If you like family drama stories then The Wedding People is for you.

I had to sit with my thoughts a bit before attempting a review. I enjoyed so much I gave it 5 stars. It’s a story that stays with you.

If you follow on IG and saw my recent story where I mentioned I wasn’t sure how to feel about it let me explain. I compare it to a horrible event that you are a witness to and you can’t not look. You try not to but you keep turning your head to watch everything unfold.

Let me give you a very brief synopsis. Phoebe has decided she is done with life and books a room at the Cornwall Inn in Rhode Island. Unbeknownst to her there is an exclusive wedding (week) starting the night she checks in. Lila has put together a $1 million wedding to Gary. We follow Lila and Phoebe through the entire wedding week.

First, who has an entire week of wedding events? Second, who spends a $1 million dollars on a wedding??? I was so thrown by both aspects. If we spent over $3000 for ours (George Strait concert included) I would be surprised. And I thought it was the best day ever. Family and friends that meant something to us were there and everyone enjoyed themselves.

I was not a fan of Lila. Spoiled, bratty, and childish. For being late 20s she has so much growing up to do. I would be embarrassed to act the way she did.

Phoebe was a character that you wanted to avoid but at the same time wrap her up and promise that life is not so bad. I would love a second book and see how she fared with her decisions she made at the end.

Theresa are a lot of possible triggers in this book. Suicidal thoughts, death of a parent/spouse, death of a pet, depression, and divorce. Nothing extensive or gory.

Prepare to be immersed in a story of drama that makes you think about your own life.

The second picture is from our wedding reception when we opened the quilt my mamaw made by hand.

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What is home to you? Home was always wherever my parents were. It was the place I felt the most love. It is now where my hubby is. Wherever he is I am loved.

Vanessa’s family has a beautiful ruby ring that her great-grandfather found in France during WWII. It is handed down to the next generation at a special time. Unfortunately during a ski vacation with her daughter after her military husband died heroically she loses the ring. She never gave up hope of finding it.

Four years later after dropping her daughter off at college she stops in an antique store. There she meets Ben. A friendship develops that’s hints at more. Is she ready to move on? Will the ring find her again one day?

Military love stories never grow old in my eyes but this one hit especially close to the heart. Our state has tragically lost two young soldiers in the past month to war. Vanessa talks about losing her husband while he was deployed and you couldn’t help but be sniffly. Her daughter has a tense night when she doesn’t hear from her boyfriend who is deployed himself. The fear comes off the page which I think is fantastic writing.

This is a quick read with shorter chapters so it was perfect for the treadmill. A read that is worth reading at anytime of year not just Christmas.

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Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a love story to readers everywhere.

Takako has recently broke up with her boyfriend and to heal she moves to help her uncle at his bookshop. Takako is not a reader until she finds THE book. The book that makes her a reader.

Everyone can relate to something in this book. The thrill of staying up late into the night to read just one more chapter. The book that you read over and over again because it makes you happy. The comfort of walking into your favorite bookstore.

While this is a love letter to readers it is also a story about finding yourself.

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I won’t pretend and say this is a book I would have randomly picked and read. My county extension office book club has a requirement to read one art book a year. This was my choice.

I’m not a huge fan or art and art museums. I’ll look at art and say oh that’s pretty or what in the world??? Maybe I’m not sophisticated enough to grasp the beauty.

I found this interesting. I took copious notes (mainly so I would pay attention). I did learn a few things.

If you want to learn about art and the different periods without taking classes this is a good book to start learning.

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I can’t knit or crochet worth a hoot but sure do enjoy reading cozy mysteries centered around those hobbies. We are settling in nicely this round of cozy mystery book bingo. Week 2 was a cozy with a cat on the cover. Perfect opportunity to start this 3 book series and read a book off my own bookshelf.

