The Queen's Coronation: three women's lives change against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth's coronation

The Queen’s Coronation by Jennifer Ryan is the story of three women’s worlds change with a friendship. It is London, 1953, Buckingham Palace prepares for the new queen’s coronation. Caroline Brimstone is an assistant dresser to the queen and admires the strength the young woman shows against the pressures and rules around her. Caroline’s personal life is in shambles as her husband’s gambling problem has her holding tightly to every penny she earns. Can she follow the example of her new queen and find the strength to take the chance for a better future? Lucy Jones is a junior wardrobe assistant who is young, idealistic and eager to become a famous singer. When she has a chance to so stardom, she is excited until some things come up that has her questioning her idea of a glamorous life. Miranda Miller comes from America to take a temporary job as a secretary in the palace. However, she is actually an undercover journalist writing an in-depth article about the coronation. 

I have loved Ms. Ryan’s previous books so I was so excited to read The Queen’s Coronation. A story about friendship during one of the greatest historical events of the 20th century. Overall, I loved the opening chapter and the introduction of each woman; however, the story didn’t capture my attention. The story is well researched, especially with the details about the queen’s coronation and the planning. I enjoyed the parts about the actual coronation; however, I did not enjoy the story about the women, their lives or their friendship. And some of the events which happened would not have been acceptable and would have resulted in multiple terminations. The story became more about how horribly women were treated in the 1950s. I can see how the overall theme of the story was that Queen Elizabeth’s coronation empowered other women; however, I feel it fell flat. Unfortunately, this story was not up to par with Ms. Ryan’s previous books. I do not recommend The Queen’s Coronation. 

The Queen’s Coronation is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Parisian Chapter: a story of friendship, literature and finding home in the City of Lights

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles is a story of friendship, literature and finding home again. Paris, 1995, Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise wanted to pursue their dreams in the City of Lights. After five years of their shared tiny walkup and surviving on brie and baguettes, Mary Louise suddenly moves out. Lily feels so alone before she gets a job as a programs manager at the American Library, following in the footsteps of her beloved French neighbor, Odile, back home. Fueled by Odile’s stories of heroic World War II librarians, Lily sees a chance to make her own experiences. At the library, she discovers the library is in financial trouble. In the attic, Lily discovers a box that may contain information about Odile’s time at the library. Could what she finds help save the library? 

I loved Janet Skeslien Charles’ book, The Paris Library and I was eager to once again visit the American Library. Sadly, I was bored and disappointed. There were too many characters with chapter POVs. I couldn’t connect with any of them, especially Lily. I found her to be whiny and annoying. I wasn’t sure what the conflict between Lily and Mary Louise was and if Mary Louise’s reason to move out was fully explained. Or maybe I missed it. I also wasn’t aware this book was supposed to be a spin off of The Paris Library. It just doesn’t have the same impact I felt when I read The Paris Library. Overall, I was bored and underwhelmed. I didn’t see the power of friendship, literature of finding home again. It was not the story I was expecting. I do not recommend The Parisian Chapter. 

The Parisian Chapter is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tomorrow's First Light: a marriage of convenience romance with faith, hope and drama

Tomorrow’s First Light is the first book in the Texas Promise series by Naomi Rawlings. Sam Owens grew up in an orphanage in the small dusty town of Twin Rivers. All he dreamed about was a spread of land of his own and a family. For a year, he has been writing to Ellie Spritzer, who agreed to come to Twin Rivers and become his wife; however, she was bringing her siblings with her. Sam had no issue with it, looking forward to a ready made family. He wasn’t prepared for the eight young children who arrived with Ellie. As Sam and Ellie start to figure out life together, with a brood of children and limited resources, someone from the shadows tries to steal his land from him. They are now in a fight to hold their new family together on the land they all have come to love. 

Naomi Rawlings is a new author to me and I enjoy mail order bride historical fiction. Tomorrow’s First Light is a great read, fast paced and page turner filled with drama, faith and struggles, filled with love, friendship and support. I loved the struggle with faith and doubt of Ellie as she faced the drama with the land, entering a marriage with a stranger and questioning her decisions. I enjoyed Sam as a young man who knew hardship and the support of friends and held a deep faith in God that he moved forward despite the overwhelming odds in front of him. His friends were great characters and I enjoyed their interactions. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy marriage of convenience with faith, hope and new beginnings, I highly recommend Tomorrow’s First Light. 

