Summer Reads!!!

June 1, 2026

 


It's that time of year!!! Time to stock up on beach reads, vacation reads and poolside reads! I've been given the opportunity to get my hands on several historical fiction books and the audiobook of one that came out earlier in the year. With a Yes, No or Maybe I'll tell you my thoughts. 




 

Summary: History is made when New York City's most notorious madame (Polly-white) partners up with a New York City Assistant District Attorney (Eunice-black) to take on a powerful mobster running an illegal prostitution ring. 

I've been a fan of this author duo since their debut, The Personal Librarian. I couldn't put that one down when I found it on a family road trip. So, does their newest release hold the same magic? Maybe 

This book is more of a slow unfolding of the story. While the plot is great once it starts going, it does take a bit to get there. I was almost at the 50% mark when the two main female characters partner up. I do recommend this book just for the fact that it's the telling of true events that happened. The story is incredible- especially since 2 unlikely ladies are responsible for the fall of a huge crime syndicate.

These two incredible women risk it all to take a stand. But more than that, you get to know these two ladies and their motivation for all they do. You're going to see the risks they take, the punishments they receive, the struggles and the successes. While the story isn't told at a fast pace, things really pick up around the halfway mark. By the time you turn the last page and have consumed the last word you are in awe of what Polly and Eunice accomplished. Against all odds, they took down a Goliath in their town.



Summary- Fleeing the Nazis, two Dutch sisters come to the United States seeking freedom and new lives. While Ada & Ingrid leave their homeland on very different terms, their past is still breathing over their shoulders when the Red Scare in Hollywood brings the girls together again- along with enemies of their pasts.

Based on Audrey Hepburn, The Star Society, tells how Ada & Ingrid dealt with Nazis in their lives. While Ingrid escapes early on, Ada (Aleida) does undercover work. Doing all she can to help Jewish people get out, Aleida smuggles paperwork to those who need it. However, it's only a matter of time before she gets arrested. The sisters' mother becomes the mistress of a German Nazi and is the one who takes Aleida in and doesn't release her until he's left her with a permanent memory of him.

Ingrid and her husband get to Washington D.C. where she works for the US government's Anti-Communism department. When she sees a name she recognizes, Ingrid begs to be the one to gather intel on Ada. For she'd be able to gain access to the actress in a way no one else can- Ada is her sister, Aleida. Ingrid sets out to prove her sister has no connection to the Communist Party. But, Aleida's past isn't far behind them. Revenge comes calling with heartbreaking repercussions. 

Yes. I listened to this book on audio and enjoyed it. The narrator brought the story to life as history spilled out into the present. You felt the deep impact of betrayal as the story was read to you. You felt the urgency. 



Summary- Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, cafĂ© society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors. The first novel to be dedicated to this infamous rivalry, The Windsor Affair brings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals. --bn.com

MAYBE. This story is a slow paced unfolding. If you're a fan of that, then YES. If you're not, I would recommend listening to the audiobook if you still want to read this book. This book goes beyond just the relationship with Wallis and the Prince. It continues on after the Prince abdicates the throne he takes as King. 

I've read several other books about Wallis and her infamous relationship, but I don't remember any of them delving into her past. The Windsor Affair takes you into her childhood and her past prior to ever meeting the Prince. You learn why she becomes the gold digger she became. In several ways, I came to feel sympathy for her. I never knew she had a marriage before the husband she left for Royalty. I had no idea how destructive it was and why it played a role in her swearing to never again marry for love, but security, instead. I felt badly to read rocks being thrown through her windows and to have vile names graffitied about her and said to her. However, it was the life she set out to obtain.

Reading how the Royal family saw her from the get go was also a side I'd only read brief references of. In this book, you become a fly on the wall for the Royal family. You see they pegged her for a gold digger right off the bat and didn't cater to her whims. You really see the battle of wills unfold as the story does the same. 


Okay dear readers. I hope one, or more, of these books may find it's way to your summer TBR. Enjoy!!




