop.org to help support independent bookstores around the country. As always, I am not an affiliate of Bookshop.org and do not receive anything from your order. I simply like helping independent bookstores!

About the Author

Brenda never expected she’d become a writer, and yet she now has nearly fifty books to her credit.

“When I first go the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”

Many of her novels have won or placed in contests such as the Rita, the National Reader’s Choice, and the Bookseller’s Best, and runs a 17,000-member book group on Facebook.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are proud parents of five children. When she’s not spending time with family or writing, Brenda helps others like her youngest son by raising money for diabetes research.

If You Like…

If you like the description of TOURIST SEASON by Brenda Novak, I’d like to point you to other books like it that I’ve reviewed. Unfortunately, I don’t have many books that are similar. Here are a couple of my past reviews that are as close as I can get: The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is a romance that involves the female protagonist seeing a man that looks like her deceased husband and the mystery of who it is. Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews takes place at a Carolina resort. The book has juicy secrets, family discord, shady deals, murder, past indiscretions, and misplaced trust with a side of romance.

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April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a wonderful feel-good escape, well worth the time, and perfect for sunbathing at the beach or your own backyard this summer.

Women’s fiction – Contemporary Romance – Family Drama – Beach Read

Book Summary

Daisy Stevens, a NICU nurse, finds caring for newborns with extra needs very rewarding. However, the emotional strain of a particular case leads Daisy to move to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, to start fresh with a new nursing job.

High school baseball coach Mason Thaysden struggles with his dashed dream of pitching in the major leagues after an injury. Stuck in his hometown coaching, he needs to find meaning in life beyond the teenagers he’s impacting.

On Daisy’s first day of her new job, Mason and his star player bring in a newborn they found in a dumpster behind the high school. Mason’s concern for the baby connects him to nurse Daisy who is becoming extremely attached to this little girl. Based on her own childhood experience, she doesn’t want baby Jane Doe to ever feel unwanted.

Hoping to adopt the baby, Daisy requests to foster her after being released from the hospital. Mason begins to see the possibility of a family with Daisy and the baby. Under the influence of demons from her past, Daisy struggles between what she wants and what’s best for the baby, and she tries to rationalize that they’re the same thing. All the while, she knows social services could take the baby from her if the parents step up or someone else is approved for the adoption.

Mason makes a huge step by introducing Daisy to his big, crazy family, including his Aunt Tilley. Aunt Tilley has been emotionally tethered to a loss in her early days and a deep family secret. She makes huge steps in healing when she’s cast as the title role in a community production of Hello, Dolly!

Meanwhile, as Daisy and Mason begin to realize who the baby’s parents are, life turns messier than a diaper!

My Thoughts

I loved Summer State of Mind! This is by far Kristy Woodson Harvey’s best book to date. I loved the southern charm and storyline. I love how she wove echoes between character stories. Watch for those! I don’t want to give any spoilers.

Kristy adds authenticity to her story with characters that make questionable decisions. The first obvious one is the mother who leaves her newborn baby in a dumpster. Wrong, yes, but when readers understand the position she was in, we become more compassionate.

Readers will want to fall in love with the protagonists Daisy and Mason, but even they face decisions that don’t have black and white answers. Daisy isn’t a perfect person, even though she’s caring and protective of the baby. She looks through the lens of her scars from her mother leaving her when she was a child. Readers will want to love her, but they may not like how she processes this baby situation. And yet, it’s a real, understandable reaction.

Although Aunt Tilley’s mental state seems a bit unrealistic, she’s so much fun! I can’t imagine the book without her and her background being a part of it. She adds depth to Daisy and Mason’s situation.

People aren’t all good or all bad. Some of our wrong choices and rationalizations are made with good intent. Some are made out of desperation. Knowing the circumstances for the choice doesn’t make a poor decision acceptable, but it leads to understanding and compassion.

Concerning Daisy and Mason’s romance, they fall in love quickly. If you’re more of a slow burn fan, this isn’t for you. Although he book has romance, it’s really about family dynamics and the choices we make.

At first I wasn’t sure I would be into a book about a baby left in a dumpster, but it’s so much more than that. Read it! You’ll see. 5 stars!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC for my review. The opinions are my own. SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey comes out May 5, but you can preorder now. One way is through this link at Bookshop.org.

About the Author

Author Kristy Woodson Harvey — Kristy Woodson Harvey

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a New York Times Bestselling author. Beyond her novels, her writing has appeared in many publications including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, and USA Today. She is also a co-founder and co-anchor on the Friends and Fiction weekly podcast with Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel.

Every Wednesday at 7 PM ET these ladies talk about their books and interview other authors with recent releases. It’s a great way to discover new titles and authors! Join in the fun by joining the Friends and Fiction Facebook group or go to their YouTube channel where you can watch live and catch up on older episodes.

If You Like…

If you like the description of SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey, check out my past reviews on some of her other books: Beach House Rules, A Happier Life, The Peachtree Bluff series, and Under the Southern Sky. You may also like these: The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter, and The Sea Glass Cottage and The Cafe at Beach End, both by RaeAnn Thayne.

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March 25, 2026February 23, 2026

Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

Book Summary

I recently dove into a wonderful YA romantasy, STOLEN MIDNIGHTS by Katherine Quinn. Delacorte Press published it in February 2026.

Three Fates rule over Andalay, a land with haves and have-nots. The Fates give magical gifts (only to the elite) on their 18th birthdays, further separating the classes.

Wren, a nobleman’s daughter, has lived a life of ease and has been sheltered from the conditions of the poor. When Wren doesn’t get a gift on her birthday, she believes a mistake has been made and can’t let the thought go.

Damien, orphaned as an infant, does whatever it takes to survive in the poorest part of Andalay. He’s surprised when he receives a magical gift on his birthday, but he finds it a helpful tool for his thievery. Damien takes a job to steal a birthday gift from the Fates in mid-delivery. It’s intended owner was the daughter of a noble. When he looks inside the locket he’s stolen, he’s confused. It holds a picture of him.

When the thief strikes again at a ball, Wren chases after him. Their relationship starts in conflict, but it gradually turns them into a team. Damien opens Wren’s eyes to the economic and social disparity in their land. Together they uncover seedy activities going on in the government. This patriarchal society is about to be turned on its head.

My Thoughts

YA romantasy is not my usual go-to genre, but I wanted to switch it up. I ‘m glad I did because this one was a good read.

Damien is a morally gray character, a thief but with a good heart. Wren starts off as naive, but she becomes a strong, inquisitive character who wants to make things right. I enjoyed the good girl/bad boy trope with fun banter between the two. She’s all sunshine. He’s all grump. They’re an unlikely pair in a forbidden love.

STOLEN MIDNIGHTS has complicated family dynamics, secrets, a regency vibe, magical gifts, and plenty of action that kept my interest. The story reveals the problems of when the wealthy and privileged turn a blind eye to the needs of others and even exploit the vulnerable as a way to maintain what they have. Readers get to know the two main characters, seeing behind the walls they put up, through this dual POV.

Warnings: It’s a slow burn romance that leads to a consensual sex scene. Expect to also see some foul language.

This is the first part of a duology, so expect a cliff hanger at the end. I didn’t realize that when I picked it up. Even though I hate waiting for a sequel, I want more! I want more of the push and pull of Damien and Wren’s relationship, more about the background of the Fates, and more about the gifts they’ve been given and how it will come into play as they pry the lid off a jar of angry bees running the country.

About the Author

Katherine Quinn, a fantasy romance author and poet, lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and three children. Ever since she read her first fantasy series, Katherine wanted to be a dagger-wielding heroine. Instead, she became a writer of adventures with strong heroines.

Katherine has a psychology degree from the University of Central Florida. She believes anything can be fixed with Starbucks and dark humor.

If You Like…

Considering buying it? Try Bookshop.org. I’m not an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I simply want to support their mission of supporting small, independent bookstores across the country. Here’s the Bookshop.org link.

If STOLEN MIDNIGHTS by Katherine Quinn sounds interesting, also check out my past reviews on these recommendations: The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

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March 4, 2026February 10, 2026

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

Robin’s Reviews – 2026

Book Summary

THE BOOK WITCH by Meg Shaffer is a mix of cozy mystery, detective noir, and fantasy. Rainy March (and yes, she knows she sounds like a weather report) is a book witch. With her magic umbrella and cat familiar, she jumps into stories to protect them from the burners. Burners are those who try to destroy the book from the inside by wiping away pages until the story is gone forever.

But there are rules for book witches. They can’t stay long because they could get trapped inside the story and change it by becoming a character. They can’t sleep, eat or drink inside the story, and they certainly can’t fall in love with a fictional character. After all, real people live in the real world and fictional characters live in stories.

But what if Rainy does? Fall in love with a fictional character, that is. When she meets the dashing hero of her favorite detective series, the Duke of Chicago, it’s love on both sides. Once the book coven catches on, they ban her from seeing him, or she will be expelled from the group and forced to give up her magical gifts.

As if that isn’t enough, her grandfather goes missing and a special book is stolen from their safe. Rainy finds herself in her own mystery, flitting from novel to novel to track down clues. The Duke and Nancy Drew join in to help solve the case. She hops in and out of familiar titles like The Great Gatsby, Alice in Wonderland, and a Nancy Drew book, The Secret of the Old Clock.

My Thoughts

THE BOOK WITCH was not what I was expecting. For a while, I wasn’t sure it was ‘for me’ because it felt like an old-time, noir, detective story— not my usual cup of tea. I’ve read and enjoyed Meg Shaffer’s other two books (unique and different from each other), so I kept reading. I’m glad I did. For me, I enjoyed the experience of diving in and out between fiction and reality and catching all the literary references. Even LaVar Burton from Reading Rainbow gets a mention! The deeper I went, the more the book delivered: a deeper plot than it first appears, unexpected twists, fun adventures, interesting characters, a romance, a mystery, and so much more. Each time you think you know what’s happening, there’s another twist.

Meg Shaffer delivers a quirky, unique book that crosses many genres. By the end it may have you questioning —What is reality? Maybe YOU’RE living in a book right now.

THE BOOK WITCH by Meg Shaffer comes out April 7, 2026. Pre-ordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. You can order here. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

About the Author

Meg Shaffer is the author of THE LOST STORY and THE WISHING GAME, my personal favorite, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, a Book-of-the-Month Book of the Year finalist, a Barnes and Noble bestseller, a Reader’s Digest Best Book of the year and a USA Today bestseller. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting and lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats. THE BOOK WITCH is Meg Shaffer’s third book.

If You Like…

If you like the description of THE BOOK WITCH by Meg Shaffer, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan, and The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young.

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February 17, 2026January 20, 2026

Twice by Mitch Albom

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

TWICE by Mitch Albom was an intriguing, creative story that I gobbled down in one day! I love contemporary romances that find a unique way to include magical realism. This one did it and kept me turning pages.

Book Summary

The story begins with Alfie Logan being questioned at a casino. He put his money on three correct numbers in a row in roulette, an impossible feat to do legally. Then he suspiciously and immediately wired the two million dollars to a woman’s account. Detective LaPorta is convinced Alfie gained his winnings illegally and wants to know how he did it. Alfie claims he’s innocent and that his notebook will tell the detective everything he needs to know. It reveals Alfie’s life from childhood to present time, including an unexpected how and why of the day at the casino.

Eight-year-old Alfie discovers he has a special gift. He can redo any moment he’s personally part of. As he tries out his gift, he uses it to undo awkward situations, correct mistakes, and risk his life knowing he can get a redo. He can go back minutes, months, or even years, but then he must relive events from that moment forward. The catch? There are several: First, he has to live with the consequences of the second time around, good or bad. Next, he can’t change when someone will die. Last, he can’t make a person fall in love with him a second time. (His grandmother warns him to be careful with love.)

When he falls for Gianna, he uses his gift to make himself more attractive to her. They are happy together until Alfie is tempted by another woman. He can go back in time to change things, but he remembers the warning that he can’t make a person fall in love with him again.

This is a love story, but also one that explores how our selfish desires can lead to losing everything we ever wanted and already had.

My Thoughts

TWICE by Mitch Albom was a creative story and thought-provoking for such a quick read. Book clubs will get a lot of discussion out of it. I didn’t want to stop reading this unique book once I started.

As the detective delves into Alfie’s notebook and we hear how Alfie uses his gift throughout his life, I got more interested in his choices to use it or not. As the story progresses out of childhood, I became invested in his relationship with Gianna. With the detective’s curiosity, I got more curious as to what really happened at the casino and why. I found myself trying to unravel the mysteries of Alfie right along with Detective LaPorta as he uncovers more of the unbelievable story. Although the book requires suspension of belief, the magical realism of Alfie’s redo’s in a romance story was interesting and right up my alley.

I absolutely loved the ending. I didn’t see it coming quite the way it happens, but it is satisfying and hopeful.

The premise of the book will cause readers to contemplate the choices in their own lives. What if you could redo events in your life? Would you? Which ones? And how would that change the person you are today?

Since HarperCollins published TWICE by Mitch Albom in 2025, copies are currently available in bookstores and online. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. You can purchase here.

Several quotes from the book remain with me.

This first one appears a few times when he can’t change certain circumstances, like death.

“I want, you want, and God does what God wants.”

When discussing why he only gets one do-over, his grandmother tells him,

“Alfie, if you keep getting second chances, you won’t learn a damn thing.”

When Alfie is afraid of letting people see his true self, awkwardness and all, he often does the moment over and learns a lesson.

“Instead, I hid my flaws, afraid they would cost me her affection. That would prove to be a mistake, and my first lesson in The Truth About Love: what we yearn for, deep down, is a heart that will embrace us after we make a fool of ourselves.”

About the Author

Mitch Albom’s website states his books (collectively) have sold 42 million copies worldwide and have been published in 51 territories in 48 languages. Some of his stories have been made into Emmy Award-winning television movies.

His New York Times bestseller TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the bestselling memoir of all time, topped the list for four straight years. Readers also know Mitch for writing THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, FINDING CHIKA, and THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT.

Beyond being a best-selling fiction and non-fiction writer, Mitch is a journalist, screen and playwright, radio and TV broadcaster, musician, and philanthropist. Much of his time is spent operating the nine charitable programs of SAY Detroit, including the nation’s first medical clinic for homeless children. He founded a dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line to help fund his charities. Additionally, he operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.

If You Like…

If TWICE by Mitch Albom sounds interesting, check out my past reviews on these recommended books: The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, Big Fish by Daniel Wallace, Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon, and Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber.

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February 4, 2026January 15, 2026

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Robin’s Reviews – 2026

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR? by Crystal Smith Paul was a captivating story told in two timelines. The story of a star in the Golden Age of Hollywood, this book explores the historical impact of slavery, racism, passing as White, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and discrimination . It spotlights a dark spot in history and the Black American experience.

A multigenerational saga that shifts between the Jim Crow era and the present day as an act of racial violence splits a family tree into Black, White, and something in between.

Book Summary

Kitty Karr Tate, a huge star in the Golden Age of Hollywood, is mixed-race but has skin light enough to pass as White. She hides her background her entire adult life. Then, upon her death, she leaves millions to the St. John sisters, wealthy Blacks who live next door, prompting the question of why.

The earlier timeline shows Kitty growing up as the daughter of a poor maid who works for a rich family. Kitty and her mother experience Jim Crow era injustices. Her mother sees an opportunity to set her daughter up for a better life by passing as White. Kitty struggles between two worlds, trying to fit in. Through the years, she discovers others like her. The higher her rise to fame, the more dangerous it becomes for her secret to get out.

In the modern timeline, after Kitty’s death, Elise St. John sorts through her belongings and follows Kitty’s instructions on what to do with the possessions from her glamorous life. Kitty’s journal explains the truth of her rise from humble beginnings in the segregated South. However, telling her story threatens to implicate other women passing for White whom she had ties with, as well as expose unknown family ties, potential crimes, and decisions made when she was backed into a corner by society’s standards. Meanwhile, Elise, a star in her own rights, is bombarded by social media pressure, paparazzi, and a cheating fiancé.

My Thoughts

The gorgeous cover that came on my version (see photo above) drew me in. I was also excited about the premise of this debut book and wanted to love it, but I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Kitty’s captivating story of growing up during the Jim Crowe era is the core of the novel. Having two timelines, I wanted the modern story of Elise and her family more developed. In general though, the book felt too long.

It took me a while to get into the book, but once I did, it kept me coming back. The large number of characters introduced were difficult to keep track of. On a positive note, Kitty has a fascinating life filled with difficult choices. Also, the end gives an interesting twist as to why Kitty leaves her inheritance to the St. John sisters.

Crystal Smith Paul’s debut novel is eye opening and gives readers much to chew on. This would be a great book for discussion in a book club. It may leave you wanting to know more about this time period in Hollywood, and it will make you consider the racial struggles many people faced.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR? by Crystal Smith Paul was published in 2023. If you are interested in buying a copy, I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. They help support small, independent bookstores across the country. Order here.

About the Author

Crystal Smith Paul’s author website shares this information about her.

Crystal attended Spelman College, UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, and NYU’s Graduate School of Journalism.

