Audiobook Review: The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Audiobook

Pub. Date: September 8, 2026

Publisher: Random House Audio

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Frozen River

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Grace O’Malley was born to be a sea captain. But despite her natural skill on the water, Grace learns early that her dreams of a life at the helm are not compatible with the expectations of her noble family. As the only daughter of a powerful chieftain, her role is to secure a strong alliance and bear children. But when she’s sent to foster with a nearby clan, Grace falls for a clever and open-minded second son—a man she cannot have.

Married off against her will to a brutal warrior, Grace performs her duty, all the while gathering followers loyal to her, and consolidating her husband’s power, only to be ousted from his lands. But this betrayal offers Grace the opportunity to return to sea, finally leading clan O’Malley’s mighty fleet. Just as she finds true independence, Queen Elizabeth’s incursions into Ireland grow bolder and Grace must fight to defend her land, her ships, and the people she loves most against the cruel and power-hungry English deputies, who will stop at nothing to check her influence.

Keenly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's new action-packed novel channels the untamed beauty and harsh realities of sixteenth-century Ireland, as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine who rightly became “the Pirate Queen of Ireland.”

 

Grainne, or Grace O'Malley, as history remembers her, is the daughter of a chieftain in 16th-century Ireland. Readers may know a little bit about her as she is legendary in Irish folklore and history, but Ariel Lawhon's The Pirate Queen takes it one step further. Readers are taken back to her childhood, her time as a mother, and, lastly, as a matriarch. Throughout those various points in her life, one thing remained: her love for the sea. Grainne, or Grace, wasn't brought up like a typical girl. She is adventurous, can understand the sea, sails (despite her father not wanting her to), and deals with the ups and downs of leading a clan. Her life is one adventure after another filled in between with tender moments of love, heartbreak, and motherhood. Ariel Lawhon brings her life together beautifully in The Pirate Queen, and the audiobook is an immersive experience.

 

Lawhon, who usually writes novels with chapters that are from different time periods, has done the same in The Pirate Queen. The novel isn't told linearly; in fact, it jumps around from her childhood all the way to her final years. So one chapter could be about eight-year-old Grace, and then next, she is 56. I do not prefer this kind of braided story; however, it didn't deter my enjoyment of the novel.

 

My favorite aspect of The Pirate Queen is how immersive the tale was; Lawhon does a superb job of bringing Ireland to life. Everything from the descriptions of the land, the clans, all the way to the Gaelic dialect and sayings. The story takes us to beautiful Ireland during her childhood, to her arranged marriage to the horrible O'Flaherty, up to the battlefields during the Elizabethan era. It was all utterly captivating.

 

Tara Flynn, the audiobook's narrator, does a wonderful job bringing the story to life and the dialect. I am glad I listened to this book as her storytelling enhanced my experience. The Pirate Queen is definitely one of my favorite audiobooks of the year.

 

If you love a good adventure, look no further. The Pirate Queen will have you flipping the pages as well as dreaming of an afternoon exploring castles in Ireland and taking windswept walks along its cliffs. Have you read The Pirate Queen? Are you a fan of Ariel Lawhon? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Mini Reviews: Memorable Women

I love reading books about women who were misunderstood or long forgotten—women written off as secondary characters in the pages of history. Today, I’m sharing two new books about notorious (and often misunderstood)! women: Anne Boleyn, Queen of England and one of Henry VIII’s wives, and Peggy Shippen, also known as Mrs. Benedict Arnold.

 

The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman

Pages: 416

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction 

Pub. Date: August 4, 2026 

Publisher: Grove/Atlantic

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to the newly-anointed eighteen-year-old king, Henry VIII, Thomas's young daughter, Anne, implores him not to leave. "Well, make sure the prize you bring me is worth it, Father," Anne demands of him. "I will try," he responds. "But I'll wager even a crown wouldn't satisfy you." Such premonitions resonate convincingly throughout Tracy Borman's rich and compelling novel. Blending the history she knows so well with the creativity of her imagination, Borman brings the Boleyn family's three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life.

Borman surrounds the main dramatic events of the Boleyn saga with a colourful tableau in which servants play key roles, familial and inter-familial rivalries threaten, and true love often loses out to keen ambition. Anne's ever-loyal attendant Agnes Frideswide, and Thomas Boleyn's perfidious steward Robert Cranwell, are as memorable as Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, or anyone in the increasingly dangerous orbit of Henry VIII's court, as he pursues Anne relentlessly, only to abandon her when she can't give him the son and heir he desperately seeks."

