Hello Readers! Anyone else relentlessly checking the weather for Monday, April 8th?? We happen to be in the path of totality for the solar eclipse. People will be flooding our area from all parts of the world. And we have personally purchased glasses, an attachment for my son’s telescope—as well as something for our iPhones— all so we’ll be able to take pictures of this once in a lifetime event. BUT currently the weather is predicting cloud cover and storms. 🤦‍♀️ Mother nature may have the last laugh! 😂

I only read three books in March—although two of them were extra long. You can check out My March Wrap-Up if you’d like to see what I read. I’m hoping to at least read four books this month. I need to get caught up on my ARCs!

Here’s what I’m hoping to get to in April!

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

I’ve already finished reading and reviewing this one, but since I didn’t get approved for it until six days before the publishing date, I didn’t get it done on time. Clayborn is an auto-read author for me, though, so I picked it up as soon as I could. I loved this one!

Synopsis:

From the acclaimed author of Georgie, All Along and Love Lettering, a pitch-perfect, radiantly transporting love story about an unexpected road trip, true crime obsessions, and hard won vulnerability…

Hairstylist Jess Greene has spent the last decade raising her younger half-sister, Tegan—and keeping a shocking secret. Ever since their reckless mother ran off with a boyfriend she’d known only a few months, Jess has been aware that he’s the same accomplished con man who was the subject of a wildly popular podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

Now thirty-one, Jess didn’t bargain on Tegan eventually piecing together the connection for herself. But Tegan plans to do exactly what Jess has always feared—leave their safe, stable home to search for their mother—and she’ll be accompanied by the prying podcast host and her watchful, handsome producer, Adam Hawkins. Unwilling to let the sister she’s spent so much of her life protecting go it alone, Jess reluctantly joins them.

Together, the four make their way across the country, unraveling the mystery of where the couple disappeared to and why. But soon Jess is discovering other things too. Like a renewed sense of vulnerability and curiosity, and a willingness to expand beyond the walls she’s so carefully built. And in Adam, she finds an unexpected connection she didn’t even know was missing, if only she can let go and let him in . . .

Goodreads
Published March 26, 2024

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Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

I think this one showed up in my mailbox from Celadon on the day it was published, so I’m late to reading it, as well. This mystery/thriller wasn’t even on my radar, but after seeing all the glowing reviews, I’m excited to pick it up. AND just like the book above, it’s centered around a popular podcast!

Synopsis:

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?

After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.

But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie,” and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.

Goodreads
Published March 5, 2024

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Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

I adored Eddings previous book, so I’m excited about picking up this one. The cover is gorgeous and oh so spring-y!

Synopsis:

A sapphic opposites-attract romance with Mazey Edding’s signature sparkling voice!

Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.

With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.

But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt-heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?

Goodreads
Expected publication April 16, 2024

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Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Anytime I get approved for one of Hazelwood’s books, they quickly fly up to the top of my tbr!

Synopsis:

A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science.
 
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.

Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through – and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.

Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business – one that plays for keeps.

Goodreads
Expected publication June 11, 2024

My middle child—who’s very creative and talented—made me this adorable “one more chapter” needlepoint… cross-stitch… embroidery?? I’m not sure what the accurate term is. 😆 I found the perfect spot on my wall among my bookshelves and I just love it so much!

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Have you read any of these books yet? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!