100+ Books in 2025 discussion

49. Love, Lies, and High Heels by Debby Conrad
Rustina Paris is rich and spoiled. She also hasn't seen her father Sam in many years. She's spent her time in boarding schools as her mother marries and then ends up divorcing these men. Now her mother has died, and she is all alone in the world. Or, at least, until Luke Galloway, Sam's partner and friend, shows up to convince her to move back to Kentucky where her father is. Telling her Sam is dying is just the first of the lies he tells to convince her to return.

Green-eyed Rusty is feisty (and yes, rich and spoiled), but is willing, albeit reluctantly, to go back to a place she once called home. Making Sam happy is her only goal, but getting rid of Luke might be the other. Getting off on the wrong foot, they constantly argue and bicker as well as try to ignore the growing attraction between them.

Sam is thrilled, but he wants more. Rusty married, grandchildren, and his Kentucky farm continued. Can he have it all? To what lengths go Rusty do to make him happy and give him what he wants? What will happen when the lies are uncovered?

Will Rusty and Luke succumb to their attraction? Or will Rusty return to California? Will either one of them break down to admitting how deep their feelings are for each other?

This is a contemporary romance that has a bit of spiciness mixed with the romance. It also has some humor as well as the ever ubiquitous What-the-tuck trends (green-eyed characters, winks, smirks). A few misused words, too. 3.5 stars actually.

50. The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn
The Wild Silence is a memoir, continuing the story of Moth and Ray. Having completed the "Salt Path," the pair continues their lives, not camping out but living in a chapel and Moth heads to university to get his degree.

His disease, CBD, has seemingly gone into remission because of their time walking the path, but as the time goes on, he begins to deteriorate again. Ray, in the meantime, goes through her own deterioration. Returning to nature and writing about their adventures brings both of them back, leading to more adventures with friends Julie and Dave.

Written in lyrical, poetic language, this memoir is as memorable as "The Salt Path." It shows nature as its best, and how strong the love is between Moth and Ray. It also shows how that connection with nature helps control Moth's progressive disease.

51. The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
This is a reader's delight...three, maybe four, stories in one book. (Why flip from book to book? It's all contained within the pages of this novel.) There is Ashlyn Greer's story of being the owner of a rare bookshop and bindery. There is Hemi's story of Regretting Belle, and Belle's story of Forever, and Other Lies, and the mystery of what happened to the star-crossed lovers.

These stories are all intertwined and fleshed out slowly, sadly, and delightfully. There are no promises of happily ever after, but the reader's wishes for it to be so and roots for it to happen.

Davis does a fantastic job of blending all these stories into a whole. This wasn't the first of her novels that I've read, and it won't be the last (fortunately, there are some others I haven't read). The cover art makes this reader want to enter the bookshop, and discover just what books are available.

It's just a satisfying read.

51.5. The Sometime Bride by Ginny Baird
Two engaged people (a man who has been dumped, and a woman who also been dumped) meet at the swimming pool. Acting as the other's bride-to-be or groom-to-be eventually turns to love, giving these two a happily ever after.

A little bit of thesaurus issues in this insta-love romance novella. .

52. Big Rock by Lauren Blakely
"Fake it till you make it" might just be the quickest way to describe this contemporary romance written primarily from the male's point of view.

Spencer Holiday has it all: wealth, looks, intelligence, is well-endowed, and is a real player. He also has a best friend and business partner, Charlotte, with whom he owns a bar called the Lucky Spot. They've been best friends since meeting in college.

He's also a bit of a jerk (cleaning it up to make sure this review stays PG), but when his father wants to sell his business, Katherine's, a high=end jewelry store, Spencer has to clean up his act (he's always in the tabloids for his sexual exploits as a 4F-man) because the man who wants to buy the store worries about the reputation rubbing off on him, his family, and the prospects of this store.

Spencer cooks up a fake engagement with Charlotte, and the game is on. Can they carry off the lie for a week, or will the lie be found out by the family?

Will Charlotte and Spencer fake their feelings for one another? Can they adhere to the rules set down by the two of them? Will real feelings betray them?

Plenty of What-the-tuck trends (winks, smirks, green-eyed characters, alpha mega-rich protagonist) and lots of spicy scenes between Spencer and Charlotte. An unique perspective for a romance, which makes for a fun read.

53. The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
This historical novel features women being rent to Van Dieman's Land for offenses from theft to murder. From the beginning when they are incarcerated, their time on the repurposed slave ship, and then their time once in Australia, these women show their lives. From Evangeline to Hazel to Mathinna, an aboriginal girl, to Ruby, this is a powerful story.

54. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
As a pharmacy major during the Seventies, I could so relate to this outstanding story. The rampant sexism, the attitudes by people, and more that Elizabeth Zott goes through to triumph in her life is realistic as most professional (science) women go through something like this.

Loved the humor, the laugh-out-loud moments, throughout the novel. Loved Elizabeth's moxie and straight talk, and particularly loved the way she dealt with it all, never letting the jerks win despite all of the setbacks.

That the novel is set in the 1950-60s makes it that more impressive, that after losing the love of her life, she still carries on.

The characters of her daughter Mad Zott, who is precocious and brilliant; the neighbor, Harriet Sloane, who becomes her best friend; Calvin Evans, who loves her brain; Six-Thirty, and all the other characters just help make the story a joy to read.

All of the chemistry and her lessons on life just makes it. The cover, especially the pencil in her hair, awesome. Yeah, loved the book and can't wait to read another book by the author.

55. The Scot, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair
3.5 stars actually--A witch, who claims she isn't one, manages to attract the attention of Rory MacKenzie, a Scot who is after a unicorn carousel carving. Fighting their attraction to each other, each is dreaming of the other, but will they succumb? Or will they fulfill their destiny? And complete the spell that set off by Victoria's ancestor, Lili.

A cute romance, the third in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

A few What the tuck trends and lots of sexual innuendos throughout.

56. Rules for Being a Mistress by Tamara Lejeune
3.5 stars actually--Misunderstanding relationships abound in the romance between Benedict and Cosima/Cherry. From the first time the pair meets, Benedict makes assumptions about her that get him into trouble. He thinks he has met an illegitimate half-sister when he has met a very marriageable, very proper, if poor, Irish maiden.

Rather than enlighten him, Cosy slowly takes advantage of him. Thus begins this tale of mix-ups and love.

All the machinations of lords and ladies to get the best "price" for their marriageable young women is seen throughout the novel. Many of the aristocratic men are shown as cruel and manipulative; many of the women are shown as simpering fools needing rescue from debt.

Keeping titles and relationships straight was difficult at times, but overall, it was a different kind of regency romance with a flawed male protagonist and a saucy female protagonist, making for interesting reading.

Few What-the-tuck trends (winks, and green-eyes characters).

57. The House I Love by Tatiana de Rosnay
This is a love letter to Paris, as it was prior to Emperor Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann making it a modern city, and directly to her beloved husband Armand.

As the demolition crews come closer to her beloved home on Rue Childebert, she writes to her deceased husband, sharing her feelings of the years she spent there and the people she's known and become friends with, especially those years after Armand died.

She shares a secret that haunts her as well. One that she never revealed.

The novel is beautifully written, the language superb and very literary. It is not as emotional as Sarah's Key in this reader's opinion, but I'm glad I read it.

58. Double Trouble by Deborah Cooke
Maralys is a twin; Marcia is a twin...these identical twins, while they look alike, do not act alike.

Told through Maralys's perspective, she is the "bad" twin, the one who was always in trouble and acted out. When her "perfect" sister disappears, leaving her sons alone and Maralys, the one to pick up the pieces. The problem is Marcia's husband, James. There is history there, and the pain runs deep.
The same thing is true with Maralys's father, who adores Marcia and is always cranky with Maralys.

Self-employed, she writes code, runs an advice column, and more, but can she keep James at bay? Can she handle her father with his needs, as his health fails, making living alone no longer a possibility? Can she help with Marcia's and James' children, Jimmy and Johnny? Is it possible for her to have a happily ever after?

59. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
This is a novel of dreams; it's a novel about the power of books to spark the imagination, and it's a novel about forgiveness, redemption, and bravery. A young woman, Lucy, wants to foster, then adopt, Christopher, whose parents have died. When they first meet, it is Lucy, who introduces Christopher to the Clock Island children's books.

Over time, the pair plays the Wishing Game, a game brought about by the reading of the books. Each gets to make a wish, but only the brave will get their heart's desire (the wish fulfilled).

These magical books have a positive effect on both Lucy (when she was young) and Christopher. Will their wishes come true?

Magical, whimsical, and thoroughly entertaining, this story is written by Meg Shaffer, which is a departure from some of her other works written under a pseudonym. Hopefully, it won't be the last by this author.

