Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

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

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

Book Summary

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

Author Kristy Woodson Harvey — Kristy Woodson Harvey

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

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

If You Like…

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

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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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September 10, 2025August 6, 2025

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

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

Book Summary

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

If You Like…

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

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

July 2, 2025June 3, 2025

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

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

Book Summary

Isn’t that the octopus book?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

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

If You Like…

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

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

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June 5, 2025June 3, 2025

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

I

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

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

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

Book Summary

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

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

If You Like…

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

The Book of Lost Names

The Paris Daughter

The Forest of Vanishing Stars

The Winemaker’s Wife

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

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May 23, 2025June 3, 2025

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

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

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

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

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – Book Summary

“Good things happen at the lake.” – Nan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

If You Like…

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

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

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@author.robin.shelley

May 5, 2025June 3, 2025

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

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

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

Book Summary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

If You Like…

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

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

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@author.robin.shelley

April 21, 2025June 3, 2025

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

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

Book Summary

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

About the Author

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

If You Like…

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

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

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@author.robin.shelley

May 21, 2024May 9, 2024

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

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

Background

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

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

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

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

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

Summary

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

If you like…

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

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

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@author.robin.shelley

April 23, 2024April 3, 2024

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

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

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

Summary

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

Note About My Book Reviews This Year

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

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@author.robin.shelley

April 3, 2024

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

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

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

So let’s talk about SUMMERS AT THE SAINT!

Summary

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

Book Tour

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

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@author.robin.shelley

July 12, 2023July 7, 2023

Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2023

Step into nostalgic comfort in Good Hart, Michigan with FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman. Your summer pace will slow as you relax by the shores of Lake Michigan with BFFs Becky and Q. When you tire of the lake, take a drive through the picturesque Tunnel of Trees. Then head to the Very Cherry General Store to send a postcard. Or better yet, pick up a bakery goody or a sandwich . While there, say hello to Mary, the feisty octogenarian owner. And you don’t want to miss the annual Cherry Festival and Cherry Pit Spittin’ Championship. Did I mention Mary won when she was 15, back when women had never entered such an unladylike activity? In these parts she’s known as Cherry Mary, and no one has broken her record since 1958. Up for a try?

Summary

Cherry Mary is the third-generation woman to own the general store, but she doesn’t have a daughter to pass it down to. Her son and grandson aren’t particularly interested, either. But Cherry Mary still holds onto a prediction given to her in childhood – that another woman is destined to join the female line of store owners. Mary repeatedly sees a vision of four women in the distance walking toward her over the lake, reinforcing the prediction. Or is it simply a mirage? Mary was told it will take a lifetime to be fulfilled.

Becky just turned 40, the same day her long-time relationship crashed and burned. She feels unfulfilled in life after always making safe choices. Becky and her friend Q go on a Michigan vacation reminiscent of childhood summers with Becky’s grandparents. Becky sees herself fitting in at this lakeshore community. Just as Cherry Mary takes her under her wing, Mary’s grandson Ollie shows up. He’s changed his mind about the quirky town and old-fashioned general store, and he feels threatened by Becky. He wants to protect his grandmother from this stranger “taking advantage” of her.

FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN is about love, friendship, family (by blood and by choice), destiny, and the choices we make. It’s a story with heart and soul. Be prepared. You’ll want to book a trip to Michigan after you read it!

I only review books I would give a 4 or 5 star rating, for well-written, enjoyable books I would recommend. Just keep in mind, if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea from the description, then move on to my next book review. Perhaps this book is too slow paced for you, but that’s part of its charm. The author does a fabulous job conveying a small lake town struggling to keep life simple in a crazy world. The slow-paced summer days, the quirky people in the community, the general store as the hub of community life, the small-town festival – it’s cherry pie Americana at its best.

Interesting fact

Viola Shipman is a pen-name. The books are written by Wade Rouse, but he writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor her. He writes stories that take place in Michigan, his home state. I had the joy of meeting Wade at an author event back in June through the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Beyond the Book Jacket Speaker Series.

