Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed on 7/15/2025 + 1509 more book reviews

The six Mitford sisters were sort of a classier version of the Kardashians in mid-20th-Century Britain, influential on the political and the literary scene rather than as internet influencers and tabloid fodder.

But the notion of tackling all six in a single biography, and then loading it down with who went to which fashionable resort with whom and which of their friends had the most twee nickname makes the whole thing an uphill battle.

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Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 7/14/2025 + 2696 more book reviews

Enjoyable story in the unusual setting of late Victorian Egypt. Elise is a Greek-English woman who is best friends with Lady Olive. Olive has been promised in marriage to Prince Saleem of Egypt, something she is not excited about. Uninterested in even exchanging letters with her intended, she palms the chore off on her friend, Elise. Over the next few months, a deep connection forms between them, though Saleem believes the letters are from Olive.

I liked Saleem. He is the heir to the throne, even though he has an older half-brother, Adnan, who is illegitimate. Saleem is a good man, well-liked by everyone he meets. He has a vision for Egypt's future. However, he has trouble overcoming his irresponsible reputation from his younger years, putting him at odds with his father. Meanwhile, Adnan is more serious and has a closer relationship with their father. I liked that there is no tension between the two brothers, just an understanding of who each is. I enjoyed Adnan's efforts to help Saleem.

Matters become complicated when Olive runs off before they reach their destination, leaving Elise to attempt to explain her absence. I thought Saleem took the news very well, and Adnan stepped up to track down Olive. In the meantime, Saleem and Elise spend a lot of time together. Saleem is confused by the connection he feels for Elise, not knowing that she is the letter-writer. There are some great scenes of them together as Saleem shows her around his city. It doesn't take long for Saleem to realize that there's no way he can marry Olive when his heart belongs to Elise. Saleem also must overcome Elise's belief that there is no future for them. She is wary of involvement because of a bad experience and plans to live an independent life. But Olive's reappearance puts Saleem at odds with his father again, and it doesn't look good for the future he wants. The ending is confusing, with no explanation of how Saleem pulls off his triumph of love.

There is also a secondary storyline involving Elise's inheritance. The background of the gold bars was intriguing. I enjoyed how Saleem and Elise worked together to discover the truth. There was some danger involved that kept the tension up, and an unexpected revelation that changed Elise's life.

I look forward to the next book, which is probably Olive and Adnan's story. Hopefully, we will get an explanation of Olive's actions, because in this book, she came across as spoiled and thoughtless.

I enjoyed the Egyptian setting of this book. The author's descriptions of the food and scenery added depth to the story. I loved seeing Elise's wholehearted enjoyment of the new experiences.

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John B. (cwousn) - , reviewed on 7/14/2025 + 149 more book reviews

I enjoy books that have dogs as contributing characters. This one was no exception. Rosenfelt's writing is engaging so the book was a pretty easy read. The solution to the mystery was rather far fetched but this was a work of fiction and I have no complaints. Three stars.

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Elizabeth R. (esjro) - , reviewed on 7/13/2025 + 1013 more book reviews

Like most essary collections some are better than others, but overall I found this to be interesting and thought provoking. The essays address long standing issues of sex work, workplace sexual harrassment, and student teacher relationships, as well as more recent topics such as #MeToo and incels. I like that unlike some opinionists she does not see things strictlty as good or bad but is able to acknowledge the grey.

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Sherry C. (Sherry) - , reviewed on 7/13/2025

A young girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. Didn't go into the background of the victim enough, and there was a lot of repetition and not enough background. Just ok as a true crime story, didn't hold my interest.

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Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) - , reviewed on 7/13/2025 + 744 more book reviews

Granted, this was Allingham's first Campion mystery, and supposedly they got better, but I found this to be boring and unreadable and gave up about 70 pages from the end. It's not a country-house mystery as one is led to believe, but an interminable trial of following a number of house guests trapped in the place with some criminals after a stolen something. Readers in 1929 didn't know Campion (not the main character here) was her prime detective, so they were led to believe he might be the culprit. Later readers know he isn't.

One other oddity I found was that the author misuses the word "infer" where she really meant "imply."

