The Spellshop

This cozy fantasy is perfect for someone who just wants a magical story featuring kind people doing their best to help. It’s low-stakes and features a diverse array of magical creatures. The main character is a librarian turned jam shop owner who dabbles in magical remedies to help her neighbors. Simply delightful.

Until Next Summer

All the things you loved as a kid at camp and now getting to experience it as an adult. Say no more! What a sweet friendship and romance book. You remember all the camp songs and pranks that happen and get to relive while reading this cute book.

The Lost Tomb

An intriguing collection of articles written by the author regarding murders, bones and burials. There is the Monster of Florence, a still unidentified serial killer. Lost skiers in Siberia that appeared to be killed by aliens. Bones from the Clovis, believed to be the first humans in North America and their hunting skills. My favorite was the excavation of a massive tomb in the Valley of the Kings that supposedly houses the sons of Ramesses the Great. It has over 150 rooms so far, but not burial remains have been found. It is estimated that it will takes decades to fully explore.

And Then There Were None

This classic from the queen of mystery does not disappoint. I have read it before but the reread was still satisfying. The tension and the moral questions help to keep the pages turning. I also recently learned that Christie staged it as a play with a few changes to the plot.

The Witch's Heart

This book is stunning. A mythic retelling of the end of days in Norse mythology, but so much more. The relationships are complex, and heartbreaking, and yet there is so much happiness and forgiveness mixed in. The respect for oral tradition and storytelling makes this a great read for any book lover.

The Book Of Two Ways

This novel explores the concepts of fate vs. free will and how we determine our destiny through our choices. It is heavy on quantum physics and Egyptian mythology as the main character navigates her way through her doubts about her own life and the choices she has made. Dawn is a wife and mother who feels the pull of her past life as a graduate student in Egypt. Her choices have an intense ripple effect on those she loves. Not her best but classic Picoult writing and research.

Murder on Mustang Beach

A cozy mystery master set on the Outer Banks with wild horses and a bride groom murder to be solved. Callie Padget works in a bookstore on Cattail Island and becomes involved in search to find the murderer. She is trying to clear her boyfriend to be who has become a murder suspect. She also becomes involved in the mystery of a missing pregnant horse who is about to give birth. Lots of twists in this one and a beautiful setting in a beach town with a wild horse sanctuary.

The True Love Experiment

I loved this book more than anything I’ve read in a while. The ending was pretty predictable from the beginning, but I don’t care. Fans of Romance Novels and The Bachelor will adore this book. Christina Lauren is such an enjoyable author to read.

The First Ladies

Beautiful story of friendship between two women from completely different backgrounds but shared world views. This book of historical fiction imagines the friendship forged between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLead Bethune at a time of deep segregation, and how they worked together for common goals over the span of several decades.

Playing With Fire

Julie is a violinist who finds a piece of music in an antique shop that no one has ever heard before. As she tries to find the composer of the music she discovers it leads back to Venice right before WWII and the tragic story of its composer. I liked the mystery and how the truth was uncovered bit by bit.

All Your Perfects

Part of the Hopeless series. This may be my favorite book by Colleen Hoover. It was gut-wrenching at times. I cried a lot and could relate to the infertility issues that the couple faced. It was raw, honest and gave me a lot to think about in life. I am excited to read the last book in the series since this was left on a cliffhanger. Wonderful book on its own too.

The Ministry Of Time

The Ministry of Time is historical fiction meets science fiction meets romance. The characters are lovable, the writing is compelling, and there’s some fun time travel elements. The first half does lots of character building and the last half is much more fast paced. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

A Fall of Marigolds

I love a book that switches between a more modern/present day story and one of the past. Meissner does a good job telling the stories of two women and a scarf that enters their lives leading to important changes. It was a touching story and my first by this author.

One Perfect Couple

This is a great atmospheric thriller. It is a must read for fans of reality tv. The book combines elements of the tv shows Survivor, Love Island, and And Then There Were None. It has some surprising twists. I highly recommend this fabulous author. I am eagerly awaiting her next novel.

The Summer Swap

Author Sarah Morgan has provided us with yet another amazing beach read! Three generations head to a long abandoned family cottage after suffering a loss. The cottage itself is not just a secret but many other secrets are revealed after spending time together there. A story that reminds us how the truth always finds a way and can set you free, in more ways than one.

Ninth House

I loved this book - its a slow burn with murder, intrigue, scathing criticism of privilege and class, barely any romance, but tons of platonic love; and ends with a cliffhanger so of course I picked up book 2! The story was unforgiving, yet honest, in its depictions of violence.

Beach Read

I couldn’t put this book down! As I continued to read I was instantly sucked into the story , relating to “January “ the main character in many ways. This was the perfect mix of family secrets, fun and romance. 10/10!

James

This is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told by Jim's perspective. It's so cleverly done and offers new perspectives on everything readers of the original story knew to be true. It's good as a stand alone read, but I'd encourage people to read the original to truly get a sense of what Everett was able to achieve.

Just for the Summer

What I thought was going to be your average rom com had much more depth. Characters that struggled with trauma from their past and changing family structures, this book had me both smiling and in tears. I loved to see the main character break the cycle.

Death of a Spy

After author MC Beaton passed away, her friend carried on writing mysteries featuring her beloved characters. Usually this does not go well but this was an entertaining cozy mystery. Hamish, Elsbeth, Pricilla, Sons, Lugs and more return. Espionage in the Scottish Highlands with a local crime spree to keep things moving. Not the same as a real MC Beaton Hamish Macbeth but pretty good nonetheless.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby

Smart and sly this page turner sets us into motion with a murder, aristocratic intrigue and the mesmerizing story of a Surrealist painter and her masterpiece through time, keeping the reader entertained until the last page.

Rogue Island

Great read if you like a good noir mystery. The story centers around fires being set in a neighborhood with a tenacious investigative reporter who is compelled to figure out what is going on. Woven into the story is a great background of Rhode Island and the decline of printed newspapers.

Razorblade Tears

This is a very well-plotted crime story that integrates a lot of contemporary social themes and issues, including racism, classism, and homophobia, among others, as the story unfolds and “who-done-it” is revealed. A few plot twists enliven the tale and keep the reader guessing. Expect some gruesome scenes.

The Wide Wide Sea

History of Captain Cook's fourth circumnavigation of the globe, Called out of retirement, he was charged with finding the Northwest Passage from the Pacific Ocean as opposed to the Atlantic. Very detailed.