Tomorrow’s First Light is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Agony: a football, best friends and secret love

Agony is the first book in the Entangled Hearts Duet by Kaylee Ryan. Cooper Reeves and Reese Latham have been best friends since childhood. They were inseparable until college. Tired of being in the friend zone, she made a move and it didn’t play out the way she had hoped. After college, Cooper plays professional football and leaves Reese behind with a broken heart. What she doesn’t know is that Cooper is in love with her. Refusing to ruin their great friendship, he didn’t act on his feelings. Even when he knew she felt the same, he pushed her away to preserve their friendship. The longer they are apart, the more he realizes that Reese is more than just his best friend but the love of her life. Now she is engaged and the thought of living without her is agony. 

I love football with a friends to lovers romance and Agony was filled with funny friendship banter, romance scenes and plenty of drama. The story quickly moves through Cooper and Reese’s college years. My favorite character was Cooper and while there were moments when I wanted to reach through the book and tell Cooper to just tell Reese the truth, like many of the other characters urged him to do, I understood his fear. I loved their supporting characters who added humor and a dose of reality when needed, even when it is not heeded. I could not put the book down and eagerly read through the day. It does end on a cliffhanger and I am so eager to read the second book for the continuation of Cooper and Reese’s story. I recommend Agony. 

Agony is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Bright Side of Disaster: when the life you wanted turns into the life you needed

The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center is a story when the life you wanted turns into the life you needed. Jenny Harris is very pregnant and engaged to Dean. At first, Dean was excited about marriage and the coming baby. However, as her due date comes closer, Dean is acting more and more distant. One night, he goes out for cigarettes and never comes back. The next day, Jenny goes into labor. As she is thrown into the life as a single mother and learning to care for her baby, there isn’t much time to dwell on her broken dreams. Slowly but surely, her support group grows from her mother, her friend, Meredith, and her very handsome neighbor. Out of the blue, Dean shows up on her doorstep, she is faced with a choice. Does she choose the life she wanted or does she choose the new life she didn’t know she needed? 

Katherine Center has been one of my go-to authors since I first read one of her books in 2018. I have slowly been her backlist as well as her new release. I came across The Bright Side of Disaster and was super excited. Ms Center’s stories are filled with life changing drama with laughs and emotion. However, The Bright Side of Disaster did not have the same impact I have come to expect from Ms Center. I didn’t care for any of the characters. Jenny was very irritating and I found myself rolling my eyes often. And the story didn’t have the emotional impact that I was expecting. Since this is one of her early works and knowing how her writing has evolved, I am glad that I read this book. While I did not enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed Ms Center’s other books, I do recommend The Bright Side of Disaster. 

The Bright Side of Disaster is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

One Good Thing: a World War II story of friendship, hope, courage and the fight to survive

One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter is a World War II story of hardship, hope, courage and resilience. Lili has been friends with Esti since meeting at university. When Esti’s son, Theo, is born, they become as close as sisters. As the war rages in Germany and France, Lili and Esti must deal with Mussolini’s Racial Laws, and while difficult, life seemingly goes on as usual. Until Germany invades northern Italy and life becomes much more dangerous. At first, they flee to a countryside villa to help hide Jewish orphans. Then fleeing to Florence, finding in a convent as nuns and becoming a part of the Underground network of forgers and couriers. When Esti can no longer protect Theo, she asks Lili to take her son and protect him. Now Lili finds herself on a journey through Allied territory, Nazi-occupied villages and finding ways to survive, not only for herself, but for a promise she made to her best friend. 

