Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Review - The Correspondent
AUTHOR: Virginia Evans
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.
Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.
REVIEW: I have heard so many wonderful compliments on The Correspondent from my library patrons, so I decided to see for myself what the fuss was all about. Well...I am so glad I did. I read this book in one day, so that should give you a little indication of how much I enjoyed it. I adored the main character, Sybil Van Antwerp, from the very beginning. She reminded me a lot of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. I'm not sure exactly why, but perhaps it was her straightforwardness - that tendency to say things outright without considering first how it might effect others - but it isn't done with a vicious spirit. Sybil wasn't a big fan of change and expected things to stay as they were, and she just spoke her mind when that didn't happen. Nothing wrong with that. Her love of writing letters was endearing to me because I had many pen-pals during my teenage years, and I miss it so much, but I do feel like letter writing is starting to make a comeback. (I've even considered it myself and have already checked into several global pen-pal clubs). The secondary characters in The Correspondent are noteworthy too, because they all come with their own backstory and history, and they tie the story together so beautifully. I would highly recommend this book, and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. I know it will stay with me a long time.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
New advance reader copy in the LFL!
An advance reader copy of Trust Issues by author Kasie West is now available in my little free library!
Monday, November 2, 2026
Review - The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse
AUTHOR: Heather Morris
NARRATOR: Saskia Maarleveld
RATING: ★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): In 1942, the Nazis come for a Jewish family living in the Montparnasse area of occupied Paris. In the chaos of their arrest, eleven-year-old Josephine runs to the only person she can her piano teacher, Andrée Levallois, a secret French Resistance operative.
Andrée takes her in as a member of the family, spreading their rations and risking everything to keep her safe. But soon the authorities close in, and both Andrée and Josie are caught in a desperate race to stay alive.
REVIEW: After reading so many great reviews about Heather Morris’ book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which is still on my TBR list, I was very excited to get my hands on this audiobook. It was my first time reading Morris’ work, and I enjoyed it. If you’ve read my reviews before, then you know how much I love books based around World War II, and The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse didn’t disappoint with the ambience and emotions that always stir my heart and soul whenever I read about the horrors and devastation surrounding World War II. There’s a bit of everything with this story - mystery, suspense, a little romance, and lots of drama. If I could go back and do anything different, though, I would choose the ebook instead of the audiobook because there were a lot of times when one of the main characters, a young girl named Josie, really annoyed me. (Honestly, I almost gave up halfway through the audiobook). Saskia Maarleveld is one of my all-time favorite narrators, but I do think if I couldn’t “hear” Josie’s voice I would’ve enjoyed the story more. Does that make sense? Anyway, I would still recommend this book, especially for historical fiction lovers like myself, and I look forward to reading more of Heather Morris’ work in the very near future.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday - The Haunted South ☠️
During renovations in the 1930s, workers found three human skeletons (two male, one female) and a bloody Spanish jeweled dagger sealed inside the wall behind the fireplace. NOTE: I’ve actually been to this tavern, and I can concur that it is very spooky.
In 1871, former owner William Drew Winter was shot on the porch and reportedly crawled back inside, dying on the 17th stair. Visitors frequently report phantom footsteps on these stairs.
Nettie Dickerson, a 19th-century resident of the Planter's Hotel, which once occupied the site, died on the second-floor balcony after being struck by lightning during a violent storm. Witnesses report seeing her glide down hallways in a vibrant red dress.
A historic hotel and former hospital/morgue famous for lingering spirits, including “Michael”, an Irish stonemason said to haunt Room 218, where he fell to his death during the hotel's 19th-century construction.
Guests and staff report seeing Civil War soldiers, including an armless soldier searching for a lost limb, as well as the spirit of founder Mary Marshall and phantom nurse figures.
Over the decades, night watchmen and visitors have reported disembodied voices, sudden shoves from behind, unexplained structural bangs, and a half-man/half-demon entity is said to have attacked a supervisor in 1971.
Patients who died in this facility's cramped halls reportedly haunt the building to this day, such as “Lily”, a famous child spirit said to haunt a fourth-floor room filled with toys. Visitors report playing with balls that move on their own and frequently leave toys behind for her.
Cahawba is the state's most famous ghost town. One widely known story tells of a ghostly orb in a now-vanished garden maze at the home of C. C. Pegues.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Review - Pride & Practicality
AUTHOR: Pepper Basham
NARRATORS: Fiona Hardingham and Alex Wyndham
RATING: ★★★★
RELEASE DATE: November 3rd, 2026
Summary (from Goodreads): Thomas Bridges, the new rector of St. Groves, has a simple gain the support of local wealthy parishioners to finance a boarding school for the orphans of St. Groves. With his stellar reputation and good heart, everything seems to be working well, even if he has to avoid his mother's matchmaking with the eligible ladies of the town. But his plans are rerouted when the "lost" sister of Lord Ravenscross returns and she happens to be the same woman in which he shared a secret and unexpected kiss eight months before.
Arianna Reeves has returned home a secret heiress, trying to redeem her past. With money to spare, a desire to earn back the favor of those she loves, and a hope of being useful she not only puts herself in harm's way to help the children of St. Groves but creates an "anonymous benefactress" to support Thomas Bridges' plan. However, their mutual attraction threatens to not only defrock Thomas but also ruin all their best-laid plans for the children.
When a man from Arianna's past comes to St. Groves with a plan to expose Thomas and Arianna's secret, their characters and hearts are tested. Could the truth about one unexpected kiss ruin their futures? After all . . . it was just a kiss, right?
REVIEW: I absolutely adored Pepper Basham’s Sense & Suitability, so I was VERY excited to get my hands on this one. I haven’t read any of her contemporary books yet, but I can say with utmost authority that her historical work is amazing! I was caught up in Thomas and Arianna’s love story from the very beginning, and I lost count of the many times I laughed out loud, gasped, and swooned while listening to this audiobook. I’ve probably mentioned this a dozen times or more, but Fiona Hardingham is my favorite narrator. Alex Wyndham is a new narrator to me, but his deep and sultry voice was an incredible pairing with Fiona. I believe all lovers of Pride & Prejudice will fall in love with Pride & Practicality too. There is romance, witty banter, and the secondary characters (especially Emma) brought the whole story to life in such a wonderful way. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, and I have my fingers crossed that Pepper has another book in the works for this series!
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