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Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews


Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

5 Stars

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

Book cover of Road Trip by Mary Kay AndrewsMaeve 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

Author photo of Mary Kay AndrewsMary 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!

Friends and Fiction authors

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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Netgalley Professional Reader

 

 

 

 

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The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

Robin’s Reviews – 2026

Book Summary

Photo of The Book Witch, a novel by Meg ShafferTHE 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.

black open umbrella

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

Photo of author Meg ShafferMeg 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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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?

Image by Michael Treu from Pixabay.com

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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Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

5 Stars

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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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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The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

5 Stars

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!

Picture of the book cover of The Summer of You and Me by Denise HunterBook 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.

Photo of author Denise Hunter, author of The Summer of You and MeAbout 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!

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@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

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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.

Book cover for the novel Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith 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

Netgalley Professional Reader

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The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Robin’s Reviews 2025

Book cover for The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

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

Netgalley Professional Reader

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Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 5 Stars

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

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews book coverThis 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

Netgalley Professional Reader

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The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

Robin’s Rave Reviews5 Stars

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

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The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood

Robin’s Rave Reviews

If you like WWII historical fiction with a strong female protagonist, you should check out The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood that was just released on July 8.

The Clockmaker's Wife by Daisy WoodBig Ben, an icon known around the world, is a tourist must-see in London. During WWII Big Ben had an important job beyond telling the time. The nine o’clock chimes encouraged people to pray for peace during the Silent Minute that followed. It also rang in the BBC evening news listened to all over Nazi-occupied Europe. The author Daisy Wood stated, “The great bell represented freedom and better times to come; as long as it tolled, at least one country resisted oppression.” The Clockmaker’s Wife imagines what could have happened if Big Ben had been targeted by the enemy, but the fiction is surrounded by facts about London during WWII. Wood said, “…the loss of such a beacon of hope as the clock tower would have been a terrible blow to morale.”

DID YOU KNOW?  “Big Ben” isn’t the name of the clock nor the clock tower. It’s the name of the bell inside the clock.

This historical fiction is told through a dual timeline: 1940s in London and current day in both New York City and London.

LONDON:  In the war timeline the protagonist Nell is the wife of Arthur, one of a team of three that keeps Big Ben operational. Nell and baby Alice leave London to escape the bombings while Arthur stays behind to work. When Arthur is suddenly and inexplicably imprisoned, Nell returns to London to help get him released. Nell never questions her husband’s loyalty to his country, yet citizens were sometimes held with little proof of “working with the enemy” during the war. When Nell doesn’t make progress in helping him through traditional routes, she decides to investigate on her own. Her suspicions and questions lead her into dangerous territory.

NYC:  Baby Alice, now in her eighties, is recovering from hip surgery in a nursing home. During a visit, her daughter Ellie asks about Alice’s parents. Alice tells her that her father comes from a long line of clockmakers and that his job was working on Big Ben. Alice knows very little about her mother Nell since she was killed in the Blitz when Alice was only a baby. Since Alice’s father couldn’t bear talking about her, Nell was always a distant shadow to Alice. Ellie decides to bring the shadow into the light so her mom can know more about her mother before it’s too late. Ellie flies to London to uncover the truth about the kind of person Nell was and how she died. She discovers much more than she ever expected.

I like Nell’s character. A typical 1940s mother, perhaps, but when harsh circumstances hits her family, she steps up. She becomes a courageous woman putting her life at risk for her husband and her country. She develops into a much more interesting person than I was expecting. The story involving Nell is full of wartime intrigue.

I also like Ellie’s character. She recognizes that time passes too quickly and opportunities to learn about the past from those who lived it is limited. Also Ellie is a bridge between Alice and some broken family relationships. Doors had been closed for a long time that Ellie is able to reopen. 

Only a few things seemed weak to me. I would have liked to get deeper with Arthur’s character.  Also the love story of Ellie and Dan seemed a bit too quick, even though they’ve known each other for many years. Minor things, though.

Although this specific story is a work of fiction, I find myself wondering how many courageous stories from wars have been lost to time. I often think about the stories that get lost after just a few generations. Many of us are blessed enough to know at least some of our grandparents, but how often do we think to ask them about their younger lives? And when they pass, their stories, and the stories of their parents and grandparents, are lost. I know I regret not asking more questions of my parents and grandfather when they were still alive.

I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend that you don’t let your life events get lost. Your grandchildren and their children CAN know a bit about who you are, rather than just a shadow in an old picture. Take time to sit down with your children/grandchildren and tell them the stories. Don’t wait for them to ask. Too often they don’t see the value in those questions until it’s too late. Even if you aren’t an author, write down stories from your childhood and about your parents and grandparents along with your reflections on the significant events you’ve lived through. If you don’t want to write it, record it! Passing down a written document, video or voice recording will keep the stories more accurate rather than relying on the memory of others who didn’t live it. Everyone has experiences of value to share with the next generations. It’s your legacy.

Whether you buy or borrow, I hope you’ll come back and comment here after you’ve read The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood. And don’t forget to leave even a short review (like 5 stars) on places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, etc. If you love to read, please tell others about books and authors you love! If you like this book, check out the links to these WWII historical fiction books I’ve previously reviewed by Kristin Harmel:  The Winemaker’s Wife, The Book of Lost Names, and The Forest of Vanishing Stars.

Although I loved this book, after this review I’m taking a break from historical fiction to do some lighter reading this summer! Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC of The Clockmaker’s Wife. I have shared my honest opinion.

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