The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

By Colleen Oakley

Berkley, 2023, 341 pgs. Fiction

After a freak accident ends Tanner's college soccer career, she must find a new place to live and something else to do with her life. Louise is recovering from hip surgery and her family is convinced that she can no longer live on her own. Tanner comes to live with Louise but soon discovers that there is more to the older woman than she thought as weird things start to happen and they find themselves on the run from the law. 

This isn't the normal kind of book I usually pick up, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Louise is someone I wish I could meet in real life. 

The Big Finish 

By Brooke Fossey

Berkley, 2020, 326 pgs. Fiction

A curmudgeonly senior who would avoid a nursing home forges an unexpected bond with his estranged granddaughter, an abused child who is rapidly succumbing to the alcoholism that once painfully overshadowed his own life.

The Blonde Identity

By Ally Carter

Harper, 2023, 304 pgs. Romance

Waking up in Paris with no memory of who she is, a young woman discovers she's the identical twin of a rogue spy and, to stay alive, must team up with a very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister's name.

The Grandmother Plot

By Caroline B. Cooney

Poisoned Pen Press, 2021, 273 pgs. Mystery

When an elderly woman is murdered in the nursing home where his grandmother resides, Freddy, who leads a life of little responsibility, is pressured by his sisters to find her a new place to live while dealing with a side hustle that could turn out to be deadly.

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How to Keep House While Drowning

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

By KC Davis

Simon Element, 2022. 151 pgs. Nonfiction

KC Davis is a therapist and has found popularity on TikTok and Instagram after posting videos of her messy house. She wrote this book as a way to teach simple strategies to handle everyday responsibilities when they sometimes feel impossible. The first thing is to change the way we think about chores and instead call them "Care Tasks".  She proposes that if you make the everyday care tasks easier, you can improve mental health faster. 

Some of the things she teaches include:

Care tasks are morally neutral
Rest is a right, not a reward
You deserve kindness regardless of your level of functioning
You can’t save the rainforest if you’re depressed
Shame is the enemy of functioning
Good enough is perfect

This book was short, easy to read, and exactly what I needed. Everything KC Davis says makes so much sense to me. It made me look at myself and my responsibilities differently. I love the idea that I can do things that make my life functional and it can look or feel different than someone else. I also like that she made me think about the shame I feel for not getting everything done. Shame gets in the way of so many things in our lives. I highly recommend this book. Her TEDx talk "How to Do Laundry When You're Depressed" is pretty good too!

If you liked How to Keep House While Drowning you may also like: 

Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control

By Dana White

Thomas Nelson, 2022, 216pgs. Nonfiction

Dana K. White is a decluttering expert and self-proclaimed recovering slob. She offers sustainable ideas to simplify and manage your home. 

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

By Rebecca Kennedy

Harper Wave, 2022. 315 pgs. Nonfiction

Dr. Becky Kennedy provides a groundbreaking guide for parents that offers a new approach to interacting with our children. It focuses more on our connections and the premise that we are all good inside, just sometimes we are a good person, having a hard time. This book doesn't have to do with organizing or cleaning, but it does take away a lot of the shame of being a parent. 

The House That Cleans Itself

By Mindy Starns Clark

Harvest House Publishers, 2013, 239 pgs. Nonfiction

Sometimes you just need to become a detective in your own house and look at your spaces with new eyes. How can you change the space to fit the behavior? Could you change a couple things to create a first impression of clean. This book presents tips and strategies for effective house cleaning and organization. 

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A Heart Worth Stealing

A Heart Worth Stealing

By Joanna Barker

Shadow Mountain, 2023. 288 pgs. Romance

The daughter of a magistrate and independent heiress, Genevieve Wilde, hires a flirtatious, handsome and unpredictable thief-taker, Jack Travers, to return her stolen pocket watch and amidst increasing attraction the pair uncover a larger plot afoot against her family.

Ginny is smart, independent and not about to stand by and do nothing when her father's pocket watch is stolen. Jack comes across as a bad boy, but he really has a heart of gold. I liked that there were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. This was a fun clean romance with just the right amount of mystery and adventure. 

