Frankly, My Dear Clara

Title: Frankly, My Dear Clara

Series: London Dreams #1

Author: Kristi Ann Hunter

Source: own

My Review:

I am struggling to find the words for this review.

Battling the Bluestocking

Title: Battling the Bluestocking

Series: The Donovans #3

Author: Martha Keyes 

Narrators: Ella Lynch & Rupert Degas

Source: Hoopla

My Review:

Battling the Bluestocking is the third book in the Donovan series. While it COULD be read as a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading The Art of Victory and A Confirmed Rake first.

TTT- Favorite Indie Authors

Happy Tuesday my bookish friends!! I hope you all are doing well. Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is: Indie Freebie (submitted by @dark.shelf.of.wonders and Books Are The New Black). I do read a lot of Indie authors, so hopefully this will be a pretty easy topic this week. The hard part will be narrowing it down. My time was short this week, so no books, but if you click on the authors name, it will take you to their Goodreads page. All authors write clean books (minimal to no language or spice). Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and you can head over there to see what our other bookish friends are up to today. 

Birds on a Wire

Title: Birds on a Wire

Author: Katie Powner

Source: Library

My Review:

When I first started reading the story, I was like, "That wouldn't happen that way."

Stacking the Shelves #221 Sunday Post #218 Sunday Salon #212

Hey, my bookish friends!!  How are you all doing? We enjoyed our visit to NC last weekend, it was nice to see my in-laws. There were some stressors (who is surprised?), but overall it was good.

Art of Writing 2026 Tour + giveaway

 

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for the Art of Writing 2026, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

While I am not a writer, I do appreciate the craft! Today I am excited to share with you about the Art of Writing conference. If you are a writer, or are thinking about becoming a writer, read on for more details. Some of my favorite authors will be participating in this event (Amanda Cox and Amanda Dykes, their books are amazing!). Not only that, but it is meeting in Nashville, TN!! An amazing city to take in a conference and do some exploring.

A Confirmed Rake

Title: A Confirmed Rake

Series: The Donovans #2

Author: Martha Keyes 

Narrators: Ella Lynch & Rupert Degas

Source: Hoopla

My Review:

A Confirmed Rake is the second book in the Donovan series, and while it COULD be read as a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading The Art of Victory first. There we meet Diana (Valentine's sister) and Marmaduke (Rebecca's brother). 

The Escape Plan

Title: The Escape Plan

Series: Only Magic in the Building #8

Author: Katie Bailey

Source: Kindle Unlimited 

My Review:

The Escape Plan is the final installment of the Only Magic in the Building series. These books are all set in the same historic building, with light magical elements. The "magical" element is different in each book.

TTT-F is for fantastic favorites

Happy Tuesday my bookish friends!! I hope you all are doing well. Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is: Books With Nationalities In The Title (e.g. The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Mexican Gothic, An American Marriage, etc.) (submitted by Cathy @WhatCathyReadNext). I tried to do this but I don't read many books with Nationalities in the title. I found three. So, instead, I am going to go a different route.  I am going to continue with the alphabet and I am up to "F." I picked ten of my favorites that started with F and for me all were 5-star reads. A  B, C, D, and E. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and you can head over there to see what our other bookish friends are up to today. 

Top Ten Tuesday- F is for fantastic favorites

Fights of Fancy by Jen Turano 

August Reading Wrap Up 2026

August was a blur. It was busy and I can't quite remember most of what I did, LOL. I did a lot of walking, so I finished more audiobooks than I normally would. I feel like I got a lot of reading in this month. So, lets see what I actually did. I finished 24 books, and I had one DNF and one 2-star read. Overall, I was disappointed in quite a few books that I read, which doesn't normally happen. Click on the cover of the book if you are interested in reading my review.

The Art of Victory

Title: The Art of Victory

Series: The Donovans #1

Author: Martha Keyes 

Narrator: Ella Lynch

Source: Hoopla

My Review:

Diana declares war on Marmaduke Russel when he stands in the way of her dear friend Lucy marrying the one her heart desires. Side note: I love his name, so unique!

The Last Drop

Title: The Last Drop

Series: Maya Davis #5

Author: Erynn Mangum

Source: Kindle Unlimited

My Review:

While this book is one hundred percent predictable, I still loved it.

Room For Cream

Title: Room For Cream

Series: Maya Davis #4

Author: Erynn Mangum

Source: Kindle Unlimited

My Review:

I am not going to lie, I was sad when I started this book and realized it was 10 YEARS later! And that the perspective was now from Presley's point of view, not Maya's as in the first three books in the series.

A Grief Observed

Title: A Grief Observed

Author: C.S. Lewis

Source: Own

My Review:

Well, I do not understand why this book is always recommended when someone is dealing with grief. As Madeleine L'Engle states in the foreword: Reading A Grief Observed during my own grief made me understand that each experience of grief is unique.

Double Shot

Title: Double Shot

Series: Maya Davis #3

Author: Erynn Mangum

Source: Own

My Review:

One of the things that I love about this series is the deep moments of Christian theology, like this one:

Walking in Victory

Title: Walking in Victory

Author: Dennis McCallum

Source: Hoopla/own

My Review:

The truest thing about us is what God says about us.

Stacking the Shelves #220 Sunday Post #217 Sunday Salon #211

Hey, my bookish friends!!  How are you all doing? We had a blast at the concerts last weekend, it was just what we needed. This was a hard week, lots of stress, and with drama in my book club, and the final word is that we dissolved it after three years. I will miss it, but I am thankful for the years we had. I have no idea what we plan to do this weekend (recover?), but I won't be posting next weekend, we will be in NC having a quick visit with my husband's family. What are your plans for the weekend? 

Latte Daze

Title: Latte Daze

Series: Maya Davis #2

Author: Erynn Mangum

Source: Own

My Review:

I enjoyed the second installment of the Maya Davis series just as much as the first book. This series is best read in order.

The Way It Should Be

Title: The Way It Should Be

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Narrator: Cindy Kay

Source: Hoopla

My Review:

This is one of those books where I do not know what to say for the review. My words will not do it justice.

Cool Beans

Title: Cool Beans

Series: Maya Davis #1

Author: Erynn Mangum

Source: Own

My Review:

Okay, I loved this book. Maya Davis is quirky and fun. She tells the truth with no filter. I love that she writes everything down on sticky notes. And, of course, her caffeine addiction amused me. Her friendship with Jack is fun and flirty (although she doesn't recognize that it is flirty).