With All My Haunted Heart, by Isabel Sterling

 

Publication Sept. 8, 2026

Pippa Ainsley is a witch with a problem. Several problems, actually. Not only has she been disowned by her own strictly traditional witchy family but her more experimental magic shop is in danger of having to go out of business. Toss in past romantic woes and learning that perhaps she doesn't know her supposed best-friend-forever, Xander, as well as she though, and Pippa's insecurities, doubts, and turmoil all rise to the surface. And, now she's being asked to go against her own ingrained standards to basically round up some interesting ghosts for Xander's latest venture, a haunted B&B.

While Pippa is used to removing spirits and spells, she's initially strongly against creating the haunts. I have to admit to both chuckling and nodding knowingly as she cites potential legal issues. I mean, can a ghost sue a mundane (non-magical being) or vice versa? What happens if one of the ghosts is a Peeping Tom, let's say? That said, Pippa's misgivings quickly go by the wayside when she's forced to choose between this new role -- it's something she's never done and isn't even sure how to go about -- in order to save her business as well as the livelihood of others involved as she realizes it isn't all about her. It doesn't hurt, either, that she's immediately attracted to Xander's new business partner, Ella. Yes, for those who don't know, we're talking same sex romance here, not to mention magic, lots of magic.  

I don't want to give away the plot, which I initially expected to be all light and humorous but found it was also full of turmoil, traumatic issues, and even the ghosts weren't worry free.  It's the three main characters, of course, who hold our interest and, oh, my, all three, while good people at heart, have lots of issues. It was interesting to see how something from Xander's past helped them work through some of their issues. Nope, not telling. I should also probably note that for those who might be triggered, that family drama and grief are central issues and, oh, my, have your tissues handy when you read the author's after note. Kudos to her for providing a better ending in the book to that reality, let's just say. 

Bottom line, although the book wasn't what I expected....I'd even forgotten the same sex romance.... I found it an intriguing read. I expected high jinx and spells going awry and got family drama and the role of found family and friendship. Broken characters became whole with the support of each other. In other words, it was real, smiles and heartbreak both included. Thanks #BerkleyPublishingGroup for the early introduction to Pippa, Xander, and Pippa's world, not to mention some intriguing ghosts. 

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #7), by Jacqueline Frost

 

Publication Oct. 6, 2026

Leave it to Holly to discover another body at Christmas. As the mother of a now 6-month old, will that stop her from investigating? You already know the answer to that. Of course not. That said, while I give her kudos for trying to make sure baby Joy is safe when she goes about her snooping, er, questioning, her seemingly compulsive need to investigate brings danger to her front door. I've often wondered how real life amateur sleuths handle the potential danger their quests may be family and loved ones in and Holly is one of those who simply can't stop herself. She does seem to struggle with the dilemma at times but next thing you know, she's heading off to ask a prime suspect probing questions. Alone, I might note, most of the time. Sigh.

In this case, she's looking into the murder at Toyland. She and her sister-in-law, an actual private investigator, return to Toyland to search for some family heirloom baby gloves that baby Joy lost during their visit earlier that day. The find the gloves but also a corpse inside the reindeer facility. Several suspects immediately rise to the surface, with the investigation activity frequently being shoved aside for normal Christmas-y activities. In other words, lots going on in Mistletoe, Maine, much of it sweet and charming, even romance is in the air for some, making all the threats Holly receives as she persists in questioning suspects all the more disturbing.

Bottom line, while I won't detail the plot further, despite my eye-rolls at Holly's often rash activities -- usually against the advice of husband Sheriff Evan Gray, I enjoyed the read and do like the locale and find most of the characters likable.  Lots of food talk, too, as friends Caroline and Cookie seem to have just published their first local cookbook. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks for this early peek at the goings on in Mistletoe and a chance to catch up with the seemingly never sleeping baby Joy. I've enjoyed watching the growth of not just Holly throughout the series but the other regulars. I wonder how Holly might react if Joy grows up to be a wannabe sleuth, too. Ah, the perils of motherhood. In the meantime, anyone for a game of Christmas Bingo?

