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The Christmas Inn-A Cape Cod second chance romance

320 pages St. Martin’s Griffin publisher September 24, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Explore this delightfully cozy and joyful novel of second chances at the most wonderful time of the year, from USA Today bestselling author Pamela Kelley.

A feel-good novel as delightful and comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, The Christmas Inn is bestselling author Pamela Kelley’s most heartwarming and magical book yet.

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits, but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more―a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve seen this premise in a book before, but you know what? It worked and I really enjoyed the book. A warm hug of a Hallmark type Christmas book. It’s clean, calm, not really any drama but It’s a book you’d want to share with your mother or grandmother.

When AI makes Riley Sanders redundant at her job it isn’t what she was planning on having happen, especially right before Christmas. I guess if there’s such a thing as perfect timing at the wrong time it would be now. Jobless right before Christmas Riley finds her mother has broken her leg and needs helping to run her Christmas Inn. Packing her cat and little else she welcomes the change of scenery as she’s now back in her hometown helping her mother.

Memories fade but don’t disappear as she sees her former high school love staying for the Christmas season at her mother’s inn. As the snow falls and the fire crackles at the Cape Cod inn, Aidan is happy to help Riley and her mother with some of the heavy work at the inn all the while remembering their high school romance.


Aiden is there with his son Luke and has a hard time at Christmas as his wife passed away a few years ago but he wants to make it as happy as possible for his son.


Riley is in a relationship with a financial guy, a mover and shaker who believes making partner and working long and then even longer hours is more important than any relationship.

When things seem to be going well with Riley and her rekindled relationship with Aiden she needs to step back and reevaluate not only her relationship with Jack but job wise as well.


I enjoyed meeting Beth, Riley’s mother a friendly woman who just may be getting a second chance at a romance as well, later in life. Warm, friendly and perfect for that hot chocolate with cookies reading.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women’s fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you’d want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There’s also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two.

Feel free to sign up for her list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available as well as extras like early bird discounts. Just cut and paste into your browser, http://eepurl.com/IZbOH

Enjoy your weekend. Thanks for stopping in.

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A Christmas in Prague: A gorgeously festive later in life romance 

273 pages Hera publisher Sep 5,2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if a last wish could mean a new love?

When Olivia’s beloved Aunt Grace passes, she leaves everything to her niece, with one condition: Travel to Prague and deliver a message to Grace’s long-lost true love, Marek.

The trouble is, Olivia’s world is getting smaller. Since her husband left her one heartbreaking Christmas Eve, she has found even getting into town a challenge, let alone travelling by herself to a different country.

But this is one adventure she has to take, if she is to honour Grace.

The snowy, magical city of Prague slowly starts to awaken her festive spirit, and as Marek’s nephew, Tomas, shows her around the gorgeous Christmas markets, Olivia begins to feel she can truly live again.

Grace never had her chance at love, but might Olivia’s secret Christmas wish come true and grant her a second chance at romance?

Photo by Esther on Pexels.com

MY THOUGHTS

When you read a book by a new to you author and you’re just blown away. Now I realize I have a lot of catching up to do.


This book may have made me wipe a few tears away and more than ever I realize not to let a once in a lifetime opportunity slip away. Oh, my heart! The perfect book with all the feels, such a charming and delightful book that had me smiling the whole while I read it.


I’ve never read a book taking place in Prague and my journey was full of delightful scenery, fun customs, delicious foods and enchanting dialogue.
Olivia is devested when her Aunt Grace passes. She was like a grandmother to her, and they were very close. She is set to inherit everything her aunt owns but must first pass on a message to her aunt’s lost true-love, Marek.


Having never been to Prague she really doesn’t want to go but her aunt’s solicitor talks her into it. Jumping on a plane to Prague at Christmas time is not idea with the business but is preferable to sitting around thinking about her divorce she has recently gone through.


