Robin's bookshelf: all en-US Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:20:20 -0700 60 Robin's bookshelf: all 144 41 https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Paper Ghosts 244947598 Part ghost story, part love story and steeped in magical realism, Paper Ghosts will transport you to a place where old secrets echo through the years and love finds a way of bringing us home.

Every family has its secrets... The Wester women live inside theirs.

For decades, the women of Wester House have unsettled and fascinated their small, timeless North Carolina town. Their home is full of whispers, old griefs, and uncanny knowing. But when Willamena Wester reaches out to the granddaughter she once pushed away, long-buried truths begin to stir.

1976:
Restless young Willamena falls for a stranded musician who brings freedom and the promise of another life to her carefully controlled world. Their brief, incandescent love story promises to escape the pull of the Wester legacy until Willamena makes a fateful choice that changes her life forever.

Present Day:
Returning home is the last thing Bailey Wester wants. Yet as she reconnects with Willamena, the grandmother she feared, Bailey begins to understand the love, heartbreak, and impossible choices that shaped the women in her family and realizes the past may not have been trying to haunt them after all.

A luminous novel filled with Sarah Addison Allen’s stunning prose and signature blend of romance, Southern charm, and wonder, Paper Ghosts reminds us that in order to have the future we really want, sometimes we need to live with the past, and not let go of it.]]> 288 Sarah Addison Allen 1250283426 Robin 0 to-read 3.79 2026 Paper Ghosts
author: Sarah Addison Allen
name: Robin
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2026
rating: 0
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date added: 2026/08/19
shelves: to-read
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]]> Hidden (Lost and Found, #1) 56533082 A page-turning new story from the bestselling author of No Way Out, perfect for fans of Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel! Meet a brother and sister who are drawn into a treacherous mystery through an antique with a dark past, as they race against time to help a single mother and take down a ruthless couple bent on taking control of their family’s legacy…

At first glance, few would guess that Luna and Cullen Bodman are siblings. Cullen is efficient and serious while his younger sister Luna is a free spirit. When the two launch their furniture restoration shop/café—an offshoot of the family’s longtime antique business—in an up-and-coming arts center, little do they know their unique talents may be their only defense against a dangerous betrayal.

When Luna gets a strange sense about a piece Cullen just acquired, the two find themselves uniting to solve a mystery that has far-reaching consequences—never knowing there are some who’ll stop at nothing to claim what they believe is theirs. No matter what, Luna and Cullen know they can rely on each other—and this time, their lives may depend on it…]]> 368 Fern Michaels 1420152335 Robin 3 4.07 2021 Hidden (Lost and Found, #1)
author: Fern Michaels
name: Robin
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2025/10/04
date added: 2025/10/04
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]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)]]> 42844155 An alternative cover for this ASIN can be found here

"Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'."

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!]]> 333 J.K. Rowling Robin 4 4.45 1997 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Robin
average rating: 4.45
book published: 1997
rating: 4
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date added: 2025/10/04
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]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)]]> 5 547 J.K. Rowling 043965548X Robin 4 4.57 1999 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Robin
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/10/04
shelves:
review:

]]> A Million Junes 30763950
Who exactly is this gruff, sarcastic, but seemingly harmless boy who has returned to their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, after three mysterious years away? And why has June—an O’Donnell to her core—never questioned her late father’s deep hatred of the Angert family? After all, the O’Donnells and the Angerts may have mythic legacies, but for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them.

As Saul and June’s connection grows deeper, they find that the magic, ghosts, and coywolves of Five Fingers seem to be conspiring to reveal the truth about the harrowing curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations. Now June must question everything she knows about her family and the father she adored, and she must decide whether it’s finally time for her—and all the O’Donnells before her—to let go.]]> 400 Emily Henry 0448493969 Robin 0 to-read 3.77 2017 A Million Junes
author: Emily Henry
name: Robin
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/09/30
shelves: to-read
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]]> Bees in June 221132677 Set against the optimism and excitement of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969, a feat many said was impossible, one woman struggles to achieve something she thinks is impossible--living a happy and fulfilling life.

Rennie King's world isn't at all what she expected when she married the hotshot baseball player from her small town of Spark, Tennessee. Reeling from the loss of her newborn son, she desperately needs the support of her husband, but instead of providing comfort, he is becoming increasingly angry, often turning that anger on her.

When a glowing bee lands beside her, Rennie senses she needs to check on her beloved beekeeper uncle. The bee stirs long-forgotten memories of a childhood lived close to nature, a connection she lost over time. As the summer progresses, she finds both the bees and her uncle advising and encouraging her. While healing from her loss, she gains the courage to break free from the husband who is becoming increasingly violent.

With help from her family, her friends, and of course, the bees, Rennie dares to hope that she can build a happy life for herself and opens a business that could provide a path to independence. But starting over is hard, and as the heat rises that summer, so do tempers, until everything comes to a head the night the astronauts first step onto the moon's surface.


Hope-filled and infused with magical realism, Bees in June captures Rennie's journey back to her true self, creating a rewarding life that the bees showed her was possible if she only believed in herself and the magic that surrounds her.]]> 352 Elizabeth Bass Parman 1400342600 Robin 5 4.21 2025 Bees in June
author: Elizabeth Bass Parman
name: Robin
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/09/28
date added: 2025/09/28
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]]> That Last Carolina Summer 218171641 Beloved New York Times bestselling author Karen White returns with a brand-new contemporary stand-alone novel about sisterhood, secrets and one woman’s reckoning with the past

As a child, Phoebe Manigault developed the gift of premonition after she was struck by lightning in the creeks near her Charleston home. Plagued throughout her life by mysterious dreams, and always living in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Addie, Phoebe eventually moves to the West Coast, as far from her family as possible. Now, years later, she is summoned back to South Carolina, to help Addie care for their ailing mother.

As Phoebe’s return lures her back into deep-rooted tensions and conflicts, she is drawn toward Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Their connection, woven through shared losses and hope, brings comfort to Phoebe, while Celeste’s adult grandson Liam resurrects complicated emotions tied to Phoebe’s past.

But the longer Phoebe spends in her childhood home, the more her recurring nightmares intensify—bringing her closer to the shocking truth that will irrevocably change everything. Unfolding against the lush backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, That Last Carolina Summer is an unforgettable family drama and mystery about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances.]]> 352 Karen White 0778310698 Robin 4 3.94 2025 That Last Carolina Summer
author: Karen White
name: Robin
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/09/07
date added: 2025/09/07
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]]> <![CDATA[The Guest Cottage (Firefly Summer, #1)]]> 218155603 In this uplifting series debut, forgiveness and unlikely friendship blossom in the haven of a quiet lakeside town when two very different women bond over one man’s betrayals.

Marlow Heddings is starting over. She’s carried the outrage of her husband Dylan’s affair with a younger woman—and the expectations of his family’s powerful Chicago holdings company—long enough. Now, after another devastating twist of fate, she’s unapologetically moving on.

Arriving in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, Marlow revels in her freedom, swapping her executive suits for sundresses . . . and scouting places to open her dream boutique. Best of all is her new residence, an adorable cottage with gorgeous lake views—and a breathtaking landlord, former Marine Cort Easton. Soon they’re sharing dockside morning coffee and nighttime firefly gazing. Marlow’s new life feels like a dream.

Then Pixie Nolan arrives on her doorstep. With a shocking secret.

To Marlow’s astonishment, Dylan’s “other woman” is a desperate girl of nineteen, destitute, exhausted, and disowned by her family. Defying her manipulative in-laws’ demands, and surprising even herself, Marlow vows to lay down roots in Bramble and help Pixie get on her feet. Then they’ll part ways. But empathy has a way of forging bonds. As Marlow grows close to the hard-working, devoted young woman, she becomes something of a big sister to Pixie.

Now, with each sunrise, Marlow awakens to the life she was truly meant to live, one filled with deepening connections, supportive friendship . . . and even a second chance at love.]]> 304 Lori Foster 1496752341 Robin 1 3.65 2025 The Guest Cottage (Firefly Summer, #1)
author: Lori Foster
name: Robin
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/07/01
date added: 2025/09/01
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]]> We Are Made of Stars 214960921 Secrets, lies, and second chances are served up beneath the stars at a picturesque mountain getaway in this powerful novel about love and family by the bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends.

At the Vis Ta Vie inn, Reneé and Jean-Paul De La Rue face the daunting decision to close their beloved home for good.

They’re not the only ones going through a season of change, though. Their guests include three couples in Hollywood celebs Leo and Penny are spending their silver anniversary together while on the cusp of divorce. Lucy, a practical-minded therapist, and Henry, an astronomer with his head in the stars, are struggling to find common ground. And former lawyer and current stay-at-home mom Sienna and charismatic sports agent Adam look perfect but are hiding rifts of their own. Thrown into the mix are self-absorbed single mother Cassidy and her sullen fifteen-year-old daughter, Rosalie.

The stage is set for a week of betrayals, regrets, and shocking truths that can rend the heart or heal it. Vis Ta Vie—live your life—captures what it means to love through the darkness, and to find the light even after the magic fades.]]> 347 Rochelle B. Weinstein 1662520883 Robin 3 3.87 2025 We Are Made of Stars
author: Rochelle B. Weinstein
name: Robin
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/09/01
date added: 2025/09/01
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]]> <![CDATA[The Summer Guests (The Martini Club, #2)]]> 199223892
Maggie survived, thanks to her wits and the collective intelligence of the Martini Club, the circle of ex-CIA friends in her cocktail-sipping book club. Their handiwork, however, caught the attention of young police chief Jo Thibodeau. Now Jo and her neighborhood ex-spies have an uneasy alliance.

After a teenager vanishes—and Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect—she joins the investigation, determined to prove her friend’s innocence. But the girl’s wealthy family pushes for an arrest. And when authorities discover a long-dead corpse in a nearby pond, the case becomes doubly complicated, with unthinkable ties to long-buried secrets.

As Jo grapples with two unexplained mysteries, the Martini Club races to uncover the truth behind shadowy secrets…before more lives are lost.]]> 363 Tess Gerritsen 1662515154 Robin 4 4.29 2025 The Summer Guests (The Martini Club, #2)
author: Tess Gerritsen
name: Robin
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/06/22
date added: 2025/06/22
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]]> <![CDATA[The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (Love's Academic, #1)]]> 200555182
Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon. 

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals. 

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.]]> 384 India Holton Robin 3 3.85 2024 The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (Love's Academic, #1)
author: India Holton
name: Robin
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/06/09
date added: 2025/06/09
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]]> <![CDATA[The Geographer's Map to Romance (Love's Academic, #2)]]> 216247464 Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her—except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.

Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either—except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoically pining for her.

When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of Britain, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there's no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.]]> 327 India Holton 0593641477 Robin 0 to-read 3.88 2025 The Geographer's Map to Romance (Love's Academic, #2)
author: India Holton
name: Robin
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/07
shelves: to-read
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]]> Great Big Beautiful Life 218559595
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad… depending on who’s telling it.

Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.]]> 432 Emily Henry Robin 3 3.91 2025 Great Big Beautiful Life
author: Emily Henry
name: Robin
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/06/07
date added: 2025/06/07
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]]> Hidden Nature 217388081 The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a new novel about an injured cop who must fight to bring down a pair of twisted killers…

Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.]]> 435 Nora Roberts 125037085X Robin 5 3.86 2025 Hidden Nature
author: Nora Roberts
name: Robin
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/04
date added: 2025/06/04
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]]> <![CDATA[The True Love Bookshop (Somerset Lake, #3)]]> 59568609  

For Tess Lane, owning Lakeside Books is a dream come true, but it’s the weekly book club she hosts for the women in town that Tess enjoys the most. The gatherings have been her lifeline over the past three years since her husband’s mysterious death. Tess has tried to move on, but when River Harrison shows up on her doorstep, all her lingering questions come rushing back.…

River, a former marine turned private investigator, was her husband’s best friend, and seeing him again is a reminder of everything Tess lost. At first, she tries to ignore him, but Tess comes to realize that this is her chance, once and for all, to find the answers that have troubled her for years.

