I have mixed feelings about this book. It is a first read from this author for me. I did enjoy the reading in the setting of the 1920s in Brooklyn and the struggles of women to succeed at being anything but housewives. I am always ready to cheer for a female character that comes out the winner in this kind of situation. My favourite was Aunt Ester and I really wish her talents were the focus of the story. 
Unfortunately, the characters didn't really feel real to me. The story didn't pull me in and make me feel as if I was part of it. It was longer then it needed to be and felt like it dragged at certain times.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to listen to this story! 

I picked this book to fulfill a challenge (set in Montana) and someone else had recommended it. I found it tedious. I’m not a fan of the misunderstanding/communication trope. It was bordering on unrealistic. I continued to listen so that I could get the state. 

This was a perfect read for October so I am surprised that it is actually for publishing in March. The cover, setting and storyline are very fall like.

This is the first book I have read from this author but I very much enjoyed it. She did a wonderful job of setting the scene, character and world-building, and keeping to the plot with a smaller plot included. I loved the bane witch focus and the magic that came with it. I was fully engaged in this story.

There were just a few small things that kept me from giving it a full 5 stars. Some work needs to be done with the sex scenes and the descriptions...“He takes my breasts in his mouth like candied apples …??”  <eyebrow raise> Really? That was the best comparison that could be written in?

Plus there were a couple of points in the police investigation that felt far fetched and unrealistic to me. This took a little tiny bit away from the story. I won't detail them so I don't give anything away but unrealistic procedural details do make a difference to me. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This short story was a quick read but unfortunately I found predictable from the start as well as slightly unbelievable. The friendship between Lucy and Elle grew too fast and too involved. Due to the quick moving story and the unbelievable relationship, I didn't feel that the reveal at the end wasn't impactful or surprising. 
The book was a good break between full stories and was easy to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this short story.

1.65

Susan Mallery books never disappoint! This one does not either! 
I loved watching both main characters learn and grow from their experiences with each other and their siblings. I enjoyed reading stories of how both ladies lived in the non-traditional family set up and how each family worked to make their lives easier. 
At first I was thinking that the one scene was predictable and figured this would go one way but was pleasantly surprised that I was mostly wrong. I'm so glad that the predictability didn't happen.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this newest Mallery book!

Finally finished! Why was this book soooo long? 
It was completely different than I thought it would be. It was completely different than I thought it would be. 
For what reason did Jake have in doing this odd adventure for a guy he barely knew?
The best parts were what the after effects of changing history in a big way. And  in the Final Thoughts (I think that was the title) which really made me think about how one small decision could make large changes for the future. 

I listened to this book and was overall satisfied with the narration. Just did not like the narration of Sadie’s voice. It did not sound like a woman. It really would be worth the time to have a woman narrating for the female characters. The sex scenes between Jake and Sadie were very cringy because of that. I had to skip them. 

I enjoy Mary Kay Andrews stories and was pleased to be able to read this one a bit early. 
I prefer full books to short stories but this was a good early start to the Christmas reading season. 
The first 3/4 of the story moved at a good pace and set up for a great story ending but then it became very rushed and then ended. This is why I don't like short stories because they usually end rushed. There wasn't enough time for Tilly and George to build a proper connection. If there had just been a bit more to the story it probably would have been much more believable.  

Thanks for to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this holiday story.

I was looking for a story to get me into the fall mood and this was well liked by many so I gave it a try. It was an okay read for me though. I don’t get what made this so well liked except for the social media push.
It definitely had fall vibes and a small town cozy mystery. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters although they were good people. Unfortunately there was a whole lot of use of blushing, scarlet and red faces. It became ridiculous. And every time I found one, I was taken out of the story.