An Infinite Love Story
by Chanel Cleeton
Compelling Story (4/18/2026)
This was the perfect book to read as Artemis II was just launched to journey to the moon. The story begins in 1960's with the space race. It is a beautifully written story of Joe and Vivian's love for one another. Joe always wanted to be an astronaut while. I Ian wanted him to have a nice safe job.
When Vivian learns that Joe's spacecraft is lost in space, it is her worst nightmare. She receives mysterious messages that she knows only Joe would send, I loved the science fiction element of this book. I would have liked more. I also enjoyed reading about the astronauts wives and the struggles they had . I just loved Joe and Vivian's love story. It is a book not to miss
The Favorites: A Novel
by Layne Fargo
Captivating (2/22/2026)
This was an amazing book to read while the Winter 2026 Olympics was going on. As I watched the skaters glide on the ice, I recalled what was happening in my book.
This is a captivating story of Katarina Shaw and Heath Roca, childhood sweethearts. They had to fight hard to obtain their dreams. It was a very competitive world filled with drama, jealousy and scandal.
The story is told and with two alternating narratives. Kate’s journey told in her words and the second narrative with interviews from various people of the skating world.
The writing just draws you in to the ups and downs of Kat and Heath as they compete for the title. It is a real page turner as a tragic event brings their world to an end.
Ten years later an unauthorized documentary is released about what happened, forcing Kat to tell her story.
I just loved this story.
More Than Enough: A Novel
by Anna Quindlen
Beautiful Story (2/11/2026)
This is a beautiful story about relationships, with wonderful characters.
Polly a high school teacher had a lot going on. She had a wonderful group of friends in her book club, even though they never read the books. She had a wonderful husband, but suffered from infertility. Her father had dementia and she had a strained relationship with her mother. Her book club gave her a DNA test as a joke. The results were not what she expected.
Anna Quindlen Writing really captures Polly with all the difficulties in her life. I loved how supportive her husband Mark was. I just felt it had a lot going on for such a short book. It is a character driven book that you will not forget.
I just loved the ending.
Fireflies in Winter
by Eleanor Shearer
Beautiful Story (2/3/2026)
This is a beautifully written novel about two women fighting for survival in the woods in Nova Scotia. It is so very cold in Nova Scotia when Cora arrives from Jamaica. She is an orphan but was free in Jamaica. What will become of her in this new world?
She meets Thursday an indentured servant and a girl named Agnes living in the Wilderness.
This is a wonderful character driven story. The writing just drew me in. The descriptions of wilderness were breathtaking. I just loved reading this book. It was a story of history that I knew little about. The story begins with a trial in 1798 which the author kept bringing you back too. It made the story mysterious. It is a compelling read. Perfect winter time book.
I have not had the opportunity to read this authors previous book, but will definitely read it now.
Thank you to Book Browse and Berkeley Publishers for this advanced readers copy through NetGalley.
Watching Over Her: A Novel
by Jean-Baptiste Andrea
Beautiful Story (1/4/2026)
I just loved this book, Mimo a famed sculptor lays on his death bed and reveals his life story. He lived with the the monks for over forty years, never revealing who he was.
Mimo’s real name was Michangelo Vitaliani. He was born a dwarf and lived an impoverished life. He was often bullied about his size. No one thought he would become a famous sculptor. He meets Viola Orsini, the only daughter of a powerful and dangerous family. Viola and Mimo are drawn together, they are meant to be. But they can never really be together.
Mimo strives to be an artist, Viola has her own agenda They are drawn apart sometimes for years but there love will never die. This is a beautiful written story of star crossed lovers. The prose is just exquisite.
A very engaging story.
Cape Fever: A Novel
by Nadia Davids
Beautiful Historical Novel (11/15/2025)
Cape fear is a book that has a little bit of everything. A gothic setting in a dilapidated house, mystery, and ghosts. It is perfect for this time of year. This book is set in South Africa in the 1920s. The main character is Soraya, who is a young Muslim woman. She is employed as a maid to an English woman. Mrs. Hattingh lives alone in the house. Her son is away in London.
Soraya has a fiancé who she misses very much. Mrs. Hattingh assumes Soraya is uneducated. She pretends not to be able to read or write. Mrs. Hattingh offers to write letters to her fiancé, Noor. She reads the letters to Soraya that she writes to Noor and his correspondence. She never lets Soraya see the letters. Mrs. Hattingh is a very manipulative woman, and doesn’t let Soraya leave her home.
