Chasing the Clouds Away, by Debbie Macomber

 

Publication April 28, 2026

Ah, a Debbie Macomber book. It somehow always makes me feel like it's time to cozy up in my most comfy PJs and curl up in the recliner under a nice warm blanket to settle in for what I just know will be a sweet read. While an opposites attract type, it rather morphs into a read emphasizing not just family but the dynamics of family that shape us. Both Maisy and Chase have faced dark days in their past so while it's fair to say they're opposites, you'll also discover that they have common ground.

That's good as, quite frankly, their not exactly meet cute doesn't showcase Chase well.  He's brusque and short tempered. Even worse, poor guy. He's going to have to fly commercial rather than in a private jet. Well, at least he gets a seat in first class, expecting never to see the woman who called him on his behavior. It's obvious from the beginning that Chase is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. Maisy is apprehensive his misplaced anger may endanger her friend's job but maintains her calm. She's been taught from an early age that anger is often a cover for deeper feelings, hence she gives Chase the benefit of the doubt. She's absolutely delighted to be upgraded to first class where, you guessed it, she discovers her seatmate is none other than the rude guy from the airport. Chase is also less than excited to find the troubling woman there and pretty much tries to short circuit her tendency to engage in friendly chatter early on. Much to his surprise, after discovering the flight delay lead to his rental car not being held, Maisy offers him a ride. He's doubly shocked when she refused payment, simply telling him to pass it on. Let's just say, for someone used to money being able to get almost everything, that's a foreign policy to him.

I'm not going to detail the plot but that's pretty much where the story takes off. Chase is practically engaged but to his annoyance finds Maisy intriguing. As you'll discover, family dynamics have impacted both. The story moves along smoothly, albeit with the expected bumps along the way. I mean, Chase is practically engaged to the "perfect wife" for success. Maisy is just busy trying to help her family after giving up her dream of being a nurse. The chapters essentially alternate between them, giving us a good idea of their thoughts and past, which adds to the understanding as the story goes along. 

Bottom line, this was exactly the feel good story I was hoping for. In a sense, it was a reassurance that life can be full of joy if we only learn to get out of our own way. I mean, there is a difference between being proud and too proud, which you'll come to understand as you read. I found myself liking the main characters. Heck, even Chase's almost "perfect wife" turned out to be someone I think I'd have liked, not to mention Patrick, the baseball nut from Maisy's family was a fun character, too. I also noted that Macomber's early mention of a homeless vet outside the area of Chase's offices wasn't just there for word count. Nope. Not telling what I mean by that. You'll just have to read the book. Thanks #Ballantine for the early peek at this heartwarming, feel good romance. The epilogue was an extra nice touch.

A Midsummer Murder, by by Kate Wells

 

Publication April 18, 2026

Despite what seemed to me a slow start, I ultimately enjoyed this tale of the odd combo of a wellness retreat and murder. To be honest, given the almost cult like wellness retreat vibes, I wasn't expecting to find the story as intriguing. True, it took it a bit to evolve and pull me in but overall the mystery was clever with lots of viable suspects, all with equally viable reasons to want wellness guru Inigo Sage dead. It was also a good reminder that what happens in the past can haunt you for a lifetime. Secrets have a way of finding their way to the surface. 

Main character Jude Gray seems to be an oasis of calm in the midst of chaos for most of this book. I have to admit to initially not particularly liking either friend George or Kerry, the originators of the wellness retreat, as both came across as maybe not helpless but downright needy at times. Or was that Jude's belief? We find out that Jude seems to have a need to try to make everything right for everyone, even when she's being pulled in multiple directions. I was glad to see artist boyfriend Marco there for her, offering a strong shoulder for her to lean on, although I'd have loved to have spent a bit more time with her quirky, personable animals. I have to admit to smiling when Rodney Trotter, the tiny Shetland pony, and Wonky the donkey made an appearance. Yeah, I know. I can be easily amused, especially when I wasn't finding many humans to be sympathetic too much of the time aside from Granny Margot and her newfound internet expertise. 

