The Bureau of Unknown Fates by Gaëlle Nohant

 Choosing to read a novel based on the Holocaust is not easy for me.  I have read many, and I find them so important to read but also emotionally draining. I am a firm believer that we study history to illustrate the mistakes and atrocities of the past to hopefully be cognizant to not repeat them in the future.  The Bureau of Unknown Fates by Gaëlle Nohant is just such a novel.  

Irene, a french woman, is hired by the ITS, International Tracing Service, located in Bad Arolsen,a small German town that she moves to after marrying her German husband.  In post war Germany the ITS looks for displaced and missing persons following the Holocaust.  Irene becomes so engrossed with her job and the tragedies of war as she learns the stories and fates of the victims, that she divorces her husband just after her son is born. The estrangement occurs following an argument she has with his parents about their participation in German's WWII war crimes.  

Irene then spends her life being a single mother while researching and uniting families with fates of their loved ones from the various German concentration and death camps.  She becomes friends with survivor's families as she reunites both the people and the items left by them.  

Due to the topic, this is obviously not an easy book to read. Especially if you are an empathic sponge like I am.  I found Nohant's writing style read like a documentary. The accounts were less narrative and more investigative writing styled. Which makes sense due to the nature of the book.  Yet, Nohant pieced together her accounts with personal narrative from Irene's life. Illustrating how the tragedies of history's past effect generations to come. 

I found the book slow moving due to the detail and emotional accounts.  Like reading Elie Wiesel's Night, I had to take it in smaller doses.  

Yet, Nohant does a stellar job of making her fictional characters into human beings that a reader becomes emotionally attached to, I always feel this is the gift of a talented author. 

I recommend reading The Bureau of Unknown Fates by Gaëlle Nohant and rate it 4 stars. Look for it to be published by St. Martin's Press on December 8, 2026.  Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy of The Bureau of Unknown Fates in exchange for this honest review.

#NetGalley. #TheBureauofUnknownFates

Romantic Hero

 It has been quite a long time since I have treated myself to a lighthearted romance novel. I am so glad that I did, It was just what I needed. Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood is a delightful lark of a novel. Romantic Hero is funny when it needs to be, yet seasoned with just enough emotion to  tug at the heartstrings of her readers. 

Gertie Bickerstaff lives in London and is an accomplished romance writer of a popular series,  Bedlam Creek, which is set in a fictional Texas community. Gertie knows her characters as if she is reading their very own thoughts. Several books into the series and beginning to write her final book for the story, Gertie finds herself stonewalled by an enormous case of "Writer's Block".  Her boyfriend of 4 years, Henry, has asked her for a "break" and she only wants to wail out her woes in her bathtub, drink strong cocktails and eat meat. 

Gertie's neighbor, Mrs. Casablancas has an idea. With her book deadline fast approaching and her neighbor's patience hearing the bath wailing diminishing, she suggests that they perform a manifestation ceremony to draw in a solution to Gertie's writer's block. 

River Oakley is a villain in Gertie's novels. He's also a very handsome cowboy.  Gertie's readers love to loathe him. River's one goal is to see Oakley Ranch succeed, a promise he made to his father.  There's a land auction he needs to attend to be able to protect the ranch from outside investors, and he needs to be there.

River Oakley decides to take a little nap under his favorite cedar tree in Blue Egg Meadow, when he wakes he finds himself shirtless, on a couch, in London, staring at a woman wearing nothing, but holding an ugly hat in a dismal attempt to cover her nakedness. This is how he meets Gertie. 

And the wild ride has begun. Gertie needs to finish her book. River needs to get back to Bedlam Creek. 

Greenwood does a masterful job creating a motley crew of supporting characters to help Gertie and River fulfill their destinies, while entertaining her readers in the process. 

I rate Romantic Hero as a four star frolicking escape. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Romantic Hero hits the shelves on June 16, 2026, published by Berkley Publishing group. Treat yourself to a little summer reading fun and read Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood.

Thank you Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Romantic Hero, in exchange for an honest review.

#RomanticHero # NetGalley

Feast!

 Feast , a debut novel by Catherine Kurtz could not be more aptly named! Feast is truly a feast for the senses. Rich in voice, characters, and emotion, Feast propels the reader into the world of gourmand flavors, mixed-race judgmental attitudes, the harsh reality of never feeling wanted or belonging, and just how cruel a world can be to an outsider. Kurtz's novel Feast also envelopes the reader in the gift of the senses. 

Minha, begins her life with the acute awareness of taste and smell. Her first memories are being born and smelling the yeasty bread aroma from the bakery her parents live above, and the subtle spices wafting from her father, an Indian spice merchant who sails the seas.  She grows knowing an incredible palate, centered on her sense of smell and taste. She can identify not only the subtle notes of the food's spices and ingredients, but also the soil and sea it is grown nearby.  For all the richness of her abilities, she lives a very starved emotional existence.  Her mother works the London streets, taverns and clubs to grudgingly sustain Minha.  Minha's father sailed out to sea soon after her birth, leaving her mother to exist as best as she can with a baby. As a small child, Minha's mother takes her to her Grandparents' home in Kent to stay, to keep her from the dangers of the streets.  Her grandmother is prejudiced of her dark Indian skin, but she finds love and acceptance from her grandfather, Armand.

Armand's homeland is France and he tells Minha much about it. At his death, she escapes her grandmother's never ceasing cruelness to see the country her grandfather loved.  She finds no acceptance there either. In fact she is more ostracized than ever and only finds employment as an odd circumstance arises. Her acute sense of smell detects poison in a duck dish to be served at a celebration of Duc Nicholas. She saves him and becomes his poison taster in residence. 

So many obstacles to happiness and belonging assault Minha. Will she ever find love and belonging? Are there friendships to be had amongst the sadness?

