2023 - Fifty Books for Me!

Happy 2023 everyone! I hope your new year is off to a wonderful beginning!
I guess I can say I finished my first book for 2023 - but it was actually begun in 2022...hey, that still counts right??? LOL! :)

1. Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright
Withers Farm and the surrounding community has seen its' share of heartache. In 1910, two girls are murdered, and another attacked by an unknown assailant. In 1982, a young woman goes missing after moving to the small Michigan town. In 2022, a young couple desiring a new lease on life experiences ghostly visitations, discover strange artifacts, and find themselves in danger after purchasing Withers Farm. How do these strange and seemingly individual events have any connection? Will the string of bad luck ever end for Withers Farm?

This was a very interesting book! This is my 2nd book by this author, and it did not disappoint! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy of this wonderful book!

Happy Reading in 2023. I'll look forward to following along.

2. When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury
Noah and Emily Carter are internet celebrities. From the moment Noah proposed, their family's lives have been documented and their faith shared with thousands of people around the world. But what is shared on social media is not always the truth - the Carters and their faith are in trouble. While Noah has been keeping up with their social media business, he has been neglecting the family that his website so lovingly depicts. While Emily is caring for their family, she is coming to despise the social media posts that Noah shares, which provides their income. As they try to keep up appearances, their lives are crumbling right before their eyes and the blame is laid on each other. When Noah decides that it would be best to move out and get a divorce, he has a series of dreams of what might come to pass - if he takes that next step: leaving. Will those dreams make Noah realize what was lost, and that it may be found, if he tries?

This was a very good book! I read it in 3 days and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will have to look into more books my Ms. Kingsbury.

3. Half Finished by Lauraine Snelling - What do you do when your hobby stash becomes a pile of unfinished objects? Step 1: You count up all the unfinished projects you have "collected" over the years. Step 2: You round up your friends and have a UFO (unfinished object) party! When a small-town group of friends decides to form a UFO group in order to finally finish some of their languishing crafts, they benefit in ways they never could have imagined. While the goal is to finish their projects, they also discover that we all might be the ultimate UFO work-in-progress.

This was a really good book. I bought it because I am an avid craft-started and a rookie-finisher! It made me want to take stock of my UFOs and take the first step - pick one to finish this year. It also made me very thankful for my crafty friends who support (enable?) me and always provide encouragement! A great read for anyone who has started a project only to have it hibernate somewhere within your home, office, or garage.

4. After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot - Emily has lost her husband, mother, father, and sister to illness, tragedy, hot headedness, or just plain stubbornness over the past few months. To top it all off, she has also lost her trust, love, and faith in people...well, not all people. Craig has lost his wife and must now care for his son alone. He is hoping a change of scenario in Sweetwater Crossing will help his young son move forward and away from the tragedies & nightmares of their past. While Emily and Craig carefully cross paths, mysterious events begin to unfurl and a series of tragedies takes place that makes it impossible for them to work together...and get closer in the process.

This was a really good book! Could not put it down and wanted to see what happened! Was sad to see it end, but it is part of what I suspect will be a trilogy.
Thank you LibraryThing for the great Early Reviewer read!

5. Wolvercraft Manor by Cas E. Crowe - Saige Wolvercraft swore she would never return to Wolvercraft Manor. While idyllic & mysterious as a young child, Wolvercraft Manor now means nothing but heartache...and horror. After watching her mother commit suicide, Saige has been plagued by hallucinations, depression, and anxiety - all of which were brought on at Wolvercraft. But...her brother is getting married & both he and Saige's father want her to attend this lavish event of the year. While Saige would rather (and almost did) jump off the ferry rather than return to the island, fate seems to have other plans for her. One of those unexpected plans is being forced to mix, mingle, & be in the presence of her ex-fiancée Jasper. He states that he was only invited to play at the wedding (convenient when you are the groom's best friend), but something about his story does not add up. As Saige tries to figure out what Jasper is up to, she is also trying not to lose her sanity and prevent another tragedy at Wolvercraft Manor. A storm of the century is coming - and while everyone else is worried it will destroy the wedding plans, Saige is worried history will repeat itself and Wolvercraft Manor will destroy herself or someone else.

This was a REALLY good book! I read it in 2 days and could not put it down! I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy!

