Anatomy of An Alibi

Benjamin Bayliss is very handsome. He is a successful and well connected attorney in their small Louisiana town. His wife is beautiful and from a prominent family. Everything about their life looks shiny and new until the day his wife, Camille, finds a napkin in his pocket with the name of a bar and the phone number of a woman. Camille has been searching for a way out of their loveless marriage and out of the clutches of Ben and his manipulations. She tracks down this bar and the woman who works there, believing Ben is having an affair. But what Camille learns is much much worse. As their lives unravel decade old secrets of favors and coverups come to light and Ben can no longer hide in the shadows. Everyone involved knows something. Everyone has an alibi. This fast paced mystery is a suspense thriller you do not want to miss. As one clue leads to the next the truth slowly comes out. Recommend this quick book that reads like a Netflix series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One & Only

One & Only Matchmaking has been run by the Park women for generations. Not only are they an honest hardworking company — these women can see flashes of their client’s past life. No one knows their magical secret but the Park women can find your fated love, your soul mate. Once they have a face and name they try and arrange a way to bring them into the client’s life. Cassia Park is almost forty. She is successful, beautiful and excellent at her job. But Cassia was shown her fated love a decade ago and she still has not been able to meet him. Waiting patiently has become tortuous as her big birthday approaches. Dreams of building a family and passing on this magical talent are at stake. Then, in a movie worthy meet cute, Cassia meets Ellis. He is handsome, smart and they have instant chemistry. Unfortunately, Ellis is only 28 years old and Cassia sees this romance as a fling while her beloved is still out there, just waiting to be found. Set in Los Angeles, this traditional Korean family is determined to help Cassia make her match no matter what. This was an absolutely adorable romance with just enough comedy and the right amount of steamy. Based on the description I wasn’t convinced I would enjoy as much as I did. With all the negative in the world, this little bit of sunshine was a welcome reprieve. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nesting

One afternoon Ciara Fay grabs some things, holds the small hands of her young daughters and leaves her Dublin home. Her husband Ryan will be furious. When his anger subsides, he will profess his love, beg her to come home and simultaneously belittle her fears and convince Ciara that she is off balance and needs help. This is Ryan’s pattern. This is how he controls Ciara and their little family. After nearly a decade living away from her mother and sister in London and giving up teaching, Ciara has few friends, no money of her own and not a soul she can turn to. But Ciara knows she is not imagining this, and as her girls grow, she cannot bear to let them witness this kind of twisted love and manipulation. As Ciara navigates how to survive on her own, she finds shelter and free legal counsel. None of this is easy. Every step forward is ten steps back, but she is certain of only one thing — it must be done. This story is fast-paced and heartbreaking. To imagine this is reality for so many is simply terrifying. No one wants to live in a home where they do not feel safe. Ciara feels shame, fear and guilt as she asks for help, but it is less important how she got there than figuring out how to escape. Crazy that this is a debut novel. Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Far-Flung Life

In 1958 WA (Western Australia) the MacBride family runs a substantial sheep station. Over a million acres in a very remote location, the MacBride’s are one of the top wool producers in the area. It is a hard and isolated life. When tragedy strikes, Lorna MacBride is left with her distraught daughter Rose and Mattie, who may or may not survive the accident. She must snap back quickly and continue to manage the many hands who run and work the station or their family will be ruined. Set in this vast, baron land there are a few quirky characters Lorna can rely on. One is Pete Peachy, their roo shooter, a former war hero who keeps to himself but lives on the outskirts of the property protecting the family at all times. Pete feels a particular responsibility to help Matt recuperate and Rosie remain hopeful. As the author describes what it takes to survive this harsh wilderness and way of life we are brought deep into a family drama filled with layers of buried secrets, guilt and decades of regret. Oh, how I have been waiting since 2012 for this book! The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman was one of my favorites (and movie of same name 2016). Unfortunately even though the writing is exquisite, this novel that releases March 3, felt painfully slow I found myself waiting for it to be over. It wasn’t bad, I was just waiting to be drawn in emotionally and it it never happened. ⭐⭐⭐

 