Soraya is a well developed character. You can feel her pain. Mrs. Hattingh is a woman of privilege and has power over Soraya as she knows Soraya needs this job. She is a very lonely woman. You almost feel sorry for her as she waits for her son to return.
This is a slow moving novel that is beautifully written. It is intricately woven with historical facts and fantasy. There are also secrets to be discovered.
Dandelion Is Dead
by Rosie Storey
Beautiful Debut (10/2/2025)
This is a book that just draws you in from the cover. It is a story about love, grief and deception. Dandelion is a beautiful person who looks out for her little sister Poppy. Poppy is devastated of Dandelion's death. She lived in her shadow all her life. She discovers Dandelion's phone and an unanswered message from a man named Jake. She contacts him pretending to be her sister. One lie leads to another. She really likes Jake, but she has a boyfriend who's looking for marriage.
This is a beautifully written story. Poppy's grief to meet Jake on the anniversary of her sisters birthday is mesmerizing. But Jake is also grief stricken as his marriage is falling apart. Sounds like a match made in heaven. But will the truth be known. "Oh what a tangled web, we weave, when we practice to deceive" It is a compelling story about grief and how we hold onto it. A wonderful debut novel.
Thank you to Book Browse and NetGalley and Berkeley Publishers for this advanced readers copy.
Buckeye: A Novel
by Patrick Ryan
Sweeping Novel (9/2/2025)
Two strangers meet have an innocent kiss as they hear of the end of World War II. So the story begins in a small town in Ohio. Cal Jenkins was unable to serve in WWII because of one of his legs was shorter than the other. He marries Becky who becomes a spiritualist, who can communicate with the dead. We meet Margaret who had a very difficult childhood going from one foster family to another.
She marries Felix Salt who serves in the Navy. She receives a telegram that her husband’s ship has been attacked in the Philippines. This is a sweeping novel of two families facing the turmoil of two wars and dealing with everyday life. Beautifully written with well developed characters. This story will just draw you in to the atmosphere of a small town. It is a captivating story of love, loss and grief. This story will stay with you for a long time.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.
The Names: A Novel
by Florence Knapp
Amazing Debut (8/12/2025)
This is a beautiful debut novel. The premise of this book is can a name define who you will be?
Have you ever judged a person by a name? Maybe you knew someone by that name and didn’t like them.
What is in a name? We are going to find out.
Cora is abused wife and sets out to register new newborn son. She is told by her husband that his name is to be Gordon, named after himself. But what if Cora wants to name him something else? Cora doesn’t want to name her son Gordon, She likes the name Julian. Her daughter Miaia likes the name Bear like a soft cuddly bear.
This book spans 35 years with three alternate names and versions of their lives. Each has different outcome.
It is a very unique book beautifully written. Each chapter is written about her son with a different name and time period.
A real thought provoking book. Highly recommended.
Real Americans: A Novel
by Rachel Khong
Compelling Saga (4/15/2025)
This is the story of three generations of the Chen Family. The first part is told by Lily who was born in the US on Long Island, NY. Lily starts out as an unpaid intern in 1999 and meets Matthew who wines and dines her. Matthew is an heir to a huge pharmaceutical company. Lily’s parents were scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. She falls in love with Matthew and they marry, but something is not right.
She discovers a devastating secret. It was a game changer.
In the second part 2021 we meet Nick, Lily and Matthew’s son. He is living on in isolated island in Washington State, with his mother. Lily divorced Matthew and ran as far as she could from him and his family. Nick never knew his father. He does a DNA test to find his father. He finally connects with him. He discovers that he looks exactly like his father. He can’t understand why his mother kept him from his father all these years. Matthew what's to be part of Nick’s life. Can Nick adjust to Matthew’s life style?
Part three is May’s story. She tells of her life in China during the Revolution. How she became a bio genetics scientist.
She did extensively research which she brought with her when she escaped from China. May is Lily’s mother. Nick has never met her. He was told she was dead. This was the most interesting part of the book it brings the other two stories together. This is the compelling story filled with secrets. It was very well written. I just would have liked to have known more. What happened to Matthew and Lily? This book is about race, science, relationships and betrayal. May’s story was the heart of the book as it pulled it all together.
Nesting: A Novel
by Roisín O'Donnell
Emotional Read (3/13/2025)
This is a heartfelt story of a young woman trying to make a better life for her children.
Ciara Fay is dealing with emotional and verbal abuse very day of her life. She has finally had it. Her home is not a safe place for her two young daughters. She grabs the clothes on the outside clothes line and packs a few things and hurriedly gets her children in the car before they are discovered missing. But where will she go she has no plan. She has little money and no one to help her. Her mother and sister live in England.
