Behind the Mask by Kimberly Bain

This is the second book I have been able to read by Kimberly. While this one was different from the first one, I enjoyed it equally as much. The storyline and characters were easy to follow and relatable to real life. The story overall was a very light, quick read.

I do feel like I struggled a bit with this one , however. As I was reading, I kept wanting more. I would have loved to see more of the relationship between Primrose and her parents, as well as between Petal and Primrose and between Petal and Mindy. They are probably characters I could have fallen in love with, but I don’t feel like I got enough chance to know them or the relationships they had among each other.

There was also a time period of about 15 years in the book that flew by in what seemed only a few pages. What happened during that time? I felt like that 15-year time frame would have been especially important in Petal’s character development. When we see her toward the end of the book, I can start to see her life’s mission but there is so much more I am left needing to know. The reintroduction of a character from earlier on in the book also threw me off, and I felt like I didn’t get enough from the book on that situation before it came to an end.

All in all, I would say the book was good, but a lot more could be added to the story to make it great.

Watch Her by Edwin Hill

I found this book just browsing one day. I noticed it was a thriller, which is out of my norm and not a genre I have much experience in. The story line sounded good though, so I picked it up. Now, I think I like thriller novels.

As far as thriller novels go, I didn’t think it was super dark. I know some thrillers can scare people in a million different ways, but I don’t see this as one of those. Yes, it had its dark moments, but nothing extreme. It was the right amount to keep me on my toes and flipping pages. I felt like it was a perfect fit as I explore this new genre more and I’m so glad I found myself liking it.

Sometimes throughout the book, I had to think a bit on which character was doing what or what a certain character said or did in order to keep the story line straight, which I didn’t like. In my opinion, I think there were too many characters, particularly those that weren’t in the spotlight all the time and weren’t mentioned on every page or every other page. Two of the characters that come to mind were Libby Thomas and Naomi Dwyer. As I was able to continue piecing the characters and story line together, those two characters made a little more sense, but I like to read books where I don’t have to go back and forth to figure out the story or to be able to follow it smoothly.

Overall, I would say this book is really good, especially for those readers who want a “lighter” thriller novel.

Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

I decided to switch it up and try my first James Patterson in quite a number of years. I was expecting this one to be a perfect mix of the thriller/horror that Patterson is known for and the sweet/sassy Dolly can be known for. Honestly, it didn’t come out to what I was hoping for, even though it was a charming story.

This book was an emotional roller coaster and I loved every second of that aspect. I really enjoyed reading the novel, particularly with Dolly bringing in some of her own experience from the country music industry, making the bits about AnnieLee’s rise to stardom more believable. However, being that this was co-wrote with James Patterson, I was expecting more thriller. I sat a bit on the edge of my seat waiting for the book to get dark, to scare me into visioning these scary and frightening scenes in the woods, but I was disappointed. There wasn’t as much thriller in the novel as I was expecting or even hoping for.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! It was a great light-hearted read for someone looking to dip their toes into the thriller genre with just a tiny amount of scary scenes. I would also recommend it if someone was wanting a country music story with a taste of stardom as Dolly does a great job of providing insight into that world. But overall, I would call this one 3.5 out of 5 stars. A good read, but a little disappointing in what I was looking for.

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

Attention Potterheads! Calling all witches and wizards! I had a little bit of a fangirling moment…or multiple moments…when I was reading this biography. I don’t read biographies very often, mostly because they usually aren’t of huge interest to me. But sometimes I do and then they blow me away.

Harry Potter was one of my obsessions growing up. I knew, and still know, an insane amount of Potter trivia and I follow a lot of the stars on social media. When I saw Tom was writing and releasing a biography, it caught my attention. When I saw the title, it became a book I knew I’d want to read at some point. Like many people thrown into the limelight for one reason or another, there’s a behind-the-scenes look the rest of us don’t see. Tom is no exception.

I’ve always seen Tom as Draco Malfoy, but after reading his biography, I got a totally new glimpse into his life. While he was in the role of a major character, he wasn’t a main character, so he still had life in between shooting film scenes. And a lot of normal life, real people things happened in those times. It makes the readers realize he is still a normal human and not just a movie star. This was a great biography to read.