With the support of her friends, Tess joins River on a journey of discovery that leads them to the edges of Somerset Lake and on a road trip down the Carolina coast. Although their adventure isn’t always easy, Tess starts to find the joy in life again. But when secrets surrounding her husband’s death are finally revealed, can Tess find it in her heart to forgive the mistakes of the past … and maybe even open herself up to love again?]]> 352 Annie Rains 1538710056 Robin 4 3.98 2022 The True Love Bookshop (Somerset Lake, #3)
author: Annie Rains
name: Robin
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/05
date added: 2025/05/10
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]]> <![CDATA[Sprinkles and Sea Serpents (Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries #1)]]> 53685177

They say you can’t go home again … oh, if only that were true.

Thanks to a series of unfortunate events—and one backstabbing frenemy—home is exactly where I’m headed. Back to Winterspell Lake, the small community in Eastern Washington, where magic runs rampant and humans are outlawed.

Faster than you can say hocus pocus I’m unpacking my bags and settling into the guest room of my parents’ house, trying to ignore the creeping sensation that I’ll never break free again.

The one thing Winterspell has going for it is the sweets shop in the center of town, a bakery filled with magical creations designed to enchant the tastebuds and charm even the pickiest of connoisseurs. Luckily for me, I get the friends and family discount since my parents own the famous Sugar Shack. If I want room and board I have to frost cupcakes and sling macaroons with the rest of the fam.

Unfortunately, things in Winterspell aren’t all sugar cookies and rainbows. According to the local news, a dangerous sea serpent has claimed the lives of three missing girls. The journalist in me has to have a look for myself, and what I find is something far more deadly.

Something that makes me wish I’d stayed in the bakery.

***Sprinkles and Sea Serpents is the first book in a brand new paranormal cozy mystery series by Danielle Garrett. This series features magic, mystery, family squabbles, sassy heroines, and a mysterious monster hunter—all with a little sugar sprinkled on top.***]]> 272 Danielle Garrett Robin 3 3.78 2020 Sprinkles and Sea Serpents (Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries #1)
author: Danielle Garrett
name: Robin
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/10
date added: 2025/05/10
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]]> <![CDATA[Promise Me Sunshine (Hearts of New York, #2)]]> 214269328 Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not

Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Her best friend, Lou, recently passed away after a battle with cancer, and her death has left Lenny feeling completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with Lou, and the list of things she’s supposed to do to help her live again. The only thing she can do is temporary babysitting gigs, and luckily, she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. It’s not perfect: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of... a huge jerk. But if Lenny acts like she has it all together, maybe no one will notice she’s falling apart.

Miles sees right through her though. Turns out, he knows a lot about grief and, surprisingly, he offers her a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the Lou has left behind, but she begins to spend more time with Miles, Lenny is surprised to discover that, sometimes, losing everything is only the first step to finding yourself, and love, again.]]> 373 Cara Bastone 0593595734 Robin 4 4.06 2025 Promise Me Sunshine (Hearts of New York, #2)
author: Cara Bastone
name: Robin
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
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]]> <![CDATA[The Accidental Alchemist (Accidental Alchemist Mystery #1)]]> 22351151
When Zoe Faust--herbalist, alchemist, and recent transplant to Portland, Oregon--begins unpacking her bags, she can't help but notice she's picked up a stow away: a living, breathing, three-and-half-foot gargoyle. Dorian Robert-Houdin is no simple automaton, nor is he a homunculus; in fact, he needs Zoe's help to decipher a centuries-old text that explains exactly what he is. Zoe, who's trying to put her alchemical life behind her, isn't so sure she can help. But after a murder victim is discovered on her front porch, Zoe realized she's tangled up in ancient intrigue that can't be ignored.

Includes recipes!]]> 350 Gigi Pandian 0738741841 Robin 3 3.75 2015 The Accidental Alchemist (Accidental Alchemist Mystery #1)
author: Gigi Pandian
name: Robin
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves:
review:

]]> Meadow Falls 123179676 An emotional novel about a small-town Texas family, forgiveness, and coming to terms with the past by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.

Angela Marie has spent all of her thirty-five years on Meadow Falls, the farm that’s been in her Texas family for generations. It wasn’t her plan. It was an obligation. Now that her parents—less loving kin than strangers—have passed, the whole shebang belongs to Angela. And a legacy she never wanted is hers to uphold.

She can’t forsake it now. Her beloved nanny, Mandy, who was always more of a mother, needs a caregiver herself. And Mandy’s great-granddaughter, as close to Angela as a sister, has returned to roost. When a handsome veteran arrives seeking work as a farmhand, Angela thinks the future might not be half-bad after all.

But it’s the past that proves enlightening. Mandy is revealing secrets Angela never knew about her parents. As the clouds on her family history begin to part, the inheritance feels more like a precious gift, and Meadow Falls more like the home Angela’s been looking for her whole life.]]> 280 Carolyn Brown 166251431X Robin 3 4.29 2024 Meadow Falls
author: Carolyn Brown
name: Robin
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
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]]> The Dead Romantics 58885776
When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead... but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston.]]> 368 Ashley Poston Robin 4 3.88 2022 The Dead Romantics
author: Ashley Poston
name: Robin
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves:
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This was an enjoyable escape. I love the paranormal romantic mystery. At a certain point near the last third of the book I realized what was happening but that did not impact my enjoyment of the story.
]]> <![CDATA[An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating]]> 220161553 An ancient witch explores the thrills—and perils—of online dating with hilarity and heart in a charming rom-com perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and witchy romance.

Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.

But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they’re not impossible.

With the help of the museum’s new curator—and her charming veterinarian brother—Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.]]> 320 Cecilia Edward 1668087146 Robin 0 to-read 3.61 2025 An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating
author: Cecilia Edward
name: Robin
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Every Precious and Fragile Thing]]> 213568974 A mother and daughter try desperately to reconcile just as a decades-old secret threatens to shatter their relationship forever in this powerful story from the bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books.

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face―and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship.

But hidden among Helen’s mementos are the keys to her past…and a terrible secret that threatens to destroy the fragile new trust between them forever.]]> 404 Barbara Davis 1662514484 Robin 4 4.30 2025 Every Precious and Fragile Thing
author: Barbara Davis
name: Robin
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Silent Knit, Deadly Knit (Knit & Nibble Mystery #4)]]> 44286511 When murder silences the Christmas cheer in charming Arborville, New Jersey, Pamela and her Knit and Nibble pals must unravel the most bone-chilling mystery this side of the North Pole . . .

Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville—because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die!

Knitting tips and delicious recipe included!]]> 269 Peggy Ehrhart 149672366X Robin 1 3.82 2019 Silent Knit, Deadly Knit (Knit & Nibble Mystery #4)
author: Peggy Ehrhart
name: Robin
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2019
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves:
review:
Boring and silly. I like cozy mysteries, but they need to have SOME substance.
]]> <![CDATA[Promise Not to Tell (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas, #2)]]> 34868172 A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she leaves her secrets behind . . .

Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.

Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire... and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.]]> 304 Jayne Ann Krentz 0399585265 Robin 3 4.26 2018 Promise Not to Tell (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas, #2)
author: Jayne Ann Krentz
name: Robin
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Your Space, Made Simple: Interior Design That's Approachable, Affordable, and Sustainable]]> 61911304
Your Space, Made Simple is an interior design guide for anyone who dreams of a well-designed home but doesn't know where to begin. If you feel stuck when you go shopping for home decor, or confused about how to arrange furniture, this book will give you the inspiration and tools you need to curate a space that fits you and your family's lifestyle and needs in no time. Whether you just moved into a new home or have wanted to redecorate for years, this book will help you find eye-catching and sustainable design solutions that won't break the bank.

Your Space, Made Simple
• Advice for understanding your needs so you can design spaces that make day-to-day living less stressful
• Tips for sourcing well-made, sustainable, and affordable home decor
• "Recipes" for every room in your home that show you what furniture and decor items you’ll need, how to arrange the furniture in the space, and how to work around common interior design issues, like awkward corners or weirdly-placed windows

Author Ariel Magidson is the founder of Ariel Arts, a Bay Area-interior design studio on a mission to make sustainable and affordable design accessible for everyone. Now in her debut book, Ariel shares her years of insights and expertise to help you make interior design feel realistic and within reach.]]> 272 Ariel Magidson 195096891X Robin 4 4.15 Your Space, Made Simple: Interior Design That's Approachable, Affordable, and Sustainable
author: Ariel Magidson
name: Robin
average rating: 4.15
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:

]]> Lessons in Chemistry 58065033 390 Bonnie Garmus Robin 3 to-read 4.23 2022 Lessons in Chemistry
author: Bonnie Garmus
name: Robin
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shattering Dawn (The Lost Night Files #3)]]> 211025506
Amelia Rivers, a member of the Lost Night Files podcast team, hires private investigator Gideon Sweetwater to catch the stalker who has been watching her. Amelia suspects the stalker may be connected to the shadowy organization responsible for the night that she and her two friends lost to amnesia - a night that upended their lives and left them with paranormal talents.

Gideon suspects that Amelia is either paranoid or an outright con artist, but he can't resist the chemistry between them. He takes the case despite his skepticism. For her part, Amelia has second thoughts about the wisdom of employing the mysterious Mr. Sweetwater. She is wary of the powerful attraction between them, and deeply uneasy about the nightmarish paintings on the walls of his home. She senses they were inspired by his own dreamscapes.

Amelia knows she doesn't have time to find another investigator, and Gideon is forced to reckon with the truth when he disrupts what was intended to be Amelia's kidnapping. Now the pair is on the run, with no choice but to return to the haunting ruins of the old hotel where Amelia's lost night occurred. They are desperate to stop a killer and the people who are conducting illegal experiments with a dangerous drug that is designed to enhance psychic abilities. If they are to survive, they will have to trust each other and the passion that bonds them.

]]> 331 Jayne Ann Krentz 0593639936 Robin 5 4.16 2025 Shattering Dawn (The Lost Night Files #3)
author: Jayne Ann Krentz
name: Robin
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
review:
Enjoyed the paranormal suspense. JAK did not disappoint with this trilogy. Recommend for fans of the paranormal mystery and suspense genres.
]]> <![CDATA[The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy, #2)]]> 203578918 #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the hauntingly spectacular Lost Bride Trilogy with book two, The Mirror.

When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets.

Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past—and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again—a centuries-old curse that must be broken—and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse.]]> 435 Nora Roberts 1250288770 Robin 4 3.97 2024 The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy, #2)
author: Nora Roberts
name: Robin
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed the suspense and the paranormal elements, but it was a bit long.
]]> <![CDATA[The Interior Design Handbook: Furnish, Decorate, and Style Your Space]]> 51152420 The new comprehensive bible of interior design, from a home styling guru who has coached an entire Scandinavian generation in the art of creating a harmonious home.

Frida Ramstedt believes in thinking about how we decorate, rather than focusing on what we decorate with. We know more today than ever before about design trends, furniture, and knickknacks, and now Frida familiarizes readers with the basic principles behind interior and styling--what looks good and, most of all, why it looks good.

