It's Monday! What Are You Reading? June 30, 2025 #IMWAYR

   

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Again with the weather. We have been having some beautiful thunderstorms (I love thunderstorms) and lots of rain. Saturday night was a little hairy though. We were under a tornado watch all night and there were actually tornados that touched down north of us. The videos from that storm are unbelievable. I haven't heard of anyone getting hurt, which is a blessing. We got quite a light show and rain last night, with it starting up again this morning. I know 'we need the rain' but we don't need flooding. 

I feel like I am in slow motion with my reading and not getting anywhere as far as finishing books. I usually have a print book going, as well as an e-book. And I always have an audiobook queued up for when I'm working around the house. Maybe I need to limit myself. Focus, Susan, focus! 

How about you? Do you ready multiple books at the same time?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Wayward Girls

by Susan Wiggs

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ July 15

The Lake Escape

by Jamie Day

eARC for review

Pub date ~ July 15

Falling for You Again

by Kerry Lonsdale

audiobook from NetGalley for review

Pub date ~ July 8

What I recently finished

Fog and Fury

(Haven Thriller #1)

Rachel Howzell Hall

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ July 1

What I am going to read next

The Ice Twins

by S.K. Tremayne

print from my TBR shelf for a challenge

Published January 2015

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Release Day! The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi ~ My Thoughts #TheSecretLibraryOfHannaReeves @christinenolfi

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Christine

on the release today of

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi

Historical Fiction, Mystery, 330 pages

Published June 24, 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

An antiques dealer and an enigmatic heiress embark on a revelatory friendship in a haunting and hopeful novel about family ties, secrets, and belonging by the bestselling author of A Heart Like Home.

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

  

My thoughts about The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The letter arrived in the afternoon. The message tucked inside the envelope should've gone unread until closing time, when we ushered out the last of our patrons milling around Holbrook & Kinneys two-story shop of antiques and collectibles."

Several things drew me to this book. First of all—the author, of course. I've loved and read almost all of Christine Nolfi's books. I always know her latest one is going to be my new favorite read. And then there is this amazing cover. Seriously? A library? Yes, please. And then lastly—what is the secret surrounding this said library? So many things I need to know. 

And I was not disappointed about any of the things that drew me to this book. This story is filled with wonderful, interesting characters and plenty of secrets, to be sure. The secret library is just the beginning. I loved how the history of the people and the place were woven together to get us to the present. 

I absolutely loved this story and I found myself completely immersed in the lives of Hanna and Clare. I didn't want their story to end. I highly recommend The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves and I can't wait to re-read it.

I received a copy of The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves from the author and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Christine Nolfi is the award-winning and bestselling author of seventeen novels. Look for her 2025 release, The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves.

Other works include her 2024 release A Heart Like Home; A Brighter Flame, selected by She Reads as a best book club pick and The Passing Storm, cited by Publishers Weekly as “Tautly plotted, expertly characterized, and genuinely riveting” and gold medal winner in general fiction, International Book Awards.

Earlier works include Second Chance Grill, highly recommended by The Midwest Book Review and Treasure Me, recognized by the Next Generation Indie Awards and Put Your Heart in a Book Awards. The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge was cited by The Midwest Book Review as “Poignant and powerful, as much a saga of learning to survive, heal, and forgive as it is a chilling crime story, unforgettable to the very end.”

A native of Ohio, Christine now resides in South Carolina with her husband and their crazy wheaten terrier, Lucy. For more information, visit www.christinenolfi.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Christine

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? June 23, 2025 #IMWAYR

     

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Whew! What a busy couple of weeks I've had. I feel like I haven't had much reading time and I really have been missing it. 

We had three close family birthdays in the last week, my two adult daughters (one of them was a milestone one with lots of celebrating) and my 11-yo grandson, which of course we had to make a big deal. I also attended a Pride parade and festival, a first for me, and that was very interesting and fun. I also had numerous lunches and dinners out to celebrate various thing and just to meet up with friends. So much fun to get together! But I'm ready to get back into my reading world again. 

The weather has been unbearable. We've had about 5 days in the upper 90s, hitting 100 a few days in a row. Now it's supposed to be back in the mid-to-upper 70s. I can handle that, enough of this hot stuff!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

The Lake Escape

by Jamie Day

eARC for review

Pub date ~ July 15

Fog and Fury

(Haven Thriller #1)

Rachel Howzell Hall

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ July 1

The Ice Twins

by S.K. Tremayne

print from my TBR shelf for a challenge

Published January 2015

What I recently finished

Lightning in a Mason Jar

by Catherine Mann

e-book from Amazon First Reads

Pub date ~ July 1

What I am going to read next

Wayward Girls

by Susan Wiggs

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ July 15

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways! 

New Release! Violet Is Blue by Anne Shaw Heinrich ~ My Thoughts #VioletIsBlue @svpublishing @booksforwardpr

Congratulations Anne

on the recent release of

Violet is Blue!

Violet is Blue by Anne Shaw Heinrich

(The Women of Paradise County #2)

Family Life Fiction, 292 pages

Published June 16, 2025 by Speaking Volumes LLC

Violet Sellers is blue, and for good reason. She’s repressing a shocking secret she won’t tell anyone, especially her comfortably middle-class parents. When she makes a new friend in school, Jules Marks, who lives on the “other side of the tracks” with his five little sisters, she is introduced to a dark world of self-abuse. 

