Audiobook Review: Red Lily by Nora Roberts

Red Lily
Author: Nora Roberts
Narrator: Susie Breck
Series: In the Garden (Book 3)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (June 10, 2008)
Length: 10 hours and 34 minutes

Description: A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night...

Hayley Phillips came to Memphis hoping for a new start, for herself and her unborn child. She wasn't looking for a handout from her distant cousin Roz, just a job at her thriving In the Garden nursery.

What she found was a home surrounded by beauty and the best friends she's ever had - including Roz's son Harper. To Hayley's delight, her new daughter Lily has really taken to him. But to Hayley's chagrin, she has begun to dream about Harper - as much more than a friend.

If Hayley gives in to her desire, she's afraid the foundation she's built with Harper will come tumbling down. Especially since she's begun to suspect that her feelings are no longer completely her own.<

Flashes of the past and erratic behavior make Hayley believe that the Harper Bride has found a way inside of her mind and body. It's time to put the Bride to rest once and for all, so Hayley can know her own heart again - and whether she's willing to risk it...

My Thoughts: The final novel in the In the Garden trilogy stars Hayley Phillips and Harper Ashby. Hayley had come to her distant cousin Roz when she found herself pregnant and shortly after the death of her father. She was looking for a new start and found it with family and by getting involved in the nursery business. 

She fell in love with Roz's son Harper, but she was either pregnant or a new mother. Besides Harper doesn't seem interested in her. However, Harper had fallen in love with her too and was taking things slow until he felt Hayley had caught up with his feelings. 

But, behind the scenes, the Harper Bride ghost is becoming more visible and more dangerous. She has graduated from singing to the Harper babies to threatening family members. And lately she has taken to taking over Hayley's body and wants to take over her life. 

For a happy ending for Hayley and Harper, the people of Harper House - Roz and her new husband Mitch and Stella and her new husband Logan - need to discover what it is the ghost wants and how they can finally lay her to rest.

This was another great story. Roberts is an expert at relationships and especially friendships between women. She is also excellent at romances that are very realistic. This one certainly qualified. 

I bought this one March 11, 2026. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner

Still See You Everywhere
Author: Lisa Gardner
Series: Frankie Elkin (Book 3)
Publication: Grand Central Publishing (March 12, 2024)

Description: In this “frightening, full of twists, and completely satisfying" thriller from a New York Times bestselling author, three women: a kidnapped young girl, a serial killer on death row, and a recovering alcoholic, are on a terrifying trajectory to save a life before the clock runs out (Karin Slaughter).

Missing persons expert and nomadic loner Frankie Elkin travels the country searching for the lost ones the rest of the world has forgotten. Her specialty, cold cases that typically end in tragedy. But this one could be different. Kaylee Pierson, “The Beautiful Butcher,” confessed from the start to enticing 18 men home before slitting their throats.

As the clock winds down to her death, Pierson has finally received a lead on her baby sister, abducted years ago. Kaylee’s dying wish: to know Leilani is safe and sound. Frankie is eager to possibly rescue a teenage girl, even if it involves flying to a remote atoll in the Pacific, where a charming tycoon is constructing an eco-resort—and possibly holding Leilani against her will. But now Frankie is trapped on an island with a dozen strangers and numerous deadly deceptions.

As the danger mounts, Frankie faces her toughest challenge with no chance of rescue, no hope of escape, and a massive storm rolling in…

My Thoughts: Frankie Elkin's next case takes her to an empty atoll south of Hawaii in search of the sister of a woman on death row who proudly acknowledges that she murdered eighteen men and fed their remains to her pigs. Kaylee Pierson, the Beautiful Butcher, wants Frankie to find her younger sister before she dies. Her only clue is a note indicating that Leilani is with Kaylee's abusive ex-boyfriend.

Sanders MacManus is a tech billionaire turned property developer. He is also Kaylee's ex. He's developing an atoll he owns into an eco-friendly resort. Frankie gets a job as a general go-fer on the atoll and begins her investigations. 

The project is being plagued by accidents but the crew - a bunch of introverts and misfits - are still trying to complete the project. Mac is scheduled to arrive with his ward Leilani which will give Frankie a chance to assess the situation. After some previous bad cases, Frankie needs a win and rescuing Leilani would certainly qualify. 

