Another winner from one of my favorite authors.

How do I begin. This book took me completely by surprise in many ways. A lot of people were killed writing this one. In a manner of speaking. I didn't figure it out. I didn't figure out which sister was the murderer. Maybe it was both.

4.75 stars

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/fifty-fifty-by-steve-cavanagh.html

First thing you need to know about this book is that it's so good.
It also has a few triggers. Miscarriage, though it's only talked about lightly. Also the death of a baby. Not elaborated on but mentioned.

This is a must read. A very heartfelt story of loss. Of dealing with grief. And of what a mother will do to protect her child.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-day-i-lost-you-by-ruth-mancini.html

This book is so good. A bit over the top, but still so good. It has just enough family drama, inheritance info, creepy vibes, scary and thriller effect, to keep you wanting to know the truth. Is it really a family curse, a family gift, a folklore, or just someone playing a mean cruel trick?

This is a great Halloween book also.

4.5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-haunting-of-paynes-hollow-by-kelley.h...

To say that I enjoyed this book is not even close to realistic. I loved it. I devoured it. This one captured me and now I have to wait for the sequel.....

A boy and girl fall in love story and so much more. Told from the before and the now. By Maris and Luca. As their love story unfolds. As a war begins. As they are torn apart.

5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/fallen-city-by-adrienne-young.html

This author is an automatic go to for me. I read her first two books and grabbed this one as soon as I could. It is her best yet. Though the other two were so good too.
Living in this timeframe had to be so hard for women. The 1950s. It's before I was even born so I wonder how the women in my family dealt. The best they could I suppose.

A solid 5 stars

This book is about three women. Three mothers. Three wives. Each has a story. Each has a child or children. One goes missing and you won't know what happened to her until almost the end. There are actually two mysteries going on. One is the next door neighbor. What might he be hiding. The other is, what could have happened to Lucy. Was Lucy really taken or did she run.

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/her-one-regret-by-donna-freitas.html

This is a debut book and it's so good. Very well written and puts a whole new spin on witchcraft and WW2.

Could Witches have help to make or break WW2. Could Hitler have taken over the world if they would have helped him?

A twist you won't see coming...
Grab this one if you love a good witch/historical/ww2 story.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-resistance-of-witches-by-morgan-ryan.ht...
@authormorganryan
@penguinartgroup

A book about a book. What could be better? Not much. This one is told in three timelines by three women. They are very different and at the same time so alike. How this book touches each woman is woven perfectly into this story. From start to finish I was captured.

4.5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-lost-story-of-eva-fuentes-by-chanel.h...

Greed pulled Simon in. Murder had him wishing he had never met Eleanor. This was a chance of a lifetime for Simon. He was in a horrible marriage. In the process of divorce. He has three children who he loves with all his heart. His law practice is barely keeping him afloat and he seems to gamble to much. But Simon is a good guy. Isn't he?

4.5
Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-widow-by-john-grisham.html

What happens to memories? We have memories. Memories that we accumulate throughout our lives. What happens to them once we are no longer here? Once we pass on to wherever it is we go too. This book tells a story of what may happen to them. A beautiful, touching, loving, story.

This one will be in my top 10 for the year.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-book-of-lost-hours-by-hayley-gelfuso....

@hggelfuso
@atriabooks

I always enjoy this author's books. She has never let me down.
The Perfect Hosts is another great one. Edge of your seat last few chapters and guessing all the way through.

4.75 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-perfect-hosts-by-heather-gudenkauf.ht...

@heathergudenkauf
@harlequinbooks

This book was great. It was a mix between a mystery/thriller and a soap opera. Through in a little Desperate Housewives and you have this book. It's a page turner. I started it one day and finished it the next. I didn't want to put it down.

5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-wives-of-hawthorne-lane-by.html

I read Kinfolk by this author and loved it. This one is even better, in my humble opinion. What this author brings out is such a story. It touches you in many ways. Leaves you breathless. This story captured my heart in so many ways and gave me ALL the feels of a great novel. I laughed, cried, cringes, got angry, and oh my when the ending came I wept. This book is so good. I highly recommend it to everyone.

This is my first book to read by this author. I will be looking for more now. This was a very scary and very emotional story. My emotions were all over the place by the time I finished it. In a good way though.

An excellent book. Though I did figure out some of it that was ok. This was a know up front who was the bad guys. But still some secrets.
4.75 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-hitchhikers-by-chevy-stevens.html

This is possibly the best book I've read about Witches and Witch trials. It is a bit emotional in so many ways. Also based on actual facts. This really happened. Back in 1485 women were accused of being witches and burned alive. All it took was for one person to accuse them.

A very well researched book. Also very heartbreaking.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-last-witch-by-c-j-cooke.html

Another winner for Soraya M. Lane.

This book takes you through three generations. It's very heart wrenching and promising all at once. A love story for the ages. Two love stories actually. Both interconnected and both just as touching.

A beautiful and touching story.
5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-hidden-daughter-by-soraya-lane.html

@sorayalaneauthor
@bookouture

This is the best sequel I've read in, well possibly, forever. It cleared up a lot. It lets you get to know some of the secondary characters from the first book. And you get to see just how strong Hannah really is. How much her relationship with Bailey has grown. Her feelings for what Owen did. And how she comes to feel about Nicholas.