 

Everyone knows the story of the Boleyn family, who took Henry VIII's court by storm; the rise and fall of this family is legendary, and of course, everyone knows what happened to the ill-fated Anne Boleyn. However, Tracy Borman, a Tudor Historian, delves deeper into the Boleyn family as a whole, starting with Anne's father, Thomas. The story of this family spans three generations and offers a fresh perspective by examining not only the usual Boleyns (Mary, Anne, and George, along with their father) but also their grandmother, Margaret. Her story is complex, and other secondary characters come to the forefront, one being Anne's attendant, Esther, and Thomas's steward, Robert Cranwell (not to be confused with Cromwell!). Since Borman is a Tudor historian, readers can appreciate the level of detail in The House of Boleyn and the fresh perspective on a much-told story.
 
Borman did a superb job of bringing Tudor England to life; she truly knows the topic. I felt like I was there! Anne is portrayed as bookish, smart, charming, interested in politics, and a little unconventional, much to her mother's dismay. The House of Boleyn depicts her sister, Mary, (with an interesting take on her situation), George, George's wife (also an interesting take), and the other usual suspects: Cromwell, Cardinal Wolsey, and more. Even though I knew Anne's fate, Borman made the story feel fresh; I appreciated the new perspectives. Fans of stories centered on the Tudors, as well as Philippa Gregory, will appreciate The House of Boleyn the most.

 

 

 

Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction 

Pub. Date: April 28, 2026

Publisher: Zando

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.

When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s imagination: General Benedict Arnold.

As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.

When uncertainty and bloodshed are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go for safety?

 

This debut novel, which focuses on Peggy Shippen, otherwise known as Mrs. Benedict Arnold, will pull in any fan of the American Revolution. I knew a little about the Arnolds and mostly had a negative impression of them, like most people. However, Parry did a great job bringing Peggy Shippen's story to life and humanizing her. Peggy grew up in a wealthy family in Philadelphia and was mostly concerned about balls and clothing. She brushed shoulders with the British soldiers in the city; however, her family was well-known for not getting involved in politics, but had Loyalist tendencies. She forms a relationship with British Major John Andre, but once he leaves the city, their romance dwindles, much to her dismay, but they keep up a correspondence. Then Benedict Arnold comes into her circle and her world is forever changed. Despite her father's Loyalist tendencies, she starts a relationship with Arnold, the Continental military commander of Philadelphia. What ensues is a story of intrigue, espionage, conspiracies, romance, and more. Emma Parry's debut, Mrs. Benedict Arnold, is perfect for fans of Hamilton as well as AMC's Turn.
 
I have always enjoyed stories about the American Revolution, and Parry does an excellent job of bringing Peggy Arnold to the forefront. Oftentimes, she is merely a footnote in the history of the American Revolution, but she actually played a significant role in the conspiracy, which Parry highlights in Mrs. Benedict Arnold. What surprised me most about this novel was that I found myself feeling sympathy for the Arnolds. Their situation was complex, and when learning about these events, we often don't get the full picture of what Benedict endured. It’s definitely a complicated story. My only issue with the novel was the use of modern language throughout, which felt jarring. I’m not sure why this wasn’t edited to more appropriate phrasing for the time period. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Peggy's story, and I now appreciate her much more. She is much more than just a "spy" or the wife of the notorious Benedict Arnold.

 

 

Have you read either novel? Are you a fan of the Tudors or the time period of the American Revolution? Let me know in the comments below.  

 

Blog Tour: An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton

 

Chanel Cleeton is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, so when I had the chance to participate in Berkley's blog tour for her new novel, An Infinite Love Story, I eagerly joined. The novel was released yesterday and features a dual-timeline narrative set during the Space Race of the 1960s. I love that time period and can't wait to immerse myself in this book. I've heard it's perfect for fans of Atmosphere. Is An Infinite Love Story on your summer TBR list?

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton

Pub. Date: July 7, 2026 

  

Goodreads says, "When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her. "

 

You can purchase your own copy of An Infinite Love Story at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books A Million, and Bookshop.  

To learn more about Chanel Cleeton, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. 

In the comments, let me know if you are a fan of Chanel Cleeton and if you plan on reading An Infinite Love Story this summer. 

Audiobook Review: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

Pages: 656

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: May 5, 2026

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Help

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, Prohibition is on the wane, and the Great Depression is tightening its grip. Poor and rich folks alike have fallen on hard times, even as the old social order remains. For women on the margins, the options are few and the price of dignity and self-determination is unbearably high.

Eleven-year-old Meg, one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford on a mission to ask her social-climbing sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. And Charlie is a woman with a past, running low on luck but driven by fire, fury, and grit. When their fates converge, they come up with an audacious plan to take back control of their lives. Together, they form an unlikely sisterhood—but in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife, women’s freedom is fragile, and making an enemy can have dire consequences, will the price they pay for their outrageous risk-taking be too high?

The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to resilience, friendship, and the fierce, funny women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time."

 

 

Meg Lefleur is down on her luck. Her mother abandoned her around Christmas and left her to fend for herself. The year is 1933, and she finds herself at the orphanage in Oxford, Mississippi, under the "protection" of a mean director who seems to have it out for her. She is counting the days till she gets out of the orphanage. Once she turns twelve, she can head off to the cannery for work; unless, that is, her mother returns for her. That is the hope that keeps her going. Then there's Birdie Calhoun, who has returned to Oxford to visit her sister, Frances, and ask for money. Birdie, and her family live on the Delta, and their house is on the brink of foreclosure. They need some money from Frances who has married into a wealthy family, but once she gets to Oxford, she realizes that things are not what they seem at Frances's home or with her marriage. Birdie crosses paths with Meg as well as Meg's biological mother, Charlie, who has concocted a plan to make enough money to get Meg back, and she lets Birdie in on this plan as she needs money, too. Ultimately, The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett is a story about mothers, daughters, community, and the will to survive. It's one of those books that stays with the reader long after the final chapter is read.
 
Stockett creates such dynamic characters; I truly cared about all of them, even if I didn't always agree with their decisions in The Calamity Club. Meg is a spitfire of an eleven-year-old who deserves so much more than being abused in the county orphanage. I desperately wanted her out of there, and to watch how her life intersects Birdie's was also well plotted. Birdie's story was also a compelling one, and she was a character whom I came to enjoy. I wanted her to have her happy ending, too, and as the story progressed, Birdie grew as a person. Lastly, all of the secondary characters who enter the story were memorable and well developed; Stockett did a superb job bringing them to life. 
 
The setting of Oxford, Mississippi, during the Great Depression was outstanding. It's crazy to think that Stockett didn't even live then, because the setting, the atmosphere, the details all jumped off the page in The Calamity Club. It's A+ historical fiction and at times reads like a modern classic; it would make for a great TV show or movie.
 
But be forewarned. The Calamity Club is really, really, really long. I am glad I chose to listen to the audiobook as well as read the novel, as I jumped back and forth. I must be honest that I was drawn to the audiobook more as the narrators brought the characters to life so very well and really helped push the story along when it meandered a bit and slowed down much like a person on a hot, humid day in the south. I do think some parts could have been cut as the story really chugged along in some chapters; nonetheless, despite the slow pacing at times, it was a fantastic read, complete with everything a historical fiction fan could want.
 
If you love historical fiction, don't miss this one this summer. I recommend the audiobook for a more dynamic presentation. Despite its imposing length, The Calamity Club is a memorable read and one of my favorites of the year. 

 

Book Review: Kin by Tayari Jones

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: February 24, 2026

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Vernice and Annie, two motherless daughters raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, have been best friends and neighbors since earliest childhood, but are fated to live starkly different lives. Raised by a fierce aunt determined to give her a stable home in the wake of her mother’s death, Vernice leaves Atlanta at eighteen for Spelman College, where she joins a sisterhood of powerfully connected Black women and marries into an affluent family. Annie, abandoned by her dissolute mother as a child, and fixated on the idea of finding her and filling the bottomless hole left by her absence, sets off on a journey that will take her into a world of peril and adversity, as well as love and adventure, and culminate in a battle for her life.

A novel about mothers and daughters, about friendship and sisterhood, and the complexities of being a woman in the American South, Kin is an exuberant, emotionally rich, unforgettable work from one of the brightest and most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction.

 

It's the 1950s in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, where Vernice (Nicey) and Annie have bonded over their trauma. Both young women are without mothers. Nicey is being raised by her aunt Irene, as her mother was murdered, and Annie's mother left her as an infant, so she is being raised by her grandmother. As they navigate their teens and adult life together, their bonds are forged even more strongly. Nicey, who is a little more subdued, has the opportunity to go to Spelman College and make something of herself. There, she meets a lot of different black women who inspire her to change her life and leave Honeysuckle behind. Annie, meanwhile, always searching for her mother, Hattie, decides to embark on an adventure of sorts with friends to Memphis, where her mother was last spotted. Annie's journey is anything but calm, with a lot of ups and downs along the way in the Jim Crow South. No matter what obstacles are thrown their way, Nicey and Annie still find one another, even if their paths take them in opposite directions. Kin by Tayari Jones is a brilliant novel that almost reads like a modern classic; it's vivid, compelling, and a master class in character development.
 
