Horse by Geraldine Brooks

 Horse by Geraldine Brooks My Rating: 4.6

I bet most of us have heard of Man o’ War, but have you heard of Lexington? What a story.

Set across three timelines, this book follows the incredible racehorse Lexington and the people connected to him through history. In 1850 Kentucky, an enslaved groom named Jarret forms a deep bond with a bay foal who will go on to become one of the greatest racehorses in American history. During the Civil War, their lives are turned upside down in ways that are both heartbreaking and unforgettable.

In 1954 New York, a gallery owner becomes fascinated with a mysterious equestrian painting, while in 2019 Washington, D.C., a Smithsonian scientist and an art historian begin uncovering the hidden history surrounding Lexington and the Black horsemen who helped shape racing history.

I REALLY enjoyed parts of this book… and other parts, not so much.

Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. The 2019 timeline felt very forced to me and preachy. Theo was probably the most pompous and unlikeable character in the book, and his relationship with Jess felt flat and unconvincing. Honestly, I also think the 1954 timeline could have been skipped entirely. At times this felt like three separate books mashed together, and I found myself wondering what the editor was thinking allowing such a hodgepodge to make it to print. (Brooks even managed to throw Jackson Pollock into the mix.)

Now for what I loved: the 1850 storyline absolutely carried this book for me. Jarret and Lexington completely stole my heart. Brooks beautifully captured the bond between horse and groom, along with the turmoil and heartbreak surrounding their journey. I also have to admit I was relieved that something truly horrific did not happen to Lexington - and I’ll leave it there to avoid spoilers.

Despite the parts I didn’t care for, I still definitely recommend this one for the historical storyline alone.

Thanks to shoegaljeana for the recommendation.

The Women Of Oakridge by Michelle Shocklee

The Women of Oak Ridge My Rating: 4.5

1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her struggling family. She knows very little about the work she’s been assigned—only that it will help America win the war. But all is not what it seems. Though employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing unsettling information… and then suddenly disappears. As Mae searches for answers, she uncovers a life-altering truth—one that comes at a great personal cost.

1979. Laurel Willett, a graduate student in Boston, discovers the history of Oak Ridge, where thousands unknowingly worked on the development of the atomic bomb. Intrigued—especially because her Aunt Mae once worked there—Laurel spends the summer with her, hoping to include a personal connection in her thesis. But Mae refuses to speak about her past. Instead, her friends begin to share their stories, leading Laurel deeper into a mystery involving a missing woman. As the truth unfolds, the buried pain and guilt Mae has carried for decades begin to surface—with potentially devastating consequences.

I really enjoy Michelle Shocklee’s writing, especially her historical fiction. I also appreciate that her books are wholesome and clean and free of obscenity. Like her other novels, this one taught me so much history. I had never really thought about where or how the atomic bomb was developed—or the profound impact it had on the people involved in its creation.

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

The Other Queen My Rating: 4.6

Fleeing violent rebellion in Scotland, Mary, Queen of Scots, seeks refuge with Queen Elizabeth of England. Though promised protection, she is quickly seen as a threat to the English crown and placed under house arrest as a “guest” of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his formidable wife, Bess of Hardwick.

The couple, newly married and eager to gain favor at court, believes that hosting Mary will elevate their standing. Instead, her presence drains their finances and entangles them in a dangerous web of political intrigue. As their home becomes a center of rebellion and suspicion, they begin to realize the true cost of their assignment.

Meanwhile, Mary is far from powerless. Skilled in manipulation, she draws the earl into her orbit and carefully plots her next move—determined to reclaim her Scottish throne and challenge Elizabeth for England itself.

The Other Queen is the final book in The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels and brings the series to a dramatic close. Elizabeth is portrayed as deeply insecure and driven by fear, which shapes her harsh treatment of Mary. In contrast, Mary’s resilience and ability to influence those around her - especially Shrewsbury - add depth to her character.

Reading through this series has been fascinating, especially seeing the recurring themes of ambition, betrayal, and political maneuvering during the Tudor era.

When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

When The Cranes Fly South My Rating: 5.0

Bo is running out of time—yet time is one of the few things he has left. His quiet days are marked by visits from his home care team, with his loyal elkhound, Sixten, as his constant companion. But when his son—whose relationship with Bo has long been strained—insists the dog be taken away, claiming Bo can no longer care for him, everything begins to unravel.

Faced with the possible loss of Sixten, Bo is stirred to reflect on his life, his relationships, and the imperfect ways he has shown love over the years.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I don’t give out 5-star ratings lightly. This one easily earns more—truly a 10 out of 5. Wow!