To Capture His Heart

By Nancy Campbell Allen

Shadow Mountain, 2022. 283 pgs. Romance

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished photographer who often works with the local law enforcement to document crime scenes. Which means she works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. He unexpectedly asks her for a personal favor, would she be willing to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that she must also pretend that she and Nathan are courting so that Nathan can avoid the other single women at the party. Eva agrees and soon finds that the pretend feelings are turning real as they work together to catch a criminal from Nathan's past that threatens revenge on the people he loves. 

The Gem Thief

By Sian Ann Bessey

Covenant Communications, 2018. 267 pgs. Mystery

Gracie Miller has her dream job as a jewelry designer in New York City where she designed a stunning ring for a large pink diamond. When the owner comes back for some minor repairs, they discover that it is not the ring she designed and the real pink diamond is missing. The owner hires her nephew and his friend to help investigate the forgery. Soon Gracie is acting as the nephews fiancée as they try to hunt down the thief, but their pretend feelings are turning real and the danger is getting closer. 

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Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

By Jesse Q. Sutanto

Berkley, 2023. 338 pgs. Mystery

When she discovers a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, Vera Wong, a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands, calls the police but not before swiping the flash drive from the body. She then sets a trap for the killer that becomes complicated by unexpected friendships with her new customers/suspects.

Vera Wong is opinionated, bossy and totally endearing. She swoops into the lives of all of her suspects and they don't quite know what to do, so they end up doing exactly what she tells them to. She also believes she is way more qualified to solve the murder because of all the CSI episodes she has watched. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all these quirky characters. 

If you liked Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, you might also like:

The Golden Spoon

By Jessa Maxwell

Atria Books, 2023. 272 pgs. Mystery

During her annual televised baking competition on her Vermont estate, celebrated baker Betsy Martin, hailed as "America's Grandmother," finds murder in the mix when a body is discovered, and everyone is a suspect.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise

By Colleen Oakley

Berkley, 2023. 341 pgs. Fiction

After a freak accident ends Tanner's college soccer career, she must find a new place to live and something else to do with her life. Louise is recovering from hip surgery and her family is convinced that she can no longer live on her own. Tanner comes to live with Louise but soon discovers that there is more to the older woman than she thought as weird things start to happen.

Arsenic and Adobo

By Mia P. Manansala

Berkley Prime Crime, 2021. 316 pgs. Mystery

Lila Macapagal moves back home to help her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant. Soon her ex-boyfriend drops dead while eating at the restaurant and she becomes the number one suspect. Lila has no choice but to conduct her own investigation. 

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Wyoming Wild

Wyoming Wild

By Sarah M. Eden

Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. 249 pgs. Historical Romance

Hearts collide when a sheriff’s daughter asks a hardened US Marshal to join her fight for justice and rid a small town of her corrupt father.

This newest book by Sarah Eden takes us back to the town of Savage Wells. Liesel reaches out to the US Marshal living in Savage Wells to come help rid her small town of a corrupt sheriff who just happens to be her own father. John "Hawk" Hawking is one of the most respected lawmen in the West and will do whatever it takes to maintain law and order in his area. Liesel places all of her trust in someone she barely knows and together they face life and death situations in order to find justice. 

If you like Wyoming Wild, you might also like:

A Worthy Pursuit

By Karen Witemeyer

Bethany House, 2015. 341 pgs. Historical Romance

In 1891 Texas, teacher Charlotte Atherton is on the run to keep a little girl entrusted to her care safe, while tracker Stone Hammond is in close pursuit--until he learns the truth of the situation and discovers his heart may have a new pursuit.

Braced for Love 

By Mary Connealy

Bethany House, 2021. 293 pgs. Historical Romance

After his father's death, Kevin Hunt inherits a ranch in Wyoming-the only catch is it also belongs to a half brother he never knew existed. But danger follows Kevin, and he suspects his half brother is behind it. The only one willing to stand between them is Winona Martin-putting her in the cross hairs of a perilous plot and a risk at love.

Trouble With Patience

By Maggie Brendan

Revell, 2015. 330 pgs. Historical Romance 

After inheriting a dilapidated boarding house in 1866 Montana, young Patience Cavanaugh negotiates an arrangement with the rugged sheriff to make repairs--and gets more than she bargained for.