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

“Life hurts. It’s full of heartache, loss, and disappointment, and even the best things come salted with sorrow. But you can’t leave yourself open to the good things - happiness, true love, real connection - if you aren’t willing to risk being hurt.”

This one had a lot of unexpected things in the story. In a weird way, it was not the ending I expected. It wasn’t the happily ever after either. The way this book ended left me dangling off a cliff. And intermixed in the story were a lot of quotes that stuck with me. The one I started this review with was near the end, nestled in the final pages.

This book’s main theme changes, but biking surrounds just about every aspect of the storyline as it unfolds and develops. I could also identify a lot with Abby in more ways than one as she tries to navigate dating and getting boys to see interest in her beyond her physical qualities. This book was also a great lesson in self-confidence and the insecurities that can occur too.

With the way this one ended in a bit of a cliffhanger, I really want more! I closed the book wanting so much more. So I will be waiting to see if more happens.

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

This is one of those charming summer lake reads, but I got to it as an early fall read. This book is popular right now, and after reading it, it’s easy to see why.

This is my first time reading a novel by Carley Fortune, but right away it struck me how easy her writing style is. Her language allows the reader to easily follow the storyline, but also allows the reader to immerse themselves in the story. During the novel, Fortune bounces back and forth between present day and a time nine or ten years ago, mostly all around the same day: June 14. As the book progresses, the two times collide in a way that was one I predicted, but also had some unexpected content.

Throughout the story, I enjoyed how the characters interacted with each other as they taught each other lessons and kept one another on the path of what would matter most in the end. Fern and Will, two of the main characters, were definitely my favorites. Each came to the story with different past experiences that ended up providing some commonality as they grew closer.

Like many of my past reviews, I recommend this book to all readers!

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

Ok…wow! I read the first installment “It Ends With Us” almost two years ago. I loved that book, and I knew this book was coming as well. I finally got around to reading this one and I am so glad I did.

It Starts With Us picks up right where the last book left off. The love story of Lily and Atlas is one of my favorites, but in this sequel, it becomes a whole heck of a lot more complicated. Ryle is still a part of the story, but he is forced to grow up and put others first. This is also my warning for those who may have a hard time with domestic abuse situations. There are small pieces of this content in the book, as well as referencing things to Lily’s, Ryle’s and Atlas’ past experiences. It is touched on briefly, but is still present.

Colleen Hoover has such an easy writing style that makes her books easy to read, and this one is no exception. In each of her books that I have read, I enjoy the way she paints her settings, as well as some of the minor details. One that sticks out - “I almost missed the note, I was in such a rush this morning. It was shoved under my front door and was caught on the entry rug. I had Emmy on my hip, a purse and a diaper bag on my shoulder, and coffee in my free hand. I managed to bend and pick up the note without spilling any of it. Supermom.” It is a pretty basic description, but I immediately see the picture in my mind (but I am also a mom and I can understand what it means to accomplish something like this).

I felt like the chapters toward the end of the book could have been a little longer. The story skips through quite a chunk of time and I felt myself feeling like I missed out on what could have been a lot of detail and a fun time period of the story.

Colleen Hoover definitely lives up to her hype with this one. Like many other readers, I will be anxiously awaiting to see if we get more of Atlas and Lily in the future.

The Summer Nanny by Holly Chamberlain

I adored this story. The story bounced around and gave a glimpse into multiple situations and multiple characters. Typically, I tend to have a harder time with stories that bounce around, but the short chapters made it so easy.

I would have liked to see a little more detail on Yorktide and the different places around town. Sometimes I think the mundane details of a plant in the corner or how the furniture was arranged could have added to the story, particularly when Amy was with Cressida or when a chapter was taking place in the Franklin home. I also felt like the character development could have been better too. The readers get a lot of detail on Hayley and Amy, but I would have liked to see more on Will, Ethan, Vera and Nora (among others). They add a great deal to the story, but we don’t get a huge amount of details on them in my opinion.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a little bit of an easier beachy read. I really hope Holly adds a sequel to this book into her Yorktide series.

