“Happy Place” by Emily Henry

Title: Happy Place
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2023
Genre(s): romance, contemporary
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club Pick

Summary: Six friends – Harriet, Wynn, Sabrina, Parth, Cleo and Kimmy – arrive in Maine for their annual summer vacation. It will be their last year there as Sabrina’s family is selling the house in Maine. And while they are there, she and Parth plan to get married. As everyone prepares for the wedding, Harriet and Wynn have to hide a big secret from their friends – they called off their own engagement and broke up six months earlier. Can they make it through the week? Or will they lose their Happy Place forever?

Rating: 

“The Lost Bookshop” by Evie Woods

Title: The Lost Bookshop
Author: Evie Woods
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2023
Genre(s): historical fiction, contemporary 
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Recommendation from Storygraph

Summary: Escaping an arranged marriage and a tyrannical brother, Opaline eventually finds refuge in a store that seems to be alive. Years later, Henry goes on a quest to find the store and encounters Martha, who is reclaiming her life after leaving her abusive husband. Their stories entwine into a beautiful mosaic that hopefully leads to their happy endings.

Rating: 

“The Daughters of Foxcote Manor” by Eve Chase

Title: The Daughters of Foxcote Manor    
Author: Eve Chase 
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2020
Genre(s): historical fiction, contemporary 
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Sylvie is learning that when it rains, it pours. As she navigates through several family emergencies, she realizes she needs to finally confront her past. It leads her to a property once called Foxcote Manor, where in 1971, Rita arrives with Mrs. Harrington and her children for the summer after a family tragedy. But another one may loom when a baby is found in the woods and an dangerous visitor arrives. The events of that summer reverberate and affect Sylvie’s present and future.

Rating: 

“The Family Inside” by Katie Garner

Title: The Family Inside
Author: Katie Garner
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2025
Genre(s): suspense
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Facing eviction, Iris accepts her boyfriend’s invitation to move in with him. He has moved back to his family’s home as he renovates it. Iris and her teenage daughter Ellory struggle to fit in with his family and Ellory ends up running away. Worried about her daughter, Iris realizes that she is not safe in the house as dark secrets start to come to light. Will she ever find out the truth…or will blood prove to be thicker? 

Rating: 

“Queen of Snow” by Laura Burton and Jessie Cal

Title: Queen of Snow
Author: Laura Burton and Jessie Cal 
Publisher: Self-published
Year: 2021
Genre(s): fantasy, romantasy
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #1.

Why I read it: Saw it recommended on Facebook and was intrigued by a Beauty and the Beast/Man in the Iron Mask combo. But realized it was part of a series so decided to start with Book #1.

Summary: After his grandfather’s death, Jack falls through a mirror in his study and ends up in the Chanted Forest. There he befriends Aria, a young woman with magical ice powers and who is running from her evil stepmother, the Queen. Jack teams up with her to try to get back home but will he realize that maybe he’s already there?

Rating: 

“The Secret Service of Tea and Treason” by India Holton

Title: The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
Author: India Holton 
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2023
Genre(s): historical fiction, historical fantasy, action
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #3. Read my review of Book #2 here.

Why I read it: Because I enjoyed Book #2.

Summary: To uncover and stop a plot to assassinate Queen Victoria, the Agency of Undercover Note Takers (A.U.N.T.) sends their best agents undercover as a pirate and her husband. Agent B (aka Daniel Bixby) is used to the ways of pirates but Agent A (aka Alice Dearborn) struggles to understand their ways. Not helping is her growing attraction to her partner. Will they stop the plot? And what will become of the feelings growing between them?

Rating: 

“The Turn of the Key” by Ruth Ware

Title: The Turn of the Key
Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Scout Press
Year: 2019    
Genre(s): suspense
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Rowan Caine, a young woman from London, is hired as a nanny for the wealth Elinscourt family. They live in a beautiful house in the Scottish highlands that is historic but also completely modernized on the inside. Technology is watching the entire time and mysterious noises in the attic prevent Rowan from finding any peace. Left alone with four girls who aren’t happy with her presence, she worries she is losing her sanity when tragedy changes everything.

Rating: 

“Eddie Winston is Looking for Love” by Marianne Cronin

Title: Eddie Winston is Looking for Love
Author: Marianne Cronin
Publisher: Harper Perennial 
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): romance, contemporary 
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick.

Summary: At 90 years old, Eddie Winston has never been kissed. He then meets Bella when she comes into the thrift shop where he works to donate her late boyfriend’s belongings. Together, they form and unlikely friendship as she becomes determined to help Eddie get his first kiss.

Rating: 

“The Maui Effect” by Sara Ackerman

Title: The Maui Effect
Author: Sara Ackerman
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick.

Summary: ‘Iwa feels a special bond with the nature of Maui and is dedicated to protecting it, especially the beautiful rainforests that are under threat from developers trying to build more hotels. Dane has always answered the call of the ocean and is a renowned surfer. When these two meet, can someone so connected to the land and someone so connected to the sea fall in lasting love?

Rating: 

“Single and Ready to Jingle” by Piper Rayne

Title: Single and Ready to Jingle
Author: Piper Rayne
Publisher: Self-Published
Year: 2022    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: Yes

Why I read it: I wanted a Christmas romance to read.

Summary: Kenzie loves Christmas. Andrew does not. When they match on an app, it spells disaster even before they learn that Kenzie’s brother is Andrew’s best friend. However, fate throws them together when Andrew volunteers Kenzie to help plan his firm’s holiday party. Will the season work its magic on them? Or are they just too different to work?

