Month in Review: March 2026

 

March was a fun month!  We took advantage of our zoo membership and went one weekend; it was a little chilly, so we didn't see all the animals, but we still had fun!  We've signed Henry up for tball, so we got ready for that - picked up his equipment, met his coach, and started practicing in the backyard.  Tom and I have been toying with the idea of joining Kiwanis, a service organization (we met doing volunteer work in Circle K, the college level of Kiwanis), and since there are a couple clubs in our general area, we've been going to various meetings and events trying to figure out which club would be the best fit for us.  We did a Project Linus service project with one club where we made fleece blankets for kids, and Henry had a great time practicing his scissor skills and charming all the ladies in the room, ha!  We also went to Medieval Times for a Kiwanis get-together, and Henry loved being back at the castle!

The Books

Northeaster // Gradchanted // This Is Not a Game // Tinker Bell

Meet Me on the Bridge // White Widow // The Forgotten Sister // The Memory Collectors

What Happened Next // The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie

The Posts and Reviews

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #90

Review: My Name is Rusha

Michele's Monday Picks #91

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Write Off

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Storm Edition

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Adventure Is Out There!

Blog Tour + Review: Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue

How are you doing?

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

Blog Tour + Review: Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue

Today I'm partnering with WOW! Women on Writing to celebrate the release of Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue by Ellie Ross!  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Summary

How does a bubble-blowing dragon make his very first friend?

In the magical land of Lickitypop, Dibs the Dragon hears a tiny cry for help from the sticky syrup swamp and discovers Mooch, a marshmallow mole who is very, very stuck. With a licorice vine, a bit of bravery, and a whole lot of heart, Dibs leaps into action—and begins a friendship that will change everything.

This gentle, whimsical picture book is filled with kindness, imagination, and cozy read-aloud moments that celebrate the joy of helping others and the magic of making friends.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, or cozy-color enthusiast, this sweet story is sure to become a beloved favorite on your shelf—and a magical introduction to the Lickitypop series.

Purchase a copy of Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue on Amazon. Be sure to also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

Dibs the Dragon is kind and helpful, but he's a little lonely and is looking for a best friend.  One day he finds Mooch, a marshmallow mole, stuck in syrup, and he uses his ingenuity to rescue him, leading to an inseparable friendship.  This book was so adorable!  The illustrations are colorful and whimsical, and it has a great message for kids - there's a friend out there for everyone, and it's also really good to be kind and helpful to others!  Dragons, candy, and a sweet story with a lovely message - what more could you ask for in a children's book?

5 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Adventure Is Out There!

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

Adventure Is Out There!

Liz Braswell

Expected publication date: April 7, 2026

Adventure is out there in Disney’s New York Times best-selling A Twisted Tale series that asks, “What if it was Ellie who went UP to Paradise Falls?”

16-year-old Ellie Mullins is fed up. Sure, for some, life in small town Americana is idyllic. Nothing but picket fences and USO dances and holiday parades. But Ellie has long dreamed of towering mountains and tangled jungles and most of all…traveling to the incredible South American landmark, Paradise Falls.

Ellie thought these dreams made her strange, until she met her sweet best friend Carl (when he promptly broke his leg in her clubhouse). Carl is Ellie’s closest confidante. He’s also the only able to talk her off the ledge. But things between them seem weird lately as Ellie grows increasingly frustrated with his quiet way of doing things. And is it just her, or are there new feelings bubbling up between them?

Then Ellie begins her dream internship at the local zoo, where the flashy millionaire owner organizes an expedition to the Paradise Falls to collect new specimens. But the star newcomer, a bird given to him by Charles Munz himself, doesn’t adjust well to his new home and Ellie is put in charge of its hopeless-seeming recovery. Carl advises Ellie to laylow, to not make waves. But that’s not something Ellie has ever been good at. And when an opportunity comes for a last minute, emergency rescue mission, she decides to take it.

Will Ellie’s impulsiveness finally get the better of her? Or will she get the adventure she always wanted . . . and at what cost? - from Goodreads

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Storm Edition

 Northeaster: A Story of Courage and Survival in the Blizzard of 1952 by Catherine Pelletier (2023)

In 1952, a huge snowstorm hit New England, and Maine in particular, and Northeaster tells the true stories of what happened to several real people during those days.  The narrative flows in a chronological way and moves from person to person, giving you brief insights before revisiting them later.  Pelletier covers a wide range of individuals, from teenagers, to housewives/mothers, to soldiers.  Where I live experiences occasional blizzards and northeasters, so in one sense I was able to relate to the individuals, although I've never been in a storm of this magnitude, with snowdrifts piling 20 feet high, causing people to be trapped for days, so many of the stories were also shocking to me.  There were so many instances of neighbors helping neighbors, people helping strangers, doctors going above and beyond to help their patients.  However, be prepared because not every story has a happy ending.  4 stars

This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen (2025)

A grandmother and granddaughter are trapped at a lavish estate when a snowstorm crops up during a party, and to make matters worse, the party host is found dead in her room.  With the police unable to get there during the storm, the duo takes it upon themselves to investigate the murder.  Although not without its issues, this was a fun little murder mystery.  Grandmother Mimi is blackmailed into going to her neighbor's charity auction/party, and she invites her granddaughter Addie to go with her.  Addie is the co-inventor of a popular murder mystery video game, so she believes this gives her experience in crime solving.  In any event, the two interview suspects and look for clues, while the bodies continue to pile up.  I did think the story moved kind of slowly, and I couldn't get a good read on Mimi - although she doesn't seem like a loving grandma, she is also consistently referred to as someone that people are drawn to and open up to.  Kinda contradictory.  But, the story had its humorous moments and I did not guess the killer, so there's that!  3.5 stars

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

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Write Off

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

The Write Off

Kara McDowell

Expected publication date: April 7, 2026

Two rival authors are forced to confront a decade of love and heartbreak on the campus where it all started in this captivating debut romance by Kara McDowell.

It’s been thirteen years since Mars Darling first met West Emerson on a bench outside their writing class. What started out as a friendly rivalry turned into a best friendship and then, for a brief time, a romance. Now over a decade later, as Mars stands at their college campus as a once-esteemed YA fantasy author, ready to take on a book festival, she comes face to face with West—the muse behind her infamous trilogy’s heartthrob hero, the man who betrayed her in the worst way.

Mars is determined not to let her comeback tour be ruined by the fact that West is also at the festival as an author. But the longer they are on the campus that holds so many shared memories, the more time they have to untangle their past, and Mars starts to question if maybe it’s not only her writing career that deserves a second chance.

Told in two unfolding timelines—Mars and West’s frenzied college days where they grapple with their undeniable connection, and their tension-filled present of heartache and familiar yearning—this charming romance shows that while you can’t rewrite the past, it’s never too late to chase your happily ever after and get back the one that got away. - from Goodreads

Michele's Monday Picks #91

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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The Geomagician

By Jennifer Mandula

Expected Publication: March 31, 2026

From Goodreads:

When a Victorian fossil hunter discovers a baby pterodactyl, she vows to protect him with the help of a fellow scholar—her former fiancé—in this enchanting and transporting historical fantasy.

Mary Anning wants to be a geomagician—a paleontologist who uses fossils to wield magic—but since the Geomagical Society of London refuses to admit women, she’s stuck selling her discoveries to tourists instead. When an ancient egg hatches in her hands, revealing a loveable baby pterodactyl Mary names Ajax, she knows this is the kind of scientific find that could make her career—if she’s strategic.

Mary contacts the Society about her discovery, and they demand to take possession of Ajax. Their emissary is none other than Henry Stanton, a distinguished (and infuriatingly handsome) scholar... and the man who once broke Mary's heart.

