It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 1/5/2026

                                         

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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:

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU by Libby Page - review will be on February 6, 2026.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book, and what a cute cover!!

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WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda - review will be on February 5, 2026.

Pretty good.

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THE STAR SOCIETY by Gabriella Saab - review will be on February 2, 2026.

A good one - from occupied Netherlands to Hollywood during the Red Scare.  Two sisters re-unite.

Don't miss it!!

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FAMILY DRAMA by Rebecca Fallon - spotlight will be on February 4, 2026.

Too much jumping from one timeline to the next and too many people talking to keep track of.

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THE LIES WE TRADE by Kristine Delano - spotlight will be on January 30, 2026.

A very clever title because it is about Wall Street, but too much about the technicalities and confusing for me.

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MAKE IT OUT ALIVE by Allison Brennan - review will be on January 29, 2026.

Ohhhhh - DO NOT MISS THIS ONE if you are a thriller reader.   You won't want to put it down.

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THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND by Jessie Garcia - review will be on January 28, 2026.

Oh...it's a good one.  A cozy mystery.

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ALL THE LITTLE HOUSES by May Cobb - review will be on January 22, 2026.

The cover drew me in, but it was like a soap opera with nasty characters.  

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A GREAT ACT OF LOVE by Heather Rose - spotlight will be on January 27, 2026.

Beautiful writing, but the back story was confusing.  

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THE TYPEWRITER AND THE GULLOTINE by Mark Braude - spotlight will be on January 26, 2026.

I didn't realize this was non-fiction.  

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SUCH A CLEVER GIRL by Darby Kane - review will be on January 23, 2026. 

Not a favorite...too long, too many characters.

 

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SUCH SHELTERED LIVES by Alyssa Sheinmel - spotlight will be on January 21, 2026.

Not my cup of tea.

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NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE by Sophie Hannah - spotlight will be on January 20, 2026.

Confusing.

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THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM by Laura Dave - review will be on January 9, 2026.

Excellent sequel to THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, but a bit too long.

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THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave - reading before I read the sequel...not reviewing it.

A good read - read before you read the sequel.

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WATCHING OVER HER by Jean-Baptiste Andrea - review will be on January 8, 2026.

A beautiful story with great characters.

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THE STORM by Rachel Hawkins - spotlight will be on January 7, 2026.

Confusing and couldn't get into the storyline.

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WILDWOOD by Amy Pease - review will be on January 6, 2026.

A good one - it is the second book, but you can read it without having read the first book.  

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THE POINSETTIA GIRL by Jennifer Wizbowski - review is in the book's title.

Good historical fiction set in 1710.

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THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS by Jennie Godfrey - spotlight is in the book's title.

Not what I thought it was going to be.  

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IT'S NOT HER by Mary Kubica - review is on Goodreads, but other reviews will be on February 3, 2026.

SO GOOD - DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!  Might be her best one yet!!  :)

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Book Currently Reading:

OURS IS A TALE OF MURDER by Nora Murphy - review will be on February 10, 2026.

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Books Up Next:

THE ORPHAN AT THE IRISH ADOPTION HOUSE by Michelle Vernal - review will be on February 8, 2026.

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THE KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson - review will be on February 11, 2026.

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THE FOURTH PRINCESS by Janie Chang - review will be on February 12, 2026.

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FIREFLIES IN WINTER by Eleanor Shearer - review will be on February 13, 2026.

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A SOCIOPATH'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE by MK Oliver - review will be om February 17, 2026.

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WHEN I KILL YOU by B. A. Paris - review will be on February 18, 2026.

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A GOOD ANIMAL by Sara Maurer - review will be on February 24, 2026.

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ALL IN HER HANDS by Audrey Black - review will be on February 25, 2026.

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PINKY SWEAR by Danielle Girard - review will be on February 26, 2026.

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SIX LITTLE WORDS by Sally Page - review will be on February 28, 2026.

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THE SISTERS OF BOOK ROW by Shelley Noble - review will be on March 3, 2026.

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THE BOOKSTORE DIARIES by Susan Mallery- review will be on March 4, 2026.

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WHERE THE GIRLS WERE by Kate Schatz - review will be on March 5, 2026.

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MISSING SISTER by Joshilyn Jackson - review will be on March 9, 2026.

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IT GIRL by Allison Pataki - review will be on March 10, 2026.

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SPRING MELT by Lori Duffy Foster - review wil be on March 11, 2026.

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THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS by Lisa M. Matlin - review will be on March 13, 2026.

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WITHOUT A CLUE by Melissa Ferguson - review will be on March 16, 2026.

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YOU DID NOTHING WRONG by CG Drews - review will be on March 17, 2026.

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THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN LETTERS by Izzy Boom - review will be on March 19, 2026.

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THE HIRED MAN by Sandra Dallas - review will be on March 31, 2026.

 

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KILLING ME SOFTLY by Sandie Jones - review will be on April 1, 2026.

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LOVE BY THE BOOK by Jessica George - review will be on April 7, 2026.

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EDDY CRANE by Kate Crane - review will be on April 8, 2026.

 

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MEET ME IN ITALY by Brenda Novak - review will be on April 13, 2026.

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TOO CLOSE TO HOME by Seraphina Nova Glass - review will be on April 14, 2026.

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EXTRA SAUCE by Zahra Tangorra - review will be on April 15, 2026.

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MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth - review will be on April 21, 2026.

LIAR'S CREEK by Matt Goldman - review will be on April 22, 2025.

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THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME by Kim Michele Richardson - review will be on April 23, 2026.

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THE HOTEL GUEST by Rosemary Hennigan - review will be on April 28, 2026.