World War II still fuels amazing stories eighty years after it ended. While most stories take place in France or Germany, I find it very refreshing that authors are finding stories to tell from other areas of the world. One Good Thing is an engaging story from start to finish. I loved the character of Lili. Lili is the worrier at the beginning and while she is filled with doubt at every turn, but her determination to fulfil her promise to Esti, she finds the courage and strength to keep moving forward. I also loved the character development of Esti from a skeptic to a fully committed to the underground resistance. I loved the sister-friendship between Lili and Esti. One Good Thing is a great story of how the love for another person is a reason to keep going despite the darkness and hopelessness. If you love stories of friendship, motherhood and survival, I highly recommend One Good Thing. 

One Good Thing will be available March 4, 2025 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Secret History of Audrey James: finding the strength for today through the hardships of the past

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall is a dual timeline story from World War II Germany and Northern England decades later. After a tragic accident has left her floundering, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border. After she arrives, she begins to unravel her past and she discovers her new boss also has secrets from the past of her own. In 1938 Berlin, Audrey James has been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan and her family, while she studies at a local prestigious music school. When Ilse’s family disappears and Nazis take over the house, Audrey is forced to become their housekeeper as Ilse hides in the attic. She soon finds herself in an anti-Hitler movement. Can she protect those she loves or must she sacrifice everything to do her part to end the war? 

The Secret History Audrey James was inspired by the true stories of courageous women who did their part in the German resistance during World War II. Audrey’s story could have been a standalone story and been captivating and the tie-in with Kate was a bit unnecessary. Unfortunately, World War II resistance stories, while interesting, are starting to blur together that I feel like I’ve read this before. However, I read this story for “the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.” The Secret History of Audrey James delivers on that; however, there was so much going on that the story started to get bogged down and I was getting bored. Overall, the story started off well; but did not end there. If you enjoy World War II resistance stories, I recommend The Secret History of Audrey James. 

The Secret History of Audrey James will be available on February 25, 2025

In paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Faith in Flowers: a second chance romance with heart and small town charm

The Faith in Flowers is the fifth book in the Poppy Creek series by Rachael Bloome. Olivia Parker returns home for her brother, Grant’s wedding. She decides to keep her divorce secret so as to not ruin the big day. Confirmed bachelor Reed Hollis has never forgotten the only woman to capture his heart and he also hasn’t forgotten that she is married. Believing Olivia is happily married, he buried himself into cultivating his beautiful blooms and keeping his distance. When the original wedding venue becomes unavailable, Olivia and Reed are brought together to help plan the wedding with a new venue. As the two work together, they are confronted with their feelings as well as their fears and painful secrets. Can their love bloom with a little faith? 

I love the Poppy Creek series and The Faith in Flowers is a great addition to it. It is a sweet, clean romance with plenty of heart and the small town charm. A second chance for Olivia and Reed find themselves face to face after so many years and discovering their past feelings are alive and well. I love the themes of love, grace and forgiveness and that even the most beautiful flowers bloom from the dirt. We are not bound to our past mistakes as we build for a brighter future. Reed and Olivia are so sweet as they banter as friends and confide in each other before ultimately confessing their love. I look forward to continuing the series. I highly recommend The Faith in Flowers and the Poppy Creek series. 

The Faith in Flowers is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Binding 13: a chance encounter leads to friendship and love

Binding 13 is the first book of the Boys of Tommen series by Chole Walsh. Johnny Kavanagh lives and breathes rugby. It has been his main focus until he met her. An unfortunate accident puts Johnny face to face with Shannon Lynch, the new girl on campus, and he is captivated. Shy and hiding physical and emotional damage, all Shannon wants is to be invisible. Coming from a horrifying situation at a previous school, where she was bullied and tortured, she is desperate for as much peace and quiet that she can get. He doesn’t know why but Johnny feels protective of Shannon and is determined that her experience at Tommen College is better for her. Despite dealing with his own pressures and needing to keep his eyes on the ultimate prize, but, Johnny can’t stay away from the girl with the sad, soulful eyes. What starts as a complicated friendship turns into an undeniable attraction, can Johnny and Shannon overcome the obstacles in their path? 

