Review: Gardens & Grudges

Gardens & Grudges

Amanda Pennington

Expected publication date: July 28, 2026

He stole her cat. Now she might steal his heart—if he doesn’t leave town first.

Sylvie Fogg is living her best quiet life in Southern Indiana. She has a steady job, a peaceful neighborhood, a flower garden in her backyard, and a semi-adopted cat.

Then Jack Murray moves in next door. He’s a famous chef looking for his own quiet life, far from the chaos of high-end restaurants and publicity. But he doesn’t expect a Type A neighbor who declares war the moment he starts spoiling her cat.

Their playful neighborhood rivalry turns into something neither of them planned: slow-burn chemistry, flirty banter, and a connection that feels dangerously real.

But when Jack is offered a high-profile cooking show that would put him back in the spotlight, he must choose between their blossoming romance and the fast-paced lifestyle of the rich and famous. And Sylvie would get her cat back, but she’d miss out on the man who knows his way around the kitchen—and the way to her heart.

Gardens & Grudges is a closed-door romantic comedy featuring enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn chemistry, and quirky neighborhood drama. Perfect for fans of clean rom-coms, cozy Midwest settings, and feel-good fiction with plenty of heart. - from Goodreads

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sylvie has created a cozy, drama-free life for herself, including starting a garden and sort-of adopting her neighbor's cat.  Then Jack, a famous chef, moves in next door, and starts feeding Sylvie's cat, inadvertently starting a rivalry between the two and upending Sylvie's quiet life.  But as she gets to know Jack, Sylvie wonders if it's time to open her heart.  

I've been a fan of Amanda Pennington's closed-door romances since her first book came out in 2022.  Gardens & Grudges continues her tradition of clean romances with relatable characters and settings.  Sylvie and Jack are new neighbors in a small Indiana town.  Sylvie has lived there for awhile, while Jack, fresh from big city life, is looking for a change.  They are drawn together when they both start feeding the same cat, and then further during the neighborhood association meeting, where they are tasked with working together on an adopt-a-pet event.  Although Sylvie is put off by Jack at first, she starts to see a different side to him.

I enjoyed getting to know Sylvie and Jack.  Pennington does a good job creating the backstories for each (a difficult family life for her, a chaotic career for him) that have ultimately led them to this place.  I liked the tension that Sylvie feels, trying to ignore her feelings for Jack because she's apprehensive about change in her life.  And I especially liked that Jack kind of falls first and is the one pushing for something more.  

But beyond crafting characters and fun storylines, Pennington's writing is the real star.  It's cozy, it's relatable, it flows well, and it feels like you're having a conversation with a good friend.  There's nothing outlandish here; it all feels so natural, and that's what makes reading her books such a treat.

4 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Residency

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Residency

C.D. Major

Expected publication date: August 4, 2026

Don't linger in the gallery. Don't look too closely at the artwork. Don't ask questions.

Artist and single mom Ginny is offered a place on a three-month artist retreat on a remote Scottish island. She leaps at the chance. Even better, her host is happy for her to bring her daughter Isla.

But the island is not what it seems. The inhabitants greet Ginny and Isla with stares and avoid contact wherever possible. And the house they're staying in is old and strange. Eerie whispers follow Ginny through the corridors. Artworks once covered become uncovered. And unexplained smells clings to the walls lavender, cigar smoke and vomit.

With no WiFi on the island, no help from the locals and no regular transport back to the mainland, Ginny is stranded and all alone. She must unravel the dark secrets of the house before they claim her and her beloved daughter.