From the beginning of Kin, I was struck by the strong friendship between Nicey and Annie. Although they have very different personalities, they complement each other well. Nicey’s life takes her to an affluent Black community in Atlanta, where she is focused on finding a advantageous marriage. In contrast, Annie embarks on a road trip to Memphis, navigating through the turbulent South. This journey brings attention to Southern culture as well as the realities of the Jim Crow era.

I was truly impressed by Jones's character development; it was brilliant! The characters and the Southern setting came alive on the page. Whether Nicey was mingling with the wealthy in Atlanta or Annie was walking along a sweltering dirt road in the Deep South, I felt as though I were there. Additionally, the alternating points of view between Annie and Nicey further developed their characters. Despite their geographical distance, the story intricately tied both women together, as their friendship and shared childhood strongly drew them back to one another.
 
This is my first novel by Jones, but it won't certainly be my last. I adored Kin and thought it was written beautifully. It reminded me of a classic in the best way possible. Have you read Kin? Are you a fan of Tayari Jones? Let me know in the comments below.  

 

Book Review: The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty

Pages: 512

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Publisher: Kensington

Pub. Date: December 16, 2025

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Vera always knew she didn’t fit in. When she learns that she is meant to be in another time, she leaps at the chance to embrace a new life in a world of valor, intrigue, and unexpected magic in this bold and romantic retelling of Arthurian legend . . .

22-year-old Vera is at a crossroads: waiting tables, grieving her previous relationship, and jogging aimlessly each morning as if toward an uncertain future. Then an odd man shows up at her workplace, insisting that she was once the legendary Queen Guinevere of Camelot, and that her lost memories hold the key to changing both the past and the present. Somehow, it all feels like the direction she’s been looking for. But when she asks the mysterious man to tell her more about Lancelot, Arthur, and a faithless queen, he can only say that much of what she’s heard about Camelot is wrong. The truth, he claims, is something she must see for herself.

After jumping through a portal in Glastonbury’s historic center, Vera is not prepared for what she finds. Magic is everywhere, but a curse on the kingdom means it dwindles every day. She has no idea how to perform a queen’s duties. Her fast friendship with Lancelot sets gossip flowing, and the stranger she must call “husband” often refuses to meet her eye. Arthur is a puzzle: cold, forbidding, and, while angry to her face, keeps leaving secret tokens of tenderness in her chambers. Worst of all, Vera’s memories—and the answers locked within them—show no signs of returning. If Vera is truly destined to save Camelot, she’ll have to trust her instincts. And her king will have to trust her . . ."

 

Vera is a twenty-two-year-old living with her adopted parents in Glastonbury working at her parents' hotel. She is still grieving the untimely death of Vincent, her boyfriend, who died in a car crash. Her daily life has become monotonous until the arrival of a strange man at the hotel who tells her she must come with him to another time. She is actually Guinevere and has been hiding out in modern day, but must return to King Arthur's court to ultimately save England, which desperately needs her. Obviously, this sounds crazy, but Vera's mother confirms that this message is the truth. The mysterious stranger turns out to be Merlin, who, by using magic, can time-travel through a wormhole. Once back to Camelot, she has to acclimate to the time period and the dynamics at court. There are all the legendary characters present: Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, and more, but Vera must forget what she knows about King Arthur's court and learn for herself what it's like to live there. It doesn't help that Arthur won't open up to her and avoids her, which is beyond frustrating for Vera. Also, she must figure out her place in this new world, how she can help save England, and what happened to her before her "disappearance" to another time. Paula Lafferty's The Once and Future Queen is a mash-up of various genres and a fun modern take on the King Arthur legend.
 
I have always enjoyed the legend of King Arthur, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Lafferty's modern take on it. The first half of the book really pulled me in. To have Guinevere time-travel back to the court, after spending some time in Modern England, is a fun premise. While the science behind Merlin's wormhole and his magic was lacking, if readers suspend their disbelief and just go along with it, they are in for a lot of enjoyment. Also, the slow-burning romance between Arthur and Guinevere was also enjoyable, and Lafferty really took her time developing their relationship and explaining the backstory as to why Arthur has been so closed off lately. Lastly, Lancelot's friendship with Guinevere was also well done, and that was a entertaining take on the usual legend.

My only gripe with The Once and Future Queen was the length. I felt like it dragged on in the middle, which impacted the pacing. The characters also spoke in a modern way, which didn't feel very authentic for the time period. But other than that, I thought it was an enjoyable time-travel/historical fiction novel with a small side of romance. Fans of the Arthurian legend will especially appreciate this one, as well as fans of romantasy that prefer their fantasies to not include too many spicy scenes. 

Let me know in the comments if you enjoy Arthurian legend and time travel stories. The Once and Future Queen is the start of a promising trilogy, so let me know if you plan on reading it this winter.   

 

 

  

Book Review: The Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

Pages: 496

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 14, 2025

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The White Queen, The Red Queen,

The Lady of the Rivers,  The Kingmaker's Daughter, 

The White Princess, The King's Curse,

 Tidelands, and  The Constant Princess 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens.

For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.

Philippa Gregory masterfully shines a spotlight on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, peeling back the myths to reveal a complex portrait of a woman who dared to survive at any cost. Perfect for fans of thrilling historical drama and readers captivated by the intrigue of the Tudor period, Boleyn Traitor is a must-read."

 

Jane Boleyn, often cast into the shadows, as the famous Anne Boleyn takes up all the oxygen in the room. Jane is Anne's sister-in-law and lady-in-waiting; she is married to Anne's brother, George. But Jane isn't some meek mouse. She has an extensive educational background, thanks to her father, and sees it all at court. After the events surrounding Anne's execution, readers then see the slow downfall of Henry VIII's court through her eyes. There's so much: the danger, the court intrigue, the game playing, the Spanish spies, and more. Jane must make sure she is safe, especially after the execution of her husband and Anne. Cromwell seeks her out as one of his spies, so this adds to the court intrigue as well. Not much is known about Jane historically, and what is known often paints her as a traitor to Anne and George, but what if there is more than that? Philippa Gregory's The Boleyn Traitor is a captivating historical tale focusing on Jane Boleyn and her story of ambition and survival in the dangerous Tudor era.
 
If you are a long-time reader of the blog, you know how much I love Gregory's ability to transport readers to Tudor England. All of her novels that focus on this time period are excellent, well-researched, and immersive. That is the case with The Boleyn Traitor; however, I did feel that Jane wasn't as compelling as some of Gregory's other protagonists. Nonetheless, her story is important, and I liked Gregory's take on it. 
 
If you love the Tudor Era and learning more about Henry VIII and his many wives and perhaps what went down from a slightly outside perspective, The Boleyn Traitor is the book for you. It was interesting revisiting this court through Jane's eyes and watching as Henry slowly goes through all of his many wives and finds fault with all, if not most of them. The addition of Cromwell using Jane as a spy is also well done and added to the suspense, despite knowing how things play out in history. 
 
While this wasn’t my favorite of the Tudor novels, I still appreciated being immersed once again in Gregory's world. As always, I eagerly anticipate her future works of historical fiction, which I deem to be among the most compelling and immersive in the genre today.

Are you a fan of Philippa Gregory? Have you read The Boleyn Traitor? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: September 30, 2025

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Our Last Days in Barcelona, 

Next Year in Havana, The Cuban Heiress,  

The House on Biscayne Bay, The Last Train to Key West,  

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, and When We Left Cuba 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "London, 2024: When American expat Margo Reynolds is hired to source a book that’s more than one hundred and twenty years old, she thinks her greatest challenge is going to be that there’s only one copy in existence. However, it quickly becomes clear that her client isn’t the only person determined to procure the book at any cost. Thrust into a deadly quest, Margo teams up with an unlikely ally—the man she loved and lost—and is forced to confront the ghosts of her own past as the lingering feelings that simmer between them ignite.

Havana, 1966: Pilar Castillo’s days are spent working as a librarian in Havana, her nights spent hoping for her husband’s freedom after his unjust imprisonment. But Pilar has a secret that could jeopardize her life. She’s fighting Fidel’s regime in her own way, and when she comes into possession of a book that was published more than sixty years earlier, she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to protect the literary works entrusted to her care.

Boston, 1900: For Cuban teacher Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to participate in the largest cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States is not only a chance to represent her country at a critical time in its bid for independence, but also an opportunity to work on the book she’s writing. When a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger alters the course of Eva’s summer at Harvard, and as secrets, lies, and forbidden love rise to the surface, Eva’s life—and legacy—is irrevocably changed."

 
Eva is a young teacher in Cuba who has the chance of a lifetime to spend her summer at Harvard in an ambassador program between Cuba and America. It's 1900, so this is a wonderful opportunity for her to step outside of Cuba and see what else the world holds. While there, she experiences new things and even some romance. From her trip to America, she wrote a novel, A Time for Forgetting. Many years later, in 1966, Pilar, a librarian, is entrusted with this book. Pilar has smuggled rare books out of Cuba to avoid the regime's grasp on them. Pilar has even dealt with the regime personally, as her husband was arrested by Fidel's men. In 2025, Margo is someone who deals with rare items that are hard to come by. She is tasked with the job of finding A Time for Forgetting, which has been missing, but she doesn't know why she needs to find this book or who is making the request. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton weaves three time periods and three storylines together very well while also bringing to life Cuba's interesting history.
 
Eva is experiencing a whole new world by being a part of the ambassador program between Cuba and America, as the cultural differences are vast and the 20th-century world is changing. I felt that Eva's character could have been developed a bit more, as I wasn't drawn to her story line as much as I thought I would be. On the other hand, Pilar's plot thread in 1966 is more compelling in that she is tasked with taking care of rare books and protecting them from Castro's regime - Eva's book being one of them! Lastly, Margo's modern-day story line involves a mystery and some suspense as well (there's a murder!) as she tracks down A Time for Forgetting. Meanwhile, readers are wondering who has requested that Margo find the only copy of this book and, more importantly, why. 
 
As always in Chanel Cleeton's novels, readers will gain insight into Cuba and its complex history. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes brings to life both Cuba and Margo's globetrotting adventure. While this wasn't my favorite of Cleeton's works, I believe her fans will still be satisfied, especially those who appreciate the impact of books. A rare book intertwines the lives of three women, and readers who value that theme as well as the power of books, will particularly enjoy the story. In the comments below, let me know if you're a fan of Chanel Cleeton and if you've read The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes. 

 
 

Audiobook Review: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Audiobook

Pub. Date: September 2, 2025

Publisher: Random House Audio

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way—until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened.

Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie—but nothing stays buried forever in a small town. Against the backdrop of some of the most transformative decades in modern America, the consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold.

Sweeping yet intimate, rich with piercing observation and the warmth that comes from profound understanding of the human spirit, Buckeye captures the universal longing for love and for goodness."

 

It's 1939 in Bonhomie, Ohio, a small town that hasn't changed in years. Cal Jenkins runs his father-in-law's hardware store and is married to Becky, a local girl he's known for years. They have a son, Skip, and life is pretty hunky-dory, except for the fact that Becky holds seances in their home. She can communicate with the dead, and this puts a wedge in their marriage. Plus, Cal is dealing with the guilt that, as WWII approaches, he can't enlist as he has an orthopedic condition. This brings him great shame that he carries for years. Margaret and Felix Salt move to town from the big city due to Felix's work, and Margaret acclimates to the mundane small-town life. She has her own bag of trauma from her childhood, as she was pushed around from orphanage to foster homes. Felix, on the other hand, has been questioning his sexual identity for years, and this plagues him daily. With the war booming, he decides to enlist in the Navy and is sent to a cargo ship in the Pacific. As the years go by, Margaret must learn to deal with life in Bonhomie without him. On VE Day, Margaret hears on the hardware store's radio that the war is over, and in a moment of passion, kisses Cal. This sparks an affair that will reverberate through the years. The story follows the Jenkins family through the years - through postwar America, and the upcoming Vietnam War, and how that impacts their son, Skip's life. Margaret and Felix have a son of their own, and while younger than Skip, they cross paths with each other in the neighborhood, and they become friends. Cue the awkwardness! As another war looms on the horizon, it will impact these two families who are bonded together through secrets. Patrick Ryan's Buckeye is such a moving audiobook and one of my favorites of the year. It's heartfelt, desperately sad, emotionally charged, devastating, but beautiful - much like life.
 
I loved how Ryan developed these characters in Buckeye. I thought it was a masterclass on character development. He makes each character unique and tragically flawed, but I found myself sympathetic towards every one of them, showing no favorites, which is unusual for a novel of this type. Each character is grappling with a sort of problem. Cal has guilt about not being able to serve his country, Margaret has childhood trauma that bleeds into her marriage, Becky has an unusual ability which makes things difficult for her socially and in her marriage, and Felix is dealing with sexual identity issues and the guilt surrounding that, as the 30s were not very accepting, not to mention his parents definitely aren't. So he has to hide that part of himself, which is heartbreaking. 
 
The war transformed Felix in countless ways, and I believe Ryan did an excellent job of illustrating how the war affects not only the soldiers but also the families and communities left behind. Ryan effectively addresses the onset of World War II, the experiences during the war, post-war America, and the Vietnam War. He portrayed these historical periods in America with great accuracy and also captured the essence of small-town life and war's impact on the communities.

I have never read a novel by Ryan before, so I am very glad I listened to Buckeye. Ryan's writing resonated with me; many parts were poignant, thought-provoking, and beautiful. I rarely tear up while reading, but Buckeye made me tear up multiple times. I genuinely cared for these tragically flawed characters, and I will remember their story for a long time.
 
The audiobook was narrated by Michael Crouch and it was outstanding. If you are an audiobook fan, I highly recommend it. Have you read Buckeye? This would be a great book for a book club, as it lends itself to great discussion topics. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.   

 

Mini Reviews: The Last of the Beach Reads

I know you can read beach reads all year long if you want to and I may slip in a few here or there, but it doesn't hit the same, does it? Unless you are that lucky person who gets to take her vacation at the beach in September. Now that Labor Day is approaching, I wanted to share two more "beach reads" that will be perfect to end the summer season with.

 

Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: July 1, 2025

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: All the Summers in Between,

Summer Darlings, and On Gin Lane

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "After suffering through her first year of graduate school at Columbia following her senator father’s death, Betsy Whiting is hoping to spend the summer with her boyfriend…and hopefully end the summer as his fiancée. Instead, her mother—a longtime feminist and leader in the women’s movement—calls Betsy and her sisters back home to Martha’s Vineyard, announcing that they need to sell their beloved summer house to pay off their father’s debts.

When Betsy arrives on the island a week later, she must reckon with her strained familial relationships, a long-ago forbidden romance, and the complicated legacy of her parents, who divided the family even as they did good for the world.

Following a dual timeline between 1965 and 1978, and filled with the vibrant, sunlit nostalgia of the cherished New England vacation setting, Our Last Vineyard Summer poignantly captures two generations of women navigating love, loss, and womanhood while trying to find the courage to stand up for what they believe in—and the strength to decide if the home they once loved is worth saving."

 

 

Betsy Whiting is a graduate student at Columbia in the 1970s. It isn't easy; there's a lot of sexism to make her path even more difficult. After her senator father's untimely death, her mother asks Betsy and her sisters to return to their summer home at Martha's Vineyard. This is the last place Betsy wants to be after having independence in the city, but after the breakup with her professor boyfriend, she reluctantly returns to her family's home to help her mother. While there, Betsy must deal with her feminist mother and her sisters. She must deal with her memories of the past summers spent at the Vineyard. The story also includes flashbacks to Virgie, Betsy's mother, and her life as a senator's wife, and how that was difficult given her deeply rooted feminist beliefs. Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster is a nostalgic beach read about mothers, daughters, and female identity.

I like how Foster jumped from a 1965 timeline to 1978 to really paint a picture of the Whiting women. Even though there are many years between the story lines, a lot of the same themes run true. I really enjoyed the character of Virgie and following along with her struggles as a senator's wife, while also being a major feminist. There was more to her story than initially thought. I also appreciated Betsy's story and her return home to Martha's Vineyard. The setting of the Vineyard and the memories they have of summer's past make Our Last Vineyard Summer a good beach read for those who like stories about strong women.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction/Audiobook

Pub. Date: July 1, 2025

Publisher: Random House

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Mia and Cricket have always been close. The gifted daughters of a young single mother, the “Lowe girls” are well-known in the small Maine town they call home. Each sister has a role to fill: The responsible and academically minded Mia assumes the position of caregiver far too young, while Cricket, a bouncing ball of energy and talent, seems born for soccer stardom. But the cost of achieving athletic greatness comes at a steep price.

As Mia and Cricket grow up, they must grapple with the legacy of their mother’s secret past while navigating their own precarious future. Can Mia allow herself to fall in love at the risk of repeating a terrible history? Will Cricket’s relentless chase of a lifelong goal drive her sister away? When does loyalty become self-sabotage?

A sharply observed and tender portrait of sisters, love, and ambition, Spectacular Things is a sweeping story about the impossible choices we’re forced to make in pursuit of our dreams."

 

 

Mia and Cricket are known as the Lowe girls around their small Maine town and are as thick as thieves. Raised by a very young single mother, Liz, life wasn't always easy, and they had to rely on one another. Mia has always been the responsible and reliable one, ready to step in when her mother couldn't, to make sure Cricket would succeed. Cricket is a ball of energy and a soccer phenom. They have high hopes for Cricket as the family often sacrifices for her dream of becoming a soccer star. Also, the story flashes back to Liz's life, the dreams she gave up, as well as what brought the family to this point. Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein is an outstanding audiobook for fans of sports stories as well as tales of sisterhood.

