2.11.2026 - One Bad Mother

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster | Simon Element for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of this fascinating non-fiction book by Ej Dickson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

This is a meticulously-researched book into what constitutes "good" moms and "bad" moms, and the inherent problems in even thinking about those distinctions.  What makes this book shine is the humor and personal notes that fill the book as well, as we learn the author's own motherhood experience.  We as a society are so quick to judge, and this book will make you think, even if you are on a different side of the aisle from the author.  Each chapter explores a different type of "bad" mom, nudging us to really explore the effects of race and class on our judgmental views.  A must read book that will bother enlighten and entertain!

2.11.2026 - Wolf Hour

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House  Alfred A. Knopf for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of the latest stand-alone novel by the wonderful Jo Nesbo, master of Nordic noir.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a detective and crime writer conduct parallel investigations, six years apart, into a series of puzzling murders.  In 2016, a small-time criminal and gun dealer is shot down, and all signs point to Tomas Gomez.  Gomez has a mysterious past and connections to a gang, and he's vanished into thin air.  Other murders soon follow.  Bob Oz, a suspended police officer, becomes fascinated by the case and obsessed with hunting the killer.  In 2022, a Norwegian crime writer with ties to Minneapolis has traveled to the United States to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, things become more complicated.

I'm a huge fan of Jo Nesbo, especially the Harry Hole series, but love the stand-alones as well.  This one is a gritty, psychological suspense story, delving into the reasons behind the murders.  It's told from both timelines and in different POV, so pay attention!  I really liked the character of Bob Oz, destroyed by his daughter's death, struggling with life after divorce and his job suspension, but still trying to do the right things.  There was plenty of action, twists and turns, and a good ending to make this another hit!

2.4.2025 - The Secret of Snow

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this charming and heartfelt debut by Tina Harnesk.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Máriddja is quite eccentric, eighty-five years old, and facing a cancer diagnosis. She’s determined to keep the truth about her illness from her husband Biera, who is suffering from dementia, while also finding someone who can take care of him once she’s gone.  Kaj is a new transplant to the village, recently engaged to Mimmi, and mourning the death of his mother. One day, when Kaj unexpectedly finds a box of Sámi—the indigenous people of Scandinavia—handicrafts belonging to his mother, he unlocks something he never anticipated.

If you are a Fredrik Backman fan, you will love this book.  Set in Sweden, your heart will go out to this elderly couple with no family trying to survive on their own.  It sounds like it might be a depressing book, but it's anything but, because the author balances it so well with humor and charm.  Máriddja talks to Siri, thinking she's a friendly operator, and the ensuing conversations will have you in stitches, all the while understanding how technology can be so confusing to elderly people (I certainly feel that way quite often myself!).  Be sure and read the author's note on the story of the Sámi people.  Just a lovely book.

2.4.2026 - Good Intentions

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut book by Marisa Walz, with the audiobook beautifully narrated by by the wonderful Brittany Pressley.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

Cady gets the call she never could have imagined; her twin sister, Dana, has been seriously hurt in a car accident.  Cady meets another woman in the waiting room who has also had an imaginable loss.  Cady soon becomes obsessed with this woman, telling herself that she has such good intentions to help her over her grief.

This is such a wonderful debut, so well-written and multi-layered.  It’s a story of grief on so many fronts, from grieving a twin, a daughter, a son, a miscarriage.  It’s also about grieving the losses that result from death, such as changes in family, relationships, marriages, and jobs.  And about obsession – how easy it is to get too involved to the detriment of all.  I liked the way the story spooled out – Cady talking to her twin, Dana, explaining all her actions since Dana’s death.  It’s eerie, unnerving and you won’t be able to look away until that surprising end.  Will be looking for more from this author!

2.1.2026 - We Were Never Friends

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of the latest thriller by Kaira Rouda.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Sorority sisters Roxy, Jamie, Beth, and Amelia have come together to celebrate the engagement of Roxy's son to Beth's daughter.  The location is a beautifully restored Palm Springs mansion. But the mansion is eerily similar to the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break 25 years ago, bringing all those memories to the surface.

As with all of Kaira Rouda’s books, this is a tense, atmospheric mystery, but this one has a locked-room premise with a touch of some possible supernatural feelings as well.  Plus, there’s that whole sorority sister thing – kind of mean girls grown up.  Be aware that there are only a couple of likeable characters – everyone has secrets they are hiding.  But it definitely kept me entertained on a cold day when I have a cold, and I was happy to be able to transport myself to California.

1.31.2026 - Blade

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of the latest thriller by Wendy Walker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own!

Ana Robbins was a rising star in the ice skating world and, with issues at home, her family dropped her off at the renowned Palace in Colorado, an elite training facility.  Tragedy forced her to leave all that behind.  Now 14 years later, she's a successful defense attorney working with minors.  She's called back to The Palace to help defend a young skater accused of a brutal crime.  She claims she's innocent, but all the evidence points towards only her.  Ana's investigation brings up all the childhood memories she's tried so hard to push down.

As stated in her author's note, Wendy Walker was a childhood skating star, poised to make it big, when she decided to take her life in a different direction.  Her first-hand knowledge and experience shine through every page of this book.  It also feels very relevant with stories such as this in the news all too frequently.  Told in "Now" and "Then" timelines, we get a front row seat to all the trauma these young women faced, most without family guidance, and relying on those in charge to steer them in the right direction.  I was fascinated with the peek into the skating world, and the mystery was tense and suspenseful.  Wendy Walker has penned another great thriller!

1.29.2026 - Little One

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this novel by Olivia Muenter, with the audio perfectly narrated by a favorite, Helen Laser.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars!

 

Catharine West seemingly had an idyllic childhood, growing up on a community-based farm that attracted others in need of a change.  But as she grew older, she recognized the darkness.  A decade later, Catharine has done her best to reinvent her life when an email from a journalist changes all that.  He wants to know if she is the same Catharine who lived in a mysterious cult in central Florida.  

 

Little One is one of those books that draws you in from the beginning, immersing you into Catharine’s childhood.  Told in alternating “Now” and “Then,” each timeline was gripping, but I also couldn’t wait for the next.  This will definitely make you think about the fine line between our “wellness” culture and an actual “cult,” and that ending – wow!  I was thinking about that long after I closed the book.  I also loved the audiobook version, which included different sound effects for voice recordings, for example, and Helen Laser was fabulous as always.