Saoirse

When Sarah Roy was a teenager, she knew she had to escape. Years of abuse by her addict mother’s boyfriend and protecting her younger sister, Lea, left her with no other choice. Now her mother is dead and Sarah must get out. After arranging Lea’s safety with relatives, she disappears. From the moment the plane takes off, Sarah can hardly breathe. Changing Roy to Walsh was easy when she swiped an unsuspecting nanny’s passport. She will start a new life and leave these very bad people behind. On the plane, her seat mate, Paul, is a little annoying—but Sarah doesn’t have a lot of options. She accepts his offer of a place to stay, and even though his mother and sister are extremely hesitant, his father, Dr. Joe, welcomes Sarah with open arms. As she reinvents herself—as Saoirse—Paul becomes controlling and manipulative. Once again, she is trapped. Years later Saoirse falls in love with a beautiful man named Daithi (pronounced Dah-Hee) who finally takes her away to live by the sea in Donegal. She expresses herself through art and begins to feels a tinge of the happy life she has always dreamed of. Unfortunately, Saoirse’s happiness is short lived as the unbreakable ties with Paul’s family keep her secrets dangling above, the dangerous truth always lurking. Family, freedom, art, and love fill this beautiful story with heartbreaking hope and fast-paced suspense—you won’t be able to turn the pages quickly enough. Pour a cup of tea, wear something green, and lose yourself in an Irish story that hits the heart. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Strangers

In the beginning of 2020 the Burden family, like most others in New York were isolating. They retreated from the city to their summer home in Martha’s Vineyard. It was cold in March and Belle how no idea how long they would stay. The pandemic was terrifying on its own, she never dreamed her life would be unrecognizable in just a few months time. One day her husband of twenty years, James, told her he was leaving. He was done, and there was no convincing him otherwise. He packed a small bag and left her with their teenage children. Belle, an educated, independent and sophisticated woman was no stranger to divorce, it had after all consumed her childhood. But this was crazy. She loved James and he loved her, she was sure of it. What had changed? While Belle figured out how to move forward and protect her children she also realized she had slowly over the years lost control of her finances and all decision making had become too easy to leave to James. Belle had to learn how to take control. This memoir is a very intimate detailed telling of a relationship that was destroyed. Surrounded by a close knit group of friends and a few family members, Belle puts on foot in front of the other. All the money in the world cannot buy happiness and it certainly cannot buy trust and honesty. Both beautifully written and heartbreaking, I am glad Belle found her long lost writing voice and look forward to reading more of her work. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Novel Love Story

Elsy finds herself on a solo roadtrip to Hudson Valley, New York. The long drive has been depressing while she anticipates a week alone in the cabin. All the members of her romance bookclub, which has been her lifeline the last few years, were too busy to attend their annual getaway. After making a wrong turn in the rain, her dear old sweet pea (Elsy’s green jalopy) decides it has finally had enough. Well so has Elsy. Now she finds herself stranded without a mechanic or hotel in sight. Elsy is saved by the offer of a grumpy man shop owner who has a spare loft above the bookshop. As an English Literature professor she cannot imagine a better night. The smell of old books and sound of wind chimes calms her nerves as Elsy realizes her savior is actually quite handsome and this little town could not be more charming. It actually feels strangely familiar. Elsy has landed in Eloraton, which would be fine if it actually existed. As she explores the quaint coffee shop and diner Elsy realizes the reason she knows her way around and each face looks like an old friend. Eloraton is a fictional town in Elsy’s favorite romance series. These books have carried her grief the last few years after Liam left her at the altar. These books have brought her hope and comfort and a guaranteed happy ending. Elsy’s wrong turn might be exactly what she needed. Normally I would characterize this as an adorable romance, book within a book but its even better than that. As an avid reader I find myself so immersed in my books that I sometimes can’t remember if something happened or I read it. The books and stories are so entrenched in my mind that the characters feel real. A little bit of magic is everything I adore about books and reading and I absolutely could not put this one down.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tiny Little Earthquakes

Growing up in the 1980s on a remote horse farm in North Carolina was not always easy for nine year old Elliot Hase. After her parents’ divorce, she rarely saw her father, and was forever chasing her mother’s love and attention. Smart and shy, Elliot craved her sister’s approval even when Poppy messed up over and over again. Navigating her mother’s alcoholism was a team effort until Poppy also succumbed to this destructive disease. Often, Elliot felt alone in the world, her only company was the television, a constant backdrop to her childhood. It was through books and TV that Elliot could focus on anything other than her own misfit family, when all she ever wanted was to feel normal. As she grew up we travel along through Connecticut and Martha’s Vineyard on her mother’s many whims and attempts to run away from her troubles. Elliot reinvents herself at boarding school and later, at Tufts University as she searches for a way to help her sister and mother, whom she loved with all her heart. This coming-of-age story is both heartbreaking and mesmerizing. It’s impossible not to love Elliot and root for her every step of the way. The writing is truly magnificent as it perfectly captures the perspective of a child through an adult voice in a way that’s devastating, yet somehow humorous and quietly nostalgic for a time gone by. I was honored to receive an early read of Tiny Little Earthquakes by Hays Blinckmann, releasing February 17, 2026. A must-read for 2026 and perfect book club pick with so much to discuss! You’ll be thinking about Elliot long after the last page. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Keeper of Lost Children