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Edward and Amelia

Edward and Amelia

By Karen Thornell

Covenant Communications, 2022. 309 pgs. Historical Romance

Amelia Kennington does not want to participate in the London Season, but as the daughter of a duke she doesn't get that option. Her older sisters and father stifle her personality, but under all of her etiquette and manners is a fiery temperament. Edward Drayton, the Earl of Norwich, has a horrible reputation as Society's most decorated rake. There are a lot of benefits to this reputation, but he is ready to move past it. Both of their lives are changed forever when Edward startles Amelia and she falls into a river. Her reputation is in danger and they are forced to marry. She can not stand Edward and he is not sure what to do with a woman who doesn't fall for his hallow compliments. He sets out to woo his wife, in all the wrong ways. 

This was a fun, clean Regency romance. There wasn't anything surprising in the plot, but I think I enjoyed it because of the predictability. I did really like Amelia as a character and enjoyed watching her find the courage to become who she truly was. It was also nice to see that Edward wasn't as horrible as Society said he was. Fans of Sarah Eden, Nancy Campbell Allen or Jennifer Moore would enjoy this book.

If you liked Edward and Amelia, you may also like: 

Miss Newbury's List

By Megan Walker

Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. 313 pgs. Historical Romance

Creating a list of ten things to do before her marriage to the Duke of Marlow, Rosalind Newbury enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, and prodigal son-turned-boxer, Charlie, with whom she falls in love, forcing her to choose between following her heart and family duty.

Promised

By Leah Garriott

Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2020. 365 pgs. Historical Romance

After the heartbreak and humiliation of a broken engagement, Margaret Brinton is determined to never allow her heart to be hurt again. But will her resolve hold when her father arranges for her to marry Lord Williams, a man who had once publically snubbed her, but who might be more than he appears?

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Good Inside

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

By Becky Kennedy

Harper Wave, 2022. 315 pgs. Nonfiction

Dr. Becky Kennedy provides a groundbreaking guide for parents that offers a new approach to interacting with our children. It focuses more on our connections and the premise that we are all good inside, just sometimes we are a good person, having a hard time. 

This book is AMAZING! Let’s be honest, parenting is tough and we all mess up, a lot! The author talks about how important it is to realize we are all “good inside” (us and our children). We need to learn to look past the bad behaviors to what feelings are really going on when someone acts out. We also need to use this with ourselves and stop living in shame and regret. This book focuses on parents, but it works for all relationships. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy self-help, have been raised by parents, are a parent, or have any kind of relationship with another human being. 

If you like Good Inside, you might also like:

The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed

By Jessica Lahey

Harper, 2015. 272 pgs. Nonfiction

Parents have a natural and understandable desire to help and guide their children past the difficulties of growing up. But Lahey is convinced that these instincts need to be reined in to allow kids to learn about consequences. They need to learn that success comes from hard work and taking chances. Children should never lose their desire to try new things and stretch themselves to the point that they may fail. But that failure can lead them to rising back up with confidence and without fear.

The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids

By Jessica Joelle Alexander & Iben Dissing Sandahl

TarcherPerigee, 2016. 208 pgs. Nonfiction

This practical book teaches six essential principles to raise happy, successful kids. The principles spell out P-A-R-E-N-T. They are Play, Authenticity, Reframing, Empanthy, No Ultimatums, and Togetherness. This book is not available as a physical book at the library but you can accessan eBook or eAudiobook through Overdrive. 

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Love Prescription

Love Prescription: Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy

By John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman

Penguin Books, 2022. 178 pgs. Nonfiction

The authors have dedicated decades of research to prove that great relationships are founded on the small stuff. This short book teaches that there are seven small things, that if done often, can transform your relationships. The steps are: 1. Make Contact, 2. Ask a Big Question, 3. Say Thank You, 4. Give a Real Compliment, 5. Ask for What You Need, 6. Reach Out and Touch, 7. Declare a Date Night.

The Love Prescription distills the Gottman's life work into a bite-size, seven-day action plan with easy, immediately actionable steps. There will be no grand gestures and no big, hard conversations. There's nothing to buy or do to prepare. Anyone can do this, from any starting point.