The Interior Design Handbook teaches you general rules of thumb--like what the golden ratio and the golden spiral are, the proper size for a coffee table in relation to your sofa, the optimal height to hang lighting fixtures, and the best ways to use a mood board--complete with helpful illustrations. Use The Interior Design Handbook to achieve a balanced, beautiful home no matter where you live or what your style is.]]> 240 Frida Ramstedt 0593139313 Robin 4 4.17 2019 The Interior Design Handbook: Furnish, Decorate, and Style Your Space
author: Frida Ramstedt
name: Robin
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves:
review:
This book is very helpful to the average person without a design degree or experience.
]]> <![CDATA[Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs]]> 206179347
Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs is a decade-long project inspired by Carver’s own adopted Shetland Sheepdog, Biscuit, who had been abandoned on a rural highway, terrified and malnourished. Biscuit’s evolution from a sickly and emaciated shell of a dog to a confident, trusting, and beloved family member positively changed Carver’s and her husband’s lives forever. This set Carver on her quest to examine the lives of other abandoned dogs, illustrating how dog rescue gave these dogs a second chance with completely new lives.

The photographs capture the salient emotion, spirit, and dignity of each dog, despite their circumstances. From Whippets to Jack Russell Terriers and Saint Bernards to Golden Retrievers, along with many mixed breeds, Carver’s book showcases dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages, temperaments, and backgrounds, including written narratives, derived from interviews with shelter and rescue personnel and adopters to provide additional context to each dog’s journey.

Carver initially met and photographed each dog shortly after they entered a shelter or rescue organization, and then again approximately a year after being adopted into a permanent home. The juxtaposition of these two photographs is a powerful testament to the transformative experience of dog rescue and adoption. Carver witnessed abandoned dogs that were given entirely new lives and became integral family members as a result of rescue and adoption.

Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs is a tribute to dogs like Robo, Murdock, Mario, and Trucker. The book chronicles how dog rescue and adoption enriches not only the lives of the dogs, but how it unequivocally enriches the lives of their human companions as well. Carver hopes this work compels viewers to consider dog rescue and adoption. This book will appeal to dog and animal lovers far and wide.]]> 272 Katherine Carver 1590567307 Robin 5 4.45 Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs
author: Katherine Carver
name: Robin
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/15
date added: 2025/01/08
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]]> <![CDATA[Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave]]> 39855073 Homebody: A Guide To Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave, Joanna Gaines walks you through how to create a home that reflects the personalities and stories of the people who live there. This comprehensive guide will help you assess your priorities and your instincts, as well as your likes and dislikes, with practical steps for navigating and embracing your authentic design style.

Room by room, Homebody gives you an in-depth look at how these styles are iterated as well as how to blend the genres you’re drawn to in order to create spaces that look and feel distinctly yours.

In each chapter are practical takeaways to help problem solve potential pain points in your home. A fold out design guidebook at the back of the book offers a place for you to take notes and sketch out your own design plans as you make your way through the rooms.

The insight shared in Homebody will instill in you the confidence to thoughtfully create spaces that you never want to leave.]]> 352 Joanna Gaines 006280197X Robin 4 4.05 2018 Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave
author: Joanna Gaines
name: Robin
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Murder, She Barked (Paws and Claws Mystery, #1)]]> 15810862 The Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia, is the country's premiere vacation hot spot for pet owners who can’t bear to leave their furry friends behind. But this tourist town smells trouble when a killer goes on the prowl....

Holly Miller's life has gone to the dogs. She has no job, her boyfriend's former flame is sniffing around, and a scruffy but loveable Jack Russell Terrier is scattering crumbs all over her borrowed car. Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, a troubling phone call about her grandmother sends her rushing home to the family inn on Wagtail Mountain.

The staff—and a frisky Calico kitten named Twinkletoes—adopts Holly and her new dog on arrival. But someone in this friendly town is bad to the bone. One of the employees at the inn has been killed in a hit-and-run accident—which is looking anything but accidental. Now Holly and her furry companions will have to nose out the murderer before someone else gets muzzled.]]> 284 Krista Davis 0425262553 Robin 4 3.93 2013 Murder, She Barked (Paws and Claws Mystery, #1)
author: Krista Davis
name: Robin
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Spy Coast (The Martini Club, #1)]]> 131068071 A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.]]> 341 Tess Gerritsen 1662515111 Robin 4 4.31 2023 The Spy Coast (The Martini Club, #1)
author: Tess Gerritsen
name: Robin
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> Once Upon a Christmas Carol 63915487
Rachel Rinehart’s Christmas season is on the brink of disaster when her record label suddenly drops her, threatening to end her music career. Then she receives a mysterious Christmas card, and everything starts to change....

Inside the card are lyrics to a classic Christmas carol urging her to return home to Crystal Falls, the snowy mountain town she left behind 15 years ago.

Once she arrives in Crystal Falls, a stroke of fate brings her face-to-face with her first love, Matt Meyers, who’s now a devoted single dad. Rachel continues to receive mysterious cards filled with Christmas carol lyrics and clues she must follow—all leading her back to Matt. Is it the work of a hometown matchmaker, or could it be Christmas magic? And will the music and majesty of the season help Rachel discover where she truly belongs?]]> Karen Schaler Robin 3 3.35 Once Upon a Christmas Carol
author: Karen Schaler
name: Robin
average rating: 3.35
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/25
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves:
review:
Listened to this book in the evening. Its short, 2h 17 minutes. Cute and predictable.
]]> <![CDATA[A Nose for Mischief (Riverbend K-9s #1)]]> 60307793
Liam Graham is an FBI special agent and instructor at Riverbend K-9 Academy. When Alexis brings in a new recruit with an unusual background, Liam pairs her up with Tasha, a dog in need of a handler to stay in their competitive program. Zoey is thrilled to put her past behind her and give the mischievous rescue dog her own second chance. However, shortly after she arrives, the FBI realizes the Future State case is far from closed. And Zoey may be the key to solving it.

Zoey offers to go back to Future State to help the FBI end things once and for all. Only this time, she’ll have Liam and Tasha for backup. But, the problems at Future State are more explosive than any of them suspect.]]> 242 K.T. Lee 194787019X Robin 4 3.72 2021 A Nose for Mischief (Riverbend K-9s #1)
author: K.T. Lee
name: Robin
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street (Tradd Street, #6)]]> 43581956
And these relics aren't the only precious artifacts for which people are searching. A past adversary is convinced that there is a long-lost Revolutionary War treasure buried somewhere on the property that Melanie inherited--untold riches rumored to be brought over from France by the Marquis de Lafayette himself and intended to help the Colonial war effort. It's a treasure literally fit for a king, and there have been whispers throughout history that many have already killed--and died--for it. And now someone will stop at nothing to possess it--even if it means destroying everything Melanie and Jack hold dear.]]> 374 Karen White 0451475240 Robin 3 3.85 2019 The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street (Tradd Street, #6)
author: Karen White
name: Robin
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:

]]> The Christmas Inn 203578916 Explore this delightfully cozy and joyful novel of second chances at the most wonderful time of the year, from USA Today bestselling author Pamela Kelley.

A feel-good novel as delightful and comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, The Christmas Inn is bestselling author Pamela Kelley’s most heartwarming and magical book yet.

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits, but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more—a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.]]> 320 Pamela M. Kelley 1250861632 Robin 3 3.60 2024 The Christmas Inn
author: Pamela M. Kelley
name: Robin
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/08
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[My Kind of Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch, #1)]]> 37830426 288 Janet Dailey 1420145622 Robin 3 4.21 2018 My Kind of Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch, #1)
author: Janet Dailey
name: Robin
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/13
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
This was ok but somewhat slow for me. I did like the length of the book and the story was decent. I'm looking for a storyline that really pulls me in.
]]> <![CDATA[Murder in a Cape Cottage (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery #4)]]> 60227885 From Agatha-awarding winning author Maddie Day comes the latest novel in her Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series set in a picturesque Cape Cod town, where resourceful bike-shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida” tackles a cold case with the help of her fellow book club sleuths—a treat for fans of fresh, clever, cozy mysteries and those who love Lorna Barrett’s Booktown series.

ʼTis the day after Christmas, following a wicked-busy time of year for Mac’s bike shop. It’s just as well her Cozy Capers Book Group’s new pick is a nerve-soothing coloring book mystery, especially when she has last-minute wedding planning to do. But all pre-wedding jitters fade into the background when Mac and her fiancé, Tim, begin a cottage renovation project and open up a wall to find a skeleton—sitting on a stool, dressed in an old-fashioned bridal gown . . .

As Mac delves into the decades-old mystery with the help of librarian Flo and her book group, she discovers a story of star-crossed lovers and feuding families worthy of the bard himself. Yet this tale has a modern-day villain still lurking in Mac’s quaint seaside town, ready to make this a murderous New Year’s Eve . . .

Includes Recipes!]]> 271 Maddie Day 1496735684 Robin 3 4.05 2022 Murder in a Cape Cottage (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery #4)
author: Maddie Day
name: Robin
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:

]]> The Color of Light 740854 288 Karen White 0451215117 Robin 4 4.05 2005 The Color of Light
author: Karen White
name: Robin
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
This was a decent book that held my attention.
]]> <![CDATA[Lake Season (Bluebell Inn Romance #1)]]> 45163636 From the bestselling author of  The Convenient Groom  and  A December Bride  (now beloved Hallmark Original movies) comes the first novel in a brand-new series!­

When their parents die in a tragic accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings pull together to fulfill their parents’ dream: turning their historic home back into an inn.

Adam Bradford (a.k.a. bestselling author Nathanial Grey) is a reclusive author with a bad case of writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration as his deadline approaches, he travels to a North Carolina lake town, the setting of his next novel. There he immediately meets his muse, a young innkeeper who fancies herself in love with his alter ego.

When Molly finds an old letter in the walls of her inn she embarks on a mission with Adam to find the star-crossed lovers and bring them the closure they deserve. But the guest she invites along has secrets of his own. Past and present collide as truths are revealed, and Molly and Adam will have to decide if love is worth trusting.

]]> 353 Denise Hunter 078522274X Robin 0 to-read 4.57 2019 Lake Season (Bluebell Inn Romance #1)
author: Denise Hunter
name: Robin
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (Lakeshore Chronicles, #12)]]> 83814887 New York Times bestselling author: Heartbroken Brenda has sworn off Christmas, and a cross-country trip to transport rescue dogs seems like the perfect escape. But a blizzard, an escaped pup, and a kindhearted single dad might just lead her to rediscover the magic — and love — she thought she’d lost… ✳Read by an Audie Award–winning narrator.

Brenda Malloy wants nothing to do with Christmas ever again. Last year, Brenda and her husband rushed their beloved dog Tim to the emergency vet on Christmas eve. The good Tim survived after the vet cleared the obstruction--a pair of women's lace undies. The bad the undies were not Brenda's. A year after the breakup, Brenda has put her life back together. She's trained for a marathon, is writing a children's novel, and she's found purpose and healing as a volunteer with a dog rescue organization in Houston, Texas. The rescue partners with a program in Avalon, New York--a small, snowy town deep in the Catskills. Now Brenda is arranging the transport of rescued dogs from Houston to Avalon--just in time for a merry Christmas with their forever families. Brenda's friends worry about her driving a van two thousand miles with twelve dogs in crates, but she shrugs off their concern. How hard can it be? She knows the way, and she's just looking to escape the Christmas overload for a while. But a blinding snowstorm, an escaped mutt, and a life-saving encounter with Adam Bellamy--a single dad and paramedic--means Brenda has to stay in Avalon longer than she planned. As she drops off each precious pup at their new homes, some of the comfort and joy of the season begins to creep up on Brenda despite her determination to avoid the holidays. Perhaps you can bring Christmas into your heart after all...if you have the right furry friends to guide the way.]]> 256 Susan Wiggs 0063253518 Robin 4 3.87 2023 The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (Lakeshore Chronicles, #12)
author: Susan Wiggs
name: Robin
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/14
date added: 2024/12/15
shelves:
review:
This book had a good storyline and I really enjoyed it in the beginning. However, Brenda became a frustrating character the last third of the book. A bit to whiny for me. I gave it four stars because I adored the rescue pups and I appreciate the author's notes.
]]> <![CDATA[The Christmas Wishing Tree (Eternity Springs, #15)]]> 37638289 Sometimes life's most magical journeys bring you back to where it all began...From USA Today bestselling author Emily March comes The Christmas Wishing Tree, an enchanting account of the magic and miracle of Christmas.