Finding Mareck is not easy but does happen, well his family anyways as they say he has passed years ago. Mareck was her Aunt Grace’s lost love but circumstances beyond their control kept them apart and Olivia was to give him a last message from her aunt.


As she meets Marek’s nephew, Tomas she starts to once again come alive after being belittled and made to feel inadequate in her marriage. Oh, I loved the Christmassy descriptions of Prague. It was so refreshing to see Olivia regain her self-confidence with Mareck’s family as they go through letters sent by her aunt so long ago.

Will Tomas and Olivia let their special chance at love slip away when she has to return home just like her aunt has or will this fairytale romance continue to shine bright for all time?
Pure delight can’t wait to look up more by the author and get reading.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Helga Jensen is an award-winning British/Danish best selling author and journalist. Her debut novel was a winning entry in the 2017 Montegrappa First Fiction competition at Dubai’s Emirates Literary Festival. Her debut was also a contender for the coveted 2021 Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Helga’s second romantic comedy, A Scandinavian Summer, went straight to number one on the Amazon Kindle charts for Danish travel on its publication day. Helga holds a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing, along with a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. She is currently working on a PhD.

Helga, who lived in the Middle East for much of her life, continues to work as a freelance journalist when not writing books. A former airline stewardess, she now has her feet firmly on the ground and lives with her wonderful family, including a crazy Labradoodle who never stops making her laugh.

Thank you for stopping in. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day.

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Blog tour and Happy Publication day to The Codebreaker Girl: A completely heartbreaking World War 2 page-turner by Gosia Nealon

ABOUT THE BOOK

1930s, Poland. We hold our breath as the gears turn, waiting to see if years of work have paid off. The operator looks at me with tears in his eyes. He nods his head. We’ve done it. The code has been broken. But with war brewing, will it be enough to save us?

After graduating as the first and only woman on her university course, orphan Beata is set on joining the Polish Cipher Bureau. She’s determined to save her country from invasion by cracking the Enigma code. But, as the Germans close in, Beata and her team need help…

Meeting with British Intelligence, Beata passionately describes her work: and catches the bright, sparkling eyes of one of the agents, Harry. His excitement about her efforts with Enigma and how vital it is for all their futures makes her more determined than ever to do what’s right.

But those stolen moments might be their last. Any hope of preventing war is dashed as gunfire rings across the rooftops and boots sound on the cobblestones. The Nazis have made it to the city. Beata and Harry must flee.

With their duties tearing them in different directions, their only hope is to reunite at the home of British codebreakers, Bletchley Park. But carrying the final key to the Enigma code, and with the Nazis close on her tail, can Beata keep the secrets she holds safe and turn the tide of the war? And will she ever see Harry again?

Inspired by the true story of the brave Polish mathematicians who worked on the Enigma code, this completely addictive World War 2 historical novel is perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and My Name is Eva.

MY THOUGHTS

I simply could not put this book down. My goal reading a historical book is to learn as much as I can about the subject. It’s an extra bonus if I learn something I hadn’t known about a subject I’m familiar with.

Based on fact I had a hard time putting this down as it was so informative.
I’m going to say it again about the author, she puts an impressive amount of research into her books and for this I’m grateful. I love descriptions and details in historical books, it helps me learn new facts.

The writing is divided into two time periods, the first part focuses on codebreaking and a romance with a man Beata meets Harry who is taken with her from the start. I thought it was sweet he continued to write letters to stay close to his mother though she no longer is with him.

The second part of the book focuses on Beata’s stay in a concentration camp. The author portrays the character’s emotions so well: the fear, anger. hopeless despair. In your mind as you read you can see the character’s skeletal form as they are deprived of proper food and hygiene, and you celebrate with them as they see a ray of hope in their situation.

Despite the characters experiencing dark situations there is hope, love and encouragement after all.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

https://geni.us/B0D87D15W3social

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About Gosia Nealon

While Gosia Nealon is a proud New Yorker, she was born and raised in Poland. Her journey to the Big Apple revealed a wealth of cultural differences, but also the values that connect us all. Like the fierce desire to protect family, find love, and ultimately, discover who we are and why we’re here. 

Gosia’s award-winning short stories have always delved into life’s biggest questions, but it was the drama, sacrifice, and tragedy of WWII that led her to pen her debut novel, which won a gold medal in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).

Growing up in Poland, Gosia heard many firsthand accounts of the war, told from a perspective rarely captured in mainstream literature. She was compelled to breathe life into two young people falling in love in the midst of the most terrifying conflict of our time.

Website

https://www.gosianealon.com/

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/GosiaNealonHistoricalFiction

Twitter URL

https://twitter.com/GosiaNealon

Thank you for stopping in today.

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Blog Tour for Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village by Sarah Hope

ABOUT THE BOOK

BRAND NEW instalment in the warm-hearted romance series from Sarah Hope, for dog lovers everywhere!

 

Life begins outside your comfort zone…

Book-keeper Megan has always lived life by a set of very rigid rules, but with impending divorce papers on the horizon, she throws herself into a new challenge.

She finds solace and purpose in her volunteer work at a dogs’ home but with finances tight, and soon-to-be ex-husband Lyle controlling her purse strings, she might have to trade the work for something more permanent.

But spending her time in the fresh countryside air, Megan discovers a glimmer of hope for a new beginning, finding strength, love, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow – and maybe, even possibly, a new romance.

A cosy and heartwarming romance set in the beautiful Cornish countryside, perfect for fans of Sarah Bennett, Jo Bartlett and Philippa Ashley

MY THOUGHTS

Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village is the fourth book in the series. Though it is part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone without missing anything important.
I love the fact that the book is focused on dog rescue and hope it inspires some to help dogs in some way: adoption, volunteering or even monetarily.

The book is a real ray of sunshine, guaranteed to make even the darkest skies bright. After you’re done reading your heart will be filled with gladness.
The characters are well thought out and well developed, friendly sorts who want the best for the dogs and have a lot of empathy.

I enjoyed reading about West Par as it sounds like such a lovely place. Wagging Tails employees and volunteers are all like one family always wanting the best for each other and looking out for one another and when one of their own falls on rough times they all jump in to help.

A sweet dog that had been adopted didn’t work out for a family is returned and I felt so bad for the dog, but she really takes to one of the volunteers and they come into each other’s lives just when they are needed the most.

When it looks like skies are turning gray don’t despair or give up because hope and positivity is right around the corner.
Love, love, love this series and I really hope it continues.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/happydayssocial

THE AUTHOR

Author Bio –

Sarah Hope is the author of many successful romance novels, including the bestselling Cornish Bakery series. Sarah lives in Central England with her two children and an array of pets and enjoys escaping to the seaside at any opportunity.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappinessHopeDreams

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahHope35 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_hope_writes/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SarahHopeNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-hope

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Meet Me Under the Northern Lights: an uplifting romance perfect for a cozy night. A romantic Finnish adventure.

386 pages One More Chapter publisher 3 Dec 2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

All it takes is one moment to change your life . . .

When a cleverly edited video of radio host Lucy Fairweather goes viral, she knows she needs an escape. And preferably somewhere far away.

Where better than Wild Zone – a destination for people who want to experience the Arctic Circle? Owned by the gorgeous but brooding Tommi, Lucy agrees to help with the guests in return for her stay. But getting to grips with her skis is proving harder than it looks.

Far from home and in a winter wonderland, will an encounter with the breathtaking Northern Lights change her luck, in both life and love?

The perfect escapist read to curl up with this autumn. For fans of Lindsey Kelk, Sarah Morgan and Cressida McLaughlin.

MY THOUGHTS

Sometimes you fall behind on your reading, but I am so glad I had a chance to read this it was such a charming and exciting read.


I’ve never read a book taking place in Finland and the descriptions sound glorious. I really would love to have a chance to visit someday. The author has such realistic descriptions of the food, the dangers if you don’t bundle up and getting lost in the snow in the dark.