Check out review I did a few years back on another Viola Shipman book, The Heirloom Garden.

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@author.robin.shelley

September 21, 2022September 2, 2022

Spells for Forgetting By Adrienne Young

As fall descends upon us, I wonder – do the types of books you choose change with the seasons? Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young is a dark, romantic tale with mysterious atmosphere just right for this time of year! It’s a perfect choice for when you want to curl up with a good book, a blanket and a hot beverage of choice.

YA author Adrienne Young’s first adult novel takes us to the Pacific Northwest to a mystical island off the coast of Washington. Residents of the island’s small village have lived there for generations and are deeply steeped in folklore, superstitions, and traditions. Tourists visiting their apple orchard generate most of the islander’s revenue.

Synopsis

After fourteen years away, August returns to bury his mother’s ashes. His presence re-ignites suspicion and hatred from most of the island’s residents. For Emery, the high school sweetheart he left behind, August’s presence opens old wounds and brings conflicting feelings.

“There are spells for breaking and spells for mending. But there are no spells for forgetting.”

Fourteen years earlier, August and Emery are in love and secretly plan on leaving the island together the day after graduation. That is until the night Emery’s best friend Lily is found dead, and the apple orchard is set on fire. August is the suspect in the murder, but when no proof is produced, he and his mother leave the island.

Through multiple POV’s, we experience what happens between Emery and August now that he’s returned and see glimpses of the past that led up to that fateful night.

My Thoughts

After a few slow opening chapters, I found myself deeply invested in the characters. I wanted to follow this unresolved love story and murder mystery. It kept me guessing what really happened the night of the fire and Lily’s death, and the twists and turns kept me quickly turning the pages.

Magic and folklore is an underlying thread in the story, adding mystery and atmosphere; however, it felt underplayed. I wanted the book of magic spells and the ancient traditions to be a bigger part of the story.

This book is categorized as general fiction because it doesn’t fit neatly into only one genre. It’s part mystery/thriller, part fantasy/magic, and part romance. The publication date is set for Sept. 27, 2022. I rate Spells for Forgetting 4 stars since I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

If Spells for Forgetting sounds like a book you’d like, check out my reviews on these novels: Valley of the Moon , The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Gallant, and a lighter novel, The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.

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@author.robin.shelley

May 25, 2022

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Robin’s Rave Reviews

If you’ve been putting off reading Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, now is the perfect time to pick it up. The surfing scene in Malibu makes for a perfect backdrop for a great summer read. It’s a nostalgic, fictional story of rich and famous people behaving badly.

The Riva children, offspring of a famous father, are introduced as young adults in the novel: Nina, a surf model married to a tennis phenom; Jay, a world-renowned surfer; Hud, a surfer photographer; and Kit, the youngest, just finding her way into adulthood.

It’s 1983, and Nina is preparing to host an annual party in her Malibu home. Each year the party attracts movie stars, producers and directors, sports figures, tv anchors and other famous people. By page two, we already know this notorious party will lead to a fire that engulfs the Malibu coastline.

As we work toward that party in the story, we get glimpses into the current problems and secrets in the lives of the Riva children. We also dip into their past to see their parents’ rocky relationship, including their father’s abandonment of the family and their mother’s alcoholism. These kids had an all-around tough childhood, often leaving Nina, the oldest, to take adult responsibilities for her siblings while still a child herself. Hobnobbing with the rich and famous, having a famous dad, and living in Malibu doesn’t necessarily make for a happy, or easy, life. Readers will want to see these flawed, lovable characters find success and happiness.

Not only was I interested in the characters, but I was caught up in the increasing tension. Since the author dropped hints of all the drama that would find its way to the party, I couldn’t wait to get to that part. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the characters introduced at the party, but they also added to understanding this Hollywood culture. It was fun to see some names dropped of real people showing up for this fictional party.

Just as “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” is the environment of Reid’s book Daisy Jones and the Six (see my blog review here), it is in full force in this novel as well. Many of the characters are having (mildly described) sex, drinking heavily and doing lines of coke. (Giving you a heads up on that just in case that isn’t something you want to read.)