I was introduced to Binding 13 through TikTok and I was intrigued. While I am not a fan of rugby, I was drawn to the story of Johnny and Shannon. Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks who find friendship, love and the reality of the real world around them. Based in Ireland, Binding 13 is a stark look into the world of rugby, teenage love and heartbreak. Once I started this story, I could not put it down. This book has it all. It is real, gritty and heartbreaking. It had humor and banter. It has tense and tender moments with tears and smiles. My heart broke for Shannon and I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her, to save her. I loved Johnny’s character and his connection with Shannon. Word of warning: it is written in the Irish teen vernacular with heavy foul language. I highly, highly recommend Binding 13 and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. 

Binding 13 is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle: friendship, healing and finding home again

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle by Annie Rains is a story of friendship, healing and finally finding home again. Ten years ago, Melody Palmer left her hometown of Trove Isle after a tragic accident. Now she returns when she learns she has inherited her great aunt’s thrift shop, Hidden Treasures. There she discovers a charm bracelet that was lost so many years ago. A bracelet she shared with her sister, Alyssa, and her two best friends, Liz and Bri. While Melody fled, Liz stayed behind, working in her parents’ bakery, putting her dreams aside. For Bri, the consequences of that tragic accident led her on the road to self-destruction and a prison term. As she is set to be released, can Trove Isle feel like home again? Can Melody, Liz and Bri find peace about the past and look to a brighter future?

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with an adult twist, The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle is a story of friendship, healing and resilience. The story runs the gambit of emotions from anger to grief to love and tears. I loved the characters of Melody, Liz and Bri who were all relatable and worthy to cheer for as they dealt with the moment that changed their lives forever. I also loved the secondary characters of Rose, Liz’s little sister, Matt, Liz’s love interest, and Christopher, Melody’s love interest. The romance is subtle and did not overpower the story of the three friends. Overall, I loved this story and devoured it quickly. If you love strong female characters, a small town setting with a story of healing, forgiveness and friendship, I highly recommend The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle. 

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Moment in Time: one night can change the course of one's life and friendships

Moment in Time by Suzanne Redfearn is a follow-up to In An Instant (2020). It’s been eight years since the tragic events which changed Maureen “Mo” Kaminski and Chloe Miller’s lives. Now in their mid-twenties, they share an apartment in San Francisco with their roommate, Hazel. Life seems to be relatively normal as they both work through the challenges of adulthood and career. Suddenly, one night when Hazel ends up in the hospital after being raped, their lives are again turned upside down. When the suspected perpetrator turns up drugged and beaten and Hazel has disappeared, the mystery of what happened that night becomes the forefront of their lives. Mo and Chloe are desperate to find out what happened to their friend and bring her home. Despite being familiar with tragedy, Mo and Chloe will find themselves tested personally as well as their friendship. Will their commitment to their friend, finding the truth and seeking justice bring them closer together? Will they be driven apart for good? 

I read In An Instant a couple years ago and loved it. When Moment in Time was suggested for me, I grabbed it and couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately, something felt off about the story. I’m not sure what it was but I was bored and confused. While the subject matter needs to be taken seriously, I found myself not caring about Mo and Chloe as they searched for their friend and discovered what happened that night. At one point, one of the characters decides to get revenge on a cop for not taking the rape report seriously and then is shocked when she is arrested for it. Seriously?!?!? There were also too many plot holes and inconsistencies that just didn’t add up. Moment in Time just doesn’t have the same emotional impact that In An Instant did. It wasn’t as gripping and emotional as I expected. Overall, I did not enjoy Moment in Time. Despite my enjoyment and recommendation for In An Instant, I cannot recommend Moment in Time. 

Moment in Time is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Change of Heart: love is found in the most unexpected places

Change of Heart is a Seashell Cottage book by Judith Keim. Emerson “Em” Jordan always dreamed of a Valentine’s Day wedding. She believed her boyfriend would be proposing soon and she couldn’t wait. But she is blindsided when he suddenly breaks up with her, leaving her wallowing in what could have been. At the suggestion of her sister, Em spends ten days at the Seashell Cottage with Davin Gerard, a family friend who has no interest in her or any other woman as he’d rather concentrate on building his pediatric medical practice. Em doesn’t mind as she is there to regroup and not get romantically involved. She is focusing on achieving other dreams and a friendship is all she accepts. But as their friendship grows, she realizes that Devin may be the one for her. With their lives seemingly going in different directions, would it be possible? Will a new dream take the place of another? 

