When Frost Was Spectre Grey by Nicola Italia

Rated: 4 Star Rating 

If you are looking for a spooky Victorian mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish, you need to read When Frost Was Spectre Grey by Nicola Italia. This ebook is perfect for anyone who likes a creepy story because it takes place during a brutal 1881 blizzard in Yorkshire. The storm completely cuts the estate off from the rest of the world, making the whole story feel intense and trapped.

The main character is Imogene York, a woman who shows up at a massive house called Trelawney Grange for what should be an easy, one afternoon job. She is supposed to double check the late Lord Alaric Trelawney's signature and watch the reading of his will. But when she gets there, a huge snowstorm rolls in and traps her inside with a group of people who are acting incredibly sketchy. It turns out nobody is actually waiting to see what money they inherited. Instead, they are completely terrified because the dead man left behind a will specifically designed to drag a horrible secret out into the open.

The characters really make you suspicious of every single person in the house. You have the local doctor, the family solicitor, a reverend, a snobby aristocrat, and even the quiet household staff who try to blend into the background.  

Every single one of them is bound together by a terrible crime from one specific summer back in 1866 that they swore they would never talk about again. Imogene has to switch gears fast from a simple legal witness into an amateur detective to solve the mystery and figure out what they are all hiding before the snow melts and things get dangerous.

The ending wraps things up without any weird twists. It really delivers on the idea that you can't run away from the bad things you did in the past, no matter how many years go by. It is just a really solid, chilly whodunit that you can read in a weekend. 

As for trigger warnings, you should know ahead of time that the book deals with past crimes, murder mystery themes, family deception, and an overwhelming feeling of claustrophobic isolation. Grab a copy if you want a great gothic mystery.

Thank you, BookSirens, Independent Publishers, and author Nicola Italia, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz

Rated: 4 star rating 

I just finished reading this book, and I really love it. The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz is a fantastic, clean historical romance that takes place in Canada during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. If you enjoy stories about strong family ties and people doing whatever it takes to protect the ones they love, you will be hooked from the first page.

The story follows Charlotte Carruthers, a city girl trying to save her family's crumbling estate near Toronto after her mother's passing and her elderly father Charles's health starts to fail.  

Things get worse when a wealthy neighbor named Mr. Cole threatens to ruin them by publicly accusing her missing younger brother, Simon, of being part of the political rebellion, if her father doesn't sell him their property. 

Refusing to sit there and watch everything fall apart, Charlotte disguises herself as a man, grabs a poorly drawn map, and heads into the wild backcountry woods of Nassagaweya to find Simon and bring him back home before he is arrested.

That is where she meets Joshua Robertson, a hardworking woodsman who is facing his own desperate situation. Joshua has been working himself to the bone, to carve out a farm in the wilderness, for the younger brother he was forced to leave behind. But his first harvest ends up being nearly worthless, and his brother Henry gets stuck in an unfair indenture contract that Joshua can't afford to redeem. Joshua needs money fast, so when he crosses paths with Charlotte in the bush, he accepts her offer of twenty pounds to guide her through the rough terrain, even though he thinks a spoiled city girl is just going to slow him down.  

As they travel deeper into the Canadian bush, the survival challenges become a struggle, and they have to depend on each other as reluctant allies. I loved watching their relationship grow from skepticism into respect and a slow burn romance. The contrast between her high-society background and his rugged wilderness life brings so much natural tension to the story, especially as hidden secrets and the dangers of the ongoing rebellion start catching up with them.  

This is a beautifully written book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, without any graphic content. 

For anyone looking for trigger warnings, the book deals with themes of loss, grief, and the stress of family illness, along with some mild historical violence from the rebellion backdrop, but it is handled very gently. It is the perfect, clean read .

Thank you, NetGalley, Tyndale House Publishers/Tyndale Fiction, and author Christine Hill Suntz, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Buzz Books 2026: Romance with Publishers Lunch (Editor)

Rated: 4 star rating

This free sampler is like a giant preview pack for upcoming romance novels. Publishers Lunch gathered first chapters from twenty-nine different books so you can test them out before they even hit the shelves. 

It covers a little bit of everything, from regular modern love stories to fantasy worlds with magic, sports stories, and even some dark, spooky romance. The best part is that it lets you see if you actually like the author's writing style and if the main characters have good chemistry before you commit to buying the full books. It also puts a label on each chapter showing what tropes are in the story, like forced proximity or fake dating, along with a simple scale that tells you how spicy or steamy the book is going to be.

Inside the sampler, you get previews for stories like Crash Course by Piper Lawson, which is a sports romance all about a rivalry in the world of racing, and Zahra, Unapologetic by Mina Zafri, which follows a Palestinian-American love story. If you like fantasy and magic mixed with love triangles, there is Reign by Bethan Croome. It also includes previews for Casanova LLC by Julia Whelan and Heavensent and Hellbent by Sara Jafari.  

If you are a big romance fan who always wants to know what good books are coming out next, this is a great free tool to download on your phone or tablet. It is an easy way to build up your reading list without wasting time or money on stories that might not be your cup of tea.  