It's also one novel that brings both tears and laughter as Lucy competes to win a prize from the eccentric author of the Clock Island books. Can she reach the goal to win it, or will one of the other "kids" competing claim the prize? If she wins, her wish to have the stability to adopt Christopher just may come true.

Quotes I enjoyed:
When you gotta scream, you gotta scream. (various pages)
"I can multitask like an octopus." p. 167
"Sarcasm is my native tongue." p.197
Always be quiet when a heart is breaking. (various pages)

The power of books shines through this writing. It takes adults back to a time when they were enchanted with the Harry Potter series or the Chronicles of Narnia series.

60. Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb
A modern day Romeo and Juliet/Bonnie and Clyde turns these star-crossed lovers into spree-killing murderers in this 41st novel in Robb's In Death series.

Unlike most of Eve Dallas and company's murderers, these murderers are known to the reader from the beginning as the pair. Ella-Loo and Dallas, start their murderous trek from Oklahoma through the country to their ultimate destination, New York City.

With the first murder, Ella-Loo and Dallas get turned on by the death they caused, and this fuels their blood-lust and sex lives as they make their way to New York.

When they make it to New York, Eva gets one of their victims in a long line of victims, but tracing those murders back is going to take some detective work. With Peabody, Roarke, the homicide division, and Banner, a deputy who travels from home out west, the killers will be caught. How many victims will die before they are tracked down?

61. Aquarium by David Vann
Caitlin, 12, spends her time at the aquarium while waiting for her mother to pick her up. She absolutely loves the fish, knowing them all. There, she meets an older man who seems as interested in the fish as she is, but she is definitely cautious. Over time, they forge a friendship.

Caitlin is also good friends with Shalini, working together on a holiday project. Their friendship grows into overnight stays.

Caitlin's mother becomes concerned about this man at the aquarium. When the man is identified, it sets off a chain of reactions that will change them all. Who is the man, and what next for Caitlin and her mom?

A story of love, redemption, and forgiveness.

62. Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Combining humor and seriousness, Tyson explores our civilization from the point of view on an alien life form might see or experience (the good and the bad).

Whether talking about life vs. death or gender or some other comparison, he lays how we are more similar than our divisiveness indicates.

It reads easily, but there is plenty of meat to his arguments. Lots to consider and take in all his examples.

63. Hidden in the Woods by Elana Johnson
Allegra and Phoenix are at odds, always, until the night she ends up at his cabin, running from her ex-boyfriend Devon, who is stalking her.

As the pair hides out in his cabin during a heavy snowstorm, they become a little less antagonistic toward each other. In fact, they discover how much they like each other. Will they ever admit it?

What will happen between the pair? What nefarious plan does Devon hope to pull off?

A sweet romance with only kissing shown even though they are snowed in together. Devon is always a threat throughout, but will this situation be resolved?

64. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I've heard so much about this novel that I was hesitant to read it. I've been disappointed before when everyone raves about a book; however, it lives up to its hype. Having read at least one other by this author, I should have known it wouldn't disappoint, but I just kept putting it off.

The curmudgeon, Ove, wants to kill himself to be with his long-time love, Sonja, but he keeps getting interrupted (including during his plan to throw himself in front of a train by saving a man who falls in front of a train). Something always happens that keeps him around whether it is the cat, that seems to hang around, his new neighbors, his previous best friend, Rune, or the white shirted bureaucrats.

The new neighbors, who seem to violate all the "rules" of the residents' association and Ove's sensibilities, especially are the impetus for Ove's change even if they irritate him initially by destroying his mailbox (and everything thereafter). The cat, too, plays his part in Ove's change. Is he really a curmudgeon with a big heart, or is just a grumpy old man missing his wife?

This story is full of heart, full of laughs, and full of curmudgeonly thoughts about how idiotic people are. Don't be an idiot, read the book!

Now, I can watch the movie starring Tom Hanks!

65. The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier
How well do we ever know our spouses? How well do we ever know our closest friends? How well do we ever know anyone (when it comes down to it)?

Those are the questions that go through the mind of the Kate, Elizabeth D's close friend after she receives the journals Elizabeth wrote throughout her life.

Elizabeth dies in a plane crash, leaving her husband Dave, and three young children, grieving and trying to move on with their lives. In the will, she gives the custody of her journals to her close friend, Kate, with the mandate to decide what to do with them "since she is fair and sensitive."

Her death comes just prior to September 11, 2001 and much of the impact of Elizabeth's death is lost because of this event, minimizing the effect on family and close friends.