Things are not as they seem. A major storm hits the atoll, the Beautiful Butcher escapes from prison leaving her lawyer who happens to be Frankie's contact beaten near to death making the atoll her destination, and Leilani is not the victim she appears to be. 

As Frankie deals with the weather and the twists and turns and betrayals on the island, she isn't sure who she can trust in this action-packed thriller. Frankie is an intriguing character who is an alcoholic with an obsessive need to find the lost. She has little regard for her own safety as she tries to make things right. 

I bought this one July 8, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman

Liar's Creek
Author: Matt Goldman
Publication: Minotaur Books (April 21, 2026)

Description: From New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Matt Goldman comes Liar's Creek, which asks how far we'll go to protect the people we love.

Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant.

Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After twenty years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his twelve-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever.

But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle―and that the rest of the family might be next.

My Thoughts: Clay Hawkins has come back to his hometown of Riverwood, Minnesota, along with his 12-year-old son Braedon. He left right after high school, attended West Point, served in the military and then had a successful career playing professional soccer. 

He is slated to begin a new job as soccer coach for his alma mater, a local private school. He is trying to rebuild his relationship with his father who has recently left his job as the Chief of Police. The two have had a difficult relationship all of Clay's life. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Clay was born and battled it until her death when Clay was about 10. Clay feels that his father blames him for the loss of the love of his life. And Clay and his father Judd have little in common. Clay doesn't hunt, he didn't play sports his father could understand, he preferred reading to outdoor activities. Clay is a fly fisherman while his father prefers other fishing. The one thing they have in common is their love for Braedon who is enthused about hunting and fishing with his grandfather.

The Hawkins men all have to come together when Clay's Uncle Teddy disappears. Judd's fraternal twin has been a screw-up all of his life and Judd has spent a lot of his life picking up after him. Now he's missing and Judd doesn't want to go to the new Chief of Police to ask for help. He's depending on his own investigations and that of two of the police force who are his loyalists. 

Clay is willing to go to Zooey Jensen who is the new Chief. She's an interesting woman who is half-Dakota and who has recently moved to Riverwood from a similar job in Northern Minnesota. Clay is interested in her as a woman and as an investigative partner. She's quirky and she's smart and she has a history that she isn't eager to share. 

Clay has an interesting past of his own. He was an employee of American Intelligence while he was playing soccer in Europe and had his cover blown which is why he decided to come home now. 

As the investigation continues. lots of secrets are revealed. This was an engaging story. I loved the Minnesota setting since the story takes place near where I lived and worked for twenty years. I also like Clay's character and especially his relationship with his son Braedon. I liked Braedon's part of the story and his role in its resolution. I also like Judd's part of the story as he works toward a better relationship with his son.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Sparking Fire Out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer

Sparking Fire Out of Fate
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Narrator: Cecily Bednar Schmidt et al.
Series: Forging Silver into Stars (Book 3)
Publication: Bloomsbury YA (January 27, 2026)
Length: 13 hours and 50 minutes

Description: Broken loyalties. Uncertain fates. Two kingdoms hanging in the balance... The exhilarating finale in bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Forging Silver series will leave fans breathless!

Callyn has grown closer to Queen Lia Mara in Syhl Shallow, bonded by the secret magic they share. But their magic can stay hidden only so long, especially when a dangerous plot on the Queen’s life forces Callyn to work with the man who betrayed her.

In Emberfall, Tycho and Jax are struggling to rebuild their connection after months apart, complicated when they learn of Truthbringers causing trouble at the borders. Sent to investigate together, Jax and Tycho soon discover that the rebellious faction has formed a devil’s bargain with the magical scravers to destroy human magic once and for all.

When their missions bring them together, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn find themselves facing threats from all sides. With one last chance to save their magic and their kingdoms, they must work together, or lose everything.

War has erupted. Love is tested. And without sacrifice, magic could destroy everyone...

My Thoughts: This was the concluding story in the Forging Silver into Stars trilogy. The characters who were separated in book 2 are reunited in this episode. While I did think that the teenage angst got a little thick, I did enjoy this story. 

The worldbuilding was done well in this series. I liked the magical system. As usual in epic fantasy, discoveries are made, betrayals happen, and right triumphs. 

I bought this one February 18, 2026. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

Thistlemarsh
Author: Moorea Corrigan
Publication: Berkley (April 21, 2026)

Description: Faeries disappeared over one hundred years ago, as suddenly as slipping through a doorway. It was only the very foolish, or the very determined, who held out hope for their return.