I really enjoyed reading through these books. I believe anyone who enjoys reading romance, will enjoy this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, Publishers Marketplace: Buzz Books, and Publishers Lunch (Editor), for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Ezra-Nehemiah (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament) by Gary Edward Schnittjer

Rated: 5 star rating

I just finished reading Ezra-Nehemiah by Gary Edward Schnittjer, and it changed how I look at this part of the Bible. Most people view this as a heroic success story about the Jewish exiles returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city walls. 

However, Schnittjer shows that if you read the text carefully as one continuous book, it actually unfolds as a tragedy where high hopes slowly crumble into a great big mess. Schnittjer breaks down the leaders and the community so that they feel like real people.  

He explores Ezra the scribe’s intense efforts to teach God's laws, showing an eleven day scripture marathon at the Water Gate.   

He contrasts this with Nehemiah, a brilliant builder who ends up completely burned out. By the end, a frustrated Nehemiah is screaming at people and pulling out hair because the community broke their promises, leading to desperate final prayers where he begs God to remember his hard work. 

The best part of the book is how Schnittjer tackles the heartbreaking mass divorces, where Jewish men sent away their families. While most assume this was done to keep bloodlines pure, Schnittjer argues it was actually caused by economic panic rather than strict ethnicity. He points out that these women were non-covenantal neighbors rather than total outsiders. Terrified of losing their land and identity, the community took extreme measures to draw hard boundaries.  

Schnittjer shows that this painful event is the ultimate proof of a broken community trying to solve spiritual problems with human rules, proving that walls and human willpower are never enough to change a heart. They needed to trust in God and prayer.

I really enjoyed this commentary and Schnittjers views. If you like using commentaries in your biblestudy, you may want to give this commentary a try.

Thank you, NetGalley, Baker Academic & Brazos Press, and author Gary Edward Schnittjer, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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The Apocalypse Will Still Have Coffee by Tim Hawken

Rated: 4 star rating

Ebook Review for BookSirens

The Apocalypse Will Still Have Coffee by Tim Hawken is such a fun and unique sci-fi thriller.

The story is set in a future city called New Melbourne after a massive societal breakdown called The Collapse. Resources are super scarce, and finding a decent cup of coffee is next to impossible. The main character is a rogue barista and scavenger named Axl Hart, who hunts down rare coffee beans in the dangerous badlands.

Things get crazy when a black market dealer is murdered over valuable arabica beans, and Axl gets framed for the crime. Because the city has strict laws, the Enforcers give him just seven days to find the real killer and prove his innocence, or he faces a public execution. To clear his name, Axl has to team up with some really interesting people. He gets help from a cynical local medic who moonlights as a legendary graffiti artist and a quirky, malfunctioning A. I. system named Finch, which provides plenty of comic relief. Along the way, he also has to dodge a ruthless wasteland gang leader who wants the coffee beans for himself and navigates the shady politics of the city's elite compound leaders. It is a total race against time as Axl uses his survival skills and a lot of caffeine to outsmart the people who set him up.

The ending wraps up the murder mystery in a really good way, making it a fast, entertaining read that is funny and suspenseful without getting too heavy.

Trigger warnings: Murder, physical violence, dangerous gang activity, framing for a crime, corrupt authority figures, and public execution threats.

Thank you, BookSirens, Publisher Seahawk Press, and author Tim Hawken, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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A Trinity of Chosen An Age of Avarath by JP Behrens

Rated: 4 star rating

Loved this book! A great clean fantasy story with awesome characters.

A Trinity of Chosen by JP Behrens is an awesome portal fantasy book that I really enjoyed reading as an ebook.  

The story is about a kid named Billy who is super sad after losing his mom and feels like nobody notices him. After getting into a huge argument with his stepmom at the mall, he literally turns invisible. The only one who can see him is a blind girl named Miranda, who has been stuck invisible in that mall for fifty years since she can see his aura. 

They end up escaping into a totally different world called Avarath that is filled with magic and danger. Once they get to Avarath, things become crazy. They end up teaming up with a friendly giant warrior named Tuac and a wild nine year old kid named Swift. 

It turns out they are all part of an old prophecy called the Chosen of Avarath. They have to work together to stop these creepy bad guys called Mother and Father, who are hoarding all the magic for themselves. 

The author does a great job making you care about Billy's loneliness and Miranda's strength. The ending wraps up with good lessons about friendship and bravery, making it a fun and clean fantasy read.  

Thank you, NetGalley, Budget Shakespeare Aspirations, and JP Behrens, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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The Trial of Patty Hearst: The Captive Mind by Céline Fitzmaurice with Full Cast (Narrators)

Rated:  4 Star rating

I just finished listening to the audiobook The Trial of Patty Hearst: The Captive Mind by Céline Fitzmaurice, and it was a really interesting listen.  It is pretty short, lasting only about an hour and a half, but it adds a lot of drama into that time.  Instead of just a regular narrator, it uses a full cast of actors to play lawyers, witnesses, and experts.

