Welcome back to my February book reviews, part 2.

This Book Made Me Think Of You by Libby Page will be for you if you enjoy a heartwarming story and books about books. Tilly Nightingale hasn’t been able to really concentrate on reading since her fiancé Joe passed away from cancer five months ago. She is shocked when she gets a call from her local bookstore, informing her that a birthday gift is waiting for her if she would like to come pick it up. It turns out that sweet Joe knew she would be having a rough time of it when he has passed on, so he has gifted her with a year of books from the bookshop. It was his hope that each month’s carefully chosen book would help her navigate the experience of life without him. Over the course of a year, we follow Tilly as she finds out if she can find her way to a new future. It was a really sweet read. 4.5 stars

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson was the second book I have read by this author, the first being The Square of Sevens, which I loved. Set in 18th-century London, this current book follows the story of Hannah Cole as she struggles to keep her confectionery shop afloat after the murder of her husband in what appears to have been a street robbery. Handsome William Devereaux appears at the shop with what he claims are the dividends from an investment her husband made with him. All is not as it appears, of course, and William has his eye on a much larger settlement Hannah is about to inherit. What follows is a complicated con where William is planning to swindle Hannah and Hannah, who has some major secrets of her own, is wise to his game. This book was entertaining, but the plot was complicated enough that there were several times when I set the book down and said, “What exactly is happening now?” This book was not as big a hit for me as The Square of Sevens, but I did find it entertaining. 4 stars

Trust Me On This by Laren Parvizi is a book about sisters, family drama, and a road trip saga. I love those themes, so I knew I’d like this book. Zahra Starling and her half-sister, Aurora, have nothing in common and have not spoken in quite some time. Introverted Zahra prefers testing recipes in her LA kitchen, and perky, carefree Aurora is a rising Hollywood starlet. Out of the blue, the sisters get a call from their father, who is dying of cancer and wants both of them to come to his bedside to hear a secret that has been hidden for many years. Zahra doesn’t fly, so the sisters end up agreeing to drive together to Seattle, despite their differences. The trip starts out pretty rough, but by the end, the sisters realize they need each other more than they realized. I did enjoy this well-written and ultimately touching book. 4 stars Free on Kindle Unlimited

Never Enough Time by Kimberly McMillan is the story of Marni, a fourteen-year-old girl whose mom, her only parent, has just passed away. It turns out her mother has been keeping a secret: Marni does have a dad, who is alive and well. Marnie is now to go live with her father, his wife, and two small daughters in Waco, Texas, who had no idea until now that she even existed.

Marni’s world is turned upside down when she meets her affluent new family. She and her mother had lived from paycheck to paycheck, shopping at thrift stores, and their biggest treat was an ice cream cone on payday. Her new family is very kind and welcoming, but the difference in lifestyles is huge. They live in a huge house, have a maid, belong to the “club”, and have all the advantages, which they are happy to now bestow on Marnie.

The book is told through multiple points of view, which is interesting. We follow Marni’s grief and uncertainty as she navigates her new life, but we also see things from the point of view of her new stepmother, Lauren, who obviously has a big mental adjustment to make when her husband’s love child comes to live in her home. Her dad is both bewildered and delighted to meet his until-now-unknown daughter. The grandmother also tries her best to get to know Marni through outings and shopping trips. Marni’s new little sisters are over-the-moon thrilled with their new big sister. This isn’t a wicked stepmother book by any means, but it was poignant to see the situation from the eyes of all the participants. Everyone is trying their best, but these situations don’t resolve themselves overnight. I think it was a realistic portrayal of how well-meaning individuals might best handle themselves in such a situation. I thought the book was well done. 4.25 stars

A Good Animal by Sara Maurer is a new release just out in February. I got my copy through Book of the Month Club. Basically, it is a coming-of-age novel set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The reviews say if you like Ann Patchett and Barbara Kingsolver, you will like this book, and I agree with that. Everett Lindt grew up on a sheep farm, and he is 100% content with that life and his future as a sheep farmer. He is biding his time until he gets out of school and can devote himself to that career. He has no desire beyond that, maybe except for marrying a nice girl and starting a family. Then, a new girl comes to town. Mary is a smart, restless girl with big plans for her future, which do not in any way involve living on a sheep farm in rural Michigan. Of course, she and Everett fall in love, and this book is the story of the year they meet. The book was very well written, and it was fascinating to watch the love grow between the two teenagers until it implodes with the conflict of their desires. I recommend this one. 5 stars.

The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan was an excellent debut mystery. I will definitely be on the lookout for future books by this author. I understand this book is the first in a series. We follow Annie Gore, ex-military, now private investigator, as she is called to a case in an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up. Ten years prior, three little girls went missing. One was returned and the others have not been seen again. The older brother of one of the missing girls hires Annie to look into this cold case in the hope she can bring his sister home.

There are many local legends and other folklore that factor into the case: apple dolls, crows, and the Witch of Quartz Creek. Annie’s arrival gets someone stirred up, and things start to happen. There were lots of twists and turns in this book, and I found myself riveted through the end. 4.25 stars

I do hope you enjoyed my reviews for February! Let me know if you have read any of these and what you think. Also, if any sound promising to you, which ones are they?