I like that this book offered advice that felt doable. Sometimes relationship books suggest making changes that feel huge and overwhelming. The Gottmans encourage us to make small little changes, but to do them often and consistently. It also made me feel better that two people who have studied relationships almost their whole lives, are still making mistakes and learning how to do things better. They share stories from their own lives and couples from the Love Lab to help clarify the steps. I recommend this book to anyone who would like better relationships in their lives. They focus mostly on marriage relationships, but most of the concepts apply to any type of relationship. 

If you like Love Prescriptions, you may also like: 

The 80/80 Marriage: A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship

By Nate & Kaley Klemp

Penguin Books, 2021. 218 pgs. Nonfiction

Often in marriage relationships, we feel that things need to be fair. The 80/80 Marriage pushes couples beyond the limited idea of "fairness" toward a new model grounded on radical generosity and shared success, one that calls for each partner to contribute 80 percent to build the strongest possible relationship.

5 Love Languages

By Gary Chapman

Northfield Pub, 2010. 202 pgs. Nonfiction

Dr. Chapman explains how people communicate love in different ways, and shares the wonderful things that happen when men and women learn to speak each other's language.

The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work

By Eli J. Finkel

Dutton, 2018. 329 pgs. Nonfiction

A psychology professor discusses his recent research into modern marriages and offers practical advice and long-term strategies to pursue self-discovery and personal growth and improve self-esteem along with your spouse so that happiness can thrive in your relationship.

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To Capture His Heart

To Capture His Heart

By Nancy Campbell Allen

Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2022. 282 pgs. Romance

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished photographer who often works with the local law enforcement to document crime scenes. Which means she works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. He unexpectedly asks her for a personal favor, would she be willing to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that she must also pretend that she and Nathan are courting so that Nathan can avoid the other single women at the party. Eva agrees and soon finds that the pretend feelings are turning real as they work together to catch a criminal from Nathan's past that threatens revenge on the people he loves. 

This book was pure fun to read! Both main characters were likeable and strong characters on their own. When they worked together, they respected and supported each other. I liked that Eva had a profession and was proud of it during a time when the culture for women was just starting to change. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story that kept me guessing right up until the end. 

If you like To Capture His Heart, you may also like: 

The Lady and the Highwayman

By Sarah M. Eden

Shadow Mountain, 2019. 344 pgs. Romance

Elizabeth Black is an upper class schoolteacher, which is an acceptable profession for women. She is also a very successful writer of Victorian Penny Dreadfuls, that must use the pseudonym Mr. King, to hide her identity. Fletcher Walker is a former street urchin who has turned his life around as a Penny Dreadful author. He is determined to uncover the identity of his rival Mr. King.

Hearts of Briarwall

By Krista Jensen

Shadow Mountain 2022. 280 pgs. Romance

Lydia is fascinated by the freedom afforded by the new motor cars, and Spencer is a forward-thinking entrepreneur, looking for investors to support his chain of auto-supply shops. Lydia and Spencer's love of motor cars and their quick, witty banter leads to instant romantic chemistry, but their relationship is threatened by the traditional expectations of marriage and the needs of a free-spirited woman who is determined to create her own future.

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Bittersweet

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole

By Susan Cain

Crown, 2022, 310 pgs. Nonfiction

The author of the best-selling Quiet discusses how a bittersweet state of mind can actually be a kind of silent energy that aids us in overcoming our personal and societal suffering.

I like how Susan Cain's books help us look at common, sometimes negatively perceived emotions in a different, more positive way. This book explores the tendency many of us have to be in a state of longing, poignancy and sorrow. Why we sometimes gravitate to songs in minor keys or a touching television commercial. Once we can realize that all humans know - or will know - loss and suffering we can turn toward each other and we can turn our own pain into something good. This book also helped me understand the feelings of deep sorrow and overwhelming joy that I can feel at the same time. I've noticed this a lot as my children have gotten older. I will be in the middle of an experience with my kids, like reading a bedtime story, and feel so happy in the moment but also feel sad because I know my kids are getting older and I might not have many more chances to snuggle and read to them. 

If you like Bittersweet, you might also like: 

The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward

By Daniel H. Pink

Riverhead Books, 2022. 240 pgs. Nonfiction

Drawing on research in social psychology, neuroscience and biology, as well as true stories and practical takeaways, this book lays out a dynamic new way of thinking about regret to help us live richer, more engaged lives.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

By Brene Brown

Hazelden, 2010. 137 pgs. Nonfiction

Brown explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an 'imperfect' life and embracing living authentically. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, she provides ten 'guideposts' that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty-- a perfectly imperfect life.

