An Infinite Love Story
by Chanel Cleeton
Great Novel (4/20/2026)
This is another good novel from Chanel Cleeton. It weaves together the Space Race of the 1960s and a never ending love story between Joe and Vivian. I wasn’t crazy about the ending but overall, a good read. Much better than Atmosphere.
Summer's Never Over
by Darby Bozeman
A Good Thriller (4/13/2026)
I very much much enjoyed this thriller set at a summer camp. The dual timelines flowed nicely and the story was easy to follow. There were some nice twists at the end that I certainly did not see coming. If you enjoy thrillers, this one's for you!
The House of Hidden Letters
by Izzy Broom
Heartwarming Story (2/6/2026)
I enjoyed this historical fiction from two vantage points. I actually preferred the modern day tale to the historical one. While the plot was strong and characters fairly well developed, I still found myself wanting more from the storylines. Overall, a good read but a predictable ending.
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives
by Elizabeth Arnott
Secret Lives (11/26/2025)
This book didn't quite capture my attention like I had hoped. It was basically a whodunnit, solved by three ex-wives of murderers. I think I wanted it to be more serious; there was a lot of fluff and mindless chatter for most of the book. The big ending was not a surprise although, the last 10-15 of the book was definitely the best. Characters were difficult to keep up with between the chapters and none particularly likable. So-so at best.
A Club of One's Own
by BookBrowse
Excellent Resource (7/16/2025)
This book is a terrific resource, not only for those considering starting a book club but also those of us who are 24 years in! Loved the generic sample questions and the templates at the end of the book. This is a great resource for all book clubs!
Too Old for This
by Samantha Downing
Great Thriller (4/3/2025)
This novel has an unexpected heroine….who is a serial killer. Self-confessed and no nonsense, we know who we’re dealing with right from the start. And we still root for her! Samantha Downing has created a mature female Dexter, if you will, and I couldn’t get enough. Loved the plot, it moved right along, and all of the characters were interesting to me. Great thriller!
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
by Chanel Cleeton
Good Historical Fiction (1/29/2025)
I enjoyed this novel which centered around a young Cuban teacher who participated in a summer school program at Harvard, which would change the course of her life as well as her descendants. The story moved between three time periods and, while easy to follow, the formula felt a bit predictable. The author's note at the end was interesting and I do enjoy her novels. Will look forward to reading another one soon.
Songs of Summer
by Jane L. Rosen
Charming Novel (1/13/2025)
I really enjoyed reading Songs of Summer. The story revolves around Maggie May and her quest to feel apart of her birth mother's family. The characters were so likeable and while the ending was a bit predictable, I enjoyed every bit of it. The music chapter titles were just perfect and added nicely to the texture of the novel. There were a lot of relationship dynamics but you always felt that things would work out in the end. Would love to read a sequel!
Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Wonderful Historical Fiction (11/1/2024)
Dolen Perkins-Valdez has written another stunning novel in Happy Land. The story follows the Lovejoy family of women as the timeline moves between present day and the time of the Kingdom of the Happy Land. I enjoyed both sides of the story and was especially interested to learn the story is based on actual historical facts. These are strong women who want nothing more than to restore the land of the Kingdom and allow future generations to thrive there. Characters are well-developed and you'll find yourself rooting for them right to the very satisfying end.
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
Good Read (1/2/2024)
I enjoyed this story from Chanel Cleeton. Her writing flows smoothly between time periods and I found myself interested in both plot lines, not just one as is often the case. The story is haunting. I saw it described as Gothic and would definitely agree. I'm not sure if this is a series but I would love to see a sequel, or prequel, to this book. It seems like there is still so much to learn about the characters; I was left wanting a little more. Good read!
Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray
Interesting History (11/29/2023)
This is an interesting look into the life of Frances Perkins, the first female Secretary of Labor, under FDR. Took me a while to get through it but I really enjoyed a peek into the politics of the time, as well as the persevering spirit of Miss Perkins. The author's note at the end is particularly interesting as it outlines many factual details that the author was unable/unwilling to write into the story. Well done!
Delicate Condition
by Danielle Valentine
Not for Everyone (7/7/2023)
This novel is unpleasant in almost every way. I thought the synopsis sounded promising but it was overly graphic and I didn't care for the supernatural aspect of it. The character development was shallow at best and no one was likeable. Do not read if you are pregnant or hope to become pregnant!!
The September House
by Carissa Orlando
Great Horror Story (4/28/2023)
Wow, it’s been a while since I read a horror story and this one did not disappoint! I could not read it fast enough, wondering how the end would turn out. There’s a great deal of the supernatural involved here and I felt it added quite nicely to the story. I found myself rooting for Margaret, even when I wasn’t sure which direction the book would take. Favorite character must be Fredricka.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
A Fun Trip (10/13/2022)
This novel is a fun page turner that reads much like Driving Miss Daisy meets Thelma and Louise. The characters are likeable and well-developed. You'll find yourself rooting for them without even knowing the whole story. There are some nice twists at the end to wrap the book up nicely, Very enjoyable read!
Surviving Savannah
by Patti Callahan
Great Historical Fiction (3/11/2022)
Surviving Savannah is a well-written novel weaving a present day presentation of a shipwreck and the historical events of the actual sinking of the ship, The author does a nice job of intertwining the two timelines and bringing in interesting family stories from the 1700s. Enjoyed it!
Housebreaking
by Colleen Hubbard
Housebreaking (10/11/2021)
This novel examines one young woman's struggle to come to grips with adulthood and being dealt a rough hand of cards. Returning to her childhood home and literally dismantling it board by board became her sole focus. I appreciate the harsh honesty of the writing but honestly, it became a bit repetitive to hear the details of the "housebreaking". I enjoyed Del's interactions with the quirky friends and family she met along the way. The ending left me wanting me a little more. Overall, the book fell a bit short for me.
Never Saw Me Coming: A Novel
by Vera Kurian
No Wow Factor (6/9/2021)
This book did not wow me. I thought the storyline had great potential but there was so much going on behind the scenes that the main plot was simply lost in the shuffle. The characters were not likable; I suppose they shouldn't be if they are psychopaths but I found myself pushing to get to the end just to finish the book. Can't really recommend this one.
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
by Marie Benedict
A Good Mystery (11/10/2020)
This is a gripping piece of historical fiction, imagining what might have transpired during the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie. The story was well developed, although I had trouble aligning the two very different personalities of Mrs. Christie, as told from the points of view of herself and her husband, Archie. An interesting story that I knew nothing about prior to reading the novel. Book clubs will enjoy discussing the "what ifs" that inevitably crop up throughout the book.
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
With or Without You (5/12/2020)
I enjoyed this novel, a story of three people struggling to find their way in the midst of life-changing circumstances. It was very readable and I thought the characters were fairly well-developed. A bit of chick lit with some deeper moments thrown in. I wasn't a big fan of the ending; it felt like a tidy wrap-up at the end of an arduous path. It would be good for book club discussion and the all-important question, "what happens to the characters afterwards?".
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Engaging Thriller (2/13/2020)
He Started It is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of unexpected twists. With a better ending, it would rank 5 stars for sure. These are characters you love to hate as their unlikely story unfolds. I enjoyed the smartly written dialogue and road trip details as the family crossed the US. Just wish there had been a more definitive ending.
