Review & Giveaway - - That Last Carolina Summer

That Last Carolina Summer

by Karen White

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

As a child, Phoebe Manigault developed the gift of premonition after she was struck by lightning in the creek near her Charleston home. Plagued throughout her life by mysterious dreams, and always living in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Addie, Phoebe eventually moves to the West Coast, as far from her family as possible. Now, years later, she is summoned back to South Carolina, to help Addie care for their ailing mother.

As Phoebe’s return lures her back into deep-rooted tensions and conflicts, she is drawn to Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Their connection brings comfort to Phoebe, while Celeste’s adult grandson Liam resurrects complicated emotions tied to Phoebe’s past.

But the longer Phoebe spends in her childhood home, the more her recurring nightmares intensify—bringing her closer to the shocking truth that will irrevocably change everything. Unfolding against the lush backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, That Last Carolina Summer is an unforgettable story about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances.

PJ's Thoughts:

Karen White paints a picture with her words of South Carolina's Lowcountry in her newest novel, That Last Carolina Summer. From the weather to the food to the topography, the southern turns of phrase, character traits, and more, the uniqueness of this region is brought to life on the pages of this book. I could feel the dense, sultry humidity of the air on my skin, hear the whispers of marsh grass swaying in the breeze, smell the brine of the nearby ocean, and tingle with electricity from incoming storms. And speaking of storms, there are more than a few, some created by the weather while others spring from long-held family secrets. 

This was such a compelling, immersive read. White kept me on my toes with these complex characters and their twisty, emotional journey. She plunked me right down in the middle of this fractured, three-generation family and the challenges facing them one turbulent summer. I never felt like an outside observer; I was right there with them experiencing each new revelation and the multitude of emotional reactions elicited. 

Then there's the masterfully constructed mystery element of the book surrounding an event at the core of those long-held secrets, a devastating truth with ripples still being felt many years later, with long-delayed answers just out of reach. I kept flipping pages long into the night trying to figure out if my guesses were correct and what, if any, impact those answers would have for the characters involved.  

If you enjoy multi-generation, Southern stories with rich authenticity, complicated family dynamics, romantic elements, and a twisty mystery, add The Last Carolina Summer to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it. 

Have you read any of Karen White's books?

What book have you recently read where you felt immersed in a particular setting?

I named some of the attributes that are unique to the Lowcountry setting in That Last Carolina Summer. What are attributes that would describe the region where you live?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), July 25 will receive a hard cover copy of That Last Carolina Summer.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - The Anatomy of Magic

The Anatomy of Magic

by J.C. Cervantes

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers—and her confidence—spiraling out of control.

Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past—Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been looking forward to this book since turning the final page of book one, The Enchanted Hacienda (read my Top Dish review). I'm happy to say it did not let me down. Cervantes has once again crafted an immersive, magical, hard-to-put-down book that reached into my soul and held me captivated from start to finish. 

From the first scenes, we are witness to the chaos and internal pain of Lily's life and given one reason for it. But there is much more at play here - secrets that gradually unfold as Lily and Sam are given a second chance. I love how Cervantes plunges me into the emotions of her characters, how she gradually opens them up to all the pain and joy of life. How she allows them to make questionable decisions, to make the wrong choices, then gives them the opportunity to grow, to right the wrongs, to do better. Be better. I was with them every step of the way, experiencing all the emotions. 

The Estrada family farm with its magical flowers, of course, plays a pivotal role in Lily's evolution as do the members of her family. The strength, resilience, and bond that these women share is the core of these stories. I love how they support one another while also holding each other accountable. Their bonds may stretch but they never break and when the need is great, they all come. 

If you have not yet experienced the magic of these beautifully written stories, I encourage you pick one up and spend time with the women of the Estrada family. I'm already looking forward to whatever Cervantes has in store for them next. 

You could enjoy The Anatomy of Magic on its own but I strongly recommend reading The Enchanted Hacienda first. I loved them both. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Enchanted Hacienda

The Enchanted Hacienda

by J.C. Cervantes

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: May 16, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

When there’s magic all around you, the possibilities are endless…

When Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home—the enchanted Hacienda Estrada.

The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, interpret dreams—but not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family’s magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it’s not magic she’s missing, but belief in herself. When she finally embraces her unique gifts and opens her heart to a handsome stranger, she discovers she’s far more powerful than she imagined.