An unsettling gothic horror novel set on an isolated Scottish island. Perfect for fans of Sarah Pinborough, Rebecca Netley and Laura Purcell. - from Goodreads

Recent Reads

 The Storm by Rachel Hawkins (2026)

In 1984, a wealthy man was found dead after a hurricane in a small Alabama town, and everyone assumed his mistress killed him.  Now, a writer and that same mistress have descended upon St. Medard's Bay, staying at the local Rosalie Inn, to research the crime.  Geneva, the owner of the inn, is drawn into the scheme.  But with another powerful hurricane baring down on the town, will they all make it out alive?  I liked the multiple POVs; although Geneva is the main character, we do get to hear Lo's (the mistress) story in her own words, and she is such a firecracker.  I did think the story moved kind of slowly, and the final reveal of the "murderer" was pretty predictable.  There was another reveal about the characters that was kind of eye-rolling, though.  3 stars

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth (2026)

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick thought she had successfully buried her difficult past, but now, decades later, someone has discovered her secret - she used to be known as Mad Mabel and was once convicted of murder.  With a dead neighbor and a precocious little girl now obsessed with her, 81-year-old Elsie is finally ready to tell her story.  I really enjoyed this book!  I don't know that I would necessarily consider this a mystery/thriller - it's really more a character study into who Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick was and is today.  While today Elsie is a self-sufficient, private, and stoic woman, Mabel was a lonely girl who had a difficult family life.  I guess the mystery would be, is Mabel really "mad" and did she really kill someone?  Through flashbacks, we discover the truth, along with several other shocking reveals, and I think by the end, most readers will have a soft spot in their heart for Elsie.  4 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Michele's Monday Picks #99

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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Rootbound: A Tangled Novel

Margaret Owen

Expected Publication: July 28, 2026

From Goodreads:

Revisit Rapunzel and Eugene from Disney's Tangled as they race to protect their kingdom, in this thrilling new fantasy adventure penned by New York Times bestselling author Margaret Owen.

Rapunzel knows nothing about her neighboring kingdom, Astera – and not just because she only left her tower a month ago. The famously reclusive island has limited its contact with outsiders for decades. So when a suspicious invitation arrives welcoming Rapunzel to the Asteran princess’s coming of age ceremony, and offering her a chance to be useful for the first time since she lost her healing powers, Rapunzel accepts – and unwittingly plunges herself and her companion, Eugene, into a tangled knot of political intrigue and magical secrets.

Eugene is just happy to get one last adventure with Rapunzel before his criminal background catches up with him and prevents their happy ending. Yet as they’re drawn further into the country’s problems, they uncover truths about Eugene’s parentage that point to deeper unrest in Astera, and suddenly the fate of their own kingdom, not just their personal dreams, is at stake.

Thrust into a power struggle between Astera’s beloved princess, Verette, its domineering king, Enver, and a mysterious secret society, Rapunzel and Eugene race to protect their home from an unsettlingly familiar threat and discover that the past can either hold them back, or help them blossom.

A cunning king. A devious princess. Best. Week. Ever.

I am a sucker for anything Disney related! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen (2025)

Rowan can't help keeping track of her ex-boyfriend on a phone app, until the night she discovers his dead body in front of the historic mansion she's helping renovate.  Rowan becomes the prime suspect, and with her daughter's father unexpectedly coming back into town at the same time, she's got a lot to worry about.  This was an interesting little mystery.  I think Bowen did a great job mixing the mystery aspect with romance, with Rowan having to deal with her ex-boyfriend's death and growing closer again with her daughter's father, without it feeling too contrived.  The story had multiple POVs, one of which really ended up surprising me, and I enjoyed how the story unfolded.  As a former historian, I especially liked how the historic mansion played such a big role in the story.  4 stars

Tristan 4 America by Bruce Overby (2026)

As a result of the pandemic, Tristan Heller is laid off from his job in tech sales.  He begins to take stock of the current political and social climate and decides to run for President.  Although he never seriously expects to win, Tristan uses the opportunity to say the kind of things that no one else will.  But, his campaign starts getting attention from extremist militia groups, and suddenly, everyone around him is at risk.  This is such an intriguing premise - I think it's absolutely plausible that someone devastated by the pandemic could enter politics, and I think Overby does a good job capturing those feelings of frustration.  However, the execution lacked for me.  I was expecting more of a thriller, but there was a lot of exposition - at times it felt more like Overby wanted to give his opinions on certain political and social topics, rather than keep the plot moving.  The attempts to build suspense never felt like enough for me.  This is also just a personal thing, but there was way too much cursing in this book - now, cursing does not really offend me in everyday life, I am certainly not immune from using bad words, but when the main character is supposed to be giving interviews, meeting with constituents, debating various topics in public forums, and every other word is an f-bomb, it just felt very unprofessional and unnecessary.  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  3 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Extracurricular