As it turns out, of course, all of the regulars seem to have a lot going on in their own lives, so I did ultimately see the "why" of their behaviors. Young Sebbie, of course, Jude's nephew, remains a whirl of motion and enthusiasm for, well, almost everything, especially his toy plane and helping Marco. As for the wellness retreat participants, well, the overnight guests weren't very likable, with various degrees of belief in Inigo Sage's teachings. Do I need to tell you where the list of suspects came from? Grin.

Bottom line,I did ultimately realize that I had become invested in finding out whodunit. That's a good sign that I'd finally been pulled into the flow of the plot. 3.5 rounded up. It was actually rather intriguing to see how George and Kerry's concepts differed from the vibe that Inigo brought to the retreat. I liked the concept of not only the, let's call it, written note of regret being written and set free on a body of water in the form of a paper boat right down to both the paper and writing instrument being soluble and quick to dissolve. Both the symbolism and reality of the effort not to defile nature made sense and was touching. I also enjoyed Jude and detective Binnie's relationship and mutual trust. Jude's trips back to the farm where she did typical, to her everyday type farm chores helped set the story in reality. Lucy's story is a fun, one, too. So, slow start or not, I did enjoy the read. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for letting me drop in early on Jude's life to see what she's been up to. Loved the ending, too. Can't wait to see how that works out. 

A Summertime Murder, by Kate Grand

 

A Death in the Dark (A Novel Detectives Mystery Book 2), by Ellie Alexander

 

Publication April 21, 2026

I’ve got to had it to Annie and Fletcher. When a seemingly confused potential client shows up not only agitated but covered with blood, they don’t even flinch. Instead, they sit him down and start asking questions to gather timely information while trying to calm him. Could Josh have killed his fellow high school track coach and blanked it out of his mind? 

While I'll admit to not being too fond of Annie when the original series began, she quickly won me over. Let's face it. She had a lot to work through. She found her niche at the Secret Bookcase and has blossomed into not just a first class bookshop owner but a licensed private detective with Fletcher, he of all things Sherlock, with both still managing to run the bookshop and their Novel Detective practice. The book segues from the tense encounter with the bloody client-to-be to cozy moments in the bookshop and with friends, giving it an interesting vibe. Annie's romance with Liam has also blossomed and, of course, she can't resist popping in and out of friend Pri's coffee shop frequently. I enjoy the regulars, including relative newbie hires at the bookshop, making this a likable, character driven read for me. 

Bottom line, this is a fun read with ups and downs and, yes, even lots of bookshop talk in the midst of an investigation. I don't want to reveal much more of the plot and ruin your sleuthing other than to say the suspect list quickly widens. Could seemingly low-key English teacher Josh have actually killed Rob? And, speaking of schools, what is going on there? You'll learn a bit about track events, by the way, ranging from the choice of running shoes to how events are timed. Yet, in the midst of normal, every day life, things are not copacetic, a word Fletcher throws out at Annie. Too bad she didn't listen to him when he also made the suggestion that at the very least she should carry pepper spray. Yep, you guessed it. Annie once again finds herself in danger. And, oh, for long time readers, the side story of Hal's quest to prove his heritage also moves along with some intriguing revelations. Thanks #StormPublishing for introducing me to Annie and allowing me early peeks into how her life as a bookshop owner/private investigator is going. 

The Book of Sprout: A Magical Adzventure of Growth and Discovery, by Karen Norheim

 Publication March 10, 2026

Delightfully thought provoking and fun.

A bit of a cross between a magical journey and a young boy discovering the true meaning of life being a series of blank pages upon which he can write his story.  Sprout lived happily with his parents at the edge of a forest. They give him a blank book on his birthday with the explanation that it's up to him to create the story that will be within. Thus begins Sprout's journey to start collecting adventures to both experience and write about. And what a journey it is (and this is just one day in his young life). I won't detail the plot but will say we meet the probably expected encounters with a fire breathing (and itchy) dragon, a knight and a damsel in distress, not to mention a wizard and talking toad. 

