This is one of the best books I have ever read. Definitely in the top ten that I have read for this year.
If you haven't read it, you should.

I enjoyed this book. It was a bit longer than necessary but still good. It kept me wanting to read to see where it was going. Though it was obviously going to a home where unwed mothers stay. Little did they know what awaited them. And you won't find out until the last third of the book. It's quite good but I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-ghost-woods-by-c-j-cooke.html

I thought this was a great read. Yes there were a few things that made my skin crawl but nothing to overt. It is a magical read in many ways. A tense read also. There is a lot going on and the main character, Harriet, is treated horribly by both her father and then her husband.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-peculiar-garden-of-harriet-hunt-by.ht...

@chelseaive
@bookmarked
@recordedbooks

This was a wonderful and very sad story. The narrators did an excellent job of bringing it to life. I listened to this one while reading it.

Bringing in the feelings. The agony and the love. The friendships and family. The losses. The pain of losing someone you love so deeply. Not who you expect.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/pictures-of-you-by-emma-grey.html

I so enjoyed this audio. It had a wonderful cast that depicted the characters perfectly. This is a very tense and thrilling book. I loved how each character had a chapter. Alternating between them until the very end.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-business-trip-by-jessie-garcia.html

This author is one of my very favorites. I've read both of her previous books and they were fantastic. This one is even better. The tear factor is 100%. It gives you a chuckle or three an you will fall in love with the main male character Kyle.

The main characters in this book are: Kyle, Wyatt, Casey, Danny and of course Star.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/what-happened-to-mccrays-by-tracey-lange....

This book was a bit disappointing. I may have had higher expectations but still. It was good but not great. I do look forward to the sequel and did enjoy this one after a bit past the halfway point. The audio was good. It just had way to much going on in the descriptions. It could have been much shorter. The female, Raeve, used to many descriptions and was childish in parts. I loved the narrators.

You Can't Hurt Me by Emma Cook
A new to me author. This book was intriguing. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it but I have to admit it was good. A bit out there and unbelievable but still good.

lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/you-...

@emmacook2000
Harlequin
Hanover Square Press

This was the perfect book for me now. It was so good and kept me turning pages. I laughed. I cried. I cringed. I had all the feels. Mostly I enjoyed all the laughter. It felt so good to laugh...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/desperate-deadly-widows-by-vanessa.html

How to begin this review. This was a perfect first novel. A debut to be so proud of. One that will take your breathe away. Make you shed tears and even give you a bit of hope in places. It also made me feel fear. Sadness. Some happiness. And possibly hope.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-sunflower-house-by-adriana-allegri.ht...

This is a very touching and loving family novel. The Brennans are a family that love one another no matter what. They have arguments and disagreements like most families but they are always there for each other.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/we-are-brennans-by-tracey-lange.html

This is my second book read by this author. It's a very touching and emotional story. The story of a young lady who loves the beauty of the sea. She was suppose to be a ballet dancer before the loss of her mother.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/dancing-with-dragons-by-jenni-ogden.html

@ogden.jenni
@seadragonpress
@netgalley

This book is an absolute must read. From start to finish it kept me turning the pages.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-very-bad-thing-by-j-t-ellison.html

J. T. Ellison

Noelle Salazar is fast becoming a favorite of mine. She writes books that hook you from the start and proceed to hold you captive. They pull at your heartstrings. Make you think. Give you hope.This is a love story and a WW2 story about two people who are fighting. One fighting for the betterment of the world. The other fighting to keep the soldiers alive.
Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-lies-we-leave-behind-by-noelle.html

A wonderful book about mother's and daughters. Though a tough one to read in places. It's a bit about an abusive relationship. A mother's desertion. Children growing up and doing good things. It's a story of hope and love. It has a lot going on and it was a pleasure to read but sure made me emotional in places.

Full review:
https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/like-mother-like-mother-by-susan-rieger.h...

Susan Rieger

As you follow Steinbeck and Reed through a tough case that involves children in a small Minnesota town you will be holding your breath. Cringing as the pieces start falling into place. It makes you feel like you are in the dark and dreary woods. Along the wet streets. In the motel as they are trying to get some rest. These two stop at nothing to get at the truth.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-reaping-by-jess-lourey.html

I enjoyed this book so much. This author took two characters, best friends, and made them real. Made me like them. Made them part of my life in a way. I rooted for them to find each other again. If only...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/catch-you-later-by-jessica-strawser.html

This whole series has been so good. I've enjoyed each book and this one was a great way for it to end. A very long book. A very long series. Filled with lots of action. Love. Sadness. Joy. Battles. Breath holding. Aww inspiring. Magic. Heartfelt friendships. It's had it all and more.
If you enjoy books about Faes, Witches, Kings and Queens, everyday people in their midst, then you will love this series and this book.

