Weyward.

 

 

★★★★

 4.5 ★

I am a Weyward, and wild inside. 

 
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century. 

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom. 

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom. 

 🌷

 
A beautifully written debut novel about three extraordinary women. 

That is only one of the many aspects that describe this remarkable story. Weyward was a completely different story than I expected it to be, based on what I read in the summary. It surprised me in so many ways. I had heard about this book for some time, but that wasn't what pulled me in; it was the title and the cover. Weyward has a mysterious sound, which would make any reader curious and pick up. The first thing about the book that grabbed my interest was the title. The cover art is stunning, so even if the title didn’t grab your attention, the cover would. I liked how the author merged historical fiction and magical realism, and even though most of it was fantasy, the vivid descriptions made it seem real. As I read it, I was able to see everything. 

I enjoyed how it was told from several time periods. Typically, I prefer one character over the other when I read from different perspectives. In this case, I adored them all. I wondered how each of the characters might be related to one another. It might not always appear that way, but each of the women was strong; despite what was occurring and what they endured, they carried on fighting. Kate was the character I was most worried about; I anticipated her abusive boyfriend to find her every moment, and I knew what would happen if he did. I loved how each of the characters had a connection to nature. 

The character development was outstanding. Throughout the book, each of the characters undergoes significant transformations. I adored the magical world that the author created in this book. I found myself being able to connect with each of the characters. Halfway through the book, a few portions were slow for me, although this only lasted a few pages. I couldn’t get enough of this book; I found myself reading it for hours without realizing how much time had passed. I wish there were more parts from Altha's perspective, partly because that time and her story in general are fascinating to me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes reading historical fiction combined with magical realism. One of the best books, and I can't wait for the next one to come out.

A Flicker In The Dark.

 

 

★★★★★

 

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, her own father had confessed to the crimes and was put away for life, leaving Chloe and the rest of her family to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.
Now twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. 

While she finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to achieve, she sometimes feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. So when a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, seeing parallels from her past that aren't actually there, or for the second time in her life, is Chloe about to unmask a killer? 

 🌷

 
I see why people were talking about this book. 

I adored everything about this book, including the characters, writing style, and the story. This is one of the best debut novels I've read. I couldn't put this book down. I kept guessing who was behind all those murders, and just as I thought I had it figured out, another twist proved me wrong. A Ficker In The Dark is a novel that you won't be able to put down; once you start reading it, there isn't a single dull moment. I was captivated by the story from the first to the last page. The prologue draws you into the story and keeps you turning the pages. At some point, I had difficulty finding a place to stop since I wanted to see how Chloe's story would end. 

I liked how the story moved from past to present. It differed from works I read that contained past and present, and they tended to break up into then and now. In this case, it is more about Chloe's memory of events from 20 years ago. It felt like I was living in Chloe's thoughts, recalling everything she was. When teenage girls began disappearing again, I couldn't help but wonder who was responsible; I knew it couldn't be her father, given that he was in jail. The more I read, the more intrigued I became about who was behind it. A Flicker In The Dark is my type of thriller, with twists that keep you guessing till the last page. 

The book's second half included the most jaw-dropping turns I had read. I felt that I should have seen some of them coming, but they still surprised me. Once I turned the last page, I sat there for a while, analyzing the story and wondering what happened to the characters after, particularly Chloe. My only regret is not reading this book earlier. I’m eager to check out Stacy Willingham other books and see what other adventures she will take us on!

The Boxcar Librarian.

 

 

★★★★★

Thank you to publisher, William Morrow for providing me with ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

 RELEASE DATE: 03/04/2025

 

 

When Works Progress Administration (WPA) editor Millie Lang finds herself on the wrong end of a potential political scandal, she’s shipped off to Montana to work on the state’s American Guide Series—travel books intended to put the nation’s destitute writers to work. 

