Blog Break

 

Alright, guys! This is IT. The moment we have been waiting for! I'm taking the rest of the week off to prepare for the 12th Annual Summer Kickoff. There will be giveaways, reviews of beach reads, recommendations, and more. I don't know about you, but I can't wait! If you are craving a good beach read now, be sure to check out last year and previous years' recommendations. There are some good ones!

 

Meanwhile, let me know which beach read of 2023 is one of your most anticipated in the poll below. I look forward to your thoughts and I'll be sure to include this "winning" beach read in my reviews this summer.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Book Bandit

 

As my kids get older and slowly start to break away from picture books (much to my dismay!), we have been entering the world of chapter books. I always appreciate a good chapter book that is perfect for the younger elementary crowd and includes an engaging mystery. The Book Bandit (A Phoebe Chen Mystery) by Carol Pescatore just came out last month and is a wonderful mystery with a diverse cast of characters. 

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

 

A Phoebe Chen Mystery: The Book Bandit 

Written by Carol Pescatore

Illustrated by Amanda Neves

Ages 7+  | 136 Pages

Publisher: Pesky Books 4Kidz | ISBN-13: 9781958043097 

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: Phoebe loves anything that involves brainstorming, like jigsaw puzzles, riddles, and word searches. Her lifelong dream is to solve mysteries like her detective father—or ND, her favorite girl detective. So when a friend’s prized autographed book disappears, Phoebe immediately offers to take on the case. 

Enlisting the help of her BFF, Phoebe gets to work searching for clues, interviewing witnesses, and compiling a list of suspects. But when the evidence implicates a friend, she realizes being a detective isn’t all fun and games. Phoebe must find concrete evidence before she points the finger. Can she do it, or will the book bandit get away with the dastardly deed?

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Book Bandit at Amazon. Also, you can learn more about Carol Pescatore by visiting her website and connecting with her on TikTok and Instagram.  

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Carol Pescatore today to host a giveaway to celebrate the recent publication of The Book Bandit.  Four lucky winners will receive a signed paperback copy of The Book Bandit. Good luck!  

 

The Book Bandit: Book Giveaway  

 

Book Review: Homecoming by Kate Morton

Pages: 560

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: April 4, 2023

Publisher: Mariner

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Distant Hours,

and The Secret Keeper

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959: At the end of a scorching hot day, beside a creek on the grounds of the grand and mysterious mansion, a local delivery man makes a terrible discovery. A police investigation is called and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most shocking and perplexing murder cases in the history of South Australia. Sixty years later, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for almost twenty years, she now finds herself laid off from her full-time job and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and been raced to the hospital. Nora has always been a vibrant and strong presence: decisive, encouraging, young despite her years. When Jess visits her in the hospital, she is alarmed to find her grandmother frail and confused. It’s even more alarming to hear from Nora's housekeeper that Nora had been distracted in the weeks before her accident and had fallen on the steps to the attic—the one place Jess was forbidden from playing in when she was small. At loose ends in Nora's house, Jess does some digging of her own. In Nora's bedroom, she discovers a true crime book, chronicling the police investigation into a long-buried tragedy: the Turner Family Tragedy of Christmas Eve, 1959. It is only when Jess skims through the book that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this once-infamous crime—a crime that has never been resolved satisfactorily. And for a journalist without a story, a cold case might be the best distraction she can find…An epic novel that spans generations, Homecoming asks what we would do for those we love, and how we protect the lies we tell. It explores the power of motherhood, the corrosive effects of tightly held secrets, and the healing nature of truth. Above all, it is a beguiling and immensely satisfying novel from one of the finest writers working today." 

 

 

Jess Turner-Bridges lives in England, far from Australia where she grew up. One day she receives an upsetting phone call to return home as her grandmother, Nora, who has fallen and is now in the hospital. Nora's next in kin is Jess, as she has raised her, so Jess has to return home immediately. She finds out her ninety year old grandmother was trying to get to the attic when she fell. Jess can't help but wonder what could she need up there? Once she sees Nora in the hospital she isn't herself and is mumbling about various things including "the pages." Jess is really curious about what is going on here as her grandmother has always been very lucid and coherent. Nora is clearly distressed, so Jess wants to get to the bottom of it. Things really change for Jess once she stumbles upon a book in Nora's library entitled As If They Were Asleep by Daniel Miller. It details the deaths of a family living in her neighborhood back in the 50s. Upon further examination, she realizes these deaths are tied to her own family! Jess knew nothing about this scandal and is determined to know more about her family's history. Kate Morton's Homecoming is an eerie tale filled with murder, mystery, family drama, and it oozes with atmosphere.