The Year the Corgis Saved Christmas, by Sherri L. Smith, Nidhi Chanani (Illustrator)

 

Publication Sept. 8, 2026

As an affirmed corgi fan, it was inevitable I'd ask to review this one. The cover alone grabbed my attention, gotta admit. The illustrations are cute, lifelike enough to keep it in reality while, of course, it's also, well, full of Christmas magic. I have no doubt my corgi could have flown had she put her mind to it. After all, corgi lore says corgis were the trusty steeds of fairies, so who's to say they didn't soar into the air occasionally, too. Grin. 

In this case, Sergeant Major Barkington is stunned to hear Christmas may be canceled. Seems the reindeer are on strike. I liked that the strike was explained as them wanting to spend one Christmas with their own families, enjoying all that goes with that. Sgt. Barkington, who I'll refer to as Sarge from here on out, is determined that if there was every a good reason for corgis to reveal their ability to fly, it is now. Unfortunately, the Queen Corgi, herself seemingly a Christmas puppy, nixes Sarge's idea. Rather than give up, however, Sarge and two buddies come up with an alternate plan. Nope, not telling. Too cute to reveal early, not to mention ruin the laughs at the excuses many come up with not to help. Of course, this being a magical Christmas story, things change. Christmas does hold memories for many and a subtle reminder of how they connect with the spirit of Christmas was sweet, though. 

Bottom line, this would make a lovely Christmas gift to your favorite dog lover no matter what their age. Thanks #Simon&SchusterChildren'sPublishers for gifting me with this early peek. My own corgi recently passed and it brought a smile to my face as I imagined her rushing to join to "save Christmas" team. Living in Alaska, she was very familiar with dog teams. Grin.

'Tis the Season to Be Scary: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery, by Vicki Delany

 

Publication Sept. 8, 2026

Does it sound like fun to live in a small town that celebrates Christmas year-round? Maybe  not if it's the town of Rudolph, New York. Murders do seem to keep happening there. Merry, whose father plays Santa Claus, seems to find herself involved snooping, er, investigating them. Don't get me wrong. I find myself liking Merry, not to mention the regulars of this series, but, man, they do attract some quirky, not to mention occasionally murderous visitors. In this case, with Merry's best friend Vicky celebrating the release of her first published cookbook, the death of Vicky's harshest critic at the hospital gala after eating one of Vicky's cake pops means it's almost inevitable Merry would be seriously involved in trying to find the true killer. Never fear, recipe fans. A murder didn't detour the inclusion of recipes. Grin. 

There are quite a few suspects, too. Despite the blurb, I never felt like Vicky was considered a serious suspect, but that didn't mean there were many others to look into. As usual, Rudolph has managed to gather quite a few  guests for the heavily publicized hospital fundraiser. Let's see, besides the expected publishers and agent, there are a pair of opera singers with one hoping to lure Merry's mother back to New York to perform with him, ambitious gala organizers, small town ambitions, wannabe politicians, cookbook fans, and, uh, was that a ghost? Why is Merry convinced she's seeing a ghost of Scrooge? I mean, despite the location, it's the Halloween season, not Dickens' Christmas. Well, she is told a ghost story and that, combined with lore of Halloween Eve being a night when the veil between living and dead is thinnest, she is spooked. Of the many faces, which is the murderer, not to mention how does one explain Merry's odd sightings. The tension increases with a mysterious car chase and, well, an even more mysterious rescue of sorts. Good thing Alan was home to help soothe nerves.

