Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by KJ Whittle

 

I recently received an ARC from Sourcebooks for this novel and decided to take a break from what I was currently reading to dive into this interesting novel that's a bit thriller, a bit mystery, and a lot of puzzle. 

 I gobbled this up in a few days. Seven strangers are invited to a dinner party and each receive a card telling them when they will die. Not all of them look at the card, but those who do are a bit freaked out. Quite quickly, one by one they start to die. The remaining guests, now a reluctant group that keeps in touch at the memorials, struggle to figure out if this is just awful timing, or if someone is out to kill them all. Is the killer one of them, or someone outside, playing a sick game? 

The story is told from the viewpoint of each of the seven, and that makes for a fascinating tale. You get to know each of them--some of them briefly. It makes you wonder if you knew when you were going to die, would you change your life? It kept me guessing through most of the book, but a few clues towards the end pointed to the culprit. I enjoyed the novel and loved the concept. 

I always enjoy the "unveiling" from the murderer--how they planned, waited, and finished their devious murders. This novel had a great wrap up and teaser at the end. 

I'd recommend this novel for anywho who likes a novel that slowly unfolds, with characters that slowly reveal themselves--and ooh, revenge is the name of the game! 

This novel will be available September 9 in bookstores in the United States. 

Rating: 4/6 for an interesting concept, intriguing characters, and a plot that keeps you engaged. 

 

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Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by KJ Whittle

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald

 

I had the chance to read this novel thanks to Dutton/Penguin Random House and it was a delightful, sweet read heading into summer.

Read the Room is an independent bookstore in a cozy Seattle neighborhood. Full of quirky booksellers and customers, it's the kind of bookstore where you can relax and browse to your heart's content. 

April is one of those customers, and she's got a bit of a crush on Westley, the very handsome but shy bookseller who takes care of the used books that are dropped off and resold at the store. She's decided the easiest way to connect with him is by leaving a note in a book she's bringing to him. Sounds simple, right? What could go wrong?

Well, things go wrong and Westley never sees the note, and the book is bought by Laura, who finds the note and thinks the handsome man at the bookstore must have left it for her. 

A correspondence begins between April and Laura, who each think they're leaving notes for Westley, who remains absolutely clueless--and he's got his own mess to deal with--a movie is being filmed in the store. Westley is the quintessential Seattle dude, complete with beard and flannel shirt. Perfect for an indie movie about a bookstore. He's reluctantly pulled into the film as a back up to the star. 

This novel is really about lonely people. It's about waking up one day and realizing your life has somehow taken a turn you weren't expecting, and what seemed at first as protecting your space and mental health actually turns out to be isolating and lonely. Making friends as adults is hard, for sure. Making lasting friends as adults is hard, absolutely. 

April and Laura, and Westley are surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, and it was fun to see each circle of friends inch closer to connecting and growing into a big circle of friends who support each other and enjoy each other. Part of the enjoyment is anticipating the "aha" moment when April and Laura realize Westley isn't the one who's leaving notes-they're leaving notes for each other. 

This book is for fans of bookstore novels, women finding friendships, and novels where characters realize they are the key to their happiness--but it takes courage to change. 

Big thanks to Dutton and Penguin/RandomHouse for an enjoyable read!

Out now!

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Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald

May Reads and I've Selected My Big Summer Read of 2025

 May flew by--I finally went on vacation, and it involved getting on a plane, which is usually the best kind of vacation--far away from work and responsibilities for a bit. Of course now I'm back I've spent the last week digging myself out of the giant pile of stuff at work, and quickly getting my outdoor spaces ready for the summer. 

It's going to be a busy summer for me, but I still always start out optimistically planning on reading oodles of books and catching up--which never happens, but I still go into June feeling like it will happen.

This summer I decided to pick one book I really want to read and make that my summer read. I'll read it in between all the other books I'm picking up. That book is:

I've had this in a pile of books at home for months. I resisted buying it for a long time, just because it's a BIG book. But I caved and bought it but never read it. Now is my time to read it, so I'll be digging it out and starting on it this week. I love a good King Arthur Era novel. I'm giving myself until the end of August to finish, and yes, assigning myself a certain number of pages to read every week so I keep myself on track. I've never done that before, so we'll see if I listen to myself and follow the "rules" I've created. 