She explores American family histories, digging deep to uncover truths that shape who we are. Her writing ‘examines the complex intersections of race, identity, and family legacy.’ Discovering a family secret in her mid-twenties led her on a path that transformed her life and understanding of how the past shapes the present. ‘Stories have the power to heal, transform, and connect generations.’

Also worth noting, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR? was a Reese’s book club pick and a Book of the Month Club pick in May 2023.

If You Like…

If you think DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR? by Crystal Smith Paul sounds interesting, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: The Keeper of Lost Children, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, and The Liz Taylor Ring.

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January 20, 2026January 15, 2026

The Unwritten Rules of Magic

Robin’s Reviews – 2026

If you’ve ever wished for more control over your circumstances and the lives of those around you (haven’t we all?), then you may enjoy reading THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross.

Book Summary

Emerson Clarke’s father, a famous author, has recently died. She’s a successful ghostwriter, but she hasn’t taken the jump into publishing under her own name. As she goes through her father’s things, Emerson finds and takes home his vintage typewriter which he had forbidden anyone to use.

With her father’s recent death, her mother’s alcoholism, her teen daughter shutting her out, and a looming deadline for work, Emerson is overwhelmed. She wishes she could control her circumstances and the choices of those around her to create her perfect life. She types a wish on her father’s typewriter. When the wish comes true, she types another, just to make sure it wasn’t a coincidence. Wishing is dangerous since she can’t control how the wishes play out, and there’s a price to be paid each time she asks for something.

Emerson feels guilty manipulating others and taking away their rights to make their own choices. Her guilt raises a question in her mind—how much was her father manipulating her life?

Could the wishes coming true simply be coincidences? A self-fulfilling prophesy from her desire for these things to be true?

Emerson must decide what to do with the typewriter. Can she avoid its provocative allure?

Trigger Warnings: death of a parent, dysfunctional family, alcoholism, abortion

My Thoughts

I recommend THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross. If you’re considering reading it, be aware that the title is deceptive. If you’re looking for a book with wizards and spells, this isn’t it. This isn’t fantasy, as one might assume from the title. It’s magical realism, meaning the story takes place in our ordinary world, but an element that doesn’t exist in our world exists in this one. In this case, the element is a magical typewriter that grants wishes. THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC is more about family dynamics than magic.

One theme is about letting go of control, the struggle to stop trying to control the uncontrollable. It’s also about how every person, including those you love, have faults. The book reminds us how others need our help and forgiveness, not our judgment.

Several heavy issues enter the lives of the characters. One in particular toward the end is a controversial topic. The decision a character makes, whether you personally believe it is right or wrong, is one she’ll have to live with. She will have to deal with the consequences, just like we must do with our choices in real life.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross comes out January 27, 2026. Pre-ordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. Order here.

About the Author

Harper Ross left her legal practice to raise her children. That’s when she discovered her creative side. She writes books with a dash of everyday magic while exploring friendship, family, and forgiveness.

Her website says when she’s not writing, she’s probably singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog. THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC is her debut novel.

If You Like…

If you think THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross sounds interesting, check out my past recommendations: The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young, and Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber.

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January 14, 2026January 14, 2026

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson will give you all the feels. This WWII historical fiction covers a mix of topics from family drama, prejudice/desegregation, adoption, infertility, army wife life, and the haves/have nots.</span> Sadeqa expertly immerses you into the world of several characters from the late 1940s in Occupied Germany to the mid-1960s in America. The three storylines are easy to follow without confusion as you weave in and out of them.

Book Summary

Ethel Gathers lives in Occupied Germany on an American Army base in the 1950s. She struggles with the emotional pain of infertility and loneliness as a military wife in a foreign country. When she gets lost walking around the city, she stumbles upon a local orphanage. The children here are babies of German women and Black American GI’s. German society shunned these single mothers due to their bi-racial children, and the women cannot financially care for them. Ethel’s purpose in life becomes finding these children loving homes in America, and her “Brown Babies Program” is born.

Ozzie Phillips, born and raised in Philadelphia, volunteers for the Army in 1948. He wants to show what the Black man is capable of in the newly desegregated Army. While serving in Germany, he forms a relationship with Jelka, a local woman, and they have a child together. He loves this child more than anything, but the military upends their arrangement with orders he must follow.

In the mid-1960s, Sophia Clark’s high test score gains her an opportunity to be part of desegregating a prestigious all-white boarding school in Maryland. It’s an opportunity for a better education to overcome a life of poverty, as well as escaping tough life on the farm and her cold, demanding parents. At the new school, she struggles with both class and race issues. Sophia makes friends with other students who, like her, are breaking down walls. One of these friendships leads her to uncovering truths about herself and her family.

My Thoughts

Reader, you will love these characters. You will sympathize with Ethel’s desperate desire to be a mother and attempts at adjusting to life on the Army base so far from home. You will love Ethel’s heart in finding Black American families who want these children and her persistence in breaking through the red tape to get them from Germany to America. Author notes that will be in the published version weren’t included in my Advance Readers Copy (ARC). I expect Sadeqa will talk about her research on these children and the woman who arranged the adoptions. Some quick research points to Ethel’s character being based on a real-life woman, Mabel Grammer. She was responsible for successfully relocating over 500 children in her “Brown Baby Program.”

We meet Ozzie in Philadelphia before he joins the military. You will connect with his personality and goals. You will feel for the sacrifice he makes to join the Army. Once there, hIs story sheds light on what it was like for a Black man to have his ability overlooked by the military simply because of his skin color. You’ll applaud his drive to improve his position and prove himself. You’ll appreciate his tender side in his relationship with Jelka, a German woman, and the child they have together. The devotion this man has for his child is adorable which makes your heart break for his circumstances. You will cheer on Ozzie and Jelka to overcome the problems associated with the demands of the Army and societal bigotry.

Jumping forward in time, your heart will go out to Sophia, a sweet, smart girl living in poverty with unloving parents. As much as you’ll want to see her get out by going to this prestigious school, you’ll feel her stress at leaving her brothers behind in those conditions. You will feel concern knowing the probable issues she will face being one of the first Black students at an all-white school with children from wealthy families. You will tense as she encounters prejudice, and you’ll recognize typical teenage scenarios with friendship and first love.

Although you will predict how the three stories will eventually tie in, you will be invested in seeing it all play out.

5 Star Recommendation

I have seen excellent reviews of other Sadeqa Johnson novels (THE HOUSE OF EVE and YELLOW WIFE), but this is my first book by her. When I saw the ARC was available, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’m so glad I did. I highly recommend KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson. It is well written, the characters are endearing, and the story was an excellent lesson of WWII history I didn’t know about.

The book comes out February 10, 2026. You can preorder it now . Here’s a link to purchase at Bookshop.org. My thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC of KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson. All of my thoughts on this novel are my own opinions.

About the Author

From Sadeqa Johnson’s website: Sadeqa is the author of six novels. The House of Eve was an instant New York Times Best Seller, Reese’s Book Club selection, Target Book Club pick, nominated for a NAACP Image Award and a 2023 Goodreads Choice award finalist.

Yellow Wife, was named by Oprah Magazine as “27 of 2021 Most Anticipated Winter Historical Fiction books.” Yellow Wife was also a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award finalist for historical fiction, a 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner, and a Barnes & Noble book club pick in paperback.

The book tour dates and locations for KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN is on her website here. I plan on meeting her in February when she comes to the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Library (Cleveland area) on her book tour. Does your book club plans on reading her newest book? Keep an eye on her website for book club extras.

If You Like…

If KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN sounds interesting to you, take a look at these past reviews I’ve done. Click on the links. Maybe one of these books will also piqué your interest: THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES or THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel, THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by Patti Callahan Henry, and THE CLOCKMAKER’S WIFE by Daisy Wood.

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December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

The Ticklemore Christmas Toy Shop

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

Trying to hold on to the cozy Christmas feeling a little bit longer? How about reading THE TICKLEMORE CHRISTMAS TOY SHOP by Liz Davies? I just finished it and LOVED it!

Everyday life in the small village of Ticklemore lends to a sweet, funny, easy-read novel, even for beyond the holiday. It is the first of a four book series. The others in the series are THE TICKLEMORE TATTLER, THE TICKLEMORE TREASURE TROVE, and THE TICKLEMORE TAVERN. I haven’t read these yet, but I would love to! According to others who have read them, you don’t need to read them in any particular order.

Now that I’ve read a Liz Davies book, I want to investigate other books she’s written, especially the Coorie Castle Crafts series set in Scotland written under her pen name Lilac Mills.

Book Summary

THE TICKLEMORE CHRISTMAS TOY SHOP is a funny and heartwarming story in the quaint village of Ticklemore. Two widowed octogenarians are the main characters, although there is good balance with multiple generations of characters for all readers.

Working in the Ticklemore café/bookstore gives Hattie a reason to get moving each day. It gives her purpose and allows her to interact with people each day. She knows how to get things done and won’t take no for an answer.

Alfred (Alfie) is a crusty old man whose concerned daughter has recently moved him into her house. She worries he may be developing Alzheimer’s, but in reality, he’s struggling with grief after losing his wife. When the daughter movedshim out of the house he shared with his wife for so many years, it adds to his depressed emotional state. She’s ready to discard everything he owns, including a shed full of wooden toys he’s spent years making.

When Alfred walks into the Ticklemore café for the first time, he dislikes Hattie’s pushiness. Little does he suspect that he’s just become her next project. As she forces herself into his life, she recognizes why he’s so curmudgeonly and believes she can help him. She sees the value in the toys he made and realizes Alfred doesn’t want them to get thrown out.

Hattie finds a way for him to do something meaningful that gives him and his toys a new purpose. Many of the village shopkeepers involved in this big Christmas project through Hattie’s prodding. Alfred finds ways to sneak out of his daughter’s house to see Hattie and check on the project. The smothering daughter is keeping her father on a short leash out of concern, but she begins to treat her father with more dignity when she realizes what her father is still capable of.

My Thoughts

THE TICKLEMORE CHRISTMAS TOY SHOP by Liz Davies is sweet and funny. I chuckled all the way through it. The characters are memorable and interesting. I loved watching the main characters butt heads while building a relationship. Hattie sees potential in Alfred that he doesn’t see in himself, and she manipulates him with good intentions until he can see it. Alfred has allowed others to have control over him, but he begins to seek more control over his life. It starts with his sneaking around behind his daughter’s back. Gradually, his daughter understands that he appreciates her caring, but that she needs to give him more respect and control over his own life.

I loved watching Hattie gather the business owners in the village to get on- board with her plans to help Alfred. A teenager, Zoe, also becomes part of the story when Hattie takes a chance on her to fill a need. With a well-rounded cast of characters, this humorous, cozy story is about healing through love, community, friendship, and romance at a late stage in life.

About the Author

Liz Davies’s author website gives us a peek into who she is:

Liz Davies also writes as Lilac Mills and Etti Summers. Under her Liz Davies pen name, her cozy romance books are light-hearted, feel-good stories with a bit of humor. She has published over twenty books with her most recent, SUMMER ESCAPES ON THE SCOTTISH ISLE, having been released in July of 2025. The next, SEASIDE DREAMS ON THE SCOTTISH ISLE, will be published in January of 2026.

Living on a Welsh mountain with her patient husband and sweet dog, she grows veggies, bakes (badly, she says), and makes things out of glitter and glue, usually making a mess. She is usually writing or thinking about writing, with heart-warming romance and happy-ever-after always on her mind.

If You Like…

If THE TICKLEMORE CHRISTMAS TOY SHOP by Liz Davies sounds interesting to you, take a look at these past reviews I’ve done. Click on the links. Maybe one of these books will also piqué your interest: THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY by Jenny Colgan, THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman, and REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt.

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October 8, 2025

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan – Take 2

THIS IS “TAKE 2” OF THIS BOOK REVIEW. MY APOLOGIES. I ACCIDENTALLY HIT PUBLISH BEFORE IT WAS FINISHED!

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY by Jenny Colgan is a comfort read for this holiday season and beyond into winter. Set in the Scottish highlands, the story takes place over Christmas week, but it’s more of a read-in-front-of-the-fire-with-a-cup-of-cocoa-while-the-snow-piles-up-outside kind of story. You can preorder now. It comes out on October 14, 2025.

Book Summary

Finding a rare, priceless book in her great aunt’s attic turned Mirren Sutherland’s ordinary London life into an adventure. A year later the book now resides in the British Museum with a plaque, giving Mirren credit for finding it. There, in the museum, she is approached by a Scottish man, Jaimie McPherson. He is looking for help finding a book, located somewhere in his home. Mirren agrees to help. When she boards the train for the highlands, she discovers Theo Palliser, an antique book hunting rival and past fling, is also along for the ride.

Jamie picks them up from the train and drive them to his home. Mirren and Theo are astonished to find it’s a castle overflowing with books from his late, literature-hoarding grandfather. He stashed thousands upon thousands of books in every nook and cranny of the huge, crumbling castle. Jamie believes the book they’re looking for may be the key to saving the castle from ruin.

Grandfather was also a lover of puzzles, and Mirren and Theo help Jamie follow the breadcrumbs. Shortly after they arrive, a blizzard snows them in. With no connection to the outside world, they focus on the book search turned treasure hunt with cryptic messages. The puzzles send them searching all through the castle and castle grounds.

Mirren, who had a short relationship with Theo on her first book hunt, is momentarily tempted to fall back under his spell, but she realizes that isn’t a good idea. As days pass, she realizes she and Jamie may have a romantic connection. Time is running out to find the book, get resources to save the castle, and see if the average working girl can be a match for a Scottish laird romantically.

My Thoughts

This was my first Jenny Colgan novel. I would definitely read another.

THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY by Jenny Colgan is more of an adventure/mystery than romance or Christmas novel. It’s a great choice to curl up with on any cold, winter’s night. A castle, a snowstorm, a mystery, old books, and a small romantic subplot with a Scottish laird—named JAMIE! What more could you want?

Apparently there is a prequel, a short story called The Christmas Book Hunt, which is the story of Mirren and Theo looking finding book that ends up in the museum at the start of this novel. I hadn’t read the short story, and it wasn’t necessary at all for me enjoy this novel as a standalone.

The book hooked me right away. I loved the description of the train car they traveled in and the atmosphere created for the castle. Theo is an interesting character to add to the mix. He ups the competition in the story, both for finding the book and for Mirren’s attention. Jamie’s family history was another area that sparked my interest. I also enjoyed the puzzles the group had to solve to find the next clue. However, concerning the romance between Mirren and Jamie, it came late in the book. I would have liked more development of their love story. Be forewarned: There is a spicy bedroom scene late in the book.

Don’t let the title fool you. It wasn’t a good choice, in my opinion. I kept expecting the group to discover a library in the castle that was somehow the “secret Christmas” library. Instead, the books were strewn everywhere throughout the castle, and the story takes place during the Christmas season. Although the castle was cold and crumbling, the story felt warm and cozy. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t satisfy me. Overall, I did enjoy the book and have no qualms recommending it to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this novel.

About the Author

Jenny Colgan lives in Scotland with her family. She is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling novelist, selling more than 15 million copies of her books worldwide.

If You Like…

As I read THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY by Jenny Colgan, I kept thinking this feels like a Patti Callahan Henry book. So, if you like the sound of THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY, you’ll also love Patti Callahan Henry’s books. Check out these past reviews I’ve done of some of her novels: The Story She Left Behind, Once Upon a Wardrobe, and The Secret Book of Flora Lea.

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September 30, 2025September 30, 2025

You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan

Robin’s Reviews – 2025

You’re probably thinking pumpkins, mums, and fall leaves, but a new romcom for the Christmas season was just released! If you like your romcoms with some spice, YOU MAKE IT FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS by Sophie Sullivan is for you.

Book Summary

Maisie is a successful photographer from Seattle. She’s excited to spend Christmas with her family, something they haven’t done for awhile, and the invitation to stay at a Christmas tree farm sounds just perfect! Her brother’s husband has invited them to join his family at his sister’s house where she runs the tree farm. Maisie’s excitement is dampened when she runs into one of the other guests—Nick, a man who left her without as much as a goodbye after an amazing one-night stand six months ago.

Maisie already feels inadequate and thinks she’s disappointed her parents who don’t believe photography is a real job. Now she has to deal with her mixed feelings about Nick, too.

Nick, a professional hockey player, is working through issues of his own. The recent passing of his mother, even though he didn’t have a good relationship with her, has caused him emotional stress. He also feels guilt at not being around enough for his sister and nephew when she went through her divorce. Now add a recent injury that isn’t healing as quickly as he’d hoped. Nick finds himself spiraling out of control with occasional anxiety attacks.

Will the forced proximity of Maisie and Nick push them together or apart? Will a better understanding of what happened the morning Nick left Maisie give them a second chance at love?

A sweet and spicy romance, YOU MAKE IT FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS is a light read that also brings a mental health issue into the spotlight through supportive and caring characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this novel.

About the Author

Sophie Sullivan’s website tells us she is a Canadian author as well as a cookie-eating, Diet Pepsi-drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure.