With Kate and her young family vacationing at the same bungalow they've rented for years, she has time to delve into the journals, learning just how much she didn't know about the life of her friend. What's more, Kate is dealing with the fear brought about the events of 9/11 especially with her own husband, Chris, traveling to southeast Asia for his job.

What will Kate discover about Elizabeth and herself? Who is Elizabeth? Who is Kate? What has shaped them, and why?

As this reader discovers Elizabeth and Kate and their families, it is easy to make the leap as to how much anyone knows about their closest family including their spouse.

66. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
This is a YA novel with a locked room mystery. Five teens (cliched characters from a 1980s movie) all walk into a detention, but only four walk out. The one that doesn't walk out is dead from an anaphylactic reaction. The one that doesn't walk out is the bearer of secrets, secrets that will cause harm to each of the others. Who killed him?

67. Big Jack by J.D. Robb
Murder of a house sitter may be related to a burglary of diamonds earlier in the century, and it is up to Eve Dallas and crew to figure it out what went on in the past to solve the murders in the present.

Gannon's novel about the big heist sets off a killer, who wants the missing diamonds for himself. But who is it, and will the diamonds be found before more people are hurt or killed?

68. That Thing That You Do by Maria Geraci
This is a second chance romance with a bit of magical realism (Mysticism?) thrown in.

Allie had her heart broken twelve years ago when her boyfriend Tom marries the cheerleader, who is pregnant with his child. One night without protection is enough to change the trajectory of their lives.

Now twelve years later, Allie is back with a lead on a paranormal story, and Tom is divorced. Will they click or clash? Or a little bit of both? And why is this story so important to Allie?

The story that sends her back to her hometown? A ghost in the old senior citizens' center, or so an email from a "Concerned Citizen" claims, and that's just another mystery. Who is the "Concerned Citizen?"

This wasn't a typical romance as there are subplots galore, but there are a fair amount of smirks and winks (WtT trends).

Enjoyed the magical realism of the romance, but won't reveal it here.

69. Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb
Unlike other tales in this series, this does not start with a murder which needs to be solved by NYPSD's Lt. Eve Dallas and her crew (Peabody, Baxter, Trueheart, Feeney, Roarke, etc.).

It begins with cute, befuddled Dennis Mira being knocked out at his grandfather's home. When he comes to, his cousin Senator Edward Mira has disappeared. Later, however, Dallas is called back to this residence because of the hanging death of Edward, and it is up to Dallas to find out who killed Edward Mira.

His death is just the beginning; soon another man with ties to Edward has died, again a gruesome death by hanging.

Can Dallas and crew figure out who killed these men, and why? Is there a common thread between them, and if so, will Dallas and Peabody figure it out before any more people die?

Will Justice be served?

70. Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper
Merpeople, selkies, sirens, gorgons, and more populate this paranormal YA novel about a girl, Yara, at the center of the merpersons' and selkies' cosmic battle to return to their real homes. What is Yara's role, and what will it cost her and all those connected to her? Will the creatures, who can morph into human bodies at will, get back to the world of their own?

There is cleverness of language as the author creates words to describe some of the situations and issues that are found with these sea monsters. For example, the selkies and merpeople are trapped on this side of our world (of humans), and have to supplement their diet with seagarettes and C-weed respectively.

For a debut novel, the author has written a cohesive, intriguing story, building a world that goes between those humans and sea creatures. Yes, there are some What-the-tuck trends (green-eyed characters, smirks, and winks), but it's relatively error-free in regards to typos. 3.5 stars actually

71. Make-Believe Wedding by Sarah Mayberry
This contemporary romance has so much going for it because of the female lead's occupation and outdoor hobbies. It is atypical although totally believable.

Andie has been in love with Heath since she first met him, but being her older brother's best friend, he only sees her as a little sister. Unrequited love is difficult in the best of times, but in this small community, she sees him nearly every day. She works for him (his company), which only makes it more difficult.

As the story opens: at the Valentine's Day celebration, she watches him from afar as he dances with latest date, a curvy, petite brunette. Drinking too much and wallowing in her misery, she accepts an application from the Chamber of Commerce's director for "Engaged Couples Contest." Drunkenly filling out the form, Andie pours her heart out about her desire to be noticed by Heath, other than as a "little sister," off limits, and an employee.

What happens when the form is submitted accidentally, and suddenly, it is announced she and Heath are engaged? Embarrassment? Will he hate her? Will he play along with a fake engagement?
What about the other men she works with? Can they fake it 'til they make it? Is it possible that Heath will discover he loves her, too? Can she keep her true feelings hidden from Heath? And what will happen if or when her brother Beau finds out? Will there be a happily ever after on this fake engagement?

