The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski

It's been a little over a year since the events of the first book. Anne, Violet, and Beatrix have missed their birthday together but the three are reuniting in their Chicago home. Violet is haunted by a mistake she made during her and her husband's acrobatic act. Beatrix no longer seems to have any words. And Anne has to prevent an apocalypse. 

I actually liked this one a bit better than the first because we are getting more character and world building. 

Three and a half stars

The Spellbound Sisters #2

This book came out October 1, 2024

Follows The Crescent Moon Tearoom

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

This book is the equivalent of a warm cup of tea. Just nice. Maybe not super exciting, but an even read. 

Three sisters run a teahouse where they read the futures of the witches of Chicago. They have always been in lock step but that is starting to falter. Violet is entranced by an acrobat at a visiting circus. Beatrix's recent manuscript submission is about to take the literary world by storm, and Anne's powers are growing at a pace she is reluctant to reveal to her sisters. 

They are further thrown off balance when one of their regulars reveals that she sees a curse behind their eyes. Suddenly, their whole world is upside down. And it's not helped by the fact that the Council has decided that the three of them must help three witches complete their "Tasks" before the other three die. 

Three and a half stars

The Spellbound Sisters #1  

This book came out October 1, 2024

Followed by The Witching Moon Manor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Smart Brevity by Roy Schwartz, Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen

Write less, get more readers. Basically the theme of this book. And it's true. I especially liked the admonition to never have more than 20 words on a PowerPoint slide. My organization tends to present with walls of text that are thoroughly unhelpful. I also liked the info on how to run a short and effective meeting. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 20, 2022

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

Shari Franke’s face was known to millions of people as her mother’s vlogging channel took off on YouTube. For a lot of her life, Shari’s most humiliating moments were taped and then broadcast to the world. But behind the scenes, there was a lot of turmoil. She and her five siblings were physically and emotionally abused, especially once her parents (whom she refers to as Ruby and Kevin), fell under the spell of a con artist. 

The book skims the surface of what happened to Shari. She only tells her stories and a few of her brother Chad’s, not wanting to be yet another adult who makes money off her younger siblings. The writing was pretty good although the editing was not great (a lot of spelling mistakes that took me out of the story.) 

Four stars

This book came out January 7, 2025

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The Dos and Donuts of Love Adiba Jaigirdar

The Great British Bakeoff has been popular for over a decade. In this story, it’s the teen Irish version and Shireen Malik has made the cut. So, however, has her ex-girlfriend (and daughter of the rival doughnut shop owners), Chris. Shireen wants to win so that her own parents shop, Drive Me Glazy, will get more exposure. No one is buying many doughnuts in their town these days.

The other contestants are interesting.There’s one boy who seems determined to start fights. And then there’s Niamh. Could she be a new friend… or more?

I read about his in the NPRs best book of 2023 list. I didn’t find quite as much delight in the book that the article writer did but agree that it was a cute book.

Three stars

This book came out June 6, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

I picked this book up based on the description of it being a thriller/comedy. It was both but there was more comedy than thriller. I very much made sure to read this during the day but it wasn't as gory as I thought it was going to be. There were some bits toward the end but it was so far past the suspension of disbelief it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. 

Vesper Wright is estranged from her family. She has been for 6 years. But now an invitation has shown up on her front door. One for her cousin's wedding... to the boy Vesper had thought she was going to marry. So Vesper goes back home. And things unravel from there.

A fun romp but not very deep. There were definitely some gore aspects but not as many as I was expecting from other reviews. The whole story wasn't very deep, neither was the character development but it was fun. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 19, 2023

Book I borrowed from the library

Opinions are my own

The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis

I really didn't like any of the people in this book. Heath was sort of blandly perfect, Lexi was passive, and Ashley was not much more than young and short. It's loosely part of a series but I don't remember any of the other characters from other books. 

Lexi has returned to a home she didn't really grow up in to a sister she didn't really grow up with. I've seen a lot about siblings in the same household having different childhood experiences and that is true for Lexi and her stepsister. While Ashley's childhood with Daisy was more idyllic, Lexie's experience was more of a mother who promised many thing but never came through. And I'm fairly annoyed that Ashley and Heath kept getting after Lexie to forgive her mother. I've experienced that in my life and it's really annoying. I know that your experience with that person was more positive than mine but that doesn't mean I HAVE to see them the same way. I think they both chilled out a bit by the end but I was already so annoyed it was hard to see it.

Two stars

Sunrise Cove #8

This book came out June 24, 2025

Follows Better Than Friends

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives by Gretchen Rubin

I had heard the description of this book but had sort of forgotten that it's a book of aphorisms. If you listen to Rubin's podcast, you know that she's been collecting these for years. She finally decided to put them all in one place. 