Jess is a character that I immediately cared about in Homecoming. I loved her quest to learn more about her family whether it was through stories, excerpts from the book she found, or talking to her estranged mother, Polly. There's a big mystery at play here and Morton double downs by incorporating flashbacks to 1950s Australia and to the scene of the "crime." Slowly we realize that Jess's family has some skeletons in the closet and the details come to the surface as Jess digs deeper and deeper.

Morton is a masterful storyteller and her dual timeline narratives were outstanding in Homecoming. Her writing was also on point; there were so many lines that really struck me as quite beautiful. My only issue was the pacing. At times it felt a tad bit slow compared to her other novels. However, I knew that I had to stick with it, because Morton always delivers.

 

If you are looking for a mystery with some Gothic vibes to curl up with this spring, Homecoming is it. Morton can do no wrong and always entertains. So, is Homecoming is on your spring TBR list or if you have read it already? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: April 4, 2023

Publisher: Random House

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Eligible

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Sally Milz is a sketch writer for "The Night Owls," the late-night live comedy show that airs each Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love, settling instead for the occasional hook-up, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather to round out a satisfying life. But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actor who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show—and in society at large—who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women. Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch called the "Danny Horst Rule," poking fun at this phenomenon while underscoring how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a woman. Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show. Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder whether there might actually be sparks flying. But this isn’t a romantic comedy; it’s real life. And in real life, someone like him would never date someone like her...right? With her keen observations and trademark ability to bring complex women to life on the page, Sittenfeld explores the neurosis-inducing and heart-fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age."

 

 

Sally Milz is a thirty-six year old comedy writer at The Night Owls, which is in the same vein as Saturday Night Live. Sally once had her romantic hopes set on fellow writer, Elliot, but that blew up in her face. Since then, she has kept a low romantic profile and sticks to casual hookups. Sally notices all the sexism, double standards, and more that are involved not only at The Night Owls, but in life, too. Her observations are spot on and sometimes she ties this into her comedy sketches. Her latest observation is how average men keep landing extremely attractive women that should be out of their league--think Pete Davidson. However, you never see it the other way around---with average women landing a hot man. That is until Noah Brewster. Noah is an extremely good looking singer/songwriter and a guest host on The Night Owls. Surprisingly, sparks fly between Noah and Sally. Slowly their relationship forms, especially during the COVID shutdown. Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy is a delightful novel that will surely entertain her legions of fans.

I really liked Sally from the start of Romantic Comedy. Sittenfeld's descriptions of what it's like to work at a comedy show were absolutely captivating. I felt like it was a behind the scenes tour of Saturday Night Live and I kept imagining Sally as Tina Fey. The descriptions of what it's like to work the endless hours, the late nights, and the pressure to write funny material in a short amount of time were really interesting. I have to say this was my favorite aspect of the novel. Then when Noah enters the story, it gets even better. He asks Sally for help with his jokes and their chemistry is through the roof. However, in the back of Sally's mind is the question of how could someone like him like someone like her? I really enjoyed their budding romance and Sittenfeld's commentary as well as observations on society, love, aging, and even social class.

Another aspect of this novel that I thought was great was Sittenfeld's character work. It is really good and probably one of the best contemporary authors out there at creating nuanced and memorable characters. She is at the top of her game here. However, I did feel the pacing of Romantic Comedy was off at times, such as the lengthy emails and once she left The Night Owls, I found myself a bit bummed as that setting was utterly captivating. Other than that, I thought it was a smart contemporary romance that fans of Sittenfeld will most definitely enjoy. While I liked Sittenfeld's Eligible a bit more, it was still a solid novel that I'd recommend. 

Have you read Romantic Comedy? Are you a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Famous Seaweed Soup

 

You all know I love going to the beach and one of my favorite things about the beach with little ones is the fact that they can use their imagination. Whether they are building sandcastles, pretending to be pirates, exploring uncharted territories, or looking for seashells, it's such a great break from the usual grind. My son used to make different concoctions or "brews" at the beach and combine just about anything he could find from seaweed to crab legs to rocks. So, when I saw this new picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup, it immediately caught my eye and reminded me of beach days with my youngest son.

I've partnered with Purple Butterfly Press to showcase Famous Seaweed Soup, a new picture book by Antoinette Truglio Martin, and to host an amazing giveaway to celebrate its upcoming publication. Teachers, you are going to love this giveaway!