The overall feel of the story is not just whimsical but descriptive.... you'll be easily able to visualize that maddeningly vague sign Sprout finds as he tries to find his way home. Of course, it leads to another adventure that tests his kindness and willingness to take risks as he tries to find the right path, both physical and otherwise. He also learns patience, sharing, and the joy of helping others, even if he isn't always the most adept. There are some lovely illustrations that capture the mood nicely, too, as well as both a glossary (for bold face words as you read) and study guide by chapters at the end. I liked that the study guide questions didn't ask for a single, right answer but encourage thought and imagination, too. 

The overall themes of the book, curiosity, whimsy, and the ability to learn as you grow while keeping your imagination strong, all come together well. Heck, there's even a section dealing with knowledge and the role of libraries. I particularly liked the author's section at the end where she tells how she came to rework her Uncle Richard Gleason's story and update if for a more modern reader. Like the book itself, the tale of his family's involvement in the recreation was heartwarming and I thoroughly enjoyed the bio of him provided at the end. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the photo of the statue of Sprout which I'm guessing was the cover inspiration. Thanks #RiverGroveBooks for the early peek and the reminder that life, like books, is what we experience and hopefully learn and grow from as we write out own stories.

A Very Irish Mystery (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #25), by Verity Bright

 

Publication April 10, 2026

As usual, it's the characters who keep drawing me back to this series over and over again. From the curious and unstoppable Lady Eleanor Swift, who wasn't raised to be a lady, to husband Hugh and butler/friend/master of....whatever is needed Clifford, they are a delight to spend time with. And, of course, I can't forget Gladstone, Eleanor's trusty canine. The frequently humorous give-and-take between Eleanor and Clifford has always been a highlight of the historical fiction series for me, so it was great to see it front and center. Hugh, as the Scotland Yard officer, has always seemed a bit left out of that fun but he seems to be slowly settling into his retired cop, now detective role and showing a bit more of his human side this go-round. As he notes at one point, probably a bit bemused, as a cop he used to be the one chasing the culprit but now seems to be running from the law as often as not in partnership with the often impulsive Eleanor and Clifford who always seems to have her back and know what she needs or wants before she does. Definitely an interesting trio of detectives.

In this go-round, they find themselves in Dublin. They're planning to connect with a man who claims to be able to tell her something about how long missing parents. Eleanor has never quite solved the one mystery of a personal nature, why her parents abandoned her the night of their disappearance two decades ago. Well, they do ultimately meet him but there's a whole other matter that draws them before, the murder of brewery owner Fergal Finnegan. Eleanor discovers the body, no shock to long time readers, but, oh, my, what a place to find it. Nope, not telling. You're going to have to read the book. It goes without saying that they become absorbed with this case after being hired by the brewery's suddenly new manager but, in the meantime, we meet up with suffragettes, tour some of the backstreets of the Dublin of the day, find out Hugh isn't much of a sailor, and learn a bit about, uh, the oldest profession. Again, nope, not telling, you'll just have to read the book. And what's with all the rival breweries? Could one of them have killed Finnegan? How about the women, yes, plural, in his life? Oh, what a twisted web our trio has to unravel. All while, of course, awaiting the delayed arrival of the mystery man who may know something about Eleanor's parent's fate. Let's just say, that wasn't how they expected that discussion to go.

But, more than enough teasers. Obviously, I adore this series. I like the characters and they seem to wind up in some of the most fascinating places. We also learn lots about the setting of each adventure, not to mention a great deal of the history of the time. Do be sure to read the Historical Notes at the end. they touch of that subject, adding more to the story.  Thanks #Bookouture and #NetGalley for letting me time travel backwards once again for an early peek at all that is going on in Lady Eleanor's life. I did miss "the ladies" this go round but, hey, one can't be unhappy with a cozy mystery that manages to work in a Machiavelli quote seamlessly. 

