The English Wife has everything a historical fiction fan could want.  Set in Gilded Age New York and London, The English Wife is full of murder, romance, intrigue, family secrets and suspense.  

Bay and Annabelle Van Duyvil are introducing their glorious new home Illyria to New York upper society by hosting a magnificent Twelfth Night ball.  They certainly seem to be living the charmed life, until Bay's sister Janie finds Bay murdered and Annabelle missing.  Did Annabelle murder him and then flee the scene, or did Bay toss his wife into the freezing waters and then turn the knife upon himself?  The newspapers can't get enough of this scandalous situation and the Van Duyvil family name is quickly tarnished.  In an unexpected turn of events, Janie solicits the assistance of reporter John Burke to help her uncover the truth, even if that truth is not pretty.  

Through the course of the novel, we learn more about how Bay and Annabelle met and the secrets they both harbored.  I really felt drawn to Janie's story and how she comes into her own during the book.  Having lived in her brother's shadow most of her life and restrained by her mother's directives, Janie grows throughout the story and takes matters into her own hands.  The English Wife was a compelling story and a solid four star read for me.  

I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

This book absolutely has my heart!  Within reading the first few pages, I was immediately drawn in and wanted to find the nearest chair so I could curl up and immerse myself in this charming book.  

The Music Shop is such a rich multi-layered story.  It centers around Frank, who owns the record shop on Unity Street and has a gift for knowing exactly what kind of music his customers need, even when that music is the exact opposite of what they believe they are looking for.  But we also get the privilege of meeting the adorable and exasperating Kit, Frank's assistant, who no matter how he tries just can't quite get things right; Maud, the tattooist from Unity Street, that holds a special place in her heart for Frank; and Father Anthony, who owns a religious gift shop on Unity Street, but has a story all his own.  Into this eclectic mix of characters comes Ilse Brauchmann who immediately captures Frank's attention in a unique way, but Frank is just fine on his own, or is he?  

I can only imagine the amount of research that the author did to make this novel such a moving tribute to music itself and the emotions it makes all of us feel.  It really is a musical journey along with an engaging love story but it is also so much more than that.  Each character has their own unique charm and are so vividly developed that they simply leap from the pages.  Also, I have to say that the cover is spot-on.  I just relished each page and savored every moment.  Five star read for me.  

I received this book courtesy of Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

I first fell in love with Donna Everhart's writing when I read The Education of Dixie Dupree.  She develops such beautifully written characters that you become so invested in their lives and journeys.  

The Road to Bittersweet is a story of survival and resilience like none other, all told through the eyes of 14 year old Wallis Ann Stamper.  Wallis Ann's family is awakened in the middle of the night to the rushing flood waters of the Tuckasegee River and must flee the only home they have known, only to know a greater peril as they attempt to traverse the raging rivers.  Wallis Ann embarks on a long and arduous journey with many curves along the way.  The author does a remarkable job putting you right in the heart of the story.  You can nearly feel the bone chilling cold and devastating hunger that Wallis Ann experiences.  I definitely wanted to continue reading until the very end of the book to see what path Wallis Ann's life would take.  There were several unexpected turns in the plot that enriched the story even more.  

I received this book courtesy of Kensington through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  

I've been reading Kate White ever since her first Bailey Weggins book If Looks Could Kill came out so to say I was looking forward to another installment in the series would be an understatement.  Kate White always delivers a suspenseful fast paced thriller and Even If It Kills Her is another page turner.  

Bailey Weggins is doing promotion for her latest book when she encounters a college friend Jillian Lowe who asks her to help investigate her family's murders that occurred back when they were in college together.  It seems that the person convicted of the crimes is now believed to be innocent and Jillian wants Bailey to help her track down the murderer.  Of course, it isn't long until the investigation turns deadly and Bailey may be in over her head.  

There are always the right amount of twists, turns and surprises to keep you reading late into the night.  If you haven't read any of the other novels in the Bailey Weggins series, you could certainly start with this one.  

I received this book courtesy of Harper Paperbacks Harper Collins through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.