Review - Feast

Title:  Feast

Author:  Catherine Kurtz   

Publisher:   Berkley

Genre:   Fantasy; 

  Historical Fiction;  

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   June 9, 2026

My Rating:   

DESCRIPTION:

'I can taste anything. Everything. Every ingredient in a recipe. The earth in which the potatoes were grown. The tree on which the fruits were ripened. I can taste it all.'

In the soot-streaked alleys of 19th-century London, Minha is a girl unlike any other - born with an extraordinary an overwhelming, all-consuming sense of taste. Desperate to escape a life of poverty, she crosses the sea to France, chasing the shimmer of a better future.

At Château de Bellefalaise, a grand estate with fairytale turrets perched above a sleepy village, Minha's talent is discovered when she detects poison in a dish about to be served to the château's master, Duc Nicolas. For the first time in her life, her strange ability becomes her salvation - and her curse. Appointed the Duc's personal poison-taster, she is confined to her tasting room and forced to live in the chateau's shadows. With each dish, she enters a world of glittering porcelain and gilded secrets, where danger simmers beneath every course...

But when she loses her miraculous gift and suspicion coils through the corridors, Minha must confront a terrifying without her gift, who is she - and what remains of the life she's fought so hard to build?

Feast is a sumptuous historical novel brimming with intrigue and sensory wonder - a dark fairytale for readers who love Jessie Burton, Elizabeth Macneal and Bridget Collins.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

In the year 1899, amidst the bustling streets of London, young Minha, a mixed-race girl, discovers a remarkable gift - an extraordinary heightened sense of taste. Born into poverty, she yearns to escape her circumstances, particularly after the passing of her grandfather. Driven by determination, Minha takes a leap of faith and ventures across the English Channel, embarking on a new journey in the enchanting land of France.

At her new place of employment, the Château de Bellefalaise, Minha’s unusual gift saves Duc Nicolas from being poisoned. She is subsequently appointed as the Duc’s official poison taster, a critical role because someone at the château is determined to kill him.

Minha’s new job is not easy, particularly because she is not readily accepted by the household staff, mainly due to the color of her skin. Still, she manages to stay one step ahead of the poisoning attempts and works to keep the Duc alive. But Minha’s life begins to change, especially when it comes to her extraordinary gift. Slowly, her heightened senses begin to fade, forcing her to confront questions about her identity and, ultimately, her future.

What an intriguing story! Feast is an exceptional novel that delves into profound themes such as identity, survival, love, and resilience, especially when it comes to how Minha’s life changes.The atmosphere is meticulously crafted, creating a captivating reading experience. Beyond introducing danger and intrigue into Minha’s life, the story possesses an almost fairytale quality, especially as the later chapters unfold, making that element particularly enchanting.

An entertaining blend of historical fiction, mystery, and fairytale-like storytelling, Feast is a story that feels both timeless and wonderfully unique.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Catherine Kurtz was born in Cambridge, was brought up in London and now lives in Kent. She completed an art foundation at Wimbledon School of Art before studying fine art at Chelsea School of Art. Upon graduating, Kurtz was made artist-in-residence at the Royal Ballet School. She is a painter represented by The Redfern Gallery, a member of the Guild of Food Writers, and grand jury member of the International Chocolate Awards. Her journalism has been published in a variety of publications including the Spectator’s Scoff, ckbk and Celebrated Living. In her fiction she explores the female experience, her mixed-race heritage and the power of creativity. She has an MA in creative writing from West Dean College and is currently working on her next exhibition and her next novel.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Courage Under Fire

Title:   Courage Under Fire

Author:  Sharon Dunn

Series:   True Blue K-9 Unit #7

Publisher:  Harlequin Audio

Genre:   Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Format:  ALC

Narrator:  Megan Tusing

Length:  5 hrs 50 mins

No. of Pages:   213

Date of Publication:   August 4, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

*First published October 1, 2019

DESCRIPTION: 

A killer in the shadows watches…and waits

A deadly stalker has rookie K-9 officer Lani Branson in his crosshairs, and he won’t stop until she’s dead. Her boss, K-9 police chief Noah Jameson, won’t let that happen on his watch, especially since there’s a chance this is the same person who killed his brother. Can they unmask the murderer who’s been terrorizing the unit before he strikes again?