She has won the Canadian Book Club Award for best romance twice, for TEN RULES FOR FAKING IT and HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. Her day job is teaching, and she spends spare time with her family watching reruns of Friends. Besides her Sophie Sullivan books, she writes cozy mysteries and romances under her alter ego’s name, Jody Holford.

If You Like…

If you like the description of YOU MAKE IT FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS by Sophie Sullivan, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith, WAITING FOR TOM HANKS by Kerry Winfrey, and ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery.

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September 10, 2025August 6, 2025

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a charming book with wide audience appeal. The author paints a nostalgic picture of Brownsville, a small neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, in the 1920s. Augusta grows up there knowing all the locals who visit her father’s pharmacy. Dual timelines switch back and forth from Augusta’s childhood in 1920s Brooklyn to her moving into a Florida senior community in the 1980s. This book doesn’t feel like historical fiction, but through the eyes of young Augusta, we experience a different NYC than we know today, and we see women struggling with the expectations of 1920s society. I strongly recommend you check out THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman.

Book Summary

Augusta grew up living above her father’s pharmacy with her sister. When their mother dies, Great Aunt Esther comes to live with them to help around the house. However, their father doesn’t appreciate when the aunt’s experience as an herbal healer conflicts with his scientific approach to healing, sometimes stealing away his customers and putting his reputation at risk.

Aunt Esther chants while creating midnight concoctions by candlelight, using a pestle with strange Hebrew letters carved in it, which adds a touch of magical realism to the story. Several of these concoctions help clients after modern medicine and doctors fail them. Augusta is learning from her father, but her aunt’s practices fascinate her as well.

Irving, the pharmacy delivery boy, is Augusta’s best friend, and later, boyfriend. When she thinks he’s about to propose, she uses one of her aunt’s potions on him with disastrous consequences. After that, Augusta swears off Esther’s ways. Augusta continues her study of medicine in pharmacy school, one of five women in her class of 200. Augusta never marries, but she practices her pharmacy skills until just before her 80th birthday.

Feeling displaced in retirement, her niece talks her into moving to an active senior community in Florida. When Augusta arrives, she’s stunned to learn Irving, the boy who broke her heart, lives there. If Augusta can take down her walls and give him a chance to explain what happened all those years ago, they just might have a second chance. Augusta needs to soften her hard edges caused by bitterness based on events sixty years ago.

My Thoughts

I loved experiencing life in Brownsville when it was more of a neighborhood than part of the huge metropolitan area of New York City, back in a time when small mom and pop boutiques and the corner pharmacy thrived.

The mix of neighborhood characters was delightful. The way the neighborhood respected Augusta’s father and how much they relied on him for medical advice and counseling was fascinating. On the flip side, I also enjoyed that Aunt Esther helped people using simple, natural ingredients after “modern” medicine failed them.

She told Augusta that where she comes from, people call a man like her an apothecary, but as a woman, she was called a witch. Like Esther, Augusta hits some walls as a woman pursuing a career as a pharmacist. I appreciated the story’s feminist point infused as an undercurrent in the story rather than the main focus.

Although the author drops hints that Augusta’s family is Jewish, I would have liked more Jewish traditions woven into the story.

The chapters that take us to Augusta’s elder years show she had a long, successful pharmaceutical career, but she never found love again after Irving. Facing him again after all this time, Augusta has to navigate the feelings she’s hidden behind walls for years and take a chance by learning the other side of the story. Although I liked the 1920s timeline better, we need to see how the story plays out with Irving years later.

It’s a sweet story, making readers who didn’t experience the 1920s feel as if they’ve truly experienced a slice of it through Augusta’s eyes.

About the Author

Lynda Cohen Loigman grew up in Longmeadow, MA. She earned degrees from Harvard College and Columbia Law School. Her debut novel, THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE, was a USA Today bestseller and a nominee for the Goodreads 2016 Choice Awards in Historical Fiction. She has also written THE WARTIME SISTERS and THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT. THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN is her fourth novel.

Consider purchasing THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN through this link on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. Personally, I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

If You Like…

If you like the sound of THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry and THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner.

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Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

August 13, 2025August 11, 2025

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

BEACH HOUSE RULES by Kristy Woodson Harvey should be in your beach bag this summer! Grab it before the summer slips away.

Book Summary

Charlotte Sitterly has been going through life’s normal routines until she is blindsided by her husband’s arrest for securities fraud. She finds herself without a home, without access to their bank accounts, and without a job. How will she support herself and her teenage daughter Ivy?

Alice, a local, overhears Charlotte’s meltdown in the bank. She invites Charlotte and her daughter to live with her until they can get back on their feet. Alice owns a house that was once a B&B, but now she lives there with two other women and their children. They have room for Charlotte and Ivy to join them until they can get back on their feet. The B&B is often referred to as the “mommune,” lovingly by those who live there and disdainfully by community members who don’t understand the unusual arrangement. But this is the same community that whispers about Alice’s three dead husbands and calls her the “Black Widow.”

BEACH HOUSE RULES focuses mainly on three characters: Charlotte—balancing her doubts about her husband’s innocence or guilt, struggling to stand on her own two feet, and trying to consider her daughter’s needs; Ivy—struggling with the realization that her father may not be coming back home, wondering how she can help prove his innocence, dealing with teenage drama, and falling for the older, popular teen who also lives in the mommune; and Alice—feeling the pressure of the community’s opinion of her, knowing she had nothing to do with her husbands’ deaths but still feeling cursed, and denying herself to protect the man she loves.

My Thoughts

This coastal North Carolina story is one of women supporting women. It’s such a great book about friendship and building that proverbial village to raise a child. Here, four women live together and help with each other’s kids and household responsibilities all while being each other’s support and encouragement. It’s a twist on the found-family trope. We live in a world today that is all about women having agency. Strong as women are, this book reminds us that from time to time, we may need a little help from our friends.

Throughout the novel, the reader will wonder, along with Charlotte, if her husband is innocent or guilty. And if he’s innocent, who did the crime and why? It’s also about love and romance. Charlotte has been married for years. Whether her husband is guilty or innocent, will her love of this man survive such an event? And Alice’s romance is rekindled for a man she pushed away once before. Dare she allow herself to fall in love when she feels cursed with her past husbands’ deaths? We also experience a coming-of-age story with Ivy as she navigates school, friends and teenage love all while her father is the talk of the town. Throughout the story, @JuniperShoresSocialite is spilling all the gossip on social media. Who’s behind the posts?

The ending was a surprise. It always amazes me when an author sets up so many situations in a book and magically ties them all together in a nice bow at the end! BEACH HOUSE RULES by Kristy Woodson Harvey is about loss, heartbreak, women and children in tough circumstances, forgiveness, loyalty, female friendships, forgiveness, second chances (or fourth chances, in Alice’s case), and new beginnings. BEACH HOUSE RULES is a wonderful choice to slip in your beach bag this summer! The summer isn’t over yet!

Consider purchasing BEACH HOUSE RULES through this link on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. (Personally, I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

About the Author

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a New York Times Bestselling author. She is also a co-founder and co-anchor on the Friends and Fiction weekly podcast with Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel.

If You Like…

If BEACH HOUSE RULES appeals to you, check out these Kristy Woodson Harvey books I’ve previously reviewed and recommend: A Happier Life, The Summer of Songbirds, The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, and the Peachtree Bluff series.

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Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

August 5, 2025August 5, 2025

Out of the Crash by Susan Poole

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

OUT OF THE CRASH by Susan Poole is out into the world! Congratulations to my friend and fellow writer! I’m so excited for Susan as she sends her debut book baby out into the hands of readers. And I’m so excited for readers to get ahold of this one!

Book Summary

OUT OF THE CRASH is women’s fiction, family drama, and (light) legal drama, about a hit-and-run of a bicyclist by a teenage driver, resulting in a fatality.

At eighteen-years-old, high school senior Kyle Beasley has his whole life ahead of him, including a full college scholarship to play baseball. While driving, everything changes in a flash when he hits and kills bicyclist Amy Shawver. He makes it worse by panicking and driving off. He is arrested for vehicular homicide, for which he could serve prison time.

As the town passes judgement on the situation, both families are suffering. The victim’s husband struggles with the loss of his wife while his son struggles with the loss of his mother. When the son learns a secret about his mother, it creates conflict between him and his dad.

The driver’s family struggles with their grief and guilt over the tragic death, as well as the impact it has on their son, changing the course of his life through a reckless mistake. This family is already on shaky ground after the mother’s health scare a few years ago.

Also, the teen siblings in each family have to navigate school and friends with this tragedy in the forefront of everyone’s mind while they try to make sense of it all.

Author Susan Poole expertly dives into the lives of both the teen driver’s and the victim’s families showing how trauma has the ability to tear families apart or bring them closer together, as well as lead people to reevaluate their lives and what’s truly important. The author explores the husband/wife dynamic, the parent/child bond, and the after-math effects of trauma on children.

My Thoughts

I commiserated with both sides. For me, that’s what is so special about this novel. It’s easy (and appropriate) to sympathize with the family who lost a loved one, but so often the tragedy it causes in the family on the other side is ignored. It’s eye-opening and heart-breaking to examine both sides.

Can you imagine the pain of losing your wife or mother in a bicycling accident? You’d be devastated. You’d want justice.

Can you fathom what the teenager and his family are going through—the guilt over the death and the fear of what it means for the future? You’d be devastated. As a parent, you’d grieve for the family that lost their loved one, but you’d also want to protect your child. Should a split-second accident ruin the rest of his life, putting him away in prison for years, and labeling him a felon for the rest of his life? And how can he live with knowing he caused someone’s death?

Can you picture living in this town. How would you react after hearing about the accident, knowing it was a teen driver and a hit-and-run? What conclusions might you jump to? Would your judgment be black and white without knowing the whole story?

I loved how I became invested in both families and their struggles over the months following the accident. The story reminds us that there’s two sides to every story. Amy’s death is a tragedy for her family, but we can also feel heart-breaking pain for Kyle and his family.

This novel speaks to everyone since we’ve all had times when our world spins out of control, and we have to weather the storm to get to the calm. Sometimes life presents predicaments with no clearly right answer, and we can only consider, “What if this happened to me? To our family?”

Although the subject is difficult, OUT OF THE CRASH by Susan Poole is gripping. I flew through it in two sittings. The author masterfully handles the topic beautifully, without the story becoming too heavy, and leaves us with hope for those impossible life situations.

About the Author

The author of Out of the Crash by Susan Poole is holding her book at her book launch party. — Author Susan Poole at her book launch party

Susan Poole lives in Avon Lake, Ohio, with her husband and dogs.

After graduating from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, and the University of Buffalo School of Law, Susan practiced real estate law before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Now that her children are grown, Susan runs a consulting business and writes fiction.

Author of Out of the Crash by Susan Poole is signing a book at her book launch party, — Author Susan Poole signing a book at her book launch party

The Women’s Fiction Writers Association awarded Susan the Rising Star Award for her debut novel, OUT OF THE CRASH. Through her writing, Susan wants to explore life’s ups and downs and makes sense of the human experience.

Consider purchasing OUT OF THE CRASH by Susan Poole through this link on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. (Personally, I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.) Or purchase from YOUR favorite book seller.

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July 2, 2025June 3, 2025

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

Have you put off reading REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt? It’s time. I’ve had the novel on my shelf for quite some time, always intending to read it next. Finally, I read it on the plane and on vacation. REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES has been out since May of 2022. It’s gained such high praise that many of you have probably already read it. If not, whacha waitin’ for? If you have, great! Then make sure to comment below to share your thoughts with others!

Book Summary

Isn’t that the octopus book?

Yes, the book features an octopus named Marcellus, and you’ll love him, but it’s so much more. The author explores family issues, grief, aging, and growing up—all lessons that hit home through the strangest circumstances in her book. It even has a mystery and a romance built in.

Two lives in particular are intertwined with Marcellus: Tova, a night janitor at the aquarium, and Cameron, a bright man in his 30s who lacks stability and motivation. The story is told in the POV of all three characters. It’s truly a story of unexpected and unconventional friendships between Marcellus, Tova, and Cameron.

Marcellus is bright and exceptionally perceptive, as we see in his POV chapters. He has been at the aquarium most of his life and is keenly aware he is approaching the life expectancy of a giant Pacific octopus.

At age 70, Tova cleans at the aquarium to give her purpose in life and to keep busy. She lives alone in the house her father built. Her husband, son, and brother have all died. She’s haunted by the mystery of what happened the night of her son’s death. Although Tova has been on her own for some time, the recent death of her brother and her own foot injury gives her reason to consider her future. She has no one to care for her in her elder years.

Cameron has a lengthy list of failed relationships and jobs. Raised by his aunt and not knowing if his mother is still alive, he’s now looking for the father he’s never known, hoping this discovery is financially beneficial. His selfish motives become the catalyst for change and growth.

Marcellus has a habit of escaping his enclosure at night to feast on “treats” in other nearby tanks and collect trinkets he finds. Marcellus is a keen observer of everything and everyone at the aquarium, but he needs more stimulation, so he escapes (and returns) often. Octopi can only be out of the water for eighteen minutes before The Consequences. Luckily, the night he gets tangled in power cords, Tova discovers him and saves him. They form a bond, and Marcellus often affectionately wraps an arm around Tova’s arm when she dangles it at the top of the tank, leaving sucker marks on her.

Both Tova and Cameron are searching for answers to tough life questions, and Marcellus may be the connection to the answers they need.

My Thoughts

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt has something for everyone, but I loved that it explores how family (real or found) and community can fill our empty spaces.

You’ll never think of an octopus the same way again.

Photo of giant Pacific octopus by Venakr from Deposit Photos — Photo by Venakr from Deposit Photos

Shelby does an excellent job bringing her characters to life. Marcellus’s humor and perceptiveness make him a fun, complex character you’ll want more of. I love that Marcellus is trying to share information with Tova, but she doesn’t ‘get it’ for some time. Tova is a strong, independent woman with the kindness of a grandmother anyone would want. Cameron starts out as an annoying man-child who can’t find his place in life while his friends are married and having a baby. Although he starts his journey with questionable motives, his development and maturation are satisfying.

The secondary characters are also lovable. The members of Tova’s social group, The Knit Wits, have been supportive of each other as they age, but the group is getting smaller and smaller. Ethan, the grocery store owner, is quite a character! He’s the town gossip, but he also looks out for Tova. He works through his insecurities, attempting to develop a relationship with her. Add that he’s Scottish and has an accent, and he becomes memorable. Avery is a good addition to Cameron’s story as his antithesis and romantic interest. She’s everything he’s not. She’s a hard-working entrepreneur, running her own business while raising a child on her own.

Although you may guess some twists, let the story take you on a leisurely ride where all three POV stories intersect, bringing it to a rewarding ending. You’ll be glad you did!

About the Author

Shelby was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, the setting of REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES. Now she lives in Chicago with her family and cats.

This novel is Shelby Van Pelt’s debut book. It spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list. It is also a Read with Jenna Today Show book club pick, as well as an award-winning novel.

Consider purchasing REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES through this link on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. Personally, I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

If You Like…

I always suggest a similar book I’ve read and reviewed to consider. However, if you like REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, a comparable book is difficult because of its uniqueness. Here are a few books I have not yet read that may fill your order. Check out THE KEEPER OF STORIES by Sally Page, ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman, THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV by Elizabeth Berg, or (non-fiction) THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS by Sy Montgomery. Most of these are already on my Want to Read list. Hope they click with you!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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June 5, 2025May 12, 2026

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU by Kristin Harmel is a WWII story centered on a jewel thief. To be honest, that topic didn’t particularly call to me; however, I’ve read Kristin’s books and know she delivers fantastic stories. I had to give it a try, and she didn’t disappoint. THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU, a 5-star read, is so much more than a WWII or jewel thief story. I highly recommend it!

The book releases on June 17, 2025, but you can preorder it now. Preordering is a huge help to authors.

Book Summary

This dual timeline story of Colette’s life is set in 1944 Paris and in 2018 Boston. I was immediately interested when I discovered the jewel thief was nearly 90 years old and still stealing. Just the idea of an old woman jewel thief, who no one would suspect, made me smile. The story brings up the question—Is it ever okay to steal? Most people would say no, but in this book, you’ll be rooting for the thief!

During her childhood, Colette is trained by her jewel thief mother. As descendants of Robin Hood, they live by a strict code to only steal from unkind, hurtful people and to give the proceeds to good causes. Her mother’s cause of choice is The Resistance, to help get Jews out of Paris and create forged documents for them.

Colette’s mother is afraid her children could be separated from her during the war. She sews stolen items into the hem of Colette’s and her sister’s nightgowns, to use in an emergency to buy protection for themselves. Most recently, each of them has a diamond bracelet sewn into their clothes. The two bracelets fit together into one magnificent piece. The night Mother is arrested, Colette’s sister also disappears, taken by an unknown person in uniform. Because Colette feels guilty about her sister’s abduction, she spends the next 76 years searching for the other bracelet, hoping it will bring answers to what happened to her sister that night.

