Hi Reader,

My husband and I just returned from our vacation to Yosemite, a US National Park in eastern(ish) California. We had a wonderful time. If you have a chance to go, I highly recommend it.

Now, for my August reading.

I started with an older Nora Roberts book, Sanctuary.

Jo Ellen Hathaway's mother supposedly ran off with another man when Jo and her siblings were quite young. She left Sanctuary, her house and resort on the Georgia coast, as soon as she could. Now, she's back because her life is falling apart. (So is the rest of her family's lives.)

Can a man, Nathan Delaney, with plenty of his own secrets, assist her in finding the truth?

This is a romantic suspense with several interesting twists. I loved it.

Then, I read Deep Waters by Jayne Ann Krentz.

This is another romantic suspense, but this time, Charity Trout, a successful CEO, just can't stand the thought of marrying as a business venture. She leaves her fiancé and company to start a bookstore in a small town on the Washington (state) coast. There, she meets Elias Winters, also a burnt-out CEO, who has just inherited a curiosity shop (and a parrot with too much to say).

These two characters, along with the other quirky store owners, come together to solve two murders and find true love. A delightful book.

Next, I read a futuristic police procedural, Indulgence in Death (#31), by J. D. Robb.

Murder follows Eve Dallas everywhere she goes—even on vacation in Ireland. But back in New York, the murder weapons are antique. Worse, the murders appear to escalate in frequency. She and her crack team, including her husband, Roarke, are on the case.

A very satisfying mystery.

Next, I read two time-travel books by Jodi Taylor. The first is The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal.​

Lady Amelia Smallhope has a favorite way of dealing with problems: Have a drink and a think. Pennyroyal never sees problems, as such. He just moves obstacles out of the way. Together, they become very successful time-traveling bounty hunters.

I loved this book for several reasons: I totally believe the time travel. Too often, I have trouble believing it, but this book made me a believer. But even better than the time travel is this: the characters are so voicy and amazing.

I love voicy characters. Those are the kind of characters that stay with you long after you finish the book. If you're like me, you even start talking like these characters. Or, wonder how you might do so.

I loved this book so much, I bought the next one in the series: A Family Affair.​

Both books deal with double-crossing leaders and family. However, while some of the topics might be challenging to readers, Taylor uses humor and these terrific characters to keep the story moving.

If you like seeing Bad Guys get what's coming to them, and Good Guys (eventually) winning, with lots of humor and time travel, these books are for you. I already bought more books by Taylor and can't wait to read them.

If you want to see what I'm reading in "real time," follow me on Goodreads.

My Announcements

I have a short story (a romance!) in Romance for All Seasons.

I'm so happy the editors took this story. I rarely write romances with sweet young things. Instead, I tend to write romances about people who are already fully formed. This couple is in their 80s—and was a pleasure to write. I hope you decide to pick up the anthology.

Where to Find Me

Please do follow me on BookBub. These links to the books are all universal book links and include my affiliate codes.

If you know of a book I should read, let me know. Have a great September and read on,

Johanna