I confess, I love to cook and bake. I would not say I have a ability to taste  and identify many ingredients, but I do smell every spice and addition to my recipes.  It helps me fully experience the joy I find in preparing foods.  I was enchanted by Minha's unique gift of her palate.  I reveled in her senses. When she felt joy, when she sensed danger, when she tasted fear and sadness. Kurtz created a complex character in Minha.  She is a masterful storyteller with a wonderful gift of bringing her characters to life. As a reader, one loves them, hates them, and most of all becomes completely immersed in their world. 

I am so thankful to Berkely Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced reader's copy of Feast by Catherine Kurtz, publishing  TOMORROW!!!, June 9, 2026.  Taste and see the talent of Catherine Kurtz, read Feast!

#Feast #NetGalley

Biblical Hypocrite? Me?

 I have bible verses throughout my home. You can find them on plaques, pictures,  and blocks of wood as decorative items. I even have my favorite bible passage as a tattoo on my foot. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge him and he will keep your paths straight." Lately I have wondered, am I a hypocrite? 

Do I really trust in the Lord with all my heart? Or do I trust in God only when it benefits me and I try to forge my own path and do things my way the rest of the time? 

Lately, I realized that I have been trying with all my will to create my own paths. I have actively worked at making things in my life happen on my timeline and according to my will. Guess what...It's not working. Things are not falling into place. Praying for my wants has not helped. My human nature has taken over my mind and I have not been focusing on the simple truth that is literally etched into my skin.  "Trust in the Lord!"

All this truth hit me this morning as I was getting ready to stay with a family member who was recently injured in an accident.  Needless to say it has been a rough patch. Just prior to the accident I was feeling melancholy because I was not getting my wants. Like I "deserved"  them because I wanted them so much.  Today I realized what a bunch of baloney I had been pursuing.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart!" "Lean not on your own understanding!"  There is a reason that God placed his word so deeply into my heart that I then put them on my body.  It's truly not about my wants.  God always covers my needs.  That is enough. 

I am going to do my best to remember this more and lean not on my own understanding but search for His will.  I am going to be honest with you reader, I am rather strong headed and will probably have to remind myself, but I am going to try harder to lean into God and have him direct my paths rather than running ahead forging my own.  I am confident that He will bless me in ways that I can bless others, whatever that looks like, I just have to have faith and believe.  

Good thing it's summer, and I can go barefoot! Maybe I need to read my tattoo more often. 😎

If you have ever felt this way, share your experiences.  I would be interested to know your tools to focus and trust God above all things.  I am planning to delve more into his word and  pursuing unselfish prayers.  I am thankful for God's wakeup call this morning.  I definitely needed the reminder. ✟

Sweet Pea

 Family is what you make for yourself, and sometimes there are hardships in the making. I believe this wholeheartedly. Many members of my "family" are not blood, but they are as close to me as those who are. I love them dearly.

Perhaps this is why Sweet Pea, by Kit de Waal resonated with me so strongly.  

Paulette grew up in St. Kitts. She was raised by her grandmother who nicknamed her Sweet Pea. Paulette learned to cook island food and how to be the woman she is now. Paulette came to England as a young girl, but she took all the lessons of learning to love and forgive others that her grandmother taught her with her to her new country. She works as an auxillary nurse and cares for patients in a hospital. Tragedy strikes Paulette when the man she is involved with is killed in an auto accident. Her hopes and dreams of a home and family die along with him.

After his death she finds he has lied to her all along, and he has a family already in his life. 

Paulette never ends up with the family she envisions, but she does have a child with the a  friend  of her lover who was killed, and in the course of raising her son she finds herself only a few houses away from the man who drove the car that killed her man. 

Paulette's boyfriend was not the only casualty in the wreck. The Driver, Frank, also tragically injures his pregnant daughter, leaving him with his grandson to raise alone, while dealing with the guilt of his actions.  Fate brings Paulette and Frank together through the lives of her son, "bird", and his grandson, Cornelius.  The hard times don't end with the hard feelings. Yet, Kit de Waal weaves her story together with honesty and raw open emotions of loss, love and healing. 

I was pleasantly impressed with the depth  of feeling de Waal created with her characters. The pain of loss and healing power of forgiveness come forth as strong themes throughout the novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, characters and author's voice. I favorably recommend Sweet Pea, by Kit de Waal, being published November 3rd by St. Martin's Press.

Thank you St. Martin's  and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Sweet Pea, in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley. #SweetPea

Her Kind

 I am convinced that women need close female friends to be whole.  Both through family and community.  We can exist alone, but there are always pieces of our world missing until we find special karmic souls to connect with through our life's journey.  If I had to choose mine, I would say mine are Denise, Lisa, Beth, MaryLou and Amber.  Perfection would be to have them all together with me in my home, coexisting together.  

I am certain I connected so strongly with Sophia Lefens's debut novel, Her KInd, simply because I have been blessed with strong relationships with dear women who make my life more abundant through their presence. 

The main character, Ada, has lived a troubled life.  Abandoned by her mother throughout her childhood, Ada sees her Aunt Leigh as the one stable adult she can rely on. When her husband also walks away from their marriage and infant son, she turns to the only refuge she has, her aunt Leigh. Ada, and her now three year old son Lenny build a life at her aged aunt's lake home, where time together in nature and the lure of the water become balm to their souls. In such a calm serene setting, Ada is jolted by fear when she begins to have reoccurring premonitions or dreams that she will soon die, leaving her son Lenny alone in the world as she has often been left.  Her only balm for her troubled mind is to gather her friends to her there, and decide whom she would leave Lenny  with if she dies. Sage, Agnes, and Joanna are each going going through their own life's difficulties, and each also find a home with Leigh at the lake house.   Death does indeed come to Ada and her friends, but they learn and grow from their time together. 

Lefens 's novel is well written, with strong, real characters. She imparts a soul into each of her characters which makes them relatable. I think anyone who has experienced the gift of true and honest friendship can identify with Lefens's book.

I feel that I connected strongly with Lefens's book for several reasons.  I have shared special relationships with friends and family so dear that they are the ones I run to when I am frightened or in grief.  I also have lost loved ones that left gaping voids in my life. Finally, the poignant serendipity of her aunt Leigh's memory fading touched my heart.  My husband and I are experiencing that now with a shared family member and seeing her decline slowly is a sad but real event.  

