Category: Book Reviews

Seven-Year Witch

Book Review: Seven-Year Witch by Angela M. Sanders is a charming cozy paranormal mystery filled with small-town secrets, a magical library, and an endearing cat familiar. The second book in the Witch Way Librarian series follows Josie Way as she continues learning how to balance her role as Wilfred, Oregon’s librarian with her growing magical abilities. With cozy mystery appeal, light supernatural elements, and a warm cast of characters, this novel is a good fit for fans of magical mysteries, the Good Witch TV show, Lynn Cahoon, and Bailey Cates. While some plot elements feel lighter than expected, Josie’s gradual growth and the inviting small-town setting keep the story engaging.

The Oxford Society of Scandal & Lies

A review of Kate Westbury’s The Oxford Society of Scandal and Lies, a 1950s Oxford historical mystery filled with espionage, secret societies, romance, and Agatha Christie-style intrigue. This atmospheric debut follows Gin and Sidney as MI5 pairs them to investigate a spy’s murder, uncovering danger, class tensions, and unexpected chemistry along the way.

July Top Books

August Reading Challenge & July Recap: Celebrate a month of unforgettable reads, including a perfect 5-star standout, God’s Country by William Kent Krueger. From coming-of-age stories and redemption tales to gripping mysteries, July delivered plenty of new favorites. Looking ahead, August’s mystery-themed reading challenge pays tribute to classic influences like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, featuring prompts centered on detective work, true crime, memorable sidekicks, and books by women authors. Join us as we uncover more page-turning mysteries in the month ahead!

The Incredible Winston Browne

In this review of The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich, I share why this heartfelt Southern Gothic novel earns 4 out of 5 stars. Blending small-town atmosphere, eccentric characters, cult escape, terminal illness, secrets, danger, grace, and redemption, Dietrich creates a vivid Southern story about broken places and the people who find hope there. Perfect for mature readers, book clubs, and fans of Southern Gothic fiction.

Killing Lincoln

In this review of Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, I share why this fast-paced nonfiction account of Abraham Lincoln’s final days earns 5 out of 5 stars. Blending presidential history, Civil War drama, John Wilkes Booth’s assassination plot, and the manhunt that followed, Killing Lincoln makes one of America’s most familiar historical events feel fresh and immediate. Readers who enjoy narrative nonfiction, American history, or books by Brian Kilmeade and David McCullough will find this gripping, accessible, and highly readable.

Pop!

In Pop!, Angel Luis Colón delivers a darkly funny summer thriller about Poppy, an overworked assistant juggling two frustrating jobs, two incompetent bosses, and a growing sense that she may be capable of far more than anyone expects. Part workplace satire, part crime drama, and part offbeat thriller, Pop! blends sharp humor, black-market danger, and over-the-top twists for readers who enjoy strange, fast-paced crime fiction with a biting edge.

God’s Country

In God’s Country, William Kent Krueger delivers a gripping, atmospheric mystery in the 21st Cork O’Connor novel. Set in the Boundary Waters, this suspenseful installment forces Cork to confront a terrifying vision of his own death while facing questions of family, courage, mortality, and moral choice. Perfect for fans of crime fiction, mystery, suspense, and richly drawn characters, God’s Country is a powerful 5-star read for longtime Cork O’Connor fans and new readers alike.

Brighter Than Before

In Brighter Than Before, Courtney Walsh delivers a warm, funny summer rom-com filled with witty banter, a memorable meet-cute, and heartfelt second chances. Claire’s fresh start in Chicago brings humor, awkward moments, emotional healing, and a lovable community of characters readers will want to root for. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, book club reads, and feel-good fiction, this 5-star romance is a charming reminder that new beginnings can lead to something brighter than before.