Odalis pressed her lips into a thin line as she crumpled the paper. “My magic could have pinpointed the right location. Her protector might be smarter than we think.” She threw the paper at her brother. “Start back where Camila saw the two riders.” “Odalis,” Leandro started, but she had turned away and was waving … Continue reading The Queens: Part 12
Title: The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique Author: Samantha Verant Publisher: Berkley Publication Date: December 6, 2022 Genre: Romance A talented chef discovers how spices and scents can transport her—and, more importantly, how self-confidence can unlock the greatest magic of all: love—in this perfectly seasoned new novel by Samantha Vérant.Kate Jenkins doesn’t believe in fate. … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique by Samantha Verant
Back in January I decided to not make a bookish wish this year. Making a wish this year just didn't quite feel right, so I decided to not do it. Actually, a lot of how I had been reading didn't quite feel right, so I've been working on changing things so I'm a lot happier … Continue reading My Bookish Wish of 2023 That Wasn’t
Title: Wildwood Whispers Author: Willa Reece Publisher: Redhook Publication Date: August 17, 2021 Genre: Women's Fiction, Magical Realism Step into a world of hope, fate, and folk magic in this bewitching debut when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to honor her best friend. Mel Smith’s life is shattered … Continue reading Book Highlight: Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece
Title: In a Garden Burning Gold (The Wind-Up Garden #1) Author: Rory Power Publisher: Del Rey Publication Date: April 5, 2022 Genre: Fantasy Rhea and Lexos were born into a family unlike any other. Together with their siblings, they control the seasons, the tides, and the stars, and help their father rule their kingdom. Thanks to their magic, the family has ruled … Continue reading Book Highlight: In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
Well, that and trying to figure out how not to be so naive in the future. She imagined that wouldn’t do her any good once she reached Meridian. She knew the Southern Queen was the oldest, and the other two were much younger, which would put An Lan as the second oldest. She also knew … Continue reading The Queens: Part 11
At Home This past week has actually been quite uninteresting. We're starting to get ready for summer vacation and our first family vacation ever in July, so lots of prep work (mostly buying clothes) has been going on. My son isn't really interested in buying clothes, but my daughter is in rainbow unicorn heaven. Her … Continue reading The Lily Cafe Weekly Highlights – May 19, 2023
Title: In the Shadow Garden Author: Liz Parker Publisher: Forever Publication Date: September 13, 2022 Genre: Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance There’s something magical about Yarrow, Kentucky. The three empathic witches of the Haywood family are known for their shadow garden—from strawberries that taste like chocolate to cherry tomatoes imbued with the flavors of basil and … Continue reading Book Highlight: In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
Title: Annie's Apple (Second Chance #2) Author: John A. Heldt Publisher: Self-published Publication date: April 1, 2023 Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga One Sentence Summary: A few years after the events of The Fountain finds the growing Carpenter family in NYC with Annie taking a job as a society writer after surviving one of the city's … Continue reading Book Review: Annie’s Apple by John A. Heldt
Title: The Savage Garden Author: Mark Mills Publisher: Berkley Publication Date: May 6, 2008 Genre: Mystery & Thriller Young Cambridge scholar Adam Banting is in Tuscany, assigned to write a scholarly monograph about the famous Docci garden—a mysterious world of statues, grottoes, meandering rills, and classical inscriptions. As his research deepens, Adam comes to suspect … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Savage Garden by Mark Mills
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