Bottom line, without revealing more of this fun albeit occasionally slow moving tale, I enjoyed my virtual visit to Rudolph. It was fun to see Merry's father, who might as well be Santa, slightly unsettled, must admit, although he retained his Santa Claus calm. Well, mostly.  I chuckled early on when Merry told her dog to watch the place as she left the house as that is an echo of what I told my dog. The touch of paranormal was unexpected giving the identification of the otherworldly spirit as Scrooge appearing, but added an interesting element. I have to admit to thinking I had it solved, only to be proven wrong, so have fun seeing if you can figure it out. It actually all made sense in the end. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks for the early peek into how Rudolph's finest celebrate a spooks and goblins day while clinging to its Christmas identity. 

 

(Place Holder) Murder in a Yorkshire Village (A Miss Underhay Mystery Book 24) .by Helena Dixon

 

Pub Date: Aug 18 2026 

Place holder as my own memory device for now. Actual review will appear on Aug. 20 as part of a virtual book tour.  

Murder Stage Left (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery, #26), by Verity Bright

 

Publication Aug. 26, 2026

England, 1926. This is another one of my favorite series. You know, one of those that as a reviewer I request without checking the blurb, number of pages, or that sorta thing. I've never yet been disappointed. In this case, what might seem a relatively simple case, tracking down who has been stealing items from the Shakespeare Memorial theatre, quickly gets far, far more complicated. Lady Eleanor and husband Hugh Seldon have barely arrived when a fire breaks out in the theatre and a body is discovered. I won't ruin the fun of trying to sort out the clues yourself but will say it involves, rivalries, old grudges, arson, theft, and, uh, time in cuffs. Nope, not telling. That'd ruin it for you. Grin.

The detective trio made up of Eleanor, Hugh, and the incredibly knowledgeable Clifford are joined by Eleanor's "aprons", the friends and ladies that make her inherited home of Henley Hall home. You'll hear more of it and taxes, btw, as you read. Despite her title, Eleanor has the same money worries of many of that time and, well, as the book reminds us, what Twain said, that nothing is certain but death and taxes. So, this job was timely for them. I've come to enjoy the company of our trio and still marvel that Clifford isn't only seemingly the perfect butler but is such a virtual fountain of knowledge but seems to be a know what is needed before they do. It's been fun to see the relationship change to one of equals among the three, too, albeit Clifford hasn't quite shed his ingrained sense of "butler-ness". Hugh has grown, too, showing more and more signs of not allowing himself to be totally restricted by what his former job at Scotland Yard would deem acceptable to doing whatever is necessary to solve cases and, in most cases, bring a murderer to justice. Eleanor's ladies are an absolute delight and have their own set of skills, which tend to be focused on ferreting out info while seemingly being nothing but chatty ladies interested in the latest gossip. In other words, I enjoy the entire group and always count it a perk when the ladies are a big part of the investigation.

Bottom line, I enjoyed this installment and am ready for the next. We get what may be a big hint of what that will involve at the end, too, not to mention progress ... hopefully .... toward finally sorting out what really happened to Eleanor's parents so long ago.  You'll also pick up quite a bit of info on not only William Shakespeare but his father John's occupation. I'm not telling but it was known as a whittawer, Be sure to read the author's historical notes. They're always a favorite section for me and, shh, I have to admit to frequently jumping ahead to them before finishing the book. No, they don't give away the ending but my brain cells get caught up in wanting to know more about the reality of events. Thanks #Bookouture for introducing me to Eleanor and her circle of friends. I've come to feel like they're old friends and always enjoy my virtual visits. Maybe they'll give me a taste of a Shooter's Sandwich? 

Love Felt Like This, by Julie Olivia

 

Publication Sept. 8, 2026

Although I don't read many romance novels anymore, I'm seriously glad the intriguing cover of this one pulled me in. There are already a bunch of detailed reviews out there for those so minded, so I'm going to stick to my reaction to "Love Felt Like This" rather than say much about the plot. It, of course, is very well done with, yes, the usual romance structure, but it flows naturally. 

As a fan of character driven stories, I'm delighted to say I quickly fell into a virtual friendship with Beverly and Griffin, rooting for them as I read. As noted, I immediately liked them and found the alternating points of view interesting as we are both getting to know that character but what their mind-set is on the other main character as the story progresses. Beverly and Griffin were definitely interesting characters. Despite the sense being given by many that she was all sunshine and light, she has her own set of insecurities and dreams that she's almost ready to give up. Enter Griffin, who is probably supposed to be seen as brooding and cold. Brooding, maybe , albeit he came across more as exhausted and frustrated to me. We learn rather quickly why, reasons that aren't immediately visible to Beverly, giving us a head start on rooting for him. To cut to the chase, while it's sheer serendipity that he stumbles into her set just as the cameras roll on a variety show she's appearing on with her beloved puppets, it soon becomes apparent that both need something, or someone. Beverly needs both financial and creative help if she's going to revive the once popular show she feels so tied to, while Griffin needs, well, let's say a muse. Just like writers, songwriters can be blocked and his personal life's demands seems to have erased his inspiration. I'm pretty sure you can guess they are pulled together....with some complications I'll leave vague.

As for the rest of our cast of characters, with one exception I found myself almost instantly feeling as if I knew people just like them. Even Griffin's band mates, who would normally be stereotyped as hard living and self-absorbed, come across as likable, supporting types who genuinely care about Griffin. As they wind up in what was Bev's childhood small town home, you'll meet her family and extended family, too, and probably wind up feeling like, yep, these are people I might know or would at least like to know. I did like that neither Bev nor Griffith were glib and knew exactly what to do or say, making them seem real as they rather stumbled through those early "getting to know you" days.  The dialogue reflected that, obviously, making them seem all the more real. 

Bottom line, rather than ramble on, I'll simply say that romance fans who like their characters to seem like real people and enjoy realistic portrayals of the settings, should thoroughly enjoy this book. For that matter, if you're into music related/show biz bits, not to mention puppets, you'll definitely enjoy this. I'm sure they're out there but this is the first time I recall a book where puppets were a focus of the story. The plot moves along relatively smoothly, with few down moments, and the alternating points of view add to the sense of knowing these people. It was fun to know what the other character thought initially as they met, in particularly, and see the images change in their minds. Griffin, in particular, is definitely the most expressive romantic one in the sense of expressing his feelings in song, which is always a plus for romantic readers. I also liked that the younger characters, even the two year old, had realistic personalities rather than being the "older than their age" character we often see. Heck, even the puppets so dear to Beverly for reasons you'll discover, had their own unique personalities, even the impromptu ones. Thanks #BerkleyPublishingGroup for giving me this early introduction to Beverly and Griffin's complicated worlds as they come together. I loved the epilogue, btw. 

My Backyard Bird Book: Fun Facts & Surprising Secrets, by Cheryl Johnson

 

Publication Oct. 6, 2026

As is my usual habit when I get a picture heavy book, I scrolled through the photos before reading. I was definitely extra charmed to find the robin's page just about the time one landed in my water logged yard to start bouncing around in search of, well, bugs, I guess. That said, I stopped scrolled when I got to the waxwings page. We do have them here but, well, they not only usually travel in packs, er, flocks, but fast. Hence, this was my chance to get a good look at a photo of one. Seriously, I've yet to capture a good pix of the countless waxwings that zip in and out, rarely landing either long enough or close enough for even a good grab shot. Thanks to the author for including them as I'm leaning toward not being the only one who hears their song but still can't quite manage the image I'd like. Grapes. I must scatter some grapes closer to the front window. Grin. 

Anyway, my frustration with the local waxwings aside, while this book targets young bird watchers, this oldie bird fan found it delightful and informative. I particularly liked the simple, uncomplicated set up. You get the photo of the bird, a tip and fun fact, then a quick reference page. That page includes basic info on how to identify each bird, what they eat, and geographic locations you're likely to see them. There's also an interesting strip down the side of that page that tells you if they migrate, their favorite food (that's where I got the grape hint for the waxwings), then gives their size in comparison to a common item, such as a dollar bill for waxwings, and the same for weight. A light bulb for waxwings, btw.  