In 2018 Boston, Colette is a volunteer at the Holocaust Museum, the same museum founded through her anonymous financial gift. She continues to support it through her thievery and volunteer work. When Colette discovers a diamond museum will be displaying the missing bracelet, she needs to uncover who is loaning the piece for the show. The bracelet’s discovery brings the possibility of closure to old wounds and possibly getting justice for her sister. Getting answers isn’t easy when the truth is tied to old war events and questionable choices. Colette’s friends take active roles in helping her uncover the truth. The secrets they discover aren’t what they thought they’d find.

My Thoughts

I loved Kristin’s character development, especially of Colette. The writing kept me engaged, the flow of the story was smooth, and the ending was satisfying. When I finished, I marveled at how she planted so many tidbits in the 1944 portion and tied it all together in 2018. She is a master storyteller!

If you don’t want to read about the atrocities of WWII but enjoy historical fiction, this is a great book for you. Kristin brings us into the everyday lives of Parisians and includes events, like the roundups in the Jewish sector, without emphasizing the horror. She doesn’t downplay the significance, but the story is based mostly on Colette’s non-Jewish family’s experience during the war.

*Note: I received the Advance Reader’s Copy from Gallery Books and NetGalley, but the opinions are always my own.

About the Author

Kristin Harmel spent her childhood near Boston, Massachusetts, and in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After earning her journalism degree from the University of Florida, she lived in Paris and Los Angeles, but she now calls Orlando, Florida, home with her husband and son. She is a New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author, and a breast cancer survivor.

She has a special heart for writing fiction based on WWII events, often set in one of her favorite places—Paris. (Her other favorite place is Disney World. It’s convenient she lives in Orlando!) She is also a co-founder and co-host of Friends & Fiction, a weekly web show where authors interview other authors.

Consider purchasing THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU through this link on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. Personally, I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

If You Like…

If THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU by Kristin Harmel sounds interesting, check out these books by her that I’ve read and reviewed:

The Book of Lost Names

The Paris Daughter

The Forest of Vanishing Stars

The Winemaker’s Wife

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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May 23, 2025June 3, 2025

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

Readers, get ready for a one-two punch with ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, the sequel to EVERY SUMMER AFTER! Put these at the top of your summer romance reading list!

This spring I read EVERY SUMMER AFTER (link to my review) and LOVED it! Carley didn’t disappoint with the follow-up story, her new release, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER.

Although these novels could be read as stand-alones, I would highly suggest reading EVERY SUMMER AFTER first to get the background of the characters. EVERY SUMMER AFTER is the romance between Percy (Persephone) and Sam set at their lake cottages at Barry’s Bay. Carley’s new book, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, returns to the same location, but we get the romance between Alice and Charlie, Sam’s brother.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – Book Summary

“Good things happen at the lake.” – Nan

Alice spent the summer with her grandmother at the lake when she was seventeen. She watched three teens, two boys and one girl, from a distance, wishing she could be part of their group but being too shy to introduce herself.

Photo of a Nikon camera — Photo by Nick Demou on StockSnap

That summer, Alice got her first camera. One shot, capturing a carefree moment of the three teens speeding across the lake in a yellow boat, started Alice’s path to a photography career. Now in her thirties and unhappy with following someone else’s vision in her commercial photography business, she takes time off to care for Nan after a hip replacement. She also hopes to recapture her joy of photography during her time away from work. Alice arranges for them to spend the summer in the same lake cottage to cheer up her grandma while she recuperates.

Amazingly, the person preparing the cabin for their visit is the neighbor Charlie, one of the boys from the boat photo. Although readers may remember Charlie as the “bad boy” from the first book, he’s now in his thirties. Readers want to see if Charlie can redeem himself.

Adult Alice decides to live this summer doing all the things she was too scared to do when she was seventeen. She creates a summer bucket list to break out of her introverted shell. Charlie seems to have a photogenic memory from the quick glance he sneaks of her list. Throughout the summer, he helps Alice check off the activities.

Alice tries to keep her distance from flirtatious Charlie. They have great banter, and conversation is easy, but she’s getting over a recent break-up. Charlie says he just wants to be friends, even though their chemistry is on fire when they’re around each other.

For the first time, Alice feels like she can totally be herself around a guy and likes that Charlie sees her for who she is. Even though she has always played it safe, and he continues to give her mixed signals, several times she tries to take their relationship to the next level and gets shot down.

With the baggage of deep personal loss, his past actions and a secret he holds, he doesn’t feel he deserves a HEA. He pushes her away, knowing he desires to do the opposite.

My Thoughts

Alice and Nan have a sweet, caring relationship. I like many things about their connection, but especially that they were doing sewing projects together at the cabin. (If my mother-in-law were still with us, that would be her, doing projects with her grandkids!)

The romance is a slow burn, since Alice isn’t sure she’s ready for a new relationship and Charlie insists he wants to just be friends. The push/pull of ‘will they/won’t they’ chemistry makes for great reading. They can fool themselves, but the reader knows where it’s heading! Take note: this book is not a “sweet” romance. It has some heat to it. The build is wonderful with the one step forward, two steps back approach.

Charlie tells Alice she’s trouble, recognizing he has met his match, IF he lets her in. Although Charlie is still a flirt with a huge ego in this book, we get to see the real Charlie that hides behind the mask. Gorgeous Charlie is smart, quick-witted, humorous, charming, and caring. He goes out of his way to help Alice and Nan, even becoming friends with Nan without ulterior motives. Charlie even makes opportunities for Alice to complete her bucket list while he also completes a sweet project for Sam and Percy.

I’ve heard people in the reading community ask, “Who’s your book boyfriend?” I never had an answer. No one stood out. Now I do-Charlie Florek, the same character I didn’t overly like in the first book! I appreciated seeing him mature into an adult. Like most people, he hid his insecurities behind a mask, until he meets Alice who sees right through him.

Even in EVERY SUMMER AFTER, we see hints that adult Charlie has changed. I like that Carley let the “bad boy” mature. He becomes a better person who doesn’t have to suffer his whole life for teenage mistakes.

Consider purchasing EVERY SUMMER AFTER and/or ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune through these links on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

About the Author

Carley Fortune is an award-winning journalist, having worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications. Now, she’s a #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author, as well.

Carley was born in Toronto but lived in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia until age 8. That’s when her family permanently moved to Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario, Canada, the setting for EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

If You Like…

After devouring EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, you may like these books: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han and LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. I’ve included a link to Bookshop.org for both of them as well. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

May 5, 2025June 3, 2025

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune is so good, I can’t get the story and characters out of my mind. It isn’t often I consume a book in 24 hours, but I couldn’t stop reading. My mind is still chilling at the lake in Barry’s Bay.

What luck to have read two contemporary romances that I loved consecutively! I recently blogged about THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter, so when you finish that one, jump to this one–EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune. *Note that EVERY SUMMER AFTER is a bit spicier. It has THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY vibes, so if you liked that book series or Amazon Prime show, definitely don’t miss this one. EVERY SUMMER AFTER has also been compared to LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren, although I haven’t read that one.

Book Summary

Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart, A weekend to get it right.

Thirty-year-old Percy (Persephone) tells the story in first person with alternating timelines. I’m estimating that her present would have been around 2010 or slightly earlier, and the past goes back twelve years from then.

When Percy is thirteen, her family buys a vacation lake house in Barry’s Bay (Canada) next door to the Florek family. Percy spends all her teenage summers hanging out with the Florek boys, Charlie and Sam, but especially Sam. Although Percy has trouble socially at school in Toronto, Sam accepts her and loves her for who she is, quirks and all.

Over these summers, Percy and Sam become best friends, and their relationship gradually turns romantic. Readers will realize the present day adult Percy has some qualms about returning to Barry’s Bay and seeing Sam again. Obviously, something happened that has kept them apart all these years.

The story begins in her present with a phone call from Charlie. She’s surprised since she hasn’t had contact with anyone in the Florek family for twelve years. Charlie informs her of his mother’s death and expresses that she should be at the funeral since she was like family.

When Percy returns to the lake, she’s flooded with nostalgic memories. Chapters flash back to simpler days with Sam–enjoying the sun, jumping off the dock into the water, taking the boat out, talking for hours about everything and nothing, dreaming of the future, and watching movies in the basement to cool off.

When Sam and Percy encounter each other on her return, it’s apparent they still have a connection. This weekend is Percy and Sam’s chance to clear the air about past mistakes, to forgive, and to explore if it’s too late to rekindle their relationship.

My Thoughts

I loved the relaxed days of being a teenager at the lake. It’s a story of the awkwardness of the teen years and first love, but also the tidal wave of emotions that comes with it. It’s a second chance story with ‘the one that got away.’ The author spends more time in the past than the present, but I appreciated that. I was more interested in watching the teenage versions of the characters as they grow up.

You will probably see the story’s twist of what separates them coming from a mile away. I did. Although I didn’t want to see it happen, it doesn’t surprise me that an eighteen-year-old would make a stupid choice like this. Some readers who’ve reviewed the book can’t get past it and can’t accept that the action can be forgiven, but this is a romance which means it’s going to have an HEA (happily ever after) ending. I am happy to see that teenage mistakes had consequences, but they didn’t have to be held against them for the rest of their lives.

I didn’t like teenage Charlie much, but readers may catch snippets that point to him maturing as an adult. Even Charlie can become a better person. Let’s see how it goes for him in the sequel, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, coming out soon. I preordered my copy.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER was published in 2022. The sequel, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, comes out May 6, 2025. Consider purchasing through Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. (I don’t receive a commission from these links. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

About the Author

Carley was born in Toronto but lived in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia until age 8. That’s when her family permanently moved to Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario, Canada, the setting for both EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER was Carley’s debut novel. She is currently working on novel number five.

If You Like…

If you like EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune, check out the books I’ve already mentioned: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han and LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. (Again, I haven’t personally read the second one, but reviewers compare these books.) You can also check out my blog review for this enjoyable contemporary romance: JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

April 21, 2025June 3, 2025

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter is hands-down the best romance I’ve read in some time. She wrote a believable, sweet romance with deep characters and a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Romance with a touch of mystery in a beachside town–what more could I ask for? Definitely put this book on your 2025 summer reading list!

Book Summary

Ethan, Maggie’s military husband, was killed five years ago, shortly before their daughter Zoey was born. Although Maggie and Zoey live in a different town from Ethan’s family, they’ve stayed close. Ethan’s brother Josh has been great emotional support for Maggie. Ethan’s sister Erin is Maggie’s best friend. The in-laws have offered their house near the beach to Maggie for the summer while they’re on a European vacation. When they return, they will all honor Ethan by scattering his ashes together over the ocean. Maggie thinks this closure may help her open her heart to love again and provide a father-figure for Zoey. Maggie accepts the offer for her and Zoey to spend the summer surrounded by loving family by the beach, where she fell in love with her husband.

While walking around the beachside carnival, Maggie is shocked to see a stranger who looks like her deceased husband, Ethan. She takes a photo on her phone and shows it to Josh. It sets them on a mission to find this man and figure out why he looks so much like Ethan. As they work together to uncover this mystery, Maggie begins to see Josh in a new light. He’s had a crush on her since the first time his sister brought her home as a teenager. However, the idea of them dating is complicated. She struggles with what others would think if she dated her deceased husband’s brother. Faithful, kind Josh doesn’t pressure her. Meanwhile, their investigation of this stranger goes through several twists.

My Thoughts

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME is truly a feel good, enjoyable read that you’ll want by the beach or poolside this summer. I love how close Maggie is with her family’s husband, and how Zoey gets to spend time with that side of the family. Since Erin and her family and Josh all live in town, they spend family time with Maggie and Zoey, enjoying summer activities–swimming in the pool, backyard picnics, making sand castles, beachside carnivals, etc. The stranger’s identity will keep you guessing each time you realize you’re wrong. I liked how the story was respectful to Ethan’s memory while inspiring happiness after loss. This is a story of family, support, closure with honor, personal connection, second chances, and unexpected joy.

If I had more time, I would love to read this one again because it is so sweet and well written. The story has stuck with me. Unfortunately (or fortunately), there are so many other books out there calling my name! On to the next!

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter is out April 22, 2025. Considering buying it here through Bookshop.org. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC of THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME. The opinions are my own.

About the Author

Denise Hunter isn’t new to the publishing world. She’s the bestselling author of more than 40 novels, and Hallmark has made three of them into movies. Her website states, “Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.”

If You Like…

If you like THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter, check out my past blog review of JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

April 8, 2025

Fun for the Whole Family

Robin’s Reviews 2025

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith is a captivating read exploring the childhood and adult lives of four siblings. I was excited to read it since I enjoyed her earlier novel, The Unsinkable Greta James.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family required these four siblings to stay close and support each other as children. As adults, they followed different paths to seek happiness and success, and they’ve lost their connection with each other. They haven’t talked in several years since the big falling out. The sibling who initiates a reunion weekend hopes they will reconnect, but she has secrets that could cause further harm.

The Siblings

Jude, an Academy Award nominated actress, extends a weekend invitation to her siblings to join her in North Dakota. She needs to share three secrets weighing on her.

Gemma, the oldest child who mothered her neglected siblings, now lives in Chicago with her husband and works an average job. With a mix of hope and anxiety, she awaits her pregnancy test results, having gone through IVF and several miscarriages.

Connor, a best-selling author, wrote a fictionalized story about his childhood causing friction in the family. He’s also been through a divorce, and he doesn’t see his two children as often as he’d like. He brings them along on the trip.

Roddy, Jude’s twin, is a star soccer player struggling with physical issues that come with aging, including a knee injury. He hopes to extend his career with a new team, but the contract causes conflict with his fiancé Winston.

Summary

Photo of author Jennifer E. Smith — Jennifer E. Smith, author

All of the siblings are conflicted about attending the weekend and confronting their siblings, yet they realize the importance of reconciling. Soon after arriving at the remote cabin in North Dakota, a snowstorm traps them together. Roads are closed, and electricity and phone services are down. Forced to face old issues is hard enough, but when additional secrets are revealed, they struggle to process the emotional pain.

My Take

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY has plenty of lighter moments and additional characters to balance the tough emotions, keeping the story from being too heavy. It kept my attention by alternating between childhood summer road trips with their flaky mother, attempting to see all 50 states, and the adult North Dakota snowed-in weekend. The complex bond of these four kids and well-developed characterization makes each personality come alive. The story combines family fun, drama, secrets, dreams, and forgiveness with second chances. After growing apart, these adults go through the struggles and pain to find their way back to the bond of family.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

Today, April 8, 2025, is FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY’s publication date, so it’s available for purchase now! Does this sounds like a book you’d like? Although it can be purchased many places, I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. They help support small, independent bookstores across the county: order hardback or ebook .

If You Like…

If you like FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, check out my past blog review of THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES, also by Jennifer E. Smith.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

February 10, 2025

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Robin’s Reviews 2025

THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautifully written novel about an impossible choice made by a mother, the emotional scars left in her daughter’s heart, and a book that might heal her pain decades later.

Summary

As a child prodigy, Bronwyn writes a book that becomes famous. As an adult, she writes the long-awaited sequel. The book is written in a coded language Bronwyn created and is yet unpublished. Under mysterious circumstances in 1927, she leaves her husband and her 8-year-old daughter Clara, and takes the dictionary needed to translate the cipher. The family believes Bronwyn is dead, and the pages are gone forever.

Twenty-five years later, Clara receives a phone call from Charlie, a stranger living in London. He claims her mother’s papers have been discovered. Her mother’s abandonment has haunted Clara and driven her need for answers and resolution. Suspicious but hopeful that the papers are real, Clara travels with her daughter Wynnie from South Carolina to London to retrieve them.

They arrive during The Great Smog of 1952. To escape the toxic air in London, they travel with Charlie to his family’s retreat in the Lake district, near where Beatrix Potter lived. While staying at the country estate, Clara must find the courage to uncover her mother’s secrets and the story she left behind.

My Thoughts

It’s fascinating that the real life and disappearance of author Barbara Newhall Follett inspired Patti’s novel. I had never heard of Barbara Newhall Follett, so of course I looked her up. You should, too! I appreciate that books have the power to bring someone unknown or nearly forgotten back into the spotlight.

Photo of author Patti Callahan Henry — Author Patti Callahan Henry

So many times while reading this novel, I marveled at Patti Callahan Henry’s descriptions. Take time while you’re reading to savor the language she uses.

Clara goes through many trials in the story to get answers, but the ending is satisfying. The Story She Left Behind is filled with discovery, connection, understanding, forgiveness, lost family, and unexpected love.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. The opinion are my own.

THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND’s pub date is March 18, 2025, but preordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the county: order hardback or ebook here.

If You Like…

If you like THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND, check out these past recommendations by Patti Callahan Henry: The Secret Life of Flora Lea and Once Upon a Wardrobe.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

January 27, 2025January 3, 2025

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Robin’s Reviews 2025

WAITING FOR TOM HANKS by Kerry Winfrey is a 5-star read for me! Is it a literary marvel? No. It’s a 5-star-I-was-thoroughly-entertained romcom. Putting Tom Hanks name in the title was great marketing. After all, that’s what attracted me to check it out. Who doesn’t want a Tom Hanks-type happily ever after?