A man who loves adventure and the open sea, Devin Murphy returns for a short Christmas trip to his small hometown of Eternity Springs. Immersed in the joy and magic of the holiday season all around him, he doesn't hesitate to play along when a young boy phones Santa to ask for a very special wish. Devin never guesses that a wrong number has the potential to make everything in his life so right.

Jenna Stockton adopted Reilly when he needed a mother and she intends to keep him safe. A small town across the country called Eternity Springs seems like a good place to hide from their past without any complications --until sexy Santa himself discovers her secrets. When Devin proposes a daring plan to face down the danger together and defeat it once and for all, she is tempted. Maybe Devin really is capable of making wishes come true? Perhaps in a Christmas wish they'll both find the miracle they've been looking for all along...

A delightful Christmas novel in the New York Times bestselling Eternity Springs series.]]> 320 Emily March 1250131723 Robin 3 4.00 2018 The Christmas Wishing Tree (Eternity Springs, #15)
author: Emily March
name: Robin
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2024/12/12
shelves:
review:

]]> A Little Christmas Spirit 56383017
Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. Until she shows up in his dreams and informs him it’s time to ditch his scroogey attitude. Stanley digs in his heels, but she’s determined to haunt him until he wakes up and rediscovers the joys of the season. He can start by being a little more neighborly to the single mom next door. In spite of his protests, he’s soon making snowmen and decorating Christmas trees. How will it all end?

Merrily, of course. A certain Christmas ghost is going to make sure of that!]]> 320 Sheila Roberts 0778311287 Robin 0 to-read 3.95 2021 A Little Christmas Spirit
author: Sheila Roberts
name: Robin
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mistletoe Murders 2 (Mistletoe Murders #2)]]> 203184081 Listening Length: 3 hours and 48 minutes

Back by popular demand, Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) reprises her role as the captivating Emily Lane in the much-anticipated new season of Mistletoe Murders, from Canadian Screen Award winner Ken Cuperus. With Ginny & Georgia’s Raymond Ablack, plus a stellar ensemble cast featuring Anna Cathcart (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), and Jean Yoon (Kim’s Convenience), this Audible Original will help you prepare for a cozy (and criminal) holiday season.

When Emily Lane isn’t busy running her charming Christmas-themed store, ''Under the Mistletoe,'' located in the quaint tourist town of Fletcher’s Grove, she finds herself compelled to investigate not so quaint local murders. On the surface, Emily is a perfectly lovely, good-natured puzzle-solver and mystery lover. But she is hiding a secret past from everyone in town. And when Emily begins her personal investigations, Detective-Constable Sam Wilner, a smart and attractive local cop – with a crush on Emily that is not completely unrequited – begins to wonder if there’s more to Emily than meets the eye.]]> 4 Ken Cuperus Robin 3 4.11 2023 Mistletoe Murders 2 (Mistletoe Murders #2)
author: Ken Cuperus
name: Robin
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/13
date added: 2024/11/18
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mistletoe Murders (Mistletoe Murders #1)]]> 71938412 Actual listening time: 3h 55m

When Emily Lane isn’t busy running her charming Christmas-themed store, “Under the Mistletoe,” located in the quaint tourist town of Fletcher’s Grove, she finds herself compelled to investigate not so quaint local murders. On the surface, Emily is a perfectly lovely, good-natured puzzle-solver and mystery lover. But she is hiding a secret past from everyone in town. And when Emily begins her personal investigations, Detective Constable Sam Wilner, a smart and attractive local cop — with a crush on Emily that is not completely unrequited — begins to wonder if there's more to Emily than meets the eye.

Episode 1: The Cookie Crumbles Part 1, 38 mins
Emily finds herself implicated in the death of a banker, who is found dead at a local Christmas tree farm. According to local police detective Sam Wilner, the murder instrument was a poisoned Christmas cookie…from Emily’s shop, “Under the Mistletoe”.

Episode 2: The Cookie Crumbles Part 2, 39 mins
Emily’s close friend, June, the town veterinarian, is arrested in connection with the "poison cookie murder". With time running out to prove June’s innocence, and her own reputation on the line, Emily is forced to take a risk that could expose her secret past to everyone in town.

Episode 3: Hearts of Ice Part 1, 32 mins
When the local bad-boy and teen heart-throb is found frozen in the river ice during a festive family skating event, police are quick to write it off as an accident. But Emily has reason to believe that there is much more to the young man’s death than everyone assumes.

Episode 4: Hearts of Ice Part 2, 34 mins
Having convinced Sam that this accidental death case should, in fact, be treated as a murder investigation, Emily finds herself caught between two families connected to the troubled victim – two teenage girls who loved him, and their ambitious mothers who thoroughly despised everything he represented.

Episode 5: Walking With Ghosts Part 1, 31 mins
It’s New Year’s Eve, and Emily and Sam are on their first official date at a local mansion, recently renovated into a haunted house-themed tourist attraction. The celebration ends in mayhem when at the stroke of midnight their host is stabbed to death. The primary suspect: the ghost of the Mayor who was famously murdered in the same spot decades earlier.

Episode 6: Walking With Ghosts Part 2, 39 mins
A firm non-believer in ghosts, Emily is determined to unlock the mystery of who really committed the grisly public murder. In doing so, she inadvertently reopens old town wounds, which in turn threaten to reveal the ghosts of her own past.

Preview of Mustletoe Murders 2

Mistletoe Murders 2: Chapter 1, 33 mins
You may have solved the crimes of Mistletoe Murders Season 1 but that’s only the beginning. More twists and turns await in Seasons 2 and 3 – both are available to download now on Audible. So get cozy and continue listening for the first chapter of Season 2 right here. Then get caught up on all three seasons of Mistletoe Murders.]]> 0 Ken Cuperus Robin 3 4.07 2022 Mistletoe Murders (Mistletoe Murders #1)
author: Ken Cuperus
name: Robin
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/05
date added: 2024/11/18
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Ghosts, Lore & a House by the Shore (Lily & Cassie by the Sea #1)]]> 60177031 A haunting legend.
New beginnings or the beginning of the end?

After Cassie MacGuire’s husband dies in a plane crash along with her father, both her and her mother, Lily Bennett, are left as widows. Looking to make a new start, they move together to the quiet seaside town of Hideaway Bay. But their new home, Whispering Manor, has a reputation stretching back centuries. Legends of ghosts, paranormal disturbances and pirate treasure are all associated with the former sea captain’s mansion, starting with the death of its first mistress, Henrietta Blanchard.

When Cassie stumbles upon Henrietta’s journal and Lily uncovers a more recent tragedy in the home, they begin to wonder if the stories may be fact instead of fiction. When the strange occurrences turn dangerous, Lily and Cassie will have to investigate to save their home and possibly even their very lives!

Ghosts, Lore & a House by the Shore is the charming first installment in this small, seaside town mother-daughter cozy mystery series by Nellie H. Steele]]> 312 Nellie H. Steele Robin 3 4.31 Ghosts, Lore & a House by the Shore (Lily & Cassie by the Sea #1)
author: Nellie H. Steele
name: Robin
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/29
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves:
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]]> The Naturalist Society 203801352 In this magical tale of self-discovery from New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn, a young widow taps into the power that will change the world—if the man’s world she lives in doesn’t destroy her and her newfound friends first.

In the summer of 1880, the death of Beth Stanley’s husband puts her life’s work in jeopardy. The magic of Arcane Taxonomy dictates that every natural thing in the world, from weather to animals, can be labeled, and doing so grants the practitioner some of that subject’s unique power. But only men are permitted to train in this philosophy. Losing her husband means that Beth loses the name they put on her work—and any influence she might have wielded.

Brandon West and Anton Torrance are campaigning for their expedition to the South Pole, a mission that some believe could make a taxonomist all-powerful by tapping into the earth’s magnetic forces. Their late friend Harry Stanley’s knowledge and connections would have been instrumental, but when they attempt to take custody of his work, they find that it was never his at all.

Tied together by this secret and its implications, Beth, Bran, and Anton must find a way for Beth to use her talent for the good of the world, before she’s discovered by those who would lay claim to her rare potential—and her very freedom.]]> 391 Carrie Vaughn 1662519028 Robin 0 currently-reading 4.10 2024 The Naturalist Society
author: Carrie Vaughn
name: Robin
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Light in Shadow (Whispering Springs, #1)]]> 1144084
Now, no matter how much she resists, Ethan may be her only hope-because the people she's been running from have found her. And just when Zoe dares to dream of a normal life and a future with the man she loves, her own past starts to shadow her every step-and threatens to take her back into a nightmare.]]> 369 Jayne Ann Krentz 0515136182 Robin 3 3.91 2002 Light in Shadow (Whispering Springs, #1)
author: Jayne Ann Krentz
name: Robin
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/21
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Secrets Ever Green (Everlight #1)]]> 203998088 Selected by Barnes and Noble as a Top Indie Favorite!

The secrets were buried . . . until clues began to bloom.

Ivy Rune’s only goal is to pass her final exam and become an Arborist like her late father, even though she fears she’ll never be able to uphold his legacy. Just before her big test, Ivy discovers her father’s secrets . . . and they had nothing to do with the quiet life he led.

Suddenly, clues unspool from wood carvings and old journals, leading Ivy to the outskirts of town and straight to the Count’s forbidden castle. When Ivy uncovers a hidden world of magic, she and her best friend are unexpectedly altered. As they explore their new powers, Ivy realizes she is capable of much more than the simple life her father left for her.

Now Ivy must decide between inheriting her father’s Arborist trade or continuing to uncover the mystery he kept hidden. But uprooting the past might erase her father’s legacy and change the course of Ivy’s life forever.

If you enjoyed the magic of Caraval and the mysteries of The Inheritance Games, you'll love this lush fantasy world brimming with adventure and friendship. ]]> 270 Sara Knightly Robin 4 3.98 Secrets Ever Green (Everlight #1)
author: Sara Knightly
name: Robin
average rating: 3.98
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/29
date added: 2024/10/02
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Ashes at the Coffeeshop, Resurrection at the Bus Stop: Cycle B Sermons for Lent and Easter Based on the Gospel Texts]]> 56936343 61 Mary Austin Robin 3 4.00 Ashes at the Coffeeshop, Resurrection at the Bus Stop: Cycle B Sermons for Lent and Easter Based on the Gospel Texts
author: Mary Austin
name: Robin
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/06
date added: 2024/09/29
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Untouchable (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas, #3)]]> 39861398 A man's quest to find answers for those who are haunted by the past leads him deeper into the shadows in this electrifying novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Promise Not to Tell.

Quinton Zane is back.

Jack Lancaster, consultant to the FBI, has always been drawn to the coldest of cold cases, the kind that law enforcement either considers unsolvable or else has chalked up to accidents or suicides. As a survivor of a fire, he finds himself uniquely compelled by arson cases. His almost preternatural ability to get inside the killer's head has garnered him a reputation in some circles--and complicated his personal life. The more cases Jack solves, the closer he slips into the darkness. His only solace is Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist. After particularly grisly cases, Winter can lead Jack back to peace.

