“The Duchess” by Wendy Holden

Title: The Duchess
Author: Wendy Holden
Publisher:  Berkley
Year: 2021
Genre(s):  historical fiction; romance
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon an Advent Calendar gift

Summary: As the Duchess of Windsor prepares to bury her husband alongside the royal family and the Commonwealth, she recalls the story of when she was just Wallis Simpson and dreamed of living the life of the rich and famous. She manages to break into a world she had only glimpsed from the distance and her life changes when she gets an invite to the royal home of Edward, the future king of England. As she forms a friendship with David, as he is known, she has no clue that she will be part of history – or that her name will be linked with scandal and infamy for the rest of her life.

“Clover Blue” by Eldonna Edwards

Title: Clover Blue
Author: Eldonna Edwards
Publisher:  Kensington Publishing
Year: 2019
Genre(s): coming of age, historical fiction
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Summary: Clover Blue has only known the Saffron Love Community, a commune created by a man known as Goji. Blue has a rather unconventional upbringing and education. But when he learns he was not born to someone at SLC, he wants to learn more about where he came from. Will he get his answers? Who is his real family – the one he was born to or the one that found him?

“The Space Between” by Dete Meserve

Title: The Space Between
Author: Dete Meserve
Publisher:  Lake Union
Year: 2018
Genre(s): mystery, romance
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: After presenting the biggest discovery of her career to NASA, Sarah returns to find that her husband Ben is missing. The authorities search for him but also suspect him of a murder which may be why he is missing. Sarah has to sort through the jumble of evidence left behind to determine what happened to her husband, if he is innocent – and if their marriage can be saved.

“Circus of Wonders” by Elizabeth Macneal

Title: Circus of Wonders
Author: Elizabeth Macneal
Publisher:  Atria
Year: 2022
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: In the Victorian era, circuses filled with oddities and “freaks” are all the rage. Jasper Jupiter runs one such circus with the help of his brother, Toby. When Nellie is sold to him by her father, Jasper transforms her into a star. Nellie’s fame soon grows and Jasper feels he’s on the verge of achieving his greatest dreams. But when Nellie’s star starts to eclipse his own and his own brother starts to fall for her, will Jasper’s ego be their downfall?

“Wildland” by Rebecca Hodge

Title: Wildland
Author: Rebecca Hodge
Publisher:  Crooked Lane
Year: 2020
Genre(s): contemporary
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

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

Summary: After receiving life-changing news, Kat retreats to a mountain retreat she once visited with her late husband as she considers her decision. Her daughter, Sara, gives her mother a rescue dog to take care of and Kat also befriends her closest neighbors – military and security contractor Malcom and his son Nirav and IT professional Scott and his daughter Lily. They also rescue a puppy as well and Kat gives him a home. But the area has been experiencing a severe drought and a electrical storm soon puts them all in danger. Will Kat manage to rescue the children, the dogs and more importantly, herself?

“We Are Not Like Them” by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

Title: We Are Not Like Them
Author: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Publisher:  Atria Books
Year: 2021
Genre(s): contemporary
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Summary: The book follows the aftermath of a police-involved shooting of a black teenager. Riley WIlson is the Black reporter covering the story for her TV station. Jen Murphy is the white woman married to one of the cops involved. The two women have been friends since childhood but this tragedy threatens to tear them apart as they both come to terms with racism and how it affects them as people and as friends.

“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna

Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher:  Berkley
Year: 2022
Genre(s): fantasy, romance
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club “Sweet Halloween” pick

Summary: Witches like Mika Moon have a lot of rules to follow, rules that guarantee that her life is a lonely one. But when she is summoned to serve as a tutor for three young witches, she starts to question the rules. Will her experience validate everything she’s been taught? Or will she come to realize she doesn’t have to live her life alone after all?