With unforeseen twists, romance, and a heavy sprinkle of magic, The Enchanted Hacienda is a captivating coming-of-age debut exploring identity, unconditional family love, and uncovering the magic within us all.

PJ's Thoughts:

This story is, in a word, enchanting. Other words also come to mind: immersive, uplifting, magical, welcoming, all-encompassing, romantic, transformative. I lost myself completely in these characters and their story, especially Harlow. I'm firmly convinced the Hacienda Estrada is in full bloom south of the border. J.C. Cervantes brought it, and her characters, vividly to life with exquisitely detailed descriptions that encouraged layers of visceral feelings within me to the surface. This was not just a reading; it was an experience. 

Reading this coming-of-age story also brought home the fact that there is no age limit to people discovering, exploring and accepting their individual truths. I loved watching the gradual flowering of Harlow, nurtured by the unconditional love and support of her family and best friend, as she slowly opened her heart to love and herself to unanticipated possibilities. It was joyous, empowering, and not without pain along the way. But as the goddess whispers to Harlow in her darkest hour, "There is magic in heartbreak. Because every transformation begins here." The transformation of Harlow, of Ben, and of their love was one that broke my heart before putting the pieces back together, stronger than before. The romance is strong in this book, intertwining with Harlow's individual growth to achieve a satisfying balance between one person's coming-of-age journey and one couple's journey to a hard-won happily ever after. 

There is also magic in the words of Cervantes. Every word, every thought, every touch is well thought out and essential to the overall story as well as the evolution of its characters. Each character, whether primary or secondary, has a vital role to play in Harlow's awakening. Each one stirred something elemental within me. I could write at least three more paragraphs about the impact of these characters on Harlow's life - and on me - but that is something that should be experienced first hand by each reader. 

This book is Cervantes' adult fiction debut, one that has landed her solidly on my must-buy list. I don't know if there are more Estrada family books planned but I really hope that there are. I'm nowhere close to being ready to say good-bye to this family or to the other Estrada women begging for their stories to be told. 

I've read The Enchanted Hacienda twice. I loved it the first time through. I loved it even more the second. I am confident that I will return to it again and again, whenever I need a comforting reminder to believe in myself, in love, and in the magic that surrounds us all...if only we believe. 