The Best is Yet to Come by Debbie Macomber

In classic Debbie Macomber fashion, I fell in love with this story very quickly and turned this book around within 5 days. And I give all the stars to this one.

One thing I will always enjoy about Debbie Macomber is her easy-to-read writing style. Her use of language and visual concepts makes it easy to read. It also allows the reader to immerse themselves in the story without a whole lot of additional thought. This story is a great intertwining of two sets of characters who cross paths frequently throughout the book. One thing that caught me off-guard as someone who often reads Debbie Macomber books is the suspense and cliffhangers in this book. Every chapter ended in some sort of cliffhanger that had me on the edge of my seat and kept me reading into the hours of the night (long past my bedtime).

This story tugged at my heartstrings in so many ways, but especially through Hope. She navigates a new town, a new job and a new relationship all at once, while offering so much of herself to the students at the school she works at. During all of her busy-ness, she also takes the time to volunteer at a local animal shelter owned by her landlord. In that time, she meets Shadow. Despite warnings from others about Shadow, Hope works to befriend the dog and slowly discovers her best friend, much to the amazement of Cade, another volunteer at the shelter. Cade also becomes a big part of Hope’s life through a roller coaster of events.

I also enjoyed the aspects of the high school drama because I remember those days myself. In this story, the drama is taken to the extreme and, in the end, the drama results in something I would not have expected or predicted.

As with my other Debbie Macomber reviews, I highly recommend this book. She will keep you flipping pages and wanting to read more and more. Even after I closed the book for the last time, I was left wanting so much more because I felt at home within the pages.

Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Maria Viramontes

It is very rare that I give up on books, but I struggled with this one. I had a hard time following the language and being able to create a scene in my head. For me, that is a key part to reading a book.

One thing I did enjoy in my brief time in this book was the development of characters. Within the first few pages, the character personalities came through and I liked how quickly that happened.

I am not very happy to leave a book unfinished, and maybe this is a book that I will give another chance to down the road. But for right now, I am putting this aside to explore more stories.

The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall

This one’s going to be short and sweet, because it fits the book so perfectly. When I picked this one up, I had it recommended by some family and friends. Within 24 hours, I finished this little gem…keep in mind I have a full-time job and a family. Otherwise I would have finished it even sooner.

This book has so many things wrapped up into it. I personally loved the life lessons nestled into the storyline as the main character, Jason Stevens, goes from arrogant, entitled and selfish to this kind, caring individual. And I also loved how his interactions with the other main characters changed as he experienced his growth.

If you are looking for a high-quality quick read, I recommend this one with 5 stars (I’d give it more if I could!).

Outlander series books #1-9 by Diana Gabaldon

The Outlander series in order:

• Outlander

• Dragonfly in Amber

• Voyager

• Drums of Autumn

• The Fiery Cross

• A Breath of Snow and Ashes

• An Echo in the Bone

• Written in My Own Heart’s Blood

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

Wow! What an incredible mix of genres and an intense storyline. I have spent a great deal of time reading through this series and fell head over heels. While I debated in reviewing each book individually, I felt like I would end up giving away spoilers along the way, both to myself and you, the readers who haven’t dived down the rabbit hole that is this popular series. So reviewing as a whole was my best ticket. But as I look forward, it is well known that Diana is currently writing book #10. From this point forward, I will review each of the books individually in order to keep up with the series, as well as to make sure to give a quality review and opinion on each installment in real time.

Before I took the plunge into the series, I had many recommendations for it. I questioned whether I would be interested or not. As I continued inquiring of fellow readers, I had a lot of people say it was worth it, but I also had a lot of people that told me I should just watch the TV show accompaniment. That it wasn’t worth the time to read it. However, I am one of those people who definitely read the book or series before I watch the film or TV show. While I knew that each of the books were long in length and that it would take me some time to get through them, I am glad to say that I felt it was worth the time. On the flip side, my warning to readers is how slow the books read sometimes. There were several times during the books where I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t stop reading in order to find out what would happen next. But there were also countless times where I felt bored with reading because of the mundane, everyday details. In my opinion, I definitely felt there were points in the story that could have been more summarized or moved along quicker than they did. STILL WORTH THE TIME THOUGH!!!