Her Kind is set to publish on October 13, 2026 and would be a fine read for a book club. It would be interesting to see which character(s) each person relates with most strongly and who each one would choose in their own lives to be with if faced with challenges like  Lefens's character Ada is.

Thank you to the publisher Harper Collins and NetGalley for the Advance Reader's Proof in exchange for an honest review.

#HerKind #NetGalley

Contrapposto

My google internet search of the word Contrapposto told me, "Contrapposto was developed by the ancient Greeks and is an Italian word meaning counterpoise. Contrapposto is used in the visual arts to describe a human figure standing with the majority of their weight on one foot. The other leg is relaxed and bent which causes the hips to tilt and the spine to curve. Famous examples of this pose are Michelangelo's "David" or the Venus D'Milo."  Now that you too have been educated on a facet of visual art information, you can learn more about the world of art in Dave Eggers newest novel, Contrapposto, to be published June 9, 2026 by Penguin Random House. 

Trained as a painter, Eggers brings his knowledge of the industry and unique climate of the art world through his characters. Contrapposto follows the lives of two individuals, Cricket (Robert Dib) and Olympia Argyros from the time they met as children through their 70's.  Fraught with life's complexities, Cricket and Olympia pursue art as a driving force in their lives.  Cricket learns young that he has a penchant for drawing, and he pursues this talent throughout his entire lifespan. as he trains as a painter. Olympia is a complex and often times troubled soul who uses her vast knowledge of art, artists, and business to propel herself through the tumultuous and often chaotic art scene, worldwide.  

While Olympia tends to thrive on the drama and rollercoaster ride of her career, often ending in personal addiction manifesting in various forms; Cricket gravitates toward the  quiet, creating his art through his love of line drawing and painting. Cricket is satisfied to work on the fringe of the art scene in order to create his paintings for himself. 

Olympia and Crickets' lives are ever interconnected. They share a love as friends and more but never a sustained life together.  

Eggers did a masterful job of intertwining the lives and personalities of his two characters so that the reader is continually drawn into their joys and struggles.  Eggers also educates the reader on the art world, the artists realm as well as the business side.  I learned so much about a topic I have never delved into, which is a mark of a great writer, to educate while entertaining.

I enjoyed Egger's newest book, Contrapposto. Eggers has another literary success!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Contrapposto in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley. #Contrapposto

 

Vibrant Alertness

     So much has happened since I last blogged on anything other than book reviews.  I decided it was time to sit down and think about the last few months.  The trigger to my thoughts was my dog last night, Sydney.  I don't know what she heard, but beginning at 3am, she was alert and on patrol. Barking and running to the doors. Scott and I weren't the only ones put on notice.  The cat joined in too, meowing loudly to voice her opinion.  

    We never found out the why for her watchfulness but it certainly woke me up and started me thinking about my life since Christmas.  

Two great men died. 

My father-in-law, Tom Miller, after living an impressive and productive life of work and loving his family went to heaven. I met him in 1982, when I first started dating Scott.  Dad was engaging, witty, wise, and on top of that a prominent businessman in his career life.  After we married in 1985, he treated me as if I was just another daughter, not the in-law addition.  Dad taught us so many things, and we have been forever blessed by his presence in our life.  He was 91.

My daughter-in-law's father entered heaven about two weeks after dad. Mark. He was 63. Fewer years on this earth, but no less an impact for those who knew and loved him. Our children met young, at the beginning of high school. There was a lot of life happening those first few years of their time together, and Mark and his wife Lorry became part of our extended family long before our children married.  Mark was successful as a business owner, but his family would probably say his most impactful role was that of a dad, grandpa, and friend to all.  He is missed immensely...

We moved my mother-in-law to Hutchinson Kansas in an assisted living facility, only five minutes from our home. After dad died, some circumstances changed for Scott's mom and the family decided moving mom would be the best for all of us. We are thrilled to be able to have mom close by after living two and a half hours away the past 32 years.  Now she can be an integral part of our lives, allowing us to see her several times a week.  Some days are easier than others, but the joy of having her near makes up for the additional nurturing we are blessed with being able to provide.  

    So, those are the major events. When my dog, Sydney, so thoughtfully alerted me to imminent peril  of unknown origin in the wee hours of the day, I realized in my wakeful state how vibrant life has become these last few months. It is as if I awoke with the spring and all things seem fresh and new again. People are more precious. Tasks of entertaining others are more meaningful. Colors are shockingly vivid. Even annoying events of pets are more tolerable and kind of cute. 

    Maybe we all need an injection of vibrant alertness occasionally to wake up our worlds. But, perhaps not at 3am in the morning...

Photo Dump!

Sanctuary

 If you are needing a good binge watching experience, Ive got a suggestion... James Cleary's debut thriller, Sanctuary! I can't remember when I last read a book that literally read like a video series on a streaming service.  

Now it might sound crazy to compare a book to a show, but the effect for me when I read the first page was the same as when I have sat down to an addictive season of a show. I was hooked from the first page and sat glued to the book, turning pages in a binge worthy fashion, simply unable to walk away until the last page was finished.  Cleary's writing was so vivid and action packed that the scenes played out right in front of me as I tore through the story. 

In a post apocalyptic United States, climate disasters have completely changed the viability of the environment.  The seasides are flooding and the great plains have become desserts with farmland in such extreme drought that the soil has become the enemy. Dust storms burying the lands and causing physical danger to all who are exposed to it. No water, no vegetation, no game to hunt. Survival now depends on foraging and ingenuity, unless...

Unless you are a mega-billionaire who can build a fortress. John Brandt, a man with money and power prepared. He used millions building a veritable fortress in an abandoned nuclear missile silo. Under the Nebraska soil,  Brandt takes his family along with a command security force and workers necessary for survival. These include a cook, her daughter, a botanist specializing in aquaponics and a medical doctor, just enough personnel to stay alive. The fortress is a luxury bunker that includes every amenity arranged to simulate life before and enough food and water for 50 people to last three years. Brandt's family and workers could very probably have enough for 10 years. The only problem is, others have found them.

