I love to read, recommend books and open the world of reading to others. I tutor to ensure that the next generation of readers will know the joys of a good book because their reading skills have improved. I am an avid reader, especially of mysteries and fiction. I believe that two of the world's greatest inventions were the public library and eyeglasses!
Welcome back Phryne and Dot! A new novel with these beloved characters is always cause for rejoicing. This time, Phryne and Dot make their way to a spa for recovering WWI soldiers. It may sound like a peaceful retreat but series regulars know that mayhem is sure to follow, along with a resolution by the end of the novel.
Readers who enjoy fashion, wit and spas are sure to love this latest entry in the series. After reading this, many will look for other titles by Ms. Greenwood or they may want to watch the Miss Fisher mysteries on Acorn TV. Whichever way readers choose to encounter Phryne, they can’t go wrong.
Also note the gorgeous cover of this novel. The artwork is magnificent and Miss Fisher shines.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Amy Bloom is not writing about fictional characters in this heartbreaking, moving and extremely well written work. Instead the novelist tells a story that is as impactful as any of those that came from her imagination. In some ways, she asks her readers to think about the unthinable.
This book relates what happened when the author’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Brian knew that he wanted to end his life. As this is not currently possible in most of the U.S., he wanted to go to Dignitas in Switzerland where assisted suicide is a choice. Bloom recounts her and Brian’s experiences, the emotional impact of the decision, the story of their relationship and the poignancy of their last days. Readers will also spend time with the author as she begins to experience her life without Brian.
Many will be touched by this book. I think that it will resonate and also open some hearts and minds.
This is an unforgettable book. Publishers Weekly states: “The result is a stunning portrayal of how love can reveal itself in life’s most difficult moments.” I definitely agree.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
This book was published in 2022.
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, Time, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, USA Today, Real Simple, Prospect (UK), She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
I’ll just put it out there: I loved this book. It is a novel for anyone who has ever felt the power of books and the delight in reading a special series (there is a fictional one in this novel) and for those who know how important relationships can be. It is part whimsy, part fairy tale, part game and all a page turner with heart. There are characters that I loved and wanted good lives for, most especially Lucy and Christopher who both suffered difficult childhoods. Lucy is in her twenties as the story opens while Christopher is seven. Lucy deeply wants to be Christopher’s parent as he very much needs one.
Those who enjoy stories about reclusive authors, puzzles and the power of dreams and wishes will find this to be a most satisfying read. Travel to Clock Island, try to solve a riddle and watch what happens.
Four adults who were childhood fans of author Jack will come to Clock Island. Lucy will also get to know Hugo, an illustrator and wing man for Jack. What will happen when they meet?
Read this fairy tale for adults. I wonder how many people you will then urge to read it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
#TheWishingGame #NetGalley
Pub date: 30 May 2023
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Meg Shaffer’s beautiful novel is part Willy Wonka, part magical realism, and wholly moving. It broke my heart and patched it over and reminded me that even as an adult, if you look hard enough, you can find the child still inside you.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey
“Our list of must-read fiction books wouldn’t be complete withouta novel that reminds readers of the power books hold between their pages. Meg Shaffer’s The Wishing Game may not contain any magic—this is a whimsical tale, but it’s grounded in reality—yet there’s something magical about the book.”—Reader’s Digest, in “Best Fiction Books of 2023”
I have been a huge fan of this series since the first, In the Bleak Midwinter, was published over twenty years ago. In that time, I have become very attached to Clare, Russ, Hadley, Keven and so many other folks who live in Millers Kill. Watching them grow and seeing their relationships evolve has been such a pleasure.
That said, this time I do feel that I need to issue a warning. In these pages, readers will find racism against Asians and Native Americans, anti-Semitism, domestic violence and many unlikable people. Know that all will be okay in the end but that this book may not be for everyone. It is the kind of read where one has to trust the author in order to keep going.
I admire Spencer Fleming for taking on incredibly relevant issues in these pages. The way that they juxtapose with the Christmas season backdrop shows both the worst and the most hopeful that there is.
This is another very strong entry in a strong series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books for this title All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 18 November 2025
Post first published on 22 December 2025
Description:
from the publisher
THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
“Spencer-Fleming, in her most masterly turn yet, mixes heart-stopping action with deep empathy for her characters.” – Sarah Weinman, New York Times Book Review New York Times bestseller Julia Spencer-Fleming returns to her beloved Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series
It’s Christmas time in Millers Kill, and Reverend Clare Fergusson and her husband Russ van Alstyne – newly resigned from his position as chief of police – plan to enjoy it with their baby boy. On their list: visiting Santa, decorating the tree, and attending the church Christmas pageant. But when a beloved holiday parade is crashed by white supremacists, Clare and Russ find themselves sucked into a parallel world of militias, machinations and murder.