Dolly All the Time

May 26, 2026

 


Dolly All the Time
By: Annabel Monaghan
Genre: Fiction, Romance

Summary:
In order to help her family, Dolly has come back home to Whitfield, Rhode Island. While she expected to do house repairs and help out in the family fish shop, Dolly doesn't expect a proposition from the local handsome Stewart Whitfield. While posing as his girlfriend will help his reputation post break-up, it doesn't go quite the way they planned. Memories are made, much needed repairs are done- but not without a price. No one ever said romance was easy.

If you are looking for a fun, light hearted romp to read while on the beach or on vacation, I nominate Dolly All the Time. You'll enjoy getting to know the cast of characters and all their little quirks. But you'll also get to meet their flaws and struggles. Dolly's family has struggled since her Mom left them when she was 12. She has a brother who suffered a major head injury when he was a younger. a son who is about to start high school and is going through all those changes, a sister who is more often not there than she is. Not to mention a Dad who has been burned in the past and, therefore, not open to change- no matter how needed they may be.

Stewart is the son of a wealthy beyond wealthy family. The one working hard to prove he's the best fit to take over for his father in running the family business. Burning the candle at both ends has left him him with no social life, an ex-girlfriend and panic attacks. The pressure is so high on him that he seizes an opportunity to fake a new relationship to help him get the promotion he's positive he wants. 

Enter Dolly. Stewart offers they pose as a couple for the summer. This will show his family and the company's board that he's the perfect fit to be CEO. No big deal! A couple of dinners. An awards dinner. Nothing serious. However, we all know feelings will get caught. 

This book was fun to read. I loved all the characters. I enjoyed watching the fake relationship evolve as 2 strangers slowly become friends and on to something more. It was fun to see how they would navigate the road they set out on. We all know there's going to be a point where the relationship's true nature gets out, but it didn't happen the way I thought. Nor did the fall out play out as I thought it would. o, while this story isn't a new one and we all know the format the story will follow, there were still some surprises revealed within the pages. 

A great summer read for the pool or beach. A fun way to pass the time while traveling. May you enjoy Dolly All the Time!

The Shippers

May 19, 2026

 


The Shippers
By: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance

Summary:
JoJo Burton has a problem: intimacy problems. Every guy she dates, she ends up breaking up with. That all-in love has been an illusive one. Her sister decides her cruise wedding is the perfect time for JoJo to finally put the issues to rest. Can it be done? Can one amazing kiss from childhood be found again? And what shenanigans will JoJo get into as she finds out?

Jojo's first kiss was unforgettable. It hasn't been topped. And according to her sister's psychology education, it's why Jojo has commitment issues. So, the only logical solution is to make the man behind the amazing kiss fall in love with her. And what better time & place to do it than on a destination wedding?! It's flawless. Cab the guy live up to the image JoJo created in her head?

Cooper grew up with JoJo. He's seen her through everything. Heck, he even helped her get out of her wedding a few months prior. Despite his own feelings about the whole thing, he agrees to help. It doesn't take long for JoJo's plan to go awry. In the name of "love" hijinks and shenanigans ensue. From a funny wardrobe malfunction to a hickey theory not panning out, you will not be short of entertainment.

I loved this book! I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The Cooper/JoJo dynamic was awesome! The banter between them kept a smile on my face. I laughed. I sighed. I chuckled. I even cringed. Reading about the Father was endearing and touching. As the pages turned and the story unfolded, I was glued to see what would happen next.

A must-read for the summer! Don't go to the beach, pool or vacation without The Shippers

Daughter of Egypt

March 24, 2026

 


Daughter of Egypt
By: Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction


Summary:
1919- Following in her father's archaeology footsteps, Eve's passionate about Egypt's past. So much so, she wants to find the tomb of the only female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Her mother, however, has plans for her daughter to find a suitable husband. Life changes for Eve when she's allowed to accompany her father on one of his digs on Egypt. 

1486 BC- You meet Hatshepsut as a Princess. One who destined to not only stay one, but become what no other female had- Pharaoh. You follow her journey and the sacrifices that come with it. 


