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🐓BOOK REVIEW : Well Behaved Wives -Amy Sue Nathan @amysuenathan (Lake Union Publishing)

Well Behaved Wives is very hard to put down. This historical novel is full of family drama and generational clashes as young Ruth is doing her best to adapt to her newly married life and achieve her dream of becoming a lawyer.

As she is doing her best to satisfy her new in-law mother, Ruth has also to learn etiquette and lifestyle of her new posh Philadelphia neighborhood. We are in the 1960s and women are expected to stay at home, being perfect while waiting for their husband to come home. It is not what Ruth wishes for in her life and the heroine is determined to do everything she can to achieve her independence dream, while pleasing her new family.

pub date - 6/9/26

As a retired homeschool mom the homeschooling and reasons behind the decision really interested me. And I wasn’t disappointed. 

This was a smart, quick, very fun novel. The side characters give this story a terrific personality and though I did need to will my suspension of disbelief into place in spots, I really did enjoy *Between White Picket Fences* and will definitely read this author in the future.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

The Marriage Slip by Laura Barrow

Pub date - 10/7/25

*time skip

*second chance

*magical realism

*if you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I loved the premise for this and I loved how this did such a good job of reminding me of those early parenting days. Though I didn’t particularly like Audrey as a character, I found her story to be an intriguing one to read. I found this engaging and very real, if also a little disappointing because some things were left fully unresolved (from being fairly large points).

Despite my issue with this, I still enjoyed this story a lot and would recommend.

The author is new to me and I would read more of her work.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

Falling for You Again: A Novel by Kerry Lonsdale

pub date - 7/8/25

*second chance romance *marriage of convenience *complicated relationships

…and also *miscommunication

This has so much of what I love in the above tropes (not ‘miscommunication’), I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

I tried, I really tried, but I kept finding the MFC to be highly unlikeable; she’s extremely me-me-me and transactional in her exchanges with others. Add in predictable and this one just didn’t work for me.

This was my first time reading the author.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

Smoke on the Wind: A Novel by Kelli Estes

Pub date - 6/24/25

*Scottish setting

*dual timeline

*mothers love

*mother son relationships

*very descriptive

Beautifully and masterfully written, this is raw, emotional, and poignant in its descriptions of the love a mother holds for their child and the impossible choices mothers can face in trying and frightening times.

I didn’t find this the easiest read but it was incredible and is a novel that will stick with me.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

The Master Jeweler by Weina Dai Randel

Pub date - 6/24/25

I started The Master Jeweler planning on only reading for a few chapters before turning in for the night* (this proved to be a mistake because I was on chapter 12 before I realized how much time had passed).

Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I was pulled in by the richness of the writing, the attention to detail, the plot kept me immersed, and each character added greatly to the story.

The Master Jeweler was my first time reading the author and I can’t wait to read more! This one is a full recommendation from me.

*Note to self - you already know this, but continue to do it anyhow; do not begin books close to bedtime.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

Come Fly with Me: A Novel by Camille Di Maio 

Pub date - 2/18/25

So well researched and written, this pulled me in right away and kept my interest. I loved Judy and Beverly and reading about their fledgling friendship and adventures. 

The story was engaging and I read this over a few days, eager to learn what would happen. I didn’t love the end, it felt a little too trite. But overall, this one was a winner. 

This was my second time reading Ms Di Maio’s work, and I’ve enjoyed both books that I’ve read very much.  I absolutely look forward to reading more. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC