“Murder at Gulls Nest” by Jess Kidd

Title: Murder at Gulls Nest
Author: Jess Kidd
Publisher: Atria Books
Year: 2025
Genre(s): mystery, historical fiction
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1.

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: When letters from her friend Freya suddenly stop, Nora Breen leaves her convent to go search for her. She travels to the small English seaside town where Freya last was known to be and settles at Gulls Nest. When two residents of Gulls Nest die under mysterious circumstances, Nora realizes Freya’s disappearance is just the tip of iceberg.

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“A Betting Woman: A Novel of Madame Moustache” by Jenni L. Walsh

Title: A Betting Woman: A Novel of Madame Moustache
Author: Jenni L. Walsh
Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
Year: 2021    
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: After suffering an unimaginable loss, Simone Jules flees New Orleans and heads to California along with others looking for gold. She finds her fortune at gambling tables, introducing the game Vingt-et-Un to the prospectors. Over the years, Simone reinvents herself as Eleanor Dumont and follows the gold with her games and her business sense, building a life for herself that she never could’ve imagined in New Orleans.

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“Here Comes the Drama” by Christa Innis

Title: Here Comes the Drama
Author: Christa Innis
Publisher: Eleanora Press
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: Possibly book 1.

Why I read it: I’ve seen Christa’s sketches and wanted to read her book.

Summary: Ferris proposes to his girlfriend Sloane but not everyone is happy for them. His mother, Kate, proves to be the biggest obstacle to them getting down the aisle. Will they find a way to get around her…or will she get her way in the end?

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My Books of 2025

 

It’s a New Year!

 Happy New Year, everyone!

I know I pretty much disappeared toward the end of last year and I apologize for that. Real life got a little hectic just as the time seemed to speed up. My writing schedule was disrupted but I’m hoping the holidays have allowed me to get it back on track.

Maybe?

Anyway, as I usually do, it’s time to wrap up the year that was before we look forward to the year that will be.

Here we go!

“A Legend in the Baking” by Jamie Wesley

Title: A Legend in the Baking
Author: Jamie Wesley
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: Yes. Read my review of Book 1 here.

Why I read it: Because I enjoyed the first book.

Summary: August Hodges never wanted the spotlight, even though he is a professional football player and co-owner of one of the hottest cupcake shops in the city. But when his rant in support of women goes viral, the spotlight finds him. He finds himself needing to navigate his newfound fame as he and his partners prepare to open a second location. Since fame doesn’t come naturally to him, he’s going to need help.

Enter Sloane Dell, the sister of his friend and business partner Donovan. Sloane is building a career as a social media manager and helping to manage her brother’s business will be a great stepping stone toward her dream job. She agrees to help August channel his fifteen minutes of fame toward helping the shop grow. However, working closely with August brings back feelings she thought were in the pass. Will she be able to help August and possibly get a happy ending she never thought possible? Or will they both just get burned?

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“The Undoing of Violet Claybourne” by Emily Critchley

Title: The Undoing of Violet Claybourne
Author: Emily Critchley
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club Pick

Summary: When Gillian Larking goes to spend Christmas with Violet Claybourne, her friend and roommate at boarding school, she sees it as her chance to experience a proper family and the high society life the Claybournes enjoy. But instead of a glittery lifestyle, she finds a crumbling manor house and a darkness that soon threatens to consume her as well. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to prove herself to Violet’s sisters when tragedy strikes?

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