I especially love books translated from other languages, and it’s easy to see why this one received such high recognition in Sweden. It won Swedish Book of the Year, along with the Adlibris Awards for both Debut and Fiction of the Year - the first time in the awards’ history that an author has won in two categories. It’s a quiet, deeply intimate story that gently captures the process of dying, drawing you in so completely that you come to love Bo and understand his experience in a very real and personal way.

After her grandfather’s death, the author discovered notes his care team had left for the family during his final days - an experience that clearly shaped the tenderness and authenticity woven throughout this story. One of the most powerful elements is how the story moves between past and present. In one moment, Bo is fishing with his young son, seeing the admiration in his eyes - and in the next, he’s pulled back to reality as his son calls out to him, bringing both Bo and the reader back to the present in a jarring, emotional shift.

My only complaint is that this is the author's only book.

Having cared for many elderly people in their final days, this story deepened my compassion even more for what they go through. It’s a tender, beautiful book that will stay with me long after the final page.

The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano

The First Witch of Boston My Rating: 4.4

Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1646. Thomas and Margaret Jones arrive from England to build a life in the New World. Though of differing temperaments, cautious Thomas and fiery Margaret, a healer, are bound by a love that has lasted decades. With a child on the way, their new beginning promises only blessings.

But in this rigid Puritan community, appearances can be deceiving and suspicions run deep. A misplaced word or action can invite judgment, and Margaret’s bold, unguarded nature quickly sets her apart. Once seen as a gifted healer, she is soon viewed with distrust - more cunning than compassionate in the eyes of her neighbors. As personal tragedy, religious fear, and suspicion take hold, the community turns against her, threatening not only her life but the bond she shares with her husband.

This is a deeply intimate portrait of a marriage, as well as a fiercely independent woman living in a time when anything other than obedience could be dangerous. Based on the true story of Margaret Jones - the first woman convicted of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts - this novel draws from real diary entries and court records. I was completely pulled in by the love story between Tom and Maggie, as well as the vivid portrayal of life during that era. If I had lived back then, there is no doubt in my mind that I would have been convicted of witchcraft as anyone who was outspoken and believed in natural remedies was considered a witch. The fear and piosness was scary.

Audition by Katie Kumara

Audition My Rating: 4.6

Two people meet for lunch in a Manhattan restaurant. She’s an accomplished actress in rehearsals for an upcoming premiere. He’s attractive, troubling, young - young enough to be her son. Who is he to her? And perhaps more intriguingly, who is she to him? 

Told in two distinct parts, Audition unfolds through competing narratives that quietly - and then completely - rewrite your understanding of what you’ve just read. Each section is brilliant on its own, but together they create something even more powerful: a shifting, disorienting exploration of identity and perception.

The novel examines the roles we inhabit every day - partner, parent, creator, muse - and how convincingly we perform them. It asks how much of what we present is truth, and how much is carefully constructed… even to those who believe they know us most intimately.

There’s an undeniable theatrical quality throughout. At times, it feels less like reading a novel and more like watching a screenplay unfold - precise, layered, and quietly unsettling. And that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. 

This is the third book that I have read by Kitamura - all of which were quiet and lyrical so, if you are prepared for nothing to really 'happen' and simply let things unfold, you will enjoy this. I will definitely read more by her.

The McCartney Legacy by Allan Kozinn & Adrian Sinclair

The McCartney Legacy My Rating: 2.0

This book covers Paul McCartney’s life from 1969 to 1973, the years immediately following the breakup of the Beatles - a time when he was reinventing himself both personally and musically. Drawing from hundreds of interviews, extensive research, and previously unseen documents, it offers a detailed look into McCartney’s creative process and personal life after the Beatles.

This was a difficult book to rate. On one hand, by the end, I felt like I truly understood Paul. The portrayal felt balanced, sharing both the strengths and struggles of Paul, Linda, and their life together.

On the other hand, the level of detail - especially around the technical aspects of recording music - became overwhelming. The constant breakdown of how tracks were constructed felt tedious, particularly if you’re not musically inclined. At over 29 hours for the audiobook (and only Part 1), it was a bit much. I don’t think I’ll be continuing on to Part 2.

The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory

The Last Tudor  My Rating: 4.8

Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king’s half-sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner’s block, where Jane transformed her father’s greedy power-grab into tragic martyrdom.

“Learn you to die,” was the advice Jane wrote to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and fall in love. But she is heir to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and then to her sister Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a Tudor son. When Katherine’s pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister’s scaffold.