 

In 1965 Sophia Clark is a young girl living on a farm in Maryland. She and her siblings work their fingers to the bone. They are dirt poor, and when Sophia is selected to attend a prestigious private boarding school on scholarship, she knows her life is about to change. As one of only a few Black students, Sophia begins questioning her life and her genealogy. Why does she have recurring nightmares of escaping a fire? Why do German words slip off her tongue when she doesn’t speak the language? In 1948, Ozzie Philips is a handsome young Black man in the Army. He is stationed in Germany as reparations are well underway. Ozzie is determined to prove himself capable, even as the Army suppresses its Black soldiers. He becomes involved with a desperate German woman, and finds himself caught between two worlds - to do the right right thing while also meeting the demands of military life. Narrated through two timelines that unexpectedly collide, this novel reveals the heartbreaking story of the “Brown Babies” orphaned in postwar Germany, alongside the ongoing struggles for civil rights in America. Releases February 10, 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

On Being Jewish Now

I finally began reading these wonderful essays and reflections by Jewish authors. They range from childhood memories and lived experiences to how the writers felt and reacted to October 7, 2023. Stirring up my own recollections—and echoing the many stories I’ve heard and books I’ve read—I deeply appreciated the way these authors captured what being Jewish means to them. This collection doesn’t pretend to solve the world’s ongoing issues, but it does offer something powerful: the comfort of knowing you’re not alone, and that you’re supported by a dynamic array of voices and perspectives. I began reading a few essays each morning and found the experience almost therapeutic. Highly recommended—and my heartfelt thanks to each and every author for sharing their story. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Heir Apparent

Lexi and her friends are out camping in the outback of Tasmania. Taking a break from her grueling medical residency, they are sleeping under the stars. When a helicopter lands dragging Lexi back to her old life, everything from the last decade is pushed aside while she is transported to the palace. Estranged from her family Lexi, aka Princess Alexandrina, left her twin brother to live up to their royal responsibilities while she ran away to the other side of the world to live her own way. Now, a terrible accident has left Lexi as the Heir Apparent and she must decide if she is willing to give up her career, freedom and the people she loves to choose the Crown. She is granted a year to decide and during this time Lexi jumps back in to everything she ran away from, chased by tabloids, revered by crowds of adoring fans and trusting no-one. Told through dual timelines there is romance, friendship and the dramatic intricacies of family. This one dragged a tiny bit but overall I really enjoyed this read and love modern day monarch stories.  ⭐⭐⭐

Everywhere You Look

When Jade lost her father a decade ago she didn’t think her heart would ever recover. Feeling alone and adrift in the world she spends each of her birthdays since his tragic accident at the restaurant where they once celebrated her special day. One year, the worst yet, Jade cannot shake her incessant guilt and returns to sit for what she hopes is the last time. When she glances at the busy New York City street Jade shockingly catches a glimpse of her beloved father in the window. She may be sad and hopeless but she is not imagining this. As Jade begins investigating what everyone thought was put to rest, the clues and secrets uncovered send her down a mysterious path of no return. Interestingly, Liv Constantine isn’t one writer but the shared pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie! It’s hard to imagine how they do it! A true divide-and-conquer partnership the authors swap scenes, trade edits, and sharpen twists and turns until the voice feels seamless. The result is a suspenseful, unputdownable short story that is FREE on Amazon Prime! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Invisible Woman

Elinor Gilbert is an average middle aged woman who teaches music class to children. Waiters ignore her requests, coffee shops she frequents daily forget her name, Elinor feels invisible. But it wasn’t always this way. Elinor was an attractive rising star in the FBI, until it all fell apart and it has been years since she has felt valued. When her nemesis from the agency calls, Elinor cannot resist the chance to get her old life back. Ironically, it will take Elinor to become even more invisible to get the job done. They arrange a costume so she looks older and even more frumpy. She is sent undercover to nanny at the home of a distinguished art dealer where they believe money from the cartel is being laundered. Elinor must fly under the radar while snooping, eavesdropping and observing this family and their business all while caring for an infant. Having never had children Elinor cannot decide if she is more afraid of the baby or the undercover role. James Patterson is famous for teaming up with other writers, and Susan DiLallo is an accomplished lyricist and columnist. Together they bring this sharp, humorous mystery to life. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Merry Little Bookshop