Okay, now to some of the details of the story. One of my favorite pieces was the historical fiction aspects. I learned a lot through some of those aspects. I am also a history guru, particularly when it comes to American and European history. Seeing as the series has settings in both of those areas of the world, I felt right at home.

If I had to pick a favorite character, I would say either Claire or Jem, but I also enjoy a lot of aspects of Jamie. Jamie becomes this fierce protector over his family and others around him. When I look back to the first installment of the series, the Jamie we first met was young and watching his growth was so fun. He learns to lean on Claire a lot, and that she is worth fighting for. Claire is also one of those characters that is multi-faceted. I love her gentleness and bravery in a lot of situations, but I also love her bluntness and vulnerability. Jem is just one of those characters I just label as “cute.” He has an adorable personality, but by the end of the series, he experiences things that make him grow up real fast and then he takes a lot of pride and ownership in himself, his siblings and family.

All in all, I wouldn’t call this a 5-star series, but it definitely ranks 3 1/2 or 4 stars consistently. It was worth the hype it has been given. I will be awaiting the series’ tenth installment along with the countless other readers. I’m guessing there is a little bit of time before the book is completed and published, so I highly recommend giving this series a chance. Just know the ninth installment “Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone” ends in quite a cliffhanger and you will end up having to wait for the next book to publish before we know what happens. Happy reading!

Saving Grace by Kimberly Bain

When I picked up Saving Grace, I had no idea what I was in store for. At the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Grace as a young girl and we slowly watch her life progress.

Honestly, Grace is my favorite character because of the way I express empathy. She starts with a rough childhood and examples of what love, marriage and companionship should look like. Unfortunately for Grace, growing up with that life led to difficulties in figuring out who she wanted to be and what she wanted to accomplish.

Throughout the book, I kept thinking “now things will get better for her,” but then something else major would happen. I loved how the book kept me guessing, and how I reacted to each new hardship. One thing I found myself wishing for was a longer time spent on each “chapter” of her life, as some were very brief and only contained a few snippets.

Two other characters that come to mind as prominent were Mama and Grace’s dad William. With Mama, I loved how she gave Grace something she couldn’t find at home - love, attention and a piece of her heart. I also loved the unexpected twist of Mama coming back into Grace’s life later on. With William, I was impressed at the change of character. In the beginning, you could tell as a reader that Grace was his favorite child, but he also didn’t give Grace the things she most desperately needed as a young kid. But slowly, you see his influence change and by the end, Grace’s relationship with him is as great as it could have ever been.

Overall, I was impressed with the book and its storyline. If you want a story that will keep you guessing, go check out Saving Grace.

Pack Up The Moon by Kristan Higgins

In this upcoming release, Kristan Higgins addresses all of the tough aspects in a life of newlyweds Josh and Lauren, starting with unexpected terminal illness and stemming into preparing for a life of widowhood.

I fell deeply in love with each of the characters and their role in this story of life, death and rediscovering, but my favorite aspect of the book was watching Josh work through life after Lauren. Her letters, written before her death but given to Josh each month of the first year after she is gone, play a key role in Josh’s grief and growth. Kristan portrayed the blandest and the ugliest aspects of grief through Josh and it broke my heart and moved me to tears and then pieced my heart back together with the love and acceptance of friends and family. Josh also began to find himself in each of the requested tasks in Lauren’s letters, pushing him out of his comfort zone with small things and great life-changing experiences.

I also extremely enjoyed the love Lauren and Josh shared, especially when it became apparent that Lauren’s time would be limited. They lived and experienced so many things together that truly provided great memories for Josh to look back on.

I anticipate that Pack Up The Moon will be one of the greatest novels to hit shelves this summer. Check out Kristan Higgins’ newest novel, a romantic, yet heartbreaking journey of love, life and overcoming, set for release June 8, 2021.

The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash

This is easily one of the most unpredictable books I have read, and it had me on the edge of my seat through each and every page. In the first pages, we meet Rachael and learn of her story about a past that seems to keep her stuck where she grew up. After loss comes a great surprise and an opportunity she could not readily see because of past experiences.