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Extracurricular

Rachel Lynn Solomon 

Expected publication date: July 14, 2026

When a former pop star enrolls in college, the last thing she expects is A-plus chemistry with her psychology professor in this sexy and tender romance from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Ramona Wilder has spent her whole life in the spotlight. After a hit kids’ TV show, she transitioned into music, singing in arenas around the world and becoming an icon for millions of teenage girls. Now at age twenty-six, exhausted by the inhumane lack of privacy, she’s done—with all of it. She wants a chance at normal, whatever that might mean for her. And she’s starting with college.

Professor Nick Navarro is recently divorced but determinedly optimistic, allowing himself a very reasonable ten minutes per day to wallow. When his department calls a meeting about a celebrity enrollment, he plans to treat whoever it is like any other student. Except when Ramona blazes into class and causes an uproar, the typically easygoing professor is rattled, maybe for the first time in his career.

Ramona loves the way she flusters him, taking every opportunity to push Nick’s buttons, though what she really wants is to unbutton them completely. When a crisis brings them closer outside of class, they begin a tentative friendship amid an undeniable attraction. But Ramona can’t be so easily finished with her old life, and they’ll both have to confront their pasts if they want a chance at something real. - from Goodreads

Mid-Year Goals Check-In

We are officially halfway through 2026 (what?!?), so it's time to look back at the goals we set at the beginning of the year!

1. Read 75 books.  At the time I'm writing this, I've read 56 books, so making great progress!
2. Complete the sit-to-standing test.  I actually did it!  I was able to do it for the first time in January and a few times since, although it's been awhile since I tried!
3. Do 100 jumps a day.  I was really good about doing this at the beginning of the year, but around May, I fell off it!  I'm going to try to get back into it, though!
4. Complete 52 puzzles.  Ok, this was an unrealistic goal.  If you follow me on Instagram, you can see all the puzzles I've done this year.  I'm currently at 50 - eek!  I need to slow down.
5. Complete at least 4 new-to-us baking projects with Henry.  So far we have done 3 new baking projects, from scratch!  Pumpkin spice muffins (huge hit!), chai-spiced apple muffins (I liked them, Henry was not a big fan), and cookies 'n cream cookies (I thought they were a little dry, but the teachers at Henry school loved them!).  We are definitely having lots of fun in the kitchen!

And here's a check-in of Michele's goals:

 

Bookish Goals 

1. Read 200 Books – I just hit the midway point of this goal, so things are looking good!

2. Read books from a wide variety of genres – Romance and thrillers are up for me so far this year, but I know I have some great historical fiction and Middle Grades on my shelf just waiting for me!

3. Utilize my library more – my library use percentage is up over last year so far, so doing good there!

4. Buddy read with my daughter and husband – Luna and I have been continuing our Stuart Gibbs journey, so I’m really excited about that. My husband and I have a few books out later this year that we are both looking forward to.

Nonbookish Goals 

1. Learn needlepoint – haven’t gotten to this yet but my stepmom is hosting a girls’ crafting day next month so maybe I will bring my starter kit to that!

2. More monthly baking challenges – I have baked a few new items, but not really from the challenges, as I haven’t been a huge fan of a lot of the prompts! We’ll see what the second half of the year brings.

3. Plant a garden – totally dropped the ball on this. Kinda late to start now, but maybe I can start planning for next year….

4. Complete 24 puzzles – I’ve only done 6 so far this year, yikes. I do enjoy my puzzles, but they admittedly fall after my books and crocheting.

5. Continue my fitness journey – doing really well! I was able to keep up my exercise routine during my 60+ hour weeks in tax season and have been consistent all year so far. 

    

   How are you doing on your 2026 goals?