July 2026 Reading

My favorite books in July were A Wartime Marriage - also published as Escape from Bucharest, a better title because the book is more of an adventure than a historical romance, and The Wednesday Wars by Gary S. Schmidt, a book set during the traumatic year of 1967-68, which manages to be funny yet also very serious. I think it should have won the Newbery Medal as it reaches readers on many different levels but it was a runner-up.

Mystery/Suspense

The End of Her by Shari LaPena (2020); narrator, Karissa Vacker.  Stephanie thinks she has the perfect marriage with her handsome, architect husband and twin daughters, if only the colicky babies allowed their parents some sleep! But then a woman from Patrick’s past makes an unpleasant appearance in their lives, trying to blackmail him about the death of his first wife, and while Stephanie is supportive, she also begins to wonder if he is capable of murder. LaPena’s books are full of twists and well-depicted (if not very likable) characters; a very entertaining audiobook.

Hope Rises by David Baldacci (2026). Walter Nash, once a mild-mannered financial executive, transformed himself into a tattooed killing machine after his daughter was killed, and is now undercover seeking revenge against Victoria Steers, who destroyed his family. It was already quite improbable, although a fast-paced, enjoyable read, like all Baldacci’s books, but once Nash becomes Steers’ bodyguard, he finds himself drawn to her. It was hard to see how Baldacci could reconcile everything that was going on in this book and not very convincing. This was the sequel to Nash Falls.  Not his best; in fact, I haven't liked several of his recent books.

The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen (2026). The third installment of the Martini Club series features Ingrid Slocum, who is drawn into a dangerous plot after helping to organize a local conference in Purity, Maine. A renowned infectious disease specialist and Russian defector dies mysteriously, then a waitress at the hotel, and an old flame of Ingrid’s turns up. Although retired, Ingrid cannot resist investigating these deaths, which remind her of a long ago ops, even if this could jeopardize her marriage. I suggest you start with book 1, The Spy Coast.

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister (2026). Simone has gone to Texas for a vacation with her daughter, an aspiring actress about 18. But when she wakes up on what should be their first morning together, Lucy has been abducted and Simone is forced to break all sorts of laws to save her daughter’s life. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and although the plots are a bit farfetched, they are suspenseful, fast-paced reads.

The Double Image by Helen MacInnes (1965). I’ve been a fan of MacInnes’ books since my mother handed me a copy of Above Suspicion as a teen. This book begins when American John Craