"The Beheading Game" by Rebecca Lehmann

The Beheading Game (Mar. 24, 2026) by Rebecca Lehmann.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Disgraced, beheaded, died. Awoke, sewed on ... survived? The story starts in the hours after Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, has been beheaded. She’d been falsely accused of incest, adultery and high treason. And she hadn’t given the king a male heir. She finds herself unceremoniously in an arrow chest, grabs her head and borrows a woman’s sewing kit to sew it back on. Just another day of a woman being proactive! She’s gone from a genteel upbringing to a royal life and now has to disguise herself as a commoner to blend in. She’s learning as she goes, and she’s got a lot to learn. She knows her world as a living, breathing queen, not as the dead returned to life dressed like a working-class woman. She doesn’t realize the shopkeeper is sizing her up for weaknesses, and the fenlanders are not the simpletons she envisions. A prostitute who saves her becomes a trusted friend, but she hesitates to tell Alice her biggest secret. Anne tells her that she needs to find her daughter before harm comes to her. While she would truly love to see Elizabeth, she means to exact revenge and set in motion Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne. She’ll have to sneak into Whitehall Palace and slip into the one place Henry VIII is ever alone (and no, that place is not the bathroom). Anne is out for revenge. An eye for an eye ... or how about a head for a head?

            Wander through the wilds of England during the Tudor reign of 1536. The adult fiction tale blends speculative fiction and magical realism in a historical fantasy with an alternate history. It is crafty and inventive, vicious and macabre. There is danger and unpleasantness, and no one who’s easily queasy should read this. Lehmann’s novel is bold, upsetting, triumphant, vulnerable and strong. She fashions a new future for one of history’s most maligned women. She gives voice to one who was historically mouthy.

"The Midnight Train" by Matt Haig

The Midnight Train (May 26, 2026) by Matt Haig.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

It’s the three-cylinder passenger express engine of Wilbur Budd’s childhood, the Duke of Gloucester, except this one has carriages trailing behind, and the gray nameplate on the side of the boiler reads The Midnight Train. The station location isn’t SHEFFIELD, but WILBUR. Wilbur has just died, you see. Dead or not, no one can change a past that’s already been, but the Midnight Train can take you to all of those places where there is something to be observed and learned. It’s a chance to relive the moments that meant the most. With Agnes Deborah Amaryllis Bagdale (a.k.a. Mrs. Bagdale) of Bagdale’s Bookshop as his guide, Wilbur’s about to take a really hard look at the person he was in life. He’ll visit his best days with Maggie Shaw (eventually Mrs. Budd), the love of his life, when their love was young and their compasses centered. Then there was after. The shop expansions, the trips, more business trips, a husband that is never home and a wife who no longer feels like she has a husband. He wants more, more, more, but pushes Maggie aside as he achieves all of that more-ness. He loses his compass. Referring to his deceased self as the Ghost, he anticipates the memories he’s about to relive and there are those he wishes he could skip over (but he can’t). The regrets he didn’t have in life are staring back at him through his memories. He wishes he could go back and live better. He has an idea ... but the risk might be too great.

            Penned as the second novel in The Midnight World series but easily read as a standalone (Nora Seed makes an appearance), this is a time travel fiction novel of fantasy and magical realism that gives readers an interesting take on a journey after death. This love story is an adventure, as well as an exploration of what’s truly important in a lifetime. Through Wilbur, Haig reminds us that we should remember to live in the moment, but not in a way that feels clichéd. The love story is an appreciation expedition, a journey, a lesson and a reflection. It’s an adult fiction novel that makes readers think and encourages us “...to be nostalgic about the present.” Let none of us ever be in the sidecar of anyone’s ambition!

            Book One: The Midnight Library

Rutabaga's Reads 2026: Part 7

It is a commitment to begin a new series, but this one is comprised of short novels. I tend to gravitate toward fantasy stories, so this series is right up my alley. As of this posting, there are 11 published books with the twelfth slated for publication early next year. I plan to read and review each of them. Thanks to my coworker, Brittany, for the recommendation!

            FYI: The write-ups are in chronological order.

Every Heart a Doorway (Apr. 5, 2016) by Seanan McGuire.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

There sits an elegant manor. It houses Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Eleanor – once little Ely West – has a door that remains open, though that is not the norm for most who cross the threshold of her house. They come desperate to return to the worlds they have visited. They are desperate to find their doors. This includes Nancy Whitman, who’s just arrived. She went to the Halls of the Dead and plans to return to the darkness and stillness and right otherness of that Underworld. All this color and fast movement is as nonsensical to her as terms like Nonsense, Logic, Wickedness and Virtue (world types). But Nancy’s only just arrived, and three students are murdered in quick succession. Who’s an easier target to blame than the new girl with darkness in her veins? Fortunately, Nancy has comrades in Kade (Prism: a Fairyland), Jack Addams (the Moors with a mad scientist) and Christopher (Mariposa/Country of the Bones: a world of happy, dancing skeletons).

            Here is a gothic fantasy series opener for adults that is a grown-up version of holding childlike imagination. When one door closes, the door each of these people want may not actually open again. Or it may be lurking, but the traveler isn’t looking in the right place. This short novel is a gem of darkness, yearning and hope. The story can be mean, and it isn’t typically pretty. It’s a portal fantasy that’s “Grimm” but strangely charming, too. It is for every person who’s ever felt out of place, but I hope you, dear reader, don’t have to portal to another world to find your home.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones (June 13, 2017) by Seanan McGuire.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

When Chester and Serena Wolcott got pregnant, it was for the convenience of a handsome baby boy or a beautiful baby girl. When they were told they were expecting twins, they were smug about the idea, how it “smacked of efficiency.” Instead of a girl and a boy, out came two girls: Jacqueline and Jillian. While Louise Wolcott (a.k.a. Gemma Lou) tried to raise them with love, she was kicked out by her son after five years. The twins were given a type according to their parents’ whims: Jacqueline got the frilly dresses and long tresses, while Jillian got the pixie cuts and sports gear. When they’re 12, Jack and Jill open an old steamer trunk holding an impossible stairway instead of clothes and costume jewelry. They find the Moors. They are promised three safe nights, but Jack leaves with Dr. Bleak after only one, and Master despises being selected second. Jill had already chosen him, though. The same of face, Jack and Jill are competitors as well as companions, but here, where a vampire and a mad scientist reside, they are as different as night and day in a land of eternal twilight. Jack learns of love from Alexis, a plump, well-endowed teen whom she and Dr. Bleak once resurrected, but Jill does not. Yearning to become Master’s daughter, she chooses ruthlessness. She also chooses desperation, and it has devastating results for the both of them.