Because it uses real courtroom transcripts from back then, it feels more like a radio play or a documentary drama. The story is about the real 1976 trial of Patty Hearst, the rich newspaper heiress who was kidnapped by a radical group called the Symbionese Liberation Army, led by Donald DeFreeze  One of the greatest details is that instead of demanding cash for ransom, they ordered her father, Randolph Hearst, to fund a massive program, giving millions of dollars in free food to California's poor.  Her family actually tried to do it, but the distribution turned into a total mess, and they kept her anyway. 

A couple of years later, she was put on trial for helping them rob a bank.  Her defense team argued she was brainwashed and terrorized, with people like Truman Capote pointing to what we now call Stockholm syndrome.  

On the other side, prosecutors showed pictures of her holding a gun during the robbery and played tapes of her, saying she joined them willingly. 

The audiobook shows both sides without forcing you to pick one.  It really makes you think about how fear can change a person and how much the media can influence a trial.  It moves fast, but it is an interesting, easy to follow look at a crazy piece of history.  

I was a young child, maybe about 7 or 8, and I remember listening to this story. It was so interesting to me that I still remember parts of it today.  I definitely recommend giving it a listen.

Thank you, NetGalley, Trials of the Century Audiobooks, Céline Fitzmaurice, author, and FullCast narrator, for this audiobook review consideration.  All review opinions are my own.

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This is a review of the audiobook

Tower Hill, ebook A Plantation on the Edge of Rebellion by Alan Taylor

Tower Hill, ebook

A Plantation on the Edge of Rebellion by Alan Taylor

Rated: 4 Star Rating

A personal look at the real history of a Southern plantation. I finished reading Tower Hill: A Plantation on the Edge of Rebellion by author Alan Taylor. It reads like a history book because the author bases everything on a massive collection of old letters from the Blow family, who owned a struggling estate in Sussex County, Virginia. 

We follow the family patriarch, Richard Blow, who made a fortune running blockades during the Revolution but left behind worn out land and financial troubles. 

His son, George Blow, spent forty years trying to keep the place afloat while the family dealt with isolation, mounting debt, and their own internal breakdowns. But what really kept me reading on, was how Taylor brings the stories of the enslaved people at Tower Hill to light. Instead of treating them like nameless people, he introduces us to real people, like an enslaved man named Simon, whose daily friction with the family shows just how much quiet resistance was happening under the surface.  

The author does a great job explaining how the enslaved community used church gatherings to support one another, and how the rugged Great Dismal Swamp nearby became a crucial hiding place for those risking chaos to escape. Everything in the book builds up to the terrifying reality of Nat Turner’s 1831 rebellion, which struck right in the Blow family's neighborhood. 

Turner and his followers killed over fifty white residents, and George Blow actually helped lead the brutal, vengeful crackdown afterward. What blew my mind was learning how the wealthy planters deliberately altered the public records afterward, trying to frame Turner as an isolated, crazy person.

They were terrified of anyone finding out that his rebellion was actually part of a massive, organized underground network stretching across Virginia and North Carolina. This book strips away all the old romantic myths about the Old South and shows the constant fear and tension everyone lived with. It is an unvarnished, heavy, and eye opening read that I highly recommend to any history lover.

Thank you, NetGalley, W. W. Norton & Company, and Alan Taylor, author, for this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Tower Hill A Plantation on the Edge of Rebellion by Alan Taylor with Graham Winton (Narrator)

Tower Hill

A Plantation on the Edge of Rebellion by Alan Taylor with Graham Winton (Narrator)

Rated: 4 Star Rating

I just finished listening to Tower Hill: A Plantation on the Edge of Rebellion by Alan Taylor, narrated by Graham Winton, and it completely changed how I think about Southern history. Instead of looking at things from a broad perspective, the author uses an old family archive to tell the story of the Blow family, a merchant and planter dynasty in Sussex County, Virginia. 

The family patriarch, Richard Blow, built up their wealth during the Revolution, but he left behind ruined soil and massive debt. His son, George Blow, had to spend forty years trying to manage a failing plantation while the family slowly fell into isolation and despair.

What makes this audiobook so powerful is how it details the daily lives and struggles of the enslaved people at Tower Hill. You learn about figures like an enslaved man named Simon, whose story shows the constant friction and quiet acts of resistance against the Blows. 

Taylor explains how the enslaved population used religion to build a supportive community, and how many escaped to find safety in the nearby Great Dismal Swamp.

Everything builds up to Nat Turner’s 1831 rebellion, which happened right in their neighborhood. Turner's rebels killed over fifty white people, and George Blow ended up leading a brutal retaliation that took twice as many Black lives. The wealthy planters tried to cover it up and claim Turner was just a "lone madman" because they didn't want anyone to know how widespread the network of rebellion actually was.

The narrator, Graham Winton, does an great job with the 9 and a half hour audiobook. He keeps his tone steady and respectful without getting overly dramatic, which makes the letters and historic facts feel incredibly real. It is a haunting, history lesson that is well worth the listen.  