But as long as Quinton Zane is alive, Jack will not be at peace for long. Having solidified his position as the power behind the throne of his biological family's hedge fund, Zane sets out to get rid of Anson Salinas's foster sons, starting with Jack.]]> 316 Jayne Ann Krentz 0399585303 Robin 4 4.08 2019 Untouchable (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas, #3)
author: Jayne Ann Krentz
name: Robin
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/25
date added: 2024/09/29
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Becoming (The Dragon Heart Legacy, #2)]]> 56349775
But one member of Breen's bloodline is not there to embrace her. Her grandfather, the outcast god Odran, plots to destroy Talamh--and now all must unite to defeat his dark forces. There will be losses and sorrows, betrayal and bloodshed. But through it, Breen Siobhan Kelly will take the next step on the journey to becoming all that she was born to be.]]> 464 Nora Roberts 1250272718 Robin 4 4.57 2021 The Becoming (The Dragon Heart Legacy, #2)
author: Nora Roberts
name: Robin
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/26
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams (Dove Pond, #4)]]> 199798078
When an antique tin of love letters is found hidden in her family home, noted historian Tay Dove rushes home to Dove Pond to investigate. Tay is still reeling from a romantic betrayal, so she’s relieved to refocus her energies on her latest a biography of her great-great-grandmother Sarafina, a star reporter who began her career in Dove Pond in the late 19th century before abruptly leaving town.

Tay believes the letters could be the key in solving what happened, but they only add to her questions—especially when they reveal a forbidden love affair with William Day, a wild youth who took part in a notorious train robbery. Some answers might be found in eighty-year-old Rose Day’s bookshop, which doubles as a town archive, but Rose is curiously resistant to give Tay access. Just when Tay thinks she’s reached a dead end, she finds an unlikely ally in Rose’s grandson, Luke, a fellow puzzle lover. Together, they set out to uncover what really happened all those years ago…and find the truth behind a love story that could be more precious than gold.

Perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Allison Allen, The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams proves that adventure is always waiting to be found, especially within the pages of a book.]]> 384 Karen Hawkins 1982195967 Robin 4 3.92 2024 The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams (Dove Pond, #4)
author: Karen Hawkins
name: Robin
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Murder by the Book (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #1)]]> 38348958 Addie Greyborne loved working with rare books at the Boston Public Library—she even got to play detective, tracking down clues about mysterious old volumes. But she didn't expect her sleuthing skills to come in so handy in a little seaside town . . .

Addie left some painful memories behind in the big city, including the unsolved murder of her fiancé and her father's fatal car accident. After an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt, she's moved to a small New England town founded by her ancestors back in colonial times—and living in spacious Greyborne Manor, on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. Best of all, her aunt also left her countless first editions and other treasures—providing an inventory to start her own store.

But there's trouble from day one, and not just from the grumpy woman who runs the bakery next door. A car nearly runs Addie down. Someone steals a copy of Alice in Wonderland. Then, Addie's friend Serena, who owns a nearby tea shop, is arrested—for killing another local merchant. The police seem pretty sure they've got the story in hand, but Addie's not going to let them close the book on this case without a fight . .]]> 305 Lauren Elliott Robin 3 3.68 2018 Murder by the Book (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #1)
author: Lauren Elliott
name: Robin
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Chasing Justice (National Forest K-9 #1)]]> 60050365
After losing her military K-9, former marine Maya Thompson swears she’ll never work with dogs again. But when she returns home to Colorado and accepts a job with US Forest Service law enforcement, fate brings K-9 Juniper into her life just as another tragedy unfolds.

Juniper, a beautiful two-year-old Malinois, isn’t the only new addition to Maya’s life. Josh Colten, the local deputy sheriff, insists on helping with her new case. Handsome and mysterious, he’s all anyone in town can talk about, but Maya can’t let herself like him, let alone trust him.

When Maya’s grandfather goes missing amid a growing drug war, Maya must put her faith in Josh, and her own battered instincts, to find him. But there's a web of secrets tying her grandfather to the tragedy that brought Juniper into her life—secrets someone would kill to keep hidden.
Leggi meno]]> 351 Kathleen Donnelly 0369719344 Robin 5 4.42 2022 Chasing Justice (National Forest K-9 #1)
author: Kathleen Donnelly
name: Robin
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/12
date added: 2024/08/27
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]]> <![CDATA[An Intrigue of Witches (Secret Society Mystery, #1)]]> 201730086 Introducing the Secret Society mystery series, and kick-ass red-headed heroine Sidney, a Black historian poised on the brink of discovering her true past . . . and her hidden witchy powers!

“Poignant and entertaining, this one is loaded with intrigue – a feast for anyone, like myself, who loves action, history, secrets and conspiracies. A stellar read” STEVE BERRY, New York Times bestselling author

Thirty-year-old Black woman Sidney Taylor is a talented early American historian, working in fast-paced Washington DC, with her eyes on promotion. She’s also currently persona non grata. Who knew that making an inconvenient historical discovery would see her stuck at her desk, shuffling paper?

So when she receives an anonymous and very cryptic invitation to visit historic small-town Robbinsville, North Carolina and hunt for a missing archaeological treasure – with a million-dollar pay out at stake – it’s one she can’t refuse. Besides, her beloved grandmother lives in Robbinsville, and it’s been too long since she’s paid her a visit.

Soon, Sidney's on an exciting treasure hunt, following two-hundred-year-old clues that lead her ever closer to the artefact she’s searching for. But what is the artefact? And why is Sidney starting to feel like she’s at the heart of a terrifying conspiracy she doesn’t understand?

The answer blows Sidney’s world apart, plunging her into a dark, glittering world of secret societies, ancient bloodlines, witches and magic, linked to an ages-old conspiracy that could destroy the very principles upon which America was founded.

This delicious genre-blend of cozy thriller, contemporary fantasy and mystery is National Treasure meets the supernatural treasure hunts of Indiana Jones, with a dash of A Discovery of Witches.]]> 288 Esme Addison 1448312620 Robin 4 3.59 2024 An Intrigue of Witches (Secret Society Mystery, #1)
author: Esme Addison
name: Robin
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/10
date added: 2024/08/27
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]]> <![CDATA[The Darkest Thread (The Flint K-9 Search and Rescue Mysteries #1)]]> 32721537 353 Jen Blood Robin 4 4.16 2016 The Darkest Thread (The Flint K-9 Search and Rescue Mysteries #1)
author: Jen Blood
name: Robin
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/28
date added: 2024/07/28
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]]> The Sawmill Book Club 200245547
Unsure of the future but ready for risks, Libby O’Dell trades big-city life for whatever the back roads hold. In this case it’s the small community of Sawmill, Texas, where Libby’s taken a temporary job putting an antique store in order. Her new boss, Benny Taylor, a handsome charmer with a three-legged dog named Elvis, isn’t a bad change of scenery, either.

Across the street Benny’s surrogate grandmothers—the widows Minilee and Opal—are ready with homemade corn bread, sweet tea, and an invitation for Libby to join their book club. Even if it is mostly a gathering for local gossip and meddling. The ladies’ main agenda: find Benny a wife. Except Benny’s not looking, and Libby’s only passing through until she decides what direction she’s headed next.

Truth is, Sawmill is starting to feel pretty nice. Benny, even nicer. Time will tell if this meantime job in a stopover town is just what Libby’s been looking for—and where she belongs.]]> 268 Carolyn Brown 1662514344 Robin 0 to-read 4.28 2024 The Sawmill Book Club
author: Carolyn Brown
name: Robin
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Into the Starlight (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing, #3)]]> 199593457
After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.

As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.

Get swept away by this emotional tale of family, friendship, and the kind of love that overcomes every obstacle.]]> 352 Amanda Cabot 0800740661 Robin 0 to-read 4.08 2024 Into the Starlight (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing, #3)
author: Amanda Cabot
name: Robin
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves: to-read
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]]> A Certain Kind of Starlight 195790554 Everyone knows that Addie Fullbright can’t keep a secret. Yet, twelve years ago, as her best friend lay dying, she entrusted Addie with the biggest secret of all. One so shattering that Addie felt she had to leave her hometown of Starlight, Alabama, to keep from revealing a devastating truth to someone she cares for deeply. Now she’s living a lonely life, keeping everyone at a distance, not only to protect the secret but also her heart from the pain of losing someone else. But when her beloved aunt, the woman who helped raise her, gets a shocking diagnosis and asks her to come back to Starlight to help run the family bakery, Addie knows it’s finally time to go home again.

Tessa Jane Wingrove-Fullbright feels like she’s failing. She’s always been able to see the lighter side of life but lately darkness has descended. Her world is suddenly in shambles after a painful breakup, her favorite aunt’s unexpected health troubles, and because crushing expectations from the Wingrove side of her family are forcing her to keep secrets and make painful choices. When she’s called back to Starlight to help her aunt, she’s barely holding herself together and fears she’ll never find her way back to who she used to be.

Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness.]]> 320 Heather Webber 1250867290 Robin 5 3.99 2024 A Certain Kind of Starlight
author: Heather Webber
name: Robin
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/26
date added: 2024/07/27
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]]> <![CDATA[A Borrowing of Bones (Mercy & Elvis Mysteries, #1)]]> 37638044 It may be the Fourth of July weekend, but for retired soldiers Mercy Carr and Belgian Malinois Elvis, it’s just another walk in the remote Lye Brook Wilderness—until the former bomb-sniffing dog alerts to explosives and they find a squalling baby abandoned near a shallow grave filled with what appear to be human bones. U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search-and rescue Newfoundland Susie Bear respond to Mercy’s 911 call, and the four must work together to track down a missing mother, solve a cold-case murder, and keep the citizens of Vermont safe on potentially the most incendiary Independence Day since the American Revolution.

A Borrowing of Bones is full of complex twists and real details about search-and-rescue dog training that Paula learned through the training of her own dog. With its canine sidekicks and rich, dramatic story, this debut will be a must-have for mystery fans.]]> 342 Paula Munier 1250153034 Robin 0 3.83 2018 A Borrowing of Bones (Mercy & Elvis Mysteries, #1)
author: Paula Munier
name: Robin
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/22
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Ghost Who Wanted Revenge (Haunting Danielle, #4)]]> 40612837
Danielle had a score to settle with Stoddard Gusarov, but murder him? Never.

Proving to the police she is innocent is the least of her problems. She has an angry spirit to contend with, the ghost of Stoddard Gusarov—and he’s out for revenge.
]]> 285 Bobbi Holmes Robin 0 4.02 2015 The Ghost Who Wanted Revenge (Haunting Danielle, #4)
author: Bobbi Holmes
name: Robin
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/19
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Ghost Who Wasn't (Haunting Danielle, #3)]]> 40612832
Danielle must move quickly before her best friend joins the spirit world.]]> 287 Bobbi Holmes Robin 0 4.07 2015 The Ghost Who Wasn't (Haunting Danielle, #3)
author: Bobbi Holmes
name: Robin
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/12
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (Haunting Danielle, #2)]]> 40612809
There is blood on someone’s hands and if Danielle isn’t careful she’ll be moving from Marlow House to the Big House.
]]> Bobbi Holmes Robin 0 3.92 2014 The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (Haunting Danielle, #2)
author: Bobbi Holmes
name: Robin
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/08
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Ghost of Marlow House (Haunting Danielle, #1)]]> 40612662 258 Bobbi Holmes Robin 0 3.78 2017 The Ghost of Marlow House (Haunting Danielle, #1)
author: Bobbi Holmes
name: Robin
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/08
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Prologue to Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #2)]]> 73369882 After a career working with rare books at the Boston Public Library, Addie Greyborne is back in her seaside New England hometown—where unfortunately, murder is not so rare . . .

Gossip columnists love a bold-faced name—but “Miss Newsy” at Greyborne Harbor’s local paper seems to specialize in bald-faced lies. She’s pointed a finger of suspicion at Addie after librarian June Winslow never makes it home from a book club meeting. And when June’s found at the bottom of a steep flight of stairs, Addie’s not only dealing with a busybody, but a dead body.