Shira Schwartz winds up in nowheresville Texas for the holidays. Azalea has a Christmas market and Shira’s obnoxious boss has asked her to man their pop up book shop through December — one month in Azalea should be more than enough! Shira arrives on Thanksgiving and finds herself in a friendly little taco shop (since everything else is closed) where Jonny McKay cannot resist flirting with the pretty new girl in town. Quickly changing her name to Sarah (easier than explaining Shira) she enjoys the banter with her newfound friend. This very handsome cowboy takes a liking to her and quickly offers help with some of the heavier tasks at the shop. Assuming he is a handyman Shira/Sarah takes him up on his gracious assistance and they become fast friends. Shira is surprised how much she enjoys this small town and the lovely folks who come in to buy books. As she meets Jonny’s huge family, this hunky troublemaker grows on her. Instead of counting the days to leave, she treasures every light on the Hanukah menorah. This absolutely adorable, delightful, laugh-out-loud novella celebrating Hanukah and Christmas is just the right size for a break during this busy time of year!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kin

Niecy and Annie are cradle friends. They have been like sisters since they were babies. Both motherless, these girls were given what was necessary to survive but not a drop more. They provided each other with the soft love that was missing from the Aunt and Grandmother who raised them. Niecy is pushed by Aunt Irene to have outstanding manners and do well in school, both attributes came naturally to her by example. Annie had a little bit more wild child in her blood or so she believed must have been inherited from Hattie Lee, who abandoned her as a infant. As they face racism in 1950’s Honeysuckle Louisiana, we watch their paths take completely different directions. Niecy attends Spelman College in Atlanta and Annie heads to Memphis searching for her birth mother and a life outside the constraints of a small town where everyone has already determined her future. The two young women remain dedicated to their friendship and helping each other through life’s twists and turns. These characters were incredible and although I loved every single one of them the story fell flat. There was zero suspense or surprise, it was more like a peek into a time period with painfully slow and repetitive drama. I did love the alternative POV chapters and their fiercely loving friendship but I was waiting for something bigger that never came. Releases in February. Thank you to Netgalley for the early read! ⭐⭐⭐

Dandelion is Dead

On what would have been Dandelion’s fortieth birthday, Poppy finds herself in her sister’s empty apartment weeping, remembering and impulsively looking at her sister’s messages. A dating app on her late sister’s phone is flooded with responses. Well, of course it was. Dandelion was beautiful, outrageous — one of a kind. Poppy cannot resist responding to a guy named Jake. What begins as text flirting, an innocent foray in the memory of her beloved, turns into an actual date. And Poppy cannot resist taking on Dandelion’s persona for just one evening. Surprisingly, one night leads to many and as Dandelion literally fills her sister’s shoes she finds she likes Poppy better as Dandelion. She can be everything she always admired and envied, a childhood spent in the shadows wishing she could be more like her big sister. The chemistry between Jake and Poppy is undeniable but once this charade becomes a full blown mess she cannot find the right words to reveal herself. Throw in a badass friend named Jetta who teaches Poppy she can be both fearless and devoted and this London love story becomes a brutally honest life lesson. Releases January 13, 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Anne of a Different Island

When Anne Gallagher returns to Mackinac Island after her father’s passing, she’s faced with an uncertain future—and the memories of a town and childhood she left behind long ago. After moving to Chicago for college and becoming a teacher, Anne loves her job and the independent life she’s built away from the gossip and expectations she never seemed to live up to. Her mother is loving but distant, never one to coddle, and Anne still yearns for the approval she never received. Meanwhile, Joe has pretty much taken over her father’s business. After years of being mentored by Anne’s dad, this handsome troublemaker is no longer her young-girl crush and, shockingly, has become a responsible adult. Since he’s a few years older, Joe always saw Anne as the kid sister everyone called “The Pest”—the one who trailed behind and drove them crazy—but now he can’t take his eyes off the confident, beautiful woman she’s become. When she finally opens her heart to him, Joe truly sees Anne, and he understands her dreams of success in a way few others do. As Anne’s Chicago boyfriend pressures her to commit, something keeps holding her back, and time in her small hometown has her imagining the future in a whole new light. Weaving the idyllic island life of a young girl with the classic Anne of Green Gables from 1908, this modern twist becomes a coming-of-age story about a woman with choices—text messages, and freedoms women once only dreamed of. An enjoyable remake: well written, with just the right touch of romance, family, and friendship. The perfect combination to start the new year! Releases January 20, 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