            While someone could read this without reading the first book, I’d still start at the beginning. Jack and Jill are 17 in the series starter, but this is the story of what happened first. It gives context to why they wound up at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. The Moors are dark and fantastical, but they aren’t the only land through that doorway, and I do wish more had been said about the werewolf lords of eternal winter in the mountains and the Drowned Gods of the sea. McGuire’s prose is lyrical even when upset and is lush in its discontent. The second short novel in the Wayward Children Series is richly crafted, a gothic fantasy charmer with horror always at its heels.

Beneath the Sugar Sky (Jan. 9, 2018) by Seanan McGuire.

<This is the third novel in a series.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

A girl falls from the sky and lands with a splash in the pond behind Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, her sugary dress dissolving and leaving her [confidently] naked. The girl is Onishi Rini, from Confection, a “land of the culinary art become miracle.” She is looking for Sumi, her mother (who was in political exile per the Countess of Candy Floss), not expecting to hear that her mother was murdered. Rini is from a Nonsense world, and Reality cannot stop her quest. But without Sumi existing, Rini’s story is dissolving. Rini sets off with Kade (Goblin Prince: Prism), Cora (Mermaid: the Trenches), Christopher, beloved of the Princess of Skeletons (Mariposa) and Nadya (Drowned Girl: Belyyreka). They travel to the Land of the Dead to meet with Nancy, who was at the Home, but was able to find her door again, but there is a cost. One of them must stay behind. With Sumi’s walking skeleton (it cannot talk and has no soul), the group falls into Confection. Literally. Here, the world rearranges itself so that anywhere is within a day’s walk from one’s starting point: “A good day’s journey is like baking soda: use it well, and the cake will rise up to meet you.” To everyone’s dismay, they’re captured by the Queen of Cakes’ soldiers. Without Sumi to overthrow her, she’s back in power. They’ll have to escape a jail of baked gingerbread bricks “glued” together with hard-packed frosting and trick the cakey queen if they’ve any hope of finding the mythical Baker and baking Sumi back to life.

            The third in McGuire’s Wayward Children Series is a magical, restorative tale of adventure, baking and friendship. The gothic portal fantasy exists with reality, even when reality for one world is nonsensical to another, and this story homes in on a character’s struggle with self-acceptance as readers are wooed by robust and zesty prose. This installment is another diverse one, and it happens to contain a world where milk grows on trees and candy corn farms exist. It’s a world where brownies are perfect treats that also double as roofing materials. It’s a world where the Wizard of Fondant can whip up sugar traveling beads. It’s a world where one might go to great lengths to save Confection, even if it means, “I was just a candy shell filled with shadows.” Most importantly, it’s a world where “...everything was different, and everything was finally the same.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2026: Part 6

Welcome to this first edition of adult fiction titles for 2026. I actually have more adult fiction than usual plotted for this year, but some are saved under different nicknames and not specifically as adult fiction posts. Stay tuned, my fellow readers! I didn’t plot the post this way, but each of the short novels is from a Japanese author.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Nov. 17, 2020) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

   Geoffrey Trousselot, translator.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

Clang-Dong. Customers at Funiculi Funicula can go back in time, but there are unbending rules to be followed, including the one that states the trip will only last until the coffee gets cold. The cafe in Tokyo is small and unassuming, but it’s significant for four people one sweltering summer. She knows she can’t change the present, but Fumiko Kiyokawa still wants to tell her boyfriend Goro Katada how she feels. Kohtake, a nurse, wants to retrieve a letter from Fusagi, her husband battling dementia. Yaeko Hirai runs a successful bar after leaving her family’s inn, but is desperate to connect with Kumi, a sister six years her junior. Kei Tokita, the wife of proprietor Nagare Tokita, wants to travel to the future, but not to know if she’s alive. She knows her heart is weak, and she isn’t afraid of dying. They will be guided by Kazu Tokita, cousin to Nagare, and the only one who can serve the transporting coffee. There’s also a teenage girl looking for someone, but no one knows who she is when she turns up in that seat, the one normally occupied by the woman in the white dress (she’s a ghost). It remains to be seen if the travelers will find the answers they’re looking for, but one thing’s for sure -- they must all return before the coffee gets cold. Clang-Dong.

            The first in a series of the same name is a short, adult fiction, Japanese literature novel centering on magical realism and time travel. It’s as immersive as one’s favorite cup of hot coffee/tea/chocolate and is wistful, delightful and totally individual. It’s also heartwarming and heartrending, and it made me teary, but I can’t deny its charm and simple beauty. The story is engaging and highlights the power of human relationships and love. Based on one of the cafe’s rules, it reminds readers that you can’t change what’s already happened, but you can change yourself.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop (Aug. 20, 2024) by Mai Mochizuki.

   Jesse Kirkwood, translator.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

Welcome to the Full Moon Coffee Shop. There are no set hours, no fixed location, and it typically appears without notice. The shop is currently appearing under a Kyoto moon to people feeling lost who are also interconnected. The shop doesn’t have a menu, but guests will be served by talking cats who will discuss astrology and natal charts and say things like Mercury is in retrograde and With Venus in your fifth house. There’s Mizuki Serikawa, a scriptwriter down on her luck, Akari Nakayama, a director who isn’t as goody-goody as she presents herself despite the perfectionism she places on herself and others, and Satsuki Ayukawa, a lead actress crumbling under a public scandal. There’s Jiro, a stylist whom someone hasn’t admitted she has romantic feelings for, Takashi Mizumoto, co-owner of M Y Systems and its server security engineer who feels like things go wrong more for him than his partner, and Megumi Hayakawa, a hairdresser who’s made a rather impulsive career choice based on a dream. They will be served delectable, otherworldly treats like Astral Milk from the Milky Way, Aquarius Trifle, Mercury Cream Soda and Sunrise Syrup (none of which can be replicated with regular, mortal ingredients). It may be served by Master, a six-foot tall tortoiseshell cat; Caelus, a Singapura; Cronus (Saturn), a tuxedo cat; Venus, a Persian; or Mercury, a Siamese. With varying personalities and cryptic wisdom, these working lost will reclaim their paths.

            Although I don’t drink coffee, I do love cats, and with cats on the cover, I was drawn to this short, adult fiction novel of contemporary fantasy and magical realism. It’s a cozy Japanese literature story and a gentle one. Even though I’m not into astrology, this tale is charming and well-crafted. Reading it goes down smooth like a luscious milkshake and dazzles like diamond stars in the night sky. Clever celestial confections, unruffled fantasy and enchantment create a feel-good story, despite the woes of the human characters. The magical cats are a delight, too. I will be continuing this series.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes (Oct. 8, 2024/US edition) by Hisashi Kashiwai.

