Review originally published in Library Journal, June 2021. In 1869, Margaret Maher, 27, begins temporary maid service for the wealthy Dickinson family at stately yellow Homestead in Amherst, Massachusetts, with hopes to join her brothers in California. Mr. Edward Dickinson, the Squire, both a lawyer and college treasurer, deems Margaret essential, offering higher pay but… Continue reading Emily’s House by Amy Belding Brown

The Name Curse by Brooke Burroughs is set to be published by Montlake on August 31, 2021. Bernie, named after her great-aunt Bernice, is sort of a workaholic. After her family, friends, and even her boss encourage her to take some much needed vacation, she finds herself accepting a hiking adventure trip to Alaska, compliments… Continue reading The Name Curse by Brooke Burroughs

For the Love of Friends, publishes August 1st with Lake Union Publishing. This is a cute story with a lot of humor surrounding weddings and a girl who is always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Lily is one of the last in her friend group to be single and she's 32, which as far… Continue reading For the Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino

Librarian Laura's Review of Love Next Door Love Next Door is the first book in the new Lakeside series by Helena Hunting. The story takes place in lake side suburb of Chicago called Pearl Lake. If you've read any of the All In series by Helena, you'll be glad to hear about the Bowman's and… Continue reading Love Next Door by Helena Hunting

Librarian Laura's Review of Totally Folked Totally Folked is the first book in the new Good Folk series by Penny Reid, publishing July 20th 2021. It can be read as a standalone, but can also be enjoyed even more when read as a companion novel to Penny's Winston Brothers series, all of which are set… Continue reading Totally Folked by Penny Reid

Grandma and I, October 1999 Note: This post is not about a book. It is, however, about a woman who loved literature and the written word just as much, if not more than, myself. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into one of God's most precious gifts for my life: my Grandma. If I only… Continue reading For You, Grandma

Falling by TJ Newman Pub Date: July 6, 2021 Wow! This is an expertly plotted nail-biting thriller that I read cover to cover in one day. The author was a flight attendant so the descriptions of everything inside the plane and cockpit is authentic and accurate. Falling is a debut novel and highly impressive one,… Continue reading Falling by TJ Newman

We Are Inevitable is a beautiful story about a 19 year old boy, Aaron, and his father, Ira, trying to keep their family bookstore, Bluebird Books, afloat and hold what remains of their family together after the horrific loss of a family member due to overdose. Forman writes with both trademark wit and passionate prose,… Continue reading We Are Inevitable by Gayle Forman

Jessica is once again left by a man who she thought was "The One", when her second husband leaves her in order to move back near his family and away from the cold winters of upstate New York. Fifty-something Jess has now been divorced twice. Though they part amicably and she keeps their dog, Penny,… Continue reading A Girl Like You by Cari Scribner

Glitter will publish on June 21, 2021! Miriam Bathurst, 18, reluctantly leaves behind her beloved 12 year old sister Whitney, who walks with a limp due to a fall from a horse, to move to London with her Uncle Alfred and Aunt Harriet. After their father passed away, the girls were left with his huge… Continue reading Glitter by Abbi Glines