FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF By Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

Women’s Fiction – Contemporary Fiction – Southern Fiction –

Romance – Family Drama – Secrets – Series

Ready for fall? A crispness to the air. A pumpkin spice latte. A walk through the colorful leaves. Pumpkins and mums. Football games and fire pits. A cozy blanket while you read a good book. Then you’re ready for FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey, coming out today, Sept. 15, 2026. Happy book birthday!

Although this is book five in the Peachtree Bluff series, you can certainly jump into this one and enjoy it without having read the others. Kristy has done a skilled job of establishing the characters and situations for new readers and reorienting readers who have been away from Peachtree Bluff for a while. However, in my opinion, without reading the others, you’ll miss out on the depth of the story. It’s a family saga. If you jump into this one first, be forewarned that you’ll learn secrets that were revealed along the way in the other books, and you’ll end up wanting to read the rest of the series anyway!

The Book Series

If you haven’t read the series, why not? Start with SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE. Then follow up with THE SECRET TO SOURTHERN CHARM, THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF PARADISE, and CHRISTMAS IN PEACHTREE BLUFF. Finish off with this new one, FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF.

The series follows the Murphy family. Ansley’s first husband died in the 9/11 attacks, leaving her to pick up the pieces and raise their three daughters alone. She moves from NYC back to Peachtree Bluff, NC, to start again. Within the series, she marries again, but the relationship is, shall we say, complicated.

Through the series, eldest daughter Caroline is confident, organized, and strong, and the other sisters heavily rely on her. She’s going through a long divorce, struggling to fully let go. She’s also considering her daughter, Vivi, in all her decisions.

Ansley’s middle daughter, Sloane, who loves to paint, is a military wife. When her husband goes MIA in a previous book, she needs all the support she can get from her family. Youngest daughter, Emerson, is chasing her dream to become a successful actress. Each book intertwines several storylines of this close-knit family and the joys and trials they go through.

Book Summary

In FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF, Ansley is content. She’s living in the town and house that feel like home, and she’s enjoying being a mom, grandma, new wife, and business owner. Then rumors spread around town that her husband is involved in a decision she doesn’t agree with and that would change the town she loves. At the same time, as her husband experiences a taste of retirement, his need for fulfillment could lead him (and her) away from Peachtree Bluff.

The eldest daughter, Caroline, continues to straddle the line between marriage and divorce while running a store in NYC. Then she meets younger man, a famous actor, who is all about her, and her almost-ex decides to step up his game. Can we say love triangle?

Caroline’s daughter, Vivi, is now a teenager, struggling with emotions of her own—of first love and jealousy. She lives in NYC with her mom, but her long-term boyfriend lives in Peachtree Bluff. Can she handle her jealousy of the small-town girls who hang around him when she’s gone?

Middle daughter, Sloane, wants to get away from responsibilites of the family business to have more time for her baby that’s due soon and to paint. How much can she rely on her big sister? Can Caroline whip the contractors into shape so Sloane’s new house will be ready in time for the baby? After all, Caroline is also planning Emerson’s wedding.

Emerson, the youngest, is acting on a TV show that films in NYC. Her quickly approaching wedding, however, will be back in Peachtree Bluff. She also wants a baby, but that’s easier said than done. Could her older sister Caroline help out there as well?

My Thoughts

I loved returning to Peachtree Bluff and the Murphy family. It’s a cozy, coastal, small-town story. Even after the girls have grown up and left home, this town draws them back for frequent visits.

It’s been a while since I read the last book in the series. I shouldn’t have worried about remembering who’s who and their past stories. It didn’t take long to fall right back into the lives of this family.

The storylines were dramatic, yet sweet. I love the sister bond. They are in each other’s lives so much, but it’s all welcomed and helpful. It makes me wish I had a sister. (Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t trade my brother in for a sister. My brother’s great!) Back on track…It’s a story with warmth, humor, gossip, love of family, and Southern charm. The fall vibes in this small town with this family is special and alluring.

FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey felt like a satisfying way to wrap up the series. But is it, Kristy? (I know that was your intention, but you mentioned getting another idea for this family!) I’m always ready for more Murphys.

If you don’t know the Murphy family, you need to. You’ll FALL in love with them and enjoy the journeys they go through in life, both in NYC and Peachtree Bluff.

