Summer of Love
by Kerri Maher
Peace, Love and Rock and Roll (5/5/2026)
I enjoyed Summer of Love and appreciated reading details of the 60s. I was a very young child in the 60s so I didn't get to experience, as a peer, the tumult of those trying times. I also really liked reading about the vineyard and the strong women who made it into a successful enterprise. The themes of addiction throughout the book helped to better understand each character's personality, their strengths and weaknesses.
I appreciate receiving a free copy of Summer of Love and am providing my honest review.
Somebody Worth Killing
by Jessica Payne
Wouldn't We All Like to be Like Nadia at Times? (5/5/2026)
I very much enjoyed Somebody Worth Killing and have to admit that perhaps we all have, deep down in our soul, wanted to kill somebody who truly deserved it. Perhaps not, that might just be my dark side coming out. It was so interesting to see how Nadia juggled her normal family life and her vocation, although how she managed to stay alert after a night out wreaking murder and mayhem is hard for me to imagine. I did not see the ending coming and would like to read a sequel, if one is planned.
I appreciate NetGalley for sending me this ARC and am providing this review in accordance with the agreement.
An Infinite Love Story
by Chanel Cleeton
Well worth a read (4/1/2026)
I loved this book, even though it wasn't "real life." The descriptions of the space race and the culture of the 60s was fascinating. I was rooting for the wife to have a happy ending the entire book, and each chapter kept me really engaged in the story.
The Insomniacs
by Allison Winn Scotch
Great book (4/1/2026)
This book was hard to relate to for me. I can't imagine hardly ever sleeping and still being able to function. The fact that the four main characters were able to do so was really amazing, especially at the level they apparently functioned. There were twists that I found surprising while some things were a big predictable. Overall, worth reading, especially if you can't sleep. lol
Summer's Never Over
by Darby Bozeman
Great book, mystery and mayhem (3/17/2026)
This book ended up being more of a mystery than I anticipated and I really liked it. I didn't figure out whodunit until I read it in the book so that was a nice surprise. This kept me interested in the book and mostly the timeline difference was obvious. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.
The Seven O'Clock Club
by Amelia Ireland
Really interesting, kept my attention (3/17/2026)
This book was given to me as an ARC which is very much appreciated but does not affect my review. I really loved this book and was invested in each of the characters and their backstory. The book kept a lot of the characters' problems close to the vest and released a little each chapter. Some of the issues were easy to figure out and others not so much. The ending was a complete surprise but on reflection, I can see that there were signs throughout pointing to that ending. No spoilers; I would recommend everyone to read this book and take stock of our own lives and grieving processes.
Dandelion Is Dead
by Rosie Storey
Great premise, keep me engaged to the end (10/15/2025)
I really liked this book and enjoyed the main character's personality and portrayal of her sister. The MC was able to work thru a lot of her grief with those "other person" moments but ultimately, it took a cascade of events in her life to really effect lasting changes. I won't elaborate for fear of spoiling anything for readers.
Next Time Will Be Our Turn
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Well worth a read (9/3/2025)
I initially thought I wouldn't like this book but it turned out I loved it. It was interesting to learn more about Chindo (Chinese-Indonesian) women and how oppressed they are, despite the very high expectations of them. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the storyline of the matriarch of a powerful family telling her granddaughter of her history and offering sound advice (no spoilers here!). It made me laugh and made me cry but mostly it made me reflect on what is really important in life.
The Botanist's Assistant
by Peggy Townsend
Good book, a little heavy on the science (7/5/2025)
I liked the book and it did teach me about some of the aspects of science re: plants that I found interesting. I thought that kind of took away from the flow of the story for me, however. I look forward to reading other books by Peggy Townsend because I like the style of writing but maybe without as many sidebars for science.
