I’ve been away visiting family and I think there is no better time to for reading at leisure than during vacation! I read several novels this past week and this was one of them. This was a memorable one; it was both interesting yet emotional. I enjoyed it! I especially liked the character of Zinnie.

Here’s the scoop:

Will she ever see freedom for her babies?

Mississippi, 1848. It’s a bright spring morning when enslaved midwife Zinnie is forced to begin an unimaginable journey: two thousand miles on foot. Her newborn baby is strapped to her back, her two little girls holding her hands, as she walks behind the slavers’ wagons.

Every mile brings blistered feet, aching limbs and the constant terror of what might happen to her children. But Zinnie carries an unbreakable determination to protect them. When they cross state lines, could it be her chance to fight for their freedom?

Texas, present day. Elementary school teacher and single mom Lynette is exhausted, balancing work, motherhood and life-changing decisions about her future. Then, while sorting through her grandmother’s attic, she discovers a sapphire brooch hidden among long-forgotten treasures.

The brooch unlocks an extraordinary family story of courage, sacrifice and a woman who refused to give up. As Lynette uncovers the truth about her ancestors, will it have the power to change her life forever?

This utterly heart-wrenching and unforgettable novel is inspired by the true story of Biddy Mason, an African American woman and midwife who fought for her family’s freedom and saved countless lives. Perfect for fans of emotional historical fiction by Amy Harmon, Olivia Hawker and Marie Benedict.

About the Author:

Suzette D. Harrison grew up in a home where reading was required, not requested. Turning her love of reading into a rising literary career, Suzette was first published when her poetry appeared in her middle school’s creative journal. While Suzette pays homage to Alex Haley, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison as legends who inspired her creativity, it was Dr. Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings that unleashed her writing. Literally! The award-winning author is a wife and mother who holds a culinary degree in pastry and baking, and is currently cooking up her next novel…in between batches of cupcakes.

Thank you so much for having me as part of the tour and for my copy!

I’m here today as part of the blog tour for a new family drama: The House of Pearls. It was a gripping story that kept me engaged from start to finish. It reminded me a bit of a Kate Morton novel. I enjoyed it a lot!

Here’s the scoop:

A photograph of three young sisters. A forgotten pearl necklace that sends her tumbling through time…

Present day: single mother Elsa Dean is shocked when she inherits a sprawling three-storey house from her estranged uncle. Elsa hasn’t seen the golden stone façade in over a decade. Then an antique pearl necklace and a black and white photograph hidden behind a secret door in the attic sweeps her back into the past. Elsa sees her aunts, the three Merriwell sisters, each make their own terrible choice that will change their family forever…

1959: When sixteen-year-old Edie Merriwell finds herself pregnant just as her beloved mother dies suddenly, she has no-one to turn to. All she has left is her mother’s last gift: a tiny seed pearl on a delicate silver chain. She never takes it off. Her sisters could never understand. And her father is courting a new wife suspiciously quickly. Within a year, gossip about the Merriwell family will reach fever pitch, and none of the sisters will ever live in the beautiful house again.

History repeats itself at this house of pearls and lies. What really happened to Edie and her baby? Elsa has been keeping her own secrets too. Will she be brave enough to confront her tangled history and lay the ghosts of the house to rest for good?

An utterly gripping and heartbreaking tale of betrayal and a family secret that echoes down the generations. Perfect for fans of Louise Douglas, Eve Chase and Rachel Burton.

About the Author:

Ali lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and their two children. She decided she wanted to be a writer pretty much as soon as she learned the word, and attempted her first novel when she was at primary school. Ali studied English at University College, Oxford in the early 90s, then worked in educational publishing before doing a diploma in journalism at Cardiff University. She moved to London to work as a journalist and landed a job as a reporter at The Stage.
Ali began writing fiction in earnest after starting a family and moving to Abingdon. She also work part-time in publishing locally. Her son is autistic, and was diagnosed in 2011. The following year her novel Stop the Clock was published by Transworld, followed by After I Left You in 2014.

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Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

My friends at Streamroots Publishing reached out about this “new” title by an “old” author – L. Frank Baum – that most of us know from his Wizard of Oz series. Baum actually wrote quite a bit of novels for adults, and this one was first published in 1905. Now, fully restored and reprinted, here it is for 2026!