And I’ll start the request – boxed edition with sprayed edges, please!!

Rating

For me, returning to Peachtree Bluff and the Murphy family was nostalgic. I’ve spent hours with this family in previous books and fallen in love with their stories. I totally enjoyed this book, so I’d rank it a 5 out of 5. Perfect choice for a fall read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

Order Your Copy

FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey came out TODAY, September 15, 2026. You can get a copy just about anywhere books are sold, but I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. I’m an affiliate because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. I may received a small commission from your order, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! Win-win! You can order HERE. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE.

About the Author

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 of and co-anchor on the Friends and Fiction weekly podcast with novelists Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel. Every Wednesday at 7 PM ET these ladies talk books. They interview authors with recent releases and talk about their own upcoming books. 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 FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey, check out my past reviews of the other books in this series and other KWH books: The Peachtree Bluff series (review from 2023), SUMMER STATE OF MIND, BEACH HOUSE RULES, A HAPPIER LIFE, THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS, UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY, and FEELS LIKE FALLING.

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September 3, 2026September 2, 2026

Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS/MULTI-GENERATIONAL – MAGICAL REALISM – DARK ELEMENTS – ATMOSPHERIC – OLD MANSION – FAMILY SECRETS – SMALL TOWN SOUTHERN FICTION

PAPER GHOSTS by Sarah Addison Allen is a story about the search for love, the consequences and regrets caused by reactionary choices and actions, and how secrets follow us, impacting future generations. It revolves around cyclical family dysfunction.

Book Summary

Alice Wester, the matriarch of the founding family of Hen Town, North Carolina, has an unnerving knowledge of the sins of the people who live there, and she uses it to her advantage. When she whispers into someone’s ear, everyone knows she’s manipulating them through blackmail. But how does she know? Whether her “knowing” is a gift or a curse, the small community has nicknamed her the Witch of Wester House as a result of it.

The story begins in the mid-1970s with Alice and her granddaughter, Willamena. Alice is raising her granddaughter with an iron fist of control. The exception is that Willamena is allowed to choose her own friends. In high school Willamena is part of The Feathers (a group of girls who were the first in their school to feather their hair, a nice nod to the time period). Alice tries to control Willamena’s future, expecting her to take Alice’s place as she ages. Alice expects Willamena to stay in town after graduation, marry the man of Alice’s choice, live in the family mansion, and inherit the family money. Willamena falls for a travelling musician who represents a different life with freedom and adventure. She plans to run away with him…but Alice knows everything. The conflict between them escalates, and Willamena realizes her friends have betrayed her.

Years later, Willamena is now the matriarch, alone in her mansion, but with the same “gift” as her grandmother. After Willamena’s son graduated from high school, she sent him away to escape the trap of this small town. Unfortunately, when his wife dies, he’s left a single parent. Willamena agrees for him to come home with his five-year-old daughter, Bailey. Willamena keeps her distance, not wanting to repeat the actions of her grandmother. However, she does interfere by controlling Baileys’ circle of friends right away. She doesn’t want her to experience the betrayal she did. Bailey wants to know her elusive grandmother better, but she only sees her once a week for tea, even though they live in the same house.

Willamena has kept the secret behind her gift, not wanting Bailey to follow her path, but Bailey suspects she’s different. Bailey has a difficult time fitting in and ends up hanging on the edge of the mean girl group at school. Although she isn’t mean, she doesn’t stand up for anyone being targeted either. People leave her alone because her grandmother is the Witch of Wester House.

Bailey, who never dated, dreams of being in love. She makes a mistake on graduation night at a bonfire, setting off a series of traumatic consequences, not all of her own making. Her choices lead her into trouble when she discovers the boy she’s fantasized about is more like his reputation than the idea she created of him. The consequences of her mistake matched with her gift have the potential to be more of a true, dark curse, so her grandmother sends her away to protect her.

Bailey returns eight years later because her grandmother is ill. Bailey has questions she needs answered before it’s too late to ask. Her grandmother reveals she chooses to be tied to the house because of her first love. Bailey’s tie would be much darker, but Willamena has a plan to free her granddaughter.

