Can't-Wait Wednesday: Under the Stars

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

Under the Stars

Beatriz Williams

Expected publication date: July 29, 2025

When a daughter and her famous mother return to Winthrop Island to confront their complicated past, they discover a secret trove of paintings that connect them to a mysterious woman who vanished on a luxury steamship two centuries earlier.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Husbands & Lovers comes an epic tale of family legacy, love, and truths that echo down generations.

Audrey Fisher has struggled all her life to emerge from the shadow of her famous mother by forging a career as a world-class chef. Meredith Fisher’s glamorous screen persona disguises the trauma of the tragic accident that haunts her dreams. Neither woman wants to return to the New England island they left behind and its complicated emotional ties, but Meredith has one last chance to sober up and salvage her big comeback, and where else but discreet, moneyed Winthrop Island can a famous actress spend the summer without the intrusion of other people? Until Audrey discovers an old wooden chest among the belongings of her estranged bartender father, Mike Kennedy, and the astonishing contents draw the women deep into Winthrop’s past and its many secrets…attracting the interest of their handsome neighbor, Sedge Peabody. How did a trove of paintings from one of America’s greatest artists wind up in the cellar of the Mohegan Inn? And who is the mysterious woman portrayed on every canvas?

On a stormy November night in 1846, Providence Dare flees Boston and boards the luxury steamship Atlantic one step ahead of the law….or so she believes. But when a catastrophic accident leaves the ship at the mercy of a mighty gale, Providence finds herself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the one man who knows her real identity—the detective investigating the suspicious death of her employer, the painter Henry Irving. As the Atlantic fights for her life and the rocky shore of Winthrop Island edges closer, a desperate Providence searches for her chance to escape…before the sea swallows her without a trace.

In Under the Stars, the destinies of three women converge across centuries, as a harrowing true disaster at the dawn of the steamship era evokes a complex legacy of family secrets in modern-day New England. Williams has written a timeless epic of mothers and daughters, of love lost and found, and of the truths that echo down generations. - from Goodreads

Recent Reads

Class Mom by Laurie Gelman (2018)

After having two daughters in her early twenties, 40-something Jen is now married with a son in kindergarten.  While acting as his class mom, Jen navigates classroom politics and issues with other parents, all with a sense of humor.  I thought this was a fun book (and audiobook, narrated by the author herself!).  I relate to being somewhat of an older parent, so it was interesting to see the issues that Jen was facing.  While I found her humor to be a bit over the top or trying too hard at times, I appreciated the light tone of the book; while there were some unbelievable moments, it did feel quite realistic, like Jen really could be just another mom at the pick-up line.  4 stars

Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz (2025)

Mack is navigating a divorce while also trying out for a reality tv show with her design firm, when her college boyfriend moves in next door.  There were a few things that appealed to me about this book - I love a story set in the south and Mack works in renovating historic homes.  But unfortunately, there was too much going on here to really make an impact, too many storylines and characters, so that everything just felt kind of glossed over.  I didn't really get Mack's desire to make the reality show - the opportunity was presented and she didn't even hesitate, but I never got the impression that it was a dream of hers.  Her mother was a total enigma - she comes across as an elegant Southern lady, but she had a baby out of wedlock and despite working on the board of the historical preservation society, seems to have no regard for historic homes.  There was also this overarching theme of parents trying to control their children's lives, in often disastrous ways.  I think there were some good ideas here and it could have been helped by editing and digging deeper into some areas.  3 stars

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love To Reread

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is all about rereading.  I love to reread and although I got out of it for awhile, this year I have done several rereads.  Here are some of my favorite books that I could read over and over again!

The Night Circus // Something Borrowed // A Hundred Summers

Outlander // A Game of Thrones // The Other Boleyn Girl

The Devil Wears Prada // Dark Matter

The Nightingale // The Distant Hours

Do we share any favorites?

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Mid-Year Goals Check-In

We are officially halfway through 2025, so it's time to look back at the goals we set at the beginning of the year!

