I did enjoy this book. It was well written and in places edge of your seat scary. While some characters, most of them, I didn't like there were some I did. Even though parts were unbelievable it was still very good. This author has a way of pulling you into her books and not letting you go until the very end. And what an ending. That part made me cry. It was perfect...

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-artist-of-blackberry-grange-by.html

To me this book started out kind of slow. I didn't have a hard time putting it down. It was good. It was very interesting. There are a couple of stories going on and finding how they relate was interesting. For the most part I was lost for a while. When it did pick up though I enjoyed it.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-amalfi-curse-by-sarah-penner.html

Five students at an esteemed college go missing. Right after another students body is found. Natasha Belov's body was found in a cave. Everyone assumed she was caught in the cave and drowned when the tide came in. But could it have been murder and could the five students who have gone missing be responsible. And where are these students now.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/parents-weekend-by-alex-finlay.html

This book was a delight to read. A light hearted story with some intense scenes along the way. I enjoyed it very much.

It's about two children who escape an orphanage where their older brother put them. Join a wagon train and take off to find their pa in Colorado.

A fun and heartfelt read.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/tough-luck-by-sandra-dallas.html

@sandradallas
@stmartinspress
@macmillan.audio

This was an excellent debut. A beautifully written story of such pain, hope, and love. Addiction, loss, love. There are some parts that made me weep. But overall it was just a great debut novel.

This is the story of the Bright family.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-bright-years-by-sarah-damoff.html

@sarahdamoff
@simonandschuster

This is a story about a woman, Alex Kelley, who is hired to ghost write a book about an orphanage. She uncovers a lot of things but this story does not go into great detail about the abuse that happened at Coram House. It's there but not in such detail that this book is hard to read. You know what happened by the testimonies of the grown kids who lived it. Who witnessed it. Who survived...

Seems I am alone with my thoughts about this book. I did not enjoy it. It was so repetitive aggravating for me. I'm sorry but to me it was just ok. Maybe awful. I honestly hate to write this kind of review. To me this was just not that good.

Gorgeous cover...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/such-good-mom-by-julia-spiro.html

@stmartinspress
@netgalley

A new to me author. I enjoyed this one but the ending was not good. It kind of left to much to the imagination.
Two sisters. One adopted. One jealous.
When Taylor comes to live with Rae and Cassie she has no idea what to expect. She's just a child and wants to see her birth mother more than anything. She has no idea what happened. Or what is to become of her.

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-french-honeymoon-by-anne-sophie.html

I found this story interesting. It had me a bit confused at times as it was kind of hard to keep the three main characters separated. All three are female and seem all about books and the library. The boxcar library. But still overall it was a good book. Kept me reading.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-boxcar-librarian-by-brianna-labuskes....

@brilabuskes
@williammorrowbooks

A favorite author of mine. This book is such a good one. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Catherine Ryan Hyde always gives you something to think about and makes you shed lots of tears. I've read so many of her books and will continue too.

There are a few characters that you will love. Each has a story.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/michael-without-apology-by-catherine.html

This was an unusual story. While I really enjoyed it for the most part I also found parts to be tedious. I didn‘t connect with any of the characters and to me it‘s important to do that. Overall though it was an ok book.

This is a heartbreaking story. But filled with so much heart and hope.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-fishermans-gift-by-julia-r-kelly.html

@juliakellywrites
@simonandschuster

This was one of the very best audios I have ever listened too. It had several narrators that did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. Making you feel the characters laughter and pain. They did such a good job of holding my interest throughout the whole story. I have to highly recommend you listen to this one....

An absolute must read...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/strangers-in-time-by-david-baldacci.html

I've read and honestly loved several of this author's books. Each is unique and held me captive throughout. This one is no different. This is a beautiful story filled with so many emotions. Love, betrayal, loss, new life, goodbyes, beginnings. Love lost and possibly found. So much emotion in this story set on and around Sable Island.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/all-our-beautiful-goodbyes-by-julianne.ht...

@juliannemaclean

This is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story of the holocaust. Set in Italy and told through a young woman named Lili‘s pov. She was so strong and resilient. Even when she thought she was weak she pressed on. Taking care of her best friend‘s small son. She also found love and after the war made a life with Thomas in the USA.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/one-good-thing-by-georgia-hunter.html

This book was great. The cover is gorgeous and fits perfectly. An edge of your seat story from start to finish.

This is a thriller/horror story. About a small town and it's children. I'll say right here: DON'T MESS WITH CHILDREN. Don't even look them in the eyes.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/nowhere-by-allison-gunn.html

@author_allison_gunn
@atriabooks @atriathrillers

This is my first book by this author. I did go get a copy of her previous one, The Girls In The Stilt House, after reading this one though.

Main characters: Nell, Evie, Hazel and Becca. There are a few more that play a big part in this story but these four will steal your heart by the end of this book.

This is a must read...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-river-knows-your-name-by-kelly.html

Wow! Just WOW! I thought this was such a good book. A thriller that kept me guessing and turning the pages. It had everything I love about a good thriller.

One of the best thrillers I've read this year.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/i-would-die-for-you-by-sandie-jones.html

@sandiejones_author
@stmartinspress
@macmillan.audio

This was a wonderful book. Emily Carpenter has done a great job of pulling me in and making my day. This is such a good book. From start to finish. Not holds barred.
An edge of your seat thriller. I loved it...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/gothictown-by-emily-carpenter.html

@emily.d.c
@kensingtonbooks

Book 6 in The Lost Daughters series and each seems better than the last.

A story of a girl and boy who loved each other for many years. They were in their early teens when they feel head over heels in love even though they both knew her mother would never allow it. Would never approve.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-spanish-daughter-by-soraya-m-lane.htm...

This author has never disappointed me. Her books always take me away from the crazy things going on. To an adventure that I keep close to my heart. This book was exceptional. The prose was beautiful and the fact that it is about a girl searching for her mother who was an author... Well that just makes it that much better.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-story-she-left-behind-by-patti.html

@pattichenry
@atriabooks

I will be reading more by this author. This book is so good. One I highly recommend. It has so much in it. Ups and downs. Laughter and tears. History and more. And it has the TITANIC... Of course that is the part that makes this story come together.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-lost-passenger-by-frances-quinn.html

@franquinn21
@randomhouse

This is an incredibly beautiful story. It's also an incredibly sad story. It is filled with so much. So many lives lived. So many deaths. From so many years. Year after year of loving and dying. And not knowing why. Not remembering what happened to start it all. But when that final answer comes your jaw will drop. It will floor you. Unpend your heart.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/our-infinite-fates-by-laura-steven.html

This is the story of what happened in 1921 in a town in Oklahoma. What happened to a group of people who were doing nothing to warrant such hostility and hatred. Simply because of the color of their skin. That is a fact. A very sad fact.
I highly recommend this one.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-filling-station-by-vanessa-miller.htm...

@authorvanessamiller

I read and loved Looking For Jane. The debut novel by this same author. This is a brilliantly told story. The way this author weaves the two main characters together is nothing short of perfection.

I loved this line in this story:
““Audrey nodded warily. “Yes. My name is Audrey. Audrey James.““ It was just the perfect sentence at the time. I

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-secret-history-of-audrey-james-by.htm...

This is McAllisters best novel yet. While I figured out all of the twists it did not take away from the story at all. I had to keep going to see that I was right. I rooted for the couples to end up just like they did. This was such a good book.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/famous-last-words-by-gillian-mcallister.h...

@gillianmauthor
@williammorrowbooks

This was such a beautiful story. Told with so much feeling and heartfelt love. Even in the worst parts it‘s beautiful. Perfection in a book is rare but this one truly is perfection.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/broken-country-by-clare-leslie-hall.html?...

@clarelesliehall
@simonbooks

This author writes books that really pull you in and pull at your heartstrings. They usually have all the feels included too. This one is no different and is possibly her best to date. I thoroughly enjoyed “Somebody's Daughter“ and “This Is Not How It Ends.“ I look forward to reading quite a few more.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-are-made-of-stars-by-rochelle-b.html

@rochellebweinstein
@lakeunionauthors

This is one of those books that is pure pleasure to read. A modern day witch story. A love story. A story about finding a way to remove a curse. I really loved how the story played out too. It was just adorable and perfect.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-circle-of-uncommon-witches-by-paige.htm...

Another heartfelt story by one of my favorite authors. Alison Ragsdale captures your heart with her stories. They are always so realistic that I wonder if she has lived it or knows someone who has. Her books always make me shed tons of tears.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-husbands-child-by-alison-ragsdale.html

@alisonragsdalewrites
@bookouture

A very enduring story. This one captures a human's ability to learn how to give. How to be kind in the face of hardships. To be compassionate even when they fight it will all they have. To grow in ways they didn't think possible.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/a-tiny-piece-of-blue-by-charlotte.html

@charlottewhitney65
@shewritespress

This has been one of my favorite series. This author gave exactly what I wanted from start to finish. There is a lot going one so be prepared.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/rebel-witch-by-kristen-ciccarelli.html

@kristenciccarelli
@stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks
@bookofthemonth

This was such a beautiful story. A debut novel about a subject that is not talked about very much. A story that will draw you in and have you cringing at things that happened. A story about slavery in Alabama in the 1800s right before the Civil War.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/junie-by-erin-crosby-eckstine.html

I absolutely loved this book. It will be in my top books for 2025 if we survive the year.

