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.

A MUST READ....

This book will definitely be in my top ten book of the year. It was perfection. A story that kept me turning the pages. Kept me in tears and even a laugh or two. Mostly it made me believe in life. As hard as things are now and were back then, there is always hope for the future. Never give up...

This is the story of a family.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-stolen-life-of-colette-marceau-by.htm...

This was such a fun book. Yes it was intense and in places it was very emotional. But it was still a fun one. You get to know about Auntie Em. From when she was young and single. To when she met and fell in love with Uncle Henry. How Dorothy came to live with them.

This book if full of Easter Eggs from The Wizard of Oz so be sure and look for them.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/before-dorothy-by-hazel-gaynor.html

This is about a woman, Claire, who takes a job cataloging antiques to sale. They belong to Hannah Reeves. A very rich woman who has been almost elusive since her father's death many years prior. While working, Claire, learns there is a secret library in the mansion. She is adamant about finding it.
A wonderful book...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-secret-library-of-hanna-reeves-by.htm...

I loved this author's book THE LIES I TELL, and this one is even better. I devoured it.
This one had me guessing all the way through every time I thought I had it figured out something else happened and I WAS SO WRONG. I didn't know until the end. Or know as much as it allowed us to know.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-ghostwriter-by-julie-clark.html

@julieclarkauthor
@sourcebooks @bookmarked

Definitely one of my favorite authors. I always want to read a Kimberly Belle book. And I'm never disappointed.

This story is set in Amsterdam. It's about two women. One married to a very rich man. One who recently moved to Amsterdam after a divorce. This is about how diamonds may not always be a girls best friend....

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-expats-affair-by-kimberly-belle.html

@kimberlybellebooks

This was my first read by this author. I will look for more.

Quote on the last page that got to me:
“We are emigrants and we exist in two worlds, one past, one present, and we are nourished by both.“

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It started out a little slow for me. To much on the ship I think. Though it was a necessary part of the story.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-famine-orphans-by-patricia-falvey.htm...

Marguerite by the Lake

This is the second book I've read by this author. I believe this is her second book. Though it was fairly good, it was also a bit of a let down for me. Not bad, but not one that wowed me either. It kept me turning the pages and guessing what was coming though. That was a good thing.

The best thing about this was the narration.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/marguerite-by-lake-by-mary-dixie-carter.h...

Death At A Highland Wedding

I've enjoyed this series so much. I already look forward to the next book. I am rooting for Gray and Mallory to end up together. Though she has gone back 150 years in the past and basically decided to stay there Mallory pretty much has fallen for Gray.

Such a good book!!

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/death-at-highland-wedding-by-kelley.html

@kelleyarmstrongauthor
@stmartinspress

Little Child Gone

This is the best series I've read. The best thriller series. I'm so glad there will be more Nikki Hunt books. This author knows how to pull you in and keep you turning the pages. Holding your interest and making you feel like you are there. Stacy Green is one fantastic thriller/mystery writer.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/little-child-gone-by-stacy-green.html

@authorstacygreenwhisenand
@bookouture

The Girls of Good Fortune

By the author of SOLD ON A MONDAY, which was my all time favorite by this author. This one pulls you right in and keeps you wanting more.

You meet Celia in prison at the beginning of this story. Set in the late 1800's and told from before Celia's imprisonment and after. You get to know her and how she became a prisoner.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-girls-of-good-fortune-by-kristina.htm...

Letters From Strangers

I read and listened to this book. The narrators did such a good job. It felt like I was right in the middle of the drama. And boy was there drama. But it was so good. A well written story. It will make you stop and think about what you would do in this situation. Both as the mothers and as the child.

Full review coming June 2nd as part of a book tour.

The Man Made of Smoke

You follow Dan Garvie from when he was just a kid who escaped a serial killer at a rest stop. Dan was with his parents and his best friend Sarah. He always felt guilty that he didn't save the little boy that was with this man. The boy with the haunted eyes. The scared child that it seemed everyone turned their backs on.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-man-made-of-smoke-by-alex-north.html

Roll the Sun Across the Sky

What a book. This is my favorite book by this author. It will grab you and not let go. It's a heartbreaking and happy story all in one. I cried and laughed. I hated Arden and loved her. This was just a great story.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/roll-sun-across-sky-by-barbara-linn.html

@barbara_linn_probst
@shewritespress

I did enjoy this book. It was well written and in places edge of your seat scary. While some characters, most of them, I didn't like there were some I did. Even though parts were unbelievable it was still very good. This author has a way of pulling you into her books and not letting you go until the very end. And what an ending. That part made me cry. It was perfect...