A cute romance, which has some What-the-tuck trends (winks, smirks, etc.), and a few typos (kissed instead of kiss), and a few spicy scenes. Her occupation is refreshing, and the fact she can hold her own in the construction business makes this romance a winner. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

72. Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
Eve Dallas and crew including her husband, Roarke, are hunting a long distance serial killer (LDSK) who picks off people a mile away with her powerful rifle. Learning from her father, she is on a mission for him.

Figuring out who the targets are will be key to apprehending them. Three people on the skating rink is just the first strike. Is anyone safe in New York City? Five people in Times Square are killed in the second strike. Who will be next?

The terror ratchets up as Dallas, Peabody, Roarke, and the rest of Homicide hunt down the killer(s). Suspenseful with plenty of adrenaline rushes throughout.

73. The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes
The idea of burning books is an anathema to me; the same is true of banning books. Heinrich Heine said, “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.”

This historical novel, which is set in New York City, Berlin, and Paris during the time prior to and during World War II, is all about three different women involved with books.

The three women are Vivian Childs, Althea James, and Hannah Brecht, and they are the protagonists of this story.

The first is Vivian Childs, who, as the novel opens (1943, New York City), has just lost her husband and best friend, Edward, in battle. His last letter, though, spurs her to commit her life to making sure that all soldiers continue to get Armed Service Editions (ASE), pocket-sized books, since they mean so much to these young soldiers (based on letters received). Senator Robert A. Taft, however, wants to ban many of these books (books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Call of the Wild) as lightly veiled propaganda or so he claims. He basically wants to stop the whole program and is using his political clout to implement a censorship program, and Viv is doing everything she can to keep the ASEs coming to every man serving.

The second is Althea James, who just had her first novel published, travels to Berlin, Germany (1933) as a guest of Joseph Goebbels and the Nazi party. There she finds things celebratory as Hitler becomes the Chancellor. Later, Althea meets Deveraux Charles (also a guest of the Nazis), who introduces Althea to a different side of Berlin--one that isn't quite what she has previously experienced.

The third is Hannah Brecht, who, after finding Berlin too dangerous, eventually ends up in Paris working in a library. This library protects books and so much more.

The intertwining of the three woman and their stories brings to light another aspect of World War II. The novel is poignant and emotional. It also contains a love story, or two--and yes, book burning.

73.5 Spider and Frost by Jennifer Estep
This crossover novel has Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost as seatmates on a railroad trip that was almost derailed by Reapers (if you've read the Mythos Academy or its spin-off series, you already know that Reapers are the bad guys*) trying to kill both Gin and Gwen.

Gin Blanco, AKA the Spider, is an assassin from Asheville, a city that has vampires, giants, trolls, and humans with elemental powers.

Gwen Frost is an Oracle with psychometric powers going to the Mythos Academy, a school for Valkyries, Spartans, Vikings, and other powerful persons, and gods and goddesses of all persuasions.

Accidentally, these two meet and end up joining forces when some mythological artifacts are under attack (for lack of a better word).

Neither one understands the other's worldview, but they both learn to trust the other.

Like other of Jennifer Estep's books, there are references (Easter eggs) to some of her other series. There's also sound effects and some of the same language as seen (read) in each of the individual series (for example, "bad, bad feeling" in the Mythos Academy) based on whose perspective the chapter is from.

Having read both series (Mythos Academy was my first introduction to the author's writing), I am pretty sure there is a huge continuity issue. I seem to remember Gwen and her grandmother have eaten the Pork Pit barbecue even if the restaurant was still owned by Fletcher at the time. Still for those who have not had the pleasure of reading either series, this is a great introduction to both of them (and even the Bigtime series is mentioned with Karma Girl comics among other references).

74. Prime Minister by Ainsley Booth and Sarah Haller
This erotic romance features Ellie Montague, an intern, and Gavin Strong, the Prime Minister of Canada.

A summer internship turns into something more, but it is consensual. Ellie wants what Gavin has, and what she discovers about Gavin is a bit of kink, and she loves it. How will the country react if their secret is found out? Is it possible for the pair to have a relationship, and could it be love?

Spicy, erotic descriptions of the pair's relationship, and quite a few What-the-tuck trends (winks, smirks, mostly).