5 stars
https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-first-time-i-saw-him-by-laura-dave.ht...

This is one of the best books I've read. I am going to start the sequel next. I have to know....

Well written. Intriguing. Edge of my seat thrills. Secrets. Answers? This is a must read.

This book is in my top 20 favorites for the year.

This book is very good. It's not exactly a thriller or a mystery. You know exactly what is going on for the most part but it's one you can't look away from. I mean that. You just can't. It's about corruption is a small town in Alabama. Something that happens. Really happens.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-devils-advocate-by-steve-cavanagh.htm...

This book should have been a DNF for me but I trudged on and finished it. The last fourth was pretty good. Filled with more action. I listened to the audio and the narrator did a pretty good job. I think she may have done better but still. Sometimes an audio makes me enjoy a book more. Not in this case.

2.5 stars

This is my first Jaymin Eve book and I highly look forward to book two. This is a good fantasy, paranormal, enemy to lover book. It has a lot of the best things going on. A bunch of witch's in college. Black magic. Monsters. Parties. What could possibly go wrong?

I read and listened to the audio. The audio was great. Both narrators did a great job. Pulled me right in and they used their voices to bring the characters to life.

This is an author I am always happy to read. I've read a few of his books but this is my second Cork O'Connor and I intend to get through them all. Krueger is my favorite male author. His books are inspiring and so realistic. Make you think about things...

This is the latest O'Connor book and to me his best yet. Of course I do have a few to read

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/09/apostles-cove-by-william-kent-krueger.htm...

I read both of this author's previous books and loved them. It had been a minute since she wrote one and when I saw this one I had to have it. Like the previous two... It is so good. Part mystery and a lot thriller. This author is becoming a favorite of mine.

Set on an island at the beginning of camping season. A buried treasure and unexpected guests....

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/09/island-endgame-by-rebecca-hodge.html

I wasn't sure about this book initially. I didn't know what to expect. It was an audio and from an author I have not read before. I was so pleasantly surprised. I hated having to put this one down. Sometimes life just gets in the way of a good book. A good story. One that captivates you. This is one such story. I highly recommend this one.

This one will be in my top twenty for the year.

The audio was great. Narrator did perfectly.

This author is one I automatically read. Sometimes her books grab me and I can't let go. Other times they are ok and I can put them down. This one is a just ok for me. It was good. It wasn't a could not put down.

The audio was good. The narrator did a great job. She even sounded like a male in parts. Made me believe there was more than her narrating.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/09/all-this-could-be-yours-by-hank.html

This author always delivers a good thriller. This one is her latest. This book was a true edge of your seat thriller.

There are five female narrators and one male. They all did a good job of bringing this book to life but the females, with the exception of Charlene's pov, sounded the same to me. I honestly could not tell them apart. The male was just ok. I felt he dragged out his part a bit to much. He did pull you into the scenes though.

I loved this book. It was both heartbreaking, interesting, and magical. It was filled with so much. A fantasy, romantasy, fiction, and so much more. I enjoyed it from start to finish. I also shed a few tears while reading this. Especially in the last Act. It has five Acts and each is better than the last. Told from Matilda and Vincent's POVs.

Five stars.

I was cringing throughout a lot of this story. From all the murdered men to why they were murdered. While I do believe they all deserved it we can't just take justice in our own hands. Can we? If you were abused, either beat by a spouse or sexually assaulted by a predator, wouldn't you want to get even? If you could. If you could get away with it. I think most of us would. If we are honest.

This is a must read. It will be in my top twenty at the end of the year. This book was so good. A sad tale of what life was like for women who loved reading back in 1895. And what happened if they disobeyed their husband. Yes I said disobeyed. Can you imagine?

5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-secret-book-society-by-madeline.html

@madelinemmartin
@harlequinbooks @htpbooks @htpbooks_audio

I've read an enjoyed all of this author's previous books. I enjoyed this one. The best in my opinion was her very first book, A FLICKER IN THE DARK... It was so good.

This book is about a young woman whose sister went missing. Natalie was the oldest of the two sisters. When she went out the window to meet up with someone it was the last time she was seen.

3.75 stars

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/forget-me-not-by-stacy-willingham.html

I've read and loved, through many tears, so many of this author's books. They always make me cry and always make me think about things. This one was good. It was sad. It made me think. But it was not my favorite book. I was a little let down.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/my-sisters-only-hope-by-alison-ragsdale.h...

@bookouture

I have read and enjoyed several of this author's books. I have also learned quite a bit from each. This one is about a women I had never heard about. I'm very glad this was written. Not just for the story but for the info. How a female was a force to be during several wars. As a photojournalist. And as a strong, albeit, tiny female.

4.5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-last-assignment-by-erika-robuck.html

This is one book you don't want to miss. If you love a good edge of your seat thriller. A mystery to hold your interest from start to finish. . It is definitely in my top ten of the year.