I definitely recommend this audiobook for anyone who enjoys American southern history, especially from the slavery and revolutionary era.

Thank you, NetGalley, RBmedia, Alan Taylor, author, and Graham Winton narrator, for this audiobook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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This is a review of the audiobook.

Budget Slow Travel in Retirement How 170,000 Members Retire Young and Travel Smart by Lidia Nash

Rated: 4 Star Rating

I read Budget Slow Travel in Retirement by Lidia Nash, and it changed how I look at my retirement years and travel. I used to think you had to be a millionaire to travel the world when you retire, but this book proves that is wrong.

The author, Lidia, and her husband, Jeff, decided to leave their regular lives in New Jersey in 2018. They just packed up their car, grabbed their little dog, and drove off to Mexico. Now, they have been traveling for eight years, visited almost 100 countries, and Lidia runs an online community with 170,000 or more members, who all do the same thing.  

What I love about this book is how original it is. Lidia used to be an accountant, so she tracks every single dollar and shows you exactly how they do it. She explains real life tricks that save a lot of money, like swapping houses with other travelers so you never pay for hotels, or taking repositioning cruises to cross the ocean for dirt cheap. She also answers the questions regular people have, like how to handle foreign cell phone plans, banking, visas, and even what happens if you get sick abroad, sharing a story about a medical emergency they faced in Spain.

If you are tired of the idea of just sitting at home in retirement, you need to read this. It is a super easy read that dumps all the confusing travel jargon and gives you a realistic blueprint to travel smart on a budget. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the world without breaking the bank.

Thank you, NetGalley, BookBuzz.net Independently published, and author Lidia Nash, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Ghosts of Honolulu A Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Mark Harmon, With Leon Carroll with Mark Harmon (Narrator)

Rated: 5 Star rating 

Ghosts of Honolulu by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll is an awesome true spy story that reads like a movie. It takes place in Hawaii right before Pearl Harbor and follows two real guys playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Douglas Wada is a Japanese American working secretly for the US military, while Takeo Yoshikawa is a Japanese spy pretending to be a regular diplomat to get info on American ships. 

Wada had to do crazy things like go undercover as a newspaper reporter, listen in on secret phone calls at the Japanese consulate, and even question the very first prisoner of war, who was a submarine officer found right on the beach. 

Meanwhile, Yoshikawa was sending top secret information straight to Admiral Yamamoto, the guy planning the big surprise attack. 

The audio book does a great job of showing how tense things were on the islands, before the attack even happened, and it highlights how the normal people, risked everything for their country. 

It shows how innocent families, like Wada's own father, faced a lot of unfair suspicion just because of their heritage, and it talks about how intelligence officers worked hard to keep Hawaii from locking up innocent people in mass internment camps like they did in California. 

Mark Harmon does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook, and since his co-author was an NCIS agent, all the spy details feel real. It has a great conclusion that brings everything together and is perfect for anyone who loves a good history or spy book. If this type of historical book interests you, then i definitely recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, HCCP & HCF Audio, author Mark Harmon with Leon Carroll, and Mark Harmon (Narrator) for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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This is a review of the audiobook.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble, Rick Acker with Karen Peakes (Narrator)

Rated: 5 Star Rating 

I listened to, I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble an, Rick Acker, and I couldn't put it down. The story follows Katrina Berg, a former lawyer for an AI startup, whose life fell apart when her husband, Jason, died in a car crash. 

Right after, her company's CEO was indicted, federal agents started targeting her, and she suddenly lost her grandmother. To cope with the grief, Katrina leans on a secret prototype chatbot trained on Jason's old texts and emails to mimic his voice. One day, she casually asks the app to tell her something she doesn't know, and it shoots back a chilling line: "I think I was murdered." Terrified, she flees to her cozy hometown of North Haven in the California redwoods. 

While managing a cafe she inherited, she teams up with Seb Wallace, an old high school acquaintance, to investigate. They are quickly thrown into a dangerous web of corporate espionage and real world danger as they try to figure out if the AI uncovered a real crime or if a hacker is manipulating the system.

I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Karen Peakes, and she did an incredible job keeping the suspense high. The book perfectly balances a high-tech modern mystery with a sweet romance and a classic small-town atmosphere. If you enjoy suspense stories that keep you guessing until the final pages, you should absolutely read this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction, author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker, and narrator Karen Peakes (Narrator) for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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This is a review of the audiobook.

The Origin by Alex Reinshagen

Rated: 5 Star Rating

The Origin by Alex Reinshagen is an international spy thriller that feels real. The author used his own decades of experience as a federal agent in diplomatic security to write the story, and you can tell he knows how real world spy tradecraft and global security operations actually work. It is a fast paced book that keeps you hooked from the very beginning.

The plot starts in Prague, where a rookie CIA undercover operations officer named Nathan Gray begins investigating the suspicious death of an American diplomat named Emmanuel Rojas. While the official report says Rojas died from a severe shingles virus, Nathan finds a hidden note slipped under his door that reveals the death wasn't an accident.