Henry claims he believes in the brilliant Mary, and that he only wants to help her obtain the respect she deserves. She knows she can't trust her fellow scholars, who want to discredit her and claim Ajax for their own—but can she even trust Henry, who seems intent on winning Mary back?

Now Mary has a new mystery to solve that's buried deeper than any dinosaur She must uncover the secrets behind the Society and the truth about Henry. As her conscience begins to chafe against her ambition, Mary must decide what lengths she’s willing to go to finally belong—and what her heart really wants.

This book sounds so unique! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Review: My Name is Rusha

My Name is Rusha

Tirusha Dave

Published February 8, 2026

Rusha is a joyful, curious little girl who loves to play, learn, read, dance, and make new friends. But one day, when someone says her name the wrong way, Rusha feels a little unsure. Is her name really that hard to say?

With courage, kindness, and a big heart, Rusha learns that her name is special — and that her voice matters. As she gently teaches others how to say her name correctly, Rusha discovers something important: being yourself is something to be proud of.

This is a story about her name, her voice, and her bright heart that shines just the same.

Perfect for children ages 3–7, this beautifully illustrated picture book encourages:

• Confidence and self-expression
• Respect for names and identities
• Kindness, empathy, and friendship
• Early conversations about diversity and inclusion 

Whether read at home, in classrooms, or during storytime, My Name is Rusha is a heartwarming reminder that every name deserves care — and every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. -  from Amazon

Recently, Tirusha, a friend of mine who is also an early childhood education professional and content creator, had her first children's book published! So, of course we had to get a copy of it and add it to our home library! 

My Name is Rusha tells the story of young girl whose name is mispronounced.  At first she's a little upset, but then she remembers that her name is an important part of who she is and she proudly explains to her friends how to pronounce it.  

This book is absolutely adorable!  The illustrations are bold and colorful, totally engaging for younger readers.  The story is told in simple rhyming sentences, letting children easily follow along.  But most importantly, it has a great message.  Rusha is a little girl who many children will relate to, in the way she likes to dance, read, and play with her friends.  But, she also has a name that some children might not have heard before - and that's ok!  It's a chance for children to both learn from and teach others about identity, culture, and the things that make us perfectly, uniquely "us!"

5 stars

Michele's Monday Picks #90

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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This Will Be Interesting

By EB Asher

Expected Publication: March 24, 2026

From Goodreads:

Set in the same magical, madcap world as E. B. Asher’s USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun, this heartwarming, hilarious fantasy follows an unlikely band of heroes who must get to the bottom of an assassination plot gone wrong without breaking the one rule of do not fall in love with your questmates. 

Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”

River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.

Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.

Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this quest: no romance.

But we all know how this ends, don't we?

Filled with dangerous impersonators, the inimitable power of friendship, and the realm’s most infamous horseball championship, This Will Be Interesting is a slow burn, cozy, and hilarious quest romantasy.

I read the first book in this series last year and absolutely fell in love! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave (2025)

Maya is a new mom, struggling in her new role while also trying to maintain her job as CEO of her company.  When she meets successful entrepreneur Liz Anderson, she finds Liz might have the answer to all her problems - a pill that erases her feelings of guilt, allowing her to move forward without constantly second-guessing herself.  But the pill comes with some major downsides, and Maya finds herself on the brink of losing it all.  I thought portions of this book were really relatable - I think most working moms feel a struggle between their personal and professional lives, feeling like they're never able to fully give 100% to either without the other suffering.  So, I enjoyed those messages, even if it was a little heavy-handed at times.  I had to laugh at some of the double standards between Maya and her husband, too.  The climax of the book went a little off the rails for me, unfortunately, but overall, this was a decent read.  3.5 stars

Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich (2025)

