Excellent piece of writing. Ingenious. More has a wonderful sense of humor, and is clearly able to reflect on himself and his own society.

This was a collection of two short stories. In Where There’s Smoke a gifted psychic obtains fame, wealth and respect from her talent. She is able to get messages from loved ones who have died and comfort the living. One day she encounters a military widow who’s husband’s death was from friendly fire, not from a heroic stand against the enemy. Serenity finds herself haunted by the dead soldier and under scrutiny of the police. From arrogance and greed she tries to clear her name and reputation by finding the missing son of a senator. Does Serenity go too far and really help the senator’s family and can she fall into the graces of the public again? Read and find out. In Larger Than Life, a woman finds an orphaned elephant and decides to take it back to her research hut and take care of it. In trying to save the baby does she actually help it or does she just do it selfishly knowing the elephant will never be able to return to the wild. Both stories deal with choices made and the consequences from them.

If you enjoyed reading The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek and/or The Bookwoman’s Daughter, you will want to read this book. What happened to Cussy and her family? I could not put this book down. Historical Fiction is interwoven into the plot by an author from Kentucky who knows the journey.

FIVE by Ilona Bannister is a fascinating idea for a novel. Not what I expected. It started slowly and then I was able to follow the premise. It was mundane. It should have been better, which is why I gave it only 3 stars.

Vera Wong is at it again solving the suicide/murder of Xander Lin. Xander, a charismatic influencer is found dead and the police believe it’s a suicide. Vera thinks differently. Through her sleuthing skills, she solves Xanders death, dismantles a human trafficking ring, becomes an TikTok influencer and makes new friends along the way. Vera is no longer the lonely widow in her life’s story. A great read especially if you like the pushy mother type. I recommend this book.

I really enjoyed reading this summer read. I like that it’s setting is mostly in a beach town. It’s a nice change to read about a character that is a good person and easy to like. Dolly and Stewart’s story was fun to follow. Especially with a beautiful backdrop.

Neil Gaiman tells the tales of the Gods using the great Norse myths. His stories tell of beginning of the nine worlds all the way to the end of the Gods in Ragnarok. These are tales of Odin, the highest God, and of Thor, the trickster Loki, and many others. I really enjoyed this one.

This series was suggested to me by a family member and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. This was a fun read and peaked my interest because it's main character was a baker, a hobby I happen to love. The book also includes several recipes that I am eager to try as well.

7/19/26 Slow to start, this book takes place on beautiful Balboa Island in California in 1956. Three women, with different problems come together over tennis. The story then takes off… they become friends and work together to solve each others problems; which because of the times , were secrets. I really enjoyed this story of female friendship and how it can transcend social expectations when you have the support of people around you!

I have to say that I love Emily Henry romances and this one did not disappoint. January’s life has run off the rails recently. Her father passed away, her boyfriend of six years broke up with her and she’s broke. She moves to North Bear Shores, Michigan to empty and sell her father’s beach cottage and try to end her writers block. Then comes Augustus Everett, the forever curmudgeon who turns out has loved January since college. To end their writers block they make a deal to write a book in the other’s genre while having outings together to better get to know the research. Can these two each finish a book and find their happy ever after? Read and find out.