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Books You're on the Fence About - 2025
This Thing Between Us - Gus Morena
Genera: Mystery/Horror
4★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mrs Nash’s Ashes – Sarah Adler – 3***
This was a contemporary rom com, a road trip, and an historical F/F love story all wrapped in one novel. I was much more interested in Mrs Nash’s story than in the push / pull attraction between Millie and Hollis. I wish Adler had just told the story of Rose and Elsie who met and loved one another while serving as WAVES during WW2. Still, it held my attention, and I enjoyed it.
LINK to my full review
I finished a book that I liked enough but not completely:
Unfortunately Yoursand this is my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Today I finished
Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I was a bit disappointed that I didn't find
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna as delightful and enjoyable as her previous novel The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, but I seem to be an outlier as it's getting plenty of 5★ reviews, so do check those out too.my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Woman of Light – Kali Fajardo-Anstine – 3***
An epic covering five generations of an indigenous Chicano family in the American West. The back-and-forth in timeframe and location made for some confusion at times. But it reminded me of an oral history, the way my grandparents, aunts and uncles would regale us kids on a summer night with stories of our ancestors.
LINK to my full review
Whiskers Of the Lion – P L Gaus – 3***
This is book number nine in the Amish-Country Mystery series, but the first one I’ve read. It was an interesting mystery with a great cast of (I presume) regular characters. Readers who might assume that “Amish” means a cozy mystery will be wrong. This is a hard-hitting crime novel, that happens to be set amid the Amish communities of Ohio. I would recommend reading the series in order, beginning with number one.
LINK to my full review
Alpha's Sacrifice - Nora Phoenix
Irresistible Omega's series Book ##1
Genera: M/M/M/M Romance/Omega Universe
3★ (This rating is totally my reaction to the book's subject and in no way was it meant to reflect adversely on the writing or this wonderful author)
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sea Gives Up the Dead: Stories by Molly Olguín
A fantasy-horror short story collections that worked for me in every way except for the endings of the stories. But lit fic and slice-of-life lovers might still enjoy it.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Death by Dumpling- Vivian Chien - (Ohio)
Noodle Shope Mystery Book #1
Genera: Cozy mystery
3★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts 3 1/2-StarsWhere have all the Alphas gone?
My Review
Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey 3 1/2-StarsWomen's Fiction with a dose of Chick-Lit.
My Review*
Big Chief
didn’t quite live to its interesting premise. My three star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm ending the week with
A Rogue's Company by Allison Montclair https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
On Beauty – Zadie Smith – 3***
“What are the truly beautiful things in life – and how far will you go to get them?” (from the book jacket) Smith’s novel focuses on the Belsey and Kipps families as they navigate the politics of an American university and the betrayals within and between their families. I was distracted by real life issues and didn’t give this the full attention Smith’s writing deserves, though I finished because my real-life book club will be discussing it next month.
LINK to my full review
My review of An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds: A Dakota Green Mystery, Book 2 by Kristen Bird
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
See What I Have Done – Sarah Schmidt – 2.5**
Schmidt’s debut novel takes a look at one of the most infamous crimes in American history – the 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts. I’m not sure I really liked the way in which Schmidt chose to tell this story. It felt very disjointed and left me with more questions than answers.
LINK to my full review
The House of Lost Whispers by Jenni Keer
Not my favourite by this otherwise reliable author. Better not to read this as a timeslip.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The trouble With Tony - Eli Easton - (Washington)
Part of the Sex in Seatle series
Genera: M/M Romance/Doctor& Police Detective
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bombshell
was like two different books. A good first thriller in the first half and a boring second half. My three star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Atmosphere
. Was a little bit of a disappointment for me. My thoughts: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Missing Half - Ashley Flowers
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
3★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Our Little Secret- Lisa Jackson - (Oregon)
Genea: Mystery & Suspense/Family Drama
3.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Saturday Night At the Lakeside Supper Club – J Ryan Stradal – 3***
I really like Stradal’s writing. He is spot on in revealing the small-town Midwestern vibe. These are ordinary people, leading ordinary lives, full of hope, dreams, hardship, fights, reconciliations, tragedy, and perseverance. This novel is more about the characters and how they deal with what life throws at them, than it is about a particular plot point. So glad the supper club continues to be popular in Wisconsin!
LINK to my full review
My readathon reviews:
Escape From Portaleige by Kerstin Stanford
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Escape From Portaleige by Kerstin Stanfordhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 3.05 rounded to 3 stars review of The Best Lies by David Ellis:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Psychological Thriller / Crime Thriller
Moves Back and Forth in time
Frequently changes Points of View
Good characterization, some originality, plenty of twist.
The flow was interrupted and slowed the pace too much for me, but many reviewers enjoyed this one more.
My review of A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Home Has No Borders: A Collection of South Asian Stories edited by Sona Charaipotra
Expected something very different from this OwnVoices South-Asian anthology. Not for me, but YA readers might like it better.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Too much ‘cozy’, not enough ‘fantasy’.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mile High – Liz Tomforde – 2.5** (rounded up)
A pro hockey player and the flight attendant on the team’s private plane hook up. Lots of sex, and they eventually realize there is more to this relationship. Tomforde also tackles issues of body image, social medial bullying/shaming, and celebrity culture.
LINK to my full review
My review for The Unraveling of Julia
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for
El Dorado Drivehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Books mentioned in this topic
The Cat Who Chased Ghosts: A Feline-Fueled Middle Grade Mystery with a Supernatural Twist (other topics)Sybilla and the Clockmaker's Secret (other topics)
The Business Trip (other topics)
Christine Falls (other topics)
The Woman in the Library (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nic Minnella (other topics)Jessie Garcia (other topics)
Sulari Gentill (other topics)
Kat T. Masen (other topics)
Jo Dixon (other topics)
More...








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