Lisa Goodmurphy

July reading wrap-up: 15 books read (4 books I own, 7 ARCs, 4 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . Jenny James Is Not a Disaster 3.5⭐️- After losing job/home, single mom & teen son go on RV trip with nomadic friend. . Swan Song 3.5⭐️- In final Nantucket book, mansion burns and woman goes missing days before retirement of Chief of Police. . Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- a small Southern town and a book banning campaign. . A Love Letter to Paris 3.5⭐️- sweet romance about a Parisian woman who runs a matchmaking service where letters are exchanged. . The Glassmaker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- historical fiction/magical realism about a Murano glassblowing family. . The Briar Club 4.5⭐️- female friendship/murder mystery set in 1950s DC against backdrop of Red Scare. . The Break-Up Pact 3.5⭐️(Pub Date: 8/13)- two old friends fake dating after both experience humiliating viral break-ups. . The Goddess of Warsaw ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Jewish woman fighting Nazis in Warsaw later becomes Hollywood star. . Peggy (Pub Date: 8/13) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- historical fiction about heiress/philanthropist Peggy Guggenheim. . A Rosie Life in Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Pub Date: 10/15) - non-fiction - Irish Woman wants to move with her family to Italy. . A Year at the French Farmhouse ⭐️⭐️- woman accidentally buys French farmhouse and moves alone when husband refuses to join her. . The Booklover’s Library 3.5⭐️ (Pub Date: 9/10)- in wartime England, widow working at lending library must evacuate daughter to countryside. . The Lion Women of Tehran 4.5⭐️- three decade friendship between two Iranian girls spanning 1950s-80s. . A Wedding in Lake Como ⭐️⭐️⭐️-three college friends torn apart by betrayal reunited at wedding in Italy. . Old Girls on Deck 3.5⭐️ - two sisters in their ‘60s on an all-expenses paid Mediterranean cruise.

I have been visiting Manitoulin Island every summer for about 30 years and there are still places that are new to me. When we were at our cottage last week we took a drive to Meldrum Bay on the western end of the island. We were disappointed that we couldn’t access the lighthouse but still an enjoyable drive!

Home again after spending a few quiet days on Manitoulin Island.

June reading wrap-up: 17 books read (5 books I own, 3 ARCs, 9 library books)! You can find short reviews on Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- historical novel set in a seaside village in England in 1919. . The Guncle Abroad ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- sequel with GUP taking niece & nephew on European trip before dad’s wedding in Lake Como. . The Paris Widow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- man goes missing after explosion in Paris and wife tries to find out what happened. . The Lost Lover ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- third in series about three young women and the St Kilda evacuation in the early’30s. . The Beautiful People 2.5⭐️- famous photographer and the jet set including Lily Pulitzer in Palm Beach in the early ‘60s. . The Year of What If 3.5⭐️- Weeks before wedding, tarot card reading prompts 42 year-old to re-trace gap year travels. . Long Island 4.5⭐️- sequel to Brooklyn - 20 years later Eilis returns to Ireland for the summer with marriage in crisis. . You Are Here ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- two lonely people on 10 day hiking trip in the English countryside. . The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster 3.5⭐️- soon-to-be bride tries to connect with estranged Black family in North Carolina. (Pub date: 7/2) . Every Time We Say Goodbye ⭐️⭐️⭐️- 1955 London playwright moves to Rome to work with American filmmakers. . Margo’s Got Money Troubles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 20 y/o single mom with help from ex-pro wrestler dad starts an OnlyFans to make ends meet. . Summer Romance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- mom in her late ‘30s going through divorce finds love and self. . Lies and Weddings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- future Earl torn b/w following heart or marrying into wealth to save family from financial ruin. . How To Age Disgracefully ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- seniors try to save community centre with help from toddlers, teenage dad and geriatric dog. . Welcome to the School by the Sea 2.5⭐️ - 1st in series about boarding school for girls in England. . Same As It Ever Was 4.5⭐️- family drama exploring love, marriage, parent/child relationships from pov of 57 y/o woman. . Sandwich 4.5⭐️- 54 y/o on vacation on Cape Cod with husband, adult children and her parents.

This popped up in my photo memories today - 17 years ago we were on an Alaskan cruise. We were travelling with my in-laws and our two daughters who were 10 and almost 4 at the time and it was the perfect multigenerational trip. We had another scheduled for my husband, our younger daughter and I in 2020 but obviously had to cancel and have yet to rebook. It is still a destination that I think I would still like to revisit to experience it without young kids! What do you think - is an Alaskan cruise worth repeating?

Last year at this time, we were experiencing an unexpected snowstorm on our Canadian Rockies road trip and this year we’re in the midst of a sizzling heat wave. Something a little less extreme would be nice!