75. The Liberation of Paris by Jean Edward Smith
Nonfiction can be dry, filled with lots of facts. This is no exception, but Smith lays out the facts about how the different people work to liberate Paris from the Nazis and set up a post-war French government that works with all the factions. It takes some time to get into the book, but definitely worthwhile reading.

He shows how de Gaulle rose to power, how Eisenhower manipulated his command to make sure that France would end up in good hands and looked out for the best interests of all concerned, and how von Choltitz managed to protect Paris from destruction while keeping his superiors from hurting his family.

Of all the people Smith follows, von Choltitz may be the one person who could be hurt the most, but is the most noble in his desire to not destroy the city.

Fascinating history, that was never learned in high school, about the machinations of all of these leaders to make a post-World War II world possible.

76. Only Good Enemies by Jennifer Estep
Vesper Quill is back, but now she's a Regal: Lady Vesper Quill. She's running the company she once worked for as a lab rat, creating a better mouse trap (actually a better brewmaster and other clever items).

Vesper is trying to forget about Lord Kyrion Calderan and her truebond with him, but can she?

Meanwhile dark forces are doing their best to capture her and take her psionic powers and Kyrion is trying to forget about Vesper, but can he? Especially since the truebond was broken, wasn't it?

Lots of action, lots of humor, and lots of sound effects (pew! pew! pew!), some real baddies, and a bit of romance, too. A great cast of characters who love lying and double-crossing each other in order to get what they want. There are also a few surprises along the way. What's not to like?! Yeah, some winks and smirks, too.

Looking forward to the next one.

Good quote to remember:
"The only good lies were the ones you truly believed."

77. Santa, Baby by Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster, and Carly Phillips
Three authors (Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster, and Carly Phillips), three novellas set during the Christmas holidays.

Hot Toy by J. Crusie--a young woman looking for the hot toy of the season becomes involved in an international spy ring. Can Trudy give her nephew the gift of his dreams or will she end up dead in a game of cat and mouse?

Christmas Bonus by L. Foster--Eric has a thing for the (younger) boss's daughter, Maggie. He's just waiting for her to graduate from college before he asks her out. Before that happens, her father dies and she becomes his boss (his very proper boss, no longer the flirty woman he once knew). How can he ask her out now? He thought he'd become the boss, so what next for them?

Naughty Under the Mistletoe by C. Phillips--A buttoned-down lawyer lets down her hair at the Christmas party. Toni has seduction on her mind because she knows she's going to one of the other offices, and this is her chance. She kisses, however, the wrong man, his twin. Sparks ignite between Max and Toni, but neither wants a one-night stand, yet she finds out he might become her new boss. So much for her job, or is it?

Three cute contemporary romances by three very different authors. Of course, there are some what-the-tuck trends, but hey, it's the holidays!

78. Somebody Else's Daughter by Linsey Lanier
4.5 stars--This is the first in a romantic suspense series.

Miranda Steele is beaten up and then thrown out by her husband, Leon Groth, after she has a child conceived through a rape. Not only does he throw her out, but he forges her signature, signing away her rights to her daughter Amy. Amy is adopted, but to whom?

On her own, Miranda goes from one job after another, hoping to find Amy. She registers with every center that reunites adopted children with their birth parents. When she gets hold of a letter from a child the right age as Amy, she moves once again. This time to Georgia, and she ends up in jail as a murder suspect.

After the help of a stranger, Parker, she's released and given a job that just might lead her to Amy. He's a private detective investigating a teen's disappearance (and subsequent murder), but can he solve the crime? Will Miranda ever find her daughter? Will she be able to help solve the murder of the missing teen?

Suspenseful, some romance, some surprises, and a fair amount of smirks and winks (WTT). Considering checking out more by this author (have to find out whether Miranda ever finds Amy or not).

79. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
A novel of hope and wishes fulfilled featuring an injured cardinal (redbird) named Jack, a new resident named Oswald, and a little waif of a girl named Patsy.

Oswald relocates to Lost River, a small village, at the suggestion of his physician in Chicago, because of his health. Will this be the last Christmas for him? Or will this community help him to regain his health?

Jack is a redbird, which is shot by some boys, and nursed back to relative health by the owner of the general store. He becomes a pet to all especially to a shy little disabled girl named Patsy. Jack and she become friends. Dumped by the family who barely acknowledges her existence, she finds a family in the people of this village. Is it possible to have her disability taken care of?

Overall, a Christmas-themed novel worth reading any time of the
year with an upbeat ending.

Recipes mentioned in the novel are included at the end.

80. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Nora Seed's life is turned upside down when she decides to kill herself. She finds herself in the midnight library with Mrs. Elm, her librarian from her old school. She has lived a life and misery and regrets.

Now, with the help of Mrs. Elm, Nora will be able to live different lives, lives in which different choices provide different outcomes. Will she learn from these lives? Will these lives be better? Worse? How many lives will she live?

Intriguing read, which gives the reader pause. What if we all have the potential of parallel lives?

81. Gabriel's Angel by Nora Roberts
A pregnant woman, a grieving man come together on a snowy mountain road when they nearly crash, setting up this contemporary romance.

Laura avoids hitting Gabriel, but still ends up crashing into a guard rail on a snowy spring night. Rescuing her, he takes her to his cabin, and in so doing, feels saved himself. Calling her his angel, he takes care of her and finds his artistic muse again.

Over the next few weeks, the snowed-in pair find a connection as a few of their secrets come out. Gabriel asks Laura to marry her to protect the infant from grandparents who want the child as their heir.

Can love blossom from this wedding? Will either of them admit to their growing love? Will Gabe love the baby and truly accept the child as his own? What will happen if her deceased husband's parents find her?

Love, redemption, and growth are just a few of the themes of this romance.

81.5 Heterodox Haiku Journal Issue 4: Winter 2023 (Headnotes Edition edited by Jerome Berglund
An anthology of haiku, senryu, sequences, and haibun that just pop with the addition of headnotes.

From the editor's words in the foreward to the correspondence of note at the end, the pages are filled with poignant,moving, and edgy haiku against the backdrop of black and white photos.

Featuring over 30 haiku poets from around the world, this fourth issue is worth the read.
Here's one that should break your heart:
Nature program...

albatross chick
a bellyful
of plastic
by Jenn Ryan-jauregui (Arizona)

82. Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb
Eve Dallas and Roarke find a young woman naked during a blizzard wandering the streets of New York. She is dazed and more. Returning to the women's home, they find her husband dead and she is hospitalized for her trauma.

Investigating Daphne's husband's death and Daphne herself, Dallas finds several other couples who had similar experiences. Echoes of the women's experiences will test Eve, making it difficult for she and her homicide crew to solve the murder and catch the perpetrator.

83. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Not quite a mystery, full of the family dynamics, which are dysfunctional. This novel features Isabelle (Izzy) Spellman working in the family business, which is private investigations.

Her younger sister, Rae, is trouble of a different sort. She's a sugar junkie and con artist when it comes to negotiations. Everyone tends to pay her off until she disappears. Has she been kidnapped? Has she been murdered? That's just one of the mysteries Izzy solves.

Then there is the Rose case, that she needs to solve to get away from her family (and their constant surveillance of her every move). Will she find out what happened to Andrew Rose? Will his brother and mother help or hinder her investigation?

There's some humor in the way Izzy talks about her family members: her mother, her father, her older brother, David, her Uncle Ray, and Rae. So, too, the boyfriends she goes through.

84. The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor
Another World War II historical novel featuring another previous untold story of what went on during the German takeover of Austria.

Told in the near present day (around the time of the Berlin Wall coming down) and during the beginnings of the German occupation of Austria, the story is told from the perspective of Kristoff, an engraver apprentice to the famous Frederick Faber, and the engraver's daughter, Elena as well as from the perspective of Kate, who is the daughter of a man slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's in a nearby home.

When she takes his stamp collection to a stamp collector for an appraisal, Kate is told that one particular stamp is special. It sets off a chain of events. Will she discover who the person is behind the letter never sent? Will she learn the history behind the stamp?

An intriguing mystery teasingly presented.

85. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens
I can understand why Dickens is considered required reading in high school and/or college, but also why I never made it through any of his other books I tried over the years. The introduction was helpful.

Enjoyed A Christmas Carol with all its spirits teaching Scrooge the meaning of Christmas, but A Christmas Tree seemed more like list after list of every possible Christmas-related item seen during the Victorian times. A Christmas Dinner was a bit better as family relationships were addressed, and A Good-Humoured Christmas was alternately joyous and creepy (much like the last spirit in A Christmas Carol). Not sure if I will ever read another Dickens again because it is tedious reading and rather bleak.

86. Better Than Before by Kathryn Shay
A contemporary romance featuring a venture capitalist, Spence, and a recently divorced woman with children, Annie, who meet through an elite online dating service owned by Spence's brother.