Change of Heart is a very sweet romance with a theme that great loves always start as friends. It was a fast paced and engaging read as I finished it in one day. I was not able to put it down. I enjoyed Em and Devin and their cast of supporting characters. I loved that they weren’t looking for a romance despite their obvious attraction to each other. My favorite quote from the story is “It wasn’t the wedding that counted; it was the man you chose to marry.” So very true! One of the things I enjoy with Judith Keim’s Seashell Cottage series is that the books do not need to be read in order. The only thing really connecting the stories is a cottage on the Gulf of Florida. I like the idea that a rental, a temporary home, has so many lasting stories to tell of the people who have passed through its doors. I highly recommend Change of Heart. 

Change of Heart is available in eBook and audiobook

A Colorful Life: friendship, love and finding strength in life's twists and turns

A Colorful Life by Melissa Storm is a story of friendship, love, adventure and finding the strength to move forward. Life has been one disappointment after another for Daly English. She locks herself in her art studio, focusing on her art school portfolio rather than dealing with the hurt. However, fate is going to give her no choice but to face them. Three separate times, she comes face to face with a handsome stranger, Akash “Kashi” Malhorta, refuses to walk away from Daly and forces her to face the losses she has had and open herself to love and trust again. Their whirlwind romance takes them from her drab Midwest hometown to the bold and colorful country of India. Will Daly continue to live in the background of life? Will her journey teach her to live and love despite life’s disappointments and tragedies? 

A Colorful Life was a hard book to read. Daly was a hard character to like. While I sympathized with her grief and struggles, I felt she was very childish in many aspects even toward the end. The story itself seemed to be lacking something. The conflicts were too quick. At one point, as Kashi and Daly are flying to India, he reveals that he isn’t going to introduce her as his girlfriend and, of course, Daly is upset; however, she accepts this condition too quickly. Yes, they were already halfway around the world but to say “I don’t like it but ok” was just odd to me. Overall, it was a hard book to enjoy. There was so much going on and at the same time nothing really. It wasn’t a bad story, it just wasn’t the book I was expecting. 

A Colorful Life is available in paperback and eBook

Between Earth and Sky: friendship, betrayal and the sacrifices made in order to belong

Between Earth and Sky by Amanda Skenandore is a tragic story that intersects the white and Native American culture when a young girl learns about friendship, betrayal and the sacrifices made in order to belong. One morning in Philadelphia in 1906, Alma Mitchell reads a newspaper headline that shakes her to her core and brings to the surface a past she kept hidden. A federal agent was killed and Harry Muskrat, or Asku as Alma knew him, is the prime suspect. Asku was once the most promising student at the Stover School, a “savage-taming” boarding school that was run by her father. The school was created to assimilate the children of neighboring reservations. Assimilation at the cost of everything they've known: their language, customs, and their very names. Alma knows the boy she knew would never commit murder but doesn’t recognize the man he had become: an outcast in the white world and a ghost in his own. Stewart, her lawyer husband, reluctantly agrees to help defend Asku. Will they be able to successfully defend Asku? What will happen when Alma finally must reveal the secrets she hides? 

Between Earth and Sky is told between alternating timelines between Alma’s childhood and the present. It is a beautifully complex story that tells a haunting and yet true period of American History. While there were some motives that were altruistic, others were determined to kill the Indian in the man. It is a story that will break your heart as you read the harsh treatment that was done to ensure the Indian cultures were erased. In some cases, they have succeeded as many Indian languages have been lost to time while others are seeing a resurgence due to the careful preservations. It is a story about love, loss, justice and the journey toward understanding and atonement. The growth that Alma goes through from the beginning to the end of the book is difficult. At some points, I thought she would never truly see what her Native friends were trying to show her. I have read about the Indian boarding schools before and this book does an excellent job depicting the cruelty and harshness toward the native students. I enjoyed Between Earth and Sky and highly recommend it. 