Millie arrives to an eclectic staff claiming their missed deadlines are due to sabotage, possibly from the state’s powerful Copper Kings who don’t want their long and bloody history with union organizers aired for the rest of the country to read. But Millie begins to suspect that the answer might instead lie with the town’s mysterious librarian, Alice Monroe. 

More than a decade earlier, Alice Monroe created the Boxcar Library in order to deliver books to isolated mining towns where men longed for entertainment and connection. Alice thought she found the perfect librarian to staff the train car in Colette Durand, a miner’s daughter with a shotgun and too many secrets behind her eyes. 

Now, no one in Missoula will tell Millie why both Alice and Colette went out on the inaugural journey of the Boxcar Library, but only Alice returned. 

The three women’s stories dramatically converge in the search to uncover what someone is so desperately trying to what happened to Colette Durand. 

 

 🌷

 
Where do I begin? 

This book captures everything I love about historical fiction. It's a beautifully written story that I couldn't put down, and I will recommend it to my friends once it's released in March. As you probably know, any novel focused on books is a must-read for me. I've read a few historical fiction books about books, but this one was unlike the others. I wasn't even aware of Boxcar Library, at least not back then, and it was a fascinating story to read; I even found myself doing some research after finishing the book because I wanted to learn more about it. I was captivated from start to end; part of me didn't want the book to end. I loved learning about the library's history. 

I loved that it took place in Montana. My grandparents used to live in Missoula, Montana, and I visited there several times and enjoyed reading about it. The descriptions were so detailed that I envisioned myself among Millie, Alice, and Colette in Montana. I enjoyed reading about each of the characters' views and different timelines. I enjoyed reading from each character's point of view, but Alice and Colette stood out the most for me. I was fascinated from the start about how the three characters would connect. I enjoyed reading their individual stories, but the way the characters intertwined flowed beautifully. 

I could tell how much research went into this book, and I learned so much from reading the book. It started out a little slowly, but only during the character introductions. After that, I struggled to find a stopping point because so much was happening. The Boxcar Librarian is the second book by Brianna Labuskes that I have read, but I have a couple more on my list that I am eager to read! Now I want to read her thrillers. For any fan of historical fiction who enjoys books about books, I highly recommend this.

Me Before You(Me Before You,#1)

 

 

★★★★★

 

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . . 

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is. 

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living. 

 

 🌷

 
Beautiful, heartbreaking, extraordinary. 

This book broke my heart into a million pieces, and now that I've read it, I understand why it's so popular. Although there is romance, Me Before You is much more than that. It's not the kind of romantic book I was expecting. This is the book I wish I had read sooner; it had me reading for hours while ignoring all my text messages. I could not get enough of Louisa and Will's story. Me Before You is a story I couldn't stop talking about with friends who have read it and recommend it to friends who haven't. I can't remember the last time I cried as much as I did when reading this book. I felt all the characters' feelings, particularly Louisa and Will. 

This story was real. This story completely blew me away and kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. The relationship between Louisa and Will was realistic; they didn’t fall in love at first sight. Initially, I was unsure if Louisa would survive the six months, and I think she might have given up if it weren't for her sister. Throughout the novel, I enjoyed seeing their friendship grow, and I believe I noticed that she had fallen for Will before Louisa did. I didn't like Will at the beginning of the book and thought he would make those six months miserable for her, but he surprised me. I found myself hoping and praying that she would find a way to change his mind. 

The plot begins slowly, but it quickly picks up. Afterward, I didn't want to stop. At the same time, I was concerned about the end because I had no idea how it would end, and part of me was terrified of how it would end. Me Before You will make you cry but also make you laugh and smile. There were quite a few times where scenes between Will and Louisa where I couldn’t stop smiling. This novel has some of the best character development; Louisa and Will are not characters you'll forget, and even the minor characters were memorable. There is more to say about this story, but I am still speechless. I'm curious about the next book in the series, especially given the last chapter. This is my second and favorite novel by Jojo Moyes, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next. This story will stay with me for a long time.