Snowshoeing sounds like it would be fun once you get the hang of it. I’ve heard how breathtaking the northern lights are and there was such a nice description of them here.


I enjoyed getting to know the characters, they really had a lot going on and some drama thrown in for good measure. It really would be an adjustment going to an area such as this that is so different that what you are used to.
I will be looking out for more books by the author.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinion expressed are my own.

Photo by Tristan Pokornyi on Pexels.com

MEET THE AUTHOR

Emily Kerr has been scribbling stories on bits of paper ever since she learnt how to write. She works as a journalist and is based in Yorkshire, England.

She can generally be found with her nose in a book, or hunched up over her laptop typing away, though she has been known to venture outside every so often to take part in various running-based activities.

Her book ‘Take A Chance On Greece’ won the Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy at the Romantic Novel Awards 2023.

Emily loves to hear from readers. You can tweet her @EmilyKerrWrites or check out her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/emilykerrwrites and website http://www.emilykerrwrites.com

Have a marvelous day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Blog tour for The Bookseller of Paris by Suzanne Kelman  Books On Tour

ABOUT THE BOOK

Paris, 1940: Madeline tries to scream, but she can’t breathe. A German soldier is working to free her from the rubble – but if he reaches her, he will find the books hidden beneath her clothes…

When the Germans seize Paris, its peaceful streets fill with terror overnight, and nowhere is safe. Desperate to help her friends, Parisian bookseller Madeline Valette turns her bookshop into a sanctuary for those in hiding, but she knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s found out.

So when she is asked to join the Resistance and smuggle banned books from Berlin, she accepts, desperate to defy the Nazis. And while she wants to save precious books from destruction, she also hopes her trips to Germany might help her find the last living connection she has to her beloved husband…

Because Madeline has received a letter from a German woman called Ada, the mother of her husband’s son. Facing persecution, the Jewish boy is in terrible danger. But where are they now, and can Madeline help them before it’s too late?

When Madeline finally finds Ada and the child, she realises Ada is at the mercy of a high-ranking Nazi official and both their lives are now at risk. Can Madeline get them to safety? Or will the unthinkable happen to this innocent child?

The second unputdownable novel in the Paris Sisters series, this is the story of two women’s bravery in the face of the darkness of the Second World War. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Hannah, and Fiona Valpy.

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MY THOUGHTS

I knew as soon as I started this book, I wouldn’t be able to put it down and it kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning.
This is a series which I strongly suggest you read in order. Book 0 is The Paris Orphans, book 1 is The Last Day in Paris and this is the Paris Sisters series.

I’ve read most all of the author’s books, and I’m always so impressed by how well researched the books are. She adds little known facts about WWII into her books making them so realistic that I feel as though I could take the hand of the scared and crying child in the book and comfort them.

With this being a dual timeline at times you don’t make the connection right away in some books, not the case here. I very much enjoyed meeting one of the characters as a child in one of the timelines and seeing them as an adult as well. We are shown how the effects of the war and all they had to go through affected who they became.

During WWII ordinary people, many of them women became heroes as they exhibited extraordinary bravery far above what they though themselves capable of.
Highly recommended!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com/

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Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Suzanne Kelman here: https://www.bookouture.com/suzanne-kelman

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CWLBYS1Csocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Enjoy your day. Thank you for stopping in.

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The Paris Orphans: A heart-wrenching and moving WW2 historical fiction short story (The Paris Sisters)

88 pages Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (January 17, 2024)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Clutching her suitcase tightly to hide her trembling hands, Charlotte takes a steadying breath. This is the most dangerous thing she has ever done, but the lives of five innocent children are depending on her. I can do this…

Paris, 1943: As Charlotte rushes into the station, she can feel the unmistakeable chill of being watched. Turning her head, she catches the eye of a Nazi guard, and forces herself to slow down. Not today, please not today…

Reaching the platform, she sees her sisters Isabelle, Madeline, Antoinette and Gigi waiting with five children, fear etched onto their young faces. As she gets closer, Charlotte can see each child has a faded patch on their coat where a yellow star has been carefully unpicked.