   Jesse Kirkwood, translator.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

In this second helping, Chef Nagare Kamogawa and his adult daughter Koishi continue running the unassuming but incredible Kamogawa Diner and the Kamogawa Detective Agency, respectively. Nagare’s turned his past as a former detective and his passion for food into a culinary sleuthing business. He serves a mouthwatering set menu to first-time customers. They might be served miso-marinated pomfret, deep-fried Manganji peppers, hamo eel and chilled tofu, but they seek lost recipes. An Olympic-level swimmer looks for nori-ben (nori seaweed on a bed of rice) made by his estranged father as a gray pantsuit-ed woman always in a hurry looks for a Japanese-style hamburger steak recipe that she thinks her father made. A couple who run a traditional bakery are hoping for a Western-style Christmas cake as an offering for their young son’s shrine (he died in a car accident six years ago) while a model friend longs for fried rice made by her deceased mother. A managing director of a printing company seeks ramen from a yatai (food cart) existing during his university days over 30 years prior and a singer pursues ten-don (tempura served over a bowl of rice) she once had after her one hit from a restaurant that’s no longer open. Each of these characters longs for lost recipes. They need help finding them again.

            When you’re on Karasuma and reach Higashi Honganji temple, turn onto Shomen-dori to find the tucked away Kamogawa Diner. The second novel in the Kamogawa Food Detectives series is as comforting as rich hot cocoa and as healing as any balm. The adult fiction, cozy mystery highlights the marvel of delectable food. I love the details of the served food as well as the found food. This short novel is easy to devour with a lot of flavor and nourishing to boot. The only unfortunate part isn’t the story, but the lack of any Japanese restaurants near me.

            Book One: The Kamogawa Food Detectives

"Arsenic and Adobo" by Mia P. Manansala

Arsenic and Adobo (May 4, 2021) by Mia P. Manansala.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

Big city life in Chicago was the dream and still is, but Lila Macapagal is back home with Tita (Aunt) Rosie and Lola (Grandmother) Flor. The Calendar Crew of aunties not by blood (Mga Ninang April, Mae and June) give her a hard time for leaving for three years, showering her with love and judgment, as Lila is back working at Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. When the particularly unpleasant, self-proclaimed food critic in Shady Palms, Illinois (population around 20,000), drops dead soon after a wisecrack from Lila about, “Would it kill you ...,” her life tilts. Not only is the deceased her ex-boyfriend, but Detective Jonathan Park treats her like the only suspect and is convinced of her guilt based on evidence [definitely] planted in her work locker. Lila has no choice but to conduct her own investigation. She’s got a list of restaurants who’ve been targeted by Derek Winter (the dead guy), the nosy auntie network, her barista bestie Adeena Awan and her trusty, overweight Dachshund Longganisa. There’s also the family lawyer, Amir Awan, Adeena’s golden-child big brother and the guy Lila’s had a crush on for forever. And Dr. Jae Park, town dentist, has entered the picture. Both are attractive. Both are successful. Both are single. But first, Lila must figure out who killed Derek, framed her and brought further distress upon her family’s already struggling restaurant.

            The debut adult fiction novel in Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries series brings Filipino American food culture to the forefront of a cozy, culinary mystery series with a sizzling plot and mouthwatering dishes. It is ripe with sticky situations and satisfying snark, humor, hard work and heart. Lila is plucky and sarcastic and is definitely new to amateur sleuthing, flawed bits and all, but I rooted for this tight-knit (if sometimes overbearing) family and community of color. There is one moment where I really struggled with Lila, as she’s the one who’s bringing the “high school drama.” Not Adeena. Yeah, I realize she’s going through a lot, and while I have compassion for her, I have zero patience for bratty behavior. There is emphasis on culture and language (Tagalog) with the story tackling heavier matters like drug-dealing, racial discrimination and fatphobia. (There is a trigger warning.) I flew through this story like a contestant in a timed showdown (minus all the stress and the actual cooking or baking). There is food. There is murder. It is cozy and culinary with the right amount of drama. It’s a little sweet, a lot salty, but all the mentions of food balance it out and keep me hungry. Now, how about a plate of ube crinkles?

            P.S. This library checkout was my Blind Date with a Book this month.

            P.P.S. There are recipes at the back of the book, including a recipe for those ube crinkle cookies!

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 19

A third adult fiction compilation post?! I’m surprised, too!

Dreadful (May 28, 2024) by Caitlin Rozakis.

<This is a standalone novel.>

You know it’s bad when you wake up in a partially-destroyed workshop with no memories and no eyebrows. There’s an abducted princess in a cell of the evil wizard’s castle and the goblin workforce fatalistically expects to one day be immolated on the whim of the evil wizard. Also, the evil wizard is ... him. What is his name? Others refer to him as Dread Lord Gavrax, but as he has no memories of the time before, he refers to himself as Gav. He plans to fake it until he makes it, but he might still die a horrible death at the hands of the evil wizard leader, Zarconar. Or maybe the moat squid will succeed in eating his face. Or he’ll self-immolate accidentally. He doesn’t want to die, and he also doesn’t want to be like Gavrax. He wants to be a, well, not a good wizard, but also not an evil wizard. He wants to be a wizard Orla will talk to about a hosting menu in her gamboling monster kitty apron that her granddaughter made her. And a wizard that Grrribeetle isn’t afraid of and will do more than mumble to. And a wizard that Princess Eliasha (apprentice name Wren) wants to be friends with. There is something truly evil at work. The princess is definitely only there for a nefarious purpose, which will assuredly mean her death. There’s a gathering of evil wizards, an upcoming summoning of demon evil, the arrival of hero types doing Artharno the White Wizard’s bidding and a village garlic festival. Candied garlic or garlic brittle, anyone? Gav has lots more to worry about than his flames-adorned cloak. He needs to decide who he wants to be going forward.

            I definitely judged this book by its sprayed edges, which are black and include skulls in the decorative edge-work, but I only bought it after I read the jacket copy and found myself intrigued. This adult fiction novel is a comedic fantasy with splashes of violence. There’s even a little gore, but it’s a quick scene, so it can therefore be sometimes spicy with dashes of darkness. Gav, with his missing memories, is more a bumbling fool than any threat to anyone – except the guy he turned into a chicken – so the story’s more entertaining than anything and not scary. I don’t know that I’d call it cozy, but it is genuinely funny. It contains wit, self-awareness and empathy, giving a fresh take on fantasy tropes. This book won’t bite, but if you’re not careful, something from the story might, so beware!

Gone Before Goodbye (Oct. 21, 2025) by Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben.

<This is a standalone novel.>

A renowned combat surgeon with a renowned combat surgeon husband and co-founder of a successful medical mission called WorldCures, Maggie McCabe was making a positive impact, and she had it all. Her reality now is a life where her medical license has been revoked, her husband is dead, her sister is going through a messy divorce, and both sisters are struggling financially. She’s thrown a mighty lifeline, and when she accepts, debts are erased, litigation against her is suddenly resolved, and she has a whole lot of money in her bank account, and that’s only half the payment. Absolute discretion is imperative, but she knows HIPAA. She arrives at a remote location in Russia. It’s a palace, and one of her clients is a reclusive oligarch. When he goes missing while he should still be under her care, Maggie becomes a fugitive herself around people who can afford Bugatti Tourbillons that cost $4.1 million (starting) and can jet-set in their own private planes with their own Michelin-star-level personal chefs. Her combat training as well as her medical expertise are going to be tested, and the truths she might uncover may cost her her life.

            There’s cutting-edge technology, state-of-the-art equipment and people who can live in gluttonously opulent luxury in this adult fiction, mystery and medical thriller by Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and internationally bestselling thriller author Harlan Coben. The novel is action-packed, though it really didn’t pick up for me until an intense escape about 150 pages in. It’s also part globe-trotting adventure, part psychological thriller. The story contains twists and suspense, the plot is high-stakes, and the story is dynamic and pedal to the metal. It has me wondering what I’ve been missing out on since this is my first Coben novel, and I don’t know how much of the writing Witherspoon did, but this collab really works.

The Second Chance Convenience Store (June 17, 2025/US edition) by Kim Ho-Yeon.

   Janet Hong, translator.

<This is a standalone novel.>

The owner of the Second Chance Convenience Store, Mrs. Yeom, is a retired history teacher who keeps her store open in Cheongpa-dong to keep her few employees employed. She’s distraught over the loss of her purse until she receives a call from Seoul Station. Dokgo is an unhoused man who can’t remember his past or his actual name due to alcohol-related dementia. To thank him for returning her purse, she invites him to come to her store every day to receive an unexpired boxed lunch free of charge. He comes, but insists on only eating the expired boxed lunches. He even cleans up the picnic table, though it’s wintertime and very cold. When Dokgo saves the store from a robbery attempt, Mrs. Yeom offers the big, bear-like Dokgo the night shift. She requires him to stop drinking alcohol, but she buys him new clothes and a haircut. He learns fast and quickly wins over the denizens of the neighborhood, though his coworkers are slower to warm up to him. He’s grateful to his new boss, and business sees an uptick with his customer service, slow and methodical though it may be. The better business upsets Mrs. Yeom’s ne’er-do-well son, Minsik, who wants to try to convince his mom to back his latest venture (and they either tend to fail or turn out to be scams). Minsik hires a man to look into Dokgo’s past, because his mom’s convenience store is an inconvenience store to him.

            In this adult, cozy, urban fiction story, already an international bestseller from Korea, readers will find a broken man who gets his life back, a store owner with a kind soul and a wayward son, a caustic morning shift employee and a mid-shift employee who’s questioning what to do next. The fiction is realistic and sometimes unpleasant, but it’s encouraging and compassionate, too. It’s a story of community and healing. Overall, it’s a soft, heartfelt novel.

"Remain: A Supernatural Love Story" by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan

Remain: A Supernatural Love Story (Oct. 14, 2025) by Nicholas Sparks.

   With M. Night Shyamalan.

<This is a standalone novel.>

New York architect Tate Donovan is in Heatherington, a [fictional] town on Cape Cod, meeting with his best friend, Oscar, and his wife Lorena. He’s designing their summer home and picking up Paulie, his cat. Tate’s aiming for a new start since losing his sister, Sylvia, to illness, then spiraling downward and being recently discharged from a swanky psychiatric facility. It’s said that Sylvia could see spirits trapped on this plane of existence, but he’s skeptical of her “gift” until he encounters a captivating woman doing yoga in the living room. After he speaks with Louise and Reece Gaston, the property’s caretakers, Tate learns that the woman is Wren Tobin ... and she’s been dead almost two years. Reece is Wren’s last-remaining blood relative. Tate comes to learn that there’s a Daytime Wren – who doesn’t realize she’s dead – and Nighttime Wren – who is terrifying and sometimes grotesque. Her death wasn’t gentle, and when Nighttime Wren finally communicates that she was murdered, Tate can’t help but do his own civilian investigation with Oscar’s help. He’s fallen in love with a ghost. Was it Griffin, Wren’s estranged, alcoholic husband whom she wanted to divorce? Or Nash, the business partner who was stealing money from her, and she was preparing a civil suit against him? What about Dax, the substance abuse counselor and Wren’s friend who wanted to be more than friends despite both being married? Tate will try to free Wren from what still tethers her here, knowing that that will mean the end of their strong, yet tenuous, relationship.

            A collaboration between romance author Nicholas Sparks and supernatural genre filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan? Talk about a plot twist! A collab such as this one I couldn’t pass by. Yes, I did find the paranormal love story to be a little weird sometimes, but the relationship remains a moving one. I did enjoy the supernatural element, and the contrast between Daytime Wren and Nighttime Wren is as different as a warm, sunny beach and a blizzardy winter night. There is strength in loving others, as this adult fiction standalone showcases. I’m pleased that I read this haunting and emotional love story. For those who startle easily, there are small sparks of horror. But worry not, for “Remain” is a reminder to “live well and love deeply. Look for reasons to be grateful. Treasure your friends. Embark on wonderful adventures.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 12

I’ve done companion novel posts in the past, but not one specifically nicknamed Novellas (includes short stories). I don’t think this will be a regular post annually, but I wouldn’t be opposed.

The Housemaid’s Wedding (Nov. 4, 2024) by Freida McFadden.

<This short story fills the gap between Books 2 and 3.>

It’s her special day, the day she’s marrying the man of her dreams, and it starts with a death threat. Wilhelmina “Millie” Calloway has helped multiple women get away from abusive men, so threats aren’t uncommon in her line of work. But, come on, it’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life! Between the threat and a very important dress not fitting perfectly as it did a week ago, problems are being had. Millie tells herself she will tell her fiancé, Enzo Accardi. Tomorrow. All she has to do is fit into her dress, get married and contend with an unplanned obstacle, one that wants her dead.

            While not my usual way, my first book by McFadden is her short story. The hard part about short stories is that they can feel rushed and contrived, and that’s how this one felt. I know that her novels are hugely popular (I work in a library and see this firsthand), so I’m disappointed by this short story. Sure, there’s a thriller element, but the danger never feels intensive, and the wedding takes up nothing more than a piece of a short chapter. I would not spend money on this unless you’re a diehard McFadden fan. Consider checking it out from the library, as I did.

Book 1: The Housemaid

Book 2: The Housemaid’s Secret

Book 2.5: The Housemaid’s Wedding

Book 3: The Housemaid is Watching

The Shifting Current (May 2, 2023) by Dani Pettrey.

<This is a companion novella ending a series.>

When the call comes from Tom Mahoney, his high-school-buddy-turned-hometown-sheriff, Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Special Agent Logan Perry is on the next flight to Silver City, New Mexico, with his teammate, CGIS Special Agent Emmy Thorton, the woman he also secretly loves. His grandfather’s been murdered in his own home in [fictional] Cauldron Creek. It looks like a robbery gone wrong. Their prime suspect is a female drifter who’d been staying in one of the guest bunkhouses. She always seems to be one step ahead. They suspect there’s at least one other person involved who’s male. Emmy’s grateful to be along to assist the investigation however she can without overstepping their bounds (since it’s not their jurisdiction). Logan thinks she’s there to be his teammate as she would on any assignment, but she secretly loves Logan and considers him to be husband material despite his playboy past. If they want a chance to grow their relationship, they’ve got to catch the killer before they become the next victims.

            Although I miss that this isn’t a full-length novel, this is a compact, romantic suspense tale of the Coastal Guardians series. It’s got grit to balance the pain, love and friendship to outweigh hatred and vileness with faith to cover everything. A little rushed, I felt, because of the short page count, but Pettrey still manages to include a solid plot, clean romance and danger that you know will be turned into a happy ending. After all, how can it not when the book includes the occasional Stetson hats, Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and horses?

            Book One: The Killing Tide

            Book Two: The Crushing Depths

            Book Three: The Deadly Shallows

What Does It Feel Like? (Oct. 8, 2024) by Sophie Kinsella.

<This is a standalone novella.>

She’s a bestselling novelist whose books have been movies and garnered her walks on red carpets, photos with celebrities and time on movie sets. She buys a Jenny Packham dress, because “an occasion will present itself.” That’s Before. Then After arrives, and Eve Monroe awakes in a hospital bed with a brain that’s forgetful. She’s made her success with her words, and now she looks at a picture of a shirt and calls it a bag. She relearns how to walk and reminds herself that she has five children, her husband’s name is Nick, and what are the lyrics to ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ again? With her lacking short-term memory, many days are the first time she learns that she has glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that does not have a good prognosis. All she wants is to keep going. That is her happy ending.

            Author Jodi Picoult states that, “This is the bravest book you’ll read all year,” and she may be right. While Eve Monroe is a fictional character, this story is the author’s. Sophie Kinsella has been battling glioblastoma and has survived longer than the average. This contemporary, adult fiction novella is funny in parts, sad in others, but is full of optimism and love throughout. Kinsella’s work of autobiographical fiction is a story of triumph, courage and strength, but vulnerability, too. It stirs the soul and encourages us all to live our best lives. This book is a gem, and I’m so glad that my coworker, Maggie, recommended it to me. Let it embolden us to be glowing beacons in heavy darkness, in our lives and the lives of others!

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 11

I aim to make this a regular compilation post annually, but its nickname all these months has been Christmas in July. None of these books were published in July, but as you can see from the titles, they all have a Christmas theme. Happy Christmas in July! (^-^)

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor (Sept. 3, 2024) by Roseanna M. White.

<This is a standalone novella.>

In Edwardian-era England, 19-year-old Lady Mariah Lyons is the beloved stepdaughter of Lord Geoffrey Lightbourne, the Earl of Castleton. Her mother married the earl when Mariah was only two years old. Lady Mariah has grown up in the idyllic Plumford Manor, a home and village she cherishes, and it’s rechristened Sugar Plum Manor every Christmas holiday. Her childhood friend, whom she hasn’t seen in 12 years, 22-year-old Cyril Lightbourne, is set to return to Plumford as its heir. Lady Mariah once dreamed her friendship with Cyril would spark into something more, but she’s learned that he’s courting the cruel Lady Pearl Kingeland. She vows to accept him as a friend and prays he’ll be the heir her stepfather and Plumford need.

            A youthful misunderstanding kept Cyril away from Plumford Manor, and he no longer has an attachment to Lady Pearl. He hopes Mariah is still a friend, but winning her heart may pose tricky, as a Danish lord, Søren Gyldenkrone, is determined to win her hand and whisk her back to Denmark. Will the magic of the holiday season usher in true love like sugar plums, cinnamon and gingerbread usher holiday merriment into a festive home?

            This short tale is layered with friendship, love, sugar plums, gingerbread and an E.T.A. Hoffman-inspired Nutcracker play. The main characters are easy to root for, and it’s even easy to root for Lord Gyldenkrone and hope for a happy outcome for Lady Louise, Lady Mariah’s 26-year-old widowed sister. There are Scrooge-y hearts that need thawing. The whimsical backdrop of this novella, with its holiday descriptions and Christmassy foods, makes for a charming historical romance. While outside the realm of her usual novels, White remains a powerhouse in Christian, historical fiction. What a treat that it’s Christmas-themed this time!

The Christmas Tree Farm (Sept. 3, 2024) by Melody Carlson.

<This is a standalone novella.>

After several years of teaching in Mongolia, Madison McDowell has returned to her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. There’s damage after a recent wildfire, and it’s also been neglected due to her younger sister’s unwillingness to invest her time and money into the farm. Addie wants to sell, claiming there wasn’t much to inherit after their other grandparent passed away, but Madison is prepared to invest in the farm, and she does. Her time, her money, her sweat. She isn’t thrilled that their property-adjoining neighbors want to create a dusty, noisy, dirt bike track, but maybe dirt bikes aren’t so bad? The neighbor is a widower and her first love, Gavin Thompson, whose younger daughter, Lily, wants the track. The older daughter, Lucy, is away at college. Now all she wants is for them to be good neighbors and friends. Just friends. (Maybe.) Her focus is the Christmas tree farm and restoring the one place that ever felt like home to Madison. It’ll take grit, hard work and great effort to restore the farm, but that may prove easier than reconciling with her sister. Will unexpected help spell a second chance at love or will it just dredge up painful memories right before Christmas?

            This Hallmark moviesque novella is a Christian, contemporary romance with drops of faith that will have readers wanting a custom wreath, the fresh scent of a real Christmas tree and plenty of hot cocoa. Readers know the story will be tied up with a neat bow by the story’s end, but that’s not a bad thing when you know going in that you’re in for a swift, sweet, charming story that encourages holiday spirit.

Santa’s Secret (Sept. 24, 2024) by Fern Michaels.