Wow. I don’t know what’s more disturbing - the ruthless scheming to place children on the throne, or the sheer brutality required to stay there. Just when I thought no one could surpass Mary, who executed so many for being of the “wrong” faith, Elizabeth emerges with a cold determination of her own - unwilling to let anyone else find happiness if it threatens her power.

The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin

The Music of Bees My Rating: 4.8

Three lonely strangers in a rural Oregon town, each working through grief and life's curveballs, who are brought together by happenstance on a local honeybee farm where they find surprising friendship, healing--and maybe even a second chance--just when they least expect it.

Forty-four-year-old Alice feels stuck - trapped in a dead-end job, grieving the sudden loss of her husband, and struggling with the reality that her life hasn’t unfolded the way she once imagined. Even her beloved honeybees, which once brought her comfort, no longer seem to help.

In the middle of a panic attack, Alice nearly collides with Jake - a troubled paraplegic teenager with the tallest mohawk in Hood River County - while transporting 120,000 honeybees in the back of her pickup truck. Drawn to his genuine curiosity and wanting to help him escape a toxic home environment, Alice impulsively invites him to spend time at her farm.

Then there’s Harry, a twenty-four-year-old battling debilitating social anxiety, desperate for work and connection. When he responds to Alice’s ad for part-time help, he’s surprised to be hired—and even more surprised by the bond that begins to form.

I really enjoyed this book - the characters were engaging, and I loved learning about how bees live and how their hives function. The discussion around pesticides was eye-opening, and I appreciated that it was handled in a way that didn’t feel preachy (I actually looked it up afterward and was surprised!). Definitely recommend.

What Kind Of Paradise By Janelle Brown

 What Kind Of Paradise My Rating: 4.7

“The first thing you have to understand is that my father was my entire world.”

Jane grows up in an isolated cabin in Montana in the mid-1990s, knowing only the small, controlled world she shares with her father. Their life revolves around a woodstove, a modest vegetable garden, and dense nineteenth-century philosophy books instead of formal schooling. Her father remains vague about their past—only revealing that they once lived in the Bay Area and that her mother died in a car accident. In the aftermath, he retreats off the grid, determined to raise Jane in what he sees as a Walden-like utopia.

As Jane enters her teenage years, she begins to question the limits of her secluded life. She longs to see more of the world and begs to join her father on his occasional trips away. But when she uncovers the truth—that her loyalty has unknowingly made her complicit in a horrifying crime—everything changes. Jane flees to San Francisco, the one place tied to her past, in search of answers about her mother and her own identity.

Set against a San Francisco when Silicon Valley was undergoing it's rapid transformation, Jane’s journey becomes both a personal awakening and a deeper exploration of a world on the brink of the digital age. As she navigates the early days of the internet, she is forced to confront the tension between connection and isolation, truth and illusion.

I’ve read several “raised in isolation by a parent” stories, so I was pleasantly surprised by how unique this one felt - kudos to the author. It blends suspense, coming-of-age, and thoughtful commentary on technology versus unplugged living. Jane is a deeply likable character, and her emotional journey felt real and compelling.

Count the Nights by Stars by Michelle Stocklee

Count The Nights by Stars My Rating: 4.2

Set across two timelines, this story weaves together mystery, history, and a quiet romance.

In 1961, Audrey Whitfield is assigned the task of clearing out the room of a longtime resident at Nashville’s historic Maxwell House Hotel after the woman suffers a devastating stroke. While sorting through the belongings, Audrey discovers an intricate scrapbook filled with memorabilia from the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Hidden among the pages are love notes written on the backs of unmailed postcards—clues that hint at a forbidden romance and unsettling secrets tied to the disappearance of young women during the exposition. Curious and determined to learn the truth, Audrey teams up with a charming hotel guest to uncover the identity of the mysterious “Peaches” and the regrets surrounding one life-changing day nearly sixty-five years earlier.

In 1897, independent-minded Priscilla Nichols refuses to settle for a conventional match and hopes to find true love. On the eve of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, she meets Luca Moretti, a confident Italian immigrant whose bold spirit draws her in. As the two explore the dazzling sights of the exposition together, their growing connection is overshadowed by a dark event that changes everything. A painful truth ultimately sends them in different directions as the magic of the night fades into morning.

This was a simple, sweet story told through dual timelines. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and the Maxwell House Hotel, which added an interesting historical backdrop to the narrative.

