3 Horror Novels For Readers Who Enjoy Scary Stories Around the Campfire

by MK French

The sun might be shining brightly, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a great horror novel. If you loved telling scary stories around the campfire as a kid (or still do as an adult), be sure to check out these books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Written in Stone by Paige Shelton ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

When Delaney wins a special Hidden Door Festival invitation to artist Ryory Bennigan's studio, she isn’t sure quite what to expect. What she finds is an elusive fellow obsessed with the Picts—complete with his own versions of their blue tattoos and vibrant red hair—recreating the stones they left behind. She also meets a visiting paleontologist, Dr. Adam Pace, from the University of Kansas attempting to sell an artifact that might just explain what the Picts' language really sounded like.

Or at least that’s what he claimed the artifact was for. Before the deal can close and Ryory can get a closer look at it, Dr. Pace is found dead.

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

Off the Beaten Path: A Stone's Throw Mystery by Eloise Corvo ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Off the Beaten Path is the first book of a new series by Eloise Corvo.  Based on book 1, it's going to be an interesting and exciting series to read.  The characters are all written and very likable and the mystery kept me guessing until almost the end.  Every time that I thought I figured out who the 'bad guy' was, there were more facts presented that proved how wrong I really was.

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

2 Books for Fans of Asian American Literature

by MK French

Asian American representation in literature has been growing over the years. While different kinds of novels, both of these novels are thought-provoking and speak to the experience of Asian Americans.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Three generations of women, an island with an air of mystery and magic, and one summer that changes everything.

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

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Do you remember the 1980s TV show The Golden Girls? If you haven't seen the show, you can stream the first season free on PlutoTV (the other seasons are on a subscription streaming channel). For those who know what I'm talking about - can you imagine them as amateur sleuths? Racheal Ekstrom Courage does and she's written a cozy mystery featuring Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia.

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

Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero ~ a Review

by MK French

Núria is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of stray cats. One day she starts finding Post-It notes from a secret admirer where a black cat named Cat lives. Núria tries to guess who it might be: Collin, the bestselling author who is a hermit who loves coffee; Lily, searching for her long-lost half-sister; Omar the mailman; Bong, the grieving widower who owns Núria’s favorite bodega. These five strangers bond through chance encounters and their connection with Cat.

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

Season of Death by Will Thomas ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

In late Victorian England, private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn find themselves in the middle of the deadly chaos when powerful forces align to take over London's criminal underworld.

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

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Edie is … not in Paris?

Edie Lane left everything behind in Ireland for a once-in-a-lifetime job at a bakery in Paris. Except, thanks to a mistranslation, the bakery is not in Paris, and neither is Edie.

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

5 Books for Fans of Crime Fiction

by MK French

Do you have a spring break trip planned or are having a weekend staycation? Either way, crime fiction is a great genre to curl up with. Whether you want a page-turning who dunnit or a twisty thriller, here are my recommendations. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Two New Memoirs with a Science Theme

by Donna Huber

I love reading about science and people doing science and enjoying our natural world. I love when the books open the world to me in a new way. I recently read two books that did just that.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A young romance writer makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos in this sharp, witty and entirely delightful family drama 

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

Romance is in the Air - 5 Novels to Read

by MK French

Spring has sprung and along with the pollen comes an uptick in new romance novels. Over the next few months, there will be romances of all subgenres coming out and vying for a place in your beach bag. Here is a look at the few that would be perfect for that spring break getaway you have planned.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Last Chance to Save the World by Beth Revis ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

After a few weeks trapped on board a spaceship with Ada (and, oh look, there’s only one bed), Rian has to admit that maybe Ada’s rebels have a point. The nanobots poised to be unleashed on Earth are infected with malware that will ultimately leave the residents of Earth in a worse position than they’re in now. But is it too late?

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

The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

From the acclaimed author of The Girls in the Stilt House comes a long-awaited novel both atmospheric and lyrical, a haunting Southern story about memory, family secrets, and fierce and fragile love.

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

Books for Tweens and Teens

by MK French

Spring break is coming up and you will want to keep the kids entertained without having them in front of screens all the time. There are several great books coming out for middle grades and high school students.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

A Recipe for Murder by Verity Bright ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

The day has finally arrived! Cream cakes, cucumber sandwiches, apple tarts and… poison? Lady Swift is trying to plan the menu for her wedding, until murder strikes in kitchens across the village!