This one has my enthusiastic recommendation. It's one of my favorite books I've read so far this year and has earned a place on my Best of 2023 watch list. 

~~~~~~~~

Do you enjoy magical elements in the books you read?

Have you watched the movie, Encanto? This book mirrors the joy, warmth, and complexity that touched my soul while watching that film. Many times. ;-)

Each of the women in the Estrada family has a magical power that is tied closely to a flower. What magical power would you choose to have, if any, and what flower would you want it to be tied to? 

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, May 18 will receive a hardback copy of The Enchanted Hacienda. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Many thanks to Park Row Books for their generous donation of today's giveaway. 

Tour Review - - The Woman With The Blue Star

The Woman With The Blue Star

by Pam Jenoff

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: May 4, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents in the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous tunnels beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.

Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.

Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by incredible true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an unforgettable testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.

PJ's Thoughts:

Pam Jenoff writes with compassion, meticulously-researched historical detail, and heart-wrenching candor. I have yet to read a book written by her that is less than a 5-star read.  

In The Woman With The Blue Star, Jenoff turns her pen to the plight of Polish Jews in the city of Kraków during WWII. While her story is fictional, the characters in the book, and their journeys, are inspired by actual Jews who took refuge in the sewers of a Polish city to escape transport to Nazi death camps. 

This is a book that pulled me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages. It's filled with danger, suspense, anguish, hope, an unlikely friendship between two young women who live very different lives, and enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. Jenoff's words paint an all-too-vivid picture of what life was like for both Sadie and Ella. She brings the streets of a Nazi-occupied city, and a dark, dank, rat-infested sewer, to life; making it all too easy to imagine the fear, desperation, and rage that filled peoples' souls.

Perhaps what affected me the most was the fact that although Sadie and Ella - all the characters, really - were fictional characters, I never stopped remembering that they, especially Sadie and her family, were inspired by actual people who lived, and died, in the horrors of the Holocaust. Jenoff created such fully-developed, relatable young women that it was easy to forget that were not actual people which amped the emotional connection I felt with them even higher. My heart ached for what they endured but also found hope in the fact that because someone found the courage to do the right thing, others were saved and two young women who could easily have become enemies instead found friendship, purpose, an enduring bond, and the will to go on when all seemed lost. 

Tour Review - - Once a Liar

Once a Liar
By A. F. Brady
Publisher: Park Row (Harlequin)
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

In this electrifying psychological thriller, a high-powered sociopath meets his reckoning when he’s accused of the brutal murder of his mistress.

Did he kill Charlie Doyle? And if he didn’t…who did?

Peter Caine, a cutthroat Manhattan defense attorney, worked ruthlessly to become the best at his job. On the surface, he is charming and handsome, but inside he is cold and heartless. He fights without remorse to acquit murderers, pedophiles and rapists.

When Charlie Doyle, the daughter of the Manhattan DA—and Peter’s former lover—is murdered, Peter’s world is quickly sent into a tailspin. He becomes the prime suspect as the DA, a professional enemy of Peter’s, embarks on a witch hunt to avenge his daughter’s death, stopping at nothing to ensure Peter is found guilty of the murder.

In the challenge of his career and his life, Peter races against the clock to prove his innocence. As the evidence mounts against him, he’s forced to begin unraveling his own dark web of lies and confront the sins of his past. But the truth of who killed Charlie Doyle is more twisted and sinister than anyone could have imagined…

My thoughts:

At first glance, Once a Liar has everything I typically enjoy in a psychological thriller. It starts out well and doesn't take long to figure out that Peter Caine is one sick puppy. I anticipated a story that would have me eagerly flipping pages to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. The pace quickly slows to a crawl and I began to lose interest, several times having to force myself to continue. It does pick up toward the end of the book though and includes some twists that may surprise many readers. 

The characterization of Peter is very good. It's clear the author knows a lot about sociopaths and has created a character that should produce a visceral reaction in most readers. He certainly did with me. She's also created an interesting cast of secondary characters, many with their own share of psychological issues. These are not happy people. I wasn't able to find a single one I'd like to meet in real life. They are expertly depicted though and their actions generated strong emotional reactions in me. Kudos to the author for accomplishing that.


I like my stories told at a faster pace but if you enjoy a slow-moving character study with some twists and turns along the way, you may want to give this one a try. 

Are you a fan of psychological thrillers?

Do you prefer a fast-paced story with lots of action or a slower story with the focus on character evolution?

One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, February 1, 2019 will receive a print copy of Once a Liar. (U.S. only)

INSTAGRAM TOUR:

Monday, January 28th: @bookishconnoisseur

Tuesday, January 29th: @tbretc

Tuesday, January 29th: @wherethereadergrows

Wednesday, January 30th: @amberafterglowreads

Thursday, January 31st: @bibliotrix.lestrange

Friday, February 1st: @bookclubwithbite

Saturday, February 2nd: @girlwithnoselfie

Sunday, February 3rd: @bookishwinterwitch

Monday, February 4th: @jessicamap

Tuesday, February 5th: @thats_what_she_read

Wednesday, February 6th: @thepagesinbetween

Thursday, February 7th: @novelgossip

REVIEW TOUR:

Monday, January 28th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Tuesday, January 29th: Where the Reader Grows

Wednesday, January 30th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit

Thursday, January 31st: The Romance Dish

Friday, February 1st: Book Reviews and More by Kathy – excerpt

Monday, February 4th: Jessicamap Reviews

Tuesday, February 5th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 6th: The Pages In-Between

Thursday, February 7th: Novel Gossip

Monday, February 11th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Tuesday, February 12th: She Reads With Cats and @shereadswithcats

Wednesday, February 13th: @readingbetweenthe_wines

Friday, February 15th: @jennblogsbooks

Monday, February 18th: Helen’s Book Blog

Tuesday, February 19th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Wednesday, February 20th: Erica Robyn Reads

Saturday, February 23rd: Books & Bindings

Monday, February 25th: Bewitched Bookworms

Wednesday, February 27th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Friday, March 1st: @love_my_dane_dolly

Monday, March 4th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Tour Review - - The Lost Girls of Paris

The Lost Girls of Paris
by Pam Jenoff
Publisher: Park Row (Harlequin)
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

1946, Manhattan

One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.


My thoughts:

I've read enough novels by Pam Jenoff to know better than to start reading one of her books in the evening. I ignored my inner monitor, did it anyway, and turned the final page at 3:30 AM. Yes, I was completely worthless the next day but it was so worth it. 

Inspired by actual people and events during WWII, The Lost Girls of Paris is filled with everything I've come to enjoy in a Jenoff novel. The author's meticulous research immerses the reader in the 1940's, both during and following the war. The transitions from 1946 New York City to 1943 London to 1944 France were flawless, with spot-on pacing that held my attention from beginning to end, and vivid descriptions that took me on an incredible journey. Told primarily from the points of view of three women, this story follows ordinary women leading extraordinary, incredibly dangerous lives as secret agents during the war and the young woman who stumbles upon their story a few years later. It's filled with danger, tension, betrayal, anguish, bravery, suspense, sacrifice, and heart...and I couldn't look away. 

Jenoff has a talent for creating fully-dimensional characters that pull me into their hearts and minds. I care about them. I'm invested in their lives and their happiness. I applaud their success, fear for their safety, celebrate the joy in their lives, and grieve their losses. My emotions were all over the place as I read this book because that's what a Pam Jenoff story does. It makes me feel.

Another thing Jenoff does in her books is teach, though you don't realize how much you've learned until you finish the story. While reading this book, I was fully immersed in the journey of the characters. It wasn't until the next day, when I began reflecting upon what I'd read, that I realized how much I had learned about this part of history that was made in England and France during the war. I knew nothing about this group of female secret agents who were smuggled into France to aid the resistance against the Nazis but through Jenoff's fictional characters, I feel as if I've come to know and understand at least a small part of the real women who were members of this exceptionally brave unit. 

If you enjoy historical fiction, WWII fiction, women's fiction, or just an exceptionally well-written book that teaches you, touches you, and fills you with emotion, don't miss Pam Jenoff's newest novel, The Lost Girls of Paris. I highly recommend it. 

Have you read any of Pam Jenoff's books?

Had you ever heard of the female secret agents of England's Special Operations Executive?

One randomly chosen person who leaves a comment on this post before 11:00 PM, 29 January 2019 will receive a paperback copy of The Lost Girls of Paris. 
(US/Canada only)

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Pam Jenoff

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Pam Jenoff was born in Maryland and raised outside Philadelphia. She attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge University in England. Upon receiving her master's in history from Cambridge, she accepted an appointment as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. The position provided a unique opportunity to witness and participate in operations at the most senior levels of government, including helping the families of the Pan Am Flight 103 victims secure their memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, observing recovery efforts at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing and attending ceremonies to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of World War II at sites such as Bastogne and Corregidor.

Following her work at the Pentagon, Pam moved to the State Department. In 1996 she was assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland. It was during this period that Pam developed her expertise in Polish-Jewish relations and the Holocaust. Working on matters such as the preservation of Auschwitz and the restitution of Jewish property in Poland, Pam developed close relations with the surviving Jewish community.  

Pam left the Foreign Service in 1998 to attend law school and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked for several years as a labor and employment attorney both at a firm and in-house in Philadelphia and now teaches law school at Rutgers. 

Pam is the author of The Kommandant's Girl, which was an international bestseller and nominated for a Quill award, as well as The Winter Guest, The Diplomat's Wife, The Ambassador's Daughter, Almost Home, A Hidden Affair and The Things We Cherished. She also authored a short story in the anthology Grand Central: Original Postwar Stories of Love and Reunion. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and three children. 

Review Tour:

Monday, January 28th: The Romance Dish

Tuesday, January 29th: The Lit Bitch

Wednesday, January 30th: Lit and Life

Thursday, January 31st: Just One More Chapter

Monday, February 4th: Literary Quicksand

Tuesday, February 5th: Reading Reality

Tuesday, February 5th: Tar Heel Readers

Wednesday, February 6th: French Village Diaries

Thursday, February 7th: Broken Teepee

Friday, February 8th: Kahakai Kitchen

Monday, February 11th: Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Tuesday, February 12th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 13th: A Bookish Way of Life

Friday, February 15th: View from the Birdhouse

Tuesday, February 19th: A Holland Reads

Wednesday, February 20th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Thursday, February 21st: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, February 25th: Amy’s Book-et List

Tuesday, February 26th: Books and Bindings

Wednesday, February 27th: A Chick Who Reads

Friday, March 1st: Musings of a Writer and Unabashed Francophile