The world outside the bunker is a war zone. rioting and killing to survive.  Some workers employed by Brandt's firm to build his underground fortress have returned in hope of aid. He has everything and they are dying. They have been surviving as raiders. Now they will do anything to stay alive. In this world, no one wins, not even those who think they hold all the cards.

I was completely immersed in Cleary's world. It made me uncomfortable to look around my home and town and see the waste and abundance we all take for granted.  I felt convicted when I read about Brandt's family and their waste, knowing I am guilty of excess myself. The story made me think.  The possible realism was frightening yet overwhelmingly compelling. His characters were so well developed that I felt what they felt, saw what they saw, and loved and abhorred them all at the same time. That is the finesse of an awe inspiring author. 

I am hungry for more books from Cleary in the future. He definitely has infinite talent.  

Sanctuary will be published April 28, 2026 from Penguin Random House.  I hope you grab a copy and read it too.  Sanctuary is well worth your time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Sanctuary by James Cleary in exchange for an honest review. 

#Sanctuary #NetGalley

When The Wolves Are Silent

     As an avid reader and reviewer, finding a previously unknown author that has multiple books published in a series is like opening a treasure chest! Not just one story to enjoy, but once you get to know and fall in love with the characters, you can continue to enjoy them through their other adventures.  This was my experience this week when asked to participate in the blog tour for C.S. Harris's new historical fiction, When the Wolves Are Silent, published April 14, 2026 by Penguin Random House. 

    Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin is set to investigate another mystery when his nephew, Bayard is involved in the burning death of his friend. Bayard is associated with a group of men notorious for bullying and tormenting others. One night after overindulging in drink at a seedy tavern, Bayard and his friend Marcus Toole decide to hike up a nearby hill to spy on possible Druid rituals as a "lark".  Once on the crest of the hill, Bayard wanders off to relieve himself and subsequently passes out, only to wake to the sight of his friend burning on a pit of fire as a human sacrifice.  Traumatized, Bayard goes to his uncle for help. In the course of a couple weeks, two more of Bayard's friends are killed in what looks to be methods of Celtic sacrificial means. Now with three dead friends Bayard fears he will be the next if Sebastian, Viscount Devlin, isn't able to solve the mystery first. In the process of the investigation, Viscount Devlin, learns that Bayard's group of friends have accumulated many possible suspects through their poor treatments of others. Viscount Devlin also finds himself  wondering if Bayard could be involved in the murders of his friends. Along with the help of his wife, Hero, he solves the mystery and even deals with a radical political movement  that threatens the government. 

Harris introduces a multitude of characters to support and enhance her storyline, creating both intrigue and suspense as Viscount Devlin works to solve the crimes. I am so excited to have been asked to participate in this blog tour for Harris's exciting new mystery.  To also discover such a talented historical fiction author in the process is a gift that will continue to bring me exciting adventures for a long while.

I sincerely encourage my readers to delve into When The Wolves Are Silent, by C.S. Harris. and continue to enjoy her previous novels that are prequels to this one.  I am thoroughly enjoying the entire series and can't wait to read some more! 

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of C.S. Harris's novel, When The Wolves Are Silent from NetGalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #WhentheWolvesAreSilent

Winter Song

     Sometimes a book is just a good story. That is my opinion of Rebeca Lee Morales's book, Winter Song,  to be published December 1, 2026 from Harper Collins Publishers.  Morales, a fresh literary voice, writes a compelling story about a small town in Minnesota and the close knit ties of community, the good and the bad. 

   Byron Lugo has just been released from prison for a hit and run murder he was convicted of, but Byron swears that he did not commit.  His one focus, ultimate goal, is to get the life that he feels was stolen from him back. He is bound and determined that the town will see that he is innocent of the hit and run death of a teenage boy.  

    Life has moved on since his incarceration.  His fiancee has married a man that Byron considers a brute. His friends still have his back, but not everyone in town feels the same way. Gordon Trent, the town's chief of police advises Byron to move on with his life, stop looking back. He has paid his debt to society, get busy living again. Yet forgetting his wrongful conviction is not part of his plan, redeeming himself is his goal.

    The story poses the questions, can you ever relive the past? Once the general opinion of a community is formed, whether a person is guilty or innocent, can that consensus be corrected? Even when a court rules the person innocent of a crime...or guilty.  

    Morales's writing is well thought out and plainly powerful. Her characters speak for themselves with voices that feel as though the reader is sitting next to them as part of their conversations.  I was simply part of the story as I experienced the book. Which is exactly what I am looking for in this form of literary fiction.  Winter Song was not a thriller, nor a complex murder mystery. Winter Song was a good story.  I encourage you to read it for yourself December 2026. 

I received an advanced reader's copy of Winter Song from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

#NetGalley #WinterSong

Lords of Serendipity

   Having just finished the book, Lords of Serendipity by Randy Boyagoda, I have more questions than I have answers.  I feel confused.  The story is centered in academia, dealing with both sides of classroom dynamics.  It begins with a SrI Lankan girl, Devi, who dreams of attending a prestigious college in the United States or the United Kingdom.  She wants to make her family and country proud of her. We meet her family, and the poverty and struggle they face to help her reach her goals. She continues to face struggles and road blocks to her dreams.

Next we meet professors and deans of  global colleges. Some struggling themselves to make their mark on the world of higher education.  The reader is introduced to corruption in the academic system. The foreign students are sold grades by an enterprising graduate teaching assistant.  Devi, the Sri Lankan is scammed by an online tutor whom she is paying to get help with her college applications.  Professors are asked to overlook cheating. The Moral compass is broken.  The book is a roller coaster ride of collegiate drama.

The most endearing characters are two college students, one a migrant orphan from Sri Lanka, another a United States citizen whose father is a statistics professor.  The girls find friendship amongst the mayhem. 

