Some of you may remember me gushing about The Royal We in one of my earliest posts on the blog, so you can imagine how excited I was to find out that authors Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan were writing its sequel, The Heir Affair! This minute I found out it was publishing, I began chasing down ARCs like kids after an ice cream truck. None made their way to me, though, so I was forced to wait until the ebook was available at my local library. I...
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the hardest book reviews to write are for the books you love the most. There’s just so much you want to say! And it seems impossible to find the right words to express how much the story means to you. That’s how I feel about The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. And, I'm completely surprised by this. I went into The Flatshare with low expectations. Very low, to be honest. I’d seen the book...
I'm just going to jump right into it: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is one of the best books I've read all year. My original interest in this book wasn't huge. Although I've watched parts of Backdraft and all of Ladder 49, I shy away from anything involving firefighters because I just can't handle the emotional devstation that follows most of their storylines. But, a Zumba buddy recommended Things You Save in a Fire to me, and...
Before I do anything else, I have to give a shout-out to to my blogger friend An Historian About Town, who recommended The Finishing Touches in one of her wonderful blog posts. The Historian and I share an affinity for British chick lit (which, I agree, is usually slightly superior to American chick lit), and this charming, sweet, and funny novel by Hester Browne did not disappoint! So, Historian, thanks for the rec! Consider us even for when I...
Who else pounces on a new Mary Kay Andrews book the minute it comes out? My copy of Hello, Summer arrived a few days before Memorial Day Weekend, and it made me so excited to kick off the summer season. I'd devoured another beach read last MDW, and I figured a book titled "Hello, Summer" would be a shoo-in to invoke the easy, beachy, summertime vibes. Um, no. Hello, Summer combines two things that I couldn't give two hoots about: politics and...
I picked up The Printed Letter Bookshop after tossing aside four #DNFs in a row. Mercifully, this charming story by Katherine Reay was exactly what I needed to pull me out of my reading slump. This novel follows three women -- Madeline, Janet, and Claire -- who are all lost in some way or another. One is searching for what she wants to become; one is trying to come to terms with the life she lost; and one is trying to reclaim the life she's...
Um, who's about ready for a beach vacation? THIS GIRL. While we may not be taking actual vacations anytime soon, I'm here to tell you that you can take a vicarious one with Summer Rental. I feel like this novel could've easily been called "Summer of Secrets," because that's pretty much the sitch in this easy, breezy, beach read from Mary Kay Andrews. It's admittedly an older book from this popular author, but it's a goodie. I loved Andrews'...
Love is in the air, Tartlets! Happy Valentine's Day! I originally wasn't planning to post anything today, but after scrolling through Instagram last week, I saw lots of "Literary Love Stories" and "Love Story Lists" being posted by book bloggers. I loved the idea and decided to jump on the bandwagon. This month's Quick Look Books list features modern love stories. We all know the great, classic love stories, like Wuthering Heights *swoon* and...
I received a copy of One Day in December from my library one day in March. This novel made serious waves throughout the book blogosphere when it published in late 2018, aided largely in part by being the December 2018 pick for Reese’s Book Club. Given my love for Jane Green, Sophie Kinsella, and Jenny Colgan, I eagerly anticipated a new chick lit book set in England. I read all of One Day in December, but, honestly, I’m not sure what all the...
Words can’t express how much I loved The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. I actually put off writing this book review because I honestly didn’t know how to capture how delightful the story is. The City Baker’s Guide is all about leaving your comfort zone – or, what you think is your comfort zone – and embracing changes and challenges that lead you toward living your best life. Happily often, these types of stories lead...
