I finished THE DISPLACEMENTS over a month ago, and I’m still processing this compelling novel about climate change, substance abuse, and race that also has a unique structure. Within pages, the reader is pulled into the growing monster that is Luna, the world’s first category 6 hurricane. From subsequent interviews with survivors, dispersed throughout the…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…