Rating: 

“Lights on the Sea” by Miguel Reina

Title: Lights on the Sea
Author: Miguel Reina, Catherine E. Nelson (Translator)
Publisher: Amazon Crossing
Year: 2018    
Genre(s): adventure, magical realism
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Harold and Mary Rose Graves are being forced out of their house due to how close it is to the edge of a cliff. The night before they need to leave, a terrible storm causes their house to fall into the sea below. It turns into a boat and they drift on the tide, finding an adventure they never imagined and the healing they’ve needed for thirty-five years.

Review Rewind: “Meet Me in Paradise” by Libby Hubscher

Happy Winter!

I don’t know about where you are but we’ve been dealing with a very cold winter this year. Cold enough to make me wish I was someplace warmer.

Since I can’t jump on a plane and fly to someplace tropical, I do the next best thing – I grab a book set someplace warm!

I’m currently reading The Maui Effect by Sara Ackerman but for this rewind, I’m revisiting a different book –Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher.

“Heard it in a Love Song” by Tracey Garvis Graves

Title: Heard it in a Love Song
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2021    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Got it as part of Once Upon a Book Club’s 12 Days of Bookmas a couple years ago.

Summary: Layla and Josh meet at his daughter’s school where Layla works as a music teacher. Slowly, they form a friendship that turns into more. But they both have just gotten out of marriages for different reasons so they aren’t quite ready for love. Will they prove to be what each other needs right now? Or are they still playing with fire that could burn them all?

“Yours, Unexpectedly” by Rachel Lewis

Title: Yours, Unexpectedly
Author: Rachel Lewis    
Publisher:  Self-published
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1

Rating: 

Why I read it: I entered a giveaway for it and though I didn’t win, decided to read it anyway.

Summary: Rebecca “Bex” Bardot needs to take a fine arts course in order to graduate. She gets placed in an Intro to Acting course and discovers the TA is Anders Olsson, her brother’s best friend and the person Bex has had a crush on for several years now. Unknown to her, Anders has been harboring feelings for her as well. As he prepares to complete his master’s and relaunch a career derailed by his untreated ADHD, will he finally take a chance? Will she?

“Famous for a Living” by Melissa Ferguson

Title: Famous for a Living
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson    
Year: 2023    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: No.

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Cat Cranwell has built her life around social media as an influencer. But when scandal ruins her reputation, she finds her life in shambles. Her best option is to move out to Montana and accept a position from her uncle, who is a park ranger. Out there, she learns more about herself and who she wants to be as well as how to use social media responsibility. Most importantly, she meets Zaiah Smith – a man who seems to hate everything about her life. But will that change as she changes?

“The Many Daughters of Afong Moy” by Jamie Ford

Title: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
Author: Jamie Ford
Publisher:  Atria Books    
Year: 2022    
Genre(s): historical fiction, fiction
Part of a Series: No.

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Dorothy has used her mental health struggles to fuel her art. But when they get too much and she worries her daughter will face the same problems, Dorothy undergoes a risky and experimental treatment to find the root of her problems. She learns it may not lie in her own past but the past of her ancestors, several women who have faced their own struggles going all the way back to one of the first Chinese women in America, Afong Moy. Will Dorothy be able to break free from generational trauma? Will she finally be able to find the peace and love she wants for both herself and her daughter?

“The Cinderella Pact” by Sarah Strohmeyer

Title: The Cinderella Pact
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer   
Publisher:  Dutton Adult    
Year: 2006    
Genre(s): contemporary fiction, romance
Part of a Series: No.

Rating: 

Why I Read It: It was on my Goodreads list but I think I put it on after watching a TV movie based on the book.

Summary: Nola Devlin works as an editor at fashion/gossip magazine Sass! and her main focus is on their popular advice columnist, Belinda Apple. Except Belinda Apple doesn’t exist – it’s all Nola, who pretends to be Belinda since no one gave her a chance, unable to look past her weight. But when Belinda’s advice inspires her friends to lose weight and have their Cinderella moments. Nola agrees and finds that once she starts to take control of her life, everything changes.

“The Spanish Daughter” by Lorena Hughes

Title: The Spanish Daughter   
Author: Lorena Hughes   
Publisher:  Kensington Publishing Corp.     
Year: 2022    
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No.

Rating: 

Why I Read It: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Maria Purificacion de Lafont y Toledo, better known as Puri, travels from Spain to Ecuador upon the death of the father who abandoned her and her mother when she was still a child. On the voyage over, she is attacked and her husband Cristobal is killed. Puri decides to assume his identity to help find who wanted her dead. She meets the other family her father had in Ecuador and has to work through years of family secrets to find the truth to solve her husband’s murder and claim her share of her father’s fortune.

“Not Your Crush’s Cauldron” by April Asher

Title: Not Your Crush’s Cauldron
Author: Rachel Joyce   
Publisher:  Griffin
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): paranormal romance
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3. Read reviews for Book 1 and Book 2.

Rating: 

Why I read it: To complete the trilogy

Summary: Olive, the third Maxwell triplet, always assigns her class an assignment to challenge themselves to get out of their comfort zone. This year, she decides to do the list along with her student. Her friend and new roommate, Bax, agrees to do it with her but hides important information from her – namely, that he’s been assigned as her guardian angel. As they complete Olive’s list, will their relationship become more than it is?

“Miss Benson’s Beetle” by Rachel Joyce

Title: Miss Benson’s Beetle
Author: Rachel Joyce   
Publisher:  The Dial Press   
Year: 2020    
Genre(s): historical fiction, adventure
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I Read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: With World War II over, teacher Margery Benson decides to abandon her career and finally pursue her dream of proving the existence of the golden beetle of New Caledonia. She buys the gear, books passage to the other side of the world and engages the services of Ms. Enid Pretty as an assistant. As they journey to New Caledonia, both Margery and Enid take another journey that could change them forever.