Learn More About the Book:

 

Famous Seaweed Soup

Written by Antoinette Truglio Martin

Illustrated by Penny Weber

Ages 5+ | 32 Pages

Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press | ISBN-13: 9781955119405

Publisher’s Book Summary: Beach days are the best days and Sara loves everything about the beach. Her favorite part is making her Famous Seaweed Soup. Collecting all the ingredients is a tough job but Sara thinks she’s up to the task! 

Can she make it all by herself or will a busy family foil her recipe?

 

You can pre-order your own copy of Famous Seaweed Soup at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop, which comes out next month. You can learn more about Antoinette Truglio Martin by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

The Giveaway: 

 

I've partnered with Purple Butterfly Press to host this amazing giveaway that would be perfect to share with the preschool or elementary teacher in your life! Enter for the chance to win a 30-book classroom set of Famous Seaweed Soup! One winner will receive a 30-book classroom set of Famous Seaweed Soup and five winners will receive a paperback copy of Famous Seaweed Soup. Good luck!

 Famous Seaweed Soup Book Giveaway

 

 

Blog Tour: Only the Beautiful

 

I read Susan Meissner's As Bright as Heaven a few years ago and absolutely adored it. I thought the novel was so powerful and moving as it focused on the 1918 flu pandemic in Philadelphia. Her latest novel, Only the Beautiful, I hear is just powerful and will tug on your heartstrings. It's a novel about WWII, a family saga, and a story of survival. 

I am part of the Berkley's blog tour today showcasing Only the Beautiful, which comes out today! Let me know if you add it to your spring TBR list. 

Learn More About the Novel:

 

Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner

Pub. Date: April 18, 2023

 

Goodreads says, "California, 1938: Sixteen-year-old Rosanne is not like other girls—she has synesthesia, which means that she can see colors when she hears sound. Rosanne has experienced this gift for as long as she can remember, and it makes her daily life more interesting. But she’s promised her mother that she will tell no one, for fear that others won’t understand. When Rosanne’s parents are killed in a car accident, she is sent to live with their employers, the owners of a vineyard. Her sadness becomes too much to bear, and Rosanne confides in the man who took her in, and they become close—to devastating consequence. It’s not long before Rosanne ends up pregnant—and she is sent to a place where unspeakable things happen to her…Austria, 1947: The second world war has ended, but Helen Calvert’s grief has yet to abate. As a nanny to a special needs child, she has witnessed firsthand the horrors wrought by Adolf Hitler—and she is ready to return home to the United States, where she can leave the memories of war behind her. But when Helen arrives back in California, she is shocked to learn about what happened to Rosanne, the vinedresser’s young daughter who she knew before the war—and how the tragedies she faced in Europe have reverberated back home…."

 

You can purchase your own copy of Only the Beautiful at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Bookshop. You can learn more about Susan Meissner by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

So, are you a fan of Susan Meissner? Is Only the Beautiful on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Odette's Alphabet

Happy Friday! We are kicking off the weekend with a fun giveaway perfect for the little readers in your life. I love picture books that address mindfulness and Odette's Alphabet by Sandrine Marlier is just that. This new picture book is great for teaching young children about the power of meditation as well as deep breathing. All children can certainly benefit from these practices.

Learn More About the Book:

 

Odette's Alphabet

Written by Sandrine Marlier

Ages 5+ | 64 Pages

Publisher: Belle Isle Books | ISBN-13: 9781953021519

Publisher’s Book Summary: One day, Odette the ant wakes up feeling stressed. After realizing that all she does is work, Odette decides to leave her anthill in search of the freedom to create her own world. Along the way, she meets Marcus, a lost mouse, and together they discover simple ways to feel better. Inspired by her journey and this wonderful new friendship, Odette finds her way back home to the colony with a new sense of being.

Odette’s Alphabet is a mindful story that offers a map to handle big emotions with kindness, unity, and courage. Fun and easy activities support each of the chapters, along with letters of the alphabet to provide additional opportunities for learning while encouraging young readers to explore meditation practices.

 

You can purchase your own copy of Odette's Alphabet at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon. You can learn more about Sandrine Marlier by visiting her website and connecting with her on Instagram. 

Giveaway:

 

 

I've partnered with Sandrine Marlier to host an amazing giveaway to celebrate the recent publication of Odette's Alphabet. One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Odette's Alphabet and a $25 Amazon gift card. Two winners will receive a copy of Odette's Alphabet. Good luck! 

 

 Odette's Alphabet Book Giveaway

 

Blog Tour: The Cuban Heiress

 

It should come as no surprise that I am excited to read Chanel Cleeton's latest novel, The Cuban Heiress, which just came out this week. I can always count on Cleeton to teach me something new about Cuba's history. Her books are filled with such interesting historical details and I have really come to enjoy them each spring.

 

Learn More About the Book Here:

 

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

Pub. Date: April 11, 2023

"In 1934, the ultimate vacation becomes a fight for survival as the secrets of two women’s pasts collide aboard a luxury cruise liner on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the tragedy of the SS Morro Castle.New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead—and why. Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her—and her prey is on the ship. As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all."

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Cuban Heiress at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon. You can learn more about Chanel Cleeton by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

 

So, let me know what you think and if The Cuban Heiress is on your spring TBR list in the comments below.  

 

Mini Reviews: New Releases Edition

 

There are so many great books that have recently come out; my TBR pile is overflowing. I read these two new releases and really enjoyed both of them. Have you read them? Both books are being optioned for TV, which is really exciting!

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: March 7, 2023

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

 

 

Goodreads says, "It is an ordinary Monday and harried London literary agent Emma is flying out of the door as usual. Preoccupied with work and her ever growing to-do list, she fails to notice her lovely husband Dan seems bereft, her son can barely meet her eye, and her daughter won’t go near her. Even the dog seems sad. She is far too busy, buried deep in her phone; social media alerts pinging; clients messaging with “emergencies”; keeping track of a dozen WhatsApp groups about the kids’ sports, school, playdates, all of it. Her whole day is frantic—what else is new—and as she rushes back through the door for dinner, Dan is still upset. They fight, and he walks out, desolate, dragging their poor dog around the block. Just as she realizes it is their anniversary and she has forgotten, again, she hears the screech of brakes. Dan is dead. The next day Emma wakes up… and Dan is alive. And it’s Monday again. And again. And again. Emma tries desperately to change the course of fate by doing different things each time she wakes up: leaving WhatsApp, telling her boss where to get off, writing to Dan, listening to her kids, reaching out to forgotten friends, getting drunk and buying out Prada. But will Emma have the chance to find herself again, remember what she likes about her job, reconnect with her children, love her husband? Will this be enough to change the fate they seem destined for? A moving “What if” story of what it is to be a woman in the modern world—never feeling we’re getting it quite right—about learning to slow down and appreciate life that is sure to resonate with women’s fiction fans."

 

Emma is a literary agent in London and is busy with the demands of her career, motherhood, and all that comes with raising two children in a busy city. She is starting to let the needs of her family slip away and even forgets to celebrate the anniversary of when she met Dan, her husband. This is something they always celebrate with letters to one another, but Emma forgot as, like most mothers, she has a lot on her plate. Things take a turn for the worse when Dan unexpectedly dies and obviously, this turns Emma's world upside down. All those meetings, work emails, and volunteering she did don't seem so important now. However, she has another chance. When she wakes up the next day, Dan is alive. Does she have a chance to fix things or is this Dan's fate? Is she destined to live this excruciating day over and over again? Cesca Major's Maybe Next Time is a thoughtful and heart wrenching read about family, love, and living a mindful life.

Maybe Next Time truly resonated with me, much more than I thought it would. Emma's journey was reminiscent of Groundhog Day and it was a good reminder to live a more mindful life. So much of our days are filled with rushing here and there, attending this meeting, taking our kids to an activity, emailing back a coworker, that we forget to stop and look around and appreciate life and our loved ones. Maybe Next Time reminds us of this and while Emma's journey was hard at times to read, I was completely caught up in her story and was hoping she find a way out. The book truly makes you think. What would you do if you were Emma? Maybe Next Time is going to be made into a movie as it was picked up by Reese Witherspoon's company and I can't wait to see it! I may need a box of tissues though. If you like heartfelt novels with a touch of magical realism, pick this book up this spring!

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Pub. Date: March 7, 2023

Genre: Adult Fiction

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Darley, the eldest daughter in the well-connected, carefully guarded, old-money Stockton family, followed her heart, trading her job and inheritance for motherhood, sacrificing more of herself than she ever intended. Sasha, middle-class and from New England, has married into the Brooklyn Heights family and finds herself cast as the arriviste outsider, wondering how she might ever understand their WASP-y ways. Georgiana, the baby of the family, has fallen in love with someone she can’t (and really shouldn’t) have and must confront the kind of person she wants to be. Rife with the indulgent pleasures of life among New York’s one-percenters, Pineapple Street is a smart escapist novel that sparkles with wit. It’s about the peculiar unknowability of someone else’s family, the miles between the haves and have-nots and everything in between, and the insanity of first love."