<This is the third book in a series.>

With Christmas fast-approaching, ‘tis the season for high school friends Frankie (Francesca) Cappella, Amy Blanchard, Rachael Newmark and Nina Hunter to go on a Girls’ Trip. Their trip finds three-quarters of them traveling with partners, and Frankie’s parents are going, too. They’re traveling to Salerno, Italy, where Giovanni Lombardi’s family lives. Giovanni is Frankie’s boyfriend. Giovanni and his older brother, Marco, run an Italian restaurant in Manhattan, and the traditional family recipes delight tourists and locals alike. But one recipe eludes them, and it’s their mother’s coveted panettone. She claims it’s “Santas’ secret.” Amy, Rachael and Nina have their own side quests planned before converging on the Lombardi family. From lost luggage to the wrong tour group to jet lag and Vespas, there’s never a dull getaway with this crew of high school friends and company.

            The third in the Santa’s Crew series (I’ve not read the previous two) likely finds strong readership with viewers who enjoy their Hallmark holiday movies era. There’s amazing food, mischief-making, holiday merriment and wholesome romance in this contemporary romance, Christmas story. It’s a story of beloved traditions and making new memories. My one struggle is how she writes her interactions with her friends. The friends are in my generational age group, but none of my various friends with their varied backgrounds and current stations interact like that, not even those friends who are huggers. Those interactions are cringey to me. Still, for readers looking for a little merry mayhem during the holiday season and copious amounts of delectable Italian food, this may be the Christmas story for them.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 10

Here I am with a second adult fiction compilation for 2025. I didn’t purposely aim for variety, but in this post, you’ll find magical realism, a cozy, contemporary mystery and domestic (or women’s) fiction.

The Cat Who Saved the Library (Apr. 8, 2025) by Sosuke Natsukawa.

   Louise Heal Kawai, translator.

<This is a sequel book.>

The local library is 13-year-old Nanami Kosaki’s home away from home. Her books are her best friends, though she does have one human friend, a straightforward classmate named Itsuka Imamura who’s often seen carrying her archery bow. Nanami, with her “wild horse” asthma, can’t do physically exerting things, and she’s had limited exposure to the outside world. But her world is in the books she reads, so it’s troubling when she notices that some of her favorite books are disappearing from the library’s shelves. There is a mysterious man taking them, but maybe more mysterious is Tiger the Tabby. He’s a talking cat. There’s a passageway that glows blue, and the General tries to convince her that books are extremely dangerous, the Prime Minister tells her that imagination is the worst evil of all, and the King only seems to understand power. There’s also Rintaro Natsuki, a.k.a. Mr. Proprietor, who helps Nanami and Tabby out of a tight spot. Rintaro owns Natsuki Books, and he understands what Nanami and Tabby are trying to do. Save books.

            Whether someone reads one genre or multiple, all readers understand the transporting power of good literature. In a time where book bans are at an all-time high (or it certainly seems so), this contemporary fantasy, magical realism story is needed. It’s a story where faceless gray soldiers led by a changeling menace (who happens to take the form of men in authority roles) are stealing books to try to erase them from humans’ minds. They are taking away the freedom to choose, but Natsukawa writes the story in a way that’s warm and wise. The fleeing scenes don’t have the intensity of an action-adventure or suspense novel, but it doesn’t diminish the seriousness of the situation. We are reminded to think for ourselves and be intelligent about it. “We need to see things with our heart as well as our mind, but that view can easily become clouded” (Rintaro, p. 67).

            Book One: The Cat Who Saved Books (haven’t read as of this posting)

The Kamogawa Food Detectives (Feb. 13, 2024/US edition) by Hisashi Kashiwai.

   Jesse Kirkwood, translator.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

The Kamogawa Diner exists past the Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, down a quiet backstreet. The restaurant has no sign and no listed menu and those customers looking for the Kamogawa Detective Agency typically have naught to go on but one line from an ad in Gourmet Monthly magazine: “We Find Your Food.” Koishi Kamogawa and her father, Nagare, run the unique restaurant, serving delicious food on high-quality dishes with top-brand chopsticks. But the reason for their ad proclaims them to be “food detectives.” Koishi takes the initial information, but it’s Nagare who does the bulk of the research and creates the lost recipe, treasured by the customer. One customer wants tonkatsu that her ex-husband used to make for her. Another wants Napolitan spaghetti that she once ate with her grandfather when she was five years old, but she has no recollection of where they ate it or the name of the restaurant. The unassuming restaurant is one of lost recipes waiting to be found – and eaten – again.

            Reading “The Kamogawa Food Detectives” (TKFD) is like being enveloped by your favorite comfort food and warmed up by a steaming bowl of soup. Each of the six chapters follows the same recipe (a.k.a. setup), and each meal is worthy of a Michelin star. TKFD is completely charming. Koishi and Nagare are so warm and welcoming, that I wish this was a local restaurant that I could frequent. It’s beautifully crafted and completely off-beat compared to other mystery stories. You’ll find no dead bodies or major scandals, but good company, great cuisine and culinary history for each of the found-again foods. It’s an ode to nostalgic food; it’s umami for the soul. Remember to savor each bite (a.k.a. page)!

The Memory Library (Dec. 3, 2024) by Kate Storey.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Every year, on July 11 at midnight, Sally Harrison adds a new book to a special bookshelf with a personal note to the daughter who hasn’t been home in 21 years. Ella, Sally’s only child, fled from the U.K. to Australia after angry words were exchanged, and she’s had nothing but cursory contact via phone with her mother. Ella and Charlie’s daughter, Willow, doesn’t properly know her own grandma, who’d love to dote on her. When an accident prompts Ella to grudgingly return to the home she grew up in, she learns critical lessons about herself that are hard to learn, like how judgmental she’s been -- to her mother and to Nathan, one of her mother’s next-door neighbors. Something precious of Sally’s has been ruined because of the accident, and Ella may find it within herself to do something positive about it.

            While I wasn’t specifically looking for a domestic fiction story, this one’s large print edition cover and “Library” in the title caught my attention. As gathered from the title, this lovely novel celebrates books and libraries (and notes that libraries these days do so much more than simply house physical books), but also emphasizes the importance of family, compassion and love. There’s the rekindling of love between spouses who’ve let life drift them apart, the understanding of the unconditional love of a parent while accepting the misunderstanding of youth that led to a false accusation toward said parent whose love never wavered, and the love of friendship that’s grown dusty with time. Ella’s not an easy character to like in the beginning, but as her awareness grows and understanding seeps in, the complexity of her and Sally’s characters really stand out. A touching story, full of heart and hope.

            P.S. No, I don’t need large print books. My local library only has the large print edition, so I checked that one out vs. requesting the regular print from a different library.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 1

Here is my first adult fiction compilation for 2025 (I’m aiming for two). This variety includes a novel that features triplet sister serial killers, a novel that features stylishly decorated cookies and a novel that takes place in Seoul, South Korea.

How I’ll Kill You (Mar. 21, 2023) by Ren DeStefano.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Identical triplet serial killer sisters have descended upon a sleepy town in the Arizona heat. They all have names on birth certificates, but they do not go by those names. They were abandoned as newborns with their umbilical cords still visible and no names. They were shuffled through the foster care system and mostly not homed together. 25-year-old Sissy is treated like the youngest, and it’s her turn to find a man, then make him want her and love her, so she can make him dead. She’s always been the one cleaning up her sisters’ messes. Sissy introduces herself with her fake ID as Jade Johnson. Both Iris and Moody take turns playing the married twin sister who goes by Lisa Canter. When Sissy lays eyes on the man she later learns is Edison, she knows he’s the one. She often daydreams of how she might kill him. Edison is a widower, and Sissy’s caught off-guard when she realizes he has a stepdaughter (Sadie). Sissy doesn’t plan to kill her, but schemes to become a trusted adult in her life, which will be especially useful when Edison is dead. What really gets Sissy is when she realizes she’s in love with her mark. Considering anyone outside of her sisters to be a friend or found family is the ultimate betrayal. And if her sisters, who’ve killed thrice apiece, so much as suspect she’s fallen for Edison, will they merely push her to kill him quickly and leave before six months is up? Or might they plot her burial site, too?

            In DeStefano’s adult fiction debut, readers delve into the mind of disturbed sisters. Told from Sissy’s perspective, hers is a struggle of sisterly loyalty vs. betrayal, dispassionate actions trying to hide loneliness and a desire for love. It’s easy for someone who’s grown up well to think, Pull yourself together! This is a psychological thriller and a dark romance, but it’s also something of a bildungsroman, with Sissy discovering what type of person she truly isn’t and the type she wants to be. This novel is clever and malicious, filled with sinister scenarios and messy clean-ups, self-sacrifice and the emotional pain of wanting what one cannot have. “How I’ll Kill You” isn’t for the faint of heart, giving readers twisted love that has them rooting for a psychopath.

            Notable lines: “His hands have built and carried and created. Mine have dismembered and buried and destroyed.” (Sissy, p. 87)

            P.S. I checked this one out from the library as my Blind Date with a Book back in February 2024.

How the Murder Crumbles (June 20, 2023) by Deb Sennefelder.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

“Put that in your icing bag and pipe it.” Those are some of Mallory Monroe’s famous last words to Beatrice ‘Queen Bea’ Wright, food blogger and town menace, before she’s found dead on her kitchen floor, flour around her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Because multiple people witnessed Beatrice accusing Mallory and Mallory’s late Aunt Glenna of stealing a cookie recipe, including Detective William Hannigan, Mallory has become suspect number one. This affects her sales, her two employees continue to butt heads, she catches her (now ex-) boyfriend with another woman, and that woman, Aspen Leigh, has suddenly relocated to Wingate, Connecticut, is living in the apartment over Mal’s bakery (which is owned by Mal’s cousin Darlene), and has apparently decided Mal’s her one friend in town. That doesn’t make sense to her, either, but what does make sense is initiating her own investigation in order to clear her name. The deeper she delves, the more obvious it is that the killer may be whipping up another murder.

            In the realm of cozy, adult fiction mysteries, this is a solid entry. There are a few cookie recipes included at the story’s end, and Sennefelder bakes up a whodunit that’s tasteful and tastefully decorated with dashes of humor throughout. I would absolutely want to visit Mal, Kip and even Claudia at The Cookie Shop, though no Almond Meltaways for me, please. I much prefer chocolate! It’s not a highly remarkable story, but it has well-rounded characters and a steadily-moving plot. Mal should definitely leave investigating to the professionals, and, while I know she’s desperate to clear her name, the way she demands answers from whichever hapless person she’s decided is her next murder suspect is really off-putting. I don’t expect to continue this series.

            P.S. This library checkout was my Blind Date with a Book this month.

If I Had Your Face (Apr. 21, 2020) by Frances Cha.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Told from four viewpoints, this novel follows five young women making their lives in Seoul. Ara is a mute hairstylist; she’s been mute ever since she was the victim of a violent attack. Kyuri is the kind of beautiful that money can buy, working at a “10 percent” room salon (“a salon that supposedly employs the prettiest 10 percent of girls in the industry”), critical of herself, and utterly judgmental of anyone she deems ugly (which is most other women). Sujin, Ara’s roommate, is fixated on making her face beautiful so that she can work in a room salon like Kyuri. Kyuri’s roommate, Miho, is a talented artist who grew up in an orphanage, is the only one of them to venture to America (on a scholarship) and has a chaebol boyfriend who’s definitely unfaithful. Wonna, a floor below the other four, is the only one who’s married and is preoccupied with becoming pregnant, expecting that her child will love her like her physically abusive grandmother did not. All struggle financially, even Kyuri, who hides it well. Miho, whose current life Kyuri’s envious of, states, “… but I was the first to come to America. Without being adopted, I mean.” Each young woman is navigating an uneasy life in an expensive city, but friendship knits them together.

In previous novels I’ve read, it’s a glittering, shiny Seoul, but this Seoul is unflinchingly hard and sometimes downright brutal. It’s still a world with disturbing, impossible beauty standards (and the plastic surgery debt to go along with it), ruthless social hierarchies and K-pop obsession. The characters can barely afford to live for today, much less plan for tomorrow. This is an insightful, contemporary story of sisterhood and female friendship, provocative and biting, powerful and gripping. I did not expect to be swept up in the compelling realism of the story. Cha’s writing doesn’t only shine light on economic inequity, but the effects of classism and patriarchy on these young women. These aren’t women from chaebol families. Like most of us, they are working-class women, trying to succeed in a harsh world. Physical beauty will fade, but novels showcasing universal human challenges like this will not.

"The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England" by Brandon Sanderson

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (June 27, 2023) by Brandon Sanderson.

   Steve Argyle, illustrator.

<This is a standalone novel.>

A man awakens in what appears to be medieval England with no inkling of who he is, where he came from or why he’s there. Experiences and people he encounters along the way trigger his hidden memories. While he isn’t the person Ulric Stromfin (cartel leader) is chasing, Runian (Sefawynn’s name for him; she’s a skop a.k.a. poet) has become a person of interest just by being in this particular dimension. As he gains his missing memories, Runian makes allies amongst the locals. Along with Sefawynn, there’s Ealston, the Little Father of Stenford (lesser than an earldom), and Thokk, a spry woman who looks to be 80. Gaining his memories and finding allies will be necessary for him to survive in this Anglo-Saxon-England-type dimension. This dimension also supposedly has some magic, not like the expensive augments Runian has (like plating in his forearms to ward off, say, a knife attack) or his medical nanites (which require him to eat carbon to keep them replenished), but actual magic. Skops have their boasts, and there are wights. Superstition has it that if a skop sees one directly, either the wight will die or the skop will. They can be helpful or mischievous and usually alone aren’t powerful. But together, can they do more? Like overcome invading Hordamen (Vikings with long, enviously well-groomed hair) and the god Woden?

            In the case of this novel, I didn’t judge it by its cover, but by its title. This adult fiction novel is part sci-fi and epic fantasy involving traveling to a different dimension from a futuristic Seattle. When Runian fully recalls his name and who he is, he remembers that he’s not a person who’s made great choices. In this dimension, he can be the hero. It’s eye-opening for him and entertaining for the readers. It’s not without fear of constantly having to defend your territory and those you care about and the hardship of living life without basic amenities, but Sanderson writes it as a constant adventure with high stakes, brilliant world-building, a fast-paced plot and defined characters. Prior to this story, I’d only read one of his middle-grade stories in advanced reader copy (ARC) form, but in reading this novel, I can see why Sanderson’s a prolific author. When reading this story, you might ask yourself, “All Right, WHY Can’t I Have a Dimension Full of Talking Bananas?” Five out of five stars.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 10

Here’s the only adult fiction compilation post that I have for this year. Maybe next year, I’ll read enough for two compilation posts!

The Book of Lost Names (July 21, 2020) by Kristin Harmel.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Under dire circumstances, Eva Traube discovers she is skilled at forgery in 1942. She lives with her parents in Paris. While she was born in France and grew up speaking the language, it’s no secret that she and her parents are Jewish; her parents are Polish Jews. Tatuś is taken by French police. Eva and Mamusia flee to Aurignon in southern France, it being part of the Free Zone until it isn’t. Eva and her mom let a room from Madame Barbier. She’s part of an underground network helping people, mainly children, flee to Switzerland. She gets Eva in contact with Père Clément at the Église Saint-Alban, where she meets a handsome forger named Rémy Duchamp. Giving new names to those fleeing may help them survive, but Eva despises the idea that she’s erasing people; hence, The Book of Lost Names. The book itself is lost to the Nazis, and it’s in 2005 when Eva, now Eva Traube Abrams, sees a photograph in a magazine at her local library, where she works as a semi-retired librarian, now well into her 80s. She’ll fly to Berlin to reunite with the book. One thing lost to her is about to be returned, though so much and so many were lost to her during WWII, including Rémy, when the resistance cell they worked for was compromised. Eva’s son knows nothing of this part of her life. Is she ready to share it?

            It’s the title that caught my eye, and the story captured my interest from the first chapter. At turns heartfelt and heart-shattering, tender and devastating, this historical fiction novel is poignant, powerful and purposeful. Despite inhabiting a dark, terrifying time, the characters show bravery, courage and the resilience of the human spirit while walking amongst evil, much like far too many had to do in real life then and, sadly, are doing now. My first story by Harmel, and I was swept up in its emotion and realism. This story is thoughtful and compelling.

Happiness Falls (Aug. 29, 2023) by Angie Kim.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Their father is missing. The father is Adam Parson, and the mom is Dr. Hannah Park. Their biracial children are a mash-up of their names: twins Mia and John Parkson and Eugene Parkson, their 14-year-old brother, who’s six years their junior. Mia is the only one at home when Eugene comes running full speed ahead. He’s alone, disheveled and bloody with blood under his nails. Adam isn’t with him, not that Mia notices straight away, with her eyes shut against the sun. By the time Hannah and John have returned home from their respective workplaces, hours have passed. Eugene cannot tell them what happened to their father, as he’s unable to communicate orally or through writing. Eugene has both autism and the rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome. When Eugene gets in trouble for accidentally assaulting a police officer, it becomes even more imperative to learn what happened to Adam. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he’s fortunately able to be under house arrest at home instead of kept overnight in an unfamiliar environment (detention center) with complete strangers. As the rollercoaster search continues, it’s discovered that Adam had secrets of his own. Namely, the HQ (happiness quotient) and something major to do with Eugene. The clock is ticking in this investigation. What did Eugene witness?

            There is so much to this domestic drama that’s also a compassionate mystery containing themes of philosophical inquiry, the power of language and its role in perceived intelligence and human connection filled with emotionally rich storytelling. The story is told from Mia’s perspective. She’s hyper-analytical and very judgmental, and I struggled with her character. I can be as judgmental as the next person, but I was also raised to be compassionate. I can stand up for myself without coming across as disdainful. So, whereas John’s niceness as a narrator might’ve been easier to read, it’s Mia’s impertinent, over-thinking mind that moves the story along. I didn’t love this adult fiction novel, which I did read because of the hype – it’s a GMA Book Club Pick – but I can’t deny that it’s one of the smartest books I’ve read this year. It’s multi-layered and thought-provoking. This is a novel that shines with hope amidst heartache and wrests joy from tragedy.

The Sound of Sleighbells (June 27, 2023) by Janet Dailey.

*This is the sixth novel in a series.*

After divorcing her abusive husband, Ruth McCoy is looking to create happy memories and new holiday traditions for her kids: Skip (15), Janeen (6) and Tammy (4). Money may be tight, but she’s got a stable roof over her family’s heads and food on the table. Branding Iron, Texas, is Ruth’s hometown. It’s also Judd Rankin’s hometown, but she’s avoided him easily enough over the years. Her first love, she knows Judd’s history, of his time in jail, but Judd’s turned his life around. He owns a successful custom saddle-making business and Angus ranch. Skip’s friend, Trevor, convinces him to help him with a project out at Judd’s. Ruth is hesitant, worried that Judd and Skip will notice too much. When a blast from the past comes to Branding Iron, a man called Digger, Ruth fears it’s only a matter of time before her secret isn’t so secret anymore. Judd’s never truly gotten over Ruth, but will Ruth give him another chance?

            My first novel from the late author, I found this sixth in The Christmas Tree Ranch series to be sweet with tones of trepidation. While I read this one in the summertime, it’d be perfect for reading on a cold night, wrapped up in one’s favorite blanket with a generous mug of hot chocolate containing extra marshmallows. It is part romance and part intrigue. It’s a wholesome story for readers who love the magic of Christmastime any time of the year. I’m not big on romance novels, but this one with its multigenerational cast delivers good pacing and appeal for readers looking for chaste romance.