So, my problem with this book is there was little continuity. I found the plot disjointed and the scenes did not flow from one to the other.  The characters were memorable, but without a tight well moving plot, I had a hard time feeling truly invested in their stories. At the end of the book I still felt lost. Not left hanging, like a cliffhanger, but rather unsatisfied. I felt like the author had many plot lines that needed to be tied together, and he did this as he ended the story, but it didn't feel like it fit, more like it just needed to end.

I really struggle when I read a book I don't enjoy.  I truly look for positives in each one. In my opinion the positive in this book is the glimpse of Sri Lankan culture. Seeing struggles of an international student culture was enlightening. 

The negatives were the plot and overall depressing look at corruption in the academic settings.  I chose to read Lords of Serendipity because of the preview comments that said it was lively and hilarious.  The story just made me disheartened.  

I rated it with two stars. Lords of Serendipity will be published on September 8, 2026 by Mariner Books. 

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's copy of Lords of Serendipity by Randy Boyagoda in exchange for this honest review. 

#LordsofSerendipity #NetGalley

The Girl Who Rode the White Lion

     A literary fiction based on a true story deepens the involvement a reader has with the characters and overall outcome of the book.  I found this to be especially true when reading the novel, The Girl Who Rode the White Lion, by Yishay Ishi Ron.  

    Yishay Ishi Ron is the son of a Holocaust survivor and an Israeli writer. His story is based on the true story  of the Althoff family who ran a circus and used their unique opportunity to safeguard Jews during the Holocaust.  Yishay Ishi Ron took the reality of the horror of war and  created a story of love, survival and well served justice.  True heroes chose to protect the persecuted through "Moral Charity" (as stated in the acknowledgements portion of his book). 

    Set in Germany, 1938, Sarah Frank a young Jewish girl and her family are routed from their home through the obsession of an SS. officer, Hauptsturmfűhrer Hubert Zimmer of the Third Reich they had thought was a friend.  Separated from her husband, Ruth Frank is on the run with her young daughter to hide from the evil.  Needing refuge and respite for a few hours Ruth finds that Adolf Frei's Magical Circus is in town and a perfect location to hide from the Nazi's while giving her young daughter a bit of joy.  Ruth finds her persecutor in the crowd and sends Sarah to the circus manager, Adolf Frei for refuge.  Thus sets the stage for a life of hiding as a part of the circus.  Next we meet Dr. Mark Spencer,  a veterinarian for the New York Central Park Zoo in 1957. Dr. Spencer is called in to perform an autopsy on an aged white lion, named Christmas. While teaching a younger veterinarian, Dr. Spencer discovers an odd item within the white lion's intestines.  A Nazi SS officer's silver skull ring.  From this time forth, the reader is taken on a journey of survival for Sarah Frank and a mystery to solve for Dr. Mark Spencer.  

    Yishay Ishi Ron does a masterful job of weaving the two timelines together to create both intrigue in the mystery as well as fear for the life of young Sarah.  War is ugly and the reader feels this truth within the book, The Girl Who Rode the White Lion. I began reading the story assuming it was a purely fiction based tale.  It wasn't until the end of the book that I found in the acknowledgement section that the story was based on truth. This made it so much more powerful. 

    I sincerely hope that  Yishay Ishi Ron's book soars in popularity so many may revisit the tragedy of evil and how it effects many.  We must remember and not repeat.  I have included a web source below to further educate the source of the story. 

The Girl Who Rode the White Lion by  Yishay Ishi Ron  and translated from the Hebrew by Yardenne Greenspan will publish June 16, 2026 through Soncata Press. Please take the time to read this wonderful novel.  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Girl Who Rode the White Lion through NetGalley in exchange for an honest reivew.  Thank you again NetGalley for the opportunity to discover diverse voices in literature. 

 https://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/stories/althoff.html

#NetGalley #TheGirlWhoRoadtheWhiteLion 

The Memory Bookshop

Life is full of difficult memories and some we visit often, but do we remember the memories accurately? Do we harbor regrets when we should focus on relationships and joys? The Memory Bookshop is such a story.  It is a story about the interconnectedness of human life and relationships.  

The Memory Bookshop is a story about a young woman who has been grieving the loss of her mother for a very long time. She  even considers suicide as she gets lost in the void of missing her mother and feeling guilty for the time she did not spend with her.                  Kim Jiwon-nim seeks help with a doctor to deal with her debilitating grief of her mother, seven years prior. The doctor's answer was to prescribe a medication. She leaves the clinic with her prescription and runs into a man yelling, "Help! Help!, Someone's dying!" The encounter upsets her and she feels her 5 minute encounter with the doctor and his prescription accompanied by the frantic man is a sign that she needs to throw away the medicine. She does, but she can't get the man out of her mind. She knows his existence must be important, he had acted as if he was in a dream...or a memory. 

Three weeks later she wonders whether she has made the right move with the medicine as her grief and insomnia continues. She goes out for a walk when she gets caught in a sudden rainstorm. She seeks shelter in a tattered building called the Giyeok Bookshop. Giyeok is the Korean word for memory. Everything begins to become clear as she peruses the store to find her favorite childhood books with well worn pages and other books with pristine pages that are catalogues of all  her memories throughout her entire lifespan. She meets Manager K, proprietor of the shop and finds that indeed the bookstore is filled completely  with books containing all of her life's memories. Manager K tells her that  she may revisit three moments of memories from her life.  If she makes a change then she will get to live with that new change, but each memory may shorten the time she has left on earth. And she may only travel further back each time, not forward in time.  She takes the opportunity and begins her journey back through some of her memories with her mother.  It is difficult, but she learns and grows, and each encounter does affect change.  

 Ki Jiwon-nim  finds healing for her grief, leaving the guilt and regrets behind and enjoying the positive memories and her future ahead of her.

The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong was first published in 2024 in Korea and will be released July 7, 2026 in its English translation by HarperCollins Publishers Inc.  I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. 

I wasn't certain exactly What to expect when I chose this book from NetGalley, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The story is a great reminder to revisit past memories but be careful to not dwell on the negative events and regrets for things that can not be changed.  Focus on the joy and love you remember from a lost loved one, and take that joy forth into your future.  

