Book Review: The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson

 

If you enjoy heartwarming holiday romances, then The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson must be on your reading list this season. 

Chloe Hollis has always been a people pleaser. But no more! Having left her job, she is making her way back home to West Virginia with a plan to collect ten nos from strangers by asking them to do ridiculous things. 

Her plan is easy until she meets James Stone. This charming guy says yes to every silly thing she asks, and Chloe can't figure out why. Little does she know, James has a reason for saying yes. As their worlds collide, Chloe finds it harder to protect her heart, leaving her wondering if rejection really isn't the biggest risk after all... but saying yes to something real. 

Melissa Ferguson is a new author to me, and after The Christmas Yes List, she needs to be added to my favorite romance authors list. This story of two people from different worlds meeting on a plane as they are unknowingly traveling to the same place is brilliant, funny, and romantic. Chloe is beside herself as James agrees to the zaniest ideas she comes up with. She figures she is safe because she won't see him again, but then she learns James is going to the same small town she is. Yikes! And the more they get to know each other, the harder it is for Chloe to keep James out of her head and her heart. It won't be a smooth ride for them, but you are rooting for them to end up with a happily ever after.

This is such a sweet story, and I loved it so much that I wish I could go back and read it all over again. Luckily, it will premiere on Great American Christmas this season as a movie starring Danica McKellar and Sam Page. Read it before the movie comes out! The Christmas Yes List is destined to be a Christmas romance classic.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GRGKTWM9
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Nelson
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 6, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400356720

I downloaded this book on NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, and I was not compensated in any way.

Book Review: Food is Medicine by Dariush Mozaffarian, MD DrPH

 

Food Is Medicine is a book that hits squarely on a topic I care deeply about. The ideas in it genuinely made me want to start a farm, grow my own food, and rethink the way nourishment fits into everyday life. The subject matter is compelling, timely, and somewhat revolutionary.

Mozaffarian brings an extraordinary level of expertise to the table, weaving together nutrition science, medicine, and public policy. His argument is clear: the food we eat is making us sick, not because we’re eating too much, but because we’re eating too little of what actually heals. The book lays out how the right foods can prevent illness, treat chronic disease, and reduce the enormous cost of poor health in our communities. It also explores how we can transform the entire food system — from farms to grocery stores to legislation — to make nourishing food accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

That said, this is a highly academic read. It’s dense, wordy, and packed with research. I found the content absolutely fascinating, but it’s not a breezy book you can casually flip through. It requires focus and patience, and at times feels like a textbook.

Still, the payoff is worth it. Mozaffarian’s blend of science, storytelling, and optimism paints a powerful vision of what food could be — medicine, yes, but also pleasure, abundance, and a path toward a healthier future.

If you’re interested in nutrition, food policy, or the future of health, this book is an eye‑opening resource. Just be prepared: it’s a lot to digest.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt and Co.
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 20, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250394287
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250394286

I downloaded this book from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, and I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review: The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller

 

Women ahead of their time, living in a world that doesn't accept them, forging new paths that change the world for future generations of women, is the story you find in Vanessa Miller's The Ladies Hall. 

When Mary Church Terrell and Anna Julia Cooper enter Oberlin College, they soon learn the promise of equality doesn't match reality for Black women on campus. Mary and Anna enter the men’s academic track and immediately face resistance from classmates and faculty who doubt they belong. Joined by the quiet and steady Ida Gibbs Hunt, the three women navigate academic pressure, social hostility, and the unspoken rules of the Ladies Hall, where every interaction tests their resolve. Their shared fight for dignity and opportunity transforms them from isolated students into a united force, proving that progress is built through courage, intellect, and sisterhood.

What an amazing story. Vanessa Miller’s The Ladies Hall is a compelling blend of history and heart, offering readers an intimate look at three Black women determined to claim their place in higher education during the 1880s. Miller’s storytelling shines in the way she balances fact with emotional depth, giving Mary Church Terrell, Anna Julia Cooper, and Ida Gibbs Hunt distinct voices that are authentic and deeply human.

The novel’s greatest strength is its portrayal of sisterhood. Through moments of quiet support, shared frustration, and hard‑won triumph, Miller shows how these women shaped one another as much as they shaped history against the vivid backdrop of Oberlin College and the Ladies Hall. Their progress is constantly tested, making every victory resonate. 

For lovers of character‑driven historical fiction, you will find a touching story of three women who come together against odds they refuse to let defeat them. The Ladies Hall is an inspiring novel that is rich in history. It’s the kind of story that you won't be able to put down and won't stop thinking about even after you've turned the last page. 

• Publisher: ‎ Thomas Nelson
• Publication date: ‎ August 11, 2026
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 1400351103
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1400351107

I downloaded a copy of this novel from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, and I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review & Giveaway: The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Widow Murderess by Bill Cusano

For the second book in Bill Cusano's The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series, readers travel back to the 1800s, to see how Elicra, Deborah, and their family are faring a year after Chester Cranberry's horrific murder. 

The Widow Murderess, titled for the name given to Elicra Cranberry by a town of people, most of whom consider her guilty of murdering her philandering husband, takes a step back in time by focusing on the fallout of Chester Cranberry's murder. The local store owner cuts off her credit; her family is targeted in other ways; and those who feel she should not have inherited Cranberry Farm are determined to punish all of them in an effort to get them to leave. However, they have underestimated Elicra and Deborah's resolve and don't understand the secrets of her shed and the goings on there. 

Historical mysteries are some of my favorites. The first book, The Ghost and the Key, traveled from past to present. The Widow Murderess, however, stays planted in the past to give the reader some backstory, introduce new characters, and get a fuller picture of the recurring characters we already know. It is good to see two strong women supporting each other and their family as they endure being ostracised by their community while continuing to make a difference in the lives of others. Like the first book, it is told in the present tense and is filled with a plethora of details. Thankfully, the story is strong, but I glossed over the extra details while reading. Some trimming back would serve to strengthen a solid story. 

Looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G2216827
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ 4610 Publishing
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2025
• Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 5.5 MB
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 343 pages

I purchased a digital copy of this book for my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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Audible Book Review: Digital Detox for Remote Workers by Dr. Guenter H. Schamel

 

Looking to break away from the remote working world? Are you burnt out by Slack and Zoom and that constantly on feeling? Then Digital Detox for Remote Workers: Reclaim Your Focus, Productivity, and Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age by Dr. Guenter H. Schamel. 

Schamel's helpful resource is a good first step in making a change. For those of us who work remotely, it's so easy to spend more time than the standard workday at your computer. It can be so hard to put down the phone and step away, feeling like you aren't fulfilling your clients' needs or that the one time you break away and attempt balance, you must sacrifice productivity. Meanwhile, your productivity and focus suffer from trying to juggle it all unsuccessfully. 

Digital Detox for Remote Workers is about setting healthy boundaries, avoiding burnout, and resetting your mental energy. Though narrated by Virtual Voice, I did not find it distracting. I feel this is one of those books that is best used in printed format because of how the strategies are outlined and put into practice, but I found it useful in getting me started. Definitely worth the listening time.

Part of series	Thriving in Remote Work
Listening Length	6 hours and 19 minutes
Author	Guenter H. Schamel
Narrator	Virtual Voice
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	November 21, 2025
Publisher	Independently Published
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0FXDPYCRX

I purchased a copy of this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Audible Book Review: Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Special, and the Queering of American Culture by Matt Baume

 

If you enjoy well-researched, engaging pop culture books as much as I do, Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and The Queering of American Culture, authored and narrated by Matt Baume, should be on your list. 

From Bewitched to Modern Family and everything in between, Baume guides readers on an engaging journey through television history and its evolving portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community, including how these characters have helped shape broader social understanding.

As a Gen Xer, I now realize how often television in my youth portrayed people who didn’t fit the perceived “norm” in ways that were unkind or limiting. Either that, or I was simply too young to recognize how groundbreaking and controversial sitcoms like Soap were when they first aired. I barely remembered characters like Beverly LaSalle on All in the Family or Officer Zatelli’s coming‑out moment on Barney Miller. I’d like to think that’s because I didn’t view them as anything other than part of the larger cast of characters simply existing within the story. Moments from The Golden Girls and Ellen were likely the first times I consciously recognized that a show was making a deliberate point about inclusion and representation.

Hi Honey, I'm Homo! is thought-provoking, and the research and commentary are placed alongside what was going on in the country at the time. Truly a great read!

Listening Length	6 hours and 41 minutes
Author	Matt Baume
Narrator	Matt Baume
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	May 23, 2023
Publisher	Dreamscape Media
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0BZ1GGJ4J

I purchased a copy of this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

NetGalley/Audible Book Review: Co-Created: The Cultural Strategy That Redefined PacSun by Brieane Olson

 

Discover the story of how PacSun embraced co-creation and transformed itself from a retailer of established brands to a purpose-driven retailer that collaborates and partners with a community that informs its approach in Co-Created: The Cultural Strategy That Redefined PacSun by the company's CEO, Brieane Olson.

Author and narrator Olson brings the reader through the challenges of what PacSun was and the excitement brought about by their shift to a purpose-driven retailer that listens to its collaborators, staff, and most importantly, its consumers. From its early collaborations with Kendall & Kylie to its more recent partnerships with the LA Rams and Formula 1, readers engage with the amazing transformation that the mindshift has brought to a company that filed for bankruptcy in 2016 amid burgeoning high mall rents, when mall traffic declined while online shopping increased. 

Olson discusses how embracing change in consumer habits and ever-evolving technology has allowed the company to increase its market share, and how listening to its community has allowed the company to make a greater impact and create new initiatives that support its mission and the community it serves. 

I will be honest: I have never stepped foot in a PacSun. My daughters did in their teens, but my only recollection of PacSun was walking by it in the now-demolished mall closest to us to get to another retailer, and the store closed way before the mall did. So, why did I request this book? 

• The title intrigued me.
• Purpose-driven leadership inspires me.
• Authenticity is one of the most important things I strive for in business. 

Co-Created: The Cultural Strategy That Redefined PacSun explores the company's new model that has made such waves that it is now a Harvard Business School Case Study. If you are in business and are determined to make an impact, this is a book you should read. 

Listening Length	5 hours and 36 minutes
Author	Brieane Olson
Narrator	Brieane Olson
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	May 12, 2026
Publisher	Forbes Books
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0GVPMZMCF

I requested this book from NetGalley and own it on Audible. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Scrap: Salvaging A Family by Luanne Castle

 

A powerful and poignant memoir from the talented pen of Luanne Castle awaits you in Scrap: Salvaging A Family. Raw, gut-wrenching, and provocative, this hybrid flash memoir journeys through a woman's toxic relationship with her father, finding them both in a strange place as he faces his mortality.

Wow! This memoir doesn't tug at the heartstrings. It plucks them hard and snaps a few. Scrap: Salvaging A Family is deep, it's emotional, it cracks open family secrets, and it explores family hardships that impact generations. Masterfully written, readers follow one woman's examination of her childhood trauma brought on by events that occurred well before she was born. Not understanding the hero worship her brother has for the man who shuts her out, she's not quite sure what to make of it when her relationship with her father begins to shift.

Sadly, the difficult relationship Castle had with her father feels all too real to me. I found some triggers within this memoir, and I had to put it aside at times. But it is such a beautifully told story that I had to make it to the end. The symbolism behind the scraps of fabric, the family photos on the front cover, and the inclusion of a significant family document blend so well together as the author reflects on her family relationships. 

Scrap: Salvaging A Family is a brave new offering that is sure to gain attention. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GQC34BD2
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ ELJ Editions
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 26, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 172 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1942004923
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1942004929

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review & Giveaway: Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst

 

Amateur sleuth Valerie Corbin returns in the third installment of Leslie Karst's Ochid Isle Mystery series, Murder, Local Style.

Valerie and her wife Kristen have settled into life in Hilo, Hawai‘i, with their dog Pua. Val has even joined the neighborhood orchid society so she can meet new people. So she is eager to help out when she is asked to cater their latest event at the last minute. 

But when the orchid society's president is poisoned by food at the event and subsequently dies, Valerie finds herself a suspect. Determined to discover the truth, she learns that not everyone liked George, and the list of suspects and potential motives grows. Can she find the culprit before she becomes their next target?

While I didn't know this wasn't the first book in the series, I don't feel like I skipped a beat starting with Murder, Local Style. This cozy mystery blends a beautiful setting, a rich culture, engaging characters, and the twists and turns you expect in this genre. Having visited Hawaii, I appreciated how the author knows how to paint a picture and make the reader feel like they are there. Murder, Local Style finds Val coping with nasty neighbors and family stress while working at a local hot spot and trying to track down a murderer. The glossary of terms and the recipes were a bonus. 

If you enjoy a cozy mystery in a fun place, Murder, Local Style is for you. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FVLW3ZL8
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 239 pages 
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448316571

 

I received a copy of this book from the author through Partners in Crime Tours. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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Book Review & Giveaway: Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel

 

If you are a lover of Agatha Christie's work, then you need to run out and buy Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. 

Peschel opens this engaging and informative movie guide by explaining how it came to fruition. She already enjoyed Christie's novels, but it wasn't until her husband Bill annotated some of her early novels that the obsession began. Years later, they had an amazing project that is now in the hands of readers everywhere. 

This well-thought-out guide is filled with black-and-white photos, fun rating icons, general information about each film adaptation, and the author's insight into the actors, how a particular adaptation might compare to others, and more! 

I feel I was similar to Teresa before she edited Bill's annotations of Christie's books: I knew about the author, and I'd read some of her stuff. Then something happens, and you find yourself diving in to read/watch everything out there. From the moment I opened Agatha Christie, She Watched, I was immersed in Peschel's insights into the films adapted from her books. Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and even Tommy and Tuppence all get their time in the spotlight. One section is dedicated solely to And Then There Were None, which I was reacquainted with when my daughter's dance team performed to the novel's plot. 

Any person who wants to know more about movies featuring Christie's characters and based on her work will be eager to dive right into Agatha Christie, She Watched. There is even an international version using the same format that explores films from around the world, using Christie's writing as source material. 

Pick up your copy of both books here.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peschel Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 438 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950347397
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950347391
• 
  

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peschel Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 29, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 364 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950347427
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950347421

I received a copy of both books from the author through Partners in Crime Tours. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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Audible Book Review: Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

 

Who was Auntie Em before Dorothy Gale blew into Kansas? How did she meet Uncle Henry? How did Dorothy wind up with the childless couple? Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor is a charmingly brilliant story of Emily Gale, Dorothy's beloved Auntie Em. 

In February 1932, Emily Gale journeys back to Chicago after a tragic accident takes the life of her sister Annie and her husband. Bouying her courage, she lays eyes upon Annie and John's only child, Dorothy, who is now her responsibility. Feeling totally unprepared for motherhood, and knowing the unforgiving prairie is no place for a child, she apprehensively brings Dorothy back to Kansas. Uncle Henry has always wanted children, so he welcomes Dorothy with open arms, but would he be so understanding if he knew the whole story? 

As the lack of rain and dust bowls that steal your breath increase, Emily and Henry watch as their dreams shrivel like scorched crops. And when Emily is forced to face her worst fear, she must decide if she will open her heart to Dorothy so that she can heal. 

Oh. My. Goodness! Before Dorothy is not what I expected at all, but it is the backstory that lovers of The Wizard of Oz will appreciate. Traveling back and forth between the present day and Emily's years growing up in Chicago with her sisters Annie and Nell, this is the story of the beloved Auntie Em we never doubted loved Dorothy with all her heart. With excerpts of Emily's thoughts from her journals titled "Wonderful--A Life on the Prairie," readers dive deeply into Emily's life in Kansas. A touching epilogue told from Dorothy's point of view makes this one of the most moving novels about fictional movie characters you will ever read. 

Gaynor has an extraordinary gift for painting vivid images in the minds of her readers, and as she is also a fan of The Wizard of Oz, you will find little hints and nods to that story woven throughout Before Dorothy. This is such a beautifully and masterfully told story that it has led me to order the entire series of books by L. Frank Baum. This is the backstory you never knew you needed until you read it. 

Highly recommended!

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 17, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593440331
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593440339

I purchased this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.