6. A Series of Unfortunate Proposals by Catherine Keaton - Except for being rather plain looking, Elinor has lived a fairly wonderful, uncomplicated life for 28 years. While she would love to marry & have children, the suitors in Elinor's social class do not think she is beautiful enough to temp them into marriage. And so, Elinor is resigned to be an "old maid" and takes comfort in the fact that her beautiful younger sister Anne will soon marry and will hopefully provide Elinor with loads of wonderful nieces & nephews. Mere weeks before the wedding, Elinor & Anne learn that their father has lost his fortune, lost their dowries, and must sell all their possessions & estates. If all that were not traumatic enough, their father is also fleeing to Italy in order to avoid debtor's prison and leaving his daughters homeless & scandalized. Anne is safely engaged to be married, however Elinor must resign herself to the prospect of becoming a governess to find lodging and an income. Fortune smiles upon the brave and Elinor is granted a position with the wealthy Harwell family to tutor their young ward Beth. It seems the perfect place to find contentment as a new governess, until she encounters the prejudice of the social elite. Will Elinor ever find happiness?

This was a good book and I looked forward to seeing what transpired with all the characters. It reminded me of a mash-up of Jane Austin meets Jane Eyre and keep me reading onward! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy! It would be interesting to see this as a series to see how some of the other characters fare (Anne, Mr. Ferret, Vincent, and little cousin William and Beth).

7. Threads by Edie Ayala- Three families living vastly different lives are bound together by common threads weaving through their hopes, joys, and heartaches. Irene married Chuck to escape her rural family roots and while their life begins with hope, it quickly descends into unimaginable tragedy. Gavin is a restless young man trying to find his own purpose in the world, but soon discovers that his path may not be so far from home and family. Columba’s life has always been a tapestry of hard work and little-to-no money, but her biggest obstacles are yet to come when her daughter disappears & her livelihood is threatened. These very different families will be connected by the tender threads of life and death while also showing us that love knows no boundaries.

This was an interesting book. I must admit it took me a few chapters to get into the stories, but once they got rolling I wanted to see what happened to everyone.

8. Remember Me (Pictures of the Heart Book 1) by Tracie Peterson - I am getting ready to start this Early Reviewer's prize! Mom read it in 3 days and gave it 2 thumbs up - said it was "a really good book & keeps your interest all the way through." So I had better get to reading! :)

Addie Bryant is no stranger to hardship or heartache. After her mother dies in childbirth, she is subjected to a lifetime of abuse from her father and two brothers. When they decide to make their fortune in the Yukon, the dress Addie as a boy and drag her through the rugged and very dangerous wilderness. When her father dies, Addie's brothers continue to harass & abuse her, finally selling her to Sam Moermann, a local gambler & brothel owner. Addie works in the brothel as a cook, but soon finds herself forced to be Sam's mistress, then his wife. When Sam is suddenly killed in a gambling dispute Addie knows that this is her only chance to escape Dawson's Creek and the cycle of her brothers' abuse. Addie exits the Yukon as she enters it, disguised as a boy with only the clothes on her back & a knapsack with a change of clothes, a few bags of gold dust, and a gold nugget necklace worth a fortune that Sam gave her on the night of his murder. Six years later Addie has made a life for herself living & working with Otis & Pearl in their photography shop in Seattle. When the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition comes to Seattle, it is an exciting time for all the citizens & businesses, but it also invites danger in the form of thousands of visitors. Will Addie and her past remain safe or will old scars resurface with the emergence of the fair & its' visitors?

This was a really good book and I could not put it down - read it in 2 days! Tracie Peterson never lets you down with her historical fiction and compelling characters. I cannot wait to see how this series moves forward! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy.

9. The Lost and Found of Green Tree by Bobbie Candas - Green Tree is a small rural town, like so many small rural towns across America, but it is the people that make the town very interesting! Nanette is crowned the Corn Husk Queen and dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a movie star, but her dreams are now on hold due to being pregnant as a result of rape. Not wanting to bring shame upon herself & her family, Nan moves to big city Mankato to find a job and decide her future. Maria dreams of moving to the city and travelling the world, but love captures her heart and she stays in Green Tree to build her new life with her husband & their twin girls. When her husband is tragically killed, Maria must make some very difficult decisions about her farm, family, and future. She decides to sell the farm due to the Depression & lack of assistance, and is forced to seek work as a caregiver to a neighboring family. She must also separate her twin daughters, having one live with her in-laws and another live with a friend in Mankato - Nannette. While trying to save money and see her daughters when she can, Maria struggles with feelings of guilt. However, guilt turns to sheer terror when Maria loses touch with Nannette & her daughter Jo and no longer finds them living in Mankato - they have both disappeared.