The Bookseller

 

★★★★

4.5 ★  

Thank you to publisher, Boldwood Books for providing me with ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

 RELEASE DATE: 03/03/2025

 

 

A woman with a dark past...

 
Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she's trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them - to rebuild her life and move on.
When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness - even if it is all lies.

 
But the past can never stay hidden…

 
As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen's new life and ruin everything she's built. 

But Helen has been killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again...

 🌷

 
I was hooked on the story from the first page. Every page and chapter left me wondering what would happen to Helen next. I wondered if Helen would be able to start her life fresh or if she would end up in prison again. From the beginning, I felt conflicted about Helen. Sometimes I really liked her, but her decisions throughout the novel made me wary of her. I also thought she was a little paranoid about everyone. I can understand why she was distrustful, especially given what happened with her boyfriend, Toby. Still, she appeared wary of everyone, including those attempting to help her and make her feel welcome. I was afraid that she would get in trouble that way, especially if she accused the wrong person. 

Moira, I didn't like her from the start. Something about her didn't seem right to me. She kept showing up at Helen's bookstore and overstaying her welcome. It did not appear professional to me, as if she was there for a completely different reason than checking up on Helen. Of all the book's characters, I was most suspicious of her. I liked the suspense in the novel; it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I made a few guesses about who was behind it, but I appeared to be wrong every time. 

I was intrigued about what Helen was hiding on the night she killed her partner. I even tried to figure out what it was. Of course, I liked the concept that it was set in a bookstore; I love reading books about books. This was my first book by Valerie Keogn, and I'm excited to see what other adventures she'll take us on. I strongly recommend it to any thriller fans!

Stillhouse Lake(Stillhouse Lake,#1)

 

 

★★★★★

Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom. With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace. 

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

 

 🌷

 
A haunting story that you won’t be able to put down. 

I had Stillhouse Lake on my reading list for years, and I remember hearing a lot about the novel. I don't read horror very often, but I enjoy mystery/thriller books, and this was one of the best I read this year. Stillhouse Lake has you hooked from the first sentence; the moment I read it, I had a bad feeling, but it was not what I expected. From the first chapter, I knew I had to find out what would happen. I couldn't put the book down; as the story progressed, it became more dramatic and suspenseful, making it difficult to put down. It kept me on the edge of my seat until near the end. I wondered who was to blame for the bodies in the lake several times, but another twist had me questioning everyone once again. 

I cannot image what Gwen was going through. I cannot image realizing that her husband was a serial killer, especially given where it happened. I despised the way everyone treated her and felt she played some role in the deaths. I see why they felt that, but they didn't give her the opportunity to explain; they assumed. My heart broke for her, and I was scared for her. I did not blame her for wanting to leave. I was hoping that Stillhouse Lake would be a place where Gwen could start fresh without running; I knew her children were tired of running. However, I felt her children didn’t know everything and weren’t aware of the danger. I loved how fierce Gwen was and the lengths she went through to protect her children. It was hard not to love her. 

This book's descriptions were so realistic that I could visualize them. I could picture myself at Stillhouse Lake and sensed Gwen's suspicion and fear. Most of the book was full of action, but the second half was the most suspenseful. I read for hours before bed to see what would happen. I read Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series years ago and loved it. I'm excited to see what happens in the next book, Killman Creek, especially with that end. It may be my next read.

We Solve Murders(We Solve Murders,#1)

 

 

★★★

 

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

 
Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job... 

Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy? 

 

 🌷

 I've been hearing about Richard Osman for a while, especially about his Thursday Murder Club series. I was curious to see what others liked about his writings, and I could see part of what they were talking about: the humor. I think that I had unrealistic hopes for this book when I reserved it at the library. It wasn't that I didn't like the book; I did, but not in the way I expected. I haven't read Thursday Murder Club yet, so I can't compare it to his earlier series. I like several aspects of the book, including some of the characters, particularly Steve, Amy, and Rosie, as well as the humor and mystery. It was engaging enough to have me interested in how it would end. 

