Thanks to @readforeverpub for the gifted book.

This was a very sweet story and very funny. I love the small town books. I love the Widows Club! Cute set of older ladies that want to set up widowed men and women on dates so they can fall in love again. Edith was such the fun grandmother.
Mary Margaret is learning about the debt her late husband accured through online gambling. When debt collectors come to collect their money, Mary Margaret has no choice but to dance at the local burlesque club to earn extra money to pay off the debt. She has to hide though because she's also the town's kindergarten teacher.

Kevin is the mayor and has bigger political aspirations that could take him away from the small town and his vindictive ex-wife. (Oh she's awful!) He starts to pursue Mary Margaret- his son's kindergarten teacher. Can her secret be safe from him?

I really enjoyed this one. It's the second in a series but I didn't feel that you need to read the first one (which I haven't yet) to thoroughly enjoy it .

While I have never read Charles Dickens actual book of A Christmas Carol, I have seen many adaptions in film.
This was a fun look into what it might have been like in his life while he wrote the tale.
This follows Charles as his editors need book to produce a new book, a Christmas book, or his pay will be docked lower than before. His family goes away and he takes to wandering the streets at night. There he meets Miss Lovejoy and her son Timothy.... Where he draws a lot of inspiration from for his book.

I loved seeing the characters come into play that either have a part of their life put in his book or just even a name of inspiration for a character.

3.75
Thanks to @booksfirwardpr for the gifted arc copy.

This is the first of the Hester mysteries I have read. It felt like it read alone well but I still want to read the first 2 so I can get more of Morgan and Kate and how they all came into Hester's life. I thought this was a very well thought out mystery.

This follows a wealthy family, the Matsons, that owns a for-profit college. They have many secrets...a big one among them didn't get the news attention that it should have. Maxine, a surrogate family member knows all the inner workings of the family. At a gala for the school, Hester and her friend Det. Angela, are called to the house of Jennifer Matson when there is a break in. What follows is the uncovering by Hester of all the secrets and lies the family has

I'm not sure what exactly Hester is (I think she's maybe a PI) but I'll go back and be sure to read the other two to get it all straight.

This was a very well researched novel. Though it is fiction, there is a lot of truth in it due to the research of the author.

Two young men, second cousins and brothers in law, have a duel. (It took me so long to get these two straight as they both have Mason in their name.... One as a last and one as a middle, but that's on me). The outcome of the duel comes later in the story and we get to see, for most of the book, their lives beforehand.
Both have political ambitions but they are on opposite sides. Both have very strong personalities. I was on both of their sides at different times.

I loved reading a book that is based on some kind of history and this historical novel didn't disappoint.

Ok this was a very fun Regency with a twist!

Violet and James get engaged rather quickly and in unusual circumstances. A year into their marriage and a big misunderstanding happens that proceeds 3 more years of living in the same house but hardly speaking.
Both fed up with their circumstances, they engage in a "duel" trying to one up read other and maybe to trick the other into finally confessing that they still love each other.

I think one of the funniest things about this was the friends and aquaintances they get involved! All for their own reasons.... But for their own fascination as to what is going on.

A very twisted story about it all not being what it seems.

1988
Beth is 14 when she's taken to Raven Hall to live with the Averells by her Aunt who can't take care of her. She soon feels like she becomes a part of the family. Nina (the daughter) becomes her best friend and besides a few things (like not being able to go to the village and being homeschooled), live is good.
Until Beth is asked to play a game when Nina's grandfather comes to visit.

2019
Sadie is invited to be a part of a murder mystery at Raven Hall. The guests/actors are an ecclectic bunch all invited to play. Until one guest goes missing.

There was so many twisted revelations at the end that it sort of made my head spin. I liked the characters of Beth and Sadie but not many of the others. I think it's worth reading but I liked The Au Pair a bit more

Joan Harken is a reporter that had just lost her big city job. She's also pregnant and a scary incident has her moving to the small town of Lilydale where her fiancé is from. Immediately, Joan is put on edge the first day as the town is very friendly- too friendly! She feels as if her every move is being watched. She learns of a kindergarten boy that disappeared back in 1944 and an old organization that holds sway over the town.... She starts to learn just how horrific and sinister this town and its citizens really are!

Holy crap was this a good book! I felt it had The Stepford Wives and Black Mirror vibes.
This book is dark. It's a very chilling storyline. The title is so creepy but tells what you are going to find in this story.
This was such a fast flowing story and even as all the horrible events start coming to light, I was just enthralled!

This was a fun adventure on the high seas.
The romance is very subtle as it has to be for the story.

Georgana has spent the last several years as "George" a cabin boy on her father's (though hiding that too) ship.
Dominic is an officer on the ship. His first love (and only love) is the sea. He never sees himself marrying. He takes George under his wing after witnessing a fight between George and some other cabin boys.

It was fun watching Dominic trying to figure out George's secret. This also had everything I expect from a story on the seas- sickness, death (though that's never fun but a fact), mutiny, storms, battles, etc....

Beautiful coming of age story of Ashley in 1992 LA -- Before, During, and After the trial of the 4 police are aquitted of the beating of Rodney King.
Ashley is in her last year of high school. She's had the same friends forever and they are soaking up as much fun at they can get before going separate ways.They help spread a rumor that threatens the future of a classmate.

I flew through this book. It still is relevant today. A wonderful YA debit.

I loved this fantasy about Princess Askia. She is a fierce woman who wants to help her people. But there are dark forces at play that threaten to expose her true nature. She is brought to the court of Visir by Prince Iskander in the hopes of gaining an army to fight her enemy from his father, Emperor Armaan.

I enjoyed so many of these characters! Her protector/guard, Illya. Queen Ozura who helps Askia with finding her true potential of her powers.Lady Nariko who becomes a confidant.
The court was interesting as they have so many rules and regulations that Askira has to learn.
I really liked this whole book but it was a tiny bit slow at the beginning, but it didn't take long for me to be totally immersed in it. Can't wait for book 2!