As Violet learns about Jules and his shifty mother, Lee, she retreats further into her shell. Her parents, Gloria and Skip, are horrified and do their best to find out what happened to their adolescent daughter while bending over backward to keep the whole town from knowing their business. Jules has an aunt and uncle who know his desperate story, and they finally get a chance to free him and his sisters from a loveless world of poverty. 

Meanwhile, a spinster named Margaret Burns watches and waits. She knows all about redemption and she’s got a master plan up her sleeve. Margaret and most of the quirky characters in Violet is Blue eventually learn to dance between the worlds of the “haves” and the “have nots” in ways none of them ever anticipated.

Welcome to Book 2 in The Women of Paradise County Series.

My thoughts about Violet is Blue ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"If you are a stranger and you're lucky, this town will chew you up and spit you out. If you aren't lucky, you'll get stuck in its teeth or swallowed whole."

I fell in love with the quirky, dysfunctional characters I discovered in book one of this amazing series. And I was excited to go back and visit the community again. This story has plenty of drama and covers some hard topics but the strength and determination of the characters kept me going. 

Violet is Blue introduced my to a whole new set of characters while also throwing in visits from some of the people I met in the first book, God Bless the Child. I loved this overlap of storylines as I got a better feel for the whole town and its residents. 

While parts of this story were hard to read because of the trauma the characters were enduring, it was uplifting to see how the 'good guys' stepped up to help those in need. I will remember everyone from this story and I hope you fall in love with each of these unique characters like I did. 

Violet is Blue is book #2 in The Women of Paradise County series. I'm not sure if the author has more stories planned for the future but I sure hope so! I highly recommend it!

I received Violet is Blue from the publisher and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Book 1 of The Women of Paradise County series.

Read my thoughts here.

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About the author

Anne Shaw Heinrich has written features and marketing copy for newspapers, the health and nutrition industries, higher education and not-for-profit organizations. A graduate of Eureka college in Eureka, Illinois with an English degree, she previously served as the society and entertainment editor for a suburban Chicago newspaper. 

Besides reviewing local and national touring theater productions, she also interviewed celebrities such as Debbie Reynolds, Judy Collins, and Opera great, Beverly Sills. One of her essays, "Grandma's Big Secret" appeared in Marlo Thomas's book " The Right Words At The Right Time Volume 2: Your Turn!" ( Published by Atria Books, 2006). 

In addition to her consulting work, Anne wrote a monthly column called " Small Talk" in the small town newspaper of Dwight Illinois, where she formally lived with her husband and three children. Anne has also contributed a chapter in " Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Cancer Book." 

Anne is currently working in the fundraising/public relations department for City Academy. A private school that admits under privileged students on full scholarship. Anne also has two completed rough draft novels waiting to be published and several side projects are always in the works. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Anne

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

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Release Day! Return to Marsh Hollow by Ashley Farley ~ My Thoughts #ReturnToMarshHollow @AshleyWFarley

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Ashley

on release today of

Return to Marsh Hollow!

Return to Marsh Hollow by Ashley Farley

(Soul Seekers Series #1)

Southern Fiction, 256 pages

Published June 17, 2025, by AHF Publishing

A mother's death. A daughter’s reckoning. A family's darkest hour.

After her mother’s death, Lydia Meyer returns to Marsh Hollow, her family’s isolated estate on the Chesapeake Bay. She hasn’t been back in over two decades—not since she escaped the suffocating life her mother created. But when she arrives, strange things begin to surface. A vandalized house. A mysterious journal. A graveyard in the woods that haunts her dreams.

As Lydia begins to unravel the secrets buried within Marsh Hollow’s walls, long-suppressed memories rise to the surface—along with questions no one wants answered. What really happened to her father? Why did her sister disappear? And who is behind the powerful force determined to keep the truth hidden?

With the help of Blossom, a mysterious woman who appears just when Lydia needs her most, she must confront the past before it consumes her future. But some secrets don’t stay buried—and with every step closer to the truth, Lydia risks awakening something that was never meant to be found.

Can Lydia escape the shadow of her family’s legacy, or will uncovering the truth cost her everything?

My thoughts about Return to Marsh Hollow ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Tears well in my eyes as I raise my glass to toast the only true friends I've ever known."

Ashley has brought to life a well-loved character from another one of her series and has given her her own stories. Blossom is a caring, beautiful, warm women who is always there when you need her and knows exactly what you want and need. 

Lydia doesn't even know she needs help when she arrives back home to tie up loose ends so she can get on with her life. As secrets unfold and memories start to resurface, it all becomes more than she can handle. Blossom to the rescue, right on cue. I really wish there was a Blossom in my life!

I love Return to Marsh Hollow because, just like all of Ashley's stories, it is filled with wonderful, interesting characters, plenty of drama, and heartwarming emotions. I always feel so comfortable in her settings and stories. I want to spend as much time there as I can, surrounded by all the wonderful people. I'm so excited that Blossom will be featured in more stories. 

I highly recommend Return to Marsh Hollow and I'm looking forward to the next stories in this series.  

I received a copy of Return to Marsh Hollow from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Book #2 coming September 2nd!!

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About the author

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information, visit www.ashleyfarley.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Ashley

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!