Topped Chef (Key West Food Critic Mystery #3), by Lucy Burdette

Another oldie that's been languishing on my overflowing bookshelf. Having read the more recent books in the series, it was sort of fun to go back and see how Hayley Snow functioned in the earlier days of the series. As luck would have it, I actually have the newest book on my official review list, so it'll be fun to compare how things changed.

Hayley is more or less volunteered to be a judge of the Key West Topped Chef reality show contest.  As food critic for the local paper, that's probably not surprising. What is surprising is that one of the other judges is the one Hayley had just filed a negative review about. That made things tense but that's not the worst of it. He winds up being murdered. That winds up ruining Hayley's more or less first real date with Nathan, the local detective. Long time readers, it was a hoot to be reminded that love isn't always smooth going, let's just say. As this is an oldie, published in 2013, I won't detail the plot much further except to say Hayley finds herself playing amateur sleuth, not to mention uncomfortable in front of the cameras. Hayley isn't the most cautious of sleuths, I must admit, so I'm sure it won't surprise anyone that she winds up being in danger. I must also admit that I didn't figure out whodunit and, in fact, pretty much didn't like any of the suspects as the one. So much for my sleuthing skills. Anyway, a light read and, hey, one more off my extensive TBR list. 

Arlo Needs Your Help, by Cortney Cino , Olga Sall (Illustrator)

 

Publication May , 202

It's always fun and an ego boost to have an author ask you to review their book, even more so when they aren't aware of a connection you have with the topic. At the last school I taught at before retirement, a self-contained class created and maintained a butterfly garden that, lucky me, was right outside my classroom door. As a result, I got to see some of the processes detailed here with my own eyes. That said, even I learned a thing or two here, so don't hesitate thinking you surely know all this.

We first meet Arlo when he's stuck in the container we see on the cover. The children who put him there were well meaning but it put him in danger. What kind of danger? To be simplistic, of not being able to go through metamorphosis to become a majestic monarch butterfly. Colorfully illustrated the colors and settings suggesting spring and the time of growth and rebirth, the drawings will pull you in as you enjoy the flowers and colors.  I absolutely loved that rather than just reading about Arlo, children are urged to take part in several interactive tasks, pulling them in as actual participants of the story. I found myself grinning as I imagined the books being turned upside down and shaken and the stomping and clapping the readers would so enjoy taking part in. The text is easy to read and doesn't talk down to readers, instead making them an active participant in Arlo's transformation. 

Important facts are subtly shared, such as why Arlo's initial rescue really wasn't a rescue and how to help not just Arlo but butterflies thrive. Illustrator Olga Sall did an excellent job showing us the steps, including the eventual chrysalis in different types of weather and even when, yikes, threatened by things like birds and a praying mantis. You'll also see the special kind of plant/flower caterpillar's need to gain the strength for their eventual change. It was fun to see the chrysalis being formed in different stages then follow it through the about 14 days needed for Arlo to reemerge but, oh, my, with a lovely new look. This is where the stomping and clapping come into play, btw, as children help keep Arlo safe from predators. Knowing how impatient even adults can be, I definitely appreciated the reminder that this was something Arlo needed to do on his own, so don't try to help him with his new wings. 

Bottom line, a fun guide to one of the things most of us have heard of but really not seen that manages to engage both the children's attention and participation. This would make a wonderful gift for a science teacher or anyone with an interest in such things. It's never too soon to engage children in not just being fascinated by nature but showing them how to focus that interesst. As such, kudos to the author for including a "Did you know...." type list at the end regarding the butterfly's role in our ecosystem. I didn't get the actual book, alas, just a digital copy, but there's a lovely bonus poster included with the book that shows the various stage of metamorphosis. And, yes, the milkweed flower gets lots of space for reasons you'll learn. Thank you author #CortneyCino and #WhimspireBooks for thinking of giving me this early peek at a lovely book that actually brought back some delightful ol' memories of walking through my school's butterfly garden and marveling at the love and care the children invested in it and the butterfly.

 

A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries Book 6), by T. C. LoTempio

 

Publication March 311, 2026

Where were you when the lights went out? Hopefully not with Shell McMillan. Why? Because when they came back on she was staring at a dead body. Who killed the cat show organizer? And, why?