I have to be honest from the get go- I'm not the biggest fan of Egyptian history. I get confused with all the intricacies of Pharoah times. All the roles and rules tend to overwhelm my history loving brain. I find it fascinating, but a little overwhelming. So much so, that I don't have a good track record with books centering around this time period. Being a huge fan of Marie Benedict, I was willing to be putty in her hands. I had much more success listening to the book in audiobook form than I did reading it. The two narrators brought the story to life for me.

Starting the book, I knew nothing about Hatshepsut. I knew nothing of the numerous roles she played prior to becoming Pharoah, but I quickly learned she was a multitasker from the minute we meet her to the minute we say goodbye to her. Her future was never meant to have the role of leader in it, but circumstances brought forced her hand. Even having the book narrated for me, her life was slightly confusing to follow. But I'm glad I kept up with it. Every step of her journey was done with poise and respect to those who led her way. She was a leader who led her people with their best interest in mind and ruled with a dignity few can claim to have. Hatshepsut was a woman of strength who did what was best for her people- not her. While she was only Pharoah until her nephew was old enough to take over, she was a stunning example of how it should be done. I was captivated by how Marie Benedict played out the connection between Hatshepsut and her co-ruler. Not to mention how it extended to her name being removed from everything it once appeared on. 

Eve was another trailblazer for her time. In the 1920s, war had just ended and women were expected to marry not go trapsing around in the dirt looking for artifacts of time long ago. However, that's not our girl wanted to do. Having watched her father's archaeology career, she became just as fascinated with uncovering Egyptian tombs as her father was. Now that Valley of the Kings has been reopened for digging, she has set her sights on finding the tomb of the only female Pharoah, Hatshepsut, not the husband her mother wants her to find. When she gets to accompany her father on his next dig, she is front and center for discoveries that alter her life's course. 

While both women step out of their society's expectations, they both learn the hard way it isn't easy to do so. Every success they have comes with a heartbreaking reality. The good is accompanied with bad and neither women are the same. Both courageously set out on paths that forever change them. 

I will say, Daughter of Egypt wasn't my favorite Marie Benedict book. I enjoyed it, but Egyptian storylines rarely grab me as much as I wish they would. This book was good and you are in for a great read. I had a better time listening to the book over reading it. I'm glad I kept with it. 

Take a weekend to travel back in time. Meet two women who live out their journeys with strength and dignity. Learn about a woman who few remember. Curl up and get lost in the Daughter of Egypt.


The Lie You Don't Know You Believe

March 3, 2026

 


The Lie You Don't Know You Believe
By: Jennie Allen
Genre: Christian Living/ Non-Fiction

Summary:
Have you ever thought something for so long that, to you, it became fact? What if it wasn't really fact, but a lie you told yourself for so long you began to believe it? How does this happen? Why does this happen? More importantly, how do make it stop? Jennie Allen's The Lie You Don't Know You Believe has some answers and would love to help you.

Buckle up, readers. We're all guilty of negative self-talk. We're all guilty of being hard on ourselves. But have you ever stopped and really paid attention to the things you tell yourself? Is it really true, or something you've just said so many times it morphed into truth? This book made me stop and analyze this within myself. Unfortunately, there are lies I didn't know I believed. 

Jennie Allen informs you that we usually fall under one of a few core lies. Those core lies aren't true, but we decide they are. And before long, we've said/ believed them for so long they become hard fact in our minds. But they don't have to be. 

As you read through The Lie You Don't Know You Believe, you are going to breakdown the lies, figure out how it got there, and learn what's the truth about it. Mistakes, flaws, insecurities are not truth of who you are. They are truth to feelings you felt in a given situation. However, lies have the ability to take on a life of their own and drive you down roads you never meant to be on. 

While reading this book, I found a lie I'd been telling myself is a fact for decades, because once upon a time it my circumstances brought those feelings into my life. God never said I was what those lies did. But, nevertheless, 30 years later they were still prevalent when they no longer needed to be. This book helped me compare the lie to the truth, and allowed me to see things for what they really are- not what Satan encouraged me to think they were.

