Jenn McKinlay is an author I just dive in without reading the blurbs and boy was this a great surprise. I love books about love! Romance is a genre that is making a splash lately and I am here for it. Romance books have always been a part of my life. Both my mama and mamaw read romances. Of course theirs were the Zebra novels that had the covers we teenaged girls tittered about behind hand covered faces.

Hannah rolls into Outer Banks with Buttercup (Van) and Dude (dog) and plans on setting up a permanent home in the beach house her Pops left her. Until she is rudely interrupted by Simon, the other owner of the house. He inherited his portion from his Gramps. What transpires as they learn about the past and each other is truly beautiful.

This is the second book* that talked about finding your community. I believe that is so important and something that is happening less and less. I can remember growing up and we knew our neighbors, watched out for each other, and showed up to help in a crisis. I hope that is something we see come back.

There is still plenty of summer left to grab your floatie and umbrella drink of choice and float away as you read about love.

*The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow by Vannetta Chapman.

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A Court of Silver Flames engulfed my entire being this week. I had started it once before and put it down and one day last week I picked it back up because I want to read Fourth Wing (I know completely different series) this month. I truly believe a book has to hit you at the right time. This was the right time.

Nesta has been my least favorite character since book one. I actually hated her at one point. Now, she is my favorite. You learn so much about her that makes you understand why she is the way she is. She really does care for others, she just doesn’t think she deserves to be loved and cared for by others in return. Sometimes we all get so far in our own heads that we cannot see the love surrounding us.

I highly suggest you read the acknowledgments as you will get more understanding of the book as well. This book has so much feeling and grit it jumps off the page. It is 751 pages of emotion that will de thaw the iciest of hearts.

It took me two years to read this series as romantasy has never been a genre I lean towards but my book loving heart is already looking into more. I can’t wait until October when book 6 releases.

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OUT TODAY: Through the Valley had me experiencing all the highs and lows right there with Miri and Tabitha. I had to be careful not to bend the cover from the angst I was experiencing.

If you have read the two books (Green Pastures and Still Waters) previously you will remember Tabitha is the local veterinarian who was Amish, went English, and back to Amish when she divorced her English husband. Due to Amish belief she can’t remarry until her ex dies but that doesn’t stop her from developing a friendship with Jonas. It’s all fine and dandy until they both realize they want more. There is a scene in the last part between these two that rivals any other swoony love scene (rated G) in the melting of hearts.

Miri has always been the tomboy and her love for farming is not a normal experience in the Amish world. Women are to work inside the home and do womanly things. Miri can’t cook nor sew and neither does she want to do those things. She wants to be outside working the cattle from sunup to sundown. She is gifted a farm but this gift has torn the community apart. Half of the community thinks she bamboozled an elderly man in his last days. Unfortunately the family of the older man is also torn. All but Moses thinks Miri swindled his grandpa. As Miri and Moses work the farm together feelings develop. Will the farm get in the way of God’s plan for these two?

This book can be read as a standalone but you will get more out of the series reading it in order.

I received a complimentary copy from the author with no requirement to write a positive review. The above review is in my own words.

This book paired very nicely with my brother’s homemade peach cobbler.

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The Women in White is a dual timeline book between present day and 1964. Riley is trying to start over after a divorce from a gambling addict where they lost everything. She applies as a caregiver to Betty because the job offers room and board. What Riley didn’t expect was to walk back in time. Betty’s house is a time capsule of the 1960s. Betty has a secret past that no one knows about and not even the neighbors know Betty. She was part of an experiment in the 1960s that went horribly wrong.

This was my first book by the author. I enjoyed the story as it kept me engaged and thinking about the plot even when I wasn’t reading. I felt like there were a few holes that could have been tied up better but it didn’t take away from the story completely.

I am horrified by what these women experienced. I can’t imagine being treated the way they were. At times I felt myself on the verge of hyperventilating thinking about my eyes being covered, locked in a dark basement, and not knowing what was happening.

Overall, a good psychological thriller.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher with no requirement to write a positive review. The review above is in my own words.

