Episodes

Kelly joins me for April's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Make Nice by Ryan Effgen Ms. Mebel Goes to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q Sutanto Now: The Good Parts by Evann Normandin Not a Word by Linwood Barclay Next: Mother Tongue by Sara Novic Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri DNFs: Helpless by Jessica Knoll Book Mail highlights: The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane Cindy'...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in January through March 2026. Our shared top reads: Good People by Patmeena Sabit Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Upward Bound by Woody Brown Kelly’s remaining top reads: Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson Where The Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris A Good Anima...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the second quarter of 2026. Mary’s Titles: April Everything has Happened by T. Greenwood Love & Other Monsters by Emily Franklin Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson The Drop by SR Masters Go Gentle by Maria Semple Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth May Homebound by Portia Elan American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline Take Me With You by Steven Rowley June Mari...

In this interview, I chat with Craig Thomas about That's Not How It Happened, having his book selected for Book of the Month, how he decided to write a book, weaving the craziness of Hollywood into his story, Darcy's character and how she is resonating with readers, casting the amazing audiobook, and much more. Craig's recommended reads are: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Wonder by R.J. Palacio Election by Tom Perrotta A Heart That Works by Rob Dulaney The Curious Inci...

Kelly joins me for March's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Start at the End by Emma Grey The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews Now: Keep Them Close by David Ellis Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshminarayan Next: City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd DNFs: None Book Mail highlights: The Brunswick by Callie Murray In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival, and Courage by Michae...

In this interview, I chat with Ross Montgomery about Murder at World's End, weaving Halley's Comet into his story, the late Edwardian period, conspiracy theories and how they have always existed, how hard it was to write a locked room mystery, creating a strong sense of place and time, and much more. Ross's recommended read is Strange Houses by Uketsu. Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip o...

In this interview, I chat with Amy Jo Burns about Wait for Me, her inspiration for this book and for Elle Harlow, the world of 1960s and 1970s country music and its strong women, drafting lyrics for the novel, her writing process and writing group, selecting the mandolin as Elle's instrument of choice, her beautiful cover, and much more. Amy Jo's recommended reads are: Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai Looking for some great winter reads? Check out m...

In this interview, I chat with Rachel Hochhauser about Lady Tremaine, writing an untelling versus a retelling of a classic fairy tale, tackling such a well-known character, wanting her book to read like historical fiction, how she decided to write this book, her beautiful cover , and much more. Rachel's recommended reads are: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard Scavengers by Kathleen Boland One Bad Mother by Ej Dickson Looking for some great...

In this interview, I chat with Devon Mihesuah about Blood Relay, her desire to depict strong native women, avoiding a trauma story, dispelling myths about native women, her stellar cover, Indian horse relay racing, and much more. Devon's recommended reads are: Mountain Man by Keith C. Blackmore Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith Books by Nelson DeMille Cry Havoc by Jack Carr Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley Cash Blackbear series by Marcie R. Rendon Looking for some great win...

Kelly joins me for February's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth So, I Met This Guy by Alexandra Potter Now: Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Bramer The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff Next: Liberty Street by Heather Marshall Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim Didn't Work/DNFs: Love by the Book by Jessica George Book Mail highlights: Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurts by Ben Reeves 138 Main by ...

In this interview, I chat with Saara El-Arifi about Cleopatra, researching Cleopatra and the time period, how daunting it was to write about Cleopatra and wanting to give her her dignity and her voice back, the stunning cover and her requests for it, deciding what to include and what to leave out, and much more. Saara's recommended read is The Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint. Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Elizabeth Heider about ⁠ Children of the Savage City, her main character's interesting job, the inspiration for Nikki, setting her books in Naples, her stunning covers, why she focused on systemic corruption, her view on friendships, and much more. Elizabeth's recommended reads are: A Woman of No Importance by ⁠⁠Sonia Purcell The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Taylor Adams about ⁠⁠Her Last Breath, choosing a cave for the setting, creating a claustrophobic setting, his research for the novel including the police procedural aspects of the story, drafting twists and turns, his title and cover, and much more. Taylor's recommended reads are: King Sorrow by ⁠⁠Joe Hill A Simple Plan by Scott Smith Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a ti...

In this interview, I chat with Tory Henwood Hoen about ⁠Before I Forget, tackling Alzheimer's in fiction, making Arthur an oracle, decisding who would tell the story, writing in first person, how the audiobook narrator was selected, having her book selected as a December Book of the Month pick, her title and cover, and much more. Tory's recommended reads are: The Correspondent by ⁠Virginia Evans⁠ Heart the Lover by Lily King My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Good Material by Dolly A...

In this interview, I chat with Libby Page about This Book Made Me Think of You, her inspiration for the book, selecting the books she wanted to include, creating the letters from Joe, the title and cover, stories about finding community, and much more. Libby's recommended reads are: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Lovelight Farms series by B.K. Borison The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠h...

Kelly joins me for January's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Upward Bound by Woody Brown That’s Not How it Happened by Craig Thomas Now: Love by the Book by Jessica George Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Next: Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke DNFs: The Survivor by Andrew Reid Book Mail highlights: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Se...

In this interview, I chat with ReShonda Tate about With Love From Harlem⁠⁠⁠, why she decided to write about Hazel Scott, her research and why she stays away from the internet for it, Billie Holiday, her writing process, the title and cover, writing biographical fiction, the setting, and much more. ReShonda's recommended reads are: Casualties of Truth by Lauren Francis-Sharma The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton King of Ashes by SA Cosby A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victor...

In this interview, I chat with Gary J. Walters about White House Memories: 1970-2007⁠, his role as chief usher and what that role entails, planning for inauguration day and evening, his background, his impressions of the various administrations, behind-the-scenes glimpses into life at the White House, reliving his memories at the White House, and much more. Gary's recommended reads are: Books by Michel Connally Books by John Sandford A White House of Stone by William Seale Looking for some ...

Kelly joins me for December's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney Good People by Patmeena Sabit Now: How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven Next: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser American Han by Lisa Lee DNFs: None Book Mail highlights: This Book Makes Me Think of You by Libby Page The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer Cindy's Selections: La...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the first quarter of 2026. Mary’s titles January: All The Little Houses by May Cobb Skylark by Paula McLain The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave February: Imposter by LJ Ross Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise More than Enough by Anna Quindlen So Old So Young by Grant Ginder It's Not Her by Mary Kubica March : Wait For Me by Amy Jo Burns Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Bloom by Robbie Couch Murder at 30...

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2025. Our Top Shared Reads: Dead Money by Jacob Kerr This American Woman by Zarna Garg The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar Kelly’s Remaining Selections: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild The...

In this interview, I chat with Matthew Norman about Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon, writing a holiday romance, choosing which movies to incorporate into the story and the movie that didn't end up in the book, exploring the many faces of grief, holidays as universal experiences, naming the dog Harry Styles, and much more. Matthew's recommended reads are: The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu The Holiday Season by Michael Knight Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the s...

In this interview, I chat with Beck Dorey-Stein about Spectacular Things, having her book selected as a Reese's Book Club pick, writing about sacrifice and grief, tackling the sister relationship in fiction, writing about soccer, the hardest character for her to write, her title and cover, and much more. Beck's recommended reads are: Heart the Lover by Lily King Wreck by Catherine Newman Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Jayda Justus of The History Mom recommends books for gift giving this holiday. Favorite Fiction: ● Nostalgic reading - The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway ● Old favorites made new - The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels by Helena Kelly, and Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster ● Old favorite/new favorite pairing - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian....