With great appreciation for his quick wit and clear observations, reading this book felt like chatting with a friend. It was surprising to learn about how insecure Mr. Brown felt when younger. The only thing missing were his grandmother's buttered biscuits.

Enjoyable autobiography.

Another intriguing historical mystery by this author. Haven, a researcher of shipwrecks discovers something called the Amalfi Curse. We learn about it through two timelines , the present and 1820s. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. Highly recommend.

In my opinion this was a mediocre book about a woman having a few bad days.

CLAIRE DARLING by Callie Kazumi is the story of a young woman in love. The setting is London, England; the style is a mixture of personal narrative and introspection; the time frame is a back and forth between the here and now and Claire's childhood. Not giving anything away - the first sentence on the fly leaf says "this is a story of obsession, love and murder..." - the reader is taken on a wild journey with many twists and turn. An enjoyable read, if somewhat predictable...

I didn’t realize this was the horror genre, not my typical read. Thematically it addresses issues around families and secrets and betrayals, but on the surface, true to its plot, it is a horror story, and a pretty scary one. Eight-year-old Bella has a friend, but she lives inside the closet. She is not invisible but can take many shapes and forms. Bella names her “Other Mother”. She wants Bella to let her into her heart, but Bella continues to resist. “Other Mother” starts out as a good friend, and Bella has no other friends. As Bella’s mom and dad’s relationship seems to be crumbling, “Other Mother” seems to become more aggressive and stronger. What follows is this family’s journey to be free from “Other Mother”. I am not quite sure how it ended, and I have now read the ending three times. I am still thinking about it.

Pam Jenoff books do not disappoint! Fiction based on History over two time periods (1950’s and 1933-1944). Two women’s lives intertwined as history unfolds. Three countries: London, England, Paris. France, and Germany. It starts with Louise who works in a thrift store. She finds a bracelet that reminds her of time in France. A mystery to solve is revealed.

The best part of Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade were the acknowledgements. There was very little I liked about this novel. I didn't care about any of the characters - they were one dimensional - there was no character growth - they just moved along at a snails pace just like the plot.

I enjoyed the first one more because of the comedic aspect of it, but the second one was just as steamy. It was an old friends-ish to lovers trope.

Part of a series, this was book 4. Light summer read