Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Elinor Noel—Nory for short—is quite content running her secondhand bookshop in London. Forever torn between her working-class upbringing and her classmates’ extravagant lifestyles at the posh private school she attended on scholarship, Nory has finally figured out how to keep both at equal distance. So when two of her oldest friends invite their whole gang to spend the time leading up to their wedding together at the castle near their old school, Nory must prepare herself for an emotionally complicated few days.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan ~ a Review

by MK French

Once a grand estate off the coast of South Africa, Akbar Manzil is a derelict estate that now serves as a boarding house for misfits. Sana and her father are among the latest tenants, but she doesn't ignore the oddities of the house or the locked door at the end of the East Wing. Inside is a preserved bedroom where Meena, the original owner's second wife, had died a hundred years before. Unknown to Sana, a grieving djinn is also in the room. She's obsessed with Meena's story, and the djinn had loved her. Now the djinn follows Sana as she dredges up old secrets, unknowingly setting into motion events that will change the lives of all the current residents.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

The regulars at Café Funiculi Funicula are well acquainted with the whimsical ability it grants them to take a trip into the past—as well as the strict rules involved, including that each traveler must return to the present in the time it takes for their coffee to get cold. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft ~ a Review

by MK French

Niamh Ó Conchobhair travels to Avaland to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding. Unrest is brewing, however, and the groom Kit Carmine is abrasive. The two soon form an unlikely friendship, and a gossip columnist gives Niamh an ultimatum: uncover the royal family’s secrets or her reputation is ruined. There is incredible rot within the kingdom, but exposing it could destroy a future she didn't think she could have.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Body on the Doorstep by Marty Wingate ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Fiercely independent Mabel Canning can’t wait to begin working for the Useful Women’s Agency. But when she discovers a body on her client’s doorstep, it’s time to add solving murders to her job description…

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Death in a Gilded Frame by Cecelia Tichi ~ a Review

by MK French

Western silver heiress Val Mackle DeVere plans to sit for a portrait for her beloved husband. Instead of the artist, she finds a bloody body in the art gallery. The dead Newport gallery manager is clutching at a gilt frame pulled down over his head and shoulders. When Val touches the murder weapon, she is suspected to be the killer. Society is only too eager to see her shamed and isolates her as she seeks the true killer.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Look Back at 2023

by Donna Huber

Here we are on the last day of 2023. It's Waltz Day - 123123! I don't plan on any dancing tonight. I plan to spend the day reading and will probably be asleep by 9:30 pm. Whether you are looking for something to read tonight or want to see what books you might have missed, here is a look back at 2023 at Girl Who Reads.

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