Julie is a middle-aged woman who believes her co-worker, 25-year-old Sean, is her soulmate - the problem is, he's with someone else.  But Julie isn't about to let that get in her way; she'll help Sean "escape" his relationship, even if it means resorting to murder.  This book was so fun - I mean, I know that's weird to say about a serial killer story - but it's true!  Julie is so deliciously delusional, finding meaning in the smallest things, and constantly convincing herself that men are in love with her and need her help in getting out of their current relationships.  The way Julie sees herself and the way others see her are so drastically different, it was comical at times.  I felt a bit sorry for her, because she's just looking for connection, but instead of it happening organically, she misinterprets everything, making for some very cringey and awkward moments.  The story moved a tad too slowly, especially when the reader just wants to know if Julie is ever going to have to take responsibility for her actions.  4 stars

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

Month in Review: February 2026

 

February was a pretty mixed month!  I took my niece on her annual birthday outing - Panera and Barnes & Noble, with a stop at a craft store, too!  I had my yearly physical and unfortunately the results were not what I hoped, so I have some work to do!  I celebrated Valentine's Day with my guys and we also volunteered that day, cooking a meal for a homeless shelter.  Then, we had the blizzard!  More than a foot of snow was dumped.  Thankfully, it is starting to warm up and the snow is melting!

The Books

Crash Landing // A Killer Getaway // The House of My Mother // The Geographer's Map to Romance

The Guilt Pill // Everyone is Lying to You // A Sea of Unspoken Things // Maya & Natasha

The Teacher // Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath

The Posts and Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #88

Recent Reads: The Amsterdam Edition

Blogger Love!

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #89

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Social Media Edition

Can't-Wait Wednesday: No Matter What

Recent Reads: The Twin Edition

How are you doing?

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

Recent Reads: The Twin Edition

 A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (2025)

James and Johnny Golden were twins who always had a strong connection.  When he is killed in what is thought to be a tragic accident, James must return to their small hometown to settle his affairs.  While there, she realizes there is more to Johnny's accident than there first appeared.  Although it felt overwritten at times, and there was too much pushing to show Johnny as this mysterious, brooding man, I enjoyed this book.  It's not a heart-pounding mystery/thriller - it's a quiet exploration of James as she confronts her past and strives to learn what happened to her brother.  There are some light supernatural elements and the conclusion to the story did surprise me, although I also can't say that the revelations were totally satisfying.  4 stars

Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham (2025)

Maya and Natasha are twins born to and abandoned by their ballerina mother in the mid-20th century in Russia.  The girls grow up with the intention to both be ballerinas, but when the critical moment arrives, only one can be chosen for the premier company.  Throughout the years, Maya and Natasha both must decide if they should look out for themselves or the person they love most in the world.  This was such a captivating novel - although I sometimes had issues with the dialogue not feeling authentic, the story and characters drew me in.  Maya and Natasha are twins but still rather different, and they face an uphill battle with the restrictive society they've been born into.  Both sisters make choices that seem unforgivable, but in the end, can they find their way back to each other?  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to discover what would happen to the twins next.  4.5 stars

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

Can't-Wait Wednesday: No Matter What

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

No Matter What

Cara Bastone

Expected publication date: March 3, 2026

Can love draw them together... again?

After a traumatic accident threatens the foundations of their happy marriage, a young couple tries to rebuild and find their way back to each other, and themselves, in this tender, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not and Promise Me Sunshine.

Roz and Vin can’t look each other in the eyes anymore, let alone share a bed. It’s been a year since they survived a traumatic car accident and their marriage hasn’t been the same. But Roz has held out hope they can fix things…until she discovers Vin signed a new lease. So she does what any soon-to-be-divorced-Brooklynite would sign up for figure drawing class.

Between her determined attempts to improve her skills in class every Friday and adventures with her best friend Raffi, she can almost ignore Vin’s impending move out date and his footsteps in their previously unoccupied guest room. But it would all be a lot easier if Vin wasn’t Raffi’s older brother, and she didn’t still find him incredibly, debilitatingly attractive and kind.

So kind, in fact, that he offers to let Roz draw him. What is she supposed to say? It’s probably better than her original plan of finding some random male model online, and she needs all the practice she can get. Plus, that’s sure to make a separation easier right? Focus on every detail of your estranged spouse’s body while drawing them in the nude. But after the year they have spent avoiding each other and their struggles in the aftermath of the accident, it feels good to see and be seen by one another again.

