The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan
Goodreads blurb: A novel of family, secrets, ghosts, and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine, by the New York Times best-selling author of Friends and Strangers. On a secluded bluff overlooking the ocean sits a Victorian house, lavender with gingerbread trim, a home that contains a century’s worth of secrets. By the time Jane Flanagan discovers the house as a teenager, it has long been abandoned. The place is an irresistible mystery to Jane. There are still clothes in the closets, marbles rolling across the floors, and dishes in the cupboards, even though no one has set foot there in decades. The house becomes a hideaway for Jane, a place to escape her volatile mother. Twenty years later, now a Harvard archivist, she returns home to Maine following a terrible mistake that threatens both her career and her marriage. Jane is horrified to find the Victorian is now barely recognizable. The new owner, Genevieve, a summer person from Beacon Hill, has gutted it, transforming the house into a glossy white monstrosity straight out of a shelter magazine. Strangely, Genevieve is convinced that the house is haunted—perhaps the product of something troubling Genevieve herself has done. She hires Jane to research the history of the place and the women who lived there. The story Jane uncovers—of lovers lost at sea, romantic longing, shattering loss, artistic awakening, historical artifacts stolen and sold, and the long shadow of colonialism—is even older than Maine itself. Enthralling, richly imagined, filled with psychic mediums and charlatans, spirits and past lives, mothers, marriage, and the legacy of alcoholism, this is a deeply moving novel about the land we inhabit, the women who came before us, and the ways in which none of us will ever truly leave this earth.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher
My take: 3.25 out of 5. I liked it but it might have been too much at the same time. We have so many stories and themes and characters that I feel it gets bogged down. We have the history of the shakers/ native Americans/ women’s rights whilst also dealing with topics of alcoholism and addiction. It ties in beautifully at the end but it’s a lot to pack into a fiction book. I did appreciate the historical aspects of it but also it felt very preachy at times. It did led me to research about epigenics. I also had a hard time dealing with an alcoholic FMC – like I wanted to shout at her so much but then that probably means it was very well written as that’s what relatives of alcoholics feel like all the time. The description of the area and the land is gorgeous.
Change of Heart by Falon Ballard
Goodreads blurb: From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love. Campbell Andrews despises exactly three things in incompetence, tardiness, and love stories. Making partner at her law firm at thirty-four, she has no time for anything or anyone else. And certainly no respect for those who choose love over work. That is, until she wakes up in Heart Springs—her own personal hell. The good news? She’s not dead. She’s been magically transported to a small town straight out the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, and friendly townsfolk. Cam can’t stand it, but in order to make it back to her real life, she has to fulfill three tasks . . . most importantly, she has to find true love. It seems impossible. But anything’s possible with a Change of Heart.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher. Book comes out Feb 11, 2025
My take: 3 out of 5. I went on a weird ride with this one. I was excited, the annoyed and angry, and then kind of liked the ending. As a Hallmark loving person, I kind of thought the premise of her walking up in a Hallmark Channel movie was adorable. Also, as they say in the acknowledgments, the fact that they thank Schmigadoon and that this could have been partly inspired by that was a win for me as I love Schmigadoon. It however triggered a lot of the issues I have with women in Hallmark movies so then I went into my annoyed portion of the evening (And it was an evening I read this book in one night). I was like why can’t she be a lawyer? Why cant she only choose between books seller, bakery and wedding planning? In the end i was proved right and wrong on many and issues and things wrapped up in a nice little bow, but i was still annoyed at some of the road to get there. I appreciated the moderation that was garnered in the end, because it annoys me when women’s life issues get always put to the extremes – either a greedy lawyer or pretty much a homemaker. I think Lawyers can kick as and still have a heart so thank you Fallon Ballard for not completely killing my vibe. Its a sweet fast romantic read, it was just not as good as I expect from Fallon Ballard who I love. But do read it and give me your take, I wonder if I got bogged down on the details and failed to appreciate the ride. Also the sweetheart nickname really irritated me.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack
Goodreads blurb: Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies . . . one trip to die for. All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series―is that too much to ask? Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life―the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life―Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case. Contending with literary rivals, rabid fans, a stalker―and even her ex, Oliver, who turns up unexpectedly―theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder? Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is the irresistible and hilarious series debut from Catherine Mack, introducing bestselling fictional author Eleanor Dash on her Italian book tour that turns into a real-life murder mystery, as her life starts to imitate the world in her books.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. This book is weird but masochistically quite enjoyable. I would not recommend doing this in audiobook. The footnotes didn’t work as well read, I think thy had to work much better in reading. I liked how this all turned out as absurd as the premise was and you get a nice finish but I have to say at some point in the middle I was getting annoyed at all the characters . Connor might also win for the most obnoxious character
side note as a Floridian to the author, Florida is not bullshit.
Accidentally Amy Lynn Painter
Goodreads blurb: IT STARTED WITH A CUP… Isabella Shay is usually a very honest person. But when she’s running late for her first day at a dream job and the barista yells for “Amy” 3x with no answer, she does the unthinkable. Izzy takes that PSL. It’s the exact drink she ordered and paid for, only waaaay further ahead in the line, so she mutters “I’m Amy” and grabs the cup. But when she turns around and runs directly into the most attractive man she’s ever seen, spilling the drink all over his GQ shirt and tie, she ends up having the ultimate meet-cute. Sparks fly and things feel beyond promising until he says the words, “See you tomorrow, Amy.” Uh, oh – she’ll definitely have to straighten him out the following day. Only when she gets to her new office and meets the VP of her department, it is none other than Blake Phillips – the hottie from Starbucks. And the man might’ve been charming to “Amy,” but he is an arrogant grump to Izzy, an arrogant grump who dos not find her explanation funny at all.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher
My Take: 3 out of 5. A great meet cute that doesn’t deliver as hard the rest of the book. One of those I liked it but didn’t love it. I think there might have been too much miscommunication trope and a little of self righteousness that made it less than enjoyable. But as a meet cute and first chapter this book takes the cake!
The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan
Goodreads blurb: Cecilia Lapthorne always vowed she’d never go back to Dune Cottage. So no one is more surprised than Cecilia to find herself escaping her own seventieth birthday party to return to the remote but beautiful cottage on Cape Cod—a place filled with memories. Some are good—especially memories of the early days with her husband, volatile artist Cameron, before his fame eclipsed their marriage. But then there are the memories she has revealed to no one. Especially not her daughter, Kristen, who hero-worshipped her father. For aspiring artist Lily, Dune Cottage has been a refuge, albeit an illicit one. After dropping out of medical school, she’s cleaning houses on the Cape to get by, guilt-ridden for disappointing her parents. Unoccupied for years, the cottage seemed the perfect place to hide away and lick her wounds—until Cecilia unexpectedly arrives. Despite an awkward beginning, Lily accepts Cecilia’s invitation to stay on as her guest, and a flicker of kinship ignites. Then Cecilia’s grandson, Todd—and Lily’s unrequited crush—shows up, sending a shock wave through their unlikely friendship. Will it inspire Lily to find the courage to live the life she wants? Can Cecilia finally let go of the past to find a new future? Because as surely as the tide erases past footprints, this summer is offering both Cecilia and Lily the chance to swap old dreams for new…
My take: 3.5 out of 5. This felt like a hallmark movie, predictable but nice, and I was totally ok with it. I Loved the art and design descriptions although we needed way more of the backstory to fully buy into both relationships. We get not one but two second chance romances but I needed way more breadcrumbs as to why both women were pining for these men. I really enjoy when houses are almost characters in the book and this is definitely the case here. The house is such a strong part of the story and I could totally picture the transformation.
Tati's Tidbits 