I really liked Daisy Jones and the Six, but I have to say, I liked Malibu Rising even more. The story flowed easily and naturally, and the characters came alive. I wanted to know how they would deal with the family drama between siblings and with their distant father.

Fun side note: If you’re a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid books, you may have noticed that Mick Riva, the famous father in Malibu Rising, also appears in two of Reid’s other books, Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Happy reading this summer!

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@author.robin.shelley

December 9, 2021December 9, 2021

Christmas Time

Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer.

Ok, be honest. Did the song from the Charlie Brown Christmas animation start swirling through your head? If not, slow down. Go back and read the first line again.

You can thank me for the earworm. Maybe you need to put on some holiday music in the background while you read this. Go ahead. I’ll wait….

I love the Christmas season, especially the reason for the season. I love how we spend so much time and energy in welcoming the birth of one special child. The lights go up inside and out. The tree gets decked out. (We have a tradition of putting a shiny red present under the tree as soon as the tree is up. It’s really an empty box, but seeing it under the tree every year is a reminder that Jesus is the most precious gift.)

We set up our special Christmas village in the family room. I get to send Christmas cards, often to people I haven’t see lately. It’s nice to reconnect. Christmas music streams through the house and in the car. (Not too early, please. I’m in the ‘It’s ok after Thanksgiving’ camp.)

Gifts get wrapped. Cookies are baked and decorated. Plans are made with friends and family to get together. So much to do, but it really is the most wonderful time of the year! Maybe all the prepping is why I haven’t posted a blog recently. Well, that and I’m deep into editing my second book. (More on that another day.)

Traditions

If you take a moment to think about it, most families have traditions during the Christmas season. Another special one for us is the chocolate cake. In the one pictured here, it was my daughter-in-law’s idea to use the mini candy canes and to sprinkle crushed peppermint. Doesn’t it look cute? (You won’t tell about my secret mishap, right Amber?)

I know. As if all the cookies and candy aren’t enough! But this cake is special. It’s a birthday cake for Jesus. We light candles and sing happy birthday to Jesus. We started this tradition when our children were little. Now we have grandkids joining in on our tradition.

What’s a favorite holiday tradition in your family? Let me know in the comments!

Christmas time is here! I wish a merry Christmas to you and all those you love.

October 18, 2021December 9, 2021

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Robin’s Rave Reviews – Christmas 2021 Edition

Lucy wanders into a wardrobe and walks out into the wintery forest of Narnia. Here, at the lamppost, a faun named Mr. Tumnus invites her to tea.

Does this bring back fond memories of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Then check out Once Upon a Wardrobe coming out tomorrow, Oct. 19, 2021. Patti Callahan dives into the early life of C. S. Lewis through her new fictional story.

The world knows Lewis as the author of the Narnia series (starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, and many others. Callahan’s interest in C. S. Lewis and his wife Joy Davidman led her to research and write her 2018 book, Becoming Mrs. Lewis. (Click link to go to my book review.) Callahan returns to her expert knowledge of C. S. Lewis’ life in her new book, Once Upon a Wardrobe. Lewis fans will enjoy learning more about his early life – of family, boarding schools, college, and military service. Through this new novel, Callahan questions where an author’s idea comes from, the same question I’m sure many of us have had.

Once Upon a Wardrobe

Shortly after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’s release, it captivates George, a young boy with a terminal heart condition. Megs, his sister studying physics at Oxford, would do anything to make George’s life better. When George wants Megs to ask Mr. Lewis where Narnia came from, she musters up the courage to approach the famous author. Lewis doesn’t give her a straight answer. Instead, he tells Megs stories about his life. Soon she is visiting C. S. (Jack) and his brother (Warnie) regularly, each time listening to stories to report back to her brother. Although there are shadows of potential connections in Jack’s experiences, can even the author pinpoint where his creative idea came from?

