Way back in grade school, I read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, and ever since, I have chased the high of that magical experience. In the 1970s, I found a bit of that magic by discovering Children of Cape Horn by Rosie Swale and Adrift by Steve Callahan, along with other survival and true adventure stories.

I wasn’t sure Marriage at Sea would scratch my itch for adventure, as delving into the dynamics of a marriage while surviving in the middle of the ocean (and Maralyn couldn’t swim!) didn’t seem that riveting. However, as soon as I started it, I realized I had read the book it was based on, Staying Alive, by Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, years ago. I had forgotten much of the story of how their sailboat was upended by a whale, and what they had to do to survive on a raft for over 115 days, so it was an interesting revisit, especially since the experience was viewed through a different lens. But what was most interesting was the “after” story of how they (and their relationship) survived the attention of the press, and what they had to do to earn a living.

For those of you craving a couple of “popcorn” psychological thrillers, do I have some recommendations for you!

The first is Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife: Hooboy, that was one twisted mess, and I mean that in a good way. This author’s books have run hot and cold; the last two weren’t that great, but this one is a “banger.” It’s difficult to talk more about it without giving anything away, but just know it will keep you glued to your couch. If you prefer to listen to your books, I hear the audio is excellent, with multiple points of view and various narrators. Is it a perfect thriller? No, there are a few places you’ll be scratching your head, wondering how this happened and why didn’t someone notice “something,” and I’m still not sure I have it all figured out, but it’s a great roller coaster ride, nonetheless. This is perfect for fans of psychological suspense, such as Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden, Ruth Ware, and Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins.

The other one that had a breakneck pace was The One by John Marrs. It is a psychological suspense with a futuristic twist, and the idea of taking a DNA test to find your perfect soulmate is fascinating, but does it really work? Marrs takes on this idea for his novel, told from the viewpoints of those who have found their perfect match, with some successes (love at first sight) and some that could be called failures (the mates are dead or dying, or one is a serial killer — I know!). Marrs pulls out all of the stops in the never-ending twists in this story. I’ll for sure be reading more by this author.

This is good for fans of Dean Koontz and David Ellis’s Look Closer.

For the first half, I was ready to give this 5 stars, but it bogged down when he started delving into his experience learning to direct, although there are those who may find it more interesting than I did, so keep that in mind. I was surprised by how many TV shows he appeared in as a kid (Leave It to Beaver, Bonanza), and by the number of famous actors he worked with in various movies. Of course, his big break came when he starred in Animal House. From there, his career went through various levels of success, culminating in a West Wing role and then the Virgin River series. Even though he had a somewhat wild young adulthood (with various side eyes from me for his alley cat morals), he eventually settled down and had a family. Tim appears to be a genial guy who writes candidly about his experiences and peccadillos, but never wanders into dishing dirt on fellow colleagues (dang!), with the worst criticism being for Rob Lowe, who “stole” his nanny.

All in all, I enjoyed this and would recommend it for those who want to know more about his life and experiences, especially in the entertainment world. For similar reading experiences about those in the world of acting, try Henry Winkler’s engaging memoir Being Henry, Pamela Anderson’s Love Pamela, and Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights.

I know I’m a little behind in posting, but I’ll catch up soon.

Warning: Doing some horn blowing this morning.

Even though I enjoy creating posts on Facebook, Instagram, and this blog, they seem to go into a void as I receive very little feedback. However, I’ve had three responses this holiday season that make me think my attempts to connect readers with books are working, and that I’m perhaps contributing to a few book sales.

I joined a Historical Fiction Facebook group and posted The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay. In addition to many positive comments, I also received this: “I love this! Thank you!! My Grandmother was a Harvey Girl. That is how she met my Grandfather! I did not know about this and now have to read it!” So my job here is done…

Next up, I mailed my holiday best-of-2025 book list to a former co-worker, and she replied that a book I listed was familiar because her husband had worked with the author’s husband for a while! So they are buying a copy of Walking the Tideline by Caroline Kurtz.