It’s a good thing the guy she’s dating is the police chief. But both the case and her love life get more complicated when a lanky blonde reporter from Los Angeles shows up. She’s trying her hardest to drive a wedge between the couple . . . as if Addie doesn’t have enough problems dealing with angry townspeople. Despite all the rumors, Addie doesn’t know a thing about the murder—but she plans to find out. And the key may lie in a book about pirate legends that June published. Now she just has to hunt down the clues before she becomes a buried treasure herself . . .]]> 336 Lauren Elliott 1496720237 Robin 0 3.53 2019 Prologue to Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #2)
author: Lauren Elliott
name: Robin
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/07
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Magical Midlife Madness (Leveling Up, #1)]]> 51385818 Alternate cover edition of ASIN B084VTC2P3

A woman starting over. A new house with an unexpected twist. A cape wearing butler acting as the world's worst life coach.

"Happily Ever After" wasn't supposed to come with a do-over option. But when my husband of twenty years packs up and heads for greener pastures and my son leaves for college, that's exactly what my life becomes.

Do-over.

This time, though, I plan to do things differently. Age is just a number, after all, and at forty I'm ready to carve my own path.

Eager for a fresh start, I make a somewhat unorthodox decision and move to a tiny town in the Sierra foothills. I'll be taking care of a centuries old house that called to me when I was a kid. It's just temporary, I tell myself. It'll just be for a while.

That is, until I learn what the house really is, something I never could've imagined.

Thankfully forty isn't too old to start an adventure, because that's exactly what I do. A very dangerous adventure that will change my life forever. I have a chance to start again, and this time, I make the rules.]]> 316 K.F. Breene Robin 0 4.17 2020 Magical Midlife Madness (Leveling Up, #1)
author: K.F. Breene
name: Robin
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/06
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Murder in a Cup (Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, #2)]]> 143241346 As the descendant of an Irish witch and the owner of a New Age tea shop, intuitive gemologist Shay Myers has been living her most authentic life since moving home to California’s scenic Monterey Peninsula. But in the latest Crystals & CuriousiTEAS Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Lauren Elliott, not even her heightened senses can predict how to run a business—or catch a killer . . .

Self-taught “seer” Shay has much to learn as autumn hits the quaint coastal town of Bray Harbor. Since attempting the art of blending herbs at her popular shop, Crystals & CuriosiTeas, she’s set on growing ingredients in the mysterious greenhouse on the second floor—if only she can separate the medicinal plants from the deadly ones. Her new skills are put to the test when she meets pub owner and ex-detective Liam Madigan’s Gran. A psychic from Ireland known for interpreting tea leaves and people, Gran encourages Shay to build upon her natural talents and hold her own group reading . . .

At first, the evening goes off without a hitch—until a customer goes from chatty to dead in a flash, poisoned after sipping a toxic substance recently grown in the greenhouse. Worse, Shay’s assistant is suspected of intentionally serving the lethal brew. Now, aided only by Liam and her dog Spirit, Shay must exonerate her employee and save the future of Crystals & CuriosiTeas. But when clues start lining up like leaves in a teacup, she’ll need to understand the signs right in front of her to catch the manipulative murderer before it’s too late . . .]]> 304 Lauren Elliott 1496739078 Robin 0 3.94 2023 Murder in a Cup (Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, #2)
author: Lauren Elliott
name: Robin
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/05
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
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]]> The Midnight Garden 143381248 From debut author Elaine Roth comes a hopeful and heartfelt story about a young widow who uncovers the magic of everyday life—and the power of second chances.

After the sudden death of her husband, Hope finds herself reeling from the loss in more ways than one. First a young wife and now a grieving widow, she feels like fodder for never-ending town gossip.

But when Hope meets Will, a screenwriter back in town to run his family’s inn, she sees in him another resident oddball. And like her, Will has been navigating a loss of his own.

As Hope falls for Will, she seeks out another enigma in Maeve, an eccentric woman who makes healing teas and communes with the dead. Some of the townspeople think she’s a grifter, a fake. Will, too, is skeptical.

Hope yearns for closure and forgiveness, seeing in Maeve the chance to trust herself again—and in Will, a chance to rediscover the enchantment in the world around her…

And the courage to build a bigger life than she ever thought possible.]]> 269 Elaine Roth Robin 0 3.98 The Midnight Garden
author: Elaine Roth
name: Robin
average rating: 3.98
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/04
date added: 2024/07/27
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]]> All Rhodes Lead Here 57605091 572 Mariana Zapata Robin 2 4.20 2021 All Rhodes Lead Here
author: Mariana Zapata
name: Robin
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2024/07/02
date added: 2024/07/03
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Just for the Summer (Part of Your World, #3)]]> 195820807 To find their soulmates, all they need is four dates, a kiss and a breakup . . .

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other's out, and they'll both go on to find the love of their lives. It's a bonkers idea . . . and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected - including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?]]> 432 Abby Jimenez 1538704439 Robin 4 4.31 2024 Just for the Summer (Part of Your World, #3)
author: Abby Jimenez
name: Robin
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/15
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves:
review:

]]> Mind Games 195791352
As they do each June, the Foxes have driven the winding roads of Appalachia to drop off their children for a two-week stay at their grandmother’s. Here, twelve-year-old Thea can run free and breathe in the smells of pine and fresh bread and Grammie’s handmade candles. But as her parents head back to suburban Virginia, they have no idea they’re about to cross paths with a ticking time bomb.

Back in Kentucky, Thea and her grandmother Lucy both awaken from the same nightmare. And though the two have never discussed the special kind of sight they share, they know as soon as their tearful eyes meet that something terrible has happened.

The kids will be staying with Grammie now in Redbud Hollow, and thanks to Thea’s vision, their parents’ killer will spend his life in supermax. Over time, Thea will make friends, build a career, find love. But that ability to see into minds and souls still lurks within her, and though Grammie calls it a gift, it feels more like a curse―because the inmate who shattered her childhood has the same ability. Thea can hear his twisted thoughts and witness his evil acts from miles away. He knows it, and hungers for vengeance. A long, silent battle will be waged between them―and eventually bring them face to face, and head to head…]]> 422 Nora Roberts 1250289696 Robin 4 4.11 2024 Mind Games
author: Nora Roberts
name: Robin
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/21
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed the story and the performance. The ending felt a little flat after the suspense throughout the story. But worth the "read."
]]> <![CDATA[Message in the Bones (Messages of Murder #1)]]> 56872038 Gabby has a gift she never asked for and a town that has never accepted her for it. When she touches objects connected to violence she sees everything — the fear, the pain, the final moments of someone who did not deserve to die. She knows what she is walking into every single time. She does it anyway.
Message in the Bones is where it all begins. A construction site. A set of skeletal remains. A cold case that sends Detective Lucas Hartley — her brother's partner and the man she is absolutely not thinking about — straight to her door. The moment Gabby touches those bones she is in. All the way in. And so are you.
This is the book that starts an eight book obsession. Readers finish it and immediately grab Book 2. They finish Book 2 and immediately grab Book 3. By Book 4 they are rearranging their schedules around Gabby's world and they do not even feel bad about it.
Creepy, cozy, completely addictive, and threaded through with a quiet faith that makes every dark moment feel survivable. River Bend is the kind of small town that looks peaceful from the outside — and Gabby is the kind of protagonist who makes you feel like you have known her your whole life.
Start here. You will not regret it.]]> 237 Dawn Merriman Robin 3 4.25 2021 Message in the Bones (Messages of Murder #1)
author: Dawn Merriman
name: Robin
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/30
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves:
review:
It was an ok mystery. The performance was good.
]]> Recipe for a Charmed Life 71872867 After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

American chef Georgia May Jackson has one goal—to run her own restaurant in Paris. After a grueling decade working in Parisian kitchens, she is on the cusp of success. But in one disastrous night, Georgia loses her sous-chef position, her French boyfriend, and her sense of taste! Renowned for her refined palate and daring use of bold flavors to create remarkable dishes, Georgia is devastated to discover her culinary gift has simply...vanished.

When she receives a surprising invitation from her estranged mother, Georgia flees to a small island near Seattle hoping the visit will help her regain her spark in the kitchen. There she tentatively reconnects with her mom, a free-spirited hippie eager to make up for her past mistakes. But there’s something about the enigmatic island Georgia just can’t piece together. Good luck charms keep appearing in the oddest places. Her neighbor is a puzzlingly antagonist (and annoyingly handsome) oyster farmer. And her mom keeps hinting at a mysterious family legacy.

With the clock ticking and time running out to win her dream job in Paris, Georgia begins to unravel some astonishing secrets that make her wonder if the true recipe for a charmed life might look—and taste—very different than she ever imagined.]]> 372 Rachel Linden 0593440218 Robin 4 3.69 2024 Recipe for a Charmed Life
author: Rachel Linden
name: Robin
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/09
date added: 2024/06/09
shelves:
review:

]]> When You Love a Dog 39876451
This book celebrates the simple joys that make life with a dog so special. Through lively illustrations and gentle reflections, it captures everyday magic—from playful antics to the comfort of coming home to a loyal friend who understands you without a word.

Warm, affectionate, and lightly humorous, When You Love a Dog honors the little moments that become a lifetime of memories.]]> 38 M.H. Clark 194320098X Robin 5 4.75 2018 When You Love a Dog
author: M.H. Clark
name: Robin
average rating: 4.75
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/17
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality (Saffron Everleigh Mystery, #2)]]> 61869230
The victims, all women, received bouquets filled with poisonous flowers. Digging deeper, Saffron discovers that the bouquets may be more than just unpleasant flowers— there may be a hidden message within them, revealed through the use of the old Victorian practice of floriography. A dire message, indeed, as each woman who received the flowers has turned up dead.

Alongside Dr. Lee and her best friend, Elizabeth, Saffron trails a group of suspects through a dark jazz club, a lavish country estate, and a glittering theatre, delving deeper into a part of society she thought she’d left behind forever.

Will Saffron be able to catch the killer before they send their next bouquet, or will she find herself with fatal flowers of her own in Kate Khavari’s second intoxicating installment.]]> 352 Kate Khavari 1639102795 Robin 4 3.79 2023 A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality (Saffron Everleigh Mystery, #2)
author: Kate Khavari
name: Robin
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/27
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Secret Remains (A Coroner's Daughter Mystery, Book 2)]]> 56328387 A cold case murder, a grisly discovery, and a viper's nest of resentment, betrayal, and dirty secrets converge in this mystery perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs and Jayne Ann Krentz.

It's been 12 years since Sandi Parkman went missing after being dropped off at home by her schoolmate, Nick Larson, now the Sheriff of Freeport, Michigan. When a construction crew unearths Sandi's bones--along with Nick's letterman jacket and one of his hairs--Nick becomes suspect number one in the murder.

Dr. Emily Hartford, the daughter of Freeport's medical examiner, is called in to investigate, but the case is about to get personal. Nick was Emily's high school love, and now she has to either clear his name--or contend that he's the killer. As she delves into the case, a host of other suspects emerge: a coterie of Nick's jock friends from high school; Sandi's sister, Tiffany, now a dancer at a local strip club; and James VanDerMuellen, a trust funder who's recently returned to Freeport.

As the autumn skies darken over Freeport and the holiday season looms, Emily must sift through more than Sandi's brittle bones to solve the case. Can she exonerate Nick--and rekindle their long-smoldering romance? The race is on to find the truth.]]> 1 Jennifer Graeser Dornbush 109400751X Robin 3 3.83 Secret Remains (A Coroner's Daughter Mystery, Book 2)
author: Jennifer Graeser Dornbush
name: Robin
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/22
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves:
review:

]]> Improbably Yours 60192942
Blythe Harmon is on the fast track to a life she never wanted. On her thirtieth birthday, just as she’s about to lock herself into a high-powered job and accept a marriage proposal to match, an unusual bequest from her beloved late grandmother, Nomi, offers an escape and an invitation to adventure.