Callahan brilliantly weaves the fiction (of George and Megs) with the facts (of Jack and Warnie). She creates such a magical connection between Lewis, Megs, and George, readers will begin believing Megs really talked to Jack. Once Upon a Wardrobe challenges us to wonder at the spark of creativity, open our minds to both the logical and the fanciful, and see how the power of a story can transform us.

*Note: You will have a better reading experience if you’ve read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from the Narnia series at some point in your life, but it isn’t absolutely necessary.

Consider purchasing through bookshop.org. They help independent bookstores survive through every on-line purchase you make.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advance reader copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe. The opinions are my own.

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October 14, 2021October 14, 2021

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Looking for a Halloween read but don’t like gory or scary? This is it! I picked up The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert when I was looking for a quick, light read. I got so much more than I expected with this rom-com!

Sabrina’s job situation forces her to return to her hometown at the Wisconsin Dells. The best job Sabrina can find is as a tour guide on the duck boats. To make her current situation worse, her boss is one of the girls who bullied her in high school who also happens to be engaged to Sabrina’s old boyfriend.

Living back in her childhood home is bad enough, but Sabrina also has to face ghosts. Real ghosts. The women in her family are magnets for spirits who have unfinished business and need help to move on. Whenever a ghost insists on her help, Sabrina appears to talk to herself. This was the cause of being bullied in high school.

The fun begins in the very first scene when a fight breaks out at a waterpark. A super-sized margarita flying through the air hits Sabrina. That’s when Ryan, the love interest, enters the scene. (How could I not be hooked with an opening like that?!) Sabrina never expects to see Ray again, but she keeps bumping into him. Ray moved to town to help his uncle with his supper club. When his uncle dies, Ray’s parents inherit the restaurant. He needs to make this restaurant work so they won’t sell it. Otherwise, he’ll have to return to NYC and his controlling parents.

Sabrina has a long-time friend in Molly, a spirit who can’t complete her unfinished business. Her presence causes awkward, humorous moments. On top of that, Sabrina is also navigating the deceased uncle who has unfinished business and his nephew who is romantically interested in her. While Ray pursues Sabrina, she attempts to hide the odd behaviors that got her ostracized in school. Readers are entertained with humor and joy as Sabrina learns that her “curse” may actually be a gift.

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club is an enjoyable read if you need something light and fun. You may find yourself wanting to visit the Dells, take a duck boat tour, and try out the cheese curds at the supper club!

Click here to learn more about the author. If you like this book review, check out my other reviews on my blog here.

September 7, 2021December 9, 2021

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews – Christmas 2021 Edition

It may seem early, but The Santa Suit, a heart-warming Christmas novel, comes out September 28. It can be pre-ordered now. (Remember: buying a new book through pre-order or the first week of publication is the most helpful to an author.) The Santa Suit would make a great gift – even for yourself! Too busy to read during the holidays? No problem. The Santa Suit is a light, easy read with a Hallmark movie feel (but less predictable). You might just find the holiday stress slipping away while you read.

After her divorce Ivy moves to a small town and into an old farm house she bought sight unseen. Ezra, her hunky realtor, helps her fix immediate problems in the house leading to sparks of romantic interest. Meanwhile, when clearing out items the previous owner left behind, Ivy finds an old Santa suit with a child’s note in the pocket. Ivy wants to solve the mystery of who the girl was and if her Christmas wish was fulfilled. This curiosity connects her to the small town community and culture right at Christmas-time while she makes new friends and reconnects others who have lost touch.

I have to admit, when I got the advanced reader copy, I wasn’t really in the mood to read a Christmas story in September, but I got sucked in right away. The Santa Suit feels Christmas-y without being cliché. Every time I read a Mary Kay Andrews book, I’m in awe at how it flows so naturally. (MKA’s writing expertise makes it look easier than it is.) MKA’s characters always feel real and relatable. She masterfully ties up loose ends I didn’t even realize were loose, tying everything together like a pretty Christmas bow on a special package.

If you like Mary Kay Andrews, take a moment to read my review on The Newcomer, the book she wrote before The Santa Suit.

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.

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