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

Falls to Pieces by Douglas Corleone ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A mother and daughter in hiding are threatened by more than secrets and lies in a twisting novel of paranoia, revenge, and psychological suspense

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

The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America by Kostya Kennedy ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

On April 18, 1775, a Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and anti-British political operative named Paul Revere set out on a borrowed horse to fulfill a dangerous but crucial to alert American colonists of advancing British troops, which would seek to crush their nascent revolt.

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

Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen ~ a Review

by MK French

In 1887 Netherlands, Lucy's twin sister Sarah refuses to eat, mumbles, and is obsessed with a centuries-old corpse recently discovered on her husband's estate. It's being called temporary insanity caused by a fever of the brain, and Lucy fears that she'll be sent to a lunatic asylum. With secrets of her own, Lucy tries to unravel what happened to Sarah even as she changes. Is Sarah possessed or truly mad?

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

Can You Solve the Crime in These Four Novels?

by MK French

Do you like to try to solve the mystery before the characters do, or are you just along for the roller coaster ride? However you enjoy crime fiction, you will want to check out these four books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Goodreads Community Favorites Challenge - Era Explorer Bookmark

by Donna Huber

We all know about the Yearly Reading Goal Challenge that Goodreads has been hosting for ever. This year, they added a couple of new challenges. One of them is the Community Favorites Challenge where you can earn a virtual bookmark. For this first round, you have until April 30 to collect the 6 bookmarks. the catch is that you have to read a book from the curated list. All of us here are Goodreads love historical fiction so we have reviewed a lot of the books on the list for the Era Explorer biomarker. In case, you still need a earn that bookmark, here are our recommendations.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered by Judith Viorst ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A witty and poignant exploration of the joys and sorrows of life’s twilight years—one that leaves us laughing, pondering, and grateful for the moments we have left.    

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

Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

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

Gitel's Freedom by Iris Mitlin Lav ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A historical narrative about the lives of Jewish immigrants in the early twentieth century and one woman’s journey through adversity toward personal freedom.  

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

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E. M. Anderson ~ a Review

by MK French

Peter Shaughnessy was cursed to wander eternally with the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants. After losing everyone he's ever loved, he focuses on the dead. After arriving in Harrington, Ohio, Peter is soon drawn into the lives of the townsfolk, and may even be falling in love. The angry ghost he's hunting is causing trouble and is threatening the lives of the people he now cares for.

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

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

1956, Malibu, California: Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

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

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk, strong black coffee in hand and fluffy ginger cat by her side, when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been. Jane needs to gather the clues and find the killer before someone else from the agency gets hurt…

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

2025 Reading Goal - Read Books From My TBR Pile

by Susan Roberts

One of my reading goals for this year is to reduce the number of books in my huge tbr stack.  As I do this, I'll be reviewing some older books that I really enjoyed.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington ~ a Review

by MK French

Rabbit Ward is a Smithsonian archaeologist who travels through time to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Twenty years ago, he lost the menorah of the second temple and his mentee, Aaron. The menorah might be in 6th century Constantinople, and Rabbit sees it as redemption. As soon as he arrives, things go wrong. He's not the only one after the menorah, and Constantinople’s leading gang is after Rabbit. He's desperate to recover the menorah before it's lost again, but time isn't on his side.

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

Killing Me Soufflé by Ellie Alexander ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Amidst the rocky beaches of the Oregon coast, Torte’s beloved Sterling and Stephanie have been hired to take over the aging restaurant at the cliffside Whaleshead Resort. They’re nervous about striking out on their own, but excited by the opportunity to put their own spin a new menu. From fresh fish caught the very same day to vegan options and handcrafted pastries, they’re buzzing with ideas. What’s even better is that Jules and the team from Torte have come out for opening weekend to cheer them on.

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

At the Island's Edge by C.I. Jerez ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

An Iraq War veteran returns to Puerto Rico to reconnect with―and confront―the past in a heart-wrenching novel about duty, motherhood, and the healing power of home. 

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

Head Cases by John McMahon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, a blindness that sometimes even includes people in his own life, like his beloved seven-year-old daughter Camila. Gardner and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve.