Between Earth and Sky is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

 

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Come Home to Me: friendship and healing that forgiveness can bring

Come Home to Me by Liz Talley is a story of friendship and the healing that a deep heart-to-heart and forgiveness can bring. Summer Valentine returned to Moonlight, South Carolina, leaving behind her struggling music career in Nashville. Gone is the naïve wallflower who left years ago. Now with her 14-year-old son, David, Summer is a straightforward and no nonsense woman and ready to face the town that once drove her away. Summer has also returned so that her son can have a relationship with his father, Hunter “Hunt” McCroy. Someone else is back in Moonlight. Golden boy Rhett Bryan who is the talk of Hollywood especially after a tragic accident. He has come home, unsure what the next step is, he rekindles his friendship with Summer. When their relationship deepens, Summer must reveal the painful past she has been hiding. Will her revelation bring them closer or drive them apart again? 

Come Home to Me is a beautiful story with humor, tearful moments and hard topics with real to life conversations. Ms. Talley deals with the very complicated and sensitive issue of date rape and I believe she handles it beautiful. She details the societal perspectives, right or wrong, for both parties as well as a discussion on consent. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Summer and her relationships with Rhett and Hunt and even David. She is a strong woman who took the circumstances of her life and made a life. I thoroughly enjoyed Hunt’s story and his revelation about his own guilt and actions which drove Summer away. His apology was truly moving and I shed a few tears. Even Rhett’s own revelation and apology for his mistakes was incredibly moving and shows the powerful healing that forgiveness can bring. I highly recommend Come Home to Me. 

Come Home to Me is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Impossible to Forget: a story about friendship, family, and grief

Impossible to Forget by Imogen Clark is a story about friendship, family, grief and the strength to find your place in the world. Just as Romany Osborne turns eighteen, she loses her mother, Angie, to a sudden illness. As the only parent Romany has ever known, Angie wants to make sure her daughter has guidance as she finishes her last year of school before university. In a final letter, Angie has charged her four closest friends to help Romany, each charged with a different task including legal help, cultural education, travel and relationship advice. Three of them have known Angie since university and have remained friends for more than 30 years. Tiger is the perpetual nomad who hides his true identity. Leon is the shy and practical one with an untapped musical talent. Lastly, Maggie, the brilliant lawyer who has always had a set plan to follow. But the fourth guardian is a bit of a mystery. Hope has only known Angie for a few years. She and the others have no idea why she was included. What was the motivation behind this odd request? What could being Romany’s guardian possibly accomplish? 

I chose Impossible to Forget as my January pick from Amazon’s First Reads selection and I am so glad I did. Imogen Clark is a new author to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But from the opening chapter to the final page, this story had me hooked. I could not put it down as I read about the unusual friendship between these four people and Angie. There were many moments of laughter and deep heartfelt moments which left me in tears. At first, there were characters I wasn’t sure I would like but by the end of the book, it was hard to have one favorite character. One of my favorite moments is when Romany was horrified that her mother dared to fold the corner of her book. I laughed and cheered because that’s me! I loved that each character, filled with flaws, had moments of growth and personal revelations that it wasn’t too late for true happiness and to follow your heart instead of the sensible and logical path. I highly, highly recommend Impossible to Forget. It is a book that will fill you with hope and appreciation for those unusual friendships. 

Impossible to Forget is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Deconstructed: sometimes you need to tear apart to make something better

Deconstructed by Liz Talley is a story of tearing down to rebuild something better. Catherine “Cricket” Crosby is an antique store owner whose seemingly perfect life is about to turn upside down. After overhearing a gossipy conversation, she learns that the rumors about her husband Scott’s affair are true after all. She sets a plan into motion: hire a private investigator, find an attorney and, with the help of her assistant, make her husband pay. Ruby knows all too well how quickly life can change. Trying to leave her dicey past behind her, she is determined to build a better future by working for Cricket and establishing herself as a designer of deconstructed vintage haute couture. Cricket is determined to use her newfound sleuthing to find the truth, no matter how hurtful or dangerous it gets. Can Cricket repair the life she had or will tearing down and rebuilding lead to the life she always wanted? 