• Read my 2025 preorders in 2025.  So far I have preordered 6 books and read 3 of them - to be fair, those last 3 came out within the last month, so I think it's justified that I haven't gotten to them quite yet!
• Use my library more.  My goal is to try to get 40% of my reads from the library and I am currently at 37%.
• Read 75 books.  I am currently at 57 books read, so I'm well ahead of this goal!
• Attend two bookish events.  We've been lucky enough to attend one bookish event so far this year (Hazel Gaynor release event)!
• Complete 30 states in the Literary Escapes Challenge.  Currently, I have read books set in 19 different states for the Literary Escapes Challenge hosted by Dollycas, so I am well on my way!  I'll definitely be checking out Sam's Sloth Goes Places series at We Live and Breathe Books for inspiration for some of those harder to find states!

Here is a check-in for Michele's goals:

• Read 225 books – I just dropped this to 200 as I had a slow start to the year (in my real life I am a CPA who works a crazy tax season and the reading was slow in February and March).  I’m a little over halfway to this goal so I feel good about it.  
• Read books from a wide variety of genres – Doing good on this!  I have really upped my numbers of nonfiction and historical fiction, with my overall romance genre coming down a bit.
• Don’t be afraid to DNF books or take a break from certain authors – I have definitely DNFed some books this year and had a few series I decided to not finish.  It still makes me a little itchy to leave a series unfinished but if I’m not truly excited about something, I just can’t justify devoting the time to it. 
• Utilize my library more – So far my percentage of books read from the library is up this year!  My daughter has also been using the library a ton.
• Buddy read with my daughter and husband – James has already read a couple books I picked out for us and now I need to catch up so we can discuss!  Luna is working through her remaining chapter books and will probably be totally into middle grade books this fall – we already have plans about which ones we want to read together.

How are you doing on your 2025 goals?

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Thunder Road Books

Last week I posted about a release event we attended with Hazel Gaynor at Thunder Road Books, located in Spring Lake, New Jersey, so I thought it would be good to give you a little tour of the store today!  They recently moved from a smaller location down the street into this new corner store, which allows them to offer more books, a seating area for reading, and a larger children's area!

When you enter the store, you're greeted by a table of new releases and that fabulous rolling ladder/bookshelf combo!

I loved how bright, open, and airy the store was, with tall ceilings.  There are a couple different couches and cozy chairs to curl up with a good book in.  The store was set up for an event, so a few things had been moved around.

The children's area is huge, with playful seating options and these adorable hot air balloon light fixtures (shh, don't tell Henry!).  There are lots of books at eye level and reachable for little hands!

As I said before, we were there for an event, so I didn't get to browse as much as I would have wanted to - that just means we'll have to come back!  They host tons of bookish events, so there's something for everyone.  Definitely check this store out if you're near the Jersey shore!

Month in Review: June 2025

 

June had some really fun events, as well as some quiet time at home (escaping the crazy heat we experienced for a bit!).  My company is currently moving locations, so early in June, I went down to the office for one last time before the move, to work for the day and also attend a painting event after hours.  It was really fun for the ladies of the office to get together - we always have a good time!  My sister and I attended a book event with Hazel Gaynor, which was awesome!  We ended the month with a belated birthday party for our niece and nephew, and we all had fun playing in the pool.

The highlight of Henry's month was going to a hot air balloon festival!  It wasn't a big event, but there were several balloons, including two tethered ballons that were going up and down for a couple hours.  He got to see them being blown up, which was a blast.  In the evening, many balloons were blown up and flew off from a big field.  We set up our blanket and watched them all - Henry was so excited!  For our hot air balloon-loving boy, seeing them in person was an absolute thrill!  I also (finally) made the decision to transition Henry from a crib to a toddler bed, and while it is a little nerve-wracking for me, he is enjoying it, especially that he can get in and out by himself and we can read together in bed instead of on the floor!

The Books

The Ship Beneath the Ice // Say You'll Remember Me // Dream Girl Drama // The Seventh Veil of Salome

Dark Matter (reread) // A Gentleman and a Thief // Unchain Me // Class Mom

Southern By Design // The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (reread)

The Posts and Reviews

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Before Dorothy

Recent Reads

Little Free Library Sighting: The Jersey Shore Edition, Part 4

Recent Reads

Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer TBR

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Overruled

Michele's Monday Picks #72

Release Event with Hazel Gaynor

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #73

How are you doing?