I give The Memory Bookshop four stars. 

#NetGalley #TheMemoryBookshop

Picky by Julie T. Kinn

 With a title like Picky, I didn't know what to expect the book to be about.  Julie Kinn  surprised and enchanted me with her characters in her book Picky being published July 1, 2026 from Kennedy Creek Press.  

Zillah, a twenty-three year old woman lives with her mother in Chicago.  Zillah feels trapped in her life.  She desparately wants to get out on her own, but her mother must approve her decision and declare her ready before she is "allowed" to move.  Zillah is picky.  She is a young woman who only eats 10 basic foods. Much like a young child.  She follows her mother's edicts and lives in an anxiety filled state. As the story progresses, the reader learns that it may not be Zillah who is truly the culprit to the life she is living. Her mother is troubled as well.  With spunk and bravery, Zillah faces her challenges to come out stronger and more independent in the end. 

Not wanting to include any spoilers to the book, I left out MUCH in the synopsis.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Picky for many reasons. It is filled with humor.  Humor in how Zillah  struggles with mental illness and finds ways to live a fuller life. She is virtually betrayed and or abandoned by all the adults in her young life, which allows her world to be one of pleasing others by meeting their expectations in lieu of creating her own. 

Kinn's book gives a "real" picture of what living with generalized anxiety can look like.  Zillah lives it in a smaller dose, her mother lives it with all it's manifestations. I could relate to the story.  I have always lived with anxiety, from a small child onward. I could relate to the characters. Thankfully I connected more with Zillah than her mother.  It is a heavy burden to bear, and can rule your life if it is allowed to take hold.  Finding healthy coping mechanisms are important. It is very easy to create unhealthy habits to deal with the illness.  The story includes some therapy techniques that are presented through a friend also battling mental illness. I an thankful that those are woven into the text.  I have sought help and I could recognize the interventions and appreciate how helpful they are.  

After reading Picky, and looking up Kinn's biography, I found out that she is a licensed therapist with a P.H.D, specializing in multiple disorders such as OCD, GAD, panic disorder and many others.  Here is her website.  https://www.juliekinn.com/

I did not know what to expect when I requested an advanced reader's copy of the novel Picky, by Julie T. Kinn from NetGalley.com in return for an honest review.  I liked the cover and it sounded intriguing.  Having read the book, I am so thankful I did.  Through Kinn's engaging sense of humor I took a peek at my own anxiety as I read and learned about her character Zillow's.  I related to her overcoming some of her fears and learning to live with her other ones.  I grew up with a parent who also struggled with anxiety, and multiple other family members do as well.  I am hopeful that others might read the book and find help and encouragement through doing so.  

Look for Picky to be available July 1st, 2026, from Kennedy Creek Press!

#NetGalley. #Picky

Everything to the Sea

 Loss is a concept that every human can understand.  It essentially is the essence of being human.  The mortality of man and living with that eventuality.  Everything to the Sea, by Alicia Upano is a new novel centered around the lives of many Hawaiian Islanders following the wake of a large tsunami. In the course of mere minutes, the people on the island of Hilo lose everything to the sea and must learn to live with the ultimate loss of family and home. Though the story is fiction, the fact that the island of Hilo Hawaii did suffer tsunamis in 1946 and 1960 makes the story real for the reader .

Two main characters, Jane and Kenji are young adults, enjoying a summer fling and staying on Oahu  when a tsunami caught their home island of Hilo unawares, killing their families and destroying much of their island.  Each deals with the tragedy and their grief in completely different ways. Kenji returns to face the devastation and rebuild, while Jane runs away to save her sanity and her remorse over not answering her mother's final phone call. The novel follows their lives as they weave together new worlds both together and apart and find forgiveness and love in the process. 

I was first drawn to Upano's novel by the setting and situation.  I have always harbored a fascination with earth processes and have found tsunamis compelling.  The extreme force of nature and the water is unfathomable to a land-locked Kansas girl.  The oceans and beaches along with the Hawaiian culture provides a rich basis for Upano's story telling and she does an outstanding job of making the story come to life for the reader.  I personally could connect to the book because I have recently faced loss of family members and feel the sting of the separation from them.  I have also been fortunate to visit Hawaii and experience some of the culture, so the story felt very authentic and real to me.  

Due to Upano's strong character development and her voice in her writing, I was drawn into the world she created from the first page and I rushed through the  story to learn what would happen to the characters, simply not able to put the story down until I had finished it. 

I strongly suggest reading Everything to the Sea, Alicia Upano's debut novel being published July 14th through William Morrow Publishers.  

  I want to thank NetGalley for the advance reader's copy of Everything to the Sea, in exchange for an honest review. 

#EverythingtotheSea #NetGalley

Dangerland by Erin Singer.

 I generally like most books that I read. In fact there must be considerable reasons for me to not give a positive review,  and even then I can't persuade myself to give lower that three stars even on books I do not enjoy because I hold the opinion that even though it doesn't fit my tastes , others may have different feelings.  That is the rationalization for my three star rating for Dangerland, a novel by Erin Singer.  I received the advanced reader's copy of Dangerland through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion, which is the reason for the following review.

I tried desperately to  "get into" the book, Dangerland, but it never captured my attention, even though I slogged through it.  Although it was advertised as a funny rom-com like "When Harry Met Sally,"  I do not agree.  I found the book disjointed and confusing.  The chapters did not flow with each other.  I understand when jumping between past and present scenes, the reader can feel in a tug of war of storylines, but Dangerland never seemed to connect from one scenerio to the next.  

Overall, the book features two star-crossed individuals who are attracted to each other, yet fate never allows them to form more than an awkward friendship. The main characters live in Las Vegas and meet in adolescences then remain interconnected throughout their lives. (That's the only similarity I found to "When Harry Met Sally"). Various other characters are included throughout the story.  The inclusion of the additional characters felt like cameos in the overall story.  I was looking forward to a light-hearted read with quirky chuckles along the way.  The stories and characters just made me feel sad for their circumstances.  I didn't find a time when I was invested in the overall outcome of the story.  