My Thoughts

I’m a big Sarah Addison Allen fan, so I was excited to read the ARC of her newest book, PAPER GHOSTS. The story hooked me and kept me hooked. I devoured it in two days, which would have been one if I’d had more time. I love how she uses cozy, small-town settings but sprinkles in magical realism. She has a wonderful way with words, creating descriptions and comparisons that are often poetic and always observant. For example, she writes, “…she knew she wasn’t sophisticated, knew it the way you can know the meaning of a word but not how to pronounce it.” I even enjoy her little details like describing a car parked on the curb, “ticking as the engine cooled.”

I loved the first portion about Willamena growing up. However, I felt jarred when the story suddenly switched to Willamena being the grandmother. I wasn’t expecting the time jump. I was so involved in Willamena’s teen story and simply wanted more. After a bit, I connected with Bailey’s story and enjoyed it as well. Although Willamena’s story is tragic, Bailey’s adds a darker element. I kept reading, wondering about the “gift” and how these women know what they know. When the story finally disclosed the how, it made total sense (in a magical realism sort of way).

Willamena talks to Bailey about an old photo and tells her, “Photographs are paper ghosts. They’re the only ghosts everyone can see.” It wasn’t until I finished the book and considered that photos didn’t play a big role in the story that I looked at the quote again. It hit me that I needed to place the emphasis on the word ‘everyone.’ The explanation was right there the whole time, once I knew where to look. The book already explained the “gift,” but the quote made sense in a different way by the end.

These aren’t characters you’ll love to love, but they grow on you as you see why they make their choices based on their experiences. Sometimes you want to shake them and yell, “No! Don’t do that!” Friendship and the pursuit of love seem to create chaos and disaster in this family. So if you like a good family drama with a touch of the supernatural (without the scare factor), PAPER GHOSTS may be for you. Although it reaches toward gothic, it’s lighter than a true gothic tale.

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

PAPER GHOSTS by Sarah Addison Allen came out September 1, 2026. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. I’m an affiliate because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. I may received a small commission from your order, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! Win-win! You can order PAPER GHOSTS HERE. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE.

About the Author

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Sarah Addison Allen is the author of The Peach Tree Keeper, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, Lost Lake, First Frost, and more recently, Other Birds. This New York Times and USA Today bestselling author has brought Southern Magical Realism into the mainstream. Her novels dive into family dynamics with a supernatural slant while subtly showcasing her romantic, lyrical prose.

If You Like…

If you like the description of PAPER GHOSTS by Sarah Addison Allen, you may enjoy her other novels listed in the About the Author section above. Also, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: OTHER BIRDS by Sarah Addison Allen, THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer, THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young, THE KINDRED SPIRITS SUPPER CLUB by Amy Reichert, and MIDNIGHT at the BLACKBIRD CAFE by Heather Webber.

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July 7, 2026September 3, 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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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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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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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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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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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!

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@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

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

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

July 9, 2021

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.

Big 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.

If you’ve just stumbled upon my post, I hope you’ll take a minute to “like” it, comment, and sign up to get my future posts conveniently delivered directly to your email! Then come visit me on Instagram and Facebook!

Women’s Fiction – Contemporary Fiction – Southern Fiction –

Romance – Family Drama – Secrets – Series

About the Author

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS/MULTI-GENERATIONAL – MAGICAL REALISM – DARK ELEMENTS – ATMOSPHERIC – OLD MANSION – FAMILY SECRETS – SMALL TOWN SOUTHERN FICTION

About the Author

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

About the Author

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.

My Thoughts

About the Author

Book Summary

My Thoughts

About the Author

My Thoughts

<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-3329" src="https://i0.wp.com/robinshelley.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Harper-Ross-1.jpeg?resize=176%2C220&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="176" height="220" data-eio="l" />About the Author

Book Summary

5 Star Recommendation

About the Author

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

Book Summary

About the Author

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

My Thoughts

If You Like…

Robin’s Reviews 2025

Summary

If You Like…

Robin’s Reviews 2025

Summary

My Thoughts

If You Like…

Summary

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

Book Tour

Robin’s Rave Reviews<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1792" src="https://i0.wp.com/robinshelley.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/five-stars.png?resize=300%2C70&#038;ssl=1" alt="5 Stars" width="300" height="70" data-eio="l" />

Summary:

Robin’s Rave Reviews

About the Author

Robin’s Rave Reviews