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Michele's Monday Picks #73

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little 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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These Summer Storms

By Sarah MacLean

Expected Publication: July 8, 2025

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean’s first foray into contemporary fiction, with a sharp, sexy novel about a wealthy New England family's long-overdue reckoning with hidden desires, destructive secrets…and one week that threatens to tear them apart.

Alice isn't like the other Storm siblings. While the rest stayed to battle for their parents' approval, attention, and untold billions, she left, building her own life beyond the family’s name and influence. Nothing could induce her to come back, except the shocking death of her larger-than-life father. Now back on the family’s private island off the Rhode Island coast, she plans to keep her head down, pay the last of her respects, and leave the minute the funeral is over.

Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his widow and their grown children a final challenge--an inheritance game designed to humiliate, devastate, and unravel the Storm family in ways both petty and life-altering. The rules of the game are clear: stay on the island for one week, complete the tasks, receive the inheritance.

One week on Storm Island is an impossible task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting dysfunctional chaos: Her older sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s incessant mansplaining. Her sister-in-law’s unapologetic greed. Her younger sister’s obsession with "vibes". Her mother’s penchant for stirring up competition between her children. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s enigmatic, unfairly good-looking, second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape the week unscathed.

A story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel is at once deliciously clever and surprisingly tender, exploring past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.

I have enjoyed Sarah MacLean’s historicals and am really excited for a contemporary from her! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

 Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey (2025)

Sig and Chloe's immediate attraction to each other faces a big problem when they soon realize they're about to be stepsiblings.  Knowing a relationship between them would be seriously taboo and may have serious consequences for their careers, the two try to stay away from each other, romantically at least.  But can they truly fight their feelings?  I didn't really feel the "forbidden love" aspect of this - being related by marriage is way different than being related by blood, and especially when I figured out how Bailey was going to get around the issue, it seemed like it was making too big a deal out of the stepsibling deal.  I loved the way Sig was so protective of Chloe and wanted to help her become independent from her mother, but Chloe was a bit frustrating at times - she knew NOTHING about how to live on her own.  Like, stop buying eye cream and pay your rent!  You seem like a shopaholic who has no regard for actual life responsibilities.  In any event, I also enjoyed the interactions with Sig's fellow sports guys - always good for a laugh!  And Bailey is killing it with the epilogues in this series - I love the glimpses into the future - they make me feel all warm and cozy! 3.5 stars

A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobb (2024)

During the 1920s, conman and thief Arthur Barry executed many heists, eventually stealing millions of dollars' worth of jewels.  His preferred method was to slip in and out of a house through an upper window, sometimes while the residents were downstairs eating dinner or even while they were sleeping just feet away.  Eventually, he was caught and sentenced to prison, but when his wife Anna became sick, he broke out so he could be with her.  This was an interesting, although sometimes repetitive, book.  It tells the life story of Arthur Barry in great detail and the many crimes he admitted to (and others he was suspected of).  Despite being a criminal, Barry came across as quite a gentleman, often dressing in a dapper suit and speaking politely to his victims.  Violence was a rarity for him.  His victims included some of the most famous people of the time; he was even accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby.  Fans of narrative nonfiction, true crime, and the Jazz Age will enjoy this book.  4 stars

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

Release Event with Hazel Gaynor

Last week, my sister and I headed to Thunder Road Books in Spring Lake, New Jersey, to attend a release event celebrating Hazel Gaynor and her newest book, Before Dorothy.  Hazel was in conversation with Kate, the store manager, and they talked all about Hazel's Wizard of Oz inspiration for the book, the research she did into the Dust Bowl to bring the setting to life, and what she's working on next (spoiler: nothing!  She's taking a much-deserved break to be with her family for awhile).  

The event took place in the store, and there were no more than 30 or so people in attendance, making it an intimate evening.  I like small events like these because they feel so personal.  Hazel was so lovely and charming and funny; her passion for this book really came through!  The audience was given time to ask some questions, as well.

After the interview, we were all given a chance to meet Hazel, chat for a minute, get the book signed, and snag a picture!  I always get a little star-struck and tongue-tied when meeting my favorite authors, and this was no exception.  But, I managed to squeak something out that was hopefully coherent!