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

In the engaging seventh book in the True Blue K-9 series, rookie K-9 officer Lani Branson finds her life in serious jeopardy. Someone is targeting Lani, and it appears they won’t stop until she is dead. Although she has her loyal K-9 partner, Scotty, right by her side, Lani is forced to rely on the help of temporary police chief Noah Jamison.

Despite the danger surrounding Lani, sparks are definitely flying between her and Noah. However, Noah is very close to accepting the permanent position of chief, and department policy would firmly prevent them from having any type of relationship.

The tension never lets up as Lani remains in constant danger, while the reader is left wondering what will happen between her and Noah. This kept me riveted to the story from beginning to end. Throughout it all, faith provides a strong foundation for both Lani and Noah.

Megan Tusing was a wonderful choice to narrate this warm story.. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this delightful series, and I am looking forward to continuing it!

Many thanks to Love Inspired Suspense and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After 26 years of marriage Sharon's beloved husband Michael passed away in 2014. Together they had a ulife filled with adventure, laughter and unconditional love. She considers herself blessed to have been loved that way. She now lives with three nearly grown children, a nervous border collie and two cats. 

Her love for mystery and suspense began in the fifth grade, when she found a whole set of Nancy Drew mysteries with pink covers in the school library. Sharon is the author of five humorous mysteries that were written for Christian readers. Her second book in her Ruby Taylor mystery series was voted book of the year by American Christian Fiction Writers.

Sharon has a bachelor's degree in film production and a master's degree in history. She loves old movies like Double Indemnity and anything by Frank Capra or Alfred Hitchcock. She enjoys reading all kinds of books but is partial to the nonfiction of C. S. Lewis. She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her Web site.

JULY 2026 WRAP UP

 

📚 44 books this month

 📑 14,440 Pages 

Avg pages per book 328

Avg pages per day 465

📚 381 books this year

 📑 120,848 Pages

Avg pages per book 317

Avg pages per day 572 

42 Novels

1 Novella

1 Anthology

31 NetGalley ARCs 

10 Library 

1 Purchase

2 Shelf

7 KU

43 NetGalley Reviews

Audiobooks

January - 47

February - 25

March - 23

April - 30

May - 40

June - 36

July - 21

4 Cozy Mystery

3 Historical Fiction 

9 Inspirational Romantic Suspense 

2 Literary Fiction

10 Mysteries & Thrillers

5 Psychological Thrillers

1 Romance

5 Romantic Suspense

2 Science Fiction

2 Women’s Fiction 

- - -

I would have to say that my favorite book for July would be The Winners by Fredrik Backman. I read book one last month, Beartown, and this month Us Against You and The Winners. This was a compelling read. It was much longer than the first two books. I was able to immersive read with all three of these books and they all touched me deep in my soul.

- - -

My favorite book in June was Beartown by Fredrik Backman. I have been talking about this, but I never took the time to check out this author. This month I plan on reading next two books in the series and then at least one of his other books. The responses that I got when I said I was interested in reading this very positive, and I could say that I was definitely pleased.

- - -

I would have to say that my favorite book of May would be My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand. I listened to her narration of her memoir. It was a 48 hour audiobook (1040 pages). My Bookly app shows that I broke it up in 13 reading sessions.  That is a bit less than 4 hours a session, at about 2.5x.  Honestly, if I didn’t have such a massive TBR, I could have easily read it for longer hours per session. 

She recounts her life in exquisite detail. This includes how she became a star - her years on Broadway, then film, her early and continued singing career, her marriage to Elliot Gould and then to James Brolin, and the many romantic liaisons in the years between those marriages.  It felt like a conversation with her and the hours flew by. 

- - -

My favorite read for April was Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson. I read this book because it is an upcoming group read.  First I had a long hold at Libby, and almost let that borrow expire. So glad that I didn’t, as I read it and found it to be very, very good. I learned about “Brown Babies” - mixed-raced children who were abandoned or ended up in orphanages in Germany after the war. It is a dual-timeline story as it also goes to the mid-1950s. Three central characters - Ethel Gathers, Ozzie Phillips and Sophia Clark whose stories eventually converge. 

- - -

My favorite read for March was When I First Met You by Lori Foster. This was an early March read for me, and it was also an early ARC since it’s set to be released in mid-July. The story revolves around Glory and Kam, two individuals who have both overcome tragic pasts. Despite their hardships, they’ve managed to build stable lives. However, Glory is facing harassment from a man she briefly dated.

The two characters connect through their shared pasts and a strong emotional pull towards each other. Lori Foster’s writing has a knack for evoking a wide range of emotions. In this case, like her upcoming book in May, The Lake House, this novel goes beyond romance. It delves into some serious themes but is wrapped in love, tenderness, and showcases the inherent kindness of the characters. 

- - -

Kin was my favorite book in February. Kin is an amazing book where two friends who were cradle mates went their separate ways around the age of 18. One never got over her mother‘s abandonment, and the other moved on with life, even though her father had killed her mother. At some point, they made a reconnection and started to share letters with one another and rebuilt what was lost. The book was haunting, tragic, heartbreaking, but also had a keen sense of healing. It is a book I will think of for a long time to come.

- - -

For January, my favorite read was This Book Made Me Think of You by Lizzy Page. This is a story that is about love, loss and healing. Tilly was grieving the loss of her husband just over the past year and was reminded of him in a very sentimental way. When her husband Joe knew that he was dying, he crafted a very specific gift for Tilly, a book that she would only receive once a month for the next 12 months. Not only was each book carefully chosen for Tilly, they also opened up doors of opportunity that she might not have taken otherwise.

Review - One of the Family

Title:  One of the Family

Author:  Mark Edwards

Publisher:  Atria Books

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   August 4, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The “so clever and fresh” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author) author of The Wasp Trap returns with a novel best described as Succession set in the Scottish Highlands where a plot to murder the patriarch’s younger fiancée entangles an innocent outsider in a nest of deadly secrets.

A week in paradise—with the family from hell.

When Patrick is invited by his girlfriend to join her and her family on a luxury holiday in a remote and beautiful part of Scotland, he has no idea that he is about to be plunged into a nightmare of a family, sinister behavior…and a plot to murder the patriarch’s younger fiancée.

Arriving at the house, Patrick meets Holly’s dad, self-made-millionaire Charles, along with her brother Lewis and older sister Miranda. Also on the trip is the widowed Charles’ bride-to-be, Jasmine, who—in her early forties—is around the same age as the three siblings. Lewis and Miranda are horrified by their dad’s impending marriage to this younger woman. Surely, she is just after his money—and is going to steal their inheritance from them. To make things worse, Jasmine is an almost exact doppelganger of their mother before she got sick and died at forty-two.

Patrick finds himself in the middle of this viper’s nest, trying to keep out of the family crosshairs. He starts to suspect that Lewis has dark plans for Jasmine—putting himself in peril as a potential witness who could mess up his scheme. Perhaps more than one person won’t escape this family of snakes…

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Patrick is thrilled when he and his girlfriend, Holly Grant, travel to Scotland to celebrate the New Year with her family. As the title suggests, Patrick hopes that this visit will offer him the opportunity to allow him to become one of the family. While the story occasionally shifts to other perspectives, Patrick remains the main protagonist, and I enjoyed experiencing much of the story through his eyes.

Right from the outset, there is drama. Patrick quickly sees how upset Holly is that her father is engaged to a much younger woman. Not only is she about the same age as Holly and her siblings, she bears an uncanny resemblance to Holly’s mother. But there is much more to the situation than meets the eye. As the story shifts between the present and 2006, we see Holly was a teenager, when at the time a young man died under questionable circumstances. At the same time, Holly’s mother was seriously ill, adding another layer of grief to an already difficult period in her life.