I did read some positive reviews, yet I didn't have the same experience these other reviewers had.  I hope there are others who do enjoy Dangerland as I wish Singer the best of luck. The novel just wasn't what I had hoped for when requesting it. 

#NetGalley #Dangerland

A Nantucket Fling by Kathryn Freeman

 With unseasonably warm weather this week and Valentines Day  just a few days away, I treated myself to reading a fun little romcom by Kathryn Freeman.  A Nantucket Fling, being published June 9, 2026, by HarperCollins Publishers, is just the thing for an enjoyable virtual getaway.  

    Olivia Davies is a career driven woman, with no time or patience for pursuing a man or a marriage. She is on the fast track to being CIO for a well known London company. Olivia is competing against Stuart for the promotion she has worked 15 years toward. Fighting the "gold ole' boys club" all the way up the ladder.  A few weeks before her interview process begins she must attend a family wedding across the pond in the United States, Nantucket, Massachusetts to be exact.  As the single younger sister, accompanied by her two older sisters and the wedding party, she is challenged to enjoy a little harmless fling while on vacation.  Nothing serious, just some outings with the hot young chef , Connor, helping to cater the "hen party," and wedding dinner.  What could it hurt to let her hair down and enjoy the attention of a younger man?

Back home in England, she finds herself back in the grind, pursuing her promotion when she reconnects with Connor once again.  The relationship rekindles, but Connor hasn't shared everything about his life with Olivia. His world is more complicated than he has led her to believe.

 Olivia is guarded with her own doubts. How could a virile younger man fancy a career driven woman ten years older than him, and is that man worth changing her plans for? She doesn't want marriage, or a family...her only desire is to meet her goal.  Is the cost too high?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  As a light read to chase off the winter doldrums or perhaps a summer read by the pool, A Nantucket Fling by Kathryn Freeman is just perfect.  I am so appreciative of HarperCollins Publishers for the advance e-proof copy distributed by NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.  I give A Nantucket Fling  four stars, and hope to see it fly off the shelves this coming June.

#ANantucketFling #NetGalley

Bratty Pets, A gift from God?

     My dog is like a little kid. Weighing her options while deciding the value of consequences versus rewards.  But aren't we all. 

    For her, the consequences are doled out by the cat.  There is a great sibling rivalry between my dog and cat. One (the dog) feels everything in the house is hers to have even though she has her own things. The cats toys are hers, the parents are  hers. The parents socks are hers, and she will patiently wait until the cats not paying attention to take anything and drag it under my bed to her den. 

    The cat is often angry because of the dogs possessive nature.  So she plots revenge. She taunts the dog by placing toys in her path to steal knowing full well that an attack is imminent if she goes to retrieve the toys. The cat also places herself in the path of the dog's toys or even in the doorway leaving a room or an exit so the dog must pass by the cat to get where she wants or needs to go.  The cat will chase, ambush or flat out attack the dog, biting and scratching her. 

    The dog knows this. Yet she still lets her possessive tendencies rule her behavior. She will endure the pain of attack to steal another cat toy or cross the path to her escape.  The consequences of the cat may slow her progress, but she will patiently weigh her options and endure discomfort to feed her own wants. 

    How similar we are to  them?

    When you think about it, doesn't this mirror our own sinful natures?  We know certain behaviors are sinful, or harmful, yet instead of avoiding them completely, we weigh the consequences.  How much guilt or discomfort is worth the pleasure we get from the moment of following our own wants. 

     For me this might result in coveting or envy, the act of wanting what someone else has just because I really admire it or, sharing gossip or information that doesn't need to be shared  dressed up as concern.  I can always make a case for the defense of my actions. Yet that doesn't change the true nature behind them. 

    I'm in awe of the ways God puts illustrations right in front of us to remind us of his will for our lives and how we should lead them.  Thankfully, he doesn't often bonk us on our heads and say...I told you not to do that, but He shows us a mirror reflection when we are being selfish, or nosy or prideful.  Sometimes he even puts a dog or cat in our lives to remind us (me) to not be petty and willful, but show more kindness. 

I am thankful for God's love and concern and his will for me.  I am also thankful for the example he gives me through my bratty pets, to remind me to share, treat others well, and get out of the way of myself and others when He directs my paths. 

Tata by Valerie Perrin

 I think my favorite part of reading prepublication copies of new literature from NetGalley is the opportunity to discover unfamiliar authors.  There are so many fresh voices in literature and even if one reads the feeds from publishers and book sites, many can be missed that are truly amazing and worth sharing.  

Valerie Perrin is just such an author.  Her new novel, Tata is set for publication on June 23, 2026 from Europa Editions, and translated from the original French by Hildegarde Serle.  Perrin is a gifted writer who has the ability to give a distinct voice to her characters, creating a story that is unveiled layer by layer through emotion and intrigue. 

In her novel Tata, Perrin's character Agnes is sent upon a journey of discovery as she learns that her beloved aunt, Colette has died, for the second time! She buried her aunt three years ago and her much loved Tata has been resting in peace in the cemetery of Gueugnon, France.  Agnes travels to Gueugnon to identify the body and finds it is indeed her aunt Colette lying in the morgue, so who is buried in the family grave site? And why would her aunt lie about her death for three years, who or what was she protecting? 

Perrin takes the reader through Agnes's childhood and Colette's past as well to answer the questions.  An emotional mystery is unfolded that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.  

Through reading Tata  accessed through NetGalley I learned that Perrin is a popular French author with her previous novels being international best sellers. She has sold millions of copies worldwide including strong sales in Italy. 

Tata would be a great book club selection as it is literary fiction, general fiction and women's fiction. It would create in depth discussions of it's nostalgic, emotional and intriguing social/cultural content. 

I am so thankful to NetGalley for the proof copy of Tata by Valerie Perrin in exchange for this honest review.  I encourage  my readers to place it on their "to read lists" for this summer.  I feel you will be rewarded just as I was, and you'll find a new author to enjoy.