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-artist-of-blackberry-grange-by.html

To me this book started out kind of slow. I didn't have a hard time putting it down. It was good. It was very interesting. There are a couple of stories going on and finding how they relate was interesting. For the most part I was lost for a while. When it did pick up though I enjoyed it.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-amalfi-curse-by-sarah-penner.html

Five students at an esteemed college go missing. Right after another students body is found. Natasha Belov's body was found in a cave. Everyone assumed she was caught in the cave and drowned when the tide came in. But could it have been murder and could the five students who have gone missing be responsible. And where are these students now.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/parents-weekend-by-alex-finlay.html

This book was a delight to read. A light hearted story with some intense scenes along the way. I enjoyed it very much.

It's about two children who escape an orphanage where their older brother put them. Join a wagon train and take off to find their pa in Colorado.

A fun and heartfelt read.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/tough-luck-by-sandra-dallas.html

@sandradallas
@stmartinspress
@macmillan.audio

This was an excellent debut. A beautifully written story of such pain, hope, and love. Addiction, loss, love. There are some parts that made me weep. But overall it was just a great debut novel.

This is the story of the Bright family.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-bright-years-by-sarah-damoff.html

@sarahdamoff
@simonandschuster

This is a story about a woman, Alex Kelley, who is hired to ghost write a book about an orphanage. She uncovers a lot of things but this story does not go into great detail about the abuse that happened at Coram House. It's there but not in such detail that this book is hard to read. You know what happened by the testimonies of the grown kids who lived it. Who witnessed it. Who survived...

Seems I am alone with my thoughts about this book. I did not enjoy it. It was so repetitive aggravating for me. I'm sorry but to me it was just ok. Maybe awful. I honestly hate to write this kind of review. To me this was just not that good.

Gorgeous cover...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/such-good-mom-by-julia-spiro.html

@stmartinspress
@netgalley

A new to me author. I enjoyed this one but the ending was not good. It kind of left to much to the imagination.
Two sisters. One adopted. One jealous.
When Taylor comes to live with Rae and Cassie she has no idea what to expect. She's just a child and wants to see her birth mother more than anything. She has no idea what happened. Or what is to become of her.

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-french-honeymoon-by-anne-sophie.html

I found this story interesting. It had me a bit confused at times as it was kind of hard to keep the three main characters separated. All three are female and seem all about books and the library. The boxcar library. But still overall it was a good book. Kept me reading.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-boxcar-librarian-by-brianna-labuskes....

@brilabuskes
@williammorrowbooks

A favorite author of mine. This book is such a good one. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Catherine Ryan Hyde always gives you something to think about and makes you shed lots of tears. I've read so many of her books and will continue too.

There are a few characters that you will love. Each has a story.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/michael-without-apology-by-catherine.html

This was an unusual story. While I really enjoyed it for the most part I also found parts to be tedious. I didn‘t connect with any of the characters and to me it‘s important to do that. Overall though it was an ok book.

This is a heartbreaking story. But filled with so much heart and hope.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-fishermans-gift-by-julia-r-kelly.html

@juliakellywrites
@simonandschuster

This was one of the very best audios I have ever listened too. It had several narrators that did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. Making you feel the characters laughter and pain. They did such a good job of holding my interest throughout the whole story. I have to highly recommend you listen to this one....

An absolute must read...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/strangers-in-time-by-david-baldacci.html

I've read and honestly loved several of this author's books. Each is unique and held me captive throughout. This one is no different. This is a beautiful story filled with so many emotions. Love, betrayal, loss, new life, goodbyes, beginnings. Love lost and possibly found. So much emotion in this story set on and around Sable Island.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/all-our-beautiful-goodbyes-by-julianne.ht...

@juliannemaclean

This is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story of the holocaust. Set in Italy and told through a young woman named Lili‘s pov. She was so strong and resilient. Even when she thought she was weak she pressed on. Taking care of her best friend‘s small son. She also found love and after the war made a life with Thomas in the USA.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/one-good-thing-by-georgia-hunter.html

This book was great. The cover is gorgeous and fits perfectly. An edge of your seat story from start to finish.

This is a thriller/horror story. About a small town and it's children. I'll say right here: DON'T MESS WITH CHILDREN. Don't even look them in the eyes.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/nowhere-by-allison-gunn.html

@author_allison_gunn
@atriabooks @atriathrillers

This is my first book by this author. I did go get a copy of her previous one, The Girls In The Stilt House, after reading this one though.

Main characters: Nell, Evie, Hazel and Becca. There are a few more that play a big part in this story but these four will steal your heart by the end of this book.

This is a must read...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-river-knows-your-name-by-kelly.html

Wow! Just WOW! I thought this was such a good book. A thriller that kept me guessing and turning the pages. It had everything I love about a good thriller.

