Calling all Elder Millennials! Remember the early days of reality TV -- and the crash-and-burn lovefest that was Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's Newlyweds?
In case you've forgotten, Honeymoon Stage is here to remind you of the highs, the lows, and all the craziness we just loved to hate.
What’s Honeymoon Stage about? Cassidy Baum is about to get married on the set of a reality TV show. Even though she doesn’t really like reality TV....
The perfect Halloween rom-com exists in the form of Haunted Ever After. Get ready, Tartlets, for the sweetest ghostly beach read out there.
What’s Haunted Ever After about?
We meet main character Cassie in Haunted Ever After just after she’s moved to her dream beach cottage in Boneyard Key, Florida. She got the house for a steal and plans to renovate it – but, of course, there’s a reason why.
Um, it’s haunted. Just like the rest of...
First of all, many thanks to author Gail Priest for reaching out to me about her novel Soul Dancing. Gail’s a loyal Tartlet, and she offered to send me a review copy of her book since she knows I love women’s fiction and supernatural stories.
Well, Gail, let’s remove all the suspense – I loved Soul Dancing. I’m so glad you sent it my way!
What’s Soul Dancing about?
We meet elderly main character Shirlene at the very beginning of...
I had really high hopes for The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau. This women’s fiction novel promised magical realism, romance, mystery, and lots and lots of flowers. While all these things appear in the book, I still feel there could have been more.
A little more magical realism. A little more suspense. And a lot less romance.
Let’s get into it.
What is The Alchemy of Flowers about?
The Alchemy of Flowers is about mid-forties...
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is the hot new book in town. It’s being compared to Where the Crawdads Sing, and it was the March 2025 pick for Reese’s Book Club. I’m sure a movie adaptation is in the works, whether we’ve heard of it or not.
What did I think of Broken Country? I liked it. But, I didn’t love it. It’s no Where the Crawdads Sing, I’ll tell you that much. Let’s get into it!
What’s Broken Country about?...
I’m announcing it right now: the book of the summer is The Amalfi Curse.
Tartlets, I devoured this new novel from Sarah Penner in a little over one day. I could not put it down, and I adored every page of this literary blockbuster.
What’s The Amalfi Curse about? The Amalfi Curse introduces us to modern-day Haven, a nautical archaeologist (aka, a scuba diver who loves exploring shipwrecks) who’s sent on a diving expedition off the coast...
The Memory of Lavender and Sage perfectly captures my favorite women's fiction trope. We all know that I can't resist a “Woman buys ramshackle house in small rural town and renovates it, thereby renovating her whole life in the process” story.
You know what else? This one's set in FRANCE. Plus, author Aimie K. Runyan throws some magical realism into the mix.
Are you excited yet?
What’s The Memory of Lavender and Sage about?
The...
Is it even Christmas if we’re not reading holiday rom-coms? And I don’t think you can get any more in the holiday spirit than by going to Alaska for Christmas.
What’s Alaska for Christmas about?
Alaska for Christmas is a Christmas rom-com about Isla, who gets amnesia during a glacier hike (umm, what???) and ends up falling for her rescuer, Coast Guard office Aaron, who also happens to be her childhood nemesis. Isla (love that name!)...
The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a lovely blend of contemporary women's fiction and historical fiction with a smidge of magical realism.
What’s The Matchmaker’s Gift about? The Matchmaker’s Gift introduces us to Sara, who immigrates to NYC in the early 1900s and uses her matchmaking gift to support her family. However, Sara's attempts to help couples find happiness brings trouble to those she loves most. This is partly...
I really wanted to love Namrata Patel’s newest novel, The Curious Secrets of Yesterday. I absolutely adored Patel’s debut, The Candid Life of Meena Dave. While I didn’t get a chance to read her sophomore book, Scent of a Garden, I was excited when Kaye Publicity approached me about an ARC for book #3.
Unfortunately, The Curious Secrets of Yesterday is getting added to the DNF pile for me. Let’s talk about why.
What’s The Curious...
