Genre: Fiction


Three Story House by Courtney Miller Santo

Three Story House by Courtney Miller Santo

August 20, 2014 Reviews 0 ★★★★

Three Story House is a story about friendship, family and secrets, but most importantly facing our fears, and not hiding away hoping that they will disappear. When Lizzie’s mom gets married, she doesn’t just gain a step-father but an extended family that includes Elysse and Isobel. The same age, and born in the same month, the three girls become the best of friends, affectionately named the triplins (triplets + cousins) by family. As inseparable as they are when younger, they have taken three separate paths to adulthood, but they will always be there for each other when needed. 

Love Letters by Debbie Macomber

Love Letters by Debbie Macomber

August 13, 2014 Reviews 0 ★★★

Love Letters is the third book in the Rose Harbor series, and continues with the next batch of guests checking in who were introduced in the previous book – Maggie and Roy Porter, and Eleanor Reynolds. Using much the same formula as the previous two books (The Inn at Rose Harbor and Rose Harbor in Bloom), Love Letters uses alternating first and third person. Jo Marie’s chapters are first person narrative, and the story of the guests is told in the third person. 

The Oleander Sisters by Elaine Hussey

The Oleander Sisters by Elaine Hussey

August 8, 2014 Reviews 1 ★★★★

The Oleander Sisters was my vacation read and it was the perfect book for reading by the pool in the glorious sunshine. Elaine Hussey had me wholly immersed in 1960’s Mississippi in no time at all, and as soon as Emily was introduced I just fell in love with her character. The portrayal of her relationship with her son, Andy, was so endearing and believable. As was the relationship between the sisters – Emily and Sis. You just knew from the get-go that they would do absolutely anything for the other!

The Price of Inheritance by Karin Tanabe

The Price of Inheritance by Karin Tanabe

August 7, 2014 Reviews 2 ★★★★

The Price of Inheritance was another one of those glorious books where it is so good you never want it to end, but on the other hand you get so invested in the story and the characters that you just can’t read it fast enough. Hurrying to find out what happens next and wondering if it will end in just the way you hope.

Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn Dingman

Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn Dingman

August 6, 2014 Reviews, Uncategorized 1 ★★★★★

Cancel the Wedding caught be my surprise. It’s the fourth 5-star debut that I’ve read this year. First I thought maybe I’m becoming too generous with my 5-star ratings, but out of 51 books read so far this year only 11 have been 5-stars. That’s about 20% so I don’t think I’m becoming too generous. I came to the conclusion that since I started this blog, and began reading more books than ever, I had to become much more selective about the books I choose to read. Even when I am asked to review a book, if I don’t think I’m going to like it I will politely decline.

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

July 31, 2014 Reviews 9 ★★★★★

I am always on the look out for new authors to read. Whether debuts, or just new-to-me authors. If it’s a debut, even better. I can be one of the first to read it and then push the book into everyone’s hands. The Good Girl was first brought to my attention some time in April. I can’t recall how and I’m not usually drawn to covers with people on them, but this one just spoke to me. Then I read the synopsis and I just knew that The Good Girl was going to be a book I just couldn’t put down.

The Hundred-Year House by Rebecca Makkai

The Hundred-Year House by Rebecca Makkai

July 23, 2014 Reviews 1 ★★★★

The Hundred-Year House was full of twists and turns. Split into four sections, mysteries are unraveled as the years turn back. Starting in 1999, the reader is introduced to Zee, living in a coach house at Laurelfield manor which has been in her mom’s family for 100 years, and her husband who is an aspiring writer currently working on the memoir of a poet who famously resided at the manor when it was an art colony.

The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

July 10, 2014 Reviews 1 ★★★★

I have so many books to read that I try not to consciously add more to my never-ending list. But what happens when you find out an author you would love to meet is going to be signing her new book at your local bookstore in a few weeks? Well the only possible outcome to that question is read their books immediately. That’s exactly what happened when I discovered that Stephanie Evanovich will be at my local bookstore at the end of this month. Stephanie’s debut novel Big Girl Panties was super popular last summer, and I’ve wanted to read it ever since. So I dove right in and then followed… Read more »

Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

July 2, 2014 Reviews 2 ★★★★★

The first line of the synopsis sold me on Laura Lane McNeal’s debut Dollbaby, “A big-hearted coming-of-age debut set in civil rights-era New Orleans—a novel of Southern eccentricity and secrets.” I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion that I have a weakness for novels set in the South. Well, add in the 1960’s and I will pretty much read the book without knowing much else about it. Dollbaby was one such novel, as soon as I knew the setting and time period, I knew I had to read it. Add in an old mansion with locked rooms and family secrets and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put… Read more »

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

June 27, 2014 Reviews 1 ★★★★

One Plus One is the third Jojo Moyes book I have read this year. I adored Me Before You, Silver Bay was only okay and One Plus One fell somewhere between the two. Which is lucky for Jojo because that means I’ll give her another chance – I have The Ship of Brides to read soon.