Equipped with Nomi’s urn of ashes and a treasure map, Blythe sets off for a small island in the San Juans where she rents the mysterious and unsettling Improbable House. Secret by secret, clue by cryptic clue, she begins to unravel the puzzle her grandmother has left her to piece together. Her quest is complicated, though, by a powerful attraction to an enigmatic islander and empathy for his orphaned niece, both of whom are inexorably tied to the old house.

Just when Blythe thinks she’s on the verge of solving the mystery, her quest takes an unexpected turn and she discovers that the treasure she’s really seeking is something that could never be buried in the ground. On the treasure hunt of a lifetime, the past and the future are coming together in this magical novel by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This.]]> 345 Kerry Anne King 1542035481 Robin 4 4.26 2022 Improbably Yours
author: Kerry Anne King
name: Robin
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/05
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves:
review:

]]> Night Will Find You 61884843
When she was ten, Vivvy Bouchet saved a boy’s life by making an impossible prediction. Ever since, she has been in a life-long battle between the urgent voices in her head and the science she loves. Now a brilliant young astrophysicist, she wants nothing more than to be left alone with the stars in the Big Bend country of Texas.

But the boy she saved, now a Fort Worth cop, has always believed she is psychic—even though she won’t say that word out loud. He is begging her to help solve the high-profile cold case of a little girl who disappeared in broad daylight from the kitchen of her old Victorian house. A body was never found, and her mother sits in prison still loudly proclaiming her innocence. Vivvy reluctantly agrees to try.

When a popular Texas conspiracy theorist podcaster named Bubba Guns finds out about her involvement, he spews conspiracy theories about the case and muddled truths about Vivvy’s murky past. As his listeners spin dangerously out of control, and with her career and the people she loves on the line, Vivvy decides to fight back.

This sharply observed psychological thriller from the acclaimed, bestselling author Julia Heaberlin explores the insidious nature of conspiracy theories and our urge to believe them—especially when it comes to sensationalized cases.]]> 368 Julia Heaberlin 1250877075 Robin 4 3.89 2023 Night Will Find You
author: Julia Heaberlin
name: Robin
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/13
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons (Saffron Everleigh Mystery, #1)]]> 58202849
Debut author Kate Khavari deftly entwines a pulse-pounding mystery with the struggles of a woman in a male-dominated field in 1923 London.

Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to blaze a new trail at the University College London, but with her colleagues’ beliefs about women’s academic inabilities and not-so-subtle hints that her deceased father’s reputation paved her way into the botany department, she feels stymied at every turn.

When she attends a dinner party for the school, she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon. What she doesn’t expect is for Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect and evidence quickly mounts. Joined by fellow researcher--and potential romantic interest--Alexander Ashton, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons to clear Maxwell's name.

Will she be able to uncover the truth, or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list, in this entertaining examination of society’s expectations?]]> 262 Kate Khavari 1639100075 Robin 3 3.50 2022 A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons (Saffron Everleigh Mystery, #1)
author: Kate Khavari
name: Robin
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/14
date added: 2024/04/28
shelves:
review:
It was good and I may try the next book in the series. I'm a more modern-day mystery enthusiast by I do like a good mystery related to science.
]]> Other People's Things 57711529 From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a witty, magical story about improbable connections, difficult gifts, and the unexpected events that heal us and bring us together.

Jailbird. Klepto. Spectacular failure to launch. Nicole Wood’s sticky fingers have earned her many names, but it’s not that she’s stealing—some objects just need to be moved elsewhere, and the universe has chosen her to do it. Still, being a relocator of objects isn’t easy. With her marriage on the rocks, no real-world skills, and the threat of prison hanging over her head, Nicole is determined to change her ways.

Things seem to be looking up, thanks to a godsent job with her sister’s housecleaning business—until she encounters a seemingly harmless paperback that insists on moving from one client’s home to another’s. Nicole hopes no one will notice, but the action stirs up long-hidden secrets and triggers a series of fateful events that threatens to destroy the life she’s creating and hurt those closest to her. She’ll need to embrace her unwieldy gift and take a chance on love in order to unravel the mystery and fix what’s gone wrong.]]> 365 Kerry Anne King 1542026229 Robin 4 4.33 2021 Other People's Things
author: Kerry Anne King
name: Robin
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/21
date added: 2024/04/28
shelves:
review:
Somewhat held my interest with the mini mysteries within the story. Not much magic in this story. But, mysteries are my favorite.
]]> The Baker's Man 61349433 This enchanting and whimsical tale of friendship, love, and the power of baking dreams into life will open readers’ eyes to the magic all around them.

New York City–trained pastry chef Anna O’Brien inherited her grandma Bea’s small-town Southern bakery—situated between the seventy-five-year-old hardware store and the newly opened clothing boutique on Main Street—along with its unusual, life-changing recipes two years ago. And while Anna has adjusted to small-town life with the support of her two best friends, Lily and Tessa, she’s also smothered her own dreams in order to keep the family legacy intact.

When she tries out a recipe left behind by her grandmother—“how to create the perfect man”—a gorgeous stranger suddenly appears. Soon Anna is living in a world where she must deal with the repercussions of Elijah’s unexpected existence. Amid the inevitable chaos, she realizes that listening to her own voice is the most important ingredient of all.]]> 336 Jennifer Moorman 1400240476 Robin 1 3.60 2012 The Baker's Man
author: Jennifer Moorman
name: Robin
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2012
rating: 1
read at: 2024/04/10
date added: 2024/04/28
shelves:
review:
Couldn't finish which is rare for me. I love magic but this was just so ridiculous.
]]> <![CDATA[Solving Sophronia (The Blue Orchid Society #1)]]> 49201252
Hearing of a murder in a London rookery, Sophie seizes the opportunity to prove her skills. Detective Jonathan Graham doesn't believe a civilian, a noblewoman at that, should be anywhere near a murder investigation, but Sophie insists on helping bring the killer to justice. Her investigative prowess doesn't go unnoticed by the police, especially Jonathan, who can't decide whether this intrepid reporter is a thorn in his side or the woman of his dreams. But as the case grows more complicated and dangerous, their very lives - and their hearts - may be at risk.]]> 224 Jennifer Moore 152441235X Robin 3 3.96 2020 Solving Sophronia (The Blue Orchid Society #1)
author: Jennifer Moore
name: Robin
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/29
date added: 2024/04/06
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Night Island (The Lost Night Files, #2)]]> 127463465 The disappearance of a mysterious informant leads two people desperate for answers to an island of deadly deception in this new novel in the Lost Night Files trilogy.

Talia March, Pallas Llewellyn, and Amelia Rivers, bonded by a night none of them can remember, are dedicated to uncovering the mystery of what really happened to them months ago—an experience that amplified innate psychic abilities in each of them. The women suspect they were test subjects years earlier, and that there are more people like them—all they have to do is find the list of others who took that same test. When Talia follows up on a lead from Phoebe, a fan of the trio’s podcast, she discovers that the informant has vanished.

Talia isn’t the only one looking for Phoebe, however. Luke Rand, a hunted and haunted man who is chasing the same list that Talia is after, also shows up at the meeting place. It’s clear he has his own agenda, and they are instantly suspicious of each other. But when a killer begins to stalk them, they realize they have to join forces to find Phoebe and the list.

The rocky investigation leads Talia and Luke to a rustic, remote retreat on Night Island in the Pacific Northwest, where the Unplugged Experience promises to rejuvenate guests. Upon their arrival, Talia and Luke discover they are quite literally cut off from the outside world when none of their high-tech devices work on the island. It soon becomes clear that Phoebe is not the first person to disappear into the strange gardens that surround the Unplugged Experience retreat. And then the first mysterious death occurs. . . .]]> 336 Jayne Ann Krentz 0593639871 Robin 4 4.05 2024 The Night Island (The Lost Night Files, #2)
author: Jayne Ann Krentz
name: Robin
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/30
date added: 2024/04/06
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Be My Ghost (A Haunted Haven Mystery, #1)]]> 56160591

Maureen's career as a sportswear buyer hits a snag just before Halloween, when the department store declares bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Finn's lost his way as a guide dog after flunking his test for being too friendly and easily distracted. Sadly, only one of them can earn unemployment, so Maureen's facing a winter of discontent in Boston--when she realizes she can't afford her apartment.

Salvation comes when she receives a mysterious inheritance: an inn in Haven, Florida. A quaint, scenic town on the Gulf of Mexico hidden away from the theme parks, Maureen believes it's a good place to make a fresh start with a new business venture. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds a dead body on her property--and meets some of the inn's everlasting tenants in the form of ghosts who offer their otherworldly talents in order to help her solve the mystery...]]> 288 Carol J. Perry 1496731352 Robin 2 3.64 2021 Be My Ghost (A Haunted Haven Mystery, #1)
author: Carol J. Perry
name: Robin
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2024/02/27
date added: 2024/04/06
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Colorado Christmas Magic (Christmas in St. Nicholas Book 1)]]> 57515218 A heartwarming romance about what it takes to bring a little holiday spirit to the grinchiest of skeptics—and how one small town with an abundance of Christmas magic can bring two people together.

Bah, humbug.

Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for Charley Dawson. After writing a column suggesting readers cancel Christmas, she’s sent on assignment to St. Nicholas, Colorado, home of the Scrooge Legend. The legend says that any “Scrooge” who enters the town will end up loving Christmas as much as Santa does. She’ll go, she’ll prove the myth wrong, she’ll have a fantastic new column. Easy as mincemeat pie.

Detective Jack Brody assumed the Scrooge Legend was just that—a legend. A free stay in the picturesque town seems too good to be true, so he heads to St. Nicholas to investigate. Once there, he finds a winter wonderland, a group of kind but suspiciously closemouthed townspeople…and his high school sweetheart, Charley. He’s more than happy to team up with her, especially when it might mean a second chance with the only woman he’s ever loved.

As Charley and Jack go dashing through the snow to find the truth, they rediscover all the reasons they were a great couple. Of course, in the town of St. Nicholas, Colorado, there are plenty of someone's little helpers to bring people together with comfort and joy when they need it most…]]> 344 Caitlin McKenna 0369706498 Robin 3 3.93 Colorado Christmas Magic (Christmas in St. Nicholas Book 1)
author: Caitlin McKenna
name: Robin
average rating: 3.93
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/29
date added: 2024/04/06
shelves:
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]]> Sea Magic 64414133 "Lose yourself in this beautifully crafted tale of love's enduring power and the timeless connections that bind us all." —LibraryThing Reviewer

There is a place on the coast of New England where a salty sailor gives sage advice, and a legendary mermaid appears at least once a century. Madeline owns an antique store in this charming town and knows everyone by name. But she keeps a secret buried deep inside–her ability to touch an object and feel the essence of the previous owner.

After purchasing a mysterious box at an estate sale, she has startlingly vivid dreams about Maria, a young headstrong Puritan whose “knowing” could get her branded as a witch, and whose forbidden love for a poor sailor caused a scandal.

Desperate for answers, Madeline turns to Evan, a handsome history professor who tempts her to believe in love. Together they uncover Maria’s story, helpless to stop its trajectory toward tragedy. With Evan’s support, maybe she can lay the ghosts of the past to rest—including her own.

This debut novel was inspired by the real-life story of Maria Hallett and her love affair with the notorious pirate Black Sam Bellamy. ]]> 381 Heidi McIntyre Robin 2 4.41 Sea Magic
author: Heidi McIntyre
name: Robin
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2023/03/30
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Last Seen at Lighthouse Lane Book 1 (Outer Banks Mystery #1)]]> 61142493
But when a doctor calls about her mom’s declining medical condition, she has no choice but to return home and look after her.