We had a great time at this event and look forward to hopefully attending more there someday!

Michele's Monday Picks #72

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little 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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Seven Brides for Beau McBride

By Amy Barry

Expected Publication: July 2, 2025

From Goodreads:

From the beloved author of Kit McBride Gets a Wife and Marrying Off Morgan McBride comes a ‘sweet, hilarious and totally delicious’ love story (Hannah Grace). Beau McBride wants a wife, and his meddling little sister Junebug is itching to find him a mail-order bride. But why stop at just one?

Beau McBride reckons he’s ready for marriage. But his ego is bigger than his brain, and his little sister Junebug can’t trust him to find the right woman. So they make a bet, both placing ads in the Matrimonial News to find the perfect bride. Junebug is set on winning, but there’s a hitch: Beau has made his pick, and she’s beyond beautiful. Junebug knows looks ain’t everything, so to even the odds she invites six more women to meet her brother.

Ellie Neale doesn’t expect much from life. Which is good, since life hasn’t given her much, except a head full of daydreams and her beautiful best friend Diana. But after answering an ad to be a mail-order bride, Diana is leaving for Montana. Ellie is happy for her, really she is ... after all, she was the one who wrote Diana’s letters for her.

Ellie can’t bear the thought of losing Diana, so she answers an ad from a man in the same town her friend is headed for. But when they arrive, Ellie and Diana discover they’ve answered an ad for the same husband. Along with five other women.

With seven brides vying for Beau’s attention, he needs to make a decision – fast. The only problem is, his heart is pulled to the one woman who wants nothing to do with him.

I have loved this series so far and highly recommend the audiobooks! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Overruled

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

Overruled

Lana Ferguson

Expected publication date: July 1, 2025

Two divorce lawyers determined to share only beds but not hearts discover that love is something that can’t be overruled in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Game Changer.

Danica Pierce has one great love in her life: work. As one of the top divorce lawyers in Austin, Danica lets her caseload keep her warm at night and has no problem being married to her job, not when love only ends in hurt. When the biggest case of her career gives her a shot at making partner, it seems like nothing could possibly stand in her way...except for her infuriating secret: she's sleeping with the enemy.

Ezra Hart is known for charming his way in and out of a courtroom. In the matter of winning Danica Pierce's heart, however, he's been far less successful. With her verdict to keep things purely physical with no chance of appeal, Ezra struggles to show Danica he's more than the insufferable playboy she's pegged him to be--especially since they find themselves on opposing sides of Danica's most important case to date.

While Dani and Ezra battle it out in the courtroom, the real trial is the one happening between them. When Dani realizes that everything she knows of Ezra might be hearsay--and that she's not the only one with emotional baggage--she must choose between her fear of trusting again and the feelings blossoming between her and the man she thought was her worst enemy. - from Goodreads

Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer TBR

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is our summer TBR.  I've picked a mix of new and older titles, trying to hit both my unread shelf and my library!  Have you read any of these?  Where should I start?

Recent Reads

The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound (2024)

Ever since I learned about Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 27 being marooned on the ice near Antarctica in 1914-1915 following the sinking of their ship, Endurance, and ultimately all surviving the ordeal, I have been fascinated.  I was so happy to come across this book by Mensun Bound, which details his two expeditions to the site of the sinking to attempt to locate the Endurance at the bottom of the Weddell Sea.  Bound is an incredible storyteller, setting up the book in a sort of diary format of each day of the voyages, giving background on Shackleton and his voyage mixed with happenings from Bound's own.  Even if you don't know the entire Shackleton story, Bound does a great job of providing you with details both big and small.  He also explains the technology and science behind his own expedition in an easy-to-read way.  Readers will feel his disappointment at not finding the Endurance during the first trip and elation at the discovery during the second.  Overall, a must-read for Shackleton enthusiasts but also a great read for those new to the subject.  4.5 stars

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (2025)