This was a very good book and I just devoured it! Wouldn't even mind a sequel with some of the main characters. Thank you so much LibraryThing for this wonderful novel! I literally could not put it down!

10. The Secret to Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher - Callie Dixon’s star was on the rise. She had attended her dream culinary school with a full scholarship and was now one of the youngest Executive Chefs at a very prestigious Boston resort. When she has the opportunity to cater the renown Food Safety Conference at her resort, she knows it will be a dream come true. Instead of a dream, the conference is a nightmare that Callie still cannot awaken nor escape from after accidentally causing over 200 people to get food poisoning. To make matters worse, she is fired, served with a pending lawsuit, and now works serving ice cream at Penn State Ice Cream School. Her only bright spot is that she runs into her aunt at the ice cream making class. She has not seen her Aunt Marnie or Cousin Dawn in years, but remembers them fondly and agrees to come to Cape Cod for a visit. Maybe this visit will help her get back on her feet and overcome the feelings of dread and depression she is having, not to mention a total avoidance of cooking. She would love to be able to be happy again…about anything.

This was a great second book in the Cape Cod Creamery series! I literally read it in one day! I was so excited when I saw it as a LibraryThing Early Reviewers choice! Thank you for the ARC copy! I cannot wait to read another in this awesome series!

11. Out of the Embers (Mesquite Springs Series 1) by Amanda Cabot
Evelyn Radcliff has always lived in fear since her parents' murder. Even now, 10 years later, she still feels the eyes of someone watching her every time she goes into town. So when the orphanage where she has lived and now works suddenly burns to the ground, she is apprehensive that it may be The Watcher. Evelyn and a fellow orphan Polly are the only survivors of the fire...and no one must know they are survivors. Evelyn decides to leave Gillmorton and Logansville and start a new life with young Polly who is like the sister she never had. When they reach the town of Mesquite Springs, they run into rancher Wyatt Clark and are provided a place to stay with his family. Evelyn starts a new life in Mesquite Springs and is just beginning to find happiness by following in her parents's footsteps by opening her own restaurant, Polly's Place, in town. However, her fears were not left behind in Gillmorton, they have followed her to Mesquite Springs - and with good reason. Someone may be trying to kill Evelyn once more, but why?

This was a very good book, as was the second book in the series Dream Rekindled. I have since found out there is a third book in the Mesquite Springs series! I must definitely pick that up and see what is next for the citizens of Mesquite Springs, Texas. Thank you so much LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the opportunity to read & review these great books!

12. The Ghost of Bluebell Lake by A. R. Harris
Ben’s life has been unmoored and adrift since he lost his parents. His life has not had purpose or direction in a long time and he is spiraling down into an abyss of self-isolation and depression. He musters up the courage to drive to his parents house, now his house if he desires to keep it, and stops at Bluebell lake. Little did he know that this visit would change his life forever. Ben is visited by Jess, the spirit of a 15 year old that was murdered many years before. As Ben listens to Jess’s tales of unimaginable horror and tragedy, he learns that her killer has never been captured and has continued to kidnap, torture, and murder young girls. Jess pleads with Ben to help her bring this monster to justice before it is too late, for another girl has been taken and will end up dead if they do not do something very soon.

This was a really interesting book and held my attention as I read it in a few days. Thank you Library Thing for the Early Reviewers copy! I will be on the lookout for more books by A.R. Harris!

13. In Love's Time by Kate Breslin - Clare Danner thought things were finally going her way. She had a stable job as a hospital orderly, a home for herself & her daughter Daisy, and a man she was beginning to trust enough to spend the rest of her life with. However, an unscheduled lunch in the park turns into disaster as Clare watches Marcus, the love of her life, propose to another woman. Reeling from this incident, Clare throws herself into her work and discovers a more traumatic despair: Daisy's father has died and left her his inheritance...and his parents want to remove Daisy from Clare's custody & raise her. Clare has nowhere to turn and can only trust her friends to help her fight to keep Daisy. But those friends ask a high price of her in return - Marcus has been injured in the war, lost his memory, and needs constant care. Can Clare help the war effort by helping Marcus to remember his mission's details? Can Clare help Marcus regain his memory in time to help her keep Daisy? Can Clare keep her sanity while caring for Marcus with his new fiancée at his side? Or will time run out for all of them and result in the loss of love, family, and freedom?

