Reading Round-Up

 

I hope all is well in your world. I was so sad to hear about Pope Francis. He was so loved and an inspiration to all. 

If you haven't seen Conclave, I highly recommend it.  The film does a beautiful job explaining the inner workings of electing a new pope.  

Easter Sunday turned out to be a gorgeous day.  We spent it at Lucy's house.   Our dear friends, Adorable Jonathan's parents, and Darling Will were also in attendance.

We volunteered to bring dessert, so the Mister made an Easter tree.  It was a big hit!

I hate to brag, but Lucy is a champion waver. 

She will wave to anyone or anything at any time.

Lucy is also a superstar when it comes to clapping.

Her new skills are done with precision and gusto.

Daddy's girl.

A pat on the shoulder to Lucy's Mom and Dad for knowing every word to every song of Miss Rachel's.

It's been a while since I have done a book post. I only included my four and five-star reads.

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 I was ten pages into My Friends when I realized that this novel would be one of my top reads of 2025. First of all, Fredrik Backman's writing is razor-sharp. The unique and clever storyline made this book almost impossible to put down. The characters were multifaceted and pulled at my heartstrings. I finished the book nearly 4 weeks ago, and I am still thinking about the sweet characters that came to life on the pages.  Fredrik Backman is a treasure.

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No one was as excited to see that Molly was back as I was. I adored the first two books, and The Maid's Secret is my favorite. In this novel, Molly discovers that a Faberge Egg inherited from her devoted grandmother is worth big bucks. This sparks a famous dynamic duo who are hosts on a TV show similar to Antiques Roadshow, to contact Molly and ask her to be the focus of one of their episodes. The story leads Molly to read her grandmother's diary, which was my favorite part. I loved learning all about her lovely grandmother's challenging life story. I finished the book with a tear and a smile.

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Fifty Fifty is another blockbuster for Steve Cavanagh. A wealthy man is murdered. Two of his polar opposite daughters are on trial for his murder. Eddie defends one daughter with the aid of Harry and his lovable sidekick. Kate, who strikes out on her own, defends the other one. Throw in a crooked, racist judge and a couple of additional murders, and you have the perfect Eddie Flynn page-turner. Do not walk - RUN to your favorite book vendor and buy Fifty Fifty. You can thank me later.

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I have read all of Julie Clark's books and was so excited to receive an advanced copy. She did not let me down. I was glued to this page-turner, which centers around family secrets and two murders. As with Clark's signature style, there are ample twists and turns. I highly recommend The Ghostwriter to readers who appreciate family stories, family secrets, well-developed storylines, and a clever plot.

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Annabelle has an ideal life.  A fulfilling career as a social media marketing specialist, a loving husband who also happens to be a doctor, and two beautiful daughters.  Annabelle begins to have vivid dreams predicting the future.  The thought of having members of her family leave the house terrifies her.  What is prompting her dreams? I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

 

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 I adore Lisa Jewell's writing. Martha and Nina are in love with the same man.  They don't know about each other.  It sounds like an old storyline, but Jewell's take is fresh and new.  The characters were well-defined.  Al/Nick was one I loved to hate. I could not put this book down.  Lisa Jewell is an absolute treasure! If you are looking for a book that will draw you in, Don't Let Him In is it.

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The Mister and I listen to audiobooks on our trips to Dallas.  This is an oldie but a goodie.  We felt like Carol was in the back seat, chatting it up about Lyle, Harvey, Tim, and Vickie. 

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 Pam Jenoff never lets me down. She is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Last Twilight in Paris is well-written and has multi-dimensional characters. Two storylines converge to form the mystery of a found bracelet, which weaves them together and leaves no loose threads. I highly recommend this beautiful story. The ending was superb.

