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

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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

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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.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Before Dorothy

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

Before Dorothy

Hazel Gaynor

Expected publication date: June 17, 2025

Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

Chicago, 1924: Emily Gale and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago behind for the promise of their own American dream. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.

Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have made a life in the warmth of the community of Liberal, Kansas, and among the harsh beauty of the prairie. Their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.

The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and their much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of Dorothy.

Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the what is the true meaning of home? - from Goodreads

Month in Review: May 2025

 

May was so busy for us!  Tom and I went to see Thunderbolts, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  We met my sister and her family for a day at a Strawberry Festival.  The weather wasn't really great, but we at least got to explore some local shops and play some lawn games.  My mom came from Oklahoma for a visit and it was so nice to be able to catch up with her in person.  She was here for Mother's Day, which was extra special.  After that, we took our 3rd annual trip to Cape May for a long weekend with some of Tom's family.  We went to the zoo, walked along the promenade, flew a kite on the beach, visited the lighthouse... it was a jam-packed weekend!  We had some family over for Memorial Day, and it was a beautiful day to spend outside.

Lately, Henry is obsessed with balloons, bubbles, and peacocks - he likes to pretend he's a peacock by screeching and "opening his feathers," it's adorable!  He has also gotten really good at posing for pictures! 

The Books

Wild and Wrangled // The Indifferent Stars Above // Middle of the Night // So This Is Love

A Hundred Summers // Part of Your World // Lady Macbeth // Give Me Butterflies

The Hollywood Assistant

The Posts and Reviews

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #69

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #70

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Atmosphere

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: The Lahaska Bookshop

Michele's Monday Picks #71

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Slow Burn Summer

Recent Reads

How are you doing?

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