The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

The Virgin's Lover My Rating: 4.4

In the autumn of 1558, church bells ring across England announcing that Elizabeth I is the new queen. While the nation celebrates, one woman hears the news with dread. She is Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert Dudley, and she knows Elizabeth’s rise to the throne will draw her husband back into the dazzling Tudor court where he has always belonged.

Elizabeth’s triumph is short-lived. She inherits a bankrupt country plagued by treason and the threat of foreign war. Her advisors insist she must marry a powerful prince to secure the realm, yet the man she desires is her childhood friend, the ambitious Robert Dudley. As their bond deepens, one question lingers: could he truly set aside his wife to marry the queen? When Amy is found dead, Elizabeth and Dudley are thrust into a desperate struggle for survival.

Philippa Gregory tells much of this story from the wife’s perspective, highlighting how easily a good woman can be cast aside when ambition and power take center stage, even for a Queen. I especially appreciated this angle.

The only drawback for me was the narration. I’ve become so accustomed to the exceptional performances of Vanessa Kirby and Gemma Whelan that this narrator felt less engaging and, at times, distracted from the story.

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

The Last Runaway My Rating: 4.5

Honor Bright, a modest Quaker from England, arrives in Ohio in 1850 only to find herself isolated and unsettled in a harsh, unfamiliar land. Ill from the voyage and burdened by personal disappointment, she soon faces family tragedy that leaves her dependent on strangers in a practical and often unforgiving new world. Nineteenth-century America feels precarious and unsentimental—and deeply scarred by the ongoing injustice of slavery. Even within a faith community devoted to equality, Honor discovers that principles are not always lived out in practice.

Gradually, Honor becomes drawn into the clandestine work of the Underground Railroad, a network helping enslaved people escape to freedom. Along the way, she forms unexpected friendships with two women whose quiet courage and defiance leave a lasting impression. Ultimately, Honor must decide whether she will act on her convictions—no matter the personal cost.

This is a gentle, slow-moving novel that beautifully captures the quiet rhythms of Quaker life: gardening, quilting, canning, milking, gathering eggs, and enduring the daily challenges of frontier living (including the endless mud). I found her adjustment to a new country especially relatable, and the story thoughtfully reveals Honor’s quiet strength as it unfolds.

The only aspect I found slightly distracting was the heavy use of “thee” and “thy” among the Quakers while others spoke more conventionally. While there are stronger novels about the Underground Railroad, I still enjoyed this one—largely for its portrayal of Honor’s challenges and the gentle, detailed glimpse into Quaker life.

The Queen's Fool By Philippa Gregory

The Queen's Fool My Rating: 4.9

Winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, fourteen-year-old Hannah Green flees Spain with her father, leaving behind everything familiar. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee—she possesses the gift of “Sight,” an ability to foresee the future that becomes invaluable in the dangerous world of the Tudor court.

Adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward’s protector, Hannah is brought to court as a “holy fool,” serving first Queen Mary and later Queen Elizabeth. Though hired as a fool, she is drawn into the role of spy; though promised in marriage, she finds herself in love with her master. Surrounded by the constant threat of heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the quiet safety of an ordinary life and the perilous intrigue of the royal court—where her fate becomes inseparable from her own longings and ambitions.

Although part of the Plantagenet/Tudor series, this novel feels different because it doesn’t center on a royal figure. Instead, it follows Hannah, an outsider navigating a dangerous and fascinating world. I quickly became captivated by her courage, her desire for independence, and her struggle as she’s pulled in different directions by those with their own agendas.

Hannah is a sweet, likable character whose life is filled with trials, and I found myself rooting for her and worrying about her safety throughout the story. This was such an enjoyable read, and I’m excited to continue with the next book in the series.

The Love Of My Life by Rosie Walsh

The Love Of My Life My Rating: 3.0

Emma loves her husband Leo and their young daughter Ruby: she’d do anything for them. But almost everything she’s told them about herself is a lie.

And she might just have got away with it, if it weren’t for her husband’s job. Leo is an obituary writer; Emma a well-known marine biologist. When she suffers a serious illness, Leo copes by doing what he knows best—researching and writing about his wife’s life. But as he starts to unravel the truth, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Even her name isn’t real.

When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was . . .

But first, she must tell him about the other love of her life.

This was an entertaining, fast-paced read, but ultimately it felt more like a beach thriller than a deeply layered psychological drama. Many of the plot developments were far-fetched, requiring a significant suspension of disbelief. The twists often felt engineered rather than organic, and at times the story seemed more contrived than compelling.

While the premise is intriguing and the pacing keeps you turning pages, I struggled to fully invest in the characters or the emotional stakes. Enjoyable enough for a light read—but not one that lingers.