May reads were an older Nora Roberts Trilogy, the first in an older fantasy series set in the Old West, and a really great historical fiction novel that was a happy surprise. And a few more I read:

My brother dropped this in my hands during vacation so I started reading and couldn't put it down. I immediately ordered the rest of the series when I got home. Just wow. Seriously amazing. Old West meets an evil older than God, ready to break free of its prison underneath the mines of Golgotha, a bizarre western town full of strange characters. 

The Inn Boonsboro trilogy starts with Beckett Montgomery and his love for Clare, a widowed mother of three boys. The Montgomery men (all three brothers) run a construction company with their mother and are working on opening a B&B in a historic and haunted old inn. 

The second in the trilogy centers around old friends Owen Montgomery and Avery McTavish, who suddenly realize friendship isn't all they want. But can they take that big step from friends to something more?

The final book in the trilogy centers around Ryder Montgomery, the surliest brother, and Hope Beaumont, the inn keeper. There's plenty of spark, but can they just remain lovers or will they fall for each other? 

I started this book months ago, and just wasn't getting into it. I finally picked it up again and zipped right through it, and enjoyed it very much. Iris and Archer have plenty of heat with their undeniable attraction, but she's the nanny for his young daughter Olive, and neither of them plans on falling in love. Between late night pancakes and living in the same house, it doesn't take long before the two just can't help themselves. Will Iris stay, or run away from her feelings?

I really enjoyed this non-fiction book about changing, growing, accepting when things don't work out, and finding joy in friendships. Yes, she may come from a place of privilege, but it was interesting to read about her insecurities, her admiration for her father and the lessons he taught her, and her unwavering friendships. 

Tildy is head curator at a small library/museum in San Francisco, and money is tight. Finding a hidden room with miniature dollhouses in the library leads her on a quest to discover who created the dollhouses and why. This was a fantastic read, taking you  back and forth between contemporary Tildy and the amazing artist Cora in the early 20th century. Just fantastic and a sure winner for anyone who loves historical fiction with strong female characters. One of my favorite reads this year. 

I read more than I realized in May--yay! Four novels that weren't on my radar at the beginning of the month; just goes to show books will pop up when you need them. 

Happy summer everyone! Off to read outside for a bit. 

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May Reads and I've Selected My Big Summer Read of 2025

April Reads: Lots of Magic and Make Believe

 April definitely was the month for me to read books that had an element of the mystical. Whether it was a young woman working to keep her witchy gifts, or a cozy mystery involving a tea house, I found comfort in the magical. I suspect I'll keep reading magical novels all throughout the summer!

It is May 1st (!) and I'm working through the half-begun books that are littering my living room. Vacation is coming up in another week or so, and I've begun thinking about what to take with me to read. I cannot wait to sit on my plane, open a book, and relax!

Here's what I read in April:

Love Sarah Jio. This novel asks the question: how different could my life be if I made other choices? 

A historical novel set in the late 1960's in Ireland, where contraception is illegal and women have no financial rights. Fascinating read!

A cozy fantasy about a young woman who has 30 days to reclaim her magical abilities or lose them forever. 

A cozy mystery set in small town Georgia, centered at a beloved bookstore. 

Second in a series about a family of women, their magical abilities, and the special flower farm in Mexico they call home. 

First in a cozy mystery series set on the coast of California. A young woman inherits a mystical tea shop, but someone wants her gone. What are her ties to the shop? 

As I said, a month of cozy reads. May is shaping up to be a very busy month, but I'll find the time to dive into some of the newer books I've bought, as well as what's waiting on my shelves at home. 

Enjoy the warmer weather, and happy reading!

The Bookalicious Babe

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April Reads: Lots of Magic and Make Believe

March Reads and a Look Ahead

 March felt like it was endless, but it's already April fourth and I'm behind on my reading recap! Life is picking up speed and I'm sure summer will be here so darn fast. If only the Iowa weather would cooperate! 

I thought I read more in March, but I guess I didn't. I started a heck of a lot of books, and for sure bought a lot of books. Book therapy is real in this house. 

Here's what I read in March:

This was a gothic thriller about two sisters who have to live with their murderous Aunt. Snarky, chock full of paranormal events, and ooh--revenge is sweet. 

