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Isola: A Novel
by Allegra Goodman

A Timeless Story Of Survival (2/7/2025)

Isola by Allegra Goodman

4.5 stars
Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival. French noblewoman, Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, who lives to tell the tale of her exile on an island off …more

The Jackal's Mistress: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian

Inspired By A True Story (2/3/2025)

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley along with the publisher, Doubleday Books for the ARC to read.

This historical fiction read is inspired by a true story and set in Virginia near the end of the Civil War.

4.5 stars
We are …more

From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir
by Lisa Marie Presley

Profoundly Moving (1/25/2025)

FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

A raw and immersive look into the lives and complexities of this iconic family.

This book offers us a glimpse into the private world of Lisa Marie, who lived in the shadow of greatness. Though it is …more

After the Ocean
by Lauren E. Rico

Compelling Multi-Layered Read (1/21/2025)

After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook of After the Ocean

Narrated by Victoria Villareal, Robb Moreira, Frankie Corzo who did a fine job of making this book so enjoyable and come to life. I paired this with the book.

A …more

Count the Ways
by Joyce Maynard

Family Saga (1/10/2025)

COUNT THE WAYS by Joyce Maynard

I paired the book with the audiobook. The narration was very enjoyable and read by the author herself.

Set in the 1970s and 1980s, this story goes back and forth between past and present.
“Count the Ways” is the story of Eleanor, a children’s …more

The Blue Hour: A Novel
by Paula Hawkins

Slow-Burn Psychological Thriller (1/10/2025)

THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins

The Blue Hour is a slow-burn psychological thriller and a different read from her other books. I thought this was well written and enjoyed reading it. A discovery is made in the sculpture of a well known artist that starts this story off. …more

Before the Mango Ripens
by Afabwaje Kurian

Beautifully Written Debut (1/9/2025)

BEFORE THE MANGO RIPENS by Afabwaje Kurian

Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook

Dele Ogundiran does a great reading of this novel. I also paired with the book.

Set in Nigeria in 1970s just after the nation’s independence, Afabwaje Kurian has written a debut …more

The Stolen Queen: A Novel
by Fiona Davis

Historical Fiction (1/7/2025)

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC ebook to read.

From New York City to Cairo and back, anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on a dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, in 1936 and jumps at the opportunity. A heartbreaking …more

Looking for Jane: A Novel
by Heather Marshall

Impressive Debut (1/3/2025)

I paired the book with the audiobook read by Sarah Borges who does a nice reading of this novel.

Looking for Jane is a historical fiction novel, following three main characters living in Toronto from the 1960s to 2010s. All three are deeply impacted by the struggle for …more

Night Watch: A Novel
by Jayne Anne Phillips

Post Civil War (12/27/2024)

Narration by, Karissa Vacker, Theo Stockman, and Maggi-Megan Reed, was very well done and enjoyed listening to all of them.

A PULITZER PRIZE WINNER 2024 — Night Watch is a historical fiction novel that follows ConaLee, a young girl in post-Civil War West Virginia, as she …more

The Coast Road: A Novel
by Alan Murrin

Literary Fiction Debut (12/26/2024)

Reading by Jessica Regan was very well done. I paired this with the book.

This is a perfectly crafted literary fiction debut novel that is set in County Donegal in 1994, just before the critical referendum that would finally legalize divorce in Ireland. (Note that this …more

The Briar Club: A Novel
by Kate Quinn

A Compelling Read (11/4/2024)

Narration by Saskia Maarleveld is always spot on. Her ability with accents and dialects is amazingly done to perfection. A favorite narrator of mine.

“It’s seen three wars, ten presidents, and countless tenants… but until tonight, never a murder. Now its walls smell of …more

The Boyfriend
by Freida McFadden

Domestic Thriller (11/3/2024)

THE BOYFRIEND by Freida McFadden

Victoria Connolly & Robb Moreira both delivered a very good narration of the story.

A domestic thriller set in New York City and centered around a past and present storyline. Tom, a teen in love with Daisy, is in the past and Sydney, a …more

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern: A Novel
by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Chicken Soup For The Soul (10/13/2024)

THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC ebook to read.

Like chicken soup for the soul with a bit of magic and a dash of heartbreak along with laughter and a dose of romance sprinkled with hope. I …more

Hunted
by Abir Mukherjee

A Riveting Read (10/2/2024)

HUNTED by Abir Mukherjee

Narrated by: Nikki Patel (Yasmine), Amber Rose Revah (Shreya), Stefan Trout (Greg), Mikhail Sen (Sajid), and Sophia Roberts (Rehana).

A breakneck paced terrorism thriller that takes place a week before the toxic presidential elections. We meet Jack …more

The Reformatory: A Novel
by Tananarive Due

Historical Horror Novel (9/29/2024)

THE REFORMATORY by Tananarive Due

Wow, this was a difficult read that hit me to my core and at times I could only read a few chapters and then have to set it down. This is a historical horror novel of a powerful story of racism and abuse, and a shameful period in history. …more

Passiontide: A Novel
by Monique Roffey

Passiontide (9/10/2024)

PASSIONTIDE by Monique Roffey

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC ebook to read.

The title, Passiontide, is the last two weeks of Lent. On the small tropical island of St. Colibri, carnival is just over and Sora Tanaka, a young Japanese …more

Here One Moment
by Liane Moriarty

Captivating Read (9/10/2024)

HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing | Crown for the ARC ebook of Here One Moment

The intriguing premise of this book is a psychic onboard a plane and predicting passengers causes and ages of their deaths. Of course this stirs a …more

The Volcano Daughters: A Novel
by Gina María Balibrera

A Novel of Sisterhood (8/27/2024)

THE VOLCANO DAUGHTERS by Gina Maria Balibrera

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC ebook to read.

A debut set in early 20th century El Salvador. Graciela and her four friends live a simple life along with their mothers on a volcano in …more

The Volcano Daughters: A Novel
by Gina María Balibrera

The Volcano Daughters (8/20/2024)

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket — Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by *Parade* and *The New York Times Book Review*, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

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