A story about the Egyptian digs back in. 1936 then skip ahead to 1978. You meet some strong young women and a couple of older ones in this intriguing story of love, loss, and found. It's so good.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-stolen-queen-by-fiona-davis.html

Fiona Davis

Barbara Davis is one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to a new book. She knows how to capture your heart. Your fears. Your everything. Whether it is a thriller or a love story she pulls you in and keeps your attention. This book is so good. So emotional and filled with so much. Another winner for sure...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/every-precious-and-fragile-thing-by.html

@bdavisauthor
@lakeunionauthors

This one is breathtaking. It's prose is beautiful and enchanting in ways. Sad and abusive in other ways. The love story is one that will sweep you away. The struggles will captivate you. Hold you hostage. Make you cringe. And in so many ways give you hope.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/isola-by-allegra-goodman.html

This story was so good. So deep and light at the same time. How to deal with a lost love... Forty years later.

Full five star review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/a-forty-year-kiss-by-nickolas-butler.html

This was one of the best books ever. Grab it. Devour it.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/come-fly-with-me-by-camille-di-maio.html

What if you could go back in time. Would you? If so, who would you want to meet? I'm not sure who I would want to see and talk too. Maybe a relative I read about in a genealogy report that I read about. He was called “The Lost Poet Of Georgia.“ A long time ago. That would be kind of cool, right? But at the same time it would be scary…

Review :https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-vanishing-of-josephine-reynolds-by.html

David Baldacci is an excellent author. His books pull you in and keep you until the very end. This one is no exception. It is a very emotional story. A time when things were not good in this country. When people thought it was ok to hate. Kind of like now. Back in 1968 there was a hope for change. Now in 2025 there are those that want to go back to the 60s.

review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/a-calamity-of-souls-by-david-baldacci.htm...

Outstanding WW2 novel. This book will grab you and keep you until the very last word.

Full review as part of a blog tour coming tomorrow....

@pamjenoff
@harlequinbooks @harlequin_audio
@parkrowbooks

I read some very good books in January..

@jocallaghankat
@robertdugoni
@jennifercoburnbooks
@kristinkovalwriter
@authormariebenedict
@kay_bratt_author
@rebeccayarros
@dkenitz
@alicewriterland
@costanzacasati
@melissalarsenauthor

I didn't care for the first half. Yes the first 50%. The second was great. It made the first better. I almost DNFed this book because I don't like to read other people's messages or text in books but held out. It was great for the last half. I figured out a lot of it but not the killer.

Full review:
https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/cross-my-heart-by-megan-collins.html

This book was so well researched and takes you inside a Jewish ghetto camp where humans were treated like animals. Starved and many horrors facing them daily. It's heartbreaking to know these things happened and very possibly could happen again.

Full five star review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-girls-of-glimmer-factory-by.html

I believe this is a debut novel. It‘s one you don‘t want to miss. It has so many feelings and will give you such deep emotions. In parts I got goosebumps and sure shed lots of tears. But the overall story is so good. It made me look at some things in a whole new way. Especially where kids who have committed crimes are concerned.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/penitence-by-kristin-koval.html?m=1

Excellent addition to the other books in the series. It has a lot going on and the love story of Violet and Xaden. Also much more.
If you enjoy fantasy you should read this series. The ending blew me away. Now the wait begins for the next book.....

I received an arc from Brilliance Audio along with an ebook from Lake Union. The narrator was spectacular. He brought the emotions out in this story. Made you feel all of the characters laughs and tears. The pain. The sadness. And the love between the main two characters. It was narratorated to perfection.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/hold-strong-by-robert-dugoni.html

I received an audio from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved this audio. Both narrators were so good. Both portrayed the characters supremely. Both gave me exactly what I expected in a great audio.

I loved it. This was my BOTM choice and I'm very happy with it.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/beautiful-ugly-by-alice-feeney.html

Babylonia

This was such a good book. I highly recommend it.
You follow a woman who started out with nothing but went on to rule an empire. She married a king. She had his child. She became queen....

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/babylonia-by-constanza-casati.html

@costanzacasati
@sourcebooks @bookmarked
#rbmedia

I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. A new to me author and a very exciting book. It was filled with a lot of action and some edge of your seat tension.

While I would not call this a book about fixing up houses or a girl truly gone missing, it is about a tv personality who remodels homes and a woman who takes her twins and leaves.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-perfect-home-by-daniel-kenitz.html

Not your typical Christmas story. I'm so glad though. This book is excellent. It kept me turning the pages.

Another wonderful story in the Hart's Ridge series.

Full Review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/01/so-this-is-christmas-by-kay-bratt.html

@kay_bratt_author