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

Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin ~ a Review

by MK French

Tam has avoided her monstrous history, becoming the perfect soft-spoken, vegan daughter. When her estranged Aunt Tigress is found murdered and skinned, Tam inherits an undead fox and old enemies. While she can deal with demons, ghosts, and gods, she can't deal with the thing stalking her across the city. Even the girl she's falling in love with might be yet another tie to her past. Tam can't avoid the past or the suffering she caused. Do monsters even deserve happy endings?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

2 WWII Historical Fiction Novels Featuring Strong Women

by Susan Roberts

It's easy to miss a good book particularly at the start of a new year. Here are two you might have missed but historical fiction fans will want to get them.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for honest reviews.

Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

I was excited for this book. The description really hooked me - so much so that I requested the book twice (oops!). I decided to listen to the audiobook.

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

Water Grave by Mitchell S. Karnes ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Six years ago, Hannah Leah Abelard needed a fresh start. She changed her name to Abbey Rhodes and enlisted in the United States Army as a part of the "Ever Vigilant," 18th Military Police Brigade. They taught her how to be a great cop. Abbey moved to Tennessee three years later and joined Metro Nashville's Police Department.

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

6 Fantastic Fantasy Novels You Don't Want to Miss

by MK French

There is some great fantasy fiction coming out this month. This selection includes novels for adults, young adults, and middle-grade readers. Pick one or all of them - you won't regret it.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Springtime Sunshine by Debbie Macomber ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

If you are like me and only recently started reading Debbie Macomber's book, now is a good time to catch up on her older titles. Several of her early works (from the early 1990s) are being re-released as duets - 2 books in one.

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

Fan Service by Rosie Danan ~ a Review

by MK French

Alex Lawson doesn't fit in within her small town and is most comfortable in the online forums she created for The Arcane Files, a werewolf detective show. Its star Devin Ashwood spiraled, and after the Wolf Blood Moon woke up naked outside his home in LA. He can't explain away the claws, fangs or howling, and tracks down Alex for answers. She's only willing to help him once he makes her an offer she can't refuse. But getting close might not be a good thing...

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

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

"The missing boy is 10-year-old Alfie Risby, and to be perfectly honest with you, he's a little shit."

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

Can You Solve These Murder Mysteries?

by Donna Huber

I've always loved a good mystery but since joining a mystery book club, I've been reading even more mysteries. I've recently read 3 different, but equally fun murder mysteries.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Queen of Shadows and Ruin by Nisha J. Tuli ~ a Review

by MK French

Zarya is the only one able to save her home from the dark magic spreading throughout the land. Rabin is sure the king is able to help, but Zarya had only known of Abishek as someone eager to steal her magic or kill her. The tie between Zarya and Rabin begins to fail, and Abishek offers to help. Shadow armies are gathering as ancient magic is breaking loose. Everything that Zarya has ever loved is on the line, and she must face the darkness within.

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

The Witch Who Trades With Death by C. M. Alongi ~ a Review

by MK French

The cruel and immortal Emperor Yamueto controls all witches in his empire. When Khana kills one of his favorite courtiers with magic and discovers the secret to his immortality, she makes a deal with Death herself. She flees the empire for a small mountain town filled with warriors. Though she heals the sick and injured, the people ostracize her because of that magic. Khana fights back against the emperor, but every deal with Death takes another piece of her soul. The more she gives away, the more she turns into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.

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

2 Books for Women's Fiction Fans

by Susan Roberts

Looking for something new in women's fiction? Check out these two books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley ~ a Review

by MK French

Gillian visits her friend Violet Claybourne at the family estate. The entire trip goes sideways once she's implicated in a tragic accident. Unfortunately, keeping herself free will mean framing her best friend for murder.

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

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

“The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.  Was it an accident or was it murder?”

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

Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa Rogak ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

What are you reading for Women's History Month? I love learning about women in history but I usually choose biographical fiction as it is more entertaining than nonfiction history. If you feel the same way, then I have a recommendation on a nonfiction history book you need to read.

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

4 Romantic Tales with Happily Ever Afters

by MK French

I have a round-up of some of this month's romantic tales. I've chosen a historical fiction, a romantic comedy, a contemporary romance (with a hint of the supernatural), and a paranormal romance. Pick your preferred genre or try them all!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.

Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

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

Come Fly With Me by Camille Di Maio ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

It’s 1962, the dawn of the jet-set era. Hope takes flight for two Pan Am stewardesses navigating an adventurous new life in a novel about love, friendship, and escape.

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