As it turns out, there are any number of likely suspects, including the stepson. Shell, a former co-star of a popular detective show, just can't seem to help herself. She launches into a real life investigation almost immediately. Fortunately, given the tight schedule she's on at the cat show between being a vendor and showing her own Siamese cat, Kahlua, she has the help of her former co-star, Gary Presser. Nope, no romance there. Shell's boyfriend is the local police detective. There are quite a few characters coming and going, too, and since this is my first read of this series, I wasn't quite sure how many were regular characters. I did enjoy meeting most. Shell was easy to like although I did question how she managed to find time to sleuth here and there given everything else going on, including her one-eyed cat at home. Seems even her non-papered but probably Maine Coon is even entered in what is essentially a pet category, She also didn't seem to hesitate confronting suspects alone albeit Gary did manage to have her back whenever possible. As it was, many of the clues and info obtained were more a matter of being at the right place at the right time.  

Despite Shell's rashness at times, I liked her and the probably regulars. The mystery itself was intriguing with Shell practically being on the spot at the time it occurred. The suspects all seemed to have viable reasons for being on the list, too, so that was a realistic note, as was the seemingly long-suffering sheriff's sighs discovering Shell at the site of another body. While I won't detail the plot further, the background stories include everything from the family dynamics of the victim's family to cat show antics and jealousies, artists, secrets, deep secrets at that, and even rumors of forgery. Toss in Shell's trio of cats, one one-eyed, and it was an interesting read once I sorted out the characters. It obviously worked as a standalone although I think I'd have zeroed in on who was new and who was a regular faster had I read previous books. In the grand scheme of things, however, it worked well. Thanks #BeyondThePagePublishing for introducing me to Shell and the world of Fox Hollow. The cat show antics were fun for this admitted dog person and loved her cats' personalities. Hey, I've always says I'm character driven. It isn't always the human characters that pull you in, you know. Grin. 

Deadly Patterns, by Melissa Bourbonlow

 

Published 2012

Even with already crammed bookshelves, I can't resist the local library's monthly used book sale.Picked this up awhile back but only now got around to reading it. It's a mix of mystery, magic, family connections, heritage, and romance. More on the magic in a bit. Main character Harlow has moved back to the small town of Bliss, Texas, after leaving a big city design and dress shop. The magic comes in with her great grandmother, Loretta Mae Cassidy, who is ghost. They don't seem to be able to communicate well but Loretta does have a way of making her presence known. And, oh, the Cassidy name? Seems Harlow is related to Butch Cassidy. Yes, that Butch Cassidy. The one of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In any case, that heritage seems to give descendants a bit of magic. In Harlow's case it's that the outfits she designs for them creates happiness of one sort or the other. There are bunches of townspeople related to Harlow and I wish I'd have known there was a basic family tree included at the end. It would have helped me keep it straight who was who and how all were connected much faster. 

That aside, it was a quirky, fun read. It begins when Harlow goes to the historic Denison mansion to do a fitting on the town's Santa Claus for the town's Christmas event. The mystery begins when Dan, the volunteer Santa, mysteriously falls to his death from the widow's walk of the old mansion. Harlow discovers the body in a way I'm sure she'd just as rather not repeat.  Seems fake Santa Dan, wasn't as beloved as the real thing. Who'd have killed him? How? As it turns out, there are lots of suspects and Harlow finds herself unable to resist doing her own investigation, never mind there's romance blooming, or trying to bloom, with Will. 

I won't detail more of the plot as I'm sure this one is readily available at your library, but lots of twists and turns and red herrings seem designed to ruin Christmas for not just Harlow but Bliss. Bottom line, I think I may be looking for the rest of this series soon. While it was all a tad confusing jumping in on the third book with multiple characters and bits of magic scattered about the town, I liked Harlow and the seeming regulars. It's always fun to find you're stumbled across something that grabs you from the opening page. Must be part of the Cassidy magic, huh?