This author has done it again. I've read several of her books before and they were so good. Way different than this one but every bit as good. This is an edge of your seat story of what horrible things can be done. What some people do to children. What one man did to try and help. What another did in the name of justice. Or maybe didn't do....

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/two-good-men-by-s-e-redfearn.html

This is a debut novel about a girl gone missing. To me this book could have been so good. It had so much promise. But the author overdid some things. The descriptions were overdone.

There could have been more about the girl who actually went missing. More than what I read at the ending.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-undercurrent-by-sarah-sawyer.html

@zibbybookspublishing
@netgalley

This book was a gem to read. So different from the books I've been reading. It was a light, happy, read. One that I didn't want to put down. A book that many grandmothers may be able to connect with in ways. It was funny, serious, adorable, family orientated. A truly lovely story.

I won a paperback copy of this from @suzyapprovedbookreviews

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/who-loves-you-best-by-marilyn-simon.html

A story that will break your heart. A story that will make you weep. But in it's way it also gives you some hope. Hope that lives can be built back. Families can move on. People can find some kind of closure.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/every-moment-since-by-marybeth-mayhew.htm...

@marybethwhalen
@harpermusebooks
@netgalley

This is a debut thriller and wow it was good. I always worry about an author's first book being just a tad short of what I expect but this one was SO GOOD. I did figure out what was going on fairly early on but it didn't take away from the book at all. I could have been wrong. I wasn't.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-presidents-lawyer-by-lawrence.html

@atriabooks
#lawrencerobbins
@netgalley

What a story. Or in this case a couple of stories told together in different timelines and from several prospectives. About friends. About women. About a war. This author did a fantastic job of weaving together a story that will have you turning the pages until the very end. How she makes the characters come together is perfection. Especially the sisters working on the party. The reunion party. Made me cry so hard. And gave me lots of smiles.

I've recently started enjoying books on this topic. I've decided to add new genres to my reading experience. This book was very good.
Very well written and informative. The Author's Note at the end was worth reading also. I tend to recommend that when I review a book. This is no exception.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-book-of-witching-by-c-j-cooke.html

@cjcooke_author
@berkleypub
@netgalley

I've read books by new authors a few times this year. Jennifer S. Brown is a new to be author. I adored this book. It was SO GOOD. I haven't read very much about prohibition so learned a few things reading this story.

This is such a good book. I highly recommend it.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-whisper-sister-by-jennifer-s-brown.ht...

@brownjennys
@lakeunionauthors
@netgalley

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. The premise didn't seem like one I was going to like this much. Now I can't wait for the next book. This one is so good. Jo Callaghan's debut novel is a winner.
Please read the heartfelt Acknowledgments at the ending. Parts sure made me cry. I'm so sorry for her loss. So so sorry.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-blink-of-eye-by-jo-callaghan.html

@jocallaghankat
@randomhouse

I can't believe this is my first Laura Dave book. It certainly won't be my last. This book was SO GOOD. From the very start to the tearful ending I was hooked.
This is a love story and a mystery. It's about the love between Liam and Cory. They met in school. Liam's cousin Joe introduced them. In a way.
Such a beautiful and sad story.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-night-we-lost-him-by-laura-dave.html

I was highly disappointed. I liked parts of this book but the acknowledgements messed it up for me. I explain why in my blog review.

Link to review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/10/we-burn-daylight-bret-anthony-johnston.ht...

This book is so good. So touching and informative.
It's a love story and so so much more. It's about a woman's struggle to be accepted as a pharmacist. In a time when women were expected to stay home and have babies. To keep house. Men just weren't ready to accept that their wives would want a job.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-love-elixir-of-augusta-stern-by.html

This is my first book by Kimberly Brock. I almost didn't read/listen to it. I'm so very happy that I did. It was so good. A bit of magic mixed in with history. Descriptions that took my breath away.This book had so many feelings. It kept me turning the pages. Even a couple of things that I was afraid would not be cleared up certainly were. In the best way.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-fabled-earth-by-kimberly-brock.html

What a book. This is a new to me author and this book is so hard to describe. It's definitely going to be at the top of my favorite books for this year. This is such a good one. One you won't want to put down and you definitely can not just skim through it and understand what is going on.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/there-are-rivers-in-sky-elif-shafak.html

@shafakelif
@aaknopf

This is a story that I had no idea about. The Jews in Holland and how the Nazis sent them to camps to work or many older people and children straight to their deaths.
A heartfelt story. It's told about “Teddy's“ life. A character in the story. He's an old man who helped many Jewish people in this time.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-place-to-hide-by-ronald-h-balson.html

This has been one of the best series I have read. This is book 5 and it's even better than the last. Each was better and they are all so good. Very emotional books that keep you turning the pages until the very end.

This book takes place in the 1930s and in current times. It goes back and forth as you learn about each couple, or each woman.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-paris-daughterthe-lost-daughters-5.ht...

I don't usually read Christian fiction or contemporary romance. This was also a first one for me by this author.

I enjoyed the book. It didn't wow me but it was good. Good enough to warrant a five star rating. I could not put less as I found nothing wrong with the book except that it was one I could put down and come back to multiple times.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/before-we-were-us-by-denise-hunter.html

This book will be in my top favorites for the year. It is my favorite Jodi Picoult book ever. I had a hard time putting it down and at the same time hated for it to end. It's long but was a fairly quick read for me. I was so invested in this book.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/by-any-other-name-by-jodi-picoult.html

Red River Road

I throughly enjoyed this book. It kept me turning the pages and guessing until the big reveal. I did figure out part but it didn't take from the story at all. It's excellent.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/red-river-road-by-anna-downes.html

@anna_downes_writer
@stmartinspress
@macmillan.audio
@netgalley

The fourth in the Annalisa Verga series. This one did fall just a bit short for me. I wanted more. I thought Annalisa was a bit of a sissy in this book. While she did do typical PI work at times(breaking into apartments, stealing keys... ) it was just a tad out there in places.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/all-way-gone-detective-annalise-vega-4.ht...

@joannaschaffhausen
@stmartinspress
@netgalley

This was a quick read for me. I enjoyed it. It was not a thriller but a mystery. I did figure out who did it but that was ok.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/agony-hill-by-sarah-stewart-taylor.html

An excellent book by one of my favorite authors. If you read it please read the Author's Notes. A lot of good info there.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/spirit-crossing-by-william-kent-krueger.h...

William Kent Krueger
Atria Books
NetGalley ARC

This is the story of two women who are basically terrorized by men. Not in a physical way, at least for one, but emotionally. It's told by both women and in dual timelines. One is 1646 and the other in 2024. While some things have changed as far as women's rights, there is a lot to be done. Don't let them turn back the clock...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-house-of-witch-by-clare-marchant.html

I enjoyed this book very much. I did figure out what happened to both children. Not the who did it but the what happened. In Barbara's case I knew who helped. But it's still a wonderful book. Great characters for the most part.

Several timelines and POVs. But it's not hard to keep straight. Well written. I now know the purpose of that “pink paint.“

4.5 star

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-god-of-woods-by-liz-moore.html

This book was just ok for me. It hit on a few things that are current and made the story more realistic. It had some subtle political things that were pretty much spot on. It dealt with friendships and loss. Suicide and betrayal. Things that don't receive a lot of attention in books sometimes.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-summer-pact-by-emily-giffin.html

The sequel to These Still Black Waters and it's just as good. In the first book you met Jess Lambert. Got to know her and saw the heavy loss she endured. How it tore her life apart. In this story you find out the truth. But first you have to read about a family who are all killed except for one. The oldest daughter Alice.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/what-lies-in-darkness-by-christina.html

I've not read any of this author's work before but was very intrigued with this one. I'm very glad I decided to read it.

This is a very good and intense story. It's a bit of a love story and also a family story. With family drama and several deaths. Though none in great detail.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-stranger-at-wedding-by-e-gauntlett.html

I've read two other books by this author and hope to read the third also.
This book is very good. Very telling in ways too. Telling in that the setting is in the sixties and the pressure on women to be perfect. Or to develop their own skin and be tough. Be themselves. Be the person they are meant to be. Truly meant to be. Perfection is so overrated.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/polite-calamities-by-jennifer-gold.html

This is a beautifully written story about a couple that love each other more than life. Literally more than life.

This is a must read. A real tearjerker though so be warned. It's so good.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-days-i-loved-you-most-by-amy-neff.htm...

The Lost Story

This is the second book by this author. I loved it. I also loved this one. It's a bit different and was inspired by THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.

This is a very sweet but very intense story. It's about two boys. Two boys who were lost. For six months they were missing and no one knew where they were or even if they were alive. Then one day they are back....

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-lost-story-by-meg-shaffer.html

House of Glass

I liked this book but didn't love it. It just didn't WOW me like her other books have. But it was still good. I did find it easy to figure out. I was spot on correct in who did what and why... But it was still very good. This author always delivers good books.

This is a story about a little girl. In a way it's about two little girls.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/house-of-glass-by-sarah-pekkanen.html

The Thirteenth Husband

Another excellent story by an author I am beginning to throughly enjoy.

This book is so different from the last one I read by this author. Though still a historical book. This one is about a woman. A woman named Amy/Aimee. Set back in the late 1800s and when women had very few rights.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-thirteenth-husband-by-greer.html

@theladygreer
@sourcebooks
@netgalley