Author: Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Romance
Source: Avon ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: What makes life sweet?

-Freshly baked bread
-A cool lake on a hot summer day
-The comfort of a cozy bookstore
-Second chances and new beginnings

When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.

With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since…well, forever.. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets…

When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.

Ope’ Opinion: The constant sexual innuendos and the foul language really took away from this story for me. The story itself was really good. I thought the father / daughter relationship was an amazing one.

I liked Bodie’s big family and their acceptance of each other and “outside” people. They felt like they put their arms around everyone. I also liked the strong women in this book.

I know this is a romance, but there was too much steam too quickly for me. I am a closed door romance reader.

Author: Fiona Davis
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Dutton ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis transports us back to 1950s Manhattan and the glamorous Radio City Music Hall. . . .

New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion is over the moon to have been selected to be one of the Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall’s glamorous precision-dancing troupe. It’s an honor to perform in the world’s most spectacular theater, an art deco masterpiece. But with four shows a day as well as grueling rehearsals, not to mention exacting standards of perfection to live up to, Marion quickly realizes that the life of a Rockette has both extraordinary highs and devastating lows.

Then one night a bomb explodes in the theater. It’s only the latest in a string of explosions around the city orchestrated by a person the press has nicknamed the “Big Apple Bomber.” They have been terrorizing the citizens of New York for sixteen years by planting bombs in popular, crowded spaces. With the public in an uproar over the lack of any real leads after a yearslong manhunt, the police, at Marion’s urging, turn in desperation to a radical new technique: psychological profiling.

As Marion finds herself pulled deeper into the investigation, she realizes that as much as she’s been training herself to blend in—performing in perfect unison with all the other identical Rockettes—if she hopes to catch the bomber, she’ll need to stand out and take a terrifying risk. But she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s worked for, as well as the people she loves the most.

Ope’s Opinion: The first part of the book you learn about Marion, her father, and sister. Her father was a liar and very old fashion. You see Marion’s attempt at becoming a Rockettes dancer. It is so interesting and full of details that I am sure are from Fiona Davis’ research. I found this part very interesting.

The second half is a mystery that Marion attempts to solve. She and a friend find out things and do things the detectives were not able to figure out. I found this half unbelievable. I have never been a fan of a civilian figuring out a mystery.

I will read another Fiona Davis. This one was half great for me.

A weekend in the city with my daughter – so much fun!
We saw a broadway show – The Parade
We ate great food – Max Brenner chocolate shop
We went to the Strand – books and more
A complete weekend!

Author: Erika Montgomery
Publisher: Griffin
Genre: Fiction
Source: Griffin ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: For decades, the Campbell women have reunited at the family’s rambling seaside cottage known as Beech House to celebrate life’s many occasions. But this year, they will be called back to Martha’s Vineyard for a celebration of a different their beloved matriarch Cora is getting remarried. And all the town gossips are calling him the one who got away, years ago…

For renowned chef Mickey Campbell, this wedding isn’t just a welcome excuse to return to the place she first learned to cook at her grandmother’s side. It’s also a chance to regroup while she figures out a way to tell her smoldering head chef boyfriend that she’s mismanaged their restaurant into the red.

Mickey’s mother, Hedy, is still mourning the passing of her adored father three years earlier, and she isn’t sure she’s ready to welcome a new man into the fold―and she’s not certain her own thorny relationship with her mother will weather the storm of her upcoming marriage.

But everyone knows a woman’s heart holds more than meets the eye. For Cora, drawing her daughter and granddaughter back to Beech House isn’t just about a ceremony, but a chance to reveal a history she has kept close to her heart for decades. As the days leading up to the wedding unfold, secrets of Cora’s past come to light– a secret that will cause three generations of Campbell women to question marriage, motherhood, and ultimately learn to savor the delicious joy of following your own heart.

Told in dual timelines on the sumptuous beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND is the sparkling, romantic read of the season.

Ope’s Opinion: This was an awesome read from the beginning to the very end. I enjoyed the relationship between three strong women, who were the main characters. It was interesting to read from the two time lines and see how woman’s expectations have changed.

If you have not packed your beach for the summer yet, I would definitely put this one in your bag. It is deeper than a fluffy beach read, but would be enjoyable with your toes in the sand as it is set on the beach.

There were a few surprises along the way, but in general it ended the way I would have wanted it to. Now I am looking forward to her next book.

Author: Liz Johnson
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Christian Fiction
Source: Revell ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she’s determined to save her community

Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it’s not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there’s more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can’t seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up–or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

Ope’s Opinion: This is the third book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series. Although it is part of a series, it could read alone. You may miss some details and back story, so I recommend you start at the beginning. It is clean, slow burn romance. This is Levi’s story, he is the youngest of three boys.

Kelsey is Levi’s love interest in this book. She is a saint as far as I am concerned. She took the time to pull Levi out of his inability to talk. The beginning of the book was a little frustrating for me when all Kelsey could get out of Levi was a nod, a smile or a word. This is where having read the series helps. You understand why Levi is not talking.

The ending was very sweet and wrapped everything up. I am eagerly awaiting Liz Johnson’s next book.