Streamroots sent me an article from Business Wire that highlights the title (full article found here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616156474/en/Dropping-the-Baum-The-Wizard-of-Oz-Creators-Secret-1905-Novel-The-Fate-of-a-Crown-Steps-Into-the-Spotlight )

Published by Streamroots Heirloom, this curated Collector’s Edition is the first authoritative typographical restoration of Baum’s overlooked novel. Set during the 1889 Brazilian Revolution, the story delivers an immersive blend of political intrigue, romance, and action-adventure.

Previous editions of this classic contained flawed digital transcriptions or low-resolution scans. Streamroots Heirloom overcomes those obstacles, transforming Baum’s work into a premium reading experience tailored for modern young adult (YA) readers.

A Restored Masterpiece

Designed for Oz collectors, history enthusiasts, and families, the 256-page volume features:

• 50+ Striking Illustrations: All-new, period-style artwork
• Educational Tools: A historical timeline, a “Who’s Who” of the Brazilian Coup, and a Reader’s Guide
• “Hidden Chapter” Archive: A QR code unlocking 1889 photos, maps, original covers, and a Restorer’s Journal

Three Expressions of a Classic

In addition to print, Streamroots has engineered uncompromised digital and audio formats:

• Definitive eBook: A DRM-free, reflowable ePub pairing beautifully with the new illustrations
• Premier Audiobook: The thriller’s first audio production, delivered in M4B and MP3 formats

“When we stumbled upon this unknown classic, the narrative took us by surprise,” said Tiffany Nesbitt of Streamroots Publishing. “By pairing Baum’s riveting craftsmanship with all-new artwork and an uncompromised digital experience, we want to give readers the thrill of discovering the unexpected side of the man who created Oz.”

Experience L. Frank Baum as never before. Claim your beautifully restored 1905 thriller in print, audio, or digital formats today at streamroots.org/the-fate-of-a-crown.

The Fate of a Crown: Brief Summary (Without the Spoiler) from the Publisher:

Seeking an escape from his predictable life in New Orleans, young American Robert Harcliffe accepts a secretarial position in Brazil working for the wealthy Dom Miguel de Pintra. But Robert quickly discovers his new employer is no ordinary businessman—he is the mastermind behind a secret republican conspiracy plotting to overthrow the Brazilian monarchy.

Thrust into a dangerous world of political intrigue on the eve of the 1889 revolution, Robert must navigate murderous spies, sudden arrests, and a household fractured by shifting loyalties. The stakes reach a boiling point when a priceless, specially cut emerald ring is stolen. As the sole key to a hidden steel vault containing the rebellion’s treasury and most incriminating secrets, its loss threatens to destroy them all.

Robert is thrown into a desperate chase to recover the emerald before the movement is exposed. With the fate of an empire hanging in the balance, who can he truly trust?

About Streamroots: Streamroots Heirloom combines meticulous historical preservation with modern technological flexibility to transform forgotten literary classics into premium, immersive reading experiences. From curated physical Collector’s Editions to DRM-free digital formats and high-fidelity audiobooks, Streamroots pioneers the future of literary preservation. Visit streamroots.org.

Here’s a link to the website: https://streamroots.org/the-fate-of-a-crown/ with more information.

If you know me, you know I love a good, captivating historical fiction story; and, being half Irish (and half Italian) I do love stories about Irish immigrants. Thus, I was drawn to read The Irish Girl by Sandy Taylor, a story that focused on a young girl who escapes a ruthless criminal in London to try to make a new life for herself. While this story focused on the main character Ivy, it was a bit of a family epic, if you like those, with lots of side characters who each had their own story as well.

Thank you for my copy and for having me on the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

In the darkest days of war, can she find a place to call home?

1939: When tragedy strikes in the East End of London, thirteen-year-old Ivy Connell and her little brother Fred find themselves orphaned. Holding Fred’s small hand, she knows she must keep him safe. So Ivy decides to leave the bombed-out streets of the city in search of the Irish village her Daddy used to tell her so many stories about.