I thought there were too many characters, and it was occasionally difficult to follow how one character changed to another. It became difficult for me to follow them at one point. I also felt like Bonnie had some unnecessary characters; her story didn’t relate to all the others, and I was just confused about why she was included. Because there were so many characters, I felt I couldn’t connect to most of them except Steve, Amy, and Rosie. I adored Steve, Amy, and Rosie, but Steve was my favorite; he made me laugh aloud multiple times. The three of them have the most character development out of all the characters. 

I liked the mystery, but I did feel like it dragged on a little bit too long. It kept my attention long enough that I wanted to keep reading. I am curious about what happens next, especially with Amy, Steve, and Rosie. This novel caught my interest enough that I want to check out Thursday Murder Club to see what kind of adventure he leads us on.

Tell Me It's Right(Sweetspire,#1)

 

 

★★★★

4.5 ★

Moving into my brother’s basement after graduating college isn’t the end of the world. 

But getting stuck working for his best friend just might be.

 
Aside from professionally getting under my skin, Liam Brooks owns the only tattoo studio in our perfect coastal town. He also happens to be the only person within a hundred-mile radius willing to employ me despite my shining resume. 

The truth is, he needs me too. 

So we make a truce for the I save his shop from financial ruin, and he does everything I say so I can use his business as a case study to land my dream job. Then I’m getting out of this town and never looking back. 

…Unless I find a reason to stay. 

 🌷

 
Heartwarming small-town romance. 

I loved everything about this novel, including the characters, their relationships, and the plot. My book club's topic for February was romance, and the novel selected was Tell Me It's Right. When I picked up the book, I wasn't sure what to expect because I hadn't read anything by Katie Wismer, but based on the synopsis, I knew I would enjoy this novel; but I hadn't expected to fall in love with the characters within the first few pages. This isn't the first small-town romance book I've read, but there was something about it... My emotions were all over the place while I read this story. I adored Liam and Gracie's bond from the start, and you could see they had something special. I found myself feeling the same joyful emotions as Gracie and Liam. I was rooting for two of them the entire time. 

Tell Me It's Right felt real; all the troubles that Gracie, Liam, and everyone were struggling with, were things that anyone could connect to. As a reader, I felt a strong connection with most of the characters, particularly Gracie, Liam, Leo, and Caroline, who were my favorites. I was unable to put Liam and Gracie's story down, and on a few occasions, I stayed up reading to see how their story unfolded and what would happen next. You won't be able to put this story down once you've started reading it, and you'll be thinking about it even when you're not reading it. Even after finishing it last night, I can't stop thinking about the story, and I find myself sharing it with my friends. 

The dual point of view in this book gives the reader a chance to connect with Liam and Gracie and get to know them better. I enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives. I adored Liam's bond with Leo and the Collins family; they treated him like a member of the family. Sweetspire was the kind of small town I could envision myself living in, which is why I adored it. I’m so glad that Tell Me It’s Right got picked for this month’s book club read, and I’m excited for the second book to come out in April. I also cannot wait to check out the rest of Katie Wismer’s books. I would highly recommend this to romance fans.

The Lies We Leave Behind.

 

 

★★★★

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Somewhere in the Pacific, 1943. Kate Campbell is a nurse who bravely flies back and forth from the front to rescue wounded soldiers, amid long days, harsh conditions and often dangerous weather. Driven by a deep personal need to help in the war effort, she is conflicted when an injury results in her reassignment to the relative comfort of the English countryside. 

Love has never been part of her plan, but despite herself, she falls for an officer with three bullet wounds, startling blue eyes and a wicked sense of humor. For the first time, Kate sees a future far from the horrors of war and hate. But before she can pursue it, a secret from her past calls her to duty, and she'll have to travel back into danger one more time to rescue a part of herself she'd left behind. But will she make it back? And will that future still be waiting for her if she does?