There's a somewhat more detailed ornithologist reference page at the end with definitions of common birding terms and more info.  There are also links given for resources and places to learn more as where one can request a free activity pack with a QR code for those so inclined to use them.  In other words, lots in information and sources for even more. As noted, it's succinct, easily understandable albeit younger children would probably need guidance, and full of fun, interesting tidbits about our feathered friends. Thanks #SourcebooksKids for sharing an early peek at this fun, informative book with me. I can see this making a great gift for both young and old birding fans.

Mark Twain for Book Lovers: On Reading, Writing, and Publishing, by R. Rasmussen

 

Publication August 18, 2026

Like many, my introduction to Mark Twain was through a classroom study of one of his books. If I recall, the first one I encountered was "Tom Sawyer" with "Huckleberry Finn" soon after. Other than his riverboat and western adventures, not sure I really knew much about him as a person, however, aside from his involvement in the writing and publication of Grant's memoir. 

As a result, I felt like I learned quite a bit about him as a person, friend, and writer/publisher. Not all of it positive, either, in a sense. I won't go into great detail but came away feeling that his supposed friends must have frequently felt like they were pulled toward and then shoved away, most frequently perhaps finding out in his published criticisms. Even his support of Grant, which I'd always admired, perhaps had some selfish motivation as we find out Twain's frequent need for money and how desperately he depended on the success of the memoir to promote his own business needs as a publisher. I certainly didn't come away disliking Twain but was definitely reminded that beneath the myth was a very human man. 

Bottom line, while I came away from the book having learned a great deal about the man, it wasn't always the easiest read. Maybe it was just my own mind-set of the time but it seemed to jump around a bit, from one example of his writing to a discussion of his friendships, to, well, a multitude of things. All added to the big picture but made it a bit of a difficult read for me. Hence, a tough ratings call as I'd say a 5 star for info while a 3 for not being an easy read for me, hence my 4 rating. Don't let my reaction stop you from picking this one up to read, however, especially if you're a fan. The inclusion of many of his writings and thoughts pulled from various sources means you're getting a good picture of who he really was and the writing style may be right for you. Thanks #GlobePequet for allowing me this early peek into the complicated life of a man whose name many of us have known for years. It was illuminating to get a glimpse behind the scenes, so to speak. 

Fancy Dogs, by Tini Malina, Tammi Reichel (Translator)

 

Publication Oct. 6, 2026

As a dog owner whose own dog disliked being dressed up...she only tolerated her harness after realizing it translated to a walk... this was a fun reminder of the fun many have dressing up their dogs. Let's just say, some neighborhood dogs have better wardrobes than I do. In this case, probably due to the beret on the cover dog, there was an air of France, which lasted until about halfway. that's when the author reminds us that even the fanciest dressed dog, well, likes to sniff rear ends, to be tactful. And eat shoes, and roll in mud, and, well, you get my drift. The message would seem to be a reminder that no matter how well dressed or "fancy" we may look, we're all the same on the inside. That's an important message for this era of status driven media messages we're frequently bombarded with.

The artwork is simple and colorful, not to mention that I'm assuming the hard copy books offer larger illustrations. That would mean it's easier for children, plural, perhaps to actually see the illustrations. That isn't always the case, let's face it. The text seemed to offer up some British terms, too, so be ready to explain if your child isn't familiar with them. The text is simple and the lyrical, rhythmic feel works for the most part which isn't always the case when a translation is involved. In any case, the playful tone is fun and should draw in young readers, especially those who like dogs. Or dressing up dogs. Or dressing themselves up, I guess. Anyway, the mix of common and not so common to children words will help build vocabulary and offer a chance for them to learn something other than that some dogs like to be dressed up. Thanks #NorthSouthBooks and #NetGalley for sharing this fun read with me. I'll definitely recommend it not just to parents but age appropriate teachers.