Once she and the children are onboard, Charlotte turns and stares down at her sisters on the platform. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tries to imprint their beloved faces in her mind. And as the whistle blows, she presses her hand to the cold glass, murmuring a silent prayer that her sisters will be safe, and that they will all meet again…

As she turns her attention back to the children in her care, her heart breaks to see tears glistening in their eyes. Taking a deep breath, she promises that they will be safe, that she won’t let anything happen to them. But has Charlotte just made a promise she can’t possibly keep?

The prequel to the Paris Sisters series, this short story tells a tale of bravery and determination in the face of the darkness of the Second World War. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Hannah, and Fiona Valpy.

MY THOUGHTS

Oh, I really love this author’s books. So realistic, your heart beats faster as you read while holding your breath. A brave young woman, one of five sisters, Charlotte takes with their parent’s permission, 5 children on a train ride. Thinking to take them out of the city away from the Gestapo’s as the children are Jewish away to safety. Children under twelve don’t need papers and she has her false identification papers with her. The train ride is long, and you can feel the fear pouring off the children as the German police are everywhere. Charlotte stays brave in the face of danger for the children’s sake and knows the trip is not much longer and they will be free of danger. When it’s discovered one of the children has a forbidden item and then she is betrayed by the one she thought she could trust who will she turn to and what will happen to the children? This is the prequel to the Paris Sisters series and ends in a cliff hanger, so I’ll need to continue reading it to find out what happens. I eagerly look forward to finding out what happens to the characters whose bravery shines.

Free download on Amazon here. I’m not sure if it’s free in any other countries besides the US right now.

THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Kelman an Amazon bestselling author in America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and her books have sold over 400,000 copies worldwide accumulated 10 rights deals across eight territories. Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture – an imprint for Hachette U.K.

She is also the author of the bestselling book, “The Rejected Writers’ Book Club”, published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, “Rejected Writers Take the Stage” and “The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding”.

Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.

In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.

As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, “Over My Dead Body”, had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.

Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.

Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch – https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com

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Peach Tea Smash (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

320 pages Berkley publisher August 6, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Murder at an Alice in Wonderland–themed event threatens to send Theodosia Browning through the looking glass in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.

During the Mad Hatter Masquerade, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Opera on the grounds of the old Pendleton Grist Mill, Harlan Sadler, husband of Cricket Sadler, the chairwoman, is killed. He’s been hit in the head with a croquet mallet, and his body hung on the chains and paddles of the grist mill. Nobody can figure out why since Harlan was much beloved by everyone. It’s only after Cricket and Delaine beg Theodosia to investigate that she realizes the killer might have mistaken Harlan for his crazy son, Duke. After all, Duke is a slum landlord and recently injured a woman in a boating accident.

Photo by Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels.com

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoy this series. I own most of the books in the series and they are all worth a reread.
Once again Theodosia is front and center again conveniently asking questions and nosing around to solve the crime. Some of the things she did took me by surprise as I’m not too sure they’re safe.

A fundraiser with a Mad Hatter Masquerade party goes horribly wrong when a body is found in the old Pendleton Grist Mill.
The deceased, Harlan Sadler is the husband of the chairwoman, involved in banking and all-around friendly guy liked by all who know him.

As his wife Cricket begs Theodosia for her help, past relationships are uncovered, and things may not all be as friendly as assumed. With red herrings and the list of suspects growing this one had me thinking the suspect may have been several different people.

Set in historical Charleston, the author easily brings it to life with her vivid descriptions adding a delightful flavor to her mysteries.

I always enjoy reading about the different themed teas Theodosia and Drayton have. The themed teas with the Indigo Tea Shop being decorated and the different teas and meals to go with it sounds like so much fun.