Kerry Winfrey revives the 90s romcom movie format in this novel, including some of the cheesy, yet lovable elements, cliches that just fit, and a predictable yet charming storyline. If you loved those 90s movies and secretly wanted a Tom Hanks-type romance for yourself, you’ll love this book!

Summary

Annie Cassidy often writes at her friend’s coffee shop in Ohio. Her freelance writing pays the bills, but what Annie really wants it to write screenplays. Obsessed with romantic comedies, Annie compares every man she meets to the leading men in her favorite films. She’s waiting for her own perfect meet-cute, just like in the movies. Annie is confident that moment is just around the corner because admitting life isn’t like the movies would mean giving up her fantasy idea of the perfect man.

When Annie is hired to work on a movie filming in her neighborhood, it has to be a sign, right? Could meeting lead actor Drew Danforth be the meet-cute moment she’s waited for? Unfortunately, Drew is far from the Tom Hanks type. Their flubbed first encounter sets up the enemies-to-lovers romance trope.

My Thoughts

Throughout the story, Annie references some of my favorite movie romcoms – Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and While You Were Sleeping. (Yes, that last one starred Bill Pullman, not Tom Hanks, but I’m good with that.) WAITING FOR TOM HANKS is a fun, quick read with witty banter and quirky characters. Pick this one up for an enjoyable escape that will life your spirit and make you smile.

Consider buying WAITING FOR TOM HANKS through this link to Bookshop.org. You will be supporting small, indy bookstores with your purchase.

Kerry Winfrey, author of romantic comedies, including WAITING FOR TOM HANKS, NOT LIKE THE MOVIES, VERY SINCERELY YOURS, and JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG, lives in Columbus, Ohio.

If You Like…

If you like WAITING FOR TOM HANKS, check out this past recommendation: One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

January 6, 2025January 3, 2025

The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne

Robin’s Reviews 2025

THE SEA GLASS COTTAGE by RaeAnne Thayne focuses on three generations of Harper women. This small-town family story is intertwined with a second-chance romance and includes family drama, secrets, misunderstandings, guilt, and forgiveness. RaeAnne smoothly leads us along a family’s path through life with all its messiness, and she lands on a satisfying ending.

Summary

Olivia Harper hasn’t returned home in a long time. Avoidance has helped her push away the pain of losing her father in a fire and her sister from an overdose. However, when her mother falls off a ladder at her greenhouse business and breaks her hip, she needs Olivia’s help. Olivia returns to her childhood home while her mom recuperates. She steps in to help around the house and run the greenhouse at the busiest time of year while balancing her own remote jobs. Olivia is also challenged to build a relationship with her moody teenage niece, Caitlin, who lives with them. Three generations of Harper women in the same house is a struggle, to say the least. While home, Olivia also reconnects with her friend Melody and Melody’s brother/Olivia’s past crush, Cooper.

My Thoughts

RaeAnne Thayne is gifted at writing characters with strained, complicated relationships while still creating a loving, feel-good story. The novel seamlessly flows through each of the Harper girl’s perspectives. The multiple POV helps readers understand their relationships through their innermost thoughts and feelings. Each one hides a secret and needs healing from the past.

You will cheer on the Harpers to successfully overcome old wounds and repair their personal connections. THE SEA GLASS COTTAGE is a warm hug, perfect for any time of year.

(*Note Possible Triggers: This novel deals with the aftermath of the addiction and overdose of a character.)

Although this is my first book review of 2025, I read THE SEA GLASS COTTAGE in late 2024. The story and characters have stayed with me. After reading it, I discovered this is the second book in a series. I didn’t miss anything by hopping in on this one. Each book in the series is a standalone story, the town being the only connection. The Cape Sanctuary series starts with THE CLIFF HOUSE, if you’d rather start there. RaeAnne Thayne’s most recent novel is THE DECEMBER MARKET, a Christmas novel.

Consider buying THE SEA GLASS COTTAGE through this link to Bookshop.org. You will be supporting small, indy bookstores with your purchase.

If You Like…

If you like THE SEA GLASS COTTAGE, check out these past recommendations: The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne and Seabreeze Inn by Jan Moran.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

December 30, 2024December 23, 2024

Seabreeze Inn by Jan Moran

Robin’s Reviews 2024

Looking for a sweet (clean), second-chance romance novel? SEABREEZE INN by Jan Moran is a good pick.

I have high expectations for romances. I need something more than the typical romance tropes in a book. This one gave me that extra in an unexpected subplot, but because I would have liked stronger character development, I give SEABREEZE INN by Jan Moran a 4-star rating.

Summary

Ivy and Shelley are sisters, headed from the east coast to California for a party their parents are throwing. While in the area, Ivy checks out the house her husband purchased using all his retirement funds just before he died. (She didn’t know about their financial trouble or the house purchase until after his death.) She put this California house up for sale, but meanwhile, she also had to sell her own home to get out of the debt he put them in.

When she arrives, she discovers the house isn’t the small cottage she imagined. It’s a mansion, designed by famed architect, Julia Morgan, who also designed Randolph Hearst’s castle in San Simone. Unfortunately, time hasn’t been friendly to the structure. Ivy needs a plan B in case it doesn’t sell or she’ll lose it anyway in a forced sale to cover taxes. Ivy and Shelley decide to make it into a Bed and Breakfast to raise the money needed to pay the taxes and keep the new business afloat. It doesn’t help that the town residents aren’t very welcoming. Ivy’s husband’s plans to tear down the house to build a resort annoyed the locals, so Ivy has to prove herself trustworthy. It gets more complicated when Bennett, her realtor and the town mayor, turns out to be a past crush.

So far it sounds like a typical romance storyline, but I like more substance. Jan Moran meets the challenge. A subplot concerns something found at the house that may have been hidden for protection during the war (no spoilers here). I love the plausible situation. Readers get a touch of history through this discovery which complicates Ivy’s tight timeline to save the house. I love when a romance crosses genres, blending historical tidbits into a contemporary story. Unfortunately, I think I loved this historical part of the story more than the romance. However, Ivy’s sister gets a romance of her own, so it’s a two-for-one in this book.

My Thoughts

I had a hard time believing the romance between Ivy and Bennett. They were on again, off again several times. By the end, they seemed too distant to be in love. And I found it hard to believe he didn’t remember her from their teen years when he supposedly had a crush on her. I mean, how often do you hear the name Ivy? Shelley’s romance with Mitch was more believable to me.

I give Jan Moran credit for adding a good side story. I’m glad I read SEABREEZE INN. I liked it enough that I’ll be checking out more books by this author. SEABREEZE SUNSET and SEABREEZE SUMMER are the next two in the series of ten books. I’m also interested in another series by Jan Moran, the first installment called CORAL COTTAGE.

SEABREEZE INN by Jan Moran is worth the read if you like an easy-read, beachy romance.

If You Like…

If you like SEABREEZE INN, check out this past recommendation: The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Time to catch up on my book recommendations starting with THE SECRET OF SNOW by Viola Shipman! This contemporary women’s fiction with romantic elements is perfect for the upcoming winter months. Viola Shipman is a master at writing about charming Michigan towns. THE SECRET OF SNOW takes place mainly in Traverse City, Michigan.

Summary

Meteorologist Sonny Dunes, age 50, works for a top ranked Palm Springs TV news channel. After learning she’s being replaced by an AI meteorologist, Sonny responds with a drunk, on-air meltdown. Her tirade goes viral. No other stations want to hire a potentially volatile TV personality, except the station in her hometown of Traverse City. This job would be a demotion. The Michigan station has a much smaller viewership and poor ranking in the local market. Accepting the offer would bring along other challenges as well, but what other choice does she have? Sonny will have to live with her mother and face why she left Michigan in the first place.

Sonny’s new boss and college frenemy hopes to capitalize on Sonny’s infamous meltdown. New viewers may tune in to see if Sonny has another one, especially since she’s assigned to cover all the outdoor quintessential Michigan winter events. Will the viewers welcome her back as one of their own or dismiss her as an outsider from California? Will Sonny be able to deal with the winter assignments, or is she destined to boost rankings through another breakdown?

While reporting, Sonny keeps running into Mason, a widowed Chamber of Commerce Director. The sweet romance adds to the story without overpowering the story of Sonny’s personal growth. She struggles with adjusting to the snow, confronting her memories of her sister who loved it, dealing with a jealous TV reporter, and accepting that her mother only wants to help her get her life back on track.

Wade Rouse writes about his beloved Michigan under his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman.

Sonny left Michigan decades earlier because it was easier than dealing with the memories and guilt associated with her young sister’s death. When you realize what caused the guilt Sonny’s been running from for decades, you will want her to finally come to terms with the past. If that’s not hard enough, someone is trying to sabotage her career. Could it be her boss who wants to boost ratings, the jealous TV reporter, her camera guy, or someone else she hasn’t considered?

THE SECRET OF SNOW by Viola Shipman reminds us of the importance of love, family and true friends. We get a feel-good lesson about forgiving ourselves through a satisfying conclusion.

If You Like…

If you like THE SECRET OF SNOW, you may want to check out these past recommendations: One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery, Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews, and Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

September 27, 2024

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

You may be thinking pumpkin spice, but Christmas isn’t as far off as you’d like to think, and I already have a recommendation for your holiday reading this year! Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family comes out October 1, 2024. You can preorder now!

Summary

Julie’s adult children made their own plans for Christmas this year. Heath, Julie’s boyfriend, has young children, but they’re spending the holiday on vacation with his ex and her boyfriend. That means Julie and Heath can have a quiet Christmas together. Until plans change.

Julie’s children, Dana and Nick, drop their plans because they want to do their traditional family Christmas at the cabin. They hope it will help them get through their first Christmas since their dad’s death. Although their parents have been divorced for many years, their father normally spent the holiday with the family at the cabin.

When Heath agrees to join them, Julie needs to figure out how to introduce her kids to her boyfriend, younger than her by 12 years, whom she’s been keeping a secret. Then, just before Heath’s ex takes the kids on the vacation, her boyfriend dumps her. Julie invites Heath’s kids and his ex to join them for the holidays. Isn’t that what most people would do? Oh, and they’re bringing their dog.

Nick’s mother-in-law has recently moved to the area. Even though his wife Blair and her mother have a strained relationship, she needs somewhere to be for the holidays. Why not include her? Meanwhile, Dana is getting over a breakup with her boyfriend Axel, again.

Suddenly Julie has a lot of planning to do to accommodate a house full of people. The “cabin” has plenty of room, but it’s the mixture of personalities, secrets, and past hurts that bring the conflict and tension. And Julie, a woman with a big heart, is forced to deal with her control issues. Does ANY big family gathering turn out exactly how you want it?

My Thoughts

Susan Mallery, author pic — Susan Mallery, author

If you like fun Christmas novels about dysfunctional families, this is a wonderful read. This family’s holiday is a lovely, chaotic mess full of wonderful traditions, fun, love, personal growth, and acceptance. I enjoyed getting to know each of the guests and watching them squirm through situations often out of their control. It’s a fun, easy read for your holiday season!

Pick up Susan Mallery’s new book, One Big Happy Family! Give yourself a gift for the holidays.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review of the book.

If You Like…

If you like One Big Happy Family, you may want to check out this past recommendation: Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

August 12, 2024July 30, 2024

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Run! Put JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez on your TBR list right away. Then bypass the others and jump right into this one! It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. I wish I could go back and experience it for the first time. JUST FOR THE SUMMER is the first Abby Jimenez book I’ve read, and I will absolutely read more by her. I give this book a 5+ star rating.

Summary

Emma and her best friend Maddy are traveling nurses. They stay in a location for six weeks and then move on. It’s good money, and they see parts of the country they want to visit. Moving around also keeps Emma in her comfort zone. After spending her childhood in constant movement with an unstable mother, Emma has no interest in planting roots anywhere.

Although Maddy’s parents became Emma’s foster parents, Emma kept them emotionally distant. The only person she’s let in is Maddy. Maddy understands Emma and knows how to handle when she retreats into herself from her untreated childhood trauma.

Justin has a problem. Five times in the last three years, the girl he dates leaves him only to find her soulmate with the next guy. Most recently, his girlfriend realized Justin’s best friend is THE ONE. He states his frustration on a Reddit thread for the world to see. When Maddie sees the thread, she shows it to Emma, who is living the same curse. Seven times in the last four years, Emma’s boyfriends have found their soulmates immediately after her.

As Justin and Emma connect, they wonder if dating each other would break the curse. Could they both find their soulmate next? Minnesota isn’t a place the girls wanted to visit, but Emma arranges their next nursing assignment to be there, near Justin, to test their theory. They plan on dating, just for the summer. But what happens when actual feelings develop?

Problems Not of Their Own Making

Because of his mother’s actions, Justin is about to move back into his childhood home and take guardianship of his three younger siblings. He’s angry at his mother for turning his life upside down.

Emma tells him, “In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.” She explains her thoughts. “You don’t know how broken she was or what she was trying to do to fill those cracks. Being broken is not an excuse for bad behavior, you still have to make good choices and do the right thing. But it can be the reason. And sometimes understanding the reason can be what helps you heal.”

This philosophy is how Emma has coped with her mother for years. Emma’s mother Amber pops in and out of Emma’s life, leaving destruction in her path. Amber is self-centered and self-serving. When Amber see the mansion and yacht that belongs to Emma’s new landlord, she sets her sights on him. To make it worse, he’s Emma’s boss. Fallout from her mother could cause trouble for Emma in every way thinkable.

The book tells us, “The love stories sold us the wrong thing. The best kind of love doesn’t happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life…. It isn’t glamorous, it isn’t all butterflies and stars in your eyes. It’s real. This is the kind of love that forever is made of. Because if it’s this good when life is draining and mundane and hard, think of how wonderful it will be when the love songs are playing and the moon is out.”

My Thoughts

I know I’ve said it before about other titles, but JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez is a must-have for your summer reading. The hook about the curse is creative and drew me in, but it is the complexity of the characters and their situations that kept me reading. The story has depth. It’s realistic and raw. It’s so refreshing for a romance to balance fun, humor and cute rom-com elements with real-life tough situations for each main character.

Justin and Emma’s romance feels believable. Their relationship seems to be one of those ‘right person, wrong time’ scenarios. These characters are imperfect, and their families are flawed. They both are in turmoil not of their own making. They feel like real people living normal, troubled lives. I couldn’t help but get emotionally invested in their story. The book brings up some topics worth thought and discussion.

Author

Abby Jimenez is an award winning, bestselling author. She is also a Food Network winner with her Nadia Cakes business. She is currently (August 2024) on book tour for JUST FOR THE SUMMER. She’ll be in Columbus, Ohio on September 8 (SOLD OUT), and on November 2, she’ll be in Toledo, Ohio for the Romance Con at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. These are the two author events closest to me. Check out all her book tour stops on her website. Also check each location to get your reservation for the event.

If You Like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve reviewed and recommend: The Good Part by Sophie Cousens and A Wedding in Lake Como by Jennifer Probst. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

July 30, 2024July 30, 2024

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Yes! Another perfect book for your beach bag this summer! A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey, part historical fiction, part mystery, part women’s fiction, part romance, is told in a dual timeline: present day with Keaton Smith, and in 1976 with her grandparents Rebecca “Becks” and Townsend St. James.

Summary

Keaton, a young professional in NYC, has lost her job and her condo. While she figures out her next move, her mother asks her to clear out Keaton’s grandparents’ house in Beaufort so it can be sold. Keaton knew they died in a car accident before she was born, but this is the first she’s heard of the historic house on the North Carolina seaside. Her mother and uncle have held onto the house for nearly fifty years. Keaton agrees and takes her dog Salt along for the trip. (Who doesn’t love a story with a dog? And this dog is based on Kristy’s own dog named Salt!)

Keaton isn’t prepared to walk into a 1970s time-warp. It looks like Becks and Townsend just stepped away, including dishes left on the dining room table from one of Becks’ famous dinner parties. As Keaton is adjusting to the shock, Anderson, a ten-year-old, boy pops in. He lives next door with his divorced, grumpy, hot dad, Bowen.

While Keaton struggles with the enormous cleaning job, she connects more deeply with the locals. Keaton learns that everyone knows everything in a small town, so different from NYC. She becomes friends with the Dockside Dames, a group of older women who get together every morning for coffee and gossip. Their stories of her grandparents help Keaton connect with family she never knew. Keaton sees what life could be like here. She’s faced with comparing her fast-paced, workaholic life in NYC to what small town life on the ocean with Bowen and his son could be like.

The story of her grandparents dying in a car accident begins to have some holes. Although her grandparents’ car was found submerged in the water, their bodies were never recovered. When Keaton discovers her mother and uncle have suspicions that their parents were actually murdered, Keaton better understands why they never returned to the house. But what really happened to Becks and Townsend?