On the outside her husband Ryan, looks like the perfect husband and doting father., but on the inside he is abusive and controlling. He keeps Ciara in isolation from her family and friends.
Ciara tries to flee to England to visit her mother and sister but is stopped by security as there are blocks on the children’s passports. She cannot bring them out of Ireland.
With no place to go Ciara experiences the broken housing system in Ireland. They sleep in the car until they find an emergency hotel room to go to. Ciara hopes this is temporary and she can get a rental very soon. She is on a list for housing but no one ever calls. Meanwhile Ryan finds her and threatens her if she doesn’t return his children to him.
This is an emotional read to say the least. It was heart pounding. Roisin O’Donnell does a marvelous job portraying the fear and hopelessness of the situation. I was cheering Ciara on the whole time. This is a book you will not be able to put down.
In the author’s acknowledgements she states “to anyone trapped in a place that doesn’t feel like home, and anyone who has asked the question why don’t you just leave. This is the book for you. “
Wonderful book club read
Maya & Natasha: A Novel
by Elyse Durham
Compelling (2/12/2025)
A compelling debut novel. This is the story of twin sisters, born in Russia. Daughters of a famed prima ballerina, who has an untimely death. Their mother‘s friend takes the girls in. They are raised to be ballerinas. They enter the Vaganova Ballet hoping to follow in their mother’s footsteps.
They both want to dance with Kirov and tour America. A new law is enforced by the Kremlin, not allowing family members to travel abroad at the same time for fear of deflection. The Kirov can only choose one sister. Who will they choose and who will remain in Russia? Maya and Natasha have always been very close. Their relationship is tested as one sister betrays the other.
This is the heartbreaking story of sisters love and betrayal. It is a captivating novel with vivid descriptions of the Soviet Union and the United States relationship during the Cold War. I loved learning all about the history of ballet. A heart wrenching story.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
by Chanel Cleeton
Captivating Story (2/6/2025)
Loved this story. This is a beautifully written heartfelt novel. It is written in three timelines.
1900 Eva is a teacher who is offered the opportunity to travel to Hartford University for the summer. It is part of a cultural exchange program. Eva has been trying to write a novel for years.
1966 Pilar is a librarian during the Castro era. Life is not safe there. Her husband is arrested and Pilar fears for her life. A neighbor fleeing Cuba gives her a book to return to its author.
2024 Margo is hired to find a book written over 120 years ago, which is missing. This is story is all about one book.
These three storylines are intriguing woven together. This is a book I could not put down. I learned so much about Cuba. I have previously read some of this authors other books and have enjoyed them all. Her writing is compelling. If you enjoy Historical Fiction you will enjoy this book.
Babylonia: A Novel
by Costanza Casati
Captivating (1/13/2025)
This is a beautifully written story of Semiramis, a motherless child who becomes Queen of the Assyrian Empire. Semiramis becomes an orphan, when her mother takes her own life. She is adopted by a shepherd, Simmas, but is mistreated. Eventually Semiramis grows into a young woman and decides to leave the village, before she is forced into marriage.
Semiramis meets Onnes and finds a way for a better life. Onnes is the illegitimate half brother of King Ninus .She quickly marries Onnes. Semiramis convinces Onnes to train her as a warrior. This is unheard of, but she must fight for what she wants.
The writing of this book was breathtaking, with vivid descriptions of time and place.
I was transported to another world.
The characters were well developed. I loved Semiramis love hate relationships with Onnes and King Ninus. There was love, loyalty and betrayal. This book was intriguingly woven with facts and myths. It is a captivating read you won’t be able to put down, Don’t miss it.
The Briar Club: A Novel
by Kate Quinn
Captivating Story (1/10/2025)
Thanksgiving 1954, Briarwood House, Washington D.C. “If these walls could talk well, they are certainly listening.” Briarwood house is an old boarding house for women only. It has seen three wars, ten presidents, and countless tenants. But never a murder.
There are a cast of characters, all with a story to tell and their own secrets.
Grace March is the newest tenant and the heart of the story. She hosts dinner parties every Thursday night in her tiny room. All these women have are hot plates to cook with.
My favorite character was Nora, a policeman‘s daughter in love with a gangster. Bea was a delight learning about the all women baseball team she was on. Each chapter is devoted to one of the characters. This book focuses on the friendship these women had and how they became a family. There are many issues of the 1950s, including McCarthy politics and the changing roles of women.
