The Matchmaker's Cottage by Kat Sloane

We meet Ethan and Julia after years of not talking to each other.

Ethan has made a mess of things at his job and needs Julia to host one of his meetings at her Bed and Breakfast.

Tension is there since he abruptly left at least ten years ago, but the feelings both have for each other is definitely in tact.

We follow them as they work through this time together.

Will the romance be reignited or will it fizzle again?

Find out in this cozy debut romance that will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy flashbacks to previous years of togetherness and a sweet fall read.  

I am not a reader of romance, but this was a change of pace.  And that gorgeous cover will pull anyone in.  4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Spotlight of The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass by Leslye Penelope

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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THE  INEVITABLE UNDOING OF ZAHARA DOUGLASS

LESLYE PENELOPE

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF KATELYNN DREYER | PUBLICIST | KAYE PUBLICITY AND THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE.

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Save your sister, doom the world.

For five years, Zahara Douglass has been haunted by her sister’s impossible disappearance.  Now, in December 1999, with the world on the brink of chaos, Zahara sets out to find her sister no matter the cost.

A genre-bending, page-turning novel that begins as a missing-person mystery and spirals into high-stakes urban fantasy.

Perfect for readers who love crime fiction with a speculative twist—plus a dose of 90s nostalgia.  

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August 11

Redhook

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PRAISE FOR THE INEVITABLE UNDOING OF ZAHARA DOUGLASS:

“An intimate family story crossed with a conspiracy mystery and a wired late-nineties adventure, The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass is exhilarating and full of surprises.” ―Jared Poon, author of City of Others

“A moving story about sisterhood, lost souls, and our complicated and potentially destructive relationship with technology.  Leslye Penelope broke my heart in the best way possible. I can’t remember the last time I loved a book this much or stayed up so late to finish it.” ―Hollie Overton, international bestselling author of Baby Doll

"With big reveals I didn’t see coming, The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass fuses heartfelt characterization with masterful world-building. Kudos to Leslye Penelope for crafting another captivating, unforgettable work of art.” ―Clarence A. Haynes, author of The Broken Hearts Agency

“Nostalgic and magical, The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass pulled me straight into the late nineties with a sweet sprinkle of apocalyptic hues.” ―Tlotlo Tsamaase, author of Womb City

"A vivid story of sacrifice as a woman learns to trust herself in order to save her sister―while risking the world’s future."―Kirkus

“Penelope uses the historical setting to its full effect…This novel embraces the messiness of family and sisterhood. An inevitable winner.”―Library Journal

"A vivid story of sacrifice as a woman learns to trust herself in order to save her sister-while risking the world's future."―Kirkus

"Zahara and the PI’s inevitable attraction is emotionally resplendent and gratifyingly complex, but in this story, it’s the love between sisters who would risk anything to help each other that takes front and center stage."―Booklist

"Penelope’s historical scene-setting is on point, and she makes it easy for readers to root for her resilient protagonist. This is a true page-turner."―Publishers Weekly

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ABOUT THE INEVITABLE UNDOING OF ZAHARA DOUGLASS:

For four years, Zahara Douglass has been haunted by her sister’s impossible disappearance. Now, in December 1999, with the world on the brink of chaos, Zahara sets out to find her sister no matter the cost in this twisty and compelling modern fantasy from Leslye Penelope.

In April 1995, Zahara watched her twin sister, Annica, get hustled into a stranger’s car and disappear—only to return to a world where no one remembers Annica ever existed. Not her mother. Not the police. No one.

Now, as the world braces for the looming Y2K crisis, Zahara finds evidence that proves her sister was real. Determined to uncover the truth, she hires a private investigator and begins digging into her family’s shadowed past. When the investigation leads to two charismatic men who once served with her father in Vietnam, Zahara realizes she and her sister may be pawns in a dangerous power struggle with unthinkable consequences.

To find her sister, Zahara must face the truth about her family, her memories, and the power lurking within her. But the sisters’ reunion comes at a price—one that could unravel reality and bring about the end of the world.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Credit:  Carlette Girma

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of fantasy and romance. Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science at Howard University and sometimes dreams in HTML. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink and Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents.

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FOLLOW AUTHOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Goodreads

Pretty As A Peach by Grace Helena Walz

Delilah, Betsy, Sloane, Eliza, and Virginia Kaye are called The Five and have been friends since childhood.  They have always come to the rescue of each other if needed.

As adults, they are still close, but when Betsy gets on the bandwagon of a new business that came into town, Deliah has a problem with it.

Deliah has her own soap business and this new business, Peach Pit, is taking over and pulling in the women in town with its claim to bring back their youthful skin. What it is doing is making them ill because they are breaking out in hives and rashes, and corporate won't admit it is their products.

What will happen to Deliah and Betsy's friendship and the town?

Who else will get hurt?

There are a lot of things going on in the book - keeping friendships, belonging, seeing how Peach Pit handles things, and a long-time coming romance.

We get to see all the events over the years for The Five and how they stuck together and the events of today. 

You will love how Mrs. Chopra, Delilah, and Jasper team up to find what’s going on with Peach Pit, and you will absolutely love Delilah. 

PRETTY AS A PEACH will be enjoyed by readers who have long-lasting relationships with their female friends as well as women’s fiction fans.  4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. all opinions are my own.

Mailbox Monday - 8/10/2026

  

BOOKMAIL THAT ARRIVED THIS WEEK.

WHAT ARRIVED FOR YOU?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. 

Mailbox Monday is now hosted by Vicki!!

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On Tuesday, August 4, I received:

1.  THE MAGIC OF CHAMOMILE COTTAGE by Heather Webber, courtesy of Althea Mignone | Associate Manager, Marketing | St. Martin's Publishing Group.