Goodreads:

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it’s been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother’s past or background. But when Ruth’s desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth’s carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

Sarah Pekkanen is an author I enjoy reading.

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In August I hope to read….

Publication Date: August 8, 2023
Publisher: Revell

Goodreads: A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she’s determined to save her community

Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it’s not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there’s more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can’t seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up–or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Author: Rachel Hauck
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Christian Fictiion
Source: Bethany House Publishers ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Twenty years ago, the summer of ’77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde’s life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow–the Four Seasons–had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, “Nowhere,” Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It’s a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love’s voice.

Ope’s Opinion: I really like Rachel Hauck and Christian fiction, but this one did not draw me into the story. At times, I was enjoying the story, then I found my mind wandering during other times.

As a matter of fact, I got lost at certain points – the whole “preacher” story line confused me. If I were not aware of Bible stories, this part would have really lost me. I kept thinking it was going to be a dream. The 1977 part of the story seemed to drag out. The 1997 was more interesting ( where are they now ), but you needed the context of the past to enjoy the “now” part.

The ending felt rushed – I want to say more, but I don’t want to spoil it. It felt like suddenly it was done – not believable.

Author: Judith Keim
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Genre: Fiction
Source: Wild Quail Publishing ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Salty Kisses might be the sweetest of all…
Olivia “Livy” Winters agrees to spend the summer at Sanderling Cove on the Gulf Coast of Florida with her two cousins, Charlotte “Charlie” Bradford and Brooke Weatherby to help manage The Sanderling Cove Inn while their grandparents take a long road trip in Europe. Livy hopes a summer away from her past surroundings and her job as the owner of a bakery in Virginia will help her forget a traumatic incident there.
Unknown to her and her cousins, the five grandmothers at Sanderling Cove have invited their beloved grandchildren to spend as much time as possible this summer at the cove, hoping that romance might flourish among them.
Livy is delighted to discover other childhood friends there. Though running the inn with her cousins keeps her busy, Livy realizes she needs to find someone she can trust to help her with her issue. Austin Ensley is spending the summer at the cove visiting his grandmother while he decides what he wants to do after selling his successful IT business. As a teenager Livy had a crush on him, and while she has no interest in dating any of the men at the cove, they form a deeper friendship. And when Livy can no longer keep her secret, she turns to him for help. Together they help one another through past troubles and discover tears can bring happiness too.
Grandmothers can be very determined when it comes to seeing their grandchildren happy. A family saga full of love. Be sure to read all the books in the series – Waves of Hope, Sandy Wishes, Salty Kisses.
Another of Judith Keim’s series books celebrating love and families, strong women meeting challenges, and clean women’s fiction with a touch of romance—beach reads for all ages with a touch of humor, satisfying twists, and happy endings. Be sure to check out her other delightful books and series that readers adore.

Ope’s Opinion: This was a solid 3 – maybe a 3.5 if I had I read the whole series. I came late to the series. It can definitely be read alone, but I do think I missed a lot of details starting on book three. I think I would have been more attached to the characters had it read it from the beginning.

It is a clean romance ( which I really enjoy ), it had little to no foul language ( which I like ), and it has a really good ending! There a lot of characters, mostly strong woman with men who support them.

I am going to look to see what other books Judith Keim wrote. I think I would enjoy her other stories.

Author: Danielle Steel
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Romance
Source: Delacorte Press ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: In this captivating novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a wildly successful, unmarried wedding planner leads her clients to happily ever after.

Faith Ferguson is New York’s most in-demand wedding planner, an arbiter of taste for elegant affairs, lavish ceremonies, and exclusive fêtes. She appreciates a simple celebration as much as a dazzling event, for she knows that a dream wedding is not necessarily the most expensive one.

As much as Faith enjoys her work, her two failed engagements leave her with no desire to get married herself. She finds fulfillment in her close relationship with her twin sister, Hope, her role as a mentor for her assistant, Violet, and her career.

This year, new clients have flocked to her, and she signs up an extravagant reception, a mid-sized gathering, and an intimate soirée, in addition to her mother’s next marriage and Violet’s modest ceremony. Faith finds herself forming bonds with her new clients and their loved ones—mostnotably the handsome brother of one of her grooms.

But weddings are not always all champagne and roses, and in no time, Faith is grappling with private quarrels, unplanned pregnancies, family scandals, dark secrets, and the possibility of cancelled ceremonies. Through her own journey, Faith will prove once and for all that that there is not just one path to happily ever after.

In The Wedding Planner, Danielle Steel presents an enchanting story about the winding road to love and the many ways to find joy while staying true to oneself.

Ope’s Opinion: If you are interested in reading a lot of details about a lot of weddings, you will enjoy this book. It included details about the individuals getting married.

As I was reading I felt like I was standing outside the door watching the action, not a part of it. I was being told a story, but not involved in it, not really there. I did appreciate that there was little to no foul language and steamy details happened behind the closed doors.

Don’t worry if you get interrupted while you are reading, DS repeats sentences several times throughout the book. I have another DS book on TBR list, I am hoping the next one draws me.