We go back in time for Becks to tell her love story. Becks was disowned by her parents for marrying Townsend, the love of her life. She focuses on making life easier for others and throwing her famous dinner parties while Townsend starts his doctor practice in Beaufort. Although Becks journals all her entertaining tips for her daughter, her granddaughter Keaton is the one to find it nearly fifty years later. It helps her connect with the grandmother she never knew.

Trying to decide what to keep and what to discard from her grandparents’ life and mother’s childhood is more difficult than Keaton expected. Keaton finally convinces her mother and uncle to come look through some things and get closure. Becks and Townsend left multiple clues behind, leading the family to learn the truth of what happened to them.

My Thoughts

There’s a lot here for readers of several genres including romance, women’s fiction, and mystery. It’s a multi-generational story of family relationships and how we deal with damage done in the past. It’s about forgiveness and reconciliation, about valuing the past and the family who came before us, and about romantic love and second chances. It reinforces that we shouldn’t judge the happiness of someone else’s life because people define happiness differently. What’s right for one isn’t for another. Perhaps when you determine you’ve lived a life worth living, you’ve found true happiness.

I loved A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey. May I suggest you purchase A HAPPIER LIFE here at Bookshop.org? This online bookstore supports mom and pop bookstores nationwide!

Kristy Woodson Harvey, author

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these Kristy Woodson Harvey books I’ve previously reviewed and recommend: The Summer of Songbirds, The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, and the whole Peachtree Bluff series.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

June 11, 2024May 31, 2024

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young is a unique novel. I’m being careful to not give you too much about this one because it’s best experienced by the reader. If your reading tastes are similar to mine, you’ll love it!

This time travel novel includes the loyal/loving family theme wrapped with mystery and a touch of romance, but it also has a complexity that will keep you on your toes. Your brain will be engaged while reading this book, and it will keep you thinking long after, all in a good way.

Summary

The Farrow women are well-known for two things: their flower farm in Japer, North Carolina, and a mysterious curse. Years ago, after showing signs of mental instability, Susanna Farrow disappeared. She left behind baby June to be raised by the grandmother.

Now an adult, June is very familiar with the town’s rumors and whispers about her family and her mother’s disappearance. When June hears a voice calling her name and wind chimes that don’t exist and sees a ghost horse and a mysterious red door that appear out of nowhere, she questions if she is headed down that same slippery slope of mental illness. That’s why she feels she must sacrifice finding love and having children. The curse will stop with her.

Early in the story, just before June’s grandmother dies, she mails an old photo to June. June questions how the two people in the picture could be together since they didn’t live in the same time period. June investigates more about her mother and the disappearance. Every bit of information leads to another question. After receiving a yellowed envelope with the message “Trust me,” June decides to test her hallucinations. The next time the red door appears, she opens it and walks through. When she does, June must navigate a scenario where the present and the past intertwine, and answers lead to tough decisions.

My Thoughts

In the beginning of THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young, the author tosses the readers tidbits of strange experiences until she hooks you into the story. You suddenly realize you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, but the Mad Hatter doesn’t seem so mad after all. Here, the impossible becomes reality. As Junes learns about the Farrow women’s ability to time travel, her view of the family curse changes.

Motherhood is a major theme, revealing the family love and loyalty of generations of Farrows. The story explores the choices we make and what we’re willing to sacrifice for those we love. Add a murder mystery and fierce, heartbreaking romance, and you have a winner of a novel.

I’d rate THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW with 4 1/2 stars out of 5. The only reason it isn’t a 5 is that trying to understand the timelines as they relate to the Farrow family makes my head spin. Once I understood the familial relationships between the characters, I was fine. It’s amazing how complex time travel is in this story, but the author handles it smoothly. Readers will let down their walls of believability long enough to accept the impossible is possible, at least in this world.

So I pose a question to you: If a door appeared that wasn’t there a moment before, would you step through it? Leave me a comment below.

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve previously reviewed and recommend: Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young (same author), Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

May 21, 2024May 9, 2024

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Family reconciliation is a major part of the storyline in THE CAFE AT BEACH END by RaeAnne Thayne, but you also get two love stories for the price of one! Cousins Meredith and Tori both get second chances at love in this clean romance. The small beach town setting will draw you in and the characters will make you want to hang around.

Background

Tori and Meredith were best friends when they were younger, more like sisters than cousins. As adults, their relationship is non-existent.

At age 19, Tori got pregnant and married, keeping her in Cape Sanctuary and helping her grandmother at The Beach End Cafe. But when Tori’s husband died making her a single mom to their six-year-old daughter, Tori’s life wasn’t easy. When her grandmother became ill, Tori balanced being a caregiver, a single mother, and the manager of the cafe.

Meredith, on the other hand, graduated with an art degree, married a wealthy man, and opened her own art gallery in the city. She didn’t help emotionally support Tori when her husband died, and she wasn’t around to help care for Grandma or run the cafe. Tori felt ignored and left behind while Meredith enjoyed a perfect life.

Tori didn’t know what Meredith’s marriage looked like behind closed doors. Bad led to worse when Meredith’s husband was convicted of cheating investors out of millions of dollars. The FBI made her life even more miserable after her husband died in prison. They believe she knew about the scheme and knows where the money is hidden. The FBI finally drop the case against her since they couldn’t prove her involvement. Meredith has a hard time feeling sorry for herself and what she’s lost when so many people lost money to her husband.

Grandma never held a grudge against Meredith, believing she had good reasons for not coming around. When Grandma died , Tori was dismayed that she left Meredith a cottage and 49% ownership of the cafe. Tori has the other 51%. It didn’t matter much until Meredith returned to Cape Sanctuary to start over.

Summary

The book opens with Meredith — shamed, depressed, broke, and without a job. She returns to Cape Sanctuary to hide away, distancing herself from her ex-husband’s scandal. Tori isn’t happy to see her. She’s bitter. And she certainly doesn’t want Meredith to suddenly have a say in “her” cafe after she’s spent so much time and energy running it. Much of the story is the gradual rebuilding of their relationship.

Liam, who is renting out the house next door to Meredith, says he came to the quiet town to write a book, but he’s hiding his real identity and motives. Liam shows interest in Meredith, and she opens up to him. As they develop feelings for one another, his secret could ruin everything.

Tori’s divorced brother-in-law Sam moves back to Cape Sanctuary with his daughter, Cristina. When Tori’s daughter Emilia and her cousin get into trouble at school, Tori and Sam work together to guide the girls onto the right path, hopefully including passing the eighth grade. Tori and Sam are drawn to each other, but Tori holds back. Even though her husband passed years ago, being interested in her husband’s brother doesn’t feel right.

My Thoughts

THE CAFE AT BEACH END by RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful feel-good book to pick up for your summer reading. It came out in 2023. When I started reading it, I didn’t realize this was book five in the Cape Sanctuary series. I didn’t matter one bit that I hadn’t read the others. Each book in the series is a standalone, following different characters and situations, all in the small fictional California beach town of Cape Sanctuary. I’ll be returning to the Cape Sanctuary series another time. RaeAnne Thayne just may become one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance. This book is well written, and RaeAnne respects her reader’s IQ by not repeating details like some romance authors do.

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve reviewed and recommend: Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman, The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith, The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews, and The Beach House and The Beach House series by Mary Alice Monroe. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024

A Wedding in Lake Como by Jennifer Probst

Robin’s Reviews 2024

A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO by Jennifer Probst, both women’s fiction and a contemporary romance, comes out May 14. It’s the third installment in Probst’s Meet Me in Italy series. Each book in the series is a standalone story. The other two books are OUR ITALIAN SUMMER and THE SECRET LOVE LETTERS OF OLIVIA MORETTI.

Set-Up

Three young women from very different backgrounds become best friends in college. Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea are experiencing self-discovery through the freedom of their college years while dreaming of the endless possibilities ahead of them. It’s a book about female friendships, young love, mistakes made along the way, personal growth, and forgiveness. This novel takes us from college in NYC, to the fashion and acting scene in LA, to an Italian mega villa in Lake Como.

The Characters

Growing up, Maddie’s parents only took care of her basic needs, making it clear to her that she was an unplanned pregnancy. Once she turned eighteen, they washed their hands of her. Now, Maddie is putting herself through college. She finds the confidence she’s been missing through the emotional support of her college friends.

Ava was raised by her wealthy, widowed Italian father. She has charisma that commands attention in any room she enters, but she carries baggage from her mother’s death. It has made her manipulative and controlling, but she conceals it as concern and loving help for her friends.

Maddie is so desperate to be loved and accepted, she doesn’t see how toxic her friendship with Ava is becoming. On the other hand, even though Ava has money and connections, Maddie takes as little as possible from Ava. Maddie wants to make it on her own.

Chelsea rounds out this group of besties. She had the most idyllically “normal” upbringing. Although she’s part of the group, Maddie and Ava are the primary characters.

Summary

Through their college years, the girls come to terms with their families and upbringings, build lasting friendships through supporting each other, plan their careers, and explore the dating scene. Sparks fly for Maddie and Riggs, and they build a deep romantic relationship. Riggs is studying law while Maddie builds her social media following to become a fashion influencer.

Ava takes her college girlfriends on an Italian vacation to her home on Lake Como. Here, the girls make a pact to attend each other’s weddings, no matter where life leads them.

After Chelsea’s wedding reception, Ava makes a huge mistake that destroys the group. Five years later, Ava is getting married to the man of her dreams in her hometown by Lake Como. Even with her past mistake and loss of friendship still haunting her, she sends the invitations to her college friends.

Maddie, still single, is frustrated with her superficial reality and lack of meaningful relationships. She lashes out on social media, causing a public scandal that could ruin her career. Chelsea is married and has children, but she feels the tug between motherhood and unfulfilled professional goals.

Photo of beautiful Lake Como in Italy — Italy’s Beautiful Lake Como

Chelsea will be at the wedding, but Maddie is the X factor. Will Maddie face the pain of the past and hear Ava out? Will seeing another wedding guest from the past be too much? Will Ava’s other secret push Maddie over the edge? Will Maddie hold on to her anger over the wrong done to her, or will she finally find healing?

My Thoughts

There’s a lot to love about this book. The characters and their friendship dynamics kept me interested. I wanted to keep reading to see how the girls would grow through their college years and beyond. Riggs was perfect as Maddie’s love interest. I wanted to see Maddie become successful, but my heart ached for her as their love is tested building their individual careers.

A few things bothered me about the characters, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the story. I had a hard time buying into Maddie’s loveless family dynamics. Could anyone live with a child for eighteen years and ONLY feel responsible to feed and clothe her? How could they be so cold-hearted? Possible, but extreme. As Maddie works toward her dream of being a fashion influencer, deep down she hopes that if she’s successful enough, she will earn her parents’ love. I understand Maddie’s misguided thinking, but the extreme brokenness in her family felt unrealistic.

The story takes readers to beautiful Lake Como in Italy twice. What a privilege Ava has to live in a luxurious Italian villa on the lake! She comes from so much wealth! Her background makes me question why she would choose to go to college in the states when she could have chosen anywhere in the world. It’s a minor point. Maybe I’m just jealous I didn’t have a rich friend in college to invite me on extravagant vacations and pay for it all!

Wrap-up

A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO will attract a younger audience, say women in their 20’s and 30’s. I’m in an older group, ok, much older group, but I still enjoyed this book. The dynamics of three friends and a rocky romance kept my interest. The storyline of a social media influencer keeps the novel relevant today, and yet it brought the good times of my past college years to mind.

I give A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO by Jennifer Probst a strong 4 stars. If it sounds interesting to you, it’s worth a read! If you like the sound of this book, you should check out my review of THE GOOD PART by Sophie Cousens.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book. The opinions are my own. Feel free to leave a comment! I love talking with my readers!

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@author.robin.shelley

April 23, 2024April 3, 2024

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Thinking about your reading list for this summer? If you’re looking for a good older book you may have missed, try THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand. THE ISLAND came out in 2010, so it should be easy to find at the library and at bookstores.

THE ISLAND is a story of familial and romantic love, recovery from tragedy, sibling rivalry, and family support. The story reveals the individual paths four women have taken for love and the course each path set for their futures.

Summary

Shortly after Chess called off her wedding, her ex-fiancé tragically dies rock climbing. To help her through this dark time, her mother Birdie, her aunt India and her sister Tate take Chess to their family vacation home for a full month. They haven’t been back to the house on Tuckernuck Island near Nantucket in over a decade. They hope the family memories and serenity of the location will be healing.

The homes on Tuckernuck have no electricity, no heat or air conditioning, no hot water, no internet, and no cell service. A vacation home caretaker whom Birdie hired years ago has been checking on the house. When he retired, his son Barrett Lee took over the business. Birdie sent Barrett money to make the place livable for their visit since it had been neglected for so long. Upon their arrival, Barrett supplies their transportation by boat between Nantucket and Tuckernuck. He also brings them mail and groceries. Barrett, who is a widow with a child, focuses on keeping all of his clients happy, but one client, Nantucket socialite Anita Fullin, is jealous. She doesn’t want to share Barrett’s time and attention with the other family. Tate’s focus is also on Barrett, hoping this could be the summer he finally notices her.

The characters each have their own story and baggage. Birdie, the mom, is still recovering from her divorce. Free-spirited, artsy India is rediscovering herself after her husband’s death. Computer geek Tate thinks her sister has always had the advantage, but she still wants to support her. Chess, who is dealing with her grief and guilt, is also hiding a deeper secret.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this novel. The island/beach setting is right up my alley. I love a good book about love and family relationships. Birdie’s journey was a bit too predictable for me, but I did like that each character’s journey and personality was unique and had depth. Elin Hilderbrand has a way of breathing life into complex, distinctive characters.

My favorite character storylines were India and Tate. India is a widow, but her reflections on her marriage with a famous artist husband felt realistic, and her free-spirit was interesting. Tate has a successful career, but love hasn’t been in the picture. She has always felt she was in her sister’s shadow. With memories of Barrett from their summer trips years ago, she wonders if she might have a shot with him. Her same old fear rears its head – Is he more interested in Chess?

If you’re considering your summer reading list, THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand is a great addition. If you like this book, check out my review on The Identicals, another Hilderbrand book here.

Note About My Book Reviews This Year

Although I love reading books close to when they’re published, I have so many older books on my TBR (To Be Read) pile! I want to catch up on some of them. This year I promised myself I’d work on those more than new releases. My blog will reflect that. Sure, you’ll still see some newer books or ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) because I automatically say yes to certain authors’ books, but you’ll see some older outstanding books here as well. Hope you enjoy the mix of older and newer in my reviews this year!

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@author.robin.shelley

April 3, 2024

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

What a treat to read an advanced reader copy (ARC) of SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews!

This book is just fabulous! I love it so much that I did a thing. I wrote to the author directly! Although I write a lot of reviews, I seldom write to the author personally. Even after decades of writing, Mary Kay Andrews just keeps getting better and better! She makes something so difficult (writing a book that hooks the reader) look so easy.

So let’s talk about SUMMERS AT THE SAINT!

Summary

Summertime, beach resort, romance, mystery…and murder.

The St. Cecelia resort, nicknamed “The Saint,” welcomes the rich who vacation there year after year on the Georgia coast. The people who can afford to stay here are called the Saints. Locals are the Ain’ts.

Traci, one of the Ain’ts who worked as a teenage lifeguard at the hotel, ended up marrying one of the owner’s sons. Now widowed, she’s the owner of the hotel. Her ruthless brother-in-law Ric is appalled that his brother’s death left Traci as the owner of the hotel part of the business. He is a constant thorn in her side while she’s trying to bring The Saint back to a 5-star hotel after Covid caused financial troubles and staffing issues.

Those aren’t Traci’s only troubles. An accidental drowning from years ago comes back to haunt her. She and her friend Shannon were the lifeguards on duty when it happened. Now, when another tragic death occurs on the grounds, Traci is barely holding it all together. She’s also beginning to realize so much more is going on behind the scenes at the hotel. However, the possibility of romance adds some relief to the craziness in Traci’s life.

My Thoughts

I expected SUMMERS AT THE SAINT to be a women’s fiction/romance/ beach read. It is, but it’s so much more! Cozy mystery readers will also love this one.

It was a light, easy-read story with twists and turns you won’t see coming. Filled with juicy secrets, family discord, shady deals, murder, past indiscretions, strong females, misplaced trust, new employees with all their “baggage,” and a side dish of romance, you’ll need to set aside time for this one. Once you start it, you’ll put everything else on hold.

Right when I thought I understood everything that was going on at The Saint, MKA threw in a new detail or twist. I kept wondering how deep she would go! Could she possibly come up with another unexpected turn?

At first I was concerned about the large cast of characters and keeping them straight. Silly me. The writing was in the hands of a master. Not only could I keep them straight, they were all necessary to the story. Every time I thought I had the whole picture of how all the characters were intertwined, Mary Kay would throw in another twist. Don’t let the introduction of all the characters discourage you from reading on.

Reserve your spot at The Saint and put SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews on your 2024 summer reading list. The pub date is coming up — May 7, 2024. Did you know it REALLY helps an author if you pre-order? You can pre-order from any bookstore, but I like to support independent bookstores here through bookshop.org.