I'm a fan of Chelsea Handler and I picked this book up at the bookstore on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised! Yes, she's got lots of humorous stories, but it also delves into her years long studies on becoming a better person. Therapy, reflection, lots of reading, meditation. She does it all, and in doing so, makes some pretty profound changes to her life. I so enjoyed this--perfect for any woman who's feeling stuck or at a crossroads in their life. 

This was an interesting novel about a haunted hotel room in Denver, Colorado. A young woman with paranormal gifts investigates, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of a hotel room where, every five years, a woman dies by suicide. And five years before, her sister was the latest victim. Combining Native American spiritual practices, a horrific massacre, and a secret occult group, this has a whole lot going on! 

Okay! Wow, that was short. Here's what I'm reading now, or plan on reading in April:

I met Hannah at a library book discussion and signing and can't wait to dive into Black Harbor. 

Continuing the series that started with The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I need a little romance read this month! 

Getting lots of buzz--an experienced hiker goes missing on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Can they find her before time runs out? 

I will drop everything to read this when it finally comes out at the end of April. I cannot wait. Shipwrecks, witches, missing gold. Italy. 

Curious about this little paperback I bought this week. Looks interesting, and I don't want to wait until vacation to read it. 

Well, that's all I've got for now. I have so many more books but I'm taking little bites and keeping myself on task. I'll be back at the end of April with a recap! 

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March Reads and a Look Ahead

February Reads: A Mixed Bag of Books!

 February sure did blow through quickly! However, each day draaaaggged on. Sheesh. 

I read a few interesting books this month, and started quite a few that I'm still working on. I also bought 4 books in the past week, to add to the library books I've checked out. Here comes the struggle to decide which to tackle first. 

Here's what I read this month:

I enjoyed learning about Brooke's journey towards more self-acceptance, and the aha! moments that happen as you move through your fifties. Motivation to keep thriving and growing. 

This was a cute fast read about a young woman recently diagnosed with lupus, who returns to her Aunt's home for a quick break and quickly discovers the magic that she left behind as a teenager. Books, gardens, old friends, and a chance at healing her heart. A gentle read.

Loved this one! This was a pick me up from the library that turned out to be one of the most interesting books I've read in a long time. Tilda is diagnosed with the invisibility disease, which affects women over 50. They slowly, finger by toe, ear by nose, limb by limb, disappear. Tilda decides she's not disappearing without a fight, and forges a path towards understanding, healing, and learning to tell PEARL to shut the hell up! 

 

Read this for work, and yes, it's typical Lencioni, but did have some good points about finding the best people for your team, and creating an environment of all on one team to build success. Hungry, Humble, and Smart are the cornerstones to a solid work team. 

I've made the mistake of dipping back into social media, and all it's brought me is a lot of stress headaches. So I'm going back to my books to keep my mind occupied and lower the stress! Please support your local public libraries and bookstores. Keep reading!

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February Reads: A Mixed Bag of Books!

January Reads: Where Books Keep Me Sane!

 Ah, January. The month where I embrace the gloomy days and hibernate. This January was especially long, which gave me time to read a lot--a lot for me, as I get back into my reset year. 2025 is the year of decreasing my social media time, shutting off the TV, and getting back to reading like I used to before the smart phone craziness. 

Reading also helps me cope with stress and is my comfort blanket. When I can't handle the stresses of life, I dive into a book. 

I did read quite a few great books, but there are some I can't quite review just yet. But I can show you what I've read! 

A lovely English novel about a young widow starting over in a small village. Great supporting cast of characters, love story, and overall a novel that takes you away!

I couldn't wait to read the ARC of this highly anticipated novel from the author of Weyward. Out in the US on April 1st, this is a tale of sisters--two who find themselves on a convict ship bound for Australia, and two modern sisters who have a tangled relationship, an unexplainable draw to the ocean, and dreams that connect them to the past. Ooh, it was a fascinating read! 

My first book of 2025, this was a quick read but had some impactful moments. A short novel about a man living in 1985 Ireland; living a simple life, but one where unanswered questions about his past come full circle on Christmas Eve. 

There's a heck of a lot packed into this short novel, and plenty to discuss involving the Catholic Church, the abuse of young women, and the observations that people are more comfortable staying quiet than making change and causing a stir.

Here are other novels I read in January; all are children's speculative fiction.  I'll have reviews later this month:

Happy reading everyone!! 

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January Reads: Where Books Keep Me Sane!