As Roz works to better herself as an artist and capture the wholeness of the person she fell in love with, will they both be able to draw upon the feelings they buried deep inside to finally heal together? - from Goodreads

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Social Media Edition

The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke (2025)

Ruby Franke turned her children's lives into a YouTube sensation with her channel 8 Passengers, but no one truly understood what her children were going through until she was imprisoned for child abuse and her oldest daughter, Shari, told the story.  In this memoir, Shari recounts the years of pain, embarrassment, and abuse she and her siblings endured and Ruby's disturbing involvement with the life coaching program ConneXions, which only seemed to make everything worse in their house.  I've never seen 8 Passengers, but I watch a lot of commentary videos on the downsides of family vlogging and this channel is often referenced.  It's so sad to hear about what this mother put her children through, portraying herself as the perfect mom while her children's lives and privacy were being monetized.  Shari is so brave for wanting to tell this story and also telling it in her own voice for the audiobook.  It can't have been easy to relive all that.  4 stars

Everyone Is Lying To You by Jo Piazza (2025)

Former college friends Bex and Lizzie reunite years later when Bex, now a super-successful tradwife influencer, invites Lizzie, a journalist, to an influencer conference to write about a huge upcoming deal of hers.  While there, Bex's husband is found murdered on their idyllic ranch, and then Bex (and her children) disappear.  It's up to Lizzie to clear Bex's name and find her before it's too late.  I'm a sucker for social media-related stories, and it was so interesting to get this behind-the-scenes look at the "real" life of an influencer - the work and, of course, all the lies that go into it.  I liked that we got both Lizzie's and Bex's POVs, and the pacing was pretty good.  Some of the twists and reveals were shocking, others more expected, but what was maybe most intriguing (and disturbing) was the amount of manipulation going on, the lengths that people will go to in order to gain some power, fame, and money.  4 stars

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

Michele's Monday Picks #89

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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All We Have is Time

By Amy Tordoff

Expected Publication: February 24, 2026

From Goodreads:

In this fresh and entrancing debut novel that is perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Ministry of Time, a jaded immortal woman and a time traveler fall in love across the centuries, learning what it means to really live and love before their time together runs out. 

1605, London. Beatrix lives a solitary life in the shadows, wandering the city streets looking for ways to forget. Forget that everyone she has ever loved has been dead for nearly a century. Forget that, for her, love can only ever mean loss. Because Beatrix has a secret: a lifetime ago her deathbed wish was granted, making her immortal. 

Until one day, while picking pockets amid the raucous crowds of Shakespeare's Globe, she meets Oliver. They spend a single, perfect day together before he tells her that he has to leave. She’s not surprised; eternity is a lonely place. 

When Beatrix and Oliver meet again by chance a century later, recognition hits her like a bolt of lightning. It’s impossible. He’s impossible. Just like her. A chance for Beatrix to truly live – and love – again sparks into existence.

Woven between the biggest events in history and the quiet moments lost to it, from London in 1605 to Woodstock in 1969 and beyond, All We Have Is Time is an unforgettable love story for anyone who believes love can rewrite the rules of time.

I thought this sounded so unique! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

A Killer Getaway by Sienna Sharpe (2025) 

Every summer, Lily travels to a luxury resort in the Caribbean to work as a lifeguard.  And every summer, someone at the resort dies.  This year, though, a journalist is asking questions about the deaths, and as much as Lily is attracted to him, she also doesn't want to get caught.  This was such an interesting read!  It's part mystery, part thriller, and part romance - a little bit of everything!  I loved getting to know Lily and her reasons for returning to the island each year.  She's been through a lot, and she wants to stop toxic people from continuing to hurt others.  But Daniel is intent on finding out what's going on at the resort.  I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen - would Lily get caught?  Would she and Daniel get a happily ever after?  4.5 stars