This book is well written and researched. I also loved the recipes. A captivating story.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
by James McBride
Compelling Story (11/30/2024)
This is a beautifully story. It is set in 1930’s in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in a dilapidated neighborhood called Chicken Hil. Jewish immigrants and Afro Americans live there together.
The story starts in 1972 when a skeleton is found in an old well along with a mezuzah . Whose body did this skeleton belong to and what happened?
This book has a cast of characters which I felt at times was hard to keep up with.
The heart of the story is Chona a Jewish woman who owns the Heaven and Earth Grocery store. She encourages her husband to have black performances at his theater for the black people to enjoy. This community gets along very well with one another.
This is a compelling story of race, ethics and a strong sense of community. These people stood together when things went wrong and helped one another
Very well written book.
Like Mother, Like Mother: A Novel
by Susan Rieger
Beautiful Story (10/31/2024)
This is the story of three generations of very strong women. This is a complicated story, the characters are well developed each with their own story to tell. Is a thought-provoking novel that will get you thinking about motherhood. Would you follow the path? Perfect book for book clubs.
Lila Is abandoned by her mother who is put into an institution when Lila is a young child. She is left in the care of her abusive father and grandmother.
Later, she is told by her father that her mother has died. Lila never saw her mother after she was institutionalized.
Lila becomes a journalist. She marries her college sweetheart, and has three children. She wants a career, and is not around much for her children. Grace, her youngest child resents this very much and wishes she would spend more time at home. Grace writes a book about her mother and investigates about what happened to her grandmother Zelda.
This is a beautifully written book about family dynamics. It is at times humorous and emotional. Highly recommended.
Thank you NetGalley, Random House for this invitation to read this arc copy of this book. I truly enjoyed it.
The Rose Arbor: A Novel
by Rhys Bowen
Historical Fiction Mystery (8/9/2024)
I haven’t read many books by Rhys Bowen but this one was very intriguing. It is very well written in two time lines. A tale of mystery, suspense and secrets that kept me turning the pages.
1968 London, Liz Houghton is a newspaper reporter, when a young girl goes missing.
This could be her big chance of getting back to the newsroom after being assigned as an obituary writer. Her roommate Melissa is a police officer. If she could just get the scoop she could redeem herself. She follows Melissa to the village Tydeham, which was requisitioned by the military during WWII and left in ruins.
They discover that during this time children were evacuated from this area. Three children also went missing. One was murdered, the other two were never found.
Is there a connection to the current case? While walking through the ruins Liz has memories of being in this village before. But why, she never lived near this place.
She questions her parents but they have no answers. Liz needs to seek the truth.
I love this multilayered story filled with mystery and suspense that kept me guessing. This was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more novels by Rhys Bowen.
The Frozen River: A Novel
by Ariel Lawhon
Inspirational Historical Fiction (7/9/2024)
This book is inspired by the real diary of midwife Martha Ballard in the 18th century in Hallowell, Maine. She kept a diary of recorded births and deaths and daily activities.
In 1789 Martha as a trained midwife is summoned to examine a body and determine cause of death, of a body found in the frozen Kennebec River. She determines that the body was battered and bruised with broken bones and a mark around the neck. She proclaims that this body was murdered. As she is doing her examination she is dismissed by a doctor. His opinion of the death of Joshua Burgess is accidental drowning.
There is a trial that takes place which Martha must attend but only in the presence of her husband. Martha’s diary has notes of a rape that the deceased may have been involved. Women had no real say in anything then. Martha wanted to seek the truth and find justice no matter what.
Martha’s story is intriguingly woven. It is a gripping tale filled with historical facts and fiction. This is a book you will not be able to put down.
Highly recommended.
The author notes at the end of the book are not to be missed.
Also: Martha Ballard is the great aunt of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. She is also the great-great grandmother of Mary Hobart one of the first female physicians.
West with Giraffes: A Novel
by Lynda Rutledge
Wonderful Adventure (6/16/2024)
This is a heartwarming story of Woody Nickle’s adventure. He is now 105 years old and is writing about his adventure when he was 17. There was a hurricane in 1938 in the north east. Giraffes were on board a ship to be transported to the San Diego zoo. Two giraffes survived this horrific voyage.
This book is fictional tale based on a true event. There are very interesting characters as they travel the Lee Highway from town to town from New York to California. The giraffes were welcomed by the people in each town as newspapers, documented their arrival.
This is a wonderful story that will stay with you for a very long time.
Highly recommended.