Book Tour

If you live in NE Ohio like me, register to meet MKA in person and have her sign your book. She’ll be at the Parma-Powers Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 PM. I’ll be there! Register here. For other tour stops, click here.

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@author.robin.shelley

March 4, 2024

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

*Note my warning below concerning this book’s content

Let’s start with-YES! FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros was an amazing 5-star read for me. FOURTH WING was considered one of the best books of 2023, but I just got to it this year. The hype around it was crazy. Sometimes that worries me that a novel won’t stand up to the hype, but this one did.

Romance, fantasy, life and death action, magical dragons, friendship and betrayals, cut-throat competition, and training to fight for a kingdom that may be hiding secrets…what more could a reader ask for?

I’m wondering if FOURTH WING became so popular because it has wide appeal. Readers like me, who don’t regularly read fantasy, are picking it up.

Some hard-core fantasy readers giving bad reviews mention that this book stole ideas from other novels like Harry Potter, ACOTAR, Shadow and Bone, Hunger Games, and Divergent. These are books that also broke through those genre boundaries, enticing a wide group of readers. Is similarity to these beloved books really a problem or a magic formula? Besides, no book is fully unique.

Other popular stories may have inspired Yarros’s writing. So what? I don’t think that’s a bad thing. This story differs from those other books. I enjoyed that this female protagonist has everything riding against her, and yet her bravery, perseverance, inner-strength, and intelligence, along with help from some friends, get her through. She has a lot of plot armor, but hey-she’s our main character.

FOURTH WING Summary:

Twenty-year old Violet, a strong female protagonist, is at the age when she must commit to a quadrant. As her deceased father was a scribe, she’s been training for that path her whole life. She has a love of books and knows her people’s history well. However, her mother is General Sorrengail. The general knows a large percentage of dragon rider candidates die, but she still forces her daughter to enlist in the Dragon Rider Quadrant at Basgiath War College.

This quadrant represents the elite, the defenders of the kingdom. The other dragon rider candidates have been training for this opportunity, just as Violet has trained to gain entrance to the Scribe Quadrant. That leaves Violet lacking the training needed for the deadly Dragon Rider entrance exam.

If she somehow passes, it becomes a lethal competition to connect with a dragon since there are fewer dragons willing to bond than there are candidates. Violet is smaller than average and has a rare disease which causes loose ligaments and brittle bones. Even if Violet makes it through the initial physical tests, dragons would rather incinerate the weak rather than bond with them. Even after bonding, only a fraction of those riders live through the four years of training. There are only two ways dragon riding school ends: either graduate or die. And graduates are sent to the war.

In the FOURTH WING world, dragons are the superior species. This isn’t a dragon-taming book. Rather, the dragons put their riders through excruciating exercises to test their mettle. The dragons also have clear personalities, shown through their actions and the thoughts sent telepathically to their riders.

Violet is reunited with her childhood friend Dain, a third-year. Readers will wonder if he will turn into a love interest. His protective actions are good intentioned but keep her from becoming all she can be. Still, he’s there, watching her back.

She faces danger every day of training, but danger also lurks within the ranks, especially for the daughter of the general. Violet’s nemesis in the first half of the book is Xaden Riorson, the son of a rebel leader.

Back when the rebellion ended, Violet’s mother had the rebel leaders executed. The government forced their children to enlist as dragon riders when they reached the proper age. These riders have a vendetta against Violet because of her mother’s actions. Xaden, the most powerful wing leader, is one of these. As much as he wants to hate her, circumstances out of his control force him to reevaluate his relationship with Violet. As Yarros reveals the backstories of some students, readers better understand the characters’ actions and loyalties.

News continues to come in from the far reaches of the kingdom’s borders. Protective wards are failing, and perimeter villages are being attacked. More dragon riders are needed. As Violet continues her training exercises and classwork, she suspects the leaders, including her mother, are keeping secrets concerning the dangers across the border.

*FOURTH WING Final Note (and Content Warning)

Ok, so maybe FOURTH WING is a 4.75 read for me. I’m deducting part of a point due to a couple of SPICY sex scenes I personally could have done without. Since they come late in the book, I was taken off guard. It is consensual sex, but I like a more closed-door, committed relationship approach. It’s my personal preference.

Publishers usually label books with characters of this age as YA, but the sex and violence bump it into the adult category. I hope parents are aware of the sex, the violence, and the F-bombs before deciding on FOURTH WING’s appropriateness for their teens. For adults, if you can get past those issues, I highly recommend this book. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to ponder if I want to read it again before I start the sequel, IRON FLAME.

If you want to learn more about Rebecca Yarros, click here. If your ready to purchase, consider buying FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros here. (The sequel IRON FLAME is also available.) These links will take you to Bookshop.org, a business that supports Mom and Pop bookstores nationwide. I don’t receive anything from Bookshop if you buy from them. I just believe in their mission.

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@author.robin.shelley

January 12, 2024January 12, 2024

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Robin’s Reviews

THE WISHING GAME by Meg Shaffer is an adult novel, but it brought back the magical feelings of reading from my childhood.

I emotionally remembered that feeling of enchantment from reading books for the first time, like Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew/The Hardy Boys, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, to name a few. Certain books touch the heart of a child.

Think back to books you read as a child. Now remember with your heart, not your mind. Were you enchanted by a story you couldn’t put down? Do you remember the joy as a story unfolded? Do you remember feeling proud of yourself for figuring “it” out? Did you want to escape into the world in that book? To become the character in the book? To finish a book under the covers with a flashlight after bedtime? Ever not want to come when called for dinner because you were reading?

THE WISHING GAME will have you reliving all those feelings, but in an adult story. It’s easy reading, could be YA, but it also covers several heavier topics: childhood neglect, the foster system, running away, and childhood illness, to name a few. Meg Shaffer skillfully includes these tough problems in a way that doesn’t darken or weigh down the story. THE WISHING GAME by Meg Shaffer should definitely go on your adult bookshelf!

Summary of THE WISHING GAME

Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is a reclusive, eccentric, and best-selling children’s author. He lives on Clock Island, the setting of his magical, mysterious children’s book series. In each of his books, a child has to make a wish and then find his or her way to the island. They are all brave children who then face their fears through riddles and games to get a chance at their wish coming true.

Five years ago, Jack mysteriously quit writing. Finally, he now announces he has a new book and will be running a competition for four adults. These adults were picked because, as children, they actually found their way to Clock Island after reading his books. Now, as adults, they will compete in a Clock Island game. The winner will get the one and only copy of Jack’s new children’s book to keep or sell. The publisher is already willing to pay six figures for it, but other interested parties may be willing to pay even more. Each contestant has a real need to win.

The protagonist of THE WISHING GAME is Lucy Hart. As a child, Lucy found comfort in reading the Clock Island series. It helped her through a difficult childhood. Now an adult, Lucy desperately wants to adopt seven-year-old Christopher, to give him the love she never had. She has been reading the Clock Island books to Christopher to help him through his own messed-up childhood. Lucy can’t afford to adopt him on her teacher’s aide salary. This contest could be the answer to both of their wishes. If Lucy wins, selling the book would provide all she needs to adopt Christopher and give him a loving, stable home.

My Thoughts

Jack Masterson and Hugo Reese are wonderful secondary characters. Jack, the author, is mysterious, and yet he’s that grandfatherly character. The twinkle in his eye hints at his joy in creating games and riddles. Hugo Reese, the long-time illustrator of the books, lives on the island with Jack. Hugo is ready to move on with his life, but when Jack hit a low and stopped writing, Hugo couldn’t leave him. He needs to know Jack will be okay without him. Hugo and Lucy develop a fondness for each other that grows into a sweet relationship.

THE WISHING GAME was endearing and wholesome. I thoroughly enjoyed this whimsical, mysterious book, although I wanted to get to the contest faster. The plot was a bit predictable, but I didn’t mind. It brought me something no other adult book has: I remembered in my soul what it felt like being a kid again, trying to solve the riddles right along with the competitors.

Interested in purchasing? Try here at Bookshop.org. They’re a wonderful website that supports the Mom and Pop bookstores nationwide.

Last Thoughts

Although the Clock Island books don’t actually exist in the real world, I would LOVE to see Meg Shaffer try her hand at children’s literature to create them! What books bring back fond memories of childhood for you? I’d love if you shared below!

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@author.robin.shelley

December 21, 2023December 4, 2023

Beautiful Little Fools by Jill Cantor

Robin’s Reviews

Yes. I admit it. I was one of those people that loved reading THE GREAT GATSBY, so I was excited to hear about BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS by Jill Cantor. Let me tell you, her retelling didn’t disappoint. It gives fans a chance to relive the classic through a new lens. Same plot. Same characters. BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS is told from the women’s point of view, including capturing the limitations of women in the 1920s.

Cantor’s title is perfect! Perhaps you recall Daisy Buchanan’s quote in the classic when her daughter is born: “I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE GREAT GATSBY (NOT FOR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS)

*I’m going to assume you’ve read THE GREAT GATSBY or watched the movie at some point, so fair warning, there are some Gatsby spoilers in this review. It would be hard not to when reviewing a book heavily inspired by the original.

Readers know Jay Gatsby ends up dead in his swimming pool in the original, and readers believe George killed him in a jealous fit. In BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS Cantor turns the story into a murder mystery. She gives readers a reason to re-evaluate who murdered Jay when a hairpin is found in the bushes near the murder scene. A mobster hires Detective Frank Charles to determine the actual murderer.

WOMEN CHARACTERS COME ALIVE

The best fleshed out character in the classic is Daisy Buchanan. Married for financial security, she’s an unhappy socialite, but Cantor fills in more of her backstory. You may remember her best friend Jordan who is involved in a scandal on the golfing circuit. Cantor reveals her to be a lesbian. (It isn’t that big of a stretch from the insinuations in the classic.) Readers also dive deeper into Myrtle Wilson’s character. The wife of a garage mechanic, she’s unhappy with the lack of glitz and excitement in her life and becomes Tom Buchanan’s mistress. Catherine, Myrtle’s sister, was only a background character in one scene in the original. She now becomes a fully fleshed out character as a 1920s suffragette who had a casual relationship with Gatsby.

Cantor’s character development keeps the reader guessing who killed Gatsby. They each have a motive. Although Cantor makes some character choices based on the classic that I wouldn’t have, it was interesting to follow her vision of these women.

Although readers can enjoy BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS as a standalone, it fits best as a companion to THE GREAT GATSBY. Perhaps Fitzgerald wouldn’t have seen his characters exactly as Cantor develops them, yet it’s interesting to see how she develops storylines and backgrounds that fill in gray areas left by the original. And Cantor’s ending gives readers a twist you won’t see coming!

Have you read THE GREAT GATSBY? How long ago? Is it time to revisit this old friend? Or is it time to finally read this classic for the first time? What about watching the movie version on a cold winter evening? If you love the classic, you’ve got to read BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS.

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@author.robin.shelley

December 7, 2023October 10, 2023

The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz

Robin’s Reviews

The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz was an enjoyable read. Don’t be confused going in though. It is more about a fictional couple than Liz Taylor.

Photo showing the size of the actual Liz Taylor diamond ring — The actual Liz Taylor ring

This dual timeline story covers the romance of Ritchie and Lizzie in the 1970s, and years later, the family drama of their adult children after the parents have passed. Then add the discovery of a piece of jewelry, an inheritance they all want, to the sibling tension. It’s an issue many families have experienced.

Lizzie and Ritchie’s relationship is compared to that of Lizzie’s movie idols, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor — both passionate and tumultuous. After marriage and two children, Lizzie and Ritchie separate due to his gambling addiction. When he wins a gigantic eleven-carat diamond ring, he uses it to woo Lizzie back. (The ring is similar to the one Burton gave Taylor to win her back after their separation. See the photo above.) Soon after, Lizzie and Ritchie have another child, twelve years younger than her siblings.

At some point in Lizzie and Ritchie’s marriage, the ring is lost. Each child has a different memory of what happened to it — stolen, lost or gambled away. After their parents’ deaths, their children rediscover it in a lock box. The children all believe they deserve it, and each has a different reason for wanting it. Can they survive each other as they decide what to do with it? Will this inheritance tear the family further apart? Is it a treasure or a curse?

Brenda Janowitz, the author, has done extensive research on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. She adds an interesting section at the end of the book explaining the Easter eggs she’s added throughout the novel that are nods to Burton and Taylor. She also includes scenes from Taylor and Burton movies for readers to Google. If you are a fan of these Hollywood idols and/or love books with family drama and the process of reconciliation, The Liz Taylor Ring is one you’ll want to put on your TBR list.

If this kind of fiction is your thing, Brenda Janowitz has more for you! She also wrote The Audrey Hepburn Estate and The Grace Kelly Dress, along with several other novels. Aren’t all of her book covers gorgeous?

And if you like those books, make sure to check out my five-star review of The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey about the Vanderbilts.

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@author.robin.shelley

November 30, 2023November 6, 2023

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Robin’s Reviews

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng caught my attention because of great reviews, but also because I live near the setting in Shaker Heights (a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio). Ng has also written Our Missing Hearts and Everything I Never Told You.

Book Summary

Mainly a character sketch, Little Fires Everywhere is a slow-burn story. The Richardson family lives in an affluent community. Mr. Richardson is a lawyer. His wife is a journalist for the local paper. She has a clear picture of the order to life: college, marriage, successful careers, children, in that order. Conforming to rules leads to success and happiness. She doesn’t understand that many of the rules she follows are just her ways, not necessarily the only right ways.

The four Richardson teenagers have distinct personalities reminiscent of The Breakfast Club. Lexie is a senior — the popular girl, a good student and the lead in the school play. Tripp is a junior — the good-looking athlete. Moody is a sophomore — quiet, bright, and compassionate. Izzie is a freshman — the misfit in the family. No one understands her and how she thinks. The others expect her to do weird or mischievous behaviors; therefore, Izzie often pushes their buttons on purpose.

The Richardsons lease a house to Mia Warren and her teenage daughter Pearl. Mia lives an artistic, gypsy-style life, not concerned with possessions or status. She and her daughter have moved 40+ times in Pearl’s life, each time to inspire Mia’s artistic photography. This time Mia has promised Pearl they will plant roots here. Pearl is excited to invest in making lasting friendships.

The two mothers are foils for each other, each a threat to the other’s philosophy of how to live life. The story also explores dysfunctional family dynamics, parenting styles, consequences of conforming and of not conforming, class and racial issues, friendship, privilege, accountability, and lies and secrets.

Pearl becomes enamored with the Richardson’s affluent lifestyle. Meanwhile, Izzy sees something special in Mia’s artistic free-spirit. She forms a bond with Mia that she can’t forge with her own mother. Mia also unexpectedly forms a bond with Lexie through a secret she’s keeping from her parents.

Mrs. Richardson is jealous of Mia’s connection with her children. When the two women have opposing opinions on Mrs. Richardson’s friend’s adoption case, she digs into Mia’s past, uncovering information that’s none of her business.

Although the book starts with the Richardson house literally on fire, readers see many “little fires” popping up throughout the book. Each simply needs some extra fuel to set the situation into a full-blown blaze. Just when I started to believe one character is the better person, Ng throws a situation at the person with choices no one would want to make. Readers realize they are all human, all flawed, all have cracks. No one is blameless. Whether or not readers agree with the characters’ decisions, they way they handle them is interesting. I got more invested in how everything would turn out the further I read, but I was hoping for more of a plot twist. However, the characters have stuck with me weeks after reading the book. As I said, Little Fires Everywhere is more of a character sketch.

Little Fires Everywhere brought to TV

Hulu has done a mini-series based on Little Fires Everywhere starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Unfortunately, I haven’s see it yet, so I can’t do a comparison. I look forward to watching it in the future. Have you read the book and watched the show? What’s your take on the two?

If this book speaks to you, check out my review on Lies and Other Languages by Sonali Dev.

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@author.robin.shelley

November 7, 2023November 6, 2023

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

Robin’s Rave Reviews

As soon as I finished The Good Part by Sophie Cousens, I wanted to start it all over again! (I don’t often say that.) Since this was such an enjoyable read, I will be reading more by this author. I was lucky to get an ARC of The Good Part, my first novel by Sophie Cousens. You can get a copy, too, because today is Sophie’s pub day! Happy Pub Day, Sophie! (November 7, 2023)

Summary:

Tom Hanks in the movie Big asks Zoltar to grant his wish.

Lucy is disheartened by her life in her twenties – working hard and getting nowhere, going on bad dates, living in a dumpy apartment. Wanting to skip to The Good Part of her life, Lucy makes a wish on an old arcade wishing machine (inspired by the movie Big). Imagine waking up to find sixteen years have passed you by! Suddenly Lucy is married, has two children, and is a successful TV executive. The world has changed, and she has no memory of the missing years. As she adjusts to this life she’s been dropped into, she begins to question if the wishing machine worked or if she simply has amnesia.

Watching Lucy maneuver through her new circumstances included some laugh-out-loud moments, and watching her fall in love with her husband and children was especially heartwarming. So many rich characters in this story!