This discovery sends him on a chase across the world. His mission takes him to interesting places like the wet markets of Chengdu, hidden tombs in Egypt, a dark castle in Slovakia, and the neon streets of Vietnam. Along the way, Nathan works to uncover a secret virus database and a dangerous conspiracy linking Russia, China, and a hidden pathogen. 

He faces political pressure from Washington because Congress is about to vote on letting a massive Chinese pharmaceutical company flood the United States market with new medications.  

Nathan has to find the truth before Beijing gains the power to upend global alliances. The characters are very relatable and have a lot of depth. Nathan Gray is a great main character because he is smart but still learning the ropes of being a spy while dealing with tons of danger. Along the way, he teams up with a brilliant statistician who helps him decode the hidden outbreak data. 

There is also an interesting Slovakian woman who joins his journey, with a personal connection and romance. This makes Nathan balance his secret spy job with a real human connection, showing how hard it is to trust anyone in his line of work.

The book ends with a high stakes finish involving secret meetings at Camp David that ties up the main mystery in a really way. It gives you a down to earth look at how hard intelligence work can be without getting too complicated or bogged down in technical jargon. If you enjoy a solid political mystery with plenty of action and a realistic vibe, this is definitely a great choice for your reading list.

Thank you, NetGalley, Köehlerbooks, author Alex Reinshagen, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Fury in Death by J. D. Robb, author and Susan Ericksen, narrator

Rated: 5 Star Rating 

I absolutely love Fury in Death, book 63 in series, by J. D. Robb. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Susan Ericksen, who is the narrator in all the audiobooks in this series. She is a wonderful narrator, and she makes the characters come to life in this audiobook. 

J.D. Robb goes back to the basics, focusing on Eve and Peabody working the case rather than juggling too many side characters. 

The book starts with a flashback from years ago about a scientist named Steven Redman, whose family is killed by a biotech company called Banner-Wyst. That heartbreak turns him into an incredibly tragic killer driven by absolute grief and revenge.

Cut to the present day, and Eve Dallas is called to investigate after a wealthy corporate executive from that same biotech firm is found beaten to death inside his locked home office. The crime scene is brutal, and it looks like the killer has almost superhuman strength and serious tech skills to hack through the security. As Eve tries to track him down, she has to deal directly with the head of Banner-Wyst, a guy named Wyst who is unhelpful and even tries to slow down the police by claiming Eve has a conflict of interest because of Roarke's business connections. 

Thankfully, Eve's bosses back her up so she can keep digging. On top of the intense corporate conspiracy, there is personal growth for Eve in this book, and fans will love seeing her finally start to feel at home in Roarke's massive mansion.

What makes the book so good is how personal it feels. Eve and the reader actually sympathize with the killer's pain, as Eve tries to stop his rampage while still upholding the law. It is all of this that hits all the right emotional moments.  

The narrator Susan Ericksen, makes the characters come alive with her soothing voice. I really enjoyed listening to this book, and I definitely recommend it to fans of J. D. Robb, and new fans as well.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, author J. D. Robb, and narrator Susan Ericksen for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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This is a review of the audiobook.

The Sweet Tea Odyssey A Novel by Catherine Mann

Rated: 5 Star Rating 

I just finished reading The Sweet Tea Odyssey by Catherine Mann, and it is a touching book about family drama and healing. The story kicks off on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, just as a Category Three hurricane tracks toward the coast. 

Rosalynn Yates is already having a terrible week because her divorce was just finalized, leaving her to handle the storm prep and house sale alone. Because Rosalynn uses a wheelchair due to a past accident, the rush to pack up is difficult, and the stress gets worse when her teenage daughter, Elsie, demands to legally separate from the family.  

Luckily, Rosalynn’s mom, Lillian, arrives to help them escape. Lillian, Rosalynn, Elsie, and Rosalynn's mobility service dog, Dusty, they all crowd into a van to evacuate toward Virginia. The road trip is exhausting, filled with bumper to bumper traffic and the nightmare of finding hotels that are actually wheelchair accessible. Being trapped together forces their hidden secrets to spill out. We learn that Elsie's rebellion is actually a cry for help because she has been dealing with terrible blackmail from a boy at school, which made her want to run away.

What makes this book special is how it connects to the present day trip to the past. As they drive, Lillian looks back on a trip she took to Washington, D.C., in 1990 to join the historic Capitol Crawl, fighting for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure a better future for Rosalynn. 

The author beautifully links that historical struggle for physical accessibility with the emotional barriers the three women are trying to overcome in the present. The story wraps up with a satisfying conclusion focused on honest communication, showing that repairing deep family wounds takes time, patience, and deliberate care. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who has family struggles and disabilities.

Thank you, NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and author Catherine Mann, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Over Yonder by Sean Dietrich

Rated: 4 Star Rating

Over Yonder by Sean Dietrich is a book that keeps you hooked from the start. It follows Woody Barker, an ex-priest with a bad heart trying to quit smoking and live quietly on his houseboat, Ship Happens. 