Welcome to Thistlemarsh—a ramshackle estate where an impoverished orphan and a beguiling Faerie collide in an enchanting novel of love, revenge, and ruin.

In the wake of The Great War, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Mouse Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams.

When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s offer: If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother.

It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh...for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.

My Thoughts: This historical fantasy takes place after World War I and in a world where the faeries disappeared 100 years earlier. Mouse Dunne was raised in a faerie-blessed home but wasn't a cherished child. Her mother ran away with the gardener, was disinherited, and died leaving the family in distress until her uncle invited them to live at Thistlemarsh. There Mouse and her brother Roger grew up with their cousin Bertie. However, when the boys were away at Eton, Mouse was confined to an attic room and was neglected. Her only solace was working in the garden with the old groundskeeper Mr. Hobb.

Then World War I came. Bertie and Roger enlisted. Bertie was killed by a bomb and Roger suffered from extreme shellshock. Mouse left her home and traveled to the continent to take care of her injured brother. When she learned that she had inherited Thistlemarsh after her uncle's death, she had to go home to claim her inheritance. However, there were conditions. One of them is that she has to restore Thistlemarsh in only 30 days or else the estate and the income she needs to take care of her brother will all go to the Honorable Anthony Carlyle who has been her enemy and the enemy of her brother and cousin too. 

She must try to restore Thistlemarsh but she can't do it alone. When a faerie named Thornwood offers a bargain, Mouse is forced to accept but has great reservations. She once wanted to be a faerie anthropologist and knows that faerie bargains can't be trusted. 

As the two work to restore Thistlemarsh, they have to deal with magic woven into the house which is resisting their efforts. There are lots of magical adventures. Along the way, Mouse falls in love with Thornwood, but their romance faces many obstacles including the long-missing faerie king. 

This was an excellent romantic fantasy. I liked the way the magic was woven into the real world that is trying to recover from World War I and the devastation it caused. I liked Mouse's determination to do anything for her brother's recovery. I liked all the magic. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (April 13, 2026)

 It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

I'm writing this on a rainy, foggy Sunday morning. The rain is melting some of the remaining snow, but we still have quite a bit of snow in the shaded areas. The front yard is 2/3 clear but the backyard still has substantial drifts. Our high temperature today is forecast to be 61 degrees, but it is only 41 degrees now so I'm doubtful. The rest of the week has rain in the forecast and temperatures ranging from 45 to 61, That should take care of a lot of the remaining snow. 

I had a good reading and listening week last week. I finished the massive This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me and listened to two other audiobooks too. I also finished four review books. I thought I had finished all of April's review books and May 5th's releases until Friday when an April review book I had requested months ago was finally approved. This 512-page chunkster is the 19th book in a fantasy series I've been reading since the first book in 2018. I moved things around on my calendar and started reading it right away.

I almost escaped the Audible Sale without buying, but I fell into temptation when two cozy series I enjoy offered books for less than $3. I added seven new titles and put them on my calendar right away. I may not get to some of them until July, but I'm determined to get to them in 2026.

This coming week is a little bit busier than usual for me. I start the week early on Monday with lab work for six different blood draws. Tuesday, my brother and I are going out to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate his 69th birthday which was last Friday. He has a birthday coupon. Then on Thursday I have a scheduled CT Scan. It shouldn't take long but it does mean a trip downtown to the Radiology department and parking in a ramp. My brother will drive me to that one.

Around those things, I have audiobooks and Kindle books on my stack including my two May 12 review books. There are also Braves ball games to watch most days. 

Read Last Week

• A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon (Review, May 5) -- This contemporary cozy mystery stars a woman who comes back to her hometown and solves a murder. My review will be posted on April 28.
• This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since March 31) -- This epic fantasy is the first in the Maggie the Undying series. My review will be posted on April 24.

• Obsession in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, Mine since December 1, 2023) -- 40th book in the In Death series. My review will be posted on April 28.
• Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh (Review, May 5) -- Finale of the Guild Hunters series. My review will be posted on April 30.
• Griffin Speaker by Jan M. Flynn (Review, May 5) -- This middle grade fantasy was filled with intrigue and magical creatures. My review will be posted on May 5.

• Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts (Chirp Audiobook, Mine since April 6, 2025) -- Classic romantic suspense by a favorite author. My review will be posted on April 30.
• I, Spy by L. M. Kemp (Review, May 5) -- First in a new series which combines espionage with women's fiction. My review will be posted on April 29.

Currently

• Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner (Audiobook, Mine since April 1)
• Cast in Blood by Michelle Sagara (Review, April 28)

Next Week

• Owlflight by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon (Chirp Audiobook, Mine since March 15)
• The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (Review, May 12)
• The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher (Review, May 12)

• When You See Me by Lisa Gardner (Audiobook, Mine since March 20)
• Rules of the Game by Nora Roberts (Audiobook, Mine since March 13)
• An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong (Review, May 19)

Reviews Posted

• Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer (Audiobook)
• Black Rose by Nora Roberts (Audiobook)
• Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn (Review copy)

• The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown (Review copy)
• Naked Came the Phoenix edited by Marcia Talley (Mine)
• Fire Must Burn by Allison Montclair (Mine)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Cast in Blood by Michelle Sagara (Review, April 28)

Bought:

• An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly (Audiobook, $2.70)
• Death by the Book by Lucy Connelly (Audiobook, $2.41)
• Murder on the Clock by Lucy Connelly (Audiobook, $2.41)

• Death of an Irish Mummy by Catie Murphy (Audiobook, $2.56)
• Death in Irish Accents by Catie Murphy (Audiobook, $2.41)
• Death by Irish Whiskey by Catie Murphy (Audiobook, $2.41)

• Death of an Irish Druid by Catie Murphy (Audiobook, $2.41)
• Blood on the Sand by Kacey Ezell (Kindle, $4.82 after finishing up my Christmas Gift Card)

What was your week like?

Book Review: Naked Came the Phoenix edited by Marcia Talley

Naked Came the Phoenix
Edited by Marcia Talley
Publication: Minotaur Books (April 1, 2010)

Description: "An all-star lineup of 13 women mystery authors has produced one madcap, murderous tale" in this serial novel by Nevada Barr, JD Robb, and others (Publishers Weekly).

The promise of discretion and pampering—and a long-overdue reconciliation with her mother—draws Caroline Blessing, the young wife of a newly-elected Congressman, to the fancy Phoenix Spa. But after her first night in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Caroline wakes to find the rich and famous guests in turmoil and under suspicion: the spa's flamboyant and ambitious owner has been murdered. As the secrets come out, and the body count rises, can Caroline keep herself from becoming the next victim?

This serial novel features chapters by Nevada Barr, J.D. Robb, Nancy Pickard, Lisa Scottoline, Perri O'Shaughnessy, J.A. Jance, Faye Kellerman, Mary Jane Clark, Marcia Talley, Anne Perry, Diana Gabaldon, Val McDermid, and Laure R. King.

My Thoughts: This was an interesting project. This serial novel written by thirteen women mystery authors tells the story of Caroline Blessing's visit to the Phoenix Spa in the Blue Ridge mountains. Caroline is hoping for reconciliation with her distant mother after her father's death. She also has some questions about her own life since she is recently married to a freshman congressman and has given up her career as a cellist with a symphony orchestra to support his dreams. 

Caroline is fascinated by the variety of celebrities at the spa including an aging rock star, a noted film actress, and the latest model taking the high fashion world by storm. There is also a has-been and probably alcoholic film producer and a popular and also aging psychic. 

When Caroline sneaks out the raid the kitchen after a less-than-filling dinner, she overhears an argument between the spa's owner Claudia de Vries and someone she can't identify. It isn't long after that the Caroline discovers Claudia's body in one of the spa's famous mud baths. 

The detective assigned to the case is a transplant from Philly who is having some issues getting the spa's guests and staff to agree to talk to him without their lawyers. And the politics get twisted rather quickly when it is learned that Caroline's mother Hilda who has been the secret majority stockholder has inherited the spa. This comes as quite a surprise to Claudia's husband who is the spa's medical doctor. 

As each chapter switches authors and adds on to the plot. We have a couple of babies given up for adoption, shady managers with drug habits, and a variety of other characters dropping in and complicating the story. 

Laurie R. King is the author who comes last and has the none-too-easy task of tying up the loose threads and solving the murders which have added up to four people before all is said and done. I did notice that characterizations shifted as different authors added on to the story. It was, overall, an interesting mystery and an interesting literary project. 

I bought this one April 15, 2025. You can buy your copy here.