This was a REALLY good book (my description does not do it justice). I could not put it down and read it in 2 sittings. Thank you so much LibraryThing for the Early Reviewer copy! I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Ms. Breslin!

14. This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles - Minerva Jenkins was a good, loving, dutiful wife. She never asked why her husband Stately moved them to Shoal Mountain Kentucky from all of their family & friends. She never asked why Stately was not really affectionate or why he never wanted children. She also never asked Stately what was in his secret box - Never. Forty years after Stately's death, Widow Minerva continued to be a good, dutiful wife, never asking or wondering why to all those questions and many more throughout her marriage. However, when newspaper reporter Delano Rankin comes to visit Minerva on her mountain and ask questions about her husband and a legend of lost gold, she begins to wonder... While Minerva begins to revisit old memories that open old wounds, she begins to think about her life before, during, and after Stately Jenkins - and discovers it may not have been as idyllic as she had led herself to believe. As Delano pushes for answers about the lost gold, Minerva pushes back at Delano's probing curiosity, her own memories, and the secret that she promised Stately on his deathbed - never tell anyone about the box or what is in it. As Minerva begins to trust in young Delano, she begins to trust in herself and in her faith. However, Del is not the only person seeking information about Stately Jenkins' mysterious gold, and this stranger will stop at nothing to find it.

This was a good book that really showcased how one begins to reflect on their life as they get older. Are we the stories that are told about us or the truths we live along the path of life? I really liked the arc of Minerva and Delano's journey as they worked together to discover the truth of Stately Jenkins. Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy!

15. Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty Beller - Juniper Collins and her sisters find themselves with an almost impossible mission to accomplish. They must find a Peigan Native American woman called Steps Right and return her turquoise bead necklace to her and ensure her gift of horses was received. This request, a wish of their father on his deathbed, is one they cannot deny. None of the sisters has ever heard of Steps Right or even knows if she is still living. However, they travel across the country in with a wagon train to begin their search. Once they arrive at the Rocky Mountain camp, they are left on their own to fend for shelter, food, and security. While the sisters would prefer to take care of themselves, mountaineer Riley Turner will not let these woman remain unprotected. Surrounded by hundreds of men in the Rocky mountain wilderness is not a way to test one's bravery or foolishness. When Riley learns that these women are here to fulfill a request of their late father, he cannot help but provide for them in any way he can. However, finding Steps Right is proving much more difficult and time consuming than the Collins sisters ever thought possible. Should the sisters stay in the wilderness to fulfill their mission, or should they return with the wagon train and the safety & security of the civilized East?

This was a good book and I see that there is another in the series to come out! That will be nice to see what happens to each of the sisters, Riley, and the men in the camp. Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy! I look forward to the sequel and learning of the further adventures of the Collins sisters!

16. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder - This is the sixth book in the Little House series and describes the Ingalls family’s struggle to survive during the Hard Winter of 1880/1881. It is my favorite of all the novels and always makes me grateful for what I have and my family & friends. It is one of the few books I will read every 1-2 years and never get tired of.

17. The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin - While many know of the 1880/1881 hard winter from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 6th Little House book The Long Winter, many have never heard of the children’s blizzard of 1888. The temperature dropped from a lovely 30 degrees to 30-40 degrees below zero in a matter of minutes and the storm struck with unparalleled ferocity. Worst of all was the timing of the storm - it hit when schools all over the prairies were about to dismiss classes or had already sent students home. Many teachers tried to wait out the storm, but the freezing temperatures, lack of fuel, and destruction to the schools during the storm forced many to attempt to walk through the blizzard to safety. What would normally be an easy 15 minute walk to safety became hours of trudging through blinding snow & subzero temperatures in hopes of making it to shelter. Some did make it to shelter, however many more did not. This is their story. If you like this book, then definitely read The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin as it is a fantastic non-fiction account of this terrible storm.

18. A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White - Lady Marigold Fairfax is the epitome of elegant, if not a bit eccentric fashion to London society. However, few know that she and her brother make their true living as private investigators for The Imposters. Their unique upbringing among circus performers and acrobats taught them many useful skills to "observe others" while also helping them to avoid detection. When they are hired by Sir Merritt Livingstone for an investigation, little did Marigold and Yates know they would be spying on their long-time neighbors and friends. While all involved are hoping to prove innocence, that goal is getting more difficult by the minute. Will Marigold and her brother be able to prove their innocence while also avoiding detection as The Imposters?