Side note: Louisville friends make sure you get some sweet potato pies from @georgiassweetpotatopieco It is always a decadent treat when I visit the farmers market. They now have a dessert lounge on Bardstown Road.

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July Wrap Up 🇺🇸⚾️☀️🎆🎇

16 books total, 0 DNF

78 books donated/given to others

5 books (kindle/physical) of my own read

Reviews of most books on my blog. www.kentuckybooklover.com

B Borrowed from friend/family

L  Library

KO  Kindle Owned

O  Physical Owned

EL  E-library (Libby/Overdrive/Hoopla)

AB  Audiobook 

KU  Kindle Unlimited 

NG NetGalley

ARC Advanced Reader Copy 

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I think the ending has me in shock 😳. I spent the entire book in a rage.

Emily is engaged to Adam after a mere few months of dating. Her first meeting of his mum didn’t go exactly as well as she had hoped but she is willing to try to find common ground with his mum because she loves him. What follows is a game of cat and mouse but who is the cat and who is the mouse?

There are a few triggers in this book so if you want to read it but want to know them send me a message and I’ll let you know.

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I spent about 4 hours culling out 70 books from these four bookcases. I am slowly trying to get this room back in order. Seems like every time I do a life changing event happens and it becomes the catch all spot. I still need to weed more but that was enough for today.

Do you find it hard to part with books you have read? I do but I think I’m getting to the age that I need to start letting go.

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One Golden Summer confirms Carley Fortune is now an auto buy author for me. Every book I have read so far has touched my soul. Family, friends, and love are all integral parts of the stories.

This book is the second book set in Barry’s Bay and we get Charlie’s story as an adult. There is more to Charlie than we ever thought and he has found his match in Alice. A photographer at heart she sees the soul of Charlie. With the help of Alice’s Nan will Charlie be able to let himself fall into forever love?

Nan is a hoot. She steals quite a few scenes especially when her and Charlie are left alone together. I hope when I’m in my eighties I have the spunk Nan started and ended the with in the book.

Again grab your drinks and comfy chair because once you start you will find it hard to leave Barry’s Bay.

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Would you “reimagine” your life if you could?

This is what Jade Morrow does for a living. She takes famous women and reimagines their life in her novels. Example: Jackie Bouvier Kennedy. What if she had not attended the party where she met John F. Kennedy and stayed home to write her article? Would they have met at a different time? Would they have eventually married? Jade decides to move to a small town in Texas where her parents retired to and passed. She is a loner and is not used to the friendliness of a small town. In NYC you didn’t even know your neighbors. After a terrifying accident Jade finds herself surrounded by people who truly care about her and she wonders what her reimagined life could be.

I don’t think I would want to reimagine my life. Every choice has lead me to a life I love. Being a caregiver to both parents their final years was the hardest thing I have ever done but the most rewarding. I wouldn’t want to not have that experience. Plus I would be afraid my reimagined life wouldn’t have my wonderful hubby. He is my person in all the ways.

This book was one I completely fell into. I felt like I was in the Texas town of Shelby and was sitting on the front porch listening to Jade talk. It would take a few seconds to re-acclimate to my real life.

A list of all the books referenced is included which made my book loving heart very happy. A lot I have read but a few new to me authors were learned.

If you want a book that has light faith references, clean reading, and a book to move your heart The Reimagined Life of Jade Morris is your next book to pick up.

I received a complimentary copy from the author with no requirement to post a positive review. All thoughts above are my own from my reading experience.

Release day: 7/23/2026. Available at your favorite retailer. Ask your library to order a copy.

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The Devil You Know is book two of the Dr. Jane McGill series. I have enjoyed both books as it is completely different than her psychological thrillers. They are more contemporary fiction.

Dr. Jane is now married, a mom, living on Long Island, and working for the VA. Her and her husband are having a rough patch due to parenting and busy jobs. Jane is frustrated and sometimes fantasizes what her life would have been like if it had worked out with Dr. Reilly. Then one day Dr Reilly shows back up in her life. Jane is at a crossroads. What should she do?

My biggest complaint about the book is the ending. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to think. Did it or didn’t it? I will never know!

If you read this let me know your thoughts on the ending.

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