Deconstructed caught me by surprise. At first, I wasn’t sure I would like Cricket. She seems like a typical stuffy high society lady who doesn’t want to rock the boat. But as she digs deeper into her husband’s secrets, she dries her tears and feels the anger burn. She’s ready to rock the boat. She goes from uptight lady to the sassy Southern woman I have come to love in movies and books. I loved Ruby who helps Cricket embrace her inner woman scorned and helps her along with her plan as she recruits a couple of less than savory cousins. I laughed with them as they planned and plotted to make sure her husband Scott gets his comeuppance. I cheered alongside Cricket when she finally confronts Scott. Deconstructed is a great book with fun, relatable characters. It’s The First Wives Club (1996) meets Steel Magnolias (1989) with its sassiness, comedic moments and camaraderie between Cricket and Ruby. I highly recommend Deconstructed. 

Deconstructed will be available February 1, 2022 in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Adulting: a story of facing your demons for a second chance at life

Adulting by Liz Talley is a story about starting over and how it is never too late to get your life back on track. Self-destructive actress Chase London had one too many all-night benders, too many failed rehabs and a parole violation. Written off as a has-been, she is given one last chance...if Chase is willing. Olivia Han is a life coach who is devoted to Square One, her “adulting” boot camp therapy program. She decides to take Chase far away from the prying eyes of Hollywood and focus on her treatment. Together they travel to Olivia’s Northern California cabin where they discover it needs as much TLC as Chase does. As they work together to rehab the cabin, Chase discovers a safe place to come to her terms with her troubled past and face the demons she has been running from. At the same time, Olivia finds herself coming to terms with her own demons as she helps Chase learn the life skills she never had. 

Adulting is a story about life. The ups and downs. The great times and the darkest secrets that shape us. The book does come with a disclaimer that the story deals with substance abuse, depression, suicide, sexual abuse and rape. However, I don’t want the disclaimer to dissuade any readers from this story because it is a great story. Ms. Talley wonderfully deals with these subjects with seriousness and tenderness. Adulting is a story of second chances in life, love, and friendship. There are great moments of emotional revelation. Romantic moments that will make you sigh and smile with the occasional “Oh my!” There are even a few laugh out loud moments such as the stupid mistakes we make as we learn to do our own laundry and wash the dishes. There are many wonderful characters that help Chase and Olivia find the healing they truly needed. I wanted to reach through the book and give these women a big hug. This book exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Adulting! 

Adulting is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Wedding War: what happens when the children of two former friends get married?

The Wedding War by Liz Talley. Once upon a time, Melanie “Melly” Layton and Tennyson “Teeny” O’Rourke were inseparable, but their friendship was shattered when a deep secret, one they pinkie promised never to reveal, was exposed. They haven’t spoken for more than two decades and they were happy never to cross paths again. But fate would intervene. Melanie’s daughter, Emma, and Tennyson’s son, Andrew, would meet in college, fall in love and after graduation, announce their engagement. Now the two women must find a way to tolerate each other and play nice long enough to plan the wedding. But hurts still run deep and they clash from the start. From keeping it simple and traditional to extravagant and flashy, they find a way to argue about every detail. Adding to the drama of the wedding planning, life’s own complications add to the drama and forces Melanie and Tennyson to confront their past. With the wedding day fast approaching, can their friendship be renewed? 

The Wedding War is a story of family, friends, letting go and moving on. After a strong start, setting up childhood friendship, the story takes a strange turn. I wasn’t sure where the story was going or if I would like it. I couldn’t relate to Tennyson or Melanie. I found Melanie’s characterization as a stereotypical uptight, frumpy housewife insulting. And I didn’t care for all the designer name dropping when describing Tennyson. Okay we get it, Tennyson has money and she’s stylish. The beginning of the end and the ultimate end of their friendship was totally the fault of one rather than both having a hand in it. And one transgression would be very hard to forgive. Overall, I ended up enjoying the story, although I couldn’t relate to the woman and I didn’t get the laugh-out-loud moments that I was expecting. There was one moment I thought was hilarious. The second half of the book helps redeem the cringey first half. I’m glad I stuck with it and recommend The Wedding War. 

The Wedding War is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.