In this atmospheric and increasingly tense story, Patrick navigates around a family where everyone seems to be holding onto secrets. And some secrets are dangerous enough to kill for. As Patrick begins to uncover more about both the past and the present, he becomes increasingly aware of the toxic environment surrounding Holly’s family.

Mark Edwards skillfully draws readers into the mystery alongside Patrick as long-buried secrets begin to surface. Then, as the weather turns increasingly hazardous and Patrick discovers a body, the stakes become even higher. Patrick now knows that one of the family members is a killer. More than that, the killer may be willing to do whatever it takes to keep deeply buried secrets from ever being revealed. With danger closing in and trust becoming nearly impossible, Patrick realizes that he may be fighting not only to uncover the truth, but to stay alive long enough to expose it. 

One of the Family, with its atmospheric, suspenseful, and intricately woven narrative, kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The book’s exploration of secrets, twists, and the dynamics of a dysfunctional family captivated me, making it impossible to put down. 

Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers about scary things happening to ordinary people. He has sold more than five million copies of his books and topped the bestseller lists numerous times since his first solo novel was published in 2013.

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Review - Deceptions

Title:  Deceptions

Author:  Jeffery Deaver   

Publisher:  G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   304

Date of Publication:   August 4, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The New York Times bestselling author and master of suspense returns with a devious collection, featuring two never-before published stories in which fan favorites Colter Shaw, adapted for TV (CBS's Tracker, starring Justin Hartley), and Lincoln Rhyme are united by the layers of deception taking over New York City.

A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, the motive seems obvious—but can the detective who was first on the scene puzzle out what needs reading between the lines?

A brilliant sleuth, obsessed with Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries, turns his attention to a serial killer stalking the streets of New York City. But as his deductions bring him closer to his prey, he starts to wonder who is really doing the hunting.

A mysterious woman has gone into hiding and Colter Shaw is tasked with bringing her to a safe house. But with a hitman on his trails, the race toward safety takes on a whole new meaning.

A serial killer with a motive never before seen in the history of crime challenges Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs to rethink everything they know about the nature of evil—and the evidence its perpetrators leave at the scenes. No stranger to the cat-and-mouse chase or our favorite twists and turns, Jeffery Deaver brings his chops to Deceptions, where every story unearths trickery and the truths that lie buried deep under.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Deceptions is an enjoyable collection of short stories with mystery and intrigue at its core. The overall theme is exactly what the title promises: deception. The protagonists are familiar faces - reward seeker Colter Shaw and forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme. As the description notes, most of these stories have already been published, with two new ones included for longtime fans of Jeffery Deaver.

Every story here is fast-paced and engaging, and honestly, it whetted my appetite more than I expected. It reminded me that I’ve only read a handful of the Colter Shaw books, so I’m now itching to catch up on the rest of the series. And since Lincoln Rhyme has such a long-running series of his own, getting to meet him in this collection was a real treat. Now I am certain that I want to binge through the Rhyme books in the very near future.

Many thanks to G. P. Putnam and Sons and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into twenty-five languages. He has served two terms as president of Mystery Writers of America, and was recently named a Grand Master of MWA, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Mary Higgins Clark and Walter Mosely.

The author of 48 novels, 100 short stories and a nonfiction law book, and a lyricist of a country-western album, he’s received or been shortlisted for dozens of awards.

Deaver has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, the Strand Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy. He has also been awarded or shortlisted for scores of award from around the world.

His book A Maiden’s Grave was made into an HBO movie starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin and titled Dead Silence. His novel The Bone Collector was a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Lifetime aired an adaptation of his The Devil’s Teardrop. NBC television recently aired the nine-episode prime-time series, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector. CBS TV is airing Tracker, a prime-time series based on his novel The Never Game, featuring his character Colter Shaw.

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