This was a really good book and I am very hopeful that it will become a series. There are just too many wonderful characters not to have their own stories told! Thank you LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the advanced copy of this book!

19. Carved in Stone (The Blackstone Legacy Book #1) by Elizabeth Camden - Patrick O'Neill wants nothing more than to live his life by helping those in his community to live a better life. As a lawyer, this can sometime be difficult, depending on the client...and his current client Mick Malone was one of the most difficult he has ever had to defend. Accused of kidnapping three-year old William Blackstone years ago, Mick was found not guilty and has hated the Blackstone family and high society ever since. Now, he intends to expose the Blackstone family in a tell-all memoir...and make himself a bit wealthier too. While Patrick cannot personally stand Mick Malone, he was hired as his lawyer and must see that the memoir holds no liabilities and is published. However, he knows the Blackstone family will not sit idly by while this memoir is published and brings the Blackstone Bank & legacy bad publicity. But little did Patrick dream that William Blackstone's little sister Gwen would enter the scene and attempt to make a deal to prevent the publication of the tell-all book...and make Patrick question all of his well-laid plans.
This was an EXCELLENT BOOK! I read it in one day and am in the middle of devouring book #2. I am certain that I will finish books 2 & 3 of this series before the week is out! A truly excellent series and I cannot wait to read more from Ms. Camden!

20. Written on the Wind (The Blackstone Legacy Book #2) by Elizabeth Camden - Natalia Blackstone may not be the long-desired son her father always wanted, but she makes up for this minor flaw in every way she can. She is intelligent, loves working in her family's Blackstone Bank, has a head for business & finance, and prides herself on being very detail-oriented. When she is given control of the Trans-Siberian Railway project with Blackstone Bank she is ecstatic. This will combine her love of financial business with her love of Russia - her mother's homeland. Her partnership with the Russian construction manager is a bit unique - Count Dimitri Sokolov is competent, but he can be a little overly dramatic, yet eccentrically charming. When her communications with Count Sokolov are abruptly interrupted and his whereabouts become unknown, Natalia begins to worry about the success of her project - and strangely, about the man she has come to consider a friend. Can she locate her friend in the Siberian wilderness and also complete the Trans-Siberian Railway project? Will she ever be accepted as a woman working in the male-dominated field of business finance?

This book was just a good as the first one in the series! I can't wait to dive into the final book - the one I actually received as a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway! At long last...!!!!

21. Hearts of Steel (The Blackstone Legacy Book #3) by Elizabeth Camden - Liam Blackstone may be part of one of the wealthiest banking families in America, but that doesn't mean he feels like he belongs. After being kidnapped at age 3, he lived with an abusive father, was forced to quite school after the 8th grade, and lived in poverty. He was infused with a burning frustration against the wealthy and those of privilege. Then he discovered his true heritage, and became one of the privileged wealthy. He was reintroduced to the Blackstone family and was made a board member of U.S. Steel. However, he never has really belonged - he is still a welder passionate about helping his fellow workers & their families, that sometimes let his temper get the best of him. Getting along with the other board members of U.S. Steel has been very challenging due to his lack of education and experience, especially frustrating is the continuous barbs made against him by Charles Morse. It is while trying to make peace with Morse, that Liam meets local businesswoman and ice cream maker Maggie Molinaro. She is also trying to have a working relationship with Morse, but is also not having any luck. Maggie and Liam strike up a friendship as they strive to prevent Charles Morse from running other businesses into the ground in the name of greed and power. Will they succeed in beating such a powerful businessman that owns many of the businesses and has the power to corrupt & unfairly influence city leaders? Can their friendship survive as they are both driven to the breaking point personally and professionally?

This was a wonderful ending to the Blackstone Legacy series. I feel it rounded out all the characters from the three novels and gave them wonderful endings and new beginnings. I look forward to reading more books from Ms. Camden! She definitely brings her characters to life! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy of Hearts of Steel!

22. Against the Wind (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #2) by Amanda Cabot - Louisa Vaughn has always felt like she lived in the shadows of her sisters. She was never beautiful like Emily and was never talented at music like Joanna - much to her dismay, she clashed & quarreled with her sister most of the time. However, Louisa has always loved helping to heal others and has become trained as a midwife and future physician in the neighboring town of Cimarron Creek. When Louisa makes an impromptu trip back to Sweetwater Crossing, she finds Josh Porter injured and stranded without his horse. Mr. Porter needs a place to rest and heal from his broken leg, so Louisa takes him back to her childhood home at Findley House. There Louisa discovers that perhaps she and her sisters are not as different or clashing as she once thought, and that she might have a future in Sweetwater Crossing as the new physician. While Louisa is excited to provide healing for the town, a series of unfortunate events & accidents places doubts upon her credibility with the residents of Sweetwater Crossing. Can Louisa restore her confidence and the faith of her community in her skills as a midwife and physician? How long with this new peace last between Louisa and her sisters? As Louisa begins to think about her future, might that include marriage to one of the local residents...or perhaps an injured stranger?

This was a really good book and I was glad to see Louisa have a happy ending - she was very temperamental in the first book! I can't wait for the final book in the series comes out to meet Joanna and see what adventures she gets into back in Sweetwater Crossing. Thank you LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Revell Publishing for this advanced copy of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

23. The Orchard by Beverly Lewis - Ellie and Evan may be twins, but that does not mean they do and think alike. Lately, Ellie thinks she may not know her brother as well as she once thought. His personality and actions are becoming more rebellious and straying from the Amish way of life. Ellie thinks this might be due to the recent death of a local young man to the war in Vietnam. But this man was an Englisher, not Amish - so why would this bring about such change in her brother. Ellie and her family become even more worried when they learn that Evan has been drafted to go to Vietnam - and that he refused to file as a conscientious objector. As Evan's enlistment & transfer to Vietnam approaches, the Hostetler family must accept Evan's decision while learning what this new status as soldier means to their family & Amish community. Will Evan's actions affect relationships with friends and community leaders, especially since it appears he may not become a member of the Amish faith?

This was a really good book - as all of Beverly Lewis' are! I don't usually read books in the era of the Vietnam War, but was very happy to learn more about the conflict through this book. I would love to see another book to follow the happenings of this family!

24. A Cotswold Story: Ella’s Inheritance by Ian Cullingham
Ella and Richard’s attraction was instantaneous and their love was forged as strong as steel. When Richard is killed in WWII, Ella is distraught at losing her beloved husband - then her daughter when she miscarries after receiving that tragic telegram. Ella finds the strength to keep going in their son Daniel, who is so like his father. She sacrifices her own needs to provide for her son and begins to find a life after Richard. Ella is an excellent cook and opens her own bistro and then fine dining restaurant. Daniel becomes a journalist and world-reknown reported & documentarian for the BBC. And while Ella finds happiness in her subsequent two marriages, she has never experienced the passion and all-consuming love she had with Richard. Can she move beyond the ghost of Richard to find happiness & peace at last with artist Martin Freeman?
This was a good book and I loved the ending! It took me awhile to find it in my Dropbox and a bit longer to get going- but I am so glad I did! Thank you LibrarThing for the Early Review copy from so long ago! Better late than never for this charming story of love and family.

25. The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright - The Barlowe Theater has been a magnet for supernatural legends & lore since its' opening at the turn of the century. Many of the stories are pure fables - but some of them have an element of truth. Kit Boyd comes face-to-face with this ghostly mystery when her best friend disappears on a ghost hunting expedition at the Barlowe. The owners think the disappearance is a stunt to bring notoriety to the historic theater, but Kit knows her friend would never fake their own disappearance for publicity - and fears the worst. An unlikely partnership is formed between Kit and the paranormal team to search for clues, both natural & unnatural, that may help find their friend. However, as they dig deeper, more strange events begin to unfold that cause the team to wonder if this disappearance extends beyond the reaches of the Barlowe Theater.

In 1915, Greta Mercy attends the illustrious Barlowe theater with her friends and finds that the experience is far from grand. Greta observes a baby being thrown off of the upper balcony by its' mother during the performance - but no one else in the theater saw it happen. While working with the police to clarify what happened, Greta's young brother and his friends disappear - inside Barlowe Theater. These events are too extraordinary not to be connected, especially if the legends of the new theater are true.

Can Greta and Kit find their loved ones and will they be alive within the confines of the haunted Barlowe Theater? Read on to find out....

This was a really awesome book! I could not put it down! Jaime Jo Wright never disappoints with her novels and this is no exception! Thank you so much LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the advanced copy! I eagerly await the next novel from this very talented artist!