Meanwhile, single mom and officer Hadley Knox has her hands full juggling her kids and her police work. She doesn’t want to worry about her former partner – and sometimes lover – Kevin Flynn, but when he takes leave from the Syracuse PD and disappears, she can’t help her growing panic that something has gone very wrong. Novice lawyer Joy Zhào is keeping secrets from her superiors at the state Attorney General’s Office. She knows they wouldn’t condone her off-the-books investigation, but she’s convinced a threatening alt-right conspiracy is brewing – and catching the perpetrators could jump start her career.
NYS Forest Ranger Paul Terrance is looking for his uncle, a veteran of the park service gone inexplicably missing. He doesn’t think much of an ex-cop and out-of-town officer showing up in his patch of the woods, but he’s heard the disturbing rumors of dangerous men in the mountains.
In New York Times Julia Spencer-Fleming’s latest novel, as Christmas approaches, these five people will discover their suspicions hang on a single twisting thread, leading to the forbidding High Peaks of the Adirondacks. As the December days shorten and the nights grow long, a disparate group of would-be heroes need to unwind a murderous plot before time runs out.
From the Publisher:
About the Author:
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING is the New York Times bestselling author of One Was a Soldier, and an Agatha, Anthony, Dilys, Barry, Macavity, and Gumshoe Award winner. She studied acting and history at Ithaca College and received her J.D. at the University of Maine School of Law. Her books have been shortlisted for the Edgar, Nero Wolfe, and Romantic Times RC awards. Julia lives in a 190-year-old farmhouse in southern Maine.-
Fresh Water for Flowers is the first book by Valerie Perrin to be published in English. The writer’s native language is French.
Fresh Water is a beautiful book that is told in a unique voice. Protagonist, Violette, was abandoned by her mother and grew up in care. She was a loner until she becomes involved with Phillipe Toussaint. Together they have a child but Phillipe eventually disappears.
Phillipe and Violette worked at a railroad crossing although Violette did most of the work; they later go on to become cemetery keepers. Violette remains there after Phillipe leaves.
The story is told from Violette’s point of view. She tells it all, her hard times, her hopes, the things that she learned and taught herself, the people she sees and cares for and those with whom she works. All this within the background of the cemetery and many sayings from gravestones.
This novel is filled with humanity. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Armitage’s debut is quite assured and demonstrates a firm knowledge and grasp of British royalty. Some of these characters and circumstances skate pretty close to events that happened, and to real people. For example, Lexi’s mother will certainly be compared to Diana and there are many other connections for the reader.
The story itself is engaging. While the book is about a royal, a non-royal will, I think, relate to what happens when life suddenly changes and important decisions have to be made. What Lexi will choose is a major plot point.
Lexi has turned her back on England as the story begins. She is in Australia and in her second year of a medical residency when she is urgently called back due to a horrific tragedy. This puts Lexi back in contact with her family and prior life.
Readers come to understand Lexi, her family and events in a story that takes place in the present and past. The pages turn as readers share her life in this long, just over 400 page, novel.
Reese Witherspoon chose this for her book club. I can understand why.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 02 December 2025
Post first published on 4 February 2026
Description:
from the publisher
An irresistible modern fairy tale about a British princess who must decide between her duty to her family—or to her own heart.
A Reese’s Book Club Pick!
It’s New Year’s Day in Australia and the life Lexi Villiers has carefully built is working out nicely: she’s in the second year of her medical residency, she lives on a beautiful farm with her two best friends Finn and Jack, and she’s about to finally become more-than-friendly with Jack—when a helicopter abruptly lands.
Out steps her grandmother’s right-hand-man, with the tragic news that her father and older brother have been killed in a skiing accident. Lexi’s grandmother happens to be the Queen of England, and in addition to the shock and grief, Lexi must now accept the reality that she is suddenly next in line for the throne—a role she has publicly disavowed.
Returning to London as the heir apparent Princess Alexandrina, Lexi is greeted by a skeptical public not ready to forgive her defection, a grieving sister-in-law harboring an explosive secret, and a scheming uncle determined to claim the throne himself.
Her recent life—and Jack—grow ever more distant as she feels the tug of tradition, of love for her grandmother, and of obligation. When her grandmother grants her one year to decide, Lexi must choose her own destiny: will it be determined by an accident of birth—or by love?