May reading wrap-up: 14 books read (4 books I own, 6 ARCs, 4 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . Moorewood Family Rules 2.5⭐️- woman gets out of prison and tries to make her family of con artists go straight. . A Good Life 3.5⭐️- two sisters who haven’t seen each other for 5 years spend a week together in Basque Country after death of grandmother. . Last Call at the Local ⭐️⭐️⭐️- romance about travelling musician with ADHD who takes job at pub owned by man with OCD in Cobh, Ireland. . Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Dame Judi Dench on every Shakespearean role she has played in a seven decade career. . Such a Bad Influence ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- young influencer disappears and her sister tries to find her. (Pub Date: 6/4) . This Summer Will Be Different 3.5⭐️- best friend’s brother romance that takes place over several summers on Prince Edward Island. . A Murder Most French 3.5⭐️- 2nd in series about young American and her friend, Julia Child, solving murder mysteries in post-war Paris. . Tiananmen Square ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - character driven coming-of-age about young woman in Beijing culminating at Tiananmen Square in 1989. (Pub Date: 6/4) . The Divorcées 3.5⭐️- sheltered young woman at Reno divorce ranch in 1951 is encouraged to push boundaries by an enigmatic fellow guest. . The Secret History of Audrey James 4.5⭐️- young pianist in Berlin on cusp of WWII risks everything to help friend. (Pub Date: 6/4) . Gator Queen 3.5⭐️- new cozy mystery/romance series about a woman who traps gators in Florida. . Real Americans ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- three generations of an Asian American family - coming of age and themes relating to identity. . Brooklyn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- young woman emigrates from Ireland in the ‘50s - first read more than a decade ago but wanted to re-read as sequel was just published. . Love in Provence 3.5⭐️- sequel to Escape to the French Farmhouse about a woman from UK who moved to Provence.

I was going through photos and realized that it will soon be 3 years since our last trip to Atlantic Canada. Too long - I miss the ocean, the lobster and the people!! So here’s a #tbt to the village of Peggy’s Cove in September 2021.

The Morgan Library & Museum garden.

4.5 ⭐️ The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall (Publication Date: 6/4) . A gripping dual timeline historical novel about a young British/German pianist living in Berlin on the cusp of World War II who risks everything to help a friend. . In 1938, Audrey is living in Berlin with her best friend Ilse Kaplan’s family while studying at a prestigious music school. Her father is insisting she return to England but Audrey is reluctant to leave prior to graduation and dreads leaving Ilse behind as her family has already been targeted by Nazis. When the Kaplan’s home is confiscated by Nazi officers after Kristallnacht, Audrey agrees to work as their housekeeper while Ilse hides in the attic. Audrey soon joins a resistance cell in an attempt to stop Hitler and save her friend. . In the 2010 timeline, Kate Mercer leaves London after a tragic accident to work at an inn in northern England and the elderly proprietor shares her long-held secrets as Kate unravels her own past. . I loved the author’s debut novel, Looking for Jane, and this is even better! I love how she is committed to telling women’s stories in well-written and thoroughly researched books inspired by real people and events. The market may be over saturated with WWII historical fiction but this one is original with its focus on German resistance particularly the Red Orchestra. . The Secret History of Audrey James is a captivating and suspenseful page turner that celebrates courageous women who risked everything to protect those they loved during the war. It’s an emotional (and action-packed) story of friendship, love, hardship, loss and healing that is heartbreaking yet also heartwarming - this is historical fiction at its best and I couldn’t put it down!!

I finally visited the beautiful Morgan Library & Museum on our most recent trip to New York. The stunning Renaissance-inspired library was built by American financier J. Pierpont Morgan to house his collection of rare books, manuscripts, drawings and prints. If you love books then you’ll want to visit this museum on a trip to NYC!!

Springtime in New York. My favourite time in the city. . 📸 The New York Public Library

April reading wrap-up: 14 books read (5 books I own, 4 ARCs, 5 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . A Great Country ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 12 year-old son of Indian immigrant family arrested in violent police confrontation. . Table for Two ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- short stories and a novella that continues the story of Eve from Rules of Civility. . One Last Summer 3.5⭐️- second chance romance with reunion of group of friends from summer camp. (Pub Date: 6/11) . Nosy Neighbors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- heartwarming story of a group of tenants who come together to fight an eviction notice in a small town in England. . Best, First and Last ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- a woman, her daughter and granddaughter hike the Incan trail to Machu Picchu. (Pub Date: 6/25) . All We Were Promised ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- pre-Civil War Philadelphia, a housemaid and an abolitionist work to help an enslaved girl escape. . The Suite Life ⭐️⭐️⭐️- breezy beach read about a London hair stylist attending her sister’s destination wedding in Hawaii and is upgraded to an incredible suite. . The Secret Keeper 4.5⭐️- Canadian twin sisters working in WW2 - one as a pilot and the other as a codebreaker. . How to End a Love Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️- steamy romance about two writers connected by tragedy working together 13 years later. . Tomorrow Is For the Brave ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- historical fiction and espionage- young woman driving for French Foreign Legion in WW2 North Africa. (Pub Date: 5/14) . The Twilight Garden 3.5⭐️- two feuding neighbours come together reviving their shared garden. . Funny Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- rom-com about a woman who moves in with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex-boyfriend. . The Spoiled Heart ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- story of race/class/grief/trauma set against backdrop of union election in England. . The House on Biscayne Bay 3.5⭐️- dual timeline historical mystery about women who died at a mansion in Miami

New York, New York. It’s good to be back!

Spring blossoms in Gairloch Gardens.