I encourage you to do yourself the favor of reading this book and exposing the lies in your life. Don't let shame, guilt or fear dictate your views anymore. Take the steps to reclaim your life and begin to stand on what's true. 

The Violin Maker's Secret

February 24, 2026

 


The Violin Maker's Secret
By: Evie Woods
Genre: Fiction

Summary:
A violin turned into an airport lost and found unites 3 people as they race to uncover it's past. As they try to stay one step ahead of the thief who wants the violin back, they experience the magic that makes the violin unique. 

Once you open the pages of The Violin Maker's Secret, be prepared to go on an adventure! Evie Woods will take you back to the early 1800s to walk you through this special instrument's inception, creation and it's journey to 2025. You'll read how a jealous sibling leads to her sister's soul being encaptured within the wood used to make the violin. This leads to the gift each owner of the violin thenceforth experiences.

Evie Woods introduces you to the violin when it's found in Heathrow airport's lost and found in 2025. Devlin, a baggage claim handler for the airport, buys it as a present for his girlfriend. Not only does said girlfriend not want to instrument (she was expecting an engagement ring), but a break-in accompanied by a threatening message referring to the violin forces Devlin to go on the run. His first stop is his former teacher, Walter. Walter then leads them to an appraiser's shop belonging to a friend. While the friend isn't there, his daughter, Gabrielle, is. All 3 experience the magic of the violin and band together to keep the thieves from getting it back. In doing so, they set out to track the maker of the violin in the hopes answers to their problem will also be found.

What ensues is a country crossing adventure 3 lonely individuals band together for. You also get and amazing story of the violin's life. You'll read how each owner's life is impacted- good or bad- by possessing the violin. You'll meet the woman determined, through whatever means necessary, to get back the one thing that mattered most to her. 

Friendship form, love blossoms and greed leads to an undoing as you read The Violin Maker's Secret. I loved it and will be at my bookstore to be buy once it opens. Evie Woods is amazing at telling stories that just engulf you wholeheartedly, and her newest release is no exception. Happy Reading!

Don't Stop Praying

February 3, 2026

 


Don't Stop Praying
By: Matthew West
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction/Christian Living

Summary:
Join Matthew West in his latest addition to his book repertoire. Not only does Matthew pick the Lord's Prayer apart and take you through it line by line, he pulls the curtain back on it to explain it. He brings in personal experiences from his own life to show how they influenced, or strengthened, his own prayer  life. And, since it's the name of one of his songs, he talks about the origin of how the song came to be and the impact it had on him.

When you hear the name Matthew West, most of us connect him to the Christian music he's put out. However, he's been adding author to his name over the years, as well. I've always enjoyed his past books, so I expected nothing different with Don't Stop Praying. And I wasn't disappointed.

He starts the book of with telling you of an exercise he and one of his daughter's did while at a camp. When you have to be a 2 person team and one of them is blindfolded, you just know a lesson is in the making. When the blindfolded one is depended on the other's voice- and that voice is eventually silenced except for one statement, things just got real. The 2 are always near, never really separated. But how easy it was to forget the instructions given in the beginning when real life confusion sets in. 

So, yeah. I was hooked. **All participants were safe and never injured. (Just in case you were concerned. Like I was)

Matthew tackles the role of prayer in our lives. My favorite part was when he dissected The Lord's Prayer- line by line. He explains each line and how it applies to our lives now. He reminds you how powerful prayer is- even when you don't see the results you wanted. He informs you the whole purpose behind prayer and the connection with God is starts.

He lists the different types of prayer- for strength, courage, miracles. He doesn't leave out the controversial- pray for your enemies. Not a loved one, but a necessary one. He explains why praying for the people you don't like is important. Again, not everyone's favorite prayer topic, but a necessary one.

Each chapter ends with a prayer challenge and questions to dig deeper with. So Matthew really makes the book an interactive read for you to engage with instead of just read. And while the book isn't a long one (around 270 pages), he packs a lot into those pages.

If you're looking to work on your prayer life, I encourage you to pick this book up. If you're looking to challenge your prayer life, I encourage you to let Don't Stop Praying be a way to do it. 
 


 

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