No matter how many Frieda McFadden books I read or listen to I am always surprised by the twists. One I figured out right before it happened but one I never saw coming.

This book will make you want to keep your kids where you can see them at all times and tell them to be very careful of whom you trust.

A fast paced audiobook that was perfect to listen to while working.

😭😭😭

I went into this #audiobook blind. I realized it was leaving #audible on July 1st and I needed to listen to it. It was so good. I found every reason yesterday and this morning to listen. So many emotions.

Military veteran Cam returns home at the request of his father who has early onset Alzheimer’s. He returns home to a town who hates him for things in his past when he was a child. Cam returns home to the woman he has secretly loved for years, Willow.

This book takes you on every emotional journey. Definitely a top ten of 2025 for me.

My husband is happy I finally finished this audiobook. I walked around doing housework with my headphones in as one does on a hot summer day and three times I screamed loud enough to deafen said hubby when he tapped me on the shoulder. I warned him you should never do so when the wife is listening to an audiobook book about a wife murdering her husband. The look on his face was priceless.

I agree with previous reviews that this had feelings of Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart, Psycho, and other similar movies but I still found myself shocked when the twist came. Well, when both twists came.

Lucy returns home to coastal Virginia to talk with her incarcerated father and get closure. What she didn’t expect was to run into her old flame. Summer heats up in more ways than one with this second chance romantic mystery.

My library only had the audiobook and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed listening to it. The narrator did great work on capturing the emotions of all characters.

It’s fall in Indiana but even more exciting is it is Baby time. Robbie is finally having her bundle of joy after nine months of waiting. As she is preparing her home and restaurant for when she is off on maternity leave a stranger enters her restaurant and instantly Robbie is on alert. Both her aunt and the mayor act strange about his presence. Before Robbie can tell her aunt the stranger was looking for her he is found dead in her aunt’s field. Can Robbie save her aunt or will the newest family member get to know Great Aunt Adele through prison bars?

This book has so many happy moments along with a few tense moments. The mystery flowed perfectly and moved along a great pace. The ending left a lot of change coming and I’m excited to see how those changes unfold.

Just when you think you know, you don’t.

I enjoy how FM makes you think one thing, then another, and by the end you are as confused as a rat in a maze.

Brooke survived a horrific attack eleven years ago and has been raising her son on her own for ten years. She has moved back to her hometown after the death of her parents. She moved back into their house, with her childhood best friend still living next door, and her ex-boyfriend from her teens as in inmate in the prison she is now working. All that has brought back the memories from that night. Her problem is that she isn’t sure if what she remembers and what she testified to was the actual truth. Life and love have a way of convincing you that maybe you were wrong. Was she?

This was a great read that kept me hooked until the very last sentence. I’m still in shock.

Warning: this book will have you running to the store for all things cheese.

Willa has finally opened her cheese shop in Yarrow Glen, California which is smack dab in the middle of wine country. What’s more perfect than wine and cheese? Willa holds a cheese class for several local merchants and all is going well until the food critic, who is several hours late, shows up drunk and rude. Later that night Willa finds him dead in the alley with one of her cheese knives in him. Is her shop and reputation ruined before she has a chance?

I’m already in love with this little town and am sad I know I only get six visits. I want to know the detective’s story and why Willa always says she had a brother. I want to learn more about cheese as that is a must-have staple in our house. This book had a recipe for a fake Croque Monsieur that sounds divine.

The book flowed well and the mystery had me stumped until the reveal. The addition of a pet fish refreshing instead of having a dog or cat.

I will be returning to Yarrow Glen sooner than later.

Was the teacher killed because she was grumpy and opinionated or did have a secret life?

This cozy mystery had plenty of twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages long into the night. Daisy and crew has been hired to host a teacher appreciation tea at the high school. All is going well until the counselor and Daisy find the very opinionated Althea floating in the school pool. While Daisy is working on finding out who is responsible for the ghastly act she is also hosting her youngest daughter’s new friend for a couple of weeks. It is not without ups and downs. Daisy finds herself trying to help the young girl with a touchy situation.

And, let’s not forget flaky Jonas, Daisy’s boyfriend. What is his problem? I get it, he suffered a horrific loss of his girlfriend/partner and their unborn baby, he has beef with the local detective but geez he takes it out on Daisy with his hot and cold affection. At times I feel Daisy needs to move on until he comes to terms with his past but then when he is “on” he is perfect for her. Hopefully, he will make the decision to live in the present and treat Daisy like she deserves.

Daisy has a big heart but it sure gets her in some pickles. I was happy to see her and her mother are continuing to work on their relationship. It seems to give Daisy a bit of peace she was missing.

I know there are plenty of mixed reviews on this book. Either you love it or hate it. I loved it.

I am one who enjoys epic family sagas (think The Thornbirds) and you kind of get that with the Ives story. You have the rom-com moments we all enjoy between Alice and Hayden. There is suspense and build up. Plenty of mid-level spice.

The last 15% of the book had me in my feels and boo-hooing silently. The pain Alice felt was expertly written. I felt it to my core. It made me wish I could go hug my own mama and not let go.

There is a surprise that is revealed that I had a thought about but then it went away and then bam you are smacked by it.

For me, this book was perfection.

It’s my favorite season of the year, autumn, as we join Sophie and crew for their 18th mystery. Usually by now if a series has went on this long I’m frustrated and tired with the characters but Krista Davis has kept this series fresh with each new mystery.

In Old Town, Virginia there is a new social media craze of posting your stylish brunch. It seems the parties have increased the need for interior designers as one must update their dining room for their brunch. One designer feels she is being stalked and asks Sophie for help. Unfortunately, the designer’s partner is found dead. Can Sophie find out what happened before her funeral becomes the next brunch?

I enjoy how each chapter begins with a Dear Sophie or Dear Natasha question and answer. Some I have found useful. The recipes at the end of each book are interesting and sound yummy. At the end of this book there several sweet breakfast options.