 

 🌷

 
A beautifully written story about love and courage. 

I loved the vivid descriptions and details in this novel; I could see myself in the scene as I read it. The Lies We Leave Behind is a captivating book that you will find difficult to put down. I could spend hours reading this book, and if it wasn’t for studying, I would have. Noelle Salazar has a way of drawing the reader into the story, especially with all the twists and turns. I thought I couldn't be more amazed and then the unexpected happened again. I did feel that there were more twists in the second half of the story than the first half. I was hooked into the novel from the first page, when a woman appears and leads William to reflect on his past, leaving me wondering what happened to Kate. And how did this woman know her? Dual timeline worked well in this book because it connected the two stories. 

I immediately connected with Kate and was rooting for her and William every step of the way. When Kate had to go unexpectedly, I prayed that nothing went wrong, and she would find her way back to him. I didn't like that she was not being honest with William, but I could see why she didn't tell him the truth. I was scared that all of those lies would make it more difficult to explain afterward. I hoped William loved her to understand it and forgive her. I admired Kate's determination. I can't image what she had to go through, especially in the second half of the book; I was scared she wouldn't make it through. I was praying for her every step of the way. 

I loved William and Kate's love story. I had previously read a WWII book in which a nurse fell in love with a soldier, but it did not have the same impact on me as their story. I believe they were meant to fall in love; to make it through the war. I couldn't quit thinking about the story even after I'd turned the last page. I was intrigued what happened afterward. Noelle Salazar been on my reading list for a while, and I can see why others are talking about her. Now that I have read her book, I’m eager to check out rest of her books!

The Pianist's Wife.

 

★★★★★

Thank you to publisher, Lake Union Publishing for providing me with copy via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

 RELEASE DATE: 02/04/2025

Berlin, 1944: Amira and Gisele have been best friends since they were children, and now Gisele is the only person who knows Amira’s secret. A secret that puts her and everyone she loves in unimaginable danger amid the daily horror and violence of Nazi Germany. 

With the threat of exposure drawing closer, Gisele’s suggestion that Amira marries her friend Fred, a famous pianist, might just be the lifeline she needs to keep them both safe. Because Fred has secrets too.
As the two strangers promise to look after each other, a profound love develops. But while the war rages on, Amira, Fred and Gisele are soon faced with terrible choices that will test their loyalty—and their courage—to the ultimate limits. How far will they go to keep each other alive? 

 🌷

 
Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and memorable are only a few words that describe this book. This was one of the most beautifully written books I'd read this year. 

I discovered Soraya M. Lane in 2019 and have read a few of her books since. I loved them all. I was excited when she announced that she was writing a new book. I loved so many aspects of this book, especially the story, which moved me in many ways. Despite its content, The Pianist's Wife is a book that will captivate you from start to finish. I was engrossed in Amira’s story when I picked up the book, and I felt myself being transformed into her world through the book. I was both excited and scared about what Amira would face next. I had no idea what to expect while reading this novel, and just when I thought I couldn't be more shocked, another unexpected twist changed everything. 

You couldn't help but love Amira. I adored her from the beginning. She may not have felt it, but she was strong. Amira endured many hardships simply because of who her mother was, yet she refused to give up. I was rooting for her every step of the way. . Part of me didn't want her story to end, primarily because I was frightened of how it would end. I wasn't initially sure about Amira and Fred; especially given why they married. It didn't take long for me to change my mind; their bond revealed how much they cared for one another. 

Sometimes, the book was difficult to read, and I had to take a break to reflect. I've read a few books set during WWII; it's one of my favorite subjects to read about, but The Pianist's Wife affected me the most. I loved Amira and Gisele's friendship; it was one of my favorite parts of the story. Gisele took great measures to preserve her friend's secret, showing the significance of true friendship. I could see how much research went into this book and learned a lot while reading it. I suggest this to anyone who loves historical fiction. I would rate it higher than 5 stars. It's one of my favorite reads this year.