Lia has moved to Crandalsburg after the death of her husband and has found a way to get to know the community and sell the creations from her old community. She sets up at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair every weekend. Her best friend runs the fair and comes under suspicion of her ex-husband’s death when he is found in the barn that holds the fair. As Lia tries to help find the real murderer her daughter returns home and agrees to help.

I am already a fan of this series and am disappointed it is only 3 books. If you like Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit and Nibble series I think you will like this as well. A cozy series set in a quaint cozy town, filled with “grandma” hobbies, and friends.

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Dinner at the Night Library upon first glance looks like a light and easy read but once you get to the end you realize how deep the story goes.

Otoha has accepted a position with the Night Library in the outskirts of Tokyo after being fired from her local library. An unfair firing. Once at the Night Library she finds a group of eclectic people with stories of their own. They all have one thing in common: they are hiding from something in their past. What they don’t realize is there is one person who believes in them…the anonymous library owner.

This could have been a quick read but I’m glad I read a chapter a day and thought on it. Each chapter seemed to have a life lesson hidden in it if you really looked. Was it a life changing read? No. Was it enjoyable? Yes. Did I learn from reading it? Yes.

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Family are the people you choose.

Liv was widowed several years ago and became the guardian of her dead husband’s daughter. She has recently left her loved job so her “daughter” can stay in high school and graduate with her friends.

An old friend is cleaning out a family home and needs books taken off his hands. Liv agrees to do so and in return finds an old dream awakening in her would. A dream to own a bookstore. With the help of friends, old and new, she learns how to receive help and open her heart again.

This is book two in the Haven Ridge series but can be read as a standalone with zero issues. I would not characterize this book as a clean Christian romance but a clean no spice romance. Plenty of heated kisses and desires. No foul language.

I have come to enjoy my time in Haven Ridge, Colorado and look forward to completing the trilogy with The Larkspur House.

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All the stars! One of the best books I have read. It pulls you and you have to claw your way out to do all the adult things that is part of life.

Be honest with yourself and admit you have at one time or another wanted to crawl into the book you were reading and escape the world around you. I know I have. At different times in my life for different reasons.

Alix has had the morning from heck. Everything that could go wrong has. Someone has stolen her identity, she loses a job, and then her humble couch in a friend’s apartment. She goes to the place where she feels safe…the library. There she opens a door and enters The Astral Library. While here she will learn the magic of writers, their books, and how other forms of creativity provide safety for those who need it.

I am not a political person and for sure don’t discuss it on my socials or book worlds. Reading is my sanctuary and safe place but you better be dang sure I will turn into a fiery monster if you try to stifle my access to books. I will always be a proponent of letting children read what interests them. Let them come to you and ask questions and LEARN! I am so thankful my mama never said you can’t read that for whatever reason. She would read with me and we would discuss. I like to think that is why I am open minded on some things and why I never had the urge to be rebellious. I was loved by an educated woman. Not because she had many degrees (she only completed one semester of college) but because she read. She fueled and feed that love into me.

I am so excited that my library @bcplinsta is hosting a reader event with Kate Quinn in April. It will be an honor to hear a literary great discuss her novel. We determined last night at our monthly Friends of the Library meeting that I will in fact be kidnapped because of books. I didn’t read the program notes I just signed up because author event. I didn’t realize we will get a book that night as part of our attendance until my friend April told me. 😆

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A lovely grown up retelling of Cinderella.

Sophie is the result of an affair between a servant and an earl. When her mother passed he kept her on as a ward but when the earl remarried his new wife wanted nothing to do with her. She became the free maid of the ladies of the house.

On one particular perfect night her fairy godmother swoops in and dresses her for the masquerade ball being held at the Bridgerton home. There she has a few beautiful hours resulting in a dance with Benedict Bridgerton. As the bells roll midnight she runs away and he is only left with a memory and a glove.

Two years later their paths cross and only Sophie knows who he is but he doesn’t know she is the woman he has searched for in life and his dreams.

This is a slow burn romance that has the right amount of spice. The ending is a delight.

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