Throughout the book, Rachael seems to be a completely normal woman, but when she leaves home for a week, what happens? She has never left her mom or her farm. When she finally does, her dreams are wide open, but not before her past drags her backward. What does Rachael do?

The Paris Wedding was my first time reading Charlotte Nash, but I was incredibly attached. Most of the books I have read can be easily predicted once reaching the midway point of the story, but with this book, I was guessing what was going to happen up until the final page. If you want a romantic mystery that will keep you wanting to flip pages and stay up all night, i highly recommend this book.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

In the newest release from renowned author, Kristin Hannah, we are taken back in history to experience some of the greatest cultural and historical occurrences throughout one of the most troubling times in America. At the beginning, we meet Elsa a lowly unwanted daughter with a quest to see something bigger. As time goes on, her adventure carries us through the unexpected, rejection and the hope of a new love and life.

Traveling through time with Elsa was an immense pleasure. Throughout the story, we are able to see aspects of her personality shine through, as well as glimpses of her past and how she came to be the person she is. Watching her meet Rafe, Tony and Rose for the first time, becoming a greater mentor to Lorenda and Ant and uniting, but through toughness, with Jack, we see Elsa grow and change into someone incredibly admirable.

Kristin Hannah has long been one of my favorites to read because of her captivating storyteller abilities and her crisp descriptors throughout each of her stories. In this newest addition to her catalog of books, it is apparent how much time and research she put into ensuring she had accurate depictions of a monumental time in history. She provides clear vision of what common people went through during the early 1920s through the Dust Bowl, the migration westward and through the Great Depression. Seeing the research that went into this book impressed me, as research is admirable in any historical story.

In reading The Four Winds, my expectations were high because of my previous experience reading Kristin’s books. I have to admit that she far outdid my expectations and I am already eagerly awaiting Kristin Hannah’s next novel.

Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber

******UPDATE: I had the incredible opportunity to connect with Debbie Macomber, the author of this story, and ask her some questions about the story and her experience. See the “Q&As with the Authors” page to see our conversation.

This brand new story from Debbie Macomber instantly made my heart melt. As a sucker for romance myself, I fell deep into the story within the first pages.

Within the prologue, we meet Jenna and Maureen, inseparable best friends with their hearts set on one thing, until things change and their plans are thwarted long-term. The remainder of the story follows these two years later as they go through trials and put themselves out there for the sake of love.

Like always with Debbie’s writing style, I could immediately picture myself within the pages of this book. I felt I stood next to Jenna in her worry and her frustration and watched Maureen be courageous and stand up for herself twice in the same place.

Debbie’s writing in this new story gave a lot of lessons, in love, life and family, but I felt the greatest lesson I learned was of belonging as Jenna’s family broke apart in conflict, but how the importance of family changed the outcome.

While normally I connect most with one character in a story, I felt it was impossible with “Window on the Bay.” Debbie formatted this story with each chapter going back and forth between Jenna and Maureen, which hindered my ability to connect on a deeper level. However, in this story, I didn’t think it was necessary to have that deeper connection, as the intertwining enhanced the story overall. I felt the characters were described in great detail, but rather than explaining the worry or feelings, Debbie showed it through countless situations as the story progressed.

Rather than giving away pieces of the story, I encourage you to pick up this story and immerse in the pages yourself. Debbie's renowned career continued with “Window on the Bay” and I could not put the book down until I flipped the final page.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

I really enjoyed the story within these pages, but it took me some time to get into the story. I felt the beginning was slow, at least for me. The beginning pages did not capture my attention immediately, but there was something that kept me pushing through and I am glad I stuck through it.

The story begins with one innocent photograph, meant for personal exploration, but it gets wrapped up into Ellis’ professional career as a newspaper reporter. When the first photograph gets ruined, Ellis is forced to retake the picture. However, when he arrives at the home where he first found the children, his plans change and Ellis’ choices reflect throughout the remainder of the story.

One thing I felt I wished for while reading was the sense of imagery and being able to easily picture the various places in the story. I wanted to recognize Lily’s parents’ deli and the barn where Calvin was rescued. Because this story is set in 1931, I would imagine there are differences in the way things looked then versus in the modern world.