“There’s nothing better than snuggling up with a great story this time of year. The December Reese’s Book Club pick, The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage, has everything I love in a holiday read—royals, romance, family twists, and a woman finding her own path. Can’t wait for you to dive in.” —Reese Witherspoon
“One of the best books I’ve read all year.” —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress
From the Publisher:
Editorial reviews:
“Tiaras, titles, and titillating royals abound in this engrossing debut from Armitage…The Heir Apparent is filled with secrets, scandals, and a few unexpected twists, including a forbidden and beautiful love story…Armitage’s writing is spectacular, with rich dialogue and descriptions, a vibrant depiction of the burden of duty versus personal freedom, and unique insights into royal life.”―Booklist (starred review)
“Feels and reads like an adult version of The Princess Diaries…With Armitage’s expertise, she has crafted a novel about an exiled royal that is so believable that it could have actually happened…A sharply written novel rich with insight into the lives of royal families, as well as a beautifully crafted story that will have you waiting for Armitage’s next release.”―BookTrib
“In Armitage’s perceptive debut, the British monarchy navigates a crisis following the death of two heirs…A standout portrayal of the royals and the tabloid culture surrounding them.”―Publishers Weekly
“The author’s deep knowledge of all things royal adds realism and texture to this entertaining debut.”―Kirkus Reviews
Inspired by everyone’s favorite red, furry friend Elmo, this charming collection of witty musings and insights celebrates friendship, feelings, meaningful moments of connection—and the power of laughing together along the way.
Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?
Some days are sunny. Others feel cloudy. Some inspire—and others call for a snack, a nap, and a hug.
Inspired by Elmo’s playful perspective, this heartfelt collection explores friendship, emotions, joyful highs, tougher moments, and everything in between. Through relatable observations and gentle reminders, readers are encouraged to slow down, reach out, and appreciate the little things that brighten even the dullest days.
Filled with humor, warmth, and plenty of personality, this uplifting gift book offers reassurance, encouragement, and a simple reminder that checking in with ourselves and others can be as easy as asking one small but powerful question.
Sesame Street and associated characters, trademarks, and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. 2026 Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved.
A GIFT BOOK FOR ALL AGES: Full of meaningful messages and humorously honest observations, this book is the perfect gift for new grads, parents, and anyone who values meaningful connections with others.
FULL OF HEART AND HUMOR: Drawing inspiration from Elmo’s endearing voice and playful outlook on life, this book is sure to bring a smile to every reader. Perfect for revisiting again and again as a comforting pick-me-up or as a cheerful source of joy.
COZY, COMFORTING SELF-CARE:In a fast-paced world, this compact collection is perfect to curl up with when you need a reminder to slow down, check in with those we care about, and reflect on all of life’s learning moments.
NOSTALGIC JOY: Photographs of beloved furry friends are sure to transport readers back to fond childhood memories while also celebrating the joy Sesame Street continues to bring today across the world.
Perfect for:
Sesame Street fans of all ages
Grown-ups interested in self-care and uplifting messages
Millennials and GenX seeking nostalgic comfort
Fans of affirmation cards and books, and irresistible humor
Gifting year-round, including graduations, baby showers, birthdays, and holidays
My thoughts:
I think that almost everyone who knows Elmo loves him. He is cute, compassionate and wise. In this title, readers can find uplifting advice from this cheerful red friend.
Here are cute Sesame Street photos and lots of short and encouraging sayings. This could make a nice gift for someone who wants to feel better. It is very sweet.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Macavity Award is named for Macavity: The Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot. The Macavity Awards are nominated by members of Mystery Readers International, subscribers to Mystery Readers Journal, and friends of MRI. The Macavity Awards will be presented this fall.
I am equally intrigued to read some of the other titles that are featured here. For instance, I see that there is a new book by Sara Paretsky.
For each title, readers can see the cover, learn about the book and read a generous excerpt. There is information on the authors at the end.
This title is so easy to recommend. Mystery fans, pick it up. It is free.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.
Description:
from the publisher
Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? The twenty-second edition of The Minotaur Sampler compiles the beginnings of 6 can’t-miss novels publishing Fall 2026 for free and easy sampling.
The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is an irresistible debut that introduces the Crown’s newest undercover operatives with dashes of mystery, romance, and academia.
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger is a twisty thriller following two sisters who are the sole survivors of a plane crash, but eleven years later on the anniversary of the crash, one of the sisters goes missing.
Mystic and the Missing Girl follows a reluctant psychic who can read tarot cards and get impressions from objects. Her aunt has always been blamed for a cold case in her small town, but when Drew is enlisted to help, she has the chance to clear her aunt’s name.
Murder on 34th Street is a delightful mystery where a dead body is found inside Macy’s, leading up to the iconic parade, and a determined assistant seeks justice and to save the store’s reputation from ruin.
Cherry follows three women who become entangled in a dangerous web of obsession and infatuation.
Bad Company follows a woman who receives an anonymous package threatening to reveal her identity as a former CIA agent and must figure out who is behind this and what their goal is before it’s too late.
2026 SHAMUS AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED The Shamus Awards are given annually by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellent work in the Private Eye genre. The winners will be announced at the Opening Ceremonies of Bouchercon Calgary on October 22, 2026.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 