Tropical Delusions……

I just had the pleasure of reading this YA novel and am still a bit red-eyed and as I sit and try to compose this review. 

 Sera and Luke are childhood friends and neighbors on Cape Cod, who share a very special bond. Both were born with heart defects, with Sera receiving a new heart at birth and Luke receiving Sera’s heart valves for his own defect, creating a special bond between the two that has  lasted as they’ve grown. 

But a missed summer meet up and some family drama has clouded things for the two, complicated by a two-year absence by Sera for reasons Luke knows nothing about.  Can these two reclaim their friendship and perhaps something more? 

This novel encompasses romance, family drama, friendship, sisterhood and the reality of living with chronic illness with its uncertainty for the future. The Cape Cod setting was especially nostalgic for me, being one of my mst favorite places to visit. The chemistry between Sera and Luke was strong, and their second-chance romance kept me engrossed the entire time – although a tear provoking ending was assuredly coming – it was not the ending I expected…nor wanted. So…have the Kleenex handy, you’ll need them!!

Absolutely worth the read, even for this grandma!! 

This is the 15^th installment of the Amanda Steele series and I am ready for 15 more!! Love, LOVE this author and these characters!

A young realtor, hoping to take back the coveted ‘Realtor of the Year’ title makes a last-minute decision to show a property to a potential buyer late one Friday evening. As she enters the home and sets the scene, she encounters an intruder and is shot to death.

It’s another day on the job for Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson, when Amanda receives a call from her half-brother, Spencer. His girlfriend is not answering calls and her phone is going to voice mail, which is very unusual for her. Shortly thereafter the body is discovered – very quickly, the two incidents are linked, and Amanda and Trent begin their search for a killer. 

As the investigation ensues, Spencer is caught in the crosshairs as the victims’ daughter gives conflicting information to the detectives. But nothing makes sense and when no definitive suspects are identified, the investigation shifts as the team considers she was collateral damage and the homeowner, Attorney Dominique Shaw, was the intended target…

A high-powered attorney, with a successful law firm, Ms. Shaw is in the process of buying out a DC law firm, angering many people in the process…but who wanted her dead, and why? And will Spencer forgive Amanda for her suspicions? 

Again, a great series, a great read! Hoping that Carolyn Arnold keeps them coming for a long, long time! 

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Bookouture in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?  Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Arden Bowie is a newly published author who is riding the high of sales, book signings and the adoration of fans.  When she meets Dustin at one of her book signings, she thinks nothing of it – grateful for every fan, she signs the books he’s purchased and engages him as she does the others.  But as her signings and autograph sessions continue, Dustin appears at every one, until an unprovoked attack sends Dustin to prison and Arden across the country to make a new start.  

Years pass, Arden’s work flourishes, and she is happier than she’s ever been, renovating her new home & finding new love with Gideon, as she puts down roots, slowly putting the attack and Dustin’s obsession behind her.  

However, back in the Midwest, Dustin has not forgotten Arden. As he plays the role of a benevolent, remorseful patient in the psychiatric facility where he’s being housed, he secretly plans his life after release – and his first objective is to find Arden…

Nora Roberts is one of those authors whose work I’ll purchase sight unseen – her books are THAT GOOD – and this stand-alone novel was no exception! 

 Available May 26, 2026.

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgally & St. Martins Press in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?  Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Paper Ghosts – Sarah Addison Allen

I’ve never read a book I didn’t love from this author, and this book is no different!

Set in the fictional town of Hen Town, North Carolina, Paper Ghosts introduces you to Wilhelmina “Wills” Wester, a typical teenager, living under the thumb of her grandmother, known as the Wester Witch, as she somehow seems to know everyone’s secrets in town.  The year is 1976 & Wills and her friends, dubbed “The Feathers”, are starting to wonder if there’s a life outside of Hen Town.  Over time, they’ve learned of dead spots – areas where her grandmother cant seem to reach, and this is where Wills meets her first love, Jack…

Flash forward to present day. Bailey and her father Tug return home to Wester House, where Wills, now Bailey’s grandmother, lives alone, seemingly isolated in the lonely house. As Bailey adapts to the odd little town, she struggles to forge a relationship with the grandmother she never knew, who locks herself away in a tiny room and seeming talks with people who aren’t there.  

After a near miss with tragedy, Bailey is sent away, only to return years later at Wills’ request.  Will Bailey finally learn all the secrets of the Wills and Wester House?

I’ve loved every book Sarah Addison Allen has written and this latest was no exception!  Filled with longing, betrayal, a touch of magic and most of all love, this book is a great rainy day read!!  Available September 1, 2026!