#Tata #NetGalley

Solidarity: The Gift of Community

     I was texting my sister-in-law today, a truly amazing and overall cool person, and I came to a realization, what a true gift community with others, sharing like convictions is for us all.  Not just family, but with similar belief systems.  

    If you read this blog, you are aware that my community is one of Christian believers.  I feel such a sense of support and belonging when I am with those who share my beliefs and participate in study and worship.  Just attending a service where I am surrounded by fellow Christians, raising our voices in song and prayer, being  there to voice prayer requests and lift others up who are on our hearts fills me with peace and comfort.  I love standing at the welcome center, greeting people, smiling at those entering the church and answering questions to make others feel valued and heard.  I like sitting in a room with women who are diverse in their stages of life, yet have commonality in their love of Christ and the church.  Such a blessing.  

     Now, that's just my community.  But today while texting I realized that people can find that sense of belonging that fills them through various  factions.  For some it may be a political movement. Sharing like convictions and working together to enact a change instead of sitting idly by and complaining about the problem.  Just being amongst like minded citizens can fill them with enthusiasm and energy to help create the change they want to see happen.  That gift of community in common goals is a blessing as well.

    Another community might be sharing a similar life situation.  Whether it is a suppport group for a particular personal challenge or illness, or a living arrangement.  As hard as it is to join a support group or make a change in where one lives, the gift of solidarity, of being in a community with others who share the same circumstances is one to be valued.  Those may be more difficult to accept, as often we are placed in those arrangements versus choosing them for ourselves.  Yet over time, the community we are in can become the blessing we need. To be included and loved by others as we receive the care our minds,  bodies and souls must have.   

While I was texting this morning, and doing my bible devotions, all these thoughts of community flooded my mind and I just felt compelled to share them.  My dear readers, if you have not found a community of like believers or those who share your life stage or convictions, I strongly urge you to reach out and try to discover one for yourself.  Your life, your world, will be enhanced and in turn you very well may bless others as you have been blessed yourself. 

Hugs and love....

Dwelling on Beautiful Things

     Today I was feeling frustrated.  In November I had a tear in my right shoulder rotator cuff repaired.  Today marks nine weeks since I had surgery and I still am wearing a sling and  have little use of my arm.  I am doing physical therapy at home everyday and with a therapist twice a week.  Yet I am increasingly aware that this is going to be a very slow process.  I knew this approaching the surgery, yet living the situation is so much more.  

    As I was cleaning the house one handed today (my  non-dominant left hand) I found I was thinking about many things.  I have had much too much time to think the last nine weeks.  I wanted to cheer myself up and I remembered a list I had started on my phone during one of my last frustrated days.  Things that I feel are beautiful.  Not perhaps aesthetically beautiful, but beautiful to me.  I want to share a few of those things here. 

    I always feel hypersensitive to beauty while at church.  Being in my church, any church I have attended, has always been a source of joy to me.  Christmas Eve I was serving at church, at a welcome center, answering questions and greeting members. I felt such happiness watching the small children waiting to go into the service.  Especially the little ones wearing cowboy boots, both boys or girls.  The sound of those small feet tip tapping across the hard floors sounded beautiful to me.  Toddlers in cowboy boots make a noise of pride, they stand a little straighter and walk a bit more purposeful in those shoes, It's beautiful.

    A week or so later, also at a church service, I found something else to make me appreciate pure beauty.  A special needs man, and his father in church.  The man is probably in his 30's and his father looks to be 60's or older.  I see them every time I attend church.  The son sat next to his father, gazing adoringly at him, his hand resting on the back of his father's neck.  He would pat his father's back and just look at his dad with the purest love.  I was touched by his devotion to his father, it seemed as though his father was the center of his world.  It was beautiful.  

    One more instance centers around a man and his dog.  There's an elderly man in our neighborhood.  I really don't know anything about the man.  I think he lives in a rental duplex a few streets south of me.  I don't know him, but I have seen him many times walking his dog.  I like to make up storylines in my head (imagine that)  and in my mind he is a retired farmer. He dresses like one to me. Anyway, the man is elderly, probably in his 80's, and his dog is elderly too, with a very gray face and muzzle.  Both get out almost everyday and walk together, looking like best friends.  Two old guys keeping each other company.  It's beautiful to see.

    There are so many things of beauty around us all the time. I have been noticing more lately.  I do feel frustrated with the forced sedentariness of my circumstances this winter, while waiting for my shoulder to begin healing.  But I can value the opportunity to think and look at the world around me. Definitely something beautiful to dwell upon.

     

Should The Waters Take Us by Stephanie Soileau

     My attention was first caught by the description, epic saga, when I saw the write up for Stephanie Soileau's debut novel, Should The Waters Take Us being published by Doubleday Books on July 14, 2026.  I received an advanced reader's copy of the novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   The word "epic" means to tell the stories of historic people or of a country's history.  In Soileau's case, the adventures and deeds being told are of four centuries of people originating in France, then moving to Arcadia, and ending up in Louisianna in the bayous.  The waters are paramount in their lives from the first voyage to the new world, to the livelihoods of living and surviving on the bayous for generations.  

    As in most dynamic tales, the adventures of the people jump from generation to generation, back and forth between eras and history unfolds and is retold to subsequent generations.  We are introduced toeach generation learning from the successes and failures of the ancestors and sharing those lessons with their children.  Some to be conquered, others to be relived over and over again as the land and the wilds are forever struggling against man and it's progress.

    I enjoyed the book.  I felt frustration with the characters when the hurricanes came and devastated the land over and over again throughout the centuries.  When men took advantage of the poorer people, essentially stepping on the backs of some to rise above them.  When children were at the mercy of the parents in the fight to simply survive. 

    I can't say that this was a book I felt joy to read, but I appreciate the story showing the reader what it means to persevere for the sake of life itself.  I will give this book a rating of 4 stars, and invite others to read,  , Should The Waters Take Us.  It's important to realize that struggle is part of life and seeing others doggedness can motivate us to do likewise.