Thank you to Kathleen Kaufman, Between the Chapters Book Club and Kensington Publishers for an ARC of The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. I knew I had to read this book based on the title alone. And, yes, Nora Grey is fantastic as a character and so much more. I do want to note how much I enjoyed the author's dedication and author notes - both gave me so much info as well as made me laugh. Nora (originally Nairna) and her father Tavish (always goes by Tavish) are fraudsters. Tavish is charming and could sell anyone anything. Nora is not as much as a fraudster but doesn't understand her psychic gifts. She's so used to living on the streets with her father, eating trashed food and feeling starved most of the time. She also feels guilty about tricking people while reading her grandmother's seer cards for them. Nora is discovered by a woman who sees Nora's psychic gifts and the strength of those gifts. She brings Nora -and Tavish, partly - into her home to help Nora hone her skills. Unfortunately, women with psychic gifts were often considered witches and were frowned upon in society during the time of Nora's lifetime. Nora and her father often clash and I found their relationship one of the most intriguing thoroughout the story. She loves her father but is tired of providing for him then feels guilty for not appreciating the little he does for her. There are many characters that were easy to like/dislike that added to Nora's story. I don't give away spoilers. I will say I loved Nora becoming stronger in her gifts and I really loved how serious she was about being honest. The second half of the book finds Nora and Tavish in a new setting which I loved reading about. I was - I hate to use the word mesmerised - by her readings, the settings, the things doctors would do and the people who helped her. There is a dual POV with Nora and Lottie, Tavish's mother thoroughout the book. I also loved Lottie but felt sad for her with most of her story. Wonderful read for anyone who believes - and doesn't believe - in mesmerists, psychics, etc. I loved the ending as well. from my Goodreads account

I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. I love historical novels and knew I would love this book as well. I can't wait to read additional upcoming books in this An Emma Knightley Mystery series. Emma Knightley is married to George Knightley and is very happy. It's a new marriage full of romance, love and most of all - humor. My favorite thing in this book is how funny Emma is. George is the local magistrate and is called upon when the local vicar's wife is found murdered in the church. Emma gets involved from the very beginning through to the end - much to George's dismay. Emma's involvement also drives her father crazy too. I had a fairly good idea who the murderer was by the last 1/3 of the book and appreciated how hard it was to figure it out. I loved all of the Knightley's friends and neighbors. The societal norms of that time are always interesting to me as well. Wonderful, historical, romantic, funny novel. I'm excited for the next book to come out! (from my Goodreads review)

I like the book because of the way Harry Potter going on the adventure to kill Lord Voldemort (I think), and also because of the adventure, mystery, and fantasy.

In To Sell Is Human, Daniel H. Pink challenges the traditional view of sales as something only used by pushy professionals with quotas to meet. He argues that in today’s world, we’re all in sales, which I truly agree with, whether we realize it or not. Whether you’re a teacher persuading students, a parent guiding a child, or an entrepreneur pitching an idea, you’re constantly trying to move others. He introduces a new framework for effective selling, replacing the old “Always Be Closing” mindset with “Attunement, Buoyancy, and Clarity.” These qualities help us connect with others, stay resilient through rejection, and make complex ideas easier to understand. He also redefines the idea of pitching, offering creative alternatives like the one-word pitch or the Pixar pitch to match today’s fast-paced, attention-limited world. Ultimately, the book emphasizes that the best kind of selling isn’t about tricking people—it’s about serving them. If what you’re offering genuinely helps, and you present it with empathy and purpose, then selling becomes a human act, not a manipulative one.

A breazy, but thought-provoking quick read. For me, the right balance between the farcical and the fantastic as I always want to believe that good will win out of evil. Recommend

This book is the sequel to Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods. In this book, Percy Jackson explains all about some of the heroes in different Greek Myths. Still with humor and sarcasm of course. Awesome read.

This audio book was filled with great care for people wanting to heal prickly relationships. The points shared can extend to all relationships, not just partner ones.

After reading ACOTAR series I was excited for this series, and like always Sarah J Mass didn’t disappoint. It was LONG and a little slow at first but wow what a great second half. Bryce and Hunt together really drove the story as I was cheering for them the whole time. Loved it!

Escape From A Video Game is a fun interactive book that plays out like a video game. It is really fun to read and I recommend this to anyone who likes interactive books where your choices impact the story. This book also has some humor with it.

It Had to be Him was a refreshing break from the world. It was a sweet romance with just enough spice, a believable love story, and a likeable cast of characters. The book focuses on Ramin, who we met in book one, as he tries to reinvent himself after a failed proposal. I'm not usually a second-chance-romance kind of reader, but I loved the shared history between our MMCs and how easy it was to settle into their new relationship. I also got a kick out of Ramin teaching Noah how to be a dom. I may not know a lot about wine, but the book was accessible (though there were a few times when weird vocab was used) and enjoyable. Overall, the story was fun and endearing and I can't wait for book three!