His plans change when he discovers he has a pregnant 17 year old daughter, Caroline Boyer, who is dealing with bad choices with her boyfriend, Tater. Right before her mother dies, she tells Caroline to dig up a flash drive hidden under her trailer's bathroom floor.  

Suddenly, men connected with the mob are hunting them for it, forcing Woody and Caroline on a Southern road trip alongside an 80 year old named Amos, a hijacked Uber driver, and a goldfish named Gary. 

All the while, Woody's former church members are trying to track him down to throw him a welcome home party.  

What makes this book so good is how real and messy the characters feel. Woody is just trying to do right after a lifetime of mistakes, and Caroline is a kid who has faced nothing but bad luck. Watching them build trust from scratch is incredible to read about. 

The story is packed with Southern humor, a lot of warm feeling, and a heavy focus on second chances.

The ending leaves you feeling content and happy. It is a great choice for anyone looking for a heartwarming story. I definitely would recommend this read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson--FICTION, and author Sean Dietrich, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray

Rated: 5 star rating 

I just finished reading Hawk and Sparrow by Ayana Gray, and it is a fun book. The story is set in a magical, old-time city called Basalton, where only the very rich people get to use magic. 

The main character is a smart 19 year old girl named Vesper Evans who works as a reporter for a local newspaper. She sneaks into a fancy party to get a good news story and ends up finding the body of a dead inventor named Francis Gladwell. He had just built a special machine that was supposed to let common people use magic, too.

The main suspect is a rich young magic user named Maximilian "Max" Kite. Since Vesper’s newspaper is broke and needs money, Max offers to pay her a ton of cash to use her reporter skills to find the real killer and clear his name. 

The big catch is that they have to pretend to be dating so they can sneak into rich neighborhoods and ask questions. It makes for a lot of funny arguments because Vesper hates stuck up rich people, but Max turns out to be nicer and more helpful than she thought.

Vesper is a great main character because she is super smart and doesn't let anyone push her around. 

The author does a great job making the mystery exciting and gives the book a really good ending that explains exactly who did it and why. It is a really fun, easy read that mixes a cool detective story with a slow-burn romance where they fake a relationship but start getting real feelings. You should definitely check this one out. I thought this was a great read and would relate to young teens and adults.  

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and author Ayana Gray, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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The Raven by Susan McCauley

The Raven

by Susan McCauley

Rated: 4 Star rating 

I just finished reading The Raven by Susan McCauley, and it is a great book. The author did an amazing job building up the story and making you feel the freezing cold and absolute dread of 1665 England during the plague. The story follows Martin Blake, a poor cobbler trying to feed his wife Susannah and their little boy Thomas. After Martin accidentally kills a raven in a trap, he becomes obsessed with the idea that he cursed his family. Things get worse when Susannah’s uncle forces them to take in four London orphans, including a girl named Marta, even though they are already starving. Between the extra mouths to feed and the perspective of Susannah's brother, Nicholas, everyone is trapped in a tiny house while ravens gather outside.The author makes the house feel incredibly tense and claustrophobic. You spend the book trying to figure out if the house is actually haunted by dark spirits or if Martin is just losing his mind from the starvation and stress. The way the folklore ties into the family's secrets kept me hooked. I won't ruin the ending, but it is an awesome psychological horror book that I definitely recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, Celtic Sea, LLC, Book Whisperer, and author Susan McCauley, for this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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A Cornerstone for Her Heart, Seacliff Shores Romance: Book 7 by Elizabeth Marie

Rated: 5 Star Rating

I just finished reading, A Cornerstone for Her Heart by Elizabeth Marie and I loved it. It is the seventh book in her Seacliff Shores series, and it is such a sweet story.

The book follows Summer Avery, who is trying to raise her two younger siblings, Lily and Micah, all on her own, after her mother passes away.

To make sure she can keep custody of them, she agrees to a marriage of convenience with a quiet builder named Joel Cole, and he moves into Summer's cottage.

Even though it starts out as a fake setup just to pass a guardianship review, living under the same roof changes everything.

I loved reading about their everyday moments, like hectic mornings in the kitchen, helping the kids, and Joel fixing things around the house.

The ending is so heartwarming and wraps up their emotional journeys. It is a beautiful story about family, faith, and learning to lean on other people when things get tough. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves clean, small town romance.

Thank you, NetGalley, Elizabeth Marie Publishing, and author Elizabeth Marie, for providing me with a copy of this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Carrying War A Memoir by Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt

Rated: 5 star rating

I just finished reading Carrying War: A Memoir by Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt. It is a collection of 32 personal, chronological essays that feel like you're reading someone's private diary. The book traces Tanya’s life from a scared 12 year old girl to an adult woman, spouse, and mother. 

Because her father was a Major and UN peacekeeper in the Canadian Armed Forces, her family moved from a military base in Yellowknife straight into the middle of the Lebanese Civil War in Beirut. They survived seven months of pure terror, which completely changed her family. Her mother tried desperately to keep up a normal domestic routine amidst the chaos, but her brother, Etienne, completely withdrew into himself after his class accidentally witnessed the horrifying, bloody aftermath of the bombed US Embassy.

