The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah

Suffering from overwhelming grief over the death of her Aunt Julia, a woman closer to her than her own mother,  Riley retreats into her own mind in visions of the moon seas her Aunt taught her about.  After her mother is also killed months later,  Riley is sent to the Wisconsin countryside to live with her mother's cousin.  They try everything to help her heal, but it isn't until her cousin Kiran is born that she comes out of her shell. Now it's ten years later and Riley is starting to feel confined by the boundaries she put up that have kept her from the outside world. When a stranger appears on the farm one day, she feels an instant connection with this man and the secret pain he hides, for she feels that same pain and guilt every day. 

Vaughn Orr is a bestselling novelist living in New York that longs to see the moon and stars. He's chosen Wisconsin as the place to retreat and heal his writer's block,  but when his car runs out of gas,  he finds the enigmatic and welcoming Mays family. There's just something about Riley that draws him in and soon he can't imagine leaving.  But Vaughn is harboring a secret that could destroy everything. 

Vanderah has a unique ability of bringing out the magic of the natural world through her writing.  The characters are so vivid and realistic,  I could feel their pain. From beginning to end,  I just couldn't put this book down! I have read and loved every one of her books and I can't wait to read the next. 

Thank you to the publisher for this complimentary advance reader copy. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily. 

Notorious by Mae Thorne

It's the time of Revolutionary War in New York City and Delia Wolcott is still single, with her mother despairing that she'll become a spinster. The family is forced to house a British officer, and Lord Carrington comes to reside in what used to be Delia's favorite brother's room. Arthur was murdered with no witnesses and Delia is determined to uncover the truth and avenge his death. She becomes the infamous traitor Foxglove, helping rebel families escape the clutches of the enemy while gathering information and poisoning some of the worst British offenders. But her identity as Foxglove is at risk now that the Lord is constantly underfoot, and right next door. The worst part is that he's been assigned to find and hang Foxglove for treason. 

While the writing seemed a little choppy in some parts, overall I liked the story. The descriptions of clothing from the era, the focus on propriety at all times, the romance, the intrigue...

I loved the teasing and not so subtle innuendo between Delia and William. Despite their differences, their attraction was like a powder keg about to blow, but still William was warm and affectionate even when she was being nonsensical. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily. 

The Little Library on Cherry Lane by Katie Ginger

Elsie Martin has her dream job working as a librarian at the little library she grew up with in the village of Meadowbrook. But when the library's future is threatened by a development company set to build affordable housing, Elsie must put aside her crippling social anxiety to fight for her beloved library. It's not just a building,  it has become a hub of the community.... if only she could get the developers to understand that!

Jacob Yardley has always sought his father's approval,  even joining his father's construction company when all he ever wanted was to do charity work. He believes in affordable housing,  having grown up in a small town where his friends were forced to move away due to lack of housing options.  He felt attracted to Elsie from the moment he met her and his feelings have only grown throughout,  but how can anything ever happen between them when his company threatens what she loves the most?

I loved how this mousy, shy librarian found her confidence and stood up for her community,  forcing a compromise. I didn't really like some of her hatred and bitter comments directed towards Jacob though.  He just seemed like a sensitive soul getting beaten from all sides by both his father and the townsfolk. I could see how everyone's hatred was really starting to get to him.  I loved the small town community feel to this book. I didn't realize this was part of a series,  it could totally be read as a standalone. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas

After the love of her life gets sent to prison, still claiming his innocence, Annie doesn't hear from him for ten years. She settled for a comfortable and safe marriage with older man, William, and lives a rich, yet dull life with her young daughter. William Howarth is chief of police in their small South Yorkshire village and now in 1987, the tensions in this mining town are high as the workers are striking, protesting the possible closing of the mines. When Annie's former love Tom returns and reconnects with her, still proclaiming his innocence, she believes him...until a woman is found murdered on the moors. A woman that looks remarkably like Annie.

While I felt bad for Annie and Tom, separated for all those years, I didn't really like to read about her sneaking around on William. Seemingly a really good man, though unemotional, her only objection to him seemed to be that he was so much older, which she obviously knew before they married. This was just an ok read for me, not even about the mystery of the dead girls, but focused more on Annie's affair. The plot pretty much followed exactly what I expected with no surprises. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily

Hollywood Games by Evie Alexander

This book is a continuation of Zoe and Rory's story in Highland Games. 

As Earl of the crumbling Kinloch Estate, Rory is doing everything he can to ensure the castle stays in the family. Zoe has been trying to increase interest in the estate via social media posts of her hunky boyfriend in Braveheart poses. But when her posts catch the attention of none other than Hollywood heartthrob Brad Bauer, chaos descends on Kinloch when filming for Braveheart 2 begins. Skeptical of the movie plot, the film crew and especially Brad, who claims to be Zoe's husband in a past life, Rory agrees to the film contract and included restoration work on his beloved castle. But he doesn't plan on his own insecurities and jealousy. Can saving the estate man giving up the woman he loves?

I loved Zoe and Rory in the first book and I was so happy to revisit their story and add some new characters too. I snort-laughed through Brad's ridiculous description of his Braveheart 2 plot, his crazy belief in Zoe being his past love, and the whole entitled Hollywood behavior of the rest of the cast. I look forward to more laughs to come in the rest of the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Avery Chambers, though she lost her therapy license due to her controversial techniques,  promises she can fix you in 10 sessions for anything from self confidence to assault to marital problems.  But from the first session,  she can't quite figure out Marissa and Matthew Bishop. The immediate issue is Marissa's infidelity,  but Avery can sense that's not the only secret she'll have to unravel in this marriage.  And just when it seems the case will end in a happily ever after,  it all starts to fall apart. 

There were so many tangled threads to this story,  it had me wondering how any of them would tie together by the end.  From the murder of Marissa's high school friend, to Matthew's ex, to strange and intrusive behavior of an employee, and even a homeless man that Marissa befriended. How do these characters all connect to the final explosive conclusion? This book will have you in the edge of your seat to the very end!

Thank you to the publisher for this advance review copy. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily. 

Walker by Josie Johnston

Ed "Woody" Walker became a country star after his song Liquor Licker became famous when he was only 19. Now in his late 30s, he's trying to escape his bad boy younger image, but can't seem to stop being pressured to give the fans what they want. When the stress becomes too much and his phobias have him trying to break out of a plane while in flight, he needs a place to lie low for awhile.

May has given up being a PA for spoiled celebrities after her client's meltdown and her best friend's death on the same night a year ago. But if she ever wants her jewelry business to take off, she needs money. So she takes the job, but didn't realize "laying low" meant that he would stay in her apartment and be underfoot… and put herself under the scrutiny of the paparazzi. But after learning more about him, she realizes he's nothing like the media has made him out to be.

This was a sweet love story, with each helping the other with their issues and becoming closer as time went on. I loved the song lyrics at the beginning of some of the chapters, funny memos from the gossip rags on the others. I really felt like they had so much to overcome but they were able to stay strong together.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.