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid (2025)

Exes Piper and Wyatt are on their way to a destination wedding when their private plane crash lands on a deserted island.  When the two have to rely on each other to survive, will all their old feelings come flooding back?  I had such high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it was a letdown.  I love the premise, the fact that they only have each other on this deserted island, but the execution was painful.  The writing was clumsy and clunky; the characters were immature.  It felt like the author couldn't pin down who Wyatt was - was he a stoic hero or a giddy little boy?  Even the flashbacks to their high school relationship were disappointing - their romance was so short-lived, it was cringey to think that Piper was still so hung up on it.  I get that teenagers make a big deal out of everything, but it felt like overkill.  I did enjoy the survival stuff, and Piper did grow a lot over the course of the story, finally admitting to herself and her parents that medical school was not the road she wanted to go down.  But overall, this was not the book for me.  3 stars

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

Blogger Love!

Since I haven't done it in awhile and we are so close to Valentine's Day, I thought it would be nice to spread some love about the book blogging community and share some of my favorite bloggers!  I'm so grateful to be a part of this book blogging community - there's so much love and support, and this is just a small list (in no particular order) of some wonderful people!

Christina at Confessions of a Book Addict

 

Sam at We Live and Breathe Books

Aj at Read All The Things!

Stephanie at Bookfever

Alicia at A Kernel of Nonsense

Lindsey at Lindsey Reads

Jordan at Forever Lost in Literature

Erin at Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs

Kay at Kay's Reading Life

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

Recent Reads: The Amsterdam Edition

 What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2025)

Dani heads to Amsterdam to hopefully get a fresh start in life but doesn't expect to run into Wouter, the foreign exchange student hosted by her family years earlier and who also ended up being her first love.  Their relationship didn't end well, but now Wouter has a proposition for Dani - if they get married, she'll get to stay in Amsterdam and he'll inherit his family's historic house along the canal.  Although they mean to stay professional about it, old feelings start bubbling up.  While I normally don't get on board with second chance romances, I liked this one.  Dani and Wouter were so young when they first dated, and now they're all grown up and very different people.  Yet, they still seem to understand each other.  However, my favorite part of the book was the "trip" to Amsterdam we got to take.  You can definitely tell that Solomon loves living there in real life and was eager for Dani to learn all about it.  4 stars

The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle (2025)

Two women are drawn into the Amsterdam diamond industry when an employee of a prestigious diamond house is found murdered.  One woman is the one-night stand who was there during the murder; the other is the wife of the dead man's boss.  Who killed Xander, and where are the missing diamonds?  This was an interesting mystery - the inside look at the diamond industry was fascinating.  I liked that we got to see two different sides of the story with chapters from both Rayna (the one-night stand) and Willow (the wife).  I did find the pacing a bit slow and the reveals were too drawn out, but there were definitely lots of twists and turns and the ending did surprise me.  4 stars

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

Month in Review: January 2026

 

January was a fairly quiet month.  We all went back to school and work after a nice break.  Work for me was busy as we had a deadline this month that I was involved in.  A big snowstorm dropped almost a foot of snow on us, which is still hanging around because it has been bitterly cold and nothing is melting!  The highlight of the month was a family trip to Medieval Times - our knight didn't win, but we all had a blast!

The Books

And Then There Was You // When the Moon Hits Your Eye // Pitcher Perfect // A Queen's Match

One Italian Summer // Any Trope But You // The Family // The Wager

What Happens in Amsterdam // The Expat Affair

The Posts

My Favorite Books of 2025!

2025 Reading Year in Review!

2025 Goals Recap

Michele's Monday Picks #86

Michele's 2025 Reading Wrap-Up!

Henry's Shelves #10: New Additions

2026 Goals

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Tudor Edition

Michele's Monday Picks #87

Can't-Wait Wednesday: She Made Herself a Monster

Recent Reads

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Charter Books

Recent Reads

How are you doing?

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