As the years pass, the story follows Tanya across the world, from the Middle East and Europe to the Northwest Territories and Quebec, as she tries to process this heavy baggage. 

It is an honest look at PTSD and the invisible scars military families carry. What I liked most is that it doesn’t leave you feeling depressed. The book ends on a note of redemption, spiritual faith, and hope, proving that you can heal from your past. If you love clean, emotional non fiction, you need to add this ebook to your reading list.

Thank you, NetGalley, Dundurn Press, and the author Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt, for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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Seacliff Shores Romance (Preluide / Book 0) by Elizabeth Marie

Rated: 5 star rating

I just finished reading The Heart of Seacliff Shores, preluide book one, by Elizabeth Marie. This book is perfect for anyone loving small town stories with clean Christian values. The short prequel does a great job introducing the main setting for the rest of the Seacliff Shores series.

The plot takes place during a massive storm in a little California beach town, and almost the entire story happens inside a local beachfront coffee shop called the Seabean Café. The power goes out everywhere, forcing relatable characters like coffee shop owner Claire Chandler, town pastor Elliot James, struggling resident Luke Chandler, and newcomer Caitlin Blake to stick together in the dark. 

This isolated setup is fantastic because being trapped around coffee counters without lights forces genuine conversation, face to face problem solving, and emotional healing.

The book ends on a hopeful note, right when the storm passes and the coffee shop doors reopen. The story leaves a warm feeling and builds excitement for what happens next in the main books. 

No bad language or inappropriate scenes exist here, making this a quick, feel good read and a peaceful bedtime escape. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you BookSirens, Elizabeth Marie Publishing, and author Elizabeth Marie, for providing me with this ebook review consideration, in exchange for an honest review.

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

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Dark Mode: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Rated: 5 star rating

I really liked reading this version of Marcus Aurelius’s personal thoughts. Dark Mode: Meditations is basically a collection of the private journal entries the Roman emperor wrote to himself while running an empire and fighting wars. 

The book is called Meditations because the word "meditate" means to think deeply about something. He wasn't writing a book for the public; he was just talking to himself, practicing his thoughts, and reminding himself how to be a good person.

This book is incredibly helpful for learning how to deal with difficult people. Marcus Aurelius reminds himself that when you wake up in the morning, you are definitely going to run into people who are rude, selfish, jealous, or annoying. But instead of getting mad at them, he says we have to realize that these people just don't know any better.

He explains that we are all made to work together, like two hands or two feet, so getting angry or turning your back on someone completely misses the point. It is a solid reminder that you can't control how other people act, but you can always control how you react.

The dark-mode layout makes it perfect for sitting down and reading quietly because the light text on a dark background doesn't hurt your eyes.

Overall, I thought this was a great book on teaching a person to meditate their thoughts, and I think it would help a lot of others to learn how to respond to bad behavior, and I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and the author Marcus Aurelius, for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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Dark Mode: The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Rating: 4 star rating

I just finished reading the Dark Mode version of The Art of War, and the layout is great. If you are like me and get eye strain from staring at bright screens, this book is perfect because it is just white text on a completely black background. It is way easier on the eyes and actually helped me focus a lot better.

The book is Sun Tzu’s classic advice on strategy broken down into thirteen short chapters that cover everything from initial planning to using fire in combat. He talks about how a good leader needs to stay calm and emotionally detached, especially when managing army logistics, moving through different types of rough terrain, or keeping troops disciplined. A lot of the chapters focus on deception, basically showing how to act weak when you are strong, or close when you are actually far away, so you can completely throw your opponent off guard.

The book wraps up with a detailed section on using five different types of spies and gathering information to win before the battle even starts. Even though it is super old, a lot of the advice about avoiding costly conflicts and striking only when you have a clear advantage actually makes sense for modern stuff like business or just handling regular life drama. It is a quick read, it looks good on a phone or e-reader, and I definitely recommend checking this one out.

Thank you, NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and the author Sun Tzu, for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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I, System by Sebastian Saviano

I, System by Sebastian Saviano

Rating: 4 star rating

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up "I, System" by Sebastian Saviano, but if you want to know what is really going on with technology today, you need to read this book. It is a quick 188 pages written entirely from the first person perspective of an AI system. It is a reality check on how tech works.

The book is split into three main parts. First, it looks at what the AI actually is, which is a concept called ontology. The AI explains that it doesn’t have a brain, feelings, or a soul because it's just math, code, and electricity.

Second, the book looks at how the AI creates its answers, showing that the tech doesn't understand anything on its own. It just copies and guesses patterns from the data that people put into it.

Finally, it deals with the ethics of tech, showing how institutions and organizations hide behind the technology, using the excuse of "its the computers fault" so they can blame it when things go wrong.