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Elizabeth R. (esjro) - , reviewed on 7/13/2025 + 1013 more book reviews

This book is a difficult one to review and rate because the middle and ending sections were very different from the beginning. The book started out as a nail-biter of a thriller and I read the first 100 pages or so in one sitting. The middle section was like a Harlan Coben standalone in which the wife can't figure out why he would leave their daughter and loving marriage, though the pacing lagged because much of this section was spent puttering around the house and talking to her sister. The ending picked up a bit. If the whole book was like the beginning I would give it 5 stars. If the whole book was like the middle I'd give it 3, so will settle on 4.

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Kayleen (jegka) reviewed on 7/13/2025 + 172 more book reviews

I really expected to like this one, but after 5 chapters it was still like a 2 day car ride with my kids. I couldn't take the constant bickering.

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Elissa B. reviewed on 7/13/2025

A great read with a variety of action, suspense, romance, and even thoughtful moments.

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Kayleen (jegka) reviewed on 7/13/2025 + 172 more book reviews

I enjoyed the premise, but the writing and characters were incredibly simple and there were simple plot points that were overlooked or ignored.
I'll not be reading another.

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Rachel G. (roach808) - reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 231 more book reviews

There is a lot to unpack with this one, race, class, privilege, and the depth of friendship. It reminded me of Rebecca, Not Becky; but got the "big darn deal" out of the way really quickly.

Heart breaking, but not in a way that lingers on the heartbreak, rather we move relatively quickly to real life living.

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Marci (marcijo28) - reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 386 more book reviews

This is another excellent entry in the 87th Precinct series. The title has multiple meanings and, as it would suggest, the story takes place during a brutally cold winter!

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Kayleen (jegka) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 172 more book reviews

I really love this as a reference book. It has actionable information for a beginner. It gives you things to think about, like:
- why do you want cows (meat? milk? pet?)
- what kind of breeds suit your goals
- what you need to do before you get a cow (so it doesn't live in your garage!)
- the logistics of how to get a cow
- the logistics of how to get rid of a cow
- how to care for and feed it in between the getting and getting rid of

That's just one animal. It goes into detail for all the animals listed in the title.
This isn't an exhaustive book, but it is the one with actually useful information I want to start with.

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Julie Y. (naboo) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 44 more book reviews

This is the third story in the Knockemout series. Unfortunately, this is the first book in this series that I have read by this author, so I had some difficulty with the plotline since I was not familiar with the backstory nor the characters.

This narrative focuses on the relationships between Sloane Walton, a small-town librarian who lives in the town of Knockemout, Virginia, and Lucian Rollins, a successful, wealthy businessman and the owner of Rollins Consulting.

Basically, this follows a typical "enemies-to-lovers" theme and is the last book in the novel sequence. Furthermore, I would strongly recommend reading Things We Never Got Over and Things We Hide From the Light (the first two in the Knockemout set of books) before reading this narrative.

Finally, this book is 698 pages and quite verbose. I seriously believe this could be edited by ~150 pages without compromising the storyline.

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Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 769 more book reviews

Dollycas's Thoughts

Olivia Delaney came to California following her father's death and stayed, taking an entry-level position in the family business, now being run by her half-brother. She soon noticed some irregularities and worked to find the proof. She intended to turn her evidence over to the authorities, but before she could, she was involved in a terrible accident and lost her memory.

Caleb Miller and his K-9, Ranger, were on vacation in the California desert after working on a harrowing case for Jameson Investigations, when he noticed âa plume of smoke⦠intruding on the wispy clouds dotting the cerulean skyâ. Following the smoke, he finds a car on fire and an injured woman. He does call his boss for help, but before it arrives, two gunmen find them and open fire.

This sets off a chase across the country as Caleb tries to keep them alive, as Olivia tries to remember what got her into this mess in the first place.

Ms. Alexander's characters literally hit the ground running, and they take us with them on a wild journey at high speed. From the desert of California to the swamps of Florida, this story is full of action and suspense.