Spence Wickham wheels and deals in the business world, buying under-performing companies, but in the romance department he is jaundiced. Married and divorced twice, he never plans on having a relationship again. Flings, yes, but nothing permanent. In fact, he claims everyone lies on online dating services, that no one is honest. This leads to a bet with his brother that he can get women with a totally made-up persona.

Annie's friends sign her up for this exclusive dating site, and she falls for the fake Spence, the "construction worker." Before he can get out of this possible relationship, Spence start seeing each other. Annie notice some discrepancies with Spence, but will she call him on it or is it because of his deceased "wife?"

He plans on telling her the truth, but time after time, he neglects to mention he is not the man she thinks he is (and pretends to be), that he is wealthy and not interested in a long-term relationship. Except...she is changing him in subtle ways. Will he finally tell her the truth? If he does, what will her reaction be? Is it possible they will have a happily ever after? Can she love the man he truly is?

This is the first of a trilogy called the RealMatch.com. The other two romances involve his two brothers.

Not a great deal of What-the-tuck trends, which is positive, but the editor or author doesn't know the rules of golf. It's just a little thing, but the person further from the pin should always putt first; the same is true in the fairway.

I finally figured out the significance of the title: Annie makes Spence into a better man with more compassion.

87. Mistletoe Christmas by E. James, C. Caldwell, J. MacGregor, and E. Ridley
Four Christmas-themed novellas from four different romance writers that featured the same setting.

Each of the romances finds the female protagonist more interested in being successful than finding love, yet each of them finds both.

The Duke of Greystone's Revelry is the most sought after event of the Christmastide season. To receive an invitation is bliss, and each of the stories is set at the Revelry. The Duke is on his deathbed, but the fortnight's events must go on.

For Lady Cressida, the Duke's daughter, she is the mastermind of the Revelry. but she's more a servant than the lady. According to him, she's dowdy and he expects her to continue the tradition beyond his death despite selecting an heir, who'll inherit the only home she's known.

For Lady Isabelle Wilkshire, cousin to Cressida, Isabelle's not interested in marriage, but in her artistic career as an author and director of plays.

Lady Caroline Whitmore is already married, but unhappily, but if she is to continue her plans in London, she and her estranged husband must convince the Duke and his lawyer that they are a couple. For him, he only wants to prove his love, but can he?

Miss Louisa Harcourt only wants to be a poet, but she's a spinster at age twenty-three, and according to her mother, this is her last chance to find a husband (and one that is a viscount or marquise). Unfortunately, Louisa is only attracted to another poet, the brooding Ewan.

Each of the love stories has the women (and the men) wondering if love is possible despite the odds. Is it possible to have love and more?

88. Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews
Bees, flowers, trees, murder, and blackmail all interrupt Meg Langlow's time hanging out in the hammock relaxing in this thirty-third book in this mystery series.

Her grandmother Cordelia is being interviewed by Britni Colleton for an article in a magazine, Sweet Tea and Sassafras, but all Britni seems to do is bother Cordelia and everyone else. Britni seems uninterested in interviewing Cordelia about her interests.

Meanwhile, there is a murder of a man, Walter Inman, one of the NIMBYs as Meg calls this neighborhood group. NIMBY stands for Not In My Back Yard, and one of the things the NIMBYs hate are the bees in neighbor's garden, and someone has poisoned all the hives, killing the bees.

Are the murder of the bees and the murder of a local man related? How does the blackmail of one of the NIMBY women connect to the murder? Or does it? Will Britni write the article about Cordelia? Can Meg solve the murder and the blackmail plot before someone else gets murdered?

89. Magicked Born by Ashleigh Mattern
This fantasy novel, in essence, pits one group against another. Those who are Magicked are being hunted by those who aren't. The Gods' Army and those in charge of the Army want to stamp out those Magicked persons. Call it persecution, call it prejudice, but that is ultimately the message.

Young men and women, who are fleeing their countries or cities because of the manifestation of being Magicked, band together. Are they the good ones or the evil ones? Only time will tell especially for twin sisters, Blaze and Nova. And for Oran and his servant -friend Uni as they meet up with Nova and Blaze and others who are also Magicked.

Lots of world-building and some completion, but still too much left unanswered, leaving readers wondering what is next for all the characters.

Full disclosure: I received this novel through a First Reads Goodreads giveaway, but that in no way affected this review.

90. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins
Twelve holiday-themed stories by twelve YA authors. A few of these authors I had read before, but most of them were new (to me). Some stories were better than others, but all are worth reading.

91. The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk
see review posted 12/31/23