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Best-Laid Plans

Best-Laid Plans: A Huntresses Regency Romance

By Sarah M. Eden

Covenant Communications, 2022. 125 pgs. 

Newton Hughes has long dreamed of pursuing a career in law, an acceptable choice for a gentleman of status and wealth. His parents, however, disapprove of his ambition, urging him instead to take his rightful place as a gentleman of leisure. Ellie Napper would like nothing more than for her parents to abandon their incessant efforts to marry her off to the greatest possible advantage. When Ellie and Newton are introduced through their mutual acquaintance, Charlie Jonquil, they commiserate over their shared plight. In desperation, they hatch a plan: Ellie and Newton will feign an interest in each other--enough to convince their parents not to push them toward unwanted matches but not enough to cause whispers or expectations. Their plan quickly spirals out of control, especially once they start to fall in love for real. 

This was a fun, quick read! Sometimes a novella is the perfect thing when I'm short on time, but need to escape the real world for a little bit. The side characters in this book are actually main characters from Sarah Eden's Jonquil and Lancaster series. It's always fun to go back in to this world and get to see the characters from a different perspective. Although this was a short novella, it still was a very satisfying story. 

If you like Best-laid Plans, you might also like

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas

By Anita Stansfield, Esther Hatch, Sarah Eden, & Joanna Barker

Covenant Communications, 2019. 290 pgs. 

This collection of short stories is perfect for the Christmas season. The stories were long enough to get to know the characters but short enough that I could fit them into my crazy Christmas schedule. This would be great for anyone looking for a collection of feel good Christmas romances. The best thing is that they can be read any time of the year!

Proper Scoundrel

By Esther Hatch

Diana Barton is a single woman who owns two railroad lines. She doesn't have patience for all the suitors who waste her time and are only after her wealth. She comes up with a plan to ask the most notorious rake in London, Lord Bryant, to ruin her reputation to scare off all the suitors. 

Otherwise Engaged

By Joanna Barker

Rebecca Rowley feels stifled by society and finds ways to quietly and not so quietly rebel. Riding bareback is one of her secret joys but she soon has a much bigger secret as she tries to hide her engagement to the one man her family would never approve of. After saving the life of a young girl on a neighboring estate, she draws the attention of the older brother, Lieutenant Avery. Since he is a naval man and not interested in marriage, Rebecca and Lieutenant Avery form a friendship that turns both their worlds upside down. 

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In Honor's Defense

In Honor's Defense

by Karen Witemeyer

Bethany House, 2022. 376 pgs. Romance

When her brother dies suddenly, Damaris Baxter moves to Texas to take custody of her nephew. Luke Davenport winds up gravely injured when he rescues Damaris's nephew from a group of rustlers. As suspicions grow regarding the death of her brother, more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.

This is the third book in the Hanger's Horsemen series and probably my favorite so far! I liked that Luke got his own story. He's had a rough past and struggles with believing anyone would want him. Damaris starts out so timid and has to keep forcing herself to do things she doesn't think she can. I like how these two learn to support and encourage each other and to open their hearts to love. 

If you like In Honor's Defense you may also like: 

Secrets of My Heart

by Tracie Peterson

In 1879, reunited with childhood friend and lawyer Seth Carpenter, recently widowed Nancy Pritchard must search through the pieces of her loveless marriage for the truth behind her husband's death after his schemes come to light. But as they pursue answers, their feelings create complications, and dark secrets reveal themselves.

A Cowboy for Keeps 

by Jody Hedlund

After being robbed on her trip west to save her ailing sister, Greta Nilsson is left homeless and penniless. Struggling to get his new ranch running, Wyatt McQuaid is offered a bargain--the mayor will invest in a herd of cattle if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying...and the mayor has the perfect woman in mind.

Braced for Love 

by Mary Connealy

After his father's death, Kevin Hunt inherits a ranch in Wyoming-the only catch is it also belongs to a half brother he never knew existed. But danger follows Kevin, and he suspects his half brother is behind it. The only one willing to stand between them is Winona Martin-putting her in the cross hairs of a perilous plot and a risk at love.

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