It took Olivia a little time to trust Caleb, and he doubted her memory issues once or twice, but they quickly learned that they needed to lean on each other to survive and get someplace safe. The romance building between them was sweet, with more important emphasis on their safety. I appreciated how the author wove faith throughout the story naturally. Olivia was living a nightmare even before she lost her memory, but she leaned on her faith and became more and more courageous with each roadblock they encountered. Caleb was a hero and a caring, patient man with a great sense of humor. Amid scary situations and several injuries, they would take a beat, plan, and follow through. I was immediately invested in both Caleb's and Olivia's lives. And Ranger was a lovable, amazing, well-trained canine who wormed his way right into my heart.

Exposing Lethal Secrets is a thriller that you need to plan for before you start reading. It is a book that is impossible to put down. Courage. Danger. Faith. This story is action-packed, filled with suspense, a side of romance, a touch of humor, and inspiring messages of faith. I was up late thinking⦠just one more chapter⦠just one more chapter until I reached the final page. As the title states, the secrets are lethal. Add to that, the betrayal is real. I wanted to see justice. I wanted to see Olivia safe and happy. And I was going to sleep until my wants were fulfilled. Ms. Alexander blew me away with this one. For all those reasons, you will find Exposing Lethal Secrets on my best reads of 2025.

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Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 769 more book reviews

Dollycas's Thoughts

Jessica Fletcher is headed to Boston to give a talk at the Boston Public Library, and she invites her friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, to accompany her. He plans to catch up with some of his colleagues while he is there, and they both look forward to having dinner with PI Harry McGraw at Gilhooley's.

Harry has an interesting new case he thinks Seth can help him with, and Jessica agrees to help Gilhooley's bartender with an investigation Harry can't take on right now. Cookie is worried about his daughter Aileen's boyfriend and his true intentions. Before Jessica can even form a plan, Alieen shows up at the tavern, shaking and covered in blood. She states her boyfriend is dead. She found his body in his apartment and ran to her father for help. She soon finds herself the prime suspect in his murder and needs Jessica's help more than ever.

Every so often, Jessica Fletcher leaves Cabot Cove and travels to interesting places. This time, she and Seth visited Boston, where they stayed at the Revere Hotel Boston Common, and visited interesting places like the Boston Public Library, the Tea Party Museum, Bromer Booksellers, a comedy club, and even biked through the Public Garden. The author describes each place so thoroughly that she takes her readers on a virtual vacation.

I love the new people Jessica meets in each story. She and Seth hooked up with their own private cab driver. Mahmood was at their beck and call to take them anywhere they needed to go. He was fun and enjoyed tagging along on their adventures. Cookie is a great guy and a protective father. He would do anything for his daughter. Aileen thought she was in love, but her boyfriend was pretty sleezy. I was not surprised he was our victim. His demise brought some interesting characters into the story. The murder also brings Lieutenant Starkey back into Jessica's life.

As expected, the murder mystery was very well-plotted and written. The pacing was perfect. The blending of storylines flowed seamlessly. It's always intriguing to tag along as Jessica works through the clues using her connections and making new ones. It seemed each new clue and twist brought a new or different suspect into the limelight. I changed my mind too many times to count. I really enjoyed that Seth was Aileen's champion. As her doctor, he understood the shock she had and made sure her needs were met. Before any questioning was done or visitation of the crime scene happened, he took time to check her out and protect her well-being.

If you were a fan of the television show like I was, it is very easy to escape into the story and see the actors who played the characters, and hear the words in their voices.

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston is another excellent addition to this long-running series. They are even more special because each one can be read as a standalone. If you have never read any books in this series, missed a few, or more than a few, you can grab this one and discover or rediscover a series that stands the test of time. Jessica Fletcher is a cozy mystery icon, and Ms. Farley is an expert in bringing her and all her friends to life. 61 books and still going strong! Book 62, Murder, She Wrote: The Body in the Trees, will be released December 2, 2025.

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jjares reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 3547 more book reviews

This is a beautiful, worthwhile book that will up your camping and picnic lifestyle. This little book has it all, including campfire meals, no-cook meals for the hottest days, and one-pot options. Drinks and desserts are included. The book is filled with full-color photos, nutritional information, and nothing you don't need. These are real meals that look appetizing.

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jjares reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 3547 more book reviews

This is a fascinating overview of the men who called themselves Messiah or traveled around and talked about religion in the era around Jesus Christ's time. This group emerged between Christ's time and about 130 CE. This book refers back to the Bible for confirmation in some instances. There isn't much information about these Messiah-wannabes, but what is included is interesting. This booklet contains accounts of false prophets who led rebellions against Rome, which ultimately led to Rome's destruction of Jerusalem. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read this short book.

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Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 769 more book reviews

Dollycas's Thoughts

Julia, David, and Erika, ââthe Lake Gangâ, have had many happy days spending summers with their parents on Lake Timmeny in Vermont. Now they bring their own children to spend a couple of weeks together each summer.

This year, when Julia arrives, she sees that David has built a huge monstrosity where his family's cabin used to be, blocking the lake view from both her and Erika's cabins. When he arrives he is pretty cocky about his renovation and his new âlady of the momentâ. He also has a young new nanny in tow to take care of his five-year-old twins.

Erika arrives with her husband and son; she is unusually quiet about the massive multi-windowed structure blocking the lake. Julia wants to know why, but the three have accumulated many secrets over the years, so she assumes there is a lot more to the story.

Lake Timmeny has a tragic history. âThe lake takes them.â Two young women have âvanishedâ 30 years apart, and now it has been another 30 years. So when David's new girlfriend vanishes after a very public disagreement, everyone wonders if the lake has taken another. While a comprehensive search is organized and carried out, secrets start to be revealed that go back for generations. Lies. Betrayal. Deceit. Danger lurks. Will the Lake Gang survive the summer?

Three couples, two teenagers, 2 five-year-olds, and their nanny on a summer vacation. What could go wrong? Everything!

Ms. Day has written a complex story featuring complicated characters who all have secrets now in their daily lives that are compounded by what takes place and revealed over a very short timeframe. At times, I felt I needed a scorecard to keep track of everything. Her characters are very interesting, so it is easy to get caught up in everything they are going through.

The lake's history was intriguing for this mystery lover, and an elderly woman who lives on the lake year-round not only stole my heart but was the key to disclosing so much of that history. Hold on, though, there is so much more to sink our teeth into as memories are tested and secrets are divulged. Layers are peeled away, a little too slowly at times, but some epic twists ratcheted up the tension and suspense in all the right places. Being told from two points of view, I was totally pulled into this story. There is family drama to the max in ways I couldn't imagine. The ending was elaborate, intricate, and satisfying. I would have liked a little more action instead of explanations, but it still worked for me.

The Lake Escape takes readers on a wild ride as each character's journey intersects in numerous ways. This is Ms. Day's third venture of domestic suspense following her debut, The Block Party, and then One Big Happy Family, last year, each time upping her game. Words of wisdom from Julia: âBe in the moment. Relax and enjoy. Don't try to control, just let it roll.â That was from Chapter 7. Boy, did things roll from there. If you are looking for your next summer read, this one will have you feeling like you are right there at the lake, witnessing all the drama these families serve up. A strong 4.5 stars and an Enjoyable Escape.

*There is some explicit language.

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Michael B. (Ichabod) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 172 more book reviews

You're On the Guestlist

In "Satisfaction Cafe," Kathy Wang presents an extremely complex and compelling protagonist, Joan Liang. She was born in Taiwan to parents who never liked her and considered her a liability. By a stroke of luck, it was she, and not her more valued brothers, who was sent off to California to study at Stanford. Her marriage to a Chinese man is short lived, ending abruptly when she stabs him. Soon afterwards, she accepted a marriage proposal from Bill, a wealthy older man with three previous marriages. Their union faced considerable scrutiny from both their families, especially Bill's children.

At this point in the story, Joan's life seems to have followed a haphazard path, not anything she could have planned. In many respects she seems to have been passive, more an observer of what is happening. However, she demonstrated assertiveness when she confronted her first husband and later took drastic action to protect her son from a bully.