Ranging from one sentence to shortish stories, the truths of life are gathered into categories. It's a fast read if you do it all at once, but this could also be portioned out to one a day.

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 1, 2025

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Tao left her homeland when she was a child. She predicted her father's death and, when it came true, her whole world came crashing down. Now, she roams the countryside of her new home, telling small fortunes. Those are easier than life changing fortunes and allow her to make some money. Right now, she's just trying to stay one step ahead of the guild. Her life is better than it was before she left, but she's lonely. 

In this story, she starts to meet people (and animals) who are going to make it so that she has a core group of friends who can help her to continue to lead her life the way she wants.

This was a cute story. It dragged in a couple of places and I'm not sure that everything wrapped up cleanly but I generally enjoyed the story. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 5, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Edge of the Crazies by Jamie Harrison

A small town writer is shot in his office... but he doesn't seem overly concerned about it. He is a womanizer and has plenty of enemies so Jules, the local sheriff, has his work cut out for him. 

It's not like Jules is even sure he wants to do this job. His father died on the job and being back in Blue Deer, Montana, is fairly confining for him. He's not sleeping (though he is doing some sleeping around) and before the book is over, there will be some deaths. How much does this have to do with a death over twenty years ago? 

There was a lot of character building. Place was almost as much of a character. I got distracted trying to figure out which town the fictional Blue Deer was based off of. 

This book was written in the nineties and the story very much has that feel. There was just a certain rhythm to mysteries written during that time and this book fits very much into that pattern.  

Three stars
Jules Clement Mystery #1

This book came out in 1995

Borrowed as hard copy from the library   

Opinions are my own

Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

Shannon Bodine has just had some rather upsetting news. While her mother is dying, Shannon is told that the man she grew up with is not her biological father. These days, that's not as big a deal but this book was originally written in '96 when people might have cared. Shannon, however, freaks out and decides that he's not really her father. So when a message  comes from Ireland, her heretofore unknown half-sisters want to meet her, she's cautiously curious. 

When she arrives in Ireland, she meets Maggie (from Born in Fire) and Brianna (Born in Ice) and their husbands. She also meets next-door-neighbor and simple farmer Murphy. Murphy is literally struck dumb. 

The two lead very different lifestyles but there is a spark that can't be denied.

Not as good as the first book, this is my third favorite in the series by only a little bit. Murphy is the least interesting of the three heroes and Shannon is a little bit annoying. This book also ages the worst with the most mentions of things that are jarring to the modern eye (I had a whole list as I was reading and now I can only remember cigarettes and asbestos.)

Three stars

This book came out January 1, 1996

Born in Trilogy #3

Follows Born in Ice

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Born in Ice by Nora Roberts

I have to admit, Born in Fire is my favorite book of this trilogy. The repartee of Maggie and Rogan is too fun to miss. But this one is pretty good too.

In this book, second sister, Brianna Concannon, B&B proprietress, has a Yank customer, famous author Grayson (Gray) Thane. 

Gray isn't interested in settling down, but something about this warm hotelier is warming the cockles of his heart.

Lots of other stuff going on. It's possible to read this book without reading the first one, but it's much better if you know more of the back story.

Three stars

This book came out August 1, 1995

Born in Trilogy #1

Follows Born in Fire

Followed by Born in Shame

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy

There are a lot of really nice points in this book. What makes us feel lonely and isolated...is the missed opportunity to connect when you could have. I don't always think that is true, but I am a pretty intense introvert. I have made it a goal to leave conversations having learned something and it has made me concentrate more. 

The layers of friendship intrigued me; 150 you can comfortably know well enough to grab a drink but fewer close friends. I believe that for sure. 

My favorite chapter, as referenced in my previous comments is the one where you can sometimes say "no" to a conversation. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 7, 2020

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

Elinor Carlisle has it all. Or she's going to. She's the apparent heir to her wealthy aunt and she has a fabulous fiance. But, Roddy isn't acting like he used to and Elinor knows why. It's Mary Gerrard. And Elinor's ready to commit murder. But does she?

Yes, her aunt dies suspiciously and then there's another death. Elinor's in the docket and her aunt's doctor is begging Poirot to take on the case. And this is a case that only Poirot can solve. 

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #22

This book came out March 1, 1940

Follows
Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Followed by One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts

This is a fast, fun, and fluffy read. Not a lot of depth. But enjoyable.

Seth Quinn is back from traveling the world and is ready to stay at home with his family. But when he returns, he notices a new flower shop in town. It's owned by Drusilla Banks Whitcomb and she is a D.C. transplant, there to start a new life after an embarrassing breakup. The two get together and fall in love but Seth had a return of issues from his past and it will take the whole family to help him solve them.

