THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb
People, people, you need to read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb: a unique debut and a compelling mystery. Ray McMillian is a poor Black kid growing up in rural Carolina with a gift no one but his beloved Grandma Nora appreciates or supports: he’s a talented and passionate violinist. He’s also self-taught. A quiet…
Read MoreREMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt
I adore audiobooks, and REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie, is a gem. From the moment I put in my earbuds and hit play, I was transported into this enchanting, unique story with a touch of the mystical. Michael Urie does an incredible job of bringing the sardonic and rather wise…
Read MoreTHE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley
Two chapters in, I pronounced THE GUNCLE one of my all-time favorite books. Heartwarming and enchanting, this story is tender and wise. Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) is an unforgettable hero. The once-famous TV star, still grieving for the love of his life, has retreated into his Palm Springs desert home with only his Golden Globe…
Read MoreIT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS by Therese Anne Fowler
I’ve been a fan of Therese’s work since her debut, SOUVENIR, and this might be my favorite of her novels. Bighearted and full of love, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS has an idyllic setting, characters you want to share a bottle of wine with—or hug—and a contemporary Jane Austen vibe. It’s funny, delightful, and…
Read MoreWHEN WE LET GO by Rochelle B. Weinstein
WHEN WE LET GO is an emotional page-turner: a story about fear that imprisons you in the past; a story about facing that fear, embracing self-forgiveness, and daring to dream. Avery is running from unbearable trauma and memories she can’t, or won’t, release. Those memories are tangled up with her first love, the guy she…
Read MoreSECRET LIVES by Diane Chamberlain
At a recent bookstore event, a reader asked Diane Chamberlain if she had a favorite of her novels. Given her impressive backlist, I found her answer intriguing: novel three, which taught her the power of suspense and helped her find her writing voice. I ordered Secret Lives immediately. Secret Lives is an evocative, dual timeline…
Read MoreMy Top Five Romances Featuring Characters with Mental Illness
For Mental Health Awareness Month (May), Shepherd.com asked me for a list of my top five romances featuring characters with mental illness, and an explanation of why I chose these books. Picking only five was next to impossible, but the link below includes some of my standouts. Technically Bryn Greenwood’s The Reckless Oath We Made…
Read MoreONE NIGHT ON THE ISLAND by Josie Silver
ONE NIGHT ON THE ISLAND is a multi-layered, emotional roller-coaster that takes a common tale of love and second chances and spins it into something heartfelt and unique. Cleo lives in London and writes a dating column, but is a disillusioned singleton. The much younger oops baby in her family, she doesn’t quite belong anywhere.…
Read MoreTHE KINDEST LIE by Nancy Johnson
There are many layers to unpack in THE KINDEST LIE, Nancy’s Johnson’s haunting debut about race, class, poverty, and motherhood set against the 2008 election and the financial crisis. Yale graduate Ruth Tuttle is a successful, Black engineer living in Chicago. Her grandmother and big brother sacrificed a great deal to propel her away from…
Read MoreTHE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain
I’m a diehard Diane Chamberlain fan, and THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET might have displaced NECESSARY LIES as my favorite of her novels. From page one, the tension in this dual timeline story is that of a psychological thriller. Straddling 1965 and 2010, the creepy tone of the primary setting—a secluded, densely-wooded lot in a…
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