Sasha has married into the wealthy Stockton family and now lives in the Stockton family's massive house in Brooklyn Heights. While she recognizes the extreme privilege she has by living here, she can't help but feeling like she lives in some version of Grey Gardens. There's antiques at every turn, itchy sofas, overpowering drapes, the remnants of the Stockton family in each room, and she can't redecorate like she'd want to. Despite signing a prenup, Darley and Georgiana, her sisters-in-law, refer to her as a gold digger. Darley met her husband, Malcolm, in business school, and has left the corporate world to raise her two children. She is navigating life as a stay-at-home mom and dealing with Malcom's extreme demands in the business world of aviation. Then there's Georgiana, the youngest of the Stocktons, who is single and is considered a do-gooder for working at a non-profit organization. While there, Georgiana forms a crush on one of her coworkers and their relationship changes her. The Stockton family wouldn't be complete without the matriarch, Tilda, who is filled with biting comments, boring small talk, tennis matches, designer clothing, and issues that plague the 1%.  If you love a good family drama about entitled New York families, Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson is it. It reminded me of Succession, but with more heart.

 

Each chapter is told from a different point of view, either Sasha, Darley or Georgiana, in Pineapple Street. Each woman is dealing with different issues at this point in their lives with Sasha desperately trying to fit in. Her background is different than the Stocktons, so she never quite assimilates into their world despite her recent accomplishments. Each Stockton sibling has a trust that they can live off of, except Darley, who gave hers up for her children as her husband makes enough money as it is and he did not sign a prenup. However, things start to go awry for Sasha, Darley, and Georgiana in their own way and the problems test who they are and what they believe in. I loved all the family drama and it was a fun glimpse into the 1% and their (cue my eye rolling!) rich people problems. Pineapple Street is an indulging debut that will make for an interesting TV show for sure.  

 

 

So, have you read Maybe Next Time or Pineapple Street? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Blog Tour: The Nanny

 

The past few years I have really started to enjoy contemporary romances. I am always on the hunt for a good one and with the warmer weather en route, pool days and beach days up ahead, a good romance is a must! 

I'm part of Berkley's blog tour today showcasing The Nanny by Lana Ferguson, which just came out last week. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this new romance!

Learn More About the Book:

 

 

"When grad student Cassie Evans finds herself unemployed and about to get evicted, she is faced with two choices: find a new job ASAP or log into her once popular, but now deactivated OnlyFans account. Except the job market is terrible and she absolutely cannot go back to OnlyFans after what happened last time…

When Cassie stumbles upon a live-in nanny position for a nine-year-old, it seems like the solution to all her problems. And then she meets her would-be employer. 

Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire, is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie imagined and all but begs her to take the job. With hands that draw too much of her attention and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous. But Cassie is out of options and decides to stay with him and his daughter, Sophie.

Then Cassie discovers that she and Aiden already know each other—intimately. The mask Cassie wore during her solo OnlyFans sessions did its job at shielding her face because Aiden has no idea that the woman he just hired was once his favorite performer. Cassie knows she should tell Aiden the truth, but she reallyneeds this job, and she may have developed some feelings for her top subscriber. 

As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling him the truth and losing the best chance at a happiness she’s ever had."

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Nanny at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Amazon, and Books-A-Million. You can learn more about Lana Ferguson by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook and Instagram.

So, is The Nanny on your spring TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

What I'm Reading Next: My April TBR List

 

I can't quite believe April is already here! I am looking forward to all this month has to offer. Here are the books (and I probably won't get to all of them!) I hope to read this month.

1.  The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

Kelly's WWII novels never disappoint.

2.  Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen

Rosen's latest novel focuses on the life of Estée Lauder.

 

 

3.  A Lakeside Reunion by C. Chilove

Bring on all the beach reads! 

4.  The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

Cleeton's novels are always entertaining and this one focuses on the true story of the SS Morro Castle.

5.  The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz

An updated take on an Audrey Hepburn's film, Sabrina, which is one of my favorites. 

6.  The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

I'm always on the hunt for a fun contemporary romance.

7.  Kismet by Becky Chalsen

 

 

A wedding and the gorgeous location of Fire Island are the ingredients for a good beach read!

8.  Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

This one is getting a lot of buzz about a pop star and a comedy writer.

 

What books do you hope to read this month? Are any of these books on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments.