Saturdays at the Café
Saturdays at the Café is a weekly feature hosted by my friend Jonetta at Blue Mood Café to talk about and discuss the books that I’ve discovered during the past week, added to my shelf, and am excited to read! The titles could be books I saw on Netgalley, at a bookstore, at the library, or on friend’s blogs, goodreads, or bookstagram. I’m so excited to join in with Jonetta this week!
I Invited Her In
When Mel hears from a long-lost friend in need of help, she doesn’t hesitate to invite her to stay. Mel and Abi were best friends back in the day, sharing the highs and lows of student life, until Mel’s unplanned pregnancy made her drop out of her studies.
Now, seventeen years later, Mel and Abi’s lives couldn’t be more different. Mel is happily married, having raised her son on her own before meeting her husband, Ben. Now they share gorgeous girls and have a chaotic but happy family home, with three children.
Abi, meanwhile, followed her lover to LA for a glamorous life of parties, celebrity and indulgence. Everything was perfect, until she discovered her partner had been cheating on her. Seventeen years wasted, and nothing to show for it. So what Abi needs now is a true friend to lean on, to share her grief over a glass of wine, and to have some time to heal. And what better place than Mel’s house, with her lovely kids, and supportive husband…
I discovered this book just casually browsing on Goodreads. It jumped right out because of the title and the cover, and then I read the description and thought it sounded twisted and filled with secrets and manipulation–which is great in a thriller (but of course, terrible in life). I already added it to my Amazon cart!
Slay Bells Ring
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismit, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C.
The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa’s workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit–before she’s next on a killer’s deadly wish list . . .
I saw this one over on my friend Carla’s blog, Carla Loves to Read, and most who follow my blog know I’m a sucker for a good cozy! Carla reads a lot of cozies and rated this one really high, so count me all in to give it a try! And a christmas themed cozy is hard to pass up right now!
Summer at the Shore Leave Café
Joelle Gordon is leaving Chicago and her cheating husband to head for her hometown of Landon, Minnesota. There, she returns to the Shore Leave Café, the lakeside diner the Davis women have run for decades. Joelle’s family, including her three teenaged daughters, Camille, Tish, and Ruthann, is made up of strong women who have long believed in a curse upon them – a curse that robs them of the men they love. This summer has plenty in store for Joelle. Finding herself confronted with the reality of single motherhood, the last thing she expects is gorgeous, passionate Blythe Tilson, a summer employee at Shore Leave, with an uncertain past. Can Joelle resist the temptation of a younger man, and does she dare to consider loving someone again, or will the Davis family curse prove all too true? A story about heartbreak, blame, family, destiny, and the difficulties of returning home, Summer at the Shore Leave Café is the first book in the Shore Leave series.
I saw this book posted by Jonetta at Blue Mood Café and I was immediately drawn in by both the cover and by Jonetta’s review. And right now it is available on Kindle Unlimited, so if you subscribe I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book! I am from Chicago but I thankfully do not have a cheating husband to leave behind. But boy, if that diner and lakeside town is as cute as it sounds, I should probably go visit anyways! Assuming I don’t succumb to the curse…
Jane Doe
Jane’s days at a Midwest insurance company are perfectly ordinary. She blends in well, unremarkably pretty in her floral-print dresses and extra efficient at her low-level job. She’s just the kind of woman middle manager Steven Hepsworth likes—meek, insecure, and willing to defer to a man. No one has any idea who Jane really is. Least of all Steven.
But plain Jane is hiding something. And Steven’s bringing out the worst in her.
Nothing can distract Jane from going straight for his heart: allowing herself to be seduced into Steven’s bed, to insinuate herself into his career and his family, and to expose all his dirty secrets. It’s time for Jane to dig out everything that matters to Steven. So she can take it all away.
Just as he did to her.
My friend and book bestie Holly at Dressed to Read reviewed this book last week actually, but I missed it the first time it posted. Well, let me say her review totally sold me on this one! I already ordered a copy to add to my growing book stack. It sounds phenomenal and dark–just the type of book I like! This one is also free on Kindle Unlimited right now.
9 Comments
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) | Blue Mood Café
Yay! I’m thrilled you’re doing this post😍
I Invited Her In sounds deliciously creepy! I’m going to check that one out. I loved Jane Doe and can’t wait to see what you think. And, I hope you enjoy Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe as much as I did.
Mackenzie
Thanks, Jonetta!!! I’m loving this meme!!! I think I might make it a weekly one 💕
Plus it gives me a chance to photograph latte art—a favorite of mine!
B Lostinacoulee
Jane Doe was so good! I hope you get s chance to read it soon and enjoy getting into Jane’s head.
Mackenzie
I’m so excited to read it! Especially after hearing you loved it as well!!!
Carrie
I reviewed Jane Doe back when it first published off NG and really liked it too, couldn’t help but root for “Jane”. 🙂
Mackenzie
I’m definitely going to read it—sounds fantastic!
carhicks
There are a couple her on my TBR and one I need to check out. Thanks for the shout out Mackenzie.
Mackenzie
Yes!! I love your reviews!
carhicks
Thanks Mackenzie.