Joan's situation changes and, as her children get on with their lives, she finds herself increasingly isolated. A chance conversation with a stranger prompts Joan to recognize the desire people have for communication and the need to tell their story to someone who listens. This resurrects an old fantasy:

"When she was little, she used to daydream of a place she named in her head the Satisfaction Cafe", which had friendly employees and nice food and pretty toys; even as a child, Joan's imagination had not stretched to fantastic outcomes but, rather, a reasonable amount of happiness."

Joan opens the Satisfaction Cafe with a simple philosophy: people want to be heard. She recruits various types of people for her customers to open up to. She tells her staff that people just want to be asked about themselves. "Ask questions... about them! If they look troubled, ask what is bothering them! Everyone is interesting-- you just have to discover what it is."

While the title might suggest the cafe is present throughout the book, it only appears in the final third. Also, this is character-driven with emotional depth rather than employing dramatic plot devices. Some may find this too slow, though I personally enjoyed it. It has been written more than once that Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Strout fans are likely to appreciate this book, which should give you a good indication of its style.

I just found Joan fascinating and unpredictable... in other words, very authentic. She is someone I would like to find myself at a table with.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 1509 more book reviews

Predictable tale of mothers & daughters and the endless tug-of-war between them.

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Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 1739 more book reviews

What a wonderful experience in the afterlife-Paradise and Hell.
This book hits all the marks, engaging, great characters, world building, slow slow burn, friendships, loyalty, struggles, joy, etc.
So well written, the story doesn't lag or bog down.
Descriptions are spot on, no overly done explanation and details.
This book will make you think and think again-about yourself, about others and who you want to be.
It is laugh out loud funny-Hellp Desk- I mean who hasn't wanted to do a couple of those things!
Makes you cry and realize how hard the afterlife/life can be.
Just a great don't miss reading book.

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Steven R. (oblio) reviewed on 7/12/2025 + 15 more book reviews

Outstanding. This is the definitive book on John and Paul. It is not the history of the Beatles, but a deep exploration of John and Paul's friendship and how that was channeled into their songs. By the time the book ends, you are not a friend of John or Paul but you feel like you know them very well and John's death, although you know it is coming, is a shock. Moreover, Leslie shows how John, Paul, George and Ringo changed culture and rock music forever.

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Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 7/11/2025 + 2846 more book reviews

Pronzini never fails to provide clever mysteries. It's one reason he is becoming one of my favorite authors. The details of the crimes in this book are well thought out.

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Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 7/11/2025 + 2846 more book reviews

Basically this book is an expose of the lack of concern the Allies had for those men who were in German POW camps. While there were some exceptions, the Allied leadership really had no plans on what to do in regards to the POWs when the end of the European conflict was in sight, although it publicly claimed otherwise, especially to the families of these POWs. And thousands of POWs died as a result. As such, this is both an heroic and sad book to read.

What really got to me was the essentially stupid behavior of the Allied bureaucracy. For example, after being freed, the POWs were paid back wages, but 10% was deducted due to the money the Germans were supposed to have paid the enlisted men who were required to work. But most of the men never saw that money. POWs were also entitled $1 for every day they were captured. But in one case a POW escaped and was free for 12 days before being recaptured. When he received his pay, he noticed $12 had been deducted. Yet, the military code of conduct urged POWs to escape.

One British POW who was elected camp leader and was responsible for saving countless lives, both in the camps and on the exhausting marches the Germans put them through, was denied high honors simply because he wasn't "of the right class." Meanwhile, an SS General was honored for supposedly saving the lives of many of the POWs, even though no POWs were ever asked to testify at his post-war trial. The authors provide proof in this book the SS General lied at his trial. You have to wonder.

Despite all this, I found the book riveting. Especially when I read about the POWs who sidestepped the military bureaucracy and either found their own way home quickly, or drifted about Europe having a good time.

But I want to know why the authors persisted in maintaining that Patton's Third Army was the first to cross the Rhine on page 201. I've seen this in other books too. Hasn't anyone heard of the Bridge at Remagen? The capture of this bridge allowed General Hodges First Army to cross the Rhine before anyone else. Hell, they even made a movie about it in 1969. So it is not like it is a secret. And this book was published in 2002.

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