If you enjoy a good historical fiction story, I would highly recommend some time within the pages of Kristina McMorris’ story “Sold on a Monday.” Kristina does a good job of telling the story overall, delving into the details, but also leaving you in suspense at just the right times. She shows the love, compassion, hatred and grief throughout each of her characters in many ways, particularly from those you would not expect.

I recommend “Sold on a Monday” and I look forward to reading more of Kristina’s work in the future.

My favorite half-night stand by Christina Lauren

This book could not be more fitting for the current times, when many people are choosing to take the route of online dating sites to meet a significant other. I myself met my husband through online dating, so it really can work magic.

In Millie’s case however, peer pressure and quick action lead to a not-so-positive online dating experience and a sticky situation with one of her best friends, Reid. As I worked through the book, I was amazed at Christina’s crisp language and her ability to tell the story concisely. While the overall storyline held precedence , the little details made the story more detailed - such as the story of Millie and her friends streaking through Reid’s parents’ vineyard at night or the moment Reid and Millie shared on the beach watching the golden retriever.

I really enjoyed the progression of Millie and her friend group - Reid, Alex, Chris and Ed and how they all bond over being colleagues at a university and their love of beer. It was interesting to see how they each dealt with the struggles and realities of online dating - horrible first dates, misguided responses or no replies at all.

Through all of this, an alter ego is present and threatens to shake up the dynamic of their friend group. I encourage anyone who enjoys time with friends, the hilarities of online dating and anyone with a heart for a good modern romance to check out this book.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

******UPDATE: I had the incredible opportunity to connect with Heather Morris, the author of this story, and ask her some questions about the story and her experience. See the “Q&As with the Authors” page to see our conversation.

I have always loved history and learning something new about experiences in the world’s past and I especially enjoy visiting old churches and historical sites no matter where my journey takes me.

As someone who minored in history in college, I was required to have a specific focus, which was on American and European history. I had specific interest in World War 2 history and had several classes surrounding the time period. To this day, almost five years out of college, I still have extreme interest in the subject, so when I was strolling through the bookstore and spotted “The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I became extremely intrigued, especially learning that it was a historical fiction.

This book did not disappoint and I finished the book in less than 24 hours. I was roped into the story within the first sentences, drawn in by Heather’s complex and detailed writing. She wrote the book with a grace and flow that made it easy to follow along and her scenic description made it seem as though I was sitting next to the characters throughout the entire story.

As I journeyed through the story, I had a lot of little things, as well as larger themes that tugged at me from a reader’s perspective. The first thing I noticed, early in the story, was how Lale, the main character, was willing to sacrifice his life and security at home to go to the unknown in hopes he could save his family. Throughout the story, Lale had his family on his mind and continued to make it a goal to come out of the concentration camp alive to go back to them.

As the story progresses, I loved how Heather picked out a few of her characters and brought them into the limelight. At the camp, everyone was meant to be a nobody - not allowed to stand out, not allowed to be their own person, but trapped inside this deathly prison with no intent of coming out alive. But she picks out Gita, Cilka and others along Lale’s journey. The importance of the characters grows from beginning to end and continually enhances the story.

One main theme I absolutely adore in the story is Lale’s determination to stay with Gita. Despite not being allowed to be with anyone from other areas of the camp and almost forbidden to intermix with females, Lale is determined to be with Gita from the moment he tattoos her arm. They sneak behind the administration building on Sundays, visit or casually pass by each other and slowly build their romance. Early in the relationship, Lale’s love for Gita shines through when Gita contracts typhus and is nearly carted off by the SS. Lale enlists the help of workers from the nearby community to smuggle in some penicillin and some extra food for Gita, as well as instructing Gita’s friends from her block to help ensure the SS do not notice Gita’s illness.

Lale and Gita get separated on short notice on the day the Russians invade the concentration camps, but Lale’s determination keeps him searching for her. It is truly a genuine love and I encourage everyone to read the novel and experience Lale and Gita’s love story for themselves. It was a book I thoroughly enjoyed, despite the heavy background and the devastating deaths happening around the couple.

Anyone who enjoys history mixed with a little fiction and a lot of love will fall deeply into Heather Morris’ story “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”