I’m all in for reading more of my favorite tea shop cozy mysteries.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

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Fondue or Die: A Cheese Shop Mystery (Cheese Shop Mysteries, 5)

304 pages St. Martins Paperbacks 22 October 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

In Korina Moss’s Fondue or Die, the lazy, hazy, dairy days of summer are coming to a close in the Sonoma Valley. . . and so is someone’s life.

The small town of Yarrow Glen’s neighbor, Lockwood, hosts an annual Labor Day weekend bash: Dairy Days. And Willa Bauer and her cheese shop, Curds & Whey, refuse to miss out on the fun. Willa is thrilled to celebrate her favorite thing―she is a cheesemonger after all―and this festival goes all out: butter sculptures, goat races, cheese wheel relays, even a Miss Dairy pageant. Too bad the pageant runner, Nadine, is treating Dairy Days prep like it’s fondue or die and is putting everyone around her on edge. When Willa finds Nadine’s dead body under years’ worth of ceramic milk jugs, the police aren’t sure whether the death was an accident. But fingers are pointing at Willa’s employee, Mrs. Schultz, who steps in to help the pageant after Nadine’s death. Someone wanted Nadine out of the whey, and Willa is going to find out who.

AI Image

MY THOUGHTS

If you were to ask me what the perfect food was, I’d have to say cheese, mixed with things and alone so I’m sure this is the perfect series for me to read and review.

Fondue or Die is the fifth book in the Cheese Shop cozy mystery series and like the others it’s delectable. Everyone loves a summer festival, and the hot, lazy days are perfect for the Labor Day weekend bash: Dairy Days.

Booths filled with delicious and refreshing cheeses and other dairy products, butter sculptures, cow contests and other things all take a backseat when the Miss Dairy pageant starts as it’s the main attraction and has been for years.

Curds & Whey owner, Willa Bauer once again finds herself embroiled in a riveting case to solve when behind the scenes things are not as calm as they appear.

An engaging cozy mystery that was a fast read that kept my attention. I liked the characters, and the reveal took me by surprise. Looking forward to more in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Agatha Award-winning Cheese Shop Mystery series (St. Martin’s Press) set in the Sonoma Valley. Her books have been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, AARP, and Fresh Fiction. Her short stories have been included in the mystery anthologies Crime Travel and Death by Cupcake. She lives and writes in a small town in New England. To learn more about her, visit her website at korinamossauthor.com

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Saved by the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match Book #2): (An Arranged Marriage Historical Romance Novel Set in 1800’s St Louis) 

346 pages Bethany House Publishers 5 August publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her annulment is finalized, Enya Shanahan finds herself caught in a web of scandal and obligation while carrying a secret that threatens to shatter her family’s reputation. Determined to find a suitable marriage for Enya, her father turns to a wily matchmaker to save them from their circumstances.

Sullivan O’Brien, a steamboat captain committed to aiding enslaved people on their path to freedom, is faced with an ultimatum from his father. Forced to marry or lose his livelihood, a marriage of convenience seems to be the only solution. As he and Enya face the trials of their pasts and a city consumed by fire, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust in love, even when darkness threatens to engulf them.

MY THOUGHTS

Though this easy can be read as a standalone I’d suggest you read the series in order. I loved the first book in the series, and I think this one was even better.

Once again, the matchmaker is called upon, with different circumstantial needs the couple has a marriage of convenience. A previous marriage had her thinking she was in love, and he loved her until she realized it wasn’t true.

He has insecurities due to past circumstances. I loved how gentle and understanding Sullivan was. He didn’t rush her into anything. He knew she was hurting from her past relationship and not ready to trust another man yet. He goes out of his way to ensure her happiness, security and trustworthiness not caring it was at the expense of himself.

Time and again he proves to her he is not like the one who abandoned her and he can be trusted.

I loved Enya and Sullivan’s characters and how he gave her all the time she needed to trust him and fall in love. I couldn’t put this down and highly recommend it to all lovers of historical fictional romance.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book all opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean historical romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).