At first, based on the cover, I thought Spectacular Things was going to be a light beach read; however, it was much more than I expected. In fact, it reminded me of Carrie Soto is Back at times, and that is high praise. I love a good sports story, and Stein captured that, but the story was so much more- so much depth! I also thought it was going to be a story about Mia and Cricket's bond, but the plot also delves into Liz's past, and I really enjoyed her journey. It had me thinking about life, the sacrifices we make, and begs readers to ask the question: what we are willing to give up for family? Spectacular Things is such a smart and well-written book; it took me by surprise.

Have you read either book? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams

 

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: July 29, 2025

Publisher: Random House

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Hundred Summers,

Husbands & Lovers, The Beach at Summerly, 

The Secret Life of Violet Grant, Cocoa Beach, 

Along the Infinite Sea, Tiny Little Thing, The Summer Wives, 

The Golden Hour, and Her Last Flight

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Audrey Fisher has struggled all her life to emerge from the shadow of her famous mother by forging a career as a world-class chef. Meredith Fisher’s glamorous screen persona disguises the trauma of the tragic accident that haunts her dreams. Neither woman wants to return to the New England island they left behind and its complicated emotional ties, but Meredith has one last chance to sober up and salvage her big comeback, and where else but discreet, moneyed Winthrop Island can a famous actress spend the summer without the intrusion of other people? Until Audrey discovers an old wooden chest among the belongings of her estranged bartender father, Mike Kennedy, and the astonishing contents draw the women deep into Winthrop’s past and its many secrets…attracting the interest of their handsome neighbor, Sedge Peabody. How did a trove of paintings from one of America’s greatest artists wind up in the cellar of the Mohegan Inn? And who is the mysterious woman portrayed on every canvas?

On a stormy November night in 1846, Providence Dare flees Boston and boards the luxury steamship Atlantic one step ahead of the law….or so she believes. But when a catastrophic accident leaves the ship at the mercy of a mighty gale, Providence finds herself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the one man who knows her real identity—the detective investigating the suspicious death of her employer, the painter Henry Irving. As the Atlantic fights for her life and the rocky shore of Winthrop Island edges closer, a desperate Providence searches for her chance to escape…before the sea swallows her without a trace.

In Under the Stars, the destinies of three women converge across centuries, as a harrowing true disaster at the dawn of the steamship era evokes a complex legacy of family secrets in modern-day New England. Williams has written a timeless epic of mothers and daughters, of love lost and found, and of the truths that echo down generations."

It's 1846, and Providence Dare is on the run after the questionable death of her employer. She finds herself escaping via the Steamship Atlantic, but a detective is following her with a warrant for her arrest. She is the only suspect in the death of her employer, Henry Irving, a famous painter. She was the only servant living in the house with him, and rumor has it their relationship was an unprofessional one. Providence is no longer concerned she might be arrested, as there is a major storm coming their way and the passengers are told there is a good chance that the ship won't survive the night. Jump to the present day, and Audrey Fisher is escorting her famous mother, Meredith, back to her hometown on Winthrop Island. Meredith is escaping the glare of Hollywood to dry out at her family's home, and Audrey hasn't been back since she was a little girl. Audrey is also escaping her life since her husband left her, and she subsequently lost their restaurant and their money when he left, disappearing into thin air. While on the island, Audrey encounters her father, Mike Kennedy, who owns the local bar, and must come to terms with their strained relationship. Meredith also has to come to grips with her past and the events that had her running from Winthrop many years ago. Eventually, both plot lines, although they seem disjointed except for the shared location, make sense as Williams weaves the story together expertly. Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams is a page-turner of a beach read that kept me glued to the pages.

I will admit that I didn't care for Providence's storyline at first in Under the Stars. I felt myself gravitating to Audrey and Meredith's story, but once readers get more background regarding Providence, I feel like her story picks up. Readers end up caring about Providence's future and the ship's fate. Although Providence isn't a real-life character, the Atlantic and its wreck are based on the real-life ship that crashed on Long Island. This added to the suspense of the storyline, especially as the connection builds between Providence to the present-day Winthrop.

I really liked Meredith, Audrey, and Mike in Under the Stars. They were such fun characters that I cared about, even if I felt like they didn't always make the best choices. I adored the setting of Winthrop Island; many of Williams's novels take place there, so it was fun to return, not to mention the fact that many of Williams's previous beloved characters make cameos. Thankfully, Williams provides a family tree at the beginning of the novel so readers can make the connections.

If you are looking for a thoughtful beach read filled with historical details as well as some suspenseful moments, look no further. While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Husbands & Lovers, I really liked Under the Stars, and I think Williams's fans will enjoy her latest summer read. Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of Williams and if you read Under the Stars .