I listened to the audio and I am blown away at how good the narrator, Emily Pike Stewart, did. She made each character her own. The realistic voices were spot on perfection. I'll definitely listen to more by this narrator.

This book was so much fun to read. Yes it was a book about a serial killer. Yes she was older and had retired. Yes she starts killing again. But..... You may find yourself rooting for her to not get caught. To get away with everything. Just maybe you will like Lottie...

Grab this one. It's so good.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/too-old-for-this-by-samantha-downing.html

@smariedowning
@berkleypub

This is Megan Miranda's best yet. Riveting. Thrilling. A story to keep you guessing until the end.

I throughly enjoyed this story. It had so much. So many good thrills. So much family drama. So much to keep you guessing and most likely you will be wrong. Family secrets can be deadly. Or possibly they can keep your loved ones alive.

4.75 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/you-belong-here-by-megan-miranda.html

I love this author. Her books never seem to disappoint me in any way. This one is her latest. Set in Lisbon during the second World War. About two strong females who happen to be attractive and have the brains we all know females can and do have.

I enjoyed this book very much.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-secret-librarian-by-soraya-m-lane.htm...

I enjoyed this book. It drove me crazy in parts but I still enjoyed it. I figured out the twists so no big deal there. I also knew what Mandy had hidden.

Not a favorite but still. I'm glad I read it.

Full review:
https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-locked-ward-by-sarah-pekkanen.html

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was so well written and engaging. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical. A friendship made story. Secrets revealed. And so much more.

This is my second book by this author. It was good. I liked this one even better than In The Hour Of Crows. Still about death and things that happen after death.

This is a kind of strange story. Or at least it was for me. I liked it very much. It's a bit goth and southern charm. A bit of a mystery and thriller. Also a few murders thrown in for good measure.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/grave-birds-by-dana-elmendorf.html

This is now my favorite book by this author.
This book is very emotional. Even when things are good. When things go as you want them too, it's emotional. I laughed in a few places at the things children said. Overall though I cried many tears for the characters in this novel.

This book will be in my top reads for 2025!!

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-lies-they-told-by-ellen-marie.html

The Blum family moved to Maine from Brooklyn, NY. A small town in Maine where everyone knows everyone. There are few secrets. Gus Blum got a job at the college. Claire is going to start her own clothing business. Wolf starts middle school. Hazel starts her senior year of high school. All should be great. But then something happens that no one could have seen coming.

After Julia's husband is murdered right in front of her Julia becomes reclusive. She orders her groceries delivered. Works from home. She is afraid to go out in case the killer is out there waiting. But when she receives a call about inheriting a lot of money and a villa in Italy what is she suppose to do.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-unraveling-of-julia-by-lisa.html

If I had not have the audio of this one I don't think I would have finished it. Not that it's all bad. Parts are very good. But parts are so unbelievable that they made me cringe. Not in a good way either. This story had great potential but alas it fell a bit short.

While the descriptions were wonderful and you certainly felt like you was at this lake, And David's glass mansion was one I could picture, I didn't believe a lot of what happened.

WOW... What a story. What a book. This one was so full of manipulating and lies and just plain bad that I didn't want to put it down. It was a quick read for me too.

You meet a lot of women in this story. And a lot of men. Could the women all be the same woman? Or could it be that the men are all the same man. So many liars are involved. So much drama.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/07/dont-let-him-in-by-lisa-jewell.html

I think this will be another favorite author for me. I loved her book A Sorceress Comes To Call. It was outstanding. This one was also good. Not quite as good as Sorceress though. I didn't get the Snow White vibe everyone says it's based on. I did enjoy it though and it has a princess named Snow and lots of mirrors. This was just a way darker read than any Snow White book I've ever read. Still good.

This was a very compelling story. Based on true events but is fiction. It's very realistic and heartfelt. It's so obvious the author did great research into this. A tough subject matter too. Fiction but based on the truth. Based on what happened way to often by Nuns in the Catholic churches. In the homes they kept for girls who needed love and understanding, not abuse and shame.

A must read.

For a debut this is really good. I was pulled right into the story. It has the best first chapter ever. The end of the first chapter literally made me gasp out loud. I didn't see it coming.

This is a story of love. Also a story of loss. It's the story of a family. Tom, Honor and their daughter Chloe. They are on vacation in Paris.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/07/finding-grace-by-loretta-rothschild.html

This book was a pleasure to read. It had a tough subject matter but overall it was a beautifully written story of women, friendships, being there for each other, and moving pass abusive relationships. It is in two different time periods that eventually meet. I enjoyed this book so much. Even the hard parts were good. Not hard to read.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/07/lightning-in-mason-jar-by-catherine-mann....

I gave this book five stars. Not because I loved it. I hated it. I think the author did a fantastic job of writing it. I think he did a fantastic job of making it emotional. It was such a sad book though. I cried so much while reading this book. It is definitely a heartbreaking tearjerker. It's definitely shattering.

If you have lost a child do not read this book.

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-river-is-waiting-by-wally-lamb.html

Excellent book. While I don't believe it was quite as good as her Addie LaRue book, it is still excellent. Grabs you and won't let go. And I'm not big on books about or with vampires. lol I loved it.