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #4

This book came out November 4, 2002

Follows Inner Harbor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts

Phillip Quinn is the "professional" brother. He's a marketing exec while his brothers are a lobsterman and an ex-racer. He's the one who lives in the city but is still coming down to not only help build their boating business but to care for the latest of the adopted Quinns, ten-year-old Seth. He's also the one dealing with the insurance after there was some doubt about whether their father had an accident or if he committed suicide after paying Seth's mother for him. There are rumors about whether their professor father had an inappropriate relationship with a student that resulted in Seth being born.

Sybill has heard those rumors, but she knows the truth because Seth's mother is her sister. She's in town, supposedly to study small town communities. In truth, she's following up on the boy who stole her heart six years ago when he and his mother stayed with her for a short period of time. She just wants to make sure he's being treated well by the Quinns and to help if needed. It's just to bad that she has this pesky attraction to Phillip and that's going to make things messy if he finds out exactly why she's in town. 

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #3

This book came out December 1,1998

Follows Rising Tides

Followed by Chesapeake Blue

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

Of the four boys taken in by Ray Quinn, Ethan was the one who became a lobsterman, staying close to the shore. His whole life has been about loving Grace Monroe from afar. Even after Grace got pregnant, got married, and quickly divorced, Ethan loves her and loves her daughter just as much. But he knows that, because of his past, he's no good for her. They can never be married. But Grace doesn't understand that. 

She's worked hard. First to try and realize her dream of becoming a dancer in New York and then raising her daughter. Now she's working hard to make sure that Ethan knows not only he loves her but that they can be together, forever.

The ending on this one was a bit abrupt. First Ethan was all "I can't, oh woes, I can't" and suddenly it was all "Yay! I can totally do this." And I never quite got why they were together. Other than a childhood love. And, I guess, with Grace being twenty-two she was still young-ish but still should be past puppy love and I didn't see that they were past that.

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #2

This book came out August 1,1998

Follows Sea Swept

Followed by Inner Harbor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

Cameron Quinn is living the good life. Races, women, the fast life. What more could you want? But then he finds out that his father is in bad shape. Ever since Ray and Stella Quinn adopted Cameron when he was twelve, his life has been good. He owes everything to Ray. So he immediately goes back to the States. It seems Ray crashed into a telephone pole while rescuing another child. It is up to Cam and his two brothers (and sequel bait) to make sure that the child Ray was working to save, Seth, stays safe.

Anna Spinelli is the social worker assigned to Seth's case. She's skeptical at first that Cam and his brothers can care for a ten-year-old boy but is really attracted to Cam so she's willing to hang back and let them try. Or something like that. But that's what it seems like. 

Eventually, she and Cam do hook up and fall in love.

Three and a half stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #1

This book came out in 1998

Followed by Rising Tides

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Phoebe, Lady Clare (daughter of Sebastian and Evie from Devil in Winter), married her best friend, even though she knew he was dying. But she had loved Henry from childhood. And, because she loved Henry, she hated the boy who made his life at boarding school hell. Even now, two years after Henry died. And that is especially true now that she's confronted with the boy, er, man himself now that her brother is marrying his cousin. 

West Ravenel sort of remembers his school days. He knew that his parents made him a miserable creature who took out his pain on others. When he grew up, he became an indolent rake. At least, he was until his brother unexpectedly inherits a financially insolvent earldom along with a widow (now his brother's wife) and three female cousins. West, much against all expectations, stepped up and became an exceptional estate manager. 

Just coming out of the haze of grief, Phoebe realizes that what her father and brother have been telling her is true, she needs to start paying attention to estates, especially the one that is going to her son. And, now gathered for her brother's wedding, she has the perfect chance to ask West about the new changes in farming. If only she can get past Henry's past hurt...

An okay book but not as good as some in the Kleypas canon. Especially since I reread Devil in Winter right before this one.

Three stars

The Ravenels #5

This book came out February 19, 2019

Follows Hello Stranger

Followed by Chasing Cassandra

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

Dr. Garrett Gibson has worked very hard to be viewed as capable. And yet, Ethan Ransom still stalks her. Well, he follows her on Tuesdays to help make sure that she stays safe as she helps people in the poorest parts of London. Ethan is part of a super secret branch of the government that is working to make sure that treasonous plots don't come to fruition. So he knows that he can't get involved because anyone that he loves could be used against him later on.
A good story but it took a long while for me to get involved.

Three stars

Ravenels #4

This book came out February 27, 2018

Follows Devil in Spring

Followed by Devil's Daughter

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own