After a not-so-meet-cute and an unforgettable first date, Samantha and Xavier decide a relationship between them can go no further, as Samantha is moving 2,000 miles away to help take care of her mother.  But, the two can't seem to forget each other and commit to making it work.  This was a rough one for me, not in that it was a bad story at all, but it was just so heavy and often sad.  I loved Samantha and Xavier together, and the way Jimenez juxtaposed their desire to make lasting memories and create a life together with the way Samantha's mom was being lost to dementia was especially poignant.  But their time together was often pierced with hardship, and it made me wonder if, despite their love for each other, it was really worth it.  It just seemed like hardly anything went right for them, and that made it a tough read.  I felt like Xavier was perhaps a little too perfect - yes, he had a terrible childhood, but as an adult, he always seems to say and do the right thing at all times and it felt unrealistic.  And with Samantha's family, I was a little confused at the beginning; we were just kind of dropped into their situation with not much explanation.  3.5 stars

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

Little Free Library Sightings: The Jersey Shore Edition, Part 4

It's always fun to see a Little Free Library "out in the wild!"  I love to spot them, browse their selection, leave a book if possible, and then look them up on the official website, because sometimes they have interesting stories to go along with them!  There's also an app you can download to find local Little Free Libraries where you can even "check in" to keep track of the ones you've visited!  We recently took a visit to Cape May, and I came prepared with a bag of books I wanted to donate and a list of the LFLs I wanted to see.  On previous trips to the area, I've checked in at a lot of the LFLs, but there were some I hadn't seen yet and a couple new ones, too!

#179685 - This LFL is called "The Library Across the Street From the Zoo," and that's exactly where it's located!  This was an easy stop after our trip to see Henry's peacocks (and the other animals, LOL!).

#194535 - This LFL is located in the parking lot of the Museum of Cape May County and was another easy drive from the zoo.  It had quite a few children's books in it!

#151169 - This was a cute little library in West Cape May.  Another well-stocked library!

#79479 - This library is called Lily & Sadie's Little Free Library and it has a lovely story associated with it: "Cape May, NJ is a wonderful beach community where people walk, bike, say hello to their neighbors and slow down to enjoy a good book. I wanted to share my love of reading with all who have the good fortune of spending a day, week or summer in our beautiful town."

#91966 - This LFL is located just a block or two away from the previous one and also has a great story: "We are voracious readers and I wanted a way to share my numerous books with other people especially visitors to Cape May who may be on vacation and forgot a book for the beach. This library is dedicated to my mother who loved reading and loved her local library and instilled a love of reading in her children and grandchildren. I am excited to have the opportunity to build our little library and enrich the lives of others in our community."

#186987 - A couple years ago, there was only one LFL on the island containing the towns of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and North Wildwood - now there's five!  We were able to visit two more of them on this trip, including this one.  I love the flags and the fact that they want everyone to have a book to read on the beach!

#188161 - This is another newer LFL in Wildwood Crest and I love the story behind it: "This Handmade Library was handmade for my birthday by my grandddaughter, Ginny Teufel. I encourage everyone to take anything that interests them and maybe bring something to donate."

Recent Reads

Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows (2023)

Millie is vying for a director position in her department at the museum when she starts taking notice of Finn, a coworker in a different department.  The two start spending more time together, leading Millie to wonder if she can have it all.  Although I loved the museum setting of this one, it was unfortunately a bit of a forgettable read for me.  Each time I picked it up, I really had to think hard about where I left off.  Millie and Finn each had some hard things going on in their lives (Millie coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship, Finn taking in his nieces after his sister passed away) and it was nice to see them support each other, but... I don't know.  The story felt overly long and yet not a lot happened.  The spicy scenes were very repetitive.  Ultimately, while there were some cute moments and good elements, this wasn't a winner for me.  3 stars

The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb (2024)

Cassidy lands a job as a personal assistant to an actress and her director husband but finds herself in a precarious position as the lines between their professional and personal boundaries blur.  Loved the idea of this one, the look at how the "other half" lives combined with a murder mystery, but the execution was seriously lacking.  The main character is so immature and the dialogue is absolutely cringe.  She's supposed to be a writer, but she sounds and acts like a teenager.  And this is yet another mystery/thriller where I found the reveal to be completely lackluster. I guess in theory it was a good twist, in that I didn't figure it out, but it came from so far out in left field that it was quite unbelievable.  Cassidy might be somewhat of an unreliable narrator, but the gaslighting and secrets involved were unfair to her.  3 stars

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