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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