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On Wednesday, August 5, I received:

1.  FIVE MORNINGS AT THE BOOKSHOP by Shea Ashdown, courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley.

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It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 8/10/2026

                                         

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I hope you had a great reading week.

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Books Completed:

A DEADLY ENTANGLEMENT by Cathy Pegau - spotlight will be on September 18, 2026.

Not connecting with the storyline.

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BLUE JEAN SUMMER by Maggie Gates - review will be on September 17, 2026.

A cute read with cowboys!! :)

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THE BOOKSHOP WOMAN by Nanako Hanada - spotlight will be on September 16, 2026.

Wasn't connecting with me.

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I'LL BE WATCHING YOU by Allison Brennan - spotlight will be on September 15, 2026.

Disappointed - I normally like her books.

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A BEAUTIFUL LIE by Tanya Grant - spotlight will be on September 9, 2026.

Didn't like it.  :)

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THE MYSTIC AND THE MISSING GIRL by Vikki VanSickle - review will be on September 8, 2026.

A very enjoyable cozy mystery with great characters.

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UNTAMED COAST by Kevin C. Morris - review will be on September 4, 2026.

It was good - a murder set in Alaska.

WHEN PARIS WHISPERS by Marianne C. Bohr - spotlight will be on September 3, 2026.

Wasn't getting pulled in.  

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A FINE LAYER OF DUST by Barbara Conrey - review will be on September 1, 2026.

A beautifully written, emotional read that will appeal to women’s fiction fans and fans of domestic turmoil. 

You won’t want it to end.

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A FARMHOUSE IN FRANCE by Rachel Lucas - review will be on August 28, 2026.

Ohhh...LOVED this book.   A sweet read with great characters and setting.

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A KILLER PLOT by E. C. Nevin - reviev will be on August 17, 2026.

If you enjoyed THE MAID by Nita Prose, this one is for you.  A bit tricky to follow, though, since it is the second in the series and the same characters are in the book.

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HOW TO FIND ROMANCE IN A BOOKSHOP by Poppy Alexander - review will be on August 18, 2026.

A fun, sweet read.

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THE ONE WHO WALKED AWAY by Karen Rose - review will be on August 14, 2026.

My first book by Karen Rose - I really enjoyed it.  Mystery, Murder, and a bit of romance.

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THE MATCHMAKER'S COTTAGE by Kat Sloane - review will be on August 12, 2026.

LOVE the cover!!  A sweet read!!

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PRETTY AS A PEACH by Grace Helena Walz - review will be on August 10, 2026.

A lovely read!!

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WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston - review is in the book's title.

Enjoyable with life lessons and some heartbreaking parts, but on the whole it was uplifting.

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THE WOMEN IN WHITE by Sarah Pekkanen - spotlight will be on August 4, 2026.

A very dark, creepy read.

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TAHOE FEAR by Todd Borg - review is in the book's title.

Todd's books are always good.

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BUYER BEWARE by Catherine Ryan Howard - spotlight is in the book's title.

Wasn’t connecting with the two timelines.

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THE WHISPER by Chelsea Iversen - spotlight is in the book's title.

Couldn’t get into it!!

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THE MORTAL ENEMY MURDER CLUB by Gloria Chao - spotlight is in the book's title.

Not what I thought it would be.

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MEET IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel - review is in the book's title.

Disappointed - I normally LOVE her books.

This one isn’t historical fiction, but a story about people heading to Paris for one reason or another.  There are TOO many characters.  

I’ll be looking forward to her next historical fiction book.

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THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer - review is in the book's title.

Ohhhhh….DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!  A book within a book and just an amazing read!!  

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THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline - review is in the book's title.

A good one, but not her best.

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THE SINS OF SUMMER DAUGHTERS by Lo Patrick - spotlight is in the book's title.

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THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland - spotlight is in the book's title.

Wasn’t working for me.  

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Book Currently Reading:

THE MEMORY OF BORROWED BOOKS by Meg Anderson - review will be on October 6, 2026.

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Books Up Next:

THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett - review will be on a future date.

Sounds good, but putting this on hold for now - it is 600+ pages.

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THE UNDERCOVER BOOKSHOP by Katherine Reay - review will be on October 7, 2026.

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THE STORY BAKER by Carsten Henn - review will be on October 13, 2026.

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RED SEAL by Rosa Kwon Easton - review will be on October 18, 2026.

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MISSING MOLLY by Natalie Barelli - review will be on October 21, 2026.

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THE PIANO TEACHER OF MONTPARNASSE by Heather Morris - review will be on October 23, 2026.

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THE FRIDAY BOOKSHOP by Sawako Natori - review will be on November 3, 2026.

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SUNFLOWER SEASON by Danica Nava - review will be on November 4, 2026.

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PEREGRINE HILL by Nina De Gramont - review will be on November 10, 2026.

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WHEN THEY FIND ME by Carter Wilson -  review will be on November 11, 2026.

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REVENG PLOT by Stephanie Wrobel - review will be on November 12.

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THE BUREAU OF UNKNOWN FATES by Gaëlle Nohant - review will be on December 8, 2026.

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MURDER UNABRIDGED by P. J. Nelson - review will be on December 1, 2026.

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THE MAGIC OF CHAMOMILE COTTAGE by Heather Webber - review will be on December 2, 2026.

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RABBIT, RABBIT by Jennifer E. Smith - review will be on December 15, 2026.

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DARLING YOU'RE NEXT by Marlee Bush - review will be on January 5, 2027.

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BAD HONEYMOON by Jessie Garcia - review will be on January 19, 2027.

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SCREAM CITY by Hannah Norrissey - review will be on January 26, 2027.

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FIVE MORNINGS AT THE BOOKSHOP by Shea Ashdown - review will be on March 9, 2027.

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