Happy Tuesday! Today we are talking about bookish discoveries (new authors, new genres, new bookstores, etc.). My lists consists of new-to-me-authors and the first book (but not the last) I read in 2025. I had a great reading year, and these authors added greatly to the fun. I hope you discover a new author too!
Happy release day to Leslie Kirby DeVooght. Her lates contemporary romance, Taking A Shot, is now available! Whether or not you are a sports fan, if you love small town contemporary romance, you need to check this book out!
Can he convince her that he’s playing for keeps?
Struggling professional soccer player Rainey Allen has come to her grandparents’ small town in Georgia to train—certainly not to coach kids. But when a grief-stricken little boy gets excited about playing with her, she can’t refuse. Even if his uncle is Scott Wilcox, the source of Rainey’s worst preteen memory. Once on track to be a professional athlete himself, Scott is grappling with his new life as the high school baseball coach and guardian of his orphaned nephew. But as playing soccer puts the light back in Henry’s eyes, old wounds begin to heal. When Rainey gets her big break, will she give up on her dreams…or leave behind the family who stole her heart?
Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.
Happy Tuesday. I am Christmas binge-reading right now, but I am also looking forward to some great reading in the months ahead. Today my TTTWinterTBR list contains a couple of Christmas books I hope to finish up before New Year’s, some book club reading, and some just because reading. I hope you find a book to pique your interest!
A very happy release day to Leslie Kirby DeVooght! The second novel in her contemporary romance series, How to Sparkle, is now out in the world! I loved my trip to Magnolia Bluff in Stealing Magnolias, and I know I am going to love this book too! Read all about it below. And stay tuned for my review in the coming weeks.
When a whimsical interior designer and a rock solid contractor join forces, they discover that sometimes the biggest renovations happen in the heart. While Zoe Stockton knows how to sparkle, no amount of fairy dust could transform her into a leader. But with the biggest renovation project of her career at stake, she must crush her anxiety and gather the confidence to navigate intense clients and looming deadlines. Far from her support network in Chicago, Zoe needs a partner with insight into the Georgia Low Country. Thankfully, general contractor, Brad Chastain, not only exudes southern charm, but he’s also great at his job.In ways that go far beyond construction, Zoe and Brad connect. But he needs stability, not sparkles and whimsy, to convince his parents that he’s ready to take over the family business. As they work together at Magnolia Bluff, will their friendship bloom into something more or wither under the pressures of work and family?
Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.
Happy Tuesday! This week’s TTT topic is Cozy/Atmospheric reads. When I see those two descriptors I think of very different types of books. Cozy makes me think of small communities, quirky characters, and a feel-good plot, regardless of genre. Atmospheric reads, to me, are ones in which the setting plays a big part of the plot, often setting the stage for spooky goings-on. I am going to focus on cozy books this week, and for next week’s Halloween Freebie, atmospheric novels.
It’s almost half way through August, but I’d be remiss not to post about Romance Book Month. I have seen bookstore and author celebrations across social media, so I knew I needed to get on board. Today, I am featuring some fun contemporary romances. These books are sweet and sassy with characters you will LOVE! Check them out!
For The Love of Joy by Janet Ferguson
For Emma Trinket, life is a delicate balancing act between loving her family and pursuing interests they don’t understand. When the opportunity arises to finally impress them with her job as a computer programmer, she jumps at it even if it means immersing herself in a world she’s despised since childhood.
Unfortunately the one man who could crush her prospects is also the best person to help her navigate the lessons she needs to be a success.
Artistic expression is both Carter Anderson’s safe space and his livelihood, but his fading inspiration has him worried about his place in life. His encounters with Emma spark a passion to create that he hasn’t felt in years and he isn’t ready to let go of his new muse even if she’s threatening the sanctity of his art world with her digital technologies.
As each tries to gain an advantage from the other, Emma and Carter discover they actually might be more compatible than they thought. Will that be enough to unify their opposing missions or will the real differences between pixels and paint tear them apart?
The Love Script by Toni Shiloh
A hollywood hair stylist
Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood A-lister Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic.
The silver screen’s latest heartthrob
Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years.
A love that goes off script
With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?
Memory Lane by Becky Wade (book 1 in the Sons of Scandal series)
After surviving a trauma several years back, Remy Reed relocated to a cottage on one of Maine’s most remote islands. She’s arranged her life just the way she wants it, spending her time working on her wood sculptures and soaking in the beauty of nature. It’s quiet and solitary—until the day she spots something bobbing in the ocean.
Her binoculars reveal the “something” to be a man, and he’s struggling to keep his head above water. She races out to save him and brings him into her home. He’s injured, which doesn’t detract from his handsomeness nor make him any easier to bear. He acts like a duke who’s misplaced his dukedom . . . expensive tastes, lazy charm, bossy ideas.
Remy would love nothing more than to return him to his people, but he has no recollection of his life prior to the moment she rescued him. Though she’s not interested in relationships other than the safe ones she’s already established, she begins to realize that he’s coming to depend on her.
Who is he? What happened that landed him in the Atlantic Ocean? And why is she drawn to him more and more as time goes by?
There’s no way to discover those answers except to walk beside him down memory lane.
Pixels And Paint by Kristi Ann Hunter
For Emma Trinket, life is a delicate balancing act between loving her family and pursuing interests they don’t understand. When the opportunity arises to finally impress them with her job as a computer programmer, she jumps at it even if it means immersing herself in a world she’s despised since childhood.
Unfortunately the one man who could crush her prospects is also the best person to help her navigate the lessons she needs to be a success.
Artistic expression is both Carter Anderson’s safe space and his livelihood, but his fading inspiration has him worried about his place in life. His encounters with Emma spark a passion to create that he hasn’t felt in years and he isn’t ready to let go of his new muse even if she’s threatening the sanctity of his art world with her digital technologies.
As each tries to gain an advantage from the other, Emma and Carter discover they actually might be more compatible than they thought. Will that be enough to unify their opposing missions or will the real differences between pixels and paint tear them apart?
Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham
Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people’s stories. She’s built a career as “Miss Adventure,” known for saying yes to anything new–country, food, or experience–and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.
Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.
Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn’t venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme’s comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister’s death, he’s even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.
As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what’s familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life’s story when “home” is in two very different places? But maybe home–and the future–isn’t quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.
Stealing Magnolias by Leslie Kirby DeVooght
When Wren Frazier heads south to honor her grandmother’s final wish, she finds five unexpected challenges, one grumpy (but handsome) neighbor, and maybe—herself.
Although an artist, Wren packed away her brushes and paints and sought a practical career as an interior designer in Chicago. She’s always put herself last, happy to please everyone around her. But with a team of dedicated co-workers and a small town of quirky characters supporting her, she’s forced to give herself a little attention. As her artistic heart starts to awaken, Wren finds herself rediscovering the joy of creation and living authentically.
But while she’s exploring the enchanting Georgia Low Country, creating beautiful paintings, and taking a chance on love, she uncovers a secret that shakes the foundation of her newfound happiness. With the revelation threatening to ruin the delicate balance Wren has only begun to realize, will she give up her fairytale and return to her reality?
Although I usually don’t have time not to read (read that again 😉 ), I do go through reading slumps occasionally. If you see me scrolling on the phone instead of reading a book, then that means I am either not engaged with the story or just too spent to keep reading. When that happens I need a book that has a unique plot or engaging characters or a subject that is intriguing. If you are ever faced with that dilemma, then check out the following books — they are sure to break that slump!
Happy release day to Leslie Kirby DeVooght! Her debut novel, Stealing Magnolias, is now available. I loved this sweet southern romance with characters I adored, and I am betting you will too. Find out all the details below.
When Wren Frazier heads south to honor her grandmother’s final wish, she finds five unexpected challenges, one grumpy (but handsome) neighbor, and maybe—herself.
Although an artist, Wren packed away her brushes and paints and sought a practical career as an interior designer in Chicago. She’s always put herself last, happy to please everyone around her. But with a team of dedicated co-workers and a small town of quirky characters supporting her, she’s forced to give herself a little attention. As her artistic heart starts to awaken, Wren finds herself rediscovering the joy of creation and living authentically.
But while she’s exploring the enchanting Georgia Low Country, creating beautiful paintings, and taking a chance on love, she uncovers a secret that shakes the foundation of her newfound happiness. With the revelation threatening to ruin the delicate balance Wren has only begun to realize, will she give up her fairytale and return to her reality?
Book 1 in the Magnolia Bluff series. Love is always blooming at Magnolia Bluff!
Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.
You are going to love the debut novel Stealing Magnolias by Leslie Kirby DeVooght! It has so much to adore — great characters with sparking chemistry, sweetness and sass, fabulous southern small town vibes, and a spot on faith message that will speak to your heart. It releases 5/20/25, so don’t delay. Pre-order now!
When Wren Frazier heads south to honor her grandmother’s final wish, she finds five unexpected challenges, one grumpy (but handsome) neighbor, and maybe—herself.
Although an artist, Wren packed away her brushes and paints and sought a practical career as an interior designer in Chicago. She’s always put herself last, happy to please everyone around her. But with a team of dedicated co-workers and a small town of quirky characters supporting her, she’s forced to give herself a little attention. As her artistic heart starts to awaken, Wren finds herself rediscovering the joy of creation and living authentically.
But while she’s exploring the enchanting Georgia Low Country, creating beautiful paintings, and taking a chance on love, she uncovers a secret that shakes the foundation of her newfound happiness. With the revelation threatening to ruin the delicate balance Wren has only begun to realize, will she give up her fairytale and return to her reality?
Book 1 in the Magnolia Bluff series. Love is always blooming at Magnolia Bluff!
Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.
My Impressions:
Debut novel? I can hardly believe it. Stealing Magnolias is a fabulous first offering from Leslie Kirby DeVooght. I’m afraid this review is going to be gushing, because I loved everything about this book. Main character Wren Frazier is a people-pleaser with serious doubts that her interests and gifts are anything but frivolous. I loved that the grandmother who knew her and loved her so well, challenges her to fly. A talented artist and interior designer, Wren finds herself in her dream location — a small southern town complete with welcoming, and to be honest, a bit quirky residents, that just so happens to be the home of the man of her dreams. What else could Wren want or need? Well, grandma knows best, and DeVooght has crafted a lovely story full of heart. You get sweet and sassy with this book, the perfect combination for a contemporary romance. Plus there’s a strong faith thread that challenged the characters, and this reader) to examine just what God intends for their lives. Along the way there’s fun references to all things southern, which pleased this southern gal’s heart. Among the fun quotes, the sips of sweet tea, and all the cheese straws and fried okra consumed, the reader gets a story that is framed in faith and grace. Did I say I loved it?! 😉
I can’t recommend Stealing Magnolias enough and am looking forward to more adventures in love and laughter in Magnolia Bluff.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Happy Tuesday! Today in TTT bloggers are talking about the changes their blogs have undergone since they began. Can you believe I have been blogging for 15 years?! I missed this milestone anniversary last November; I probably need to do something about that. 😉 My blog has changed in a lot of ways, but in basics it has stayed the same.
For more changes in blogging, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.
Changes in My Blogging/Reading
I still review mostly CF and clean fiction. Nowadays I rarely review non-fiction.
I have cut way back on the number of books I review. I started blogging when my kids were at home, I was working part time, and my husband was working full time. Now we are empty nesters, I’m retired, and my husband is semi-retired. More time means less time for the blog.
I am reading less too. It seems weird that having more free time translates to less reading, but in my case it does, since I have more opportunity for other pursuits.
I am reading what I like. In the early years of blogging I took any and all books publishers were willing to send me. Now I am more choosy.
I read almost exclusively on my Kindle. It’s easy and portable. I never thought this would happen, but it also allows me access to more books, especially through NetGalley.
While I have contemplated phasing out my blog, I am still really attached to the book blog community. I love engaging with other readers and reviewers from all over the world. Who knows how long my blog will go on . . .
Because I can’t stand not referencing books in the TTT posts, here are a few books I have read recently. I am still an eclectic reader! I love reading my go-to authors books and discovering new authors.
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