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MS. MEBEL GOES BACK TO THE CHOPPING BLOCK by Jesse Q. Sutanto - review will be on April 29, 2026.

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SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey - review will be on May 5, 2026.

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THE HOPE KEEPER by Heather Webb - review will be on May 19, 2026.

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GOOD JOY, BAD JOY by Mikki Brammer - review will be on May 20, 2026.

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A SPRINKLE OF SWEET SEREDIPITY - review will be on May 21, 2026.

LOVE her books.  Adorable cover.

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THE WINDSOR AFFAIR by Melanie Benjamin - review will be on June 2, 2025.

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MARION by Leah Rowan - review will be on June 3, 2025.

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BEACH THRILLER by Jamie Day - review will be on June 9, 2026.

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IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER by Lisa Jewell - review will be on June 23, 2026.

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THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer - review will be on July 21, 2026.

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Mailbox Monday - 1/5/2026

  

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 Monday, December 29, I received:

1.   MEET ME IN ITALY by Brenda Novak, courtesy of Harlequin, The Hive, MIRA, and NetGalley.

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This Week at Silver's Reviews

 

Will you be stopping by for the first full week of the New Year?

FEATURING: Cartier's Hope by M. J. Rose

The story of the Hope Diamond, women journalists, hidden identities, locked bookcases, and family secrets greet the reader of Cartier’s Hope.

And...how about that gorgeous cover!!

FULL REVIEW:    https://tinyurl.com/5y9fs2uu

Spotlight of The Truths We've Carried by Anne Fowler

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THIS COVER!!

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THE TRUTHS WE'VE CARRIED

ANNE FOWLER

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR.

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This very unique book, with its collection of fifty-eight different stories, provides the reader with an entertaining glimpse into surprising, sometimes shocking, events drawn from years of life experience.

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October 14, 2025

Self-Published on Amazon

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PRAISE FOR THE TRUTHS WE'VE CARRIED:

. 19 year old female: “I will now look at my grandmother and her friends differently and wonder what are they hiding?! Loved, loved the stories.”

. 73 year old man: “stayed up past midnight to finish it! Couldn’t put it down.”

. 47 year old woman: “I read it with my jaw dropping! Some of the stories are mesmerizing”

. 75 year old woman: “This is an excellent read. Multiple true and very interesting short stories of times

gone by.”

*The target maket is NOT restricted to older women.*

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ABOUT THE TRUTHS WE'VE CARRIED:

My inspiration to write The Truths We’ve Carried evolved out of conversations with fellow octogenarian women. They were expressing regret that they’d never found a way to write about “the personal experience that had a major impact on my life.”

Mulling over what they’d said I thought, maybe I could help them do that and proceeded to issue a

challenge on Facebook. Ladies in their eighties were invited to share their memories. My post was seen

internationally not only by women with a story to tell, but by the relatives and friends of seniors who are

“less than computer active!”

The result was a call for action. Daughters and granddaughters reading my Face Book post contacted

their older relatives. “Grandma, Mom, Auntie you MUST share your story!”

I’ll admit I was totally surprised not only by the number of submissions received but by their content and

the level of interest each story would most certainly evoke with readers. To be honest, it was a little overwhelming!

This very unique book, with its collection of fifty-eight different stories, provides the reader with an entertaining glimpse into surprising, sometimes shocking, events drawn from years of life experience.

Tales of danger, romance, humour, inspiration, tragedy, celebrity encounters and lifetime achievements.

Examples of subject matter include surviving a plane hijacking, African Peace Corp experience, escape from Dachau, a clandestine romance, lunch with Elvis, a London blitz miracle, I climbed Mt. Everest,….and the list goes on!

How did I manage to get these stories from the many women who were not adept on a computer? With the help of one of their younger family members, I received the entries in several ways.

One, the contributor introduced herself by email and enclosed a draft of her story. We would then go back and forth from there, exchanging revisions.

Another was via Face time/messenger where I’d have live conversations with the prospective writer who would tell me her tale verbally while I made notes and created a written account. 

Then we’d exchange several drafts until both of us were satisfied with the result.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I grew up in Toronto and like many of my generation, pursued a career in nursing.

This was followed by joining American Airlines as a stewardess, known these days as flight attendant.

Love of travel did not end when I left that job and I have continued to visit countries around the globe throughout these past 84 years.

The bulk of my business career was spent in human resources and for almost thirty years Iowned the well- known Toronto  personnel agency, Hamilton Enterprises.

In 2000, I closed my company and “retired” to pursue philanthropic projects in Honduras, a country where I now spend six months of each year. Please visit my web site to view the community programs that I initiated. You will see that I am a VERY active senior!!!

                                                                                     

I have two children, two grandchildren, two grand dogs and outlived two ex husbands. My very full life has taken me down roads I never expected to travel... some filled with interesting, but risky, adventures.

At age 80 I did the unexpected and became an author publishing my first book, a memoir entitled "I've Worn Many Hats"; I’ve been accorded unforeseen opportunities both in business and my personal life, blessed with a loving family, supportive friends and the belief that I am following the path that God intended.

Life is good!

FIND ANNE ON HER WEB PAGE HERE

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FEATURING: The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Does Laura, the au pair, have the answer to the question that no one would ever answer?

There is plenty of mystery to keep you intrigued along with Ms Rous's alluring writing and secretive characters.

THE AU PAIR will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy secrets, mysteries, family dynamics, time travel, and descriptions that put you in the book with the characters.

Nothing can top a good old mystery with family secrets, right?  5/5

FULL REVIEW:     https://tinyurl.com/ye28nuds