One of the best thrillers I've read this year.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/04/i-would-die-for-you-by-sandie-jones.html

@sandiejones_author
@stmartinspress
@macmillan.audio

This was a wonderful book. Emily Carpenter has done a great job of pulling me in and making my day. This is such a good book. From start to finish. Not holds barred.
An edge of your seat thriller. I loved it...

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/gothictown-by-emily-carpenter.html

@emily.d.c
@kensingtonbooks

Book 6 in The Lost Daughters series and each seems better than the last.

A story of a girl and boy who loved each other for many years. They were in their early teens when they feel head over heels in love even though they both knew her mother would never allow it. Would never approve.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-spanish-daughter-by-soraya-m-lane.htm...

This author has never disappointed me. Her books always take me away from the crazy things going on. To an adventure that I keep close to my heart. This book was exceptional. The prose was beautiful and the fact that it is about a girl searching for her mother who was an author... Well that just makes it that much better.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-story-she-left-behind-by-patti.html

@pattichenry
@atriabooks

I will be reading more by this author. This book is so good. One I highly recommend. It has so much in it. Ups and downs. Laughter and tears. History and more. And it has the TITANIC... Of course that is the part that makes this story come together.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-lost-passenger-by-frances-quinn.html

@franquinn21
@randomhouse

This is an incredibly beautiful story. It's also an incredibly sad story. It is filled with so much. So many lives lived. So many deaths. From so many years. Year after year of loving and dying. And not knowing why. Not remembering what happened to start it all. But when that final answer comes your jaw will drop. It will floor you. Unpend your heart.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/our-infinite-fates-by-laura-steven.html

This is the story of what happened in 1921 in a town in Oklahoma. What happened to a group of people who were doing nothing to warrant such hostility and hatred. Simply because of the color of their skin. That is a fact. A very sad fact.
I highly recommend this one.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-filling-station-by-vanessa-miller.htm...

@authorvanessamiller

I read and loved Looking For Jane. The debut novel by this same author. This is a brilliantly told story. The way this author weaves the two main characters together is nothing short of perfection.

I loved this line in this story:
““Audrey nodded warily. “Yes. My name is Audrey. Audrey James.““ It was just the perfect sentence at the time. I

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-secret-history-of-audrey-james-by.htm...

This is McAllisters best novel yet. While I figured out all of the twists it did not take away from the story at all. I had to keep going to see that I was right. I rooted for the couples to end up just like they did. This was such a good book.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/famous-last-words-by-gillian-mcallister.h...

@gillianmauthor
@williammorrowbooks

This was such a beautiful story. Told with so much feeling and heartfelt love. Even in the worst parts it‘s beautiful. Perfection in a book is rare but this one truly is perfection.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/broken-country-by-clare-leslie-hall.html?...

@clarelesliehall
@simonbooks

This author writes books that really pull you in and pull at your heartstrings. They usually have all the feels included too. This one is no different and is possibly her best to date. I thoroughly enjoyed “Somebody's Daughter“ and “This Is Not How It Ends.“ I look forward to reading quite a few more.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-are-made-of-stars-by-rochelle-b.html

@rochellebweinstein
@lakeunionauthors

This is one of those books that is pure pleasure to read. A modern day witch story. A love story. A story about finding a way to remove a curse. I really loved how the story played out too. It was just adorable and perfect.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-circle-of-uncommon-witches-by-paige.htm...

Another heartfelt story by one of my favorite authors. Alison Ragsdale captures your heart with her stories. They are always so realistic that I wonder if she has lived it or knows someone who has. Her books always make me shed tons of tears.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-husbands-child-by-alison-ragsdale.html

@alisonragsdalewrites
@bookouture

A very enduring story. This one captures a human's ability to learn how to give. How to be kind in the face of hardships. To be compassionate even when they fight it will all they have. To grow in ways they didn't think possible.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/a-tiny-piece-of-blue-by-charlotte.html

@charlottewhitney65
@shewritespress

This has been one of my favorite series. This author gave exactly what I wanted from start to finish. There is a lot going one so be prepared.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/rebel-witch-by-kristen-ciccarelli.html

@kristenciccarelli
@stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks
@bookofthemonth

This was such a beautiful story. A debut novel about a subject that is not talked about very much. A story that will draw you in and have you cringing at things that happened. A story about slavery in Alabama in the 1800s right before the Civil War.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/junie-by-erin-crosby-eckstine.html

I absolutely loved this book. It will be in my top books for 2025 if we survive the year.

A story about the Egyptian digs back in. 1936 then skip ahead to 1978. You meet some strong young women and a couple of older ones in this intriguing story of love, loss, and found. It's so good.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-stolen-queen-by-fiona-davis.html

Fiona Davis