REVIEW: “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” by Peter Hedges

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" by Peter Hedges Paperback, 319 pages Published Nov. 1, 1999, by Simon Schuster (first published Sept. 1, 1991) My synopsis The best answer to the question posed in the title of this book might be, "What's Not Eating Gilbert Grape?" The title character is working a menial job at a dying mom-and-pop grocery …

REVIEW: “The Book Charmer (Dove Pond #1)” by Karen Hawkins

"The Book Charmer (Dove Pond #1)" by Karen Hawkins Paperback, 368 pages Published July 30, 2019, by Gallery Books My synopsis " ... just do yourself a favor; if Sarah Dove offers you a book, take it. You'll regret it if you don't." Dove Pond, N.C., is no ordinary small Southern town. Among other miracles, it's …

REVIEW: “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein 321 pages, paperback First published May 13, 2008, by Harper Collins My synopsis Enzo is basically a human -- a very insightful human -- in a dog's body. He loves auto racing as much as, if not more than, his master Denny. We follow Enzo …

REVIEW: “Things You Save in a Fire” by Katherine Center

"Things You Save in a Fire" by Katherine Center Hardcover, 320 pages Slated for publication Aug. 13, 2019, by St. Martin's Press ISBN: 1250047323 My synopsis Firefighter Cassie Hanwell has a successful career in Texas that takes a detour when her semi-estranged mother in Massachusetts calls to ask for her help. Cassie must fight more …

Top 5 Tuesday: Debut novels

Hello, friends! Happy Tuesday once again! I don't know if anyone has noticed, but my blog has been a bit sparse again recently. My mom was in town last week and I continue struggling through "Les Miserables" for a #MiserablesMay group read. It is now June; WHAT AM I DOING?! Ugh. Oh, well. At least …

Top 5 Tuesday: Sequels I need to get to

Happy Tuesday! I had so much fun doing Top 5 Tuesday last week that I decided to try it again. This weekly book blogging "meme" is hosted by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm. This week's theme is all about sequels I want to read. I'm not a huge series reader, but I enjoy a good …

REVIEW: “Heart Land” by Kimberly Stuart

"Heart Land" by Kimberly Stuart 311 pages Published July 17, 2018, by Howard Books ISBN: 1501180568  My review Can you really go home again? That's what Grace Kleren is hoping after her fashion career in New York goes bust and she is forced to move back in with her grandmother in Iowa. It's been a …

BLOG TOUR: “The Goodbye Café (Hudson Sisters #3)” by Mariah Stewart — Review

I have returned to bring you my stop on the blog tour for "The Goodbye Café," the final installment in Mariah Stewart's Hudson Sisters trilogy.  This blog tour is hosted by Simon and Schuster's Gallery Books.Many thanks to Hannah Payne, associate publicist for Gallery Books, for inviting me to participate!THE GOODBYE CAFÉThe Hudson Sisters series, …

BLOG TOUR (REVIEW): “Other Breakable Things” by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

Yes, I know I mentioned earlier this week that I'm on hiatus, but I still wanted to keep my promise I'd made to participate in the blog tour for "Other Breakable Things," a moving YA novel by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood. "Other Breakable Things" by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood 290 pages (Kindle Edition), Entangled Teen …

Review: “And Then There Was Me” by Sadeqa Johnson

"And Then There Was Me" by Sadeqa Johnson 304 pages, Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Press Published April 11, 2017 ISBN: 1250074169 Bea is a surrogate mother, carrying more than her husband's cousin's child. She's also carrying devastating secrets. She is bulimic*, and her charismatic, handsome husband Lonnie is extremely unfaithful. When Bea's closest friend Awilda betrays her, …