My final “feel-good” moment is one for all librarians and library staff who endeavor to recommend books to friends and patrons. I sent booklists to a long-time friend, and this morning I received a “thank you” email along with the graphic below, saying it suited me to a “T.” Awww…

Thank you for reading and not minding the tooting of my trumpet.

Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis by Priscilla Presley. This was fascinating, though a few experiences should be taken with a grain of salt. For a “mom said/daughter said” experience, pair this with Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown.

How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast. A memoir by the daughter of Erica Jong (author of the ground-breaking Fear of Flying), who pens the story of her life with her mercurial mother.

Care and Feeding by Laurie Woolever. The author’s journey to working with renowned chefs Mario Batali (a jerk) and Anthony Bourdain (shy but nice) while battling her addictions.

Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker. Riveting tales of world travel by a lone woman on a motorcycle.

One Year and a One-Way Ticket: Ditching My Mother’s Five-Year Plan to Travel by Danika Smith. Smith’s engaging stories of her world travels.

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe. As a teenager, Crowe was interviewing and touring with famous 1970s bands, and went on to write and direct movies, including Almost Famous. 

John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie. I am savoring this informative look at the songs Lennon and McCartney wrote. Read this with earphones handy so you can listen to the mentioned songs.

Walking the Tideline: Loss and Renewal on the Oregon Coast Trail by Caroline Kurtz. After her husband dies, Kurtz comes to terms with her grief while hiking the Oregon coast.

For some reason, I didn’t read as many mysteries and psychological thrillers as I usually do, so I don’t have a long list. I’ll have to remedy that next year, as many amazing-sounding thrillers are coming out in 2026.

Crime Fiction

Look Closer by David Ellis. I dare you to figure out the twisty twists and who the lying liars are in this psychological thriller.

Girl from Devil’s Lake by J. A. Jance. Another excellent Joanna Brady mystery, although the murders are a little more disturbing than usual.

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn. The 60-something kick-ass women assassins are back in this worthy sequel to Killers of a Certain Age.

Audiobooks

The More the Terrier. And To All a Good Bite. Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt. I listened to three more Andy Carpenter thrillers (featuring various dogs) and loved them all. 

Murderbot Diaries (7 titles) by Martha Wells. Science fiction isn’t usually my jam, but I plowed through all seven of these wildly entertaining novels featuring a cyborg who hacks his governor module and hates anything “human.” Best if you can find them in GraphicAudio. 

Now or Never by Janet Evanovich. In her 31^st mystery, Stephanie Plum finally chooses between Ranger and Joe. These have gotten a little repetitive, but they are so much fun in audio. 

Here is a list of my favorite novels I read in 2025. I’ll post the lists for crime fiction, nonfiction, and audiobooks over the next few days.

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown. Set in the 1990s, this is a coming-of-age character study tinged with intrigue. 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. A lovely epistolary novel of a 70-ish widow who writes letters to friends, family, authors, and a mysterious recipient. Have a tissue handy.

The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay. Set in the 1920s, two young women become waitresses at Harvey Houses at Santa Fe Railway stations, eventually ending up at the Grand Canyon’s El Tovar. This was interesting and compelling. Watch for Dana Stabenow’s historical mystery, The Harvey Girl. 

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. The tragic fallout when a past love reappears. 

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough. A troubled couple moves to an English manor where bizarre goings-on ensue with an imaginative twist at the end.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Set in a small midwestern town at the close of WWII, two families become entwined by various circumstances and spend the next 40 years trying to overcome their mistakes.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley. A funny and touching “feel-good” story about a gay man taking in his niece and nephew (hence, “Guncle”) for the summer and finding a family. This is great in audio.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith. At their famous sister’s request, four estranged siblings gather for a weekend of revelations. Have a Costco-sized box of tissues by your side.

The Sun Sister, The Missing Sister, and Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt rounded out my epic journey with the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. It was a great reading experience.