Somehow, she’s going to get them both to Ireland…

Ivy’s heard so much about the pretty village where her Mammy and Daddy fell in love. She hopes she might find her parents’ family still living there and a home away from the bombs. On the dangerous journey, they meet other orphans – bold and adventurous Lenny Brown and clever, talkative Arthur – and they travel together across the war-ravaged country.

The friendship between the children deepens with each obstacle they overcome, and they hold onto the hope that one day they will find a place to call home.

But will Ivy be able to reach the safety of Ireland? And if she makes it there, will she be reunited with her long-lost family – or is there more heartbreak to come?

From bestselling author Sandy Taylor, comes a heart-wrenching, emotional story of the power of friendship and the importance of hope in the most difficult times. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.

About the Author:

Sandy Taylor is the bestselling author of The Irish Boarding House, The Runaway Children, The Little Orphan Girl and many other heart-warming, emotional historical fiction novels. Her books have hit the top 5 in the UK and the US charts and she has almost 100 million KU pages read across her titles.

Sandy grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist.

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I love this series about a local book club that gets involved with murder to solve the crime! The main character, Judy, is middle-aged and uses a mobility scooter, which I find unique for protagonists and I just love this aspect as I think representation is SO important for readers. While I also enjoyed book one in this series, know that each of these can be read on their own or out of order as well.

Here’s the scoop:

When the local fish and chip shop owner is found dead next to the fryer, is it a case of wrong plaice, wrong time or is a killer on the loose in the village?

Judy is reading late one night when a knock at the door disturbs her. Local teenager Megan has discovered her boss Colin, owner of local fish and chip shop The Codfather, lying dead next to the fryer. Found with the book club pick of the month at his side, surely Judy and her crime-loving book group can help?

The local police haven’t a clue, but as Judy gathers her bookish friends, they soon uncover more suspects than they bargained for. Was it John from rival fish and chip shop Salty Towers, the estranged brother who stands to inherit the family business? Or is there something fishy about Dazza, the new handyman who carries an empty toolbox? But when they both appear to have solid alibis, the book club are worried there are more red herrings in this case than they had counted on.

When another body is found, Judy realises that time is running out to crack the case before the killer strikes again. Can Judy and her book club follow in the footsteps of their fictional detective heroes to uncover the murderer before someone else is found sleeping with the fishes?

An absolutely hilarious and unputdownable new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.

This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Thanks for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

About the Author: (when I read this I can’t help but think that I’d like to be her friend! She sounds like a hoot!)

Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job – shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks – to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY.
It went on to become a No 1 bestseller and publishing phenomenon. So now Tracy has a new dream job, making people laugh and sometimes cry through her writing and has had many more novels published successfully around the world. She now lives back in Derbyshire with her now wonderful husband and two children!

Today marks our nation’s 250th birthday. I know many of my readers are located in Europe and Canada and on other continents as well, but there’s something meaningful about going back and reading the Declaration of Independence – the document that marked the beginning of our nation. If you have never read it, or if it’s been a while, do yourself a favor and take ten minutes and read it here: https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-source-collections/primary-source-collections/article/the-declaration-of-independence-july-4-1776?_gl=1*qy4kb5*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxvjRBhC2ARIsAI7KJa2yhbJevarCTNVsB7LGQf1RtDyxe6UNPffFRByxcNyCpuJ_3LC-NMIaAk-KEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADye4kEOaW9zgnLebP7CDw8Tzg7Jx

I will admit that it moves me to tears as it is so TRULY AMERICAN: a group of leaders standing up for what they knew was right and willing to fight tyranny in order to have freedom – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Many Americans take this for granted. Other Americans have died for our rights to have it. I’ll be the first to agree that our country has been sorely divided, and a house divided against itself cannot stand (*fun fact: often credited to Abraham Lincoln, who said it, it was first said by Jesus Christ in the Gospels). But I believe that from conflict can come unity, and that the principles that our Founding Fathers (and Mothers) believed so strongly in are alive and well today. I look to the future with hope for our country. I am optimistic that the foundations on which this country was built will continue to support us into the future. I have hope and much of that resides in our young people, as they are the future. So happy birthday, America! May the coming years bring peace and harmony, and may you be the beacon of liberty that our founding leaders sought and died for you to be.