The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Just as Clara's mother haunted her for her entire life because she disappeared, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham also became a mystery and an obsession for Charles Jameson who found Bronwyn's satchel inside his father's office.

The satchel had made it to London from Bluffton, South Carolina, but how?

Everyone thought Bronwyn and her satchel filled with the sequel to the book she wrote when she was twelve were both at the bottom of the ocean.

When Charles called Clara and said that he found these papers with a note attached saying they had to be returned to Clara Harrington in person, and he could NOT mail them to her, she had no choice.

Clara had to retrieve them, but how?

London was a long way from South Carolina, and it was an expensive trip to make.

Does Clara make the trip?

Does she find her mother's papers to be what she thought they would be?

Does she do anything with them since they were to be a sequel?

What else happens in London?

You will find out everything in this beautifully written, detailed read you won't be able to put down and a read with absolutely wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting.

It is filled with love, longing, and fulfillment. 5/5

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

Spotlight of Code Name Romance by Carlie Walker

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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CODE WORD ROMANCE

CARLIE WALKER

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESYOF CHELSEA PASCOE| BERKLEY | SENIOR PUBLICIST

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One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

From the author of the buzzy rom-com caper, The Takedown, comes a sparkling romantic adventure that delivers heart-racing suspense and romantic hijinks.

 

When two former exes are brought back together for a CIA mission on the Amalfi Coast, old passions and assassins collide.

CODE WORD ROMANCE has something for every reader: romance, action, humor, spice, and so much more!

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 March 18, 2025

Berkley Trade Paperback Original

Action & Adventure

Romantic Comedy

Contemporary Romance

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ABOUT CODE WORD ROMANCE:

The story: Max is just your average girl.

She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt, and happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen. Sofia is powerful, beautiful—and unfortunately, someone is trying quite hard to assassinate her. 

     

When the CIA approaches Max with a deal, a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister’s annual Italian vacation, Max packs her bags for the Amalfi Coast.

The delicious food, the breathtaking views—this trip would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, the handler assigned to Max’s case.

Flynn, who has an unexpected history with Max, from another sun-drenched summer years and years ago. Now he’s instructed to stay in Max’s suite to protect her, as old passions and assassins collide.

Losing herself in the role of a prime minister is one thing. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that’s a risk she isn’t willing to take…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carlie Walker attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she first majored in Peace, War and Defense, a feeder program for intelligence services—before realizing that she is way too anxious to be a spy.

Having gone on to study at Oxford University and at City, University of London, she worked briefly in publishing before becoming the bestselling author of eight books for children and young adults.

She has a registered 250-pound dead lift, volunteers in a cat shelter, and used to spend her Saturdays practicing martial arts. 

She lives in Marietta, Georgia, with her husband, young son, and their American dingo.

**AUTHOR PHOTO AND BIO TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S PAGE**

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Book Blogger Hop - 3/28 - 4/3

                                                    

Question of the Week:

Do you judge an author's works based on their political stances? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

My Answer:

I do not judge based on political stances, but I also do not read political books.

Friendly Fill-Ins - 3/28/2025

                                          

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FRIENDLY FILL-INS:

1. I like to pretend _____.

2. Why anyone wants to ______ is beyond me?

3. I have a lot in common with ____.

4. I tend to be optimistic about ____ but pessimistic when it comes to ______.

  MY ANSWERS:

1.  I like to pretend I am in my 40's again.  :)

2.  Why anyone wants to run for office is beyond me.

3.  I have a lot in common with other readers.

4.  I tend to be optimistic about most things dealing with family, but pessimistic when it comes to not too much.  I'm usually an optimistic person about everything.

Saltwater by Katy Hays

Ooooo…this is good. 



What is the Lingate family hiding?

 

Why do they come back to Capri every year?

The family goes back to make sure nothing new has been found out about Sarah's death.  

Did someone kill Helen's mother, Sarah Lingate, or did she have an accident?

Helen lost her mother on the family's vacation in Capri when she was very young, and it has always been recorded as an accident, but was it?

Helen was always kept under strict guard as she grew because the family was afraid she would say something about the incident.

As they do every year, the family is back in Capri and have their assistant Lorna with them.   

She and Helen had become friends, and Lorna knew all about how Helen grew up.

What is going to happen this time? 

Will Lorna be under scrutiny and close watch now that she is with them?  Will she be safe?  She isn’t family, but does it matter?

What about the necklace Sarah wore?  How could it have been found after thirty years? 

And...who sent the necklace to the family at their villa? 

 

What does all this mean?  

Find out in this book that details Capri perfectly and makes you want to go there or go back.

 

And...find out about the secrets and lies kept by this wealthy family. 

You won’t want to stop reading - and just wait for the twists. 5/5

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

Spotlight of I Would Die For You by Sandie Jones

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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I WOULD DIE FOR YOU

SANDIE JONES

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS TAKEN FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE PUBLISHER.

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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club Pick The Other Woman and The Guilt Trip comes an electrifying next novel.

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March 25, 2025

Minotaur Books

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ABOUT I WOULD DIE FOR YOU:

California, 2011: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in the small seaside town of Coronado with her husband and daughter. She is not expecting a writer to knock on her door asking for her personal insight into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s—unveiling the threads of a life she left behind years ago.

The same day, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up . . . but she doesn’t have an aunt. 

Convinced of a link between the two, Nicole is forced to revisit long-abandoned memories from her past to protect everything she now holds dear.

London, 1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober, the hottest band of the moment.

Harboring an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards, she will do anything she can to capture his attention among the throngs of groupies at the band’s scandalous backstage parties. 

But when Ben discovers her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar one night, he can’t help but feel drawn to her, setting in motion a collision course that could tear their family apart.

Infused with the sounds of the 80s, this thrilling novel from the inimitable Sandie Jones explores the chaos that the frenzy of fandom can provoke.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SANDIE JONES (she/her) has worked as a freelance journalist for more than twenty years and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, Woman’s Weekly, and Hello magazine.

She lives in London with her husband and three children.

The Other Woman was her debut novel and a Reese’s Book Club pick.

**AUTHOR BIO AND PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S PAGE**

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SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram:  sandiejones_author

Facebook:  Sandie Jones

Twitter:  realsandiejones

The Other People by C.B. Everett

Where am I?

What is going on?

Everyone has been waking up in a room that they had no idea how they got there or why their phones were gone and why they had some wrist band on that they can't take off.

Then the doors unlock and they assemble in the dining room still not knowing how they got there or where they were before they ended up in this house.

Weird things happen with things being locked including their dinner plate covers which once revealed show that each person has a plate of food that is one of their favorite foods.

What is going on and what happens?

How will they get out?  

What does the person who did this want?

Find out in this evasive, chilling, locked room thriller/horror with unlikeable characters. 

Cleverly done, but a little too out there for me.  3/5

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