Inspired by the real-life diaries of 18th Century midwife Martha Ballard, Ariel Lawhon gives readers just a glance into the life of women in post-Revolution, small town America. Often illiterate and with no prospects other than marrying and having babies, women of the late 18th century were vulnerable and tended to be given sentences (whether…
Category: 5 Star Reads
Only If You’re Lucky
Another great mystery from Stacy Willingham to get the year started! After the death of a college student, Lucy Sharpe is missing. Her larger-than-life personality is what drew Margot to her at the end of her freshman year at Rutgers. Finding herself living with Lucy and two others (Sloane and Nicole) in an off campus…
The Fake Mate
I have never read a shapeshifter romance before. While I love fantasy, romantasy, and romance books, but have just never had the desire to pick one up. But I’ve heard great things about Lana Ferguson’s books so when Berkley sent me a copy, I decided to give it a whirl. From the first chapter, we…
White Horse Black Nights
After spending over a decade in a convent, Sabine Darrow is close to freedom. That is until her father sells her to Rian Valvere to be his new wife. Not only does Sabine not have a say in who she’ll be marrying, but Rian requires her to travel naked to her new home as a…
The September House
It’s September, and Margaret knows the month is just going to get worse. The house walls will start bleeding, slowly but surely. The pranksters will start to show up one by one. And by the end of the month, she’ll be exhausted from lack of sleep due to the constant screaming inside the house. After…
The River We Remember
A police procedural and a slow burn mystery rolled into one. Krueger has excellently portrayed the impact war has on one small community, years later. Set in the small farming town of Jewel, Minnesota, The River We Remember is a story of how life continues on and how our pasts impact our future. Told from…
After That Night
Ah Karin Slaughter, one of my all-time favorite authors. I can’t tell you how and long I tried to get an early copy of the newest Will Trent installment. I almost didn’t manage it but I ended up with an audiobook, and I am not mad about it because Kathleen Early, who narrates the series,…
Shark Heart
What a weird and absolutely lovely story. Based on the description alone, I had my doubts I would enjoy this book. But a few other readers I trust said they loved this story, so I decided to give it a chance. Shark Heart follows Lewis and his wife, Wren, as they navigate Lewis’ transformation into…
The Wishing Game
Lucy is struggling. Her only wish is to foster and adopt one of her students, Christopher. But as a teacher’s aide, she’s barely making ends meet and with no permanent home she has to face giving up her dream of adopting him. When award winning and Lucy’s favorite childhood author, Jack Masterson puts on a…
None of This is True
Alix Summers and Josie Fair while completely different, are both on the cusp of change. When their paths cross on their shared 45th birthday, their lives will never be the same. Josie has a story to tell and she wants Alix, as a successful podcaster, to tell that story. But Josie is not who she…