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I highly recommend the audiobook version.  The actors bring the story to life.  This is a WWII novel with a captivating storyline told by multidimensional characters.  We meet fourteen-year-old Charlie, who ditches school to steal trinkets to sell so he can bring food to his devoted grandmother.  Meanwhile, he is introduced to Molly,  who is from a well-to-do family.  She recently got back from the countryside, where her parents sent her during the Blitz.  Oliver, a bookstore owner, takes an interest in the teens and gives them sage advice when needed.  This story is heartwarming and a treat to read.

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On the first day back from maternity leave, a woman gets a call from the police telling her that her seemingly normal husband has taken people hostage in a warehouse.

I could not put this down.

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I have read every book by Camille di Maio.  This story takes place in 1962 and revolves around two stewardesses.  Judy is escaping an abusive marriage, while Beverly wants to leave her controlling family. The author took me back to a time when flying was exciting and glamorous.    

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Congratulations, Jeneva Rose, for another razor-sharp domestic thriller. The Perfect Divorce is the perfect sequel to The Perfect Marriage. Poor Bob. He never stood a chance against Sarah's clever, devious ways. Dare I beg Ms. Rose for a sequel to this sequel?

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Whenever I hit a reading slump, I pick up a book written by Willow Rose. Her colorful characters and clever storylines pull me in by page two. My Husband's Mistress is the perfect example. A police detective, Darcy, finds herself in a precarious situation. She is brought in to investigate the murder of her husband's mistress's husband. The blood-covered mistress is found by her hubby's body. Of course, she claims innocence. Fasten your seatbelt... It's going to be a rocky ride. The narration is well done.

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Another writer I turn to when I'm in a reading slump is Freida McFadden.  Blake has it all - a prestigious job and a sweet live-in fiancé. His world is turned upside down when he is abruptly fired.  He thinks that he will have no problem finding a position, and yet he has yet to have a nibble.  Soon they are forced to bring in a boarder named Whitney.  It doesn't take long before odd things begin happening, and Blake blames Whitney.  What began as irritating soon became threatening.  The narration is top-notch! 

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This book kept me enraptured from take-off to landing. A woman boards a plane with her infant in her arms. She asks a seatmate to watch her baby while she goes to the restroom. When she gets back, there is no baby in the carrier.  This is a solid thriller that kept me guessing.

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Maggie became a war widow five years ago.  She was blessed with a beautiful little girl who never got to meet her Daddy.  She is also lucky to have wonderful in-laws and a brother-in-law, Josh, who has been pining for her since the day they met.  One day, Maggie takes her daughter to a fair and spots a young man who is the mirror image of her late husband. She then tells Josh, and the two team up to solve the mystery while falling in love.

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Oh, how I love a solid political thriller! Young, dashing Senator and smart, pretty NYT political reporter team up to clean up some dirty politics. This novel moved quickly, and I enjoyed both main characters. I look forward to more books by this debut author.

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A gifted seamstress, using an alias, heads to Hollywood and becomes the costume designer to the stars.  This is a fast read, but well worth your time.

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Larry is a campaign manager for a Maryland Senatorial candidate.  His wife, Beverly, finds him engaged in some funny business with his secretary when she pops in to bring him lunch. She leaves him and becomes the campaign manager for the opposing candidate.  This was a lot of fun to listen to.  Narration was superb!

   

Amazon

I have read all of A.R. Torre's books and enjoyed every one of them. A psychiatrist named Joe is married to a homicide detective. Both are attractive and seem to have it all. They made a conscious decision not to have children, which was a good decision once you learn more about them. Their love for one another is envied by all who know them. But as you may expect, they have secrets - ones that they share with each other and some that they do not. Nobody does it better than A.R. Torre.

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Cece goes ahead to Montana, where her wedding will take place at her future in-laws' lake house.  Her fiancé, Charlie, is a doctor and stays at their home due to work obligations. Charlie asks Garrett, his best friend, to officiate the ceremony and also show Cece around town. This meeting changes the trajectory of their lives. 

Do you have any recommendations for me? 

Leave them in the comments.