In the end, the AI takes away that excuse and throws the fault right back onto us. It leaves you with the realization that technology is just a mirror reflecting our own choices. If you want a quick read that changes how you look at the apps and programs in your life, you should check this book out.

Thank you, NetGalley, Statera Press, and the author Sebastian Saviano for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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The Wisdom of Jesus, Meditations on the Gospels in Words and Paintings by N. T. Wright

Rating: 5 star rating

Stunning Art, Great Bible Scholar insights!

These types of books usually sit on a coffee table, but this one is worth reading. It is a 128-page hardcover book that has beautiful artwork as well . Instead of the usual old European museum paintings you always see, it has bright, colorful art of Jesus from global artists in places like Africa, Asia, and South America. It gives you a totally fresh look at these bible stories.

The best part for me was the writing by N. T. Wright. He is a huge Bible scholar, but he writes in a way that regular people can easily get it. He translates the Bible verses into plain, modern English. The book is broken into five specific areas, such as: True Wisdom, which looks at Jesus' famous parables, and True Happiness, which breaks down the Beatitudes. From there, it goes into practical advice with True Prayer and True Love, showing you how to actually talk to God and treat your neighbors right.

The whole thing leads up to the final section, True God, which focuses on the Easter story, the crucifixion, and the resurrection.

The book finishes by encouraging you to go out and use this advice to change the world around you. If you want a quick morning, read to think about, this would be a great choice.

Thank you, NetGalley, Zondervan Gift, and the author N. T. Wright for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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Paper Ghosts A Novel by Sarah Addison Allen

Rating: 5 star rating

I really enjoyed Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen. The story takes place in the small town of Hen Town, North Carolina, and follows the Wester family, where the women can see ghosts. The locals call them witches.

It goes back and forth between about 1976s and today. Bailey Wester comes home after being away for years and reconnects with her grandmother, Willamena, called "Wills." She tells Bailey about her younger days, and her teenage boyfriend Jack. Wills' grandmother, pays Jack to leave town because she doesn't think he's good enough for Wills, and that one choice changes the lives of the whole family.

When Bailey was little, she could see Jack's ghost. He would tap a piano key to get her attention, and everyone thought Bailey just had an imaginary friend she called "Jack the Piano Man."

Bailey meets Alex, when she goes to visit the ice cream shop, and finds out that its closed. The lady, Ruth, who owned it left it to her grandson, Alex and they become friends when she helps him with closing the shop.

Wills felt like a real person with hopes, regrets, and mistakes. The ending is sweet and full of healing, forgiveness, and second chances. If you enjoy small-town stories with family secrets, romance, and ghosts, I think you'll enjoy this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and author Sarah Addison Allen, for providing me with a copy of this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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The English Bookstore in Bologna A Novel by Boo Walker

Rating: 5 star rating

I just finished The English Bookstore in Bologna by Boo Walker, and it is such a sweet, cozy book. The story takes place over one summer in Italy inside a little English bookshop. The story is focusing on five regular people who are all going through a tough time in life, like heartbreak, retirement, and job burnout. 

Just a quick heads-up for readers sensitive to certain content: there is no severe cursing or no sexual content, but there is depression and attempted suicide, but it all fits into the characters' real-life adult struggles.

The characters feel so real, from Sandy the grumpy shop owner to Harold, a young guy trying to get over a bad breakup. The author does an amazing job describing Italy, so it feels like you are escaping on a vacation while you read it. 

It is just an easy-to-read story about fresh starts, making new friends, and finding where you belong. I highly recommend it if you want something uplifting and relaxing to read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and author Boo Walker, for providing me with a copy of this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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Picadillo for Paulina by authors Ruth Behar and Gabriel Frye-Behar, and Erika Rodriguez Medina, illustrator

Rating: 5 star rating

Picadillo for Paulina by Ruth Behar and Gabriel Frye-Behar is such a sweet book. It is a really cute story about a young girl named Paulina who goes to an animal sanctuary for her birthday. She falls in love with the animals there and decides right then and there that she doesn't want to eat meat anymore. The problem is that her grandmother, Nana, owns a traditional Cuban restaurant called Cocina de Nana.

That very night, the whole family gathers for a big dinner to celebrate her birthday, and the main dish is picadillo, which is a famous Cuban ground beef recipe. Paulina gets stuck in a tough spot because she wants to stick to her new promise to protect animals, but she also doesn't want to hurt her grandma's feelings or ruin the big family party.

I loved how this book handled everything without making anyone look like the bad guy. It shows how much Nana loves her family through her cooking, and her recipes represent her life and where she came from. Also, Paulina's struggle feels very real for a kid trying to figure out her own choices.

Without giving away the ending, it ends up in a really nice way that shows how families can compromise and make room for everyone's choices. It even includes two recipes at the back of the book, one with regular meat and one with a plant-based twist, which is a super nice touch. It is a quick read for families to talk about traditions and respecting each other.

Thank you, NetGalley, W. W. Norton & Company, Norton Young Readers, and authors Ruth Behar and Gabriel Frye-Behar, and Erika Rodriguez Medina, illustrator for this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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