Toward the end I couldn’t decide if I wanted Lucy to go back in time or stay where she was. I had to see what her decision would be! This novel makes readers consider how experiencing the good and bad makes us who we become, and the necessity of going through it.

*I lean toward “clean” novels. Although this one isn’t exactly clean, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s five-star fun! Just so you know: The author handled the sex scenes with discretion. The characters drop some F bombs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for an arc of The Good Part. The opinions are my own.

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@author.robin.shelley

November 2, 2023September 27, 2023

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

Author Leesa Cross-Smith photo — Author Leesa Cross-Smith

Hachette unexpectedly sent me This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith. I assume I won it in a contest, but I didn’t know I had! It sat on my TBR pile for awhile, but I was glad I chose to read it. I wouldn’t normally pick up a book dealing with mental illness, but these are deep, complex characters who normalize that everyone struggles sometimes.

Story Summary

The story starts on a rainy night when Tallie, a licensed therapist, is driving over a bridge and notices a man who look like he’s going to jump. She stops and convinces him to get coffee with her, although she hides that she’s a therapist. At the coffee shop, she realizes he doesn’t have any place to go so she invites him to come home with her. (Okay, I thought that was a bit crazy on her part, but I kept with the story.)

Taking place mainly over a weekend, This Close to Okay is told through alternating chapters from Tallie’s and Emmett’s perspectives. They spend the time helping each other heal — from what brought Emmett to the bridge that night, and for Tallie, from problems she hasn’t addressed surrounding her divorce and problems with infertility. Tallie believes she’s helping Emmett, but his presence is cathartic for her as well. Even therapists need help to work through trauma. Everyone needs someone willing to catch us when we stumble or get overwhelmed.

Be aware that This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith contains potential triggers: mental illness, depression, suicidal thoughts, infidelity, infertility, and grief. Even so, the feeling of the book is positive. Through loneliness and loss, even the unexpected compassion of a stranger can change the trajectory of a life. By offering emotional support, both characters benefit. The only thing I didn’t care for was the ending. The author left the book somewhat open ended, but that’s better than a trite romantic ending that wouldn’t fit this novel.

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October 5, 2023September 26, 2023

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Are you one of those armchair archeologists, a wanna-be like me? Get your fix with What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez, a great book with intrigue, twists and turns, Egyptian history, archeological digs, adventure, and danger. Just to sweeten the pot, throw in a strong female protagonist, magic, romance, constant questioning of who can be trusted, and exotic settings including in Cairo, on the Nile River, and at a dig site in the desert. Although What the River Knows is labeled as YA, it’s also perfect for adults.

This is book 1 of a duology. Be prepared as you approach the last pages; not everything will get wrapped up. It ends on a major cliffhanger. Other than that, the book was 5 stars for me!

Summary:

19th century Buenos Aires – Inez’s parents have left her behind six month out of every year for as long as she can remember. Since her parents are actively involved in the archeological digs they fund in Egypt, Inez has grown up living with her aunt and two cousins. Now nineteen-years-old, Inez receives news that her parents are missing and presumed dead. She devises a plan to go to Egypt to get answers from her uncle.

A woman traveling alone in the 1800s is considered inappropriate and dangerous, and yet, Inez, pretending to be a young widow, sails all the way from Buenos Aires to Cairo. Whit, her uncle’s handsome assistant, meets her at the docks. Her uncle’s orders are to immediately send her back. Inez has other plans and slips away.

When she finally finds her uncle, he doesn’t want her to be there. He puts Whit in charge of keeping tabs on her until he can arrange another passage home. Having opposite goals puts Inez and Whit in conflict with each other, yet there is undeniable chemistry between the two.

Inez learns there is much more to her parents’ deaths/disappearances, but Whit continually blocks her attempts to discover the truth. However, when the men realize Inez may be useful to them in their pursuit to find Cleopatra’s burial site, they allow her to join them.

Other parties, also interested in Cleopatra’s final resting spot, add danger to Inez and her uncle’s group. Who are the responsible archeologists and who would simply profit from the black market? What happened to Inez’s parents? Can Inez trust Whit? Can she trust her uncle?

Isabel Ibañez is the author of multiple novels including Woven in Midnight which is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time. If you love fantasy, check out the list! To learn more about Isabel Ibañez and her books, go to her website here.

What the Rivers Knows comes out October 31, 2023. You can pre-order from your favorite bookstore or click here to order from bookshop.org. (They support Mom and Pop bookstores across the country.) Or, when you visit your local library, ask them to buy a copy!

If you liked this book review, check out my other book reviews here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of What the River Knows. The opinions are my own.

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@author.robin.shelley

September 25, 2023

Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev leads readers to ask thought-provoking questions: Is it ever okay to lie or keep a secret? Is withholding information a form of lying? What circumstances would it take to share a long-hidden truth? How far would a person go to make a loved one happy?

Photo of author Sonali Dev — Author Sonali Dev

Lies and Other Love Languages is my first novel by Sonali Dev. It is a story of friendship, romantic love, grief, motherhood, and the expectations, influence and support of family. Told through multiple POVs of an American family of Indian descent, readers will get a peek inside Indian culture, customs, and family values as they deal with universal issues.

The story includes a lovable cast of supporting characters, but it revolves around three women: Vandy Guru, her daughter Mallika, and Vandy’s friend Rani Parekh. Starting in the present, Vandy is panicked because her daughter is missing. Vandy, an advice columnist and public speaker, is struggling with the grief of losing her husband, and now this! Mallika is a young adult trying to make a name for herself through her unique mix of traditional Indian and modern dance styles. Feeling dejected after an audition, she joins a genetic study. She wants to know why she doesn’t fit in with her accomplished family. The DNA results turn her world upside down. Her mother’s friend, Rani Parekh, may be the only one with the answers she seeks. Problem? The two friends haven’t spoken in many years.

The story takes readers from the United States to Mumbai, India and from the 1970s to today. I especially enjoyed learning the backstory of Vandy and Rani. As girls, they meet at age 12 when Rani has just arrived in the U.S. to live with her aunt after her mother’s death. She is eating French fries off the concrete in front of a fast-food restaurant when Vandy and her mother, also of Indian descent, recognize her need. Vandy’s family wrap Rani in love, treating her like family. The two girls become the best of friends, like sisters. Their friendship takes them into adulthood until something came between them 27 years ago.

Although avid readers will guess the conflict early on, the author takes us on an interesting journey through the past to show how the characters get to that point. It’s more about the journey than the secret.

Before reading Lies and Other Love Languages, be aware it has these possible triggers: infertility, pregnancy loss, infidelity, and loss of a spouse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book. The opinions are my own.

Other Recommendations

Do you enjoy books about friendships that form in childhood and continue into adulthood? Then you may also like The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey. See my book review here.

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@author.robin.shelley

September 7, 2023September 5, 2023

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews

It may seem early to talk Christmas, but Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews releases on September 26. Get your gifts bought early. Pre-order from your favorite store now! Yes, pre-ordering does make a difference! You could always go to Bookshop.org, a great place that supports Mom and Pop bookstores. (Hint. Hint.)

I loved Bright Lights, Big Christmas. If you want a feel-good Christmas story filled with making new friends, believing in yourself, finding love, and supporting family, this is it! Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a holiday hug ending with a satisfying sigh. I loved MKA’s last Christmas story, The Santa Suit, but this one is even better. You will not be disappointed!

SUMMARY

When Kerry Tolliver finds herself in-between jobs, she’s lost as to what’s next in life. She returns to her hometown in the North Carolina mountains where her father and brother run the Tolliver Christmas Tree Farm. Due to her father’s health issues, he can’t make the trip to NYC to sell the trees. Kerry steps in to help. She and her grumpy, older brother spend a month selling trees in a NYC neighborhood where their family has sold trees for decades. For a full month, they camp in a vintage (run-down) trailer next to the tree lot. The trailer is fondly called Spammy because of the canned ham shape. : )

Kerry discovers that the neighbors and shop owners already know and love her brother. Her family has developed community support and loyalty over the many years.

The story is about connecting with and caring for people. The community wraps the Tollivers in their love, and Kerry deeply connects with this group of quirky, lovable people. These neighbors care about each other. They check in on each other and help those in need. (I want this version of a NYC neighborhood to exist. I’ve never been there, so I’ll dream that it does.) Kerry especially gets involved in the lives of a divorced man and his son, and a mysterious older gentleman who gives her pointers on her drawings.

Think about your Christmas list. I’m sure you’ll find one copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas will not be enough for all your loved ones who would love this book. Check out my reviews on these other Mary Kay Andrews’s books: The Santa Suit, The Homewreckers, The Newcomer, and Sunset Beach.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Mary Kay Andrews and NetGalley for the ARC of Bright Lights, Big Christmas. The opinions are my own.

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@author.robin.shelley

August 31, 2023

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Do you want to hang on to summer a little longer? Try The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It will take you back to fond childhood memories of going to summer camp. Even if you never went to summer camp, you will enjoy this story of three women who became friends as children and create a bond that lasts into adulthood.

Camp Holly Springs has a special place in the hearts of these three women since they first met there at age six. They continued attending every year, even becoming camp counselors in their teens. Now in their thirties, they learn the camp is floundering after Covid. The girls kick into high gear to help save it. Otherwise, Daphne’s Aunt June will have no choice but to sell out to a developer. While the three friends devise and carry out plans to save the camp, the story is complicated by their personal lives.

Mary Stuart is getting married. The guest list includes her friends Daphne and Lanier, and Lanier’s brother, Huff. Daphne and Huff were “a thing” a long time ago, and Lanier would like it to stay that way. Could seeing each other at the wedding reignite the flame? After the wedding, Mary Stuart has time to put her PR/marketing background to use to help save the camp.

Lanier, a bookstore owner, is engaged, but she isn’t as excited about getting married to Bryce as she should be. She senses he isn’t telling her something. When the girls throw her a bachelorette party at the camp, Lanier runs into Rich, the owner of the neighboring boys’ camp AND her teenage crush. What will come of this temptation?

Before Lanier’s bachelorette party, Daphne, a lawyer, is put into an impossible situation. She knows Bryce has multiple lawsuits against him that will tarnish his professional reputation and financially destroy him. As a loyal friend, she should tell Lanier before she marries him, but telling her would lead to Daphne being disbarred. As a single mother, Daphne has a son to support. To top it off, seeing Lanier’s brother Huff at Mary Stuart’s wedding was . . . interesting. Unfortunately she knows Lanier isn’t the forgetting type when it comes to Daphne’s past struggles.

Harvey uses Lanier’s, Daphne’s, and June’s alternating POV, so it’s important to keep the characters straight. Mary Stuart doesn’t have her own POV chapters, probably because her life is the most stable. She’s an anchor for the others.

♥ What I loved ♥

*Camp Holly Springs reminded me of good times at the summer camp I attended as a child–the activities, the new friendships, and the sense of freedom.

*The entire story isn’t about the camp’s problems. Kristy Woodson Harvey included multiple complications going on in the lives of these women.

*Bryce’s poor decisions put Daphne into one of those situations where she just doesn’t have any good choices. That makes for great conflict.

*The women regularly sent each other emails asking the others to do the “hard things” for them. They each used their strengths to help in areas where their friends struggled.

*Daphne had a great plutonic relationship with her son’s daddy, even though they never married.

*A strong storyline revolved around one character who experienced a challenging childhood. She makes her own mistakes in her twenties but learns to overcome. This past struggle still taints a friend’s perspective of her today. Will this friend truly forgive and put the past in the past? Will she support her friend now?

This isn’t just a summer book. The Summer of Songbirds is a wonderful choice for the fall as well. Kick the leaves on the ground as you take a walk to the campfire. Sit down and relax to the crackling of the fire, watch the firefly embers float off into the night sky, and indulge in a S’more. Lose yourself in watching three friends navigate their personal problems while also trying to do good for the camp, Aunt June ,and the community.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey hit the New York Times Best Sellers list shortly after its release. It was also a Good Morning America buzz pick. Interested in other books by Kristy Woodson Harvey? Click on the title to go to other KWH book reviews I’ve written: The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, or if you’re interested in a series, The Peachtree Bluff series.

Also catch Kristy on the Friends and Fiction weekly podcast with co-anchors Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel. Every Wednesday at 7 PM the group talks about their books and interviews other authors with recent releases. It’s a great way to discover new titles and authors! Join in the fun by joining the Friends and Fiction Facebook group or go to their YouTube channel where you can watch live and catch up on older episodes.

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@author.robin.shelley

July 25, 2023July 13, 2023

Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Looking for a great summer beach read? I LOVED INDIGO ISLE by T. I. Lowe. It was light, fun and interesting while also wrestling with a few tough topics.

Summary

Sonny Bates is a successful Hollywood location scout. When a movie takes her near Charleston, close to her childhood home, she considers stopping in; however, this would mean dealing with the mistakes of her past. Fifteen years ago on graduation day, she left home without warning anyone. Since then, she’s struggled to make something of herself. Sometimes she stretched the truth about her life on social media so her family thinks she’s doing fine.

While on location, Sonny stumbles onto a secluded island off the coast of Charleston, perfect for a scene in the movie. A recluse, known by the locals as The Monster of Indigo Isle, owns the private island. He isn’t happy to find her on his property, and he certainly doesn’t want a film crew interrupting his privacy. Sonny isn’t deterred. It’s her job to get him to sign a release. And it’s what her boss expects from her. The question is, how much is Sonny willing to do to keep her job?

Hudson Renfrow, a lawyer by trade, has exiled himself on Indigo Isle, a family property. He is dealing with guilt from a trauma which somewhat disfigured him (The Monster of Indigo Isle). He spends his time tending his indigo fields and making indigo dye. Over many visits, Hudson begins to soften toward Sonny. When they are forced together during a hurricane, Hudson’s hardened demeanor shows some cracks.

Indigo Isle: What I Liked

-Sonny’s unique career give readers a behind the scenes look at the movie-making experience, both the good and the bad.

-This remote isle has a magical feel.

-Both characters have issues they need to work through. They give each other a much needed, different perspective on their flaws. As the characters work to improve themselves, it realistically takes time.

-Sonny sees through Hudson’s mask and realizes there is something special behind the gruff exterior. (Think Beauty and the Beast.) I thought it was funny that Hudson had her arrested for trespassing, but she kept coming back and wore him down.

-Learning about making dye from indigo plants was unique.

-Fun supporting characters round out the book, like Vee, the make-up artist who should be an actress, and Erlene, who owns the run-down motel where the crew is staying.

-Lowe includes a few Bible verses throughout the story. She makes great Biblical points for the characters without feeling threatening or preachy to non-Christians.

-There is simply something special about the FEEL of this book. It touches on some tough topics while staying light and intriguing.

Conclusion

Thank you, T. I., for helping me forget my troubles while I escaped to Indigo Isle. And readers, you really MUST pick up a copy of INDIGO ISLE by T. I. Lowe ASAP! Don’t let the summer slip away without getting your own copy.

T. I. Lowe is a best-selling Southern author and has written at least 18 novels. Check out the other books by her that I’ve reviewed: UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS (which you’ll like if you liked Delia Owen’s WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING) and the Carolina Coast series.

You probably know I’m a big fan of the Friends and Fiction group. Four best-selling authors – Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristy Woodson Harvey – interview several authors each week on their show. T. I. Lowe was on the June 21st episode. Here is a link to that episode on YouTube. If you want to watch the whole show, great! Or fast-forward to Lowe’s interview at 51:30.

You can tune in live to the Friends and Fiction’s podcast on Facebook or YouTube every Wednesday at 7 PM EST. On Facebook, join Friends and Fiction and watch live on their page, or search Friends and Fiction on YouTube and watch it live there. If you like it, subscribe! I tune in almost every week, but when I miss one, I watch the recording on YouTube. If you’re not watching yet, you’ll love becoming part of a supportive, friendly book community of authors and readers.

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@author.robin.shelley

General Fiction – Contemporary Fiction – Southern Fiction –

Christian Fiction – Book Club Fiction – Mystery – Art Elements

Mystery – Atmospheric/Lightly Gothic – Historical Fiction – Women’s Fiction

Book about Books – Spooky House – Australia – Family Secrets – Mother/Daughter Relationship

Romance – Contemporary Fiction with Historical References – Women’s Fiction

Jackson

Henry and Celeste

Kayla

Shelby and Jack

George and Lou

Rating

Order Your Copy

About the Author

General Fiction – Women’s Fiction – Summer Read – ’60s nostalgia – Rock ‘n’ Roll

My Thoughts

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ROAD TRIP by Mary Kay Andrews: a summer romp in Ireland with romance, Irish whiskey, family secrets, colorful characters, an art heist of an Irish aristocrat’s portrait, and two American sisters researching their ancestral ties to the subject of the painting.

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Contemporary Romance – Mystery – Romantic Suspense-

Family Drama/Secrets – Beach Read – Forbidden Love

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5 Star Recommendation

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THIS IS “TAKE 2” OF THIS BOOK REVIEW. MY APOLOGIES. I ACCIDENTALLY HIT PUBLISH BEFORE IT WAS FINISHED!

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