Besides, it couldn’t be as bad as living in a city with the man who broke her heart. 2 weeks before their wedding.

As a 35-year-old journalist, hanging onto her job by a thread, and healing from a broken heart, Laura goes back to North Carolina to take care of her mom, agreeing to take on any stories that come her way.

When she arrives, the small-town is on edge because a thirteen-year-old girl has gone missing from Lighthouse Lane…again.

Memories come flooding back, and it all sounds eerily similar to when Laura’s best friend went missing from that exact location 17 years ago…

It gets more complicated when she realizes she knows the missing girl’s father. Harry Matthews, who is just as handsome as she remembers.

Laura makes it her mission to do whatever it takes to help Harry find his daughter.

Join Laura and Harry in this small-town romantic mystery as they work together to unravel this high-stakes case, while facing their past and finding love in the most unexpected ways.

This is Book 1 of 6 in the Outer Banks Mystery series.]]> 102 Sage Parker Robin 0 4.26 2022 Last Seen at Lighthouse Lane Book 1 (Outer Banks Mystery #1)
author: Sage Parker
name: Robin
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bait and Witch (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #1)]]> 53790009 Librarian Josie Way moved to small-town Oregon to lay low. Instead, thanks to newfound magic abilities—and a killer on the loose—she’s leapt out of the frying pan and into a cauldron of trouble . . .

Josie Way loved working among the Library of Congress’s leather-scented stacks—until she uncovered corruption and made herself a target. As Wilfred, Oregon’s new librarian, Josie can stay undercover until the case goes to court. But life in this little town isn’t as subdued as she expected. The library, housed in a a Victorian mansion, is slated to be bulldozed. Still digesting the news that her safe haven is about to become scrap lumber, Josie discovers a body in the woods . . .

Almost as shocking, Josie learns that she’s descended from a long line of witches—and her powers have suddenly sprung to life. With help from a spoiled alley cat who just may be her familiar, Josie’s thumbing through a catalog of suspects, hoping she can conjure a way to save her library—and her life. . .]]> 336 Angela M. Sanders 1496728750 Robin 3 3.93 2020 Bait and Witch (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #1)
author: Angela M. Sanders
name: Robin
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/08
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Steeped in Secrets (Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, #1)]]> 60214498 From the USA Today bestselling author of the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries comes the first in a new series featuring an intuitive gemologist and owner of a New Age tea and crystals shop in beautiful coastal California’s Monterey Peninsula.

Flat broke and divorced, intuitive gemologist Shay Myers has changed since leaving her artsy hometown of coastal Bray Harbor sixteen years ago. But when she moves back under strange circumstances, old instincts may be the only key to spilling the tea on a deadly mystery.

Even with her life in ruins in New Mexico, Shay feels uneasy about settling into the small seaside town where she grew up on California’s Monterey Peninsula and taking over an estate bequeathed to her by Bridget Early, a woman she had barely known. Her heightened senses—an empathic gift she’s had since childhood—go into overdrive upon touring Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, Bridget’s eclectic tea and psychic shop brimming with Irish lore and Celtic symbols. They reach a boiling point when Shay looks up to discover a stranger’s body sprawled across the shop’s greenhouse roof . . .

With her new business a crime scene and questions brewing over Bridget’s so-called accidental death, Shay fears she’s also inherited the attention of a killer. The terrifying realization sets her on an impractical investigation for answers aided by her sister, an elusive pure-white German Shepherd, a strikingly handsome pub owner who speaks in a gentle brogue, and a misunderstood young woman with perceptive talents of her own. As Shay struggles to figure out her true purpose in Bray Harbor and the powerful connection she has with the tea shop, she must trust her judgment above all else to identify a ruthless murderer and save herself from becoming victim number three.]]> 304 Lauren Elliott 149673520X Robin 4 3.89 2022 Steeped in Secrets (Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, #1)
author: Lauren Elliott
name: Robin
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/10
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Nature of Secrets (Finley O’Sullivan #2)]]> 61260879
Legal investigator Finley O’Sullivan has had a difficult year in the wake of her husband’s murder. But in her line of work, there’s no time to grieve. Her job is to protect the firm’s clients and defend their innocence through grueling investigative work.

Ellen Winthrop is a force to be reckoned with in the financial world. In a male-dominated industry, she shattered the glass ceiling by empowering and promoting women. But now her husband is dead, killed in the Winthrop family home—and she stands accused of his murder.

Finley, as the investigator at the firm Ellen Winthrop hired to defend her, has a clear objective: prove that Ellen didn’t do it. But the deeper Finley digs into the Winthrops’ marriage, the more she starts to doubt Ellen’s story. The uncomfortable truth is that Ellen Winthrop may in fact have killed her husband.

And he might not have been the first.]]> 347 Debra Webb Robin 4 4.41 2023 The Nature of Secrets (Finley O’Sullivan #2)
author: Debra Webb
name: Robin
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/14
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> The Art of Inheriting Secrets 38097931
One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.

Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.]]> 365 Barbara O'Neal 1503956393 Robin 4 4.30 2018 The Art of Inheriting Secrets
author: Barbara O'Neal
name: Robin
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/19
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Butter, Sugar, Magic (Baking Up a Magical Midlife #1)]]> 61251803
At best, she’s expecting a kitschy candy dish, at worst a beloved taxidermied pet, so when Cassie—newly divorced, single mom with zero prospects—discovers she’s inheriting a fully stocked bakery along with a beautifully furnished apartment from a great aunt she’d never even heard of, she’s convinced she must be dreaming.

The apartment bizarrely adapting itself to her whims and the friendly neighbor floating fireballs in the air aren’t helping.

Cassie has two choices. She can hightail it out of this bewildering town and figure out a way to support her pre-teen daughter. Or she can stay and live the life of her dreams in this unsettling place where the rules of physics don’t seem to apply, and people are suspiciously friendly and welcoming.

When Cassie and her daughter agree to give this new place a trial run (the fantastic pet shop next door is a helpful draw), she’s not convinced they’ve made the right choice. That hesitation just might cost her the fantastic life she and her daughter deserve.

Butter, Sugar, Magic is the first book in the tantalizingly delicious new Baking Up a Magical Midlife Paranormal Women’s Fiction series by Jessica Rosenberg.]]> 359 Jessica Rosenberg 1736722921 Robin 4 4.14 2022 Butter, Sugar, Magic (Baking Up a Magical Midlife #1)
author: Jessica Rosenberg
name: Robin
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/21
date added: 2023/12/13
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]]> <![CDATA[The Lost and Found Bookshop (Bella Vista Chronicles, #3)]]> 48613318 In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"

There is a book for everything . . .

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.
]]> 368 Susan Wiggs 006291409X Robin 4 3.84 2020 The Lost and Found Bookshop (Bella Vista Chronicles, #3)
author: Susan Wiggs
name: Robin
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/23
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Starlight Witch (Witches of New York, #1)]]> 62706328 Finding my husband in bed with another woman was not how I planned to start my day.

Or homeless the next minute. And broke.

So, when a job comes my way from The Twilight Hotel—a paranormal hotel in midtown Manhattan that serves as a sanctuary and residence—I take it.

Cue in tattooed, sexy as sin, grumpy restaurant owner Valen, who can’t do drama or high-maintenance women. The problem? He’s cruel and dangerous.

And he’s hiding something.

Rumors arise of a dark spell that would mean the hotel's closure, and I don’t know who I can trust. Do I have what it takes to fight this new evil? We’ll see.

Brace yourselves. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.]]> 310 Kim Richardson Robin 3 4.13 2022 The Starlight Witch (Witches of New York, #1)
author: Kim Richardson
name: Robin
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/26
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Family Secrets: A Whispering Pines Mystery]]> 58985780
Sixteen years after a family feud drove her from the cozy Northwoods village of Whispering Pines, Wisconsin, former detective Jayne O’Shea returns to prepare her grandparents’ lake house for sale. Once there, not only does she find that the house has been trashed, her dog discovers a dead body in the backyard.

Jayne intends to stay out of it, but when it becomes obvious the sheriff isn't interested in investigating the death, Jayne can't stop herself. Her list of suspects grows faster than the plants in the commons’ pentacle garden. Could it be the local Wiccan green witch with her stash of deadly plants? The shopkeeper who slips into trances and foretells death? The visitor determined to practice black magic?

What Jayne knows for sure is that the closer she gets to solving this crime, the more the sheriff wants her to back off. And when a local fortune teller provides a crucial clue, Jayne knows it’s up to her to solve this murder.


Fans of Denise Grover Swank, Charlaine Harris, and Janet Evanovich will love the quirky small town setting with its even quirkier residents.]]> Shawn McGuire Robin 4 4.00 2017 Family Secrets: A Whispering Pines Mystery
author: Shawn McGuire
name: Robin
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/29
date added: 2023/12/13
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]]> Heartwishes (Edilean, #5) 10436992
As Gemma learns more about the family -- and even begins falling in love with the eldest son, Colin -- it becomes increasingly clear that their wishes are actually coming true.

Together, Gemma and Colin must work together to find the stone that's been missing for over one hundred years -- and with an international thief also on the hunt, the clock is ticking. Because in the wrong hands, no one named Frazier will ever be safe.]]> 363 Jude Deveraux 1439108005 Robin 0 to-read 3.96 2011 Heartwishes (Edilean, #5)
author: Jude Deveraux
name: Robin
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Bookshop at Water's End 32766483 The women who spent their childhood summers in a small southern town discover it harbors secrets as lush as the marshes that surround it...

Bonny Blankenship's most treasured memories are of idyllic summers spent in Watersend, South Carolina, with her best friend, Lainey McKay. Amid the sand dunes and oak trees draped with Spanish moss, they swam and wished for happy-ever-afters, then escaped to the local bookshop to read and whisper in the glorious cool silence. Until the night that changed everything, the night that Lainey's mother disappeared.

Now, in her early fifties, Bonny is desperate to clear her head after a tragic mistake threatens her career as an emergency room doctor, and her marriage crumbles around her. With her troubled teenage daughter, Piper, in tow, she goes back to the beloved river house, where she is soon joined by Lainey and her two young children. During lazy summer days and magical nights, they reunite with bookshop owner Mimi, who is tangled with the past and its mysteries. As the three women cling to a fragile peace, buried secrets and long ago loves return like the tide.

READERS GUIDE INSIDE]]> 352 Patti Callahan Henry 0399583114 Robin 4 3.82 2017 The Bookshop at Water's End
author: Patti Callahan Henry
name: Robin
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/08
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
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]]> Everything You Are 43893534 From the bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a haunting and lyrical novel about the promises we make and the forgiveness we need when we break them.

One tragic twist of fate destroyed Braden Healey’s hands, his musical career, and his family. Now, unable to play, adrift in an alcoholic daze, and with only fragmented memories of his past, Braden wants desperately to escape the darkness of the last eleven years.

When his ex-wife and son are killed in a car accident, Braden returns home, hoping to forge a relationship with his troubled seventeen-year-old daughter, Allie. But how can he hope to rescue her from the curse that seems to shadow his family?

Ophelia “Phee” MacPhee, granddaughter of the eccentric old man who sold Braden his cello, believes the curse is real. She swore an oath to her dying grandfather that she would ensure Braden plays the cello as long as he lives. But he can’t play, and as the shadows deepen and Phee finds herself falling for Braden, she’ll do anything to save him. It will take a miracle of forgiveness and love to bring all three of them back to the healing power of music.]]> 337 Kerry Anne King 154204197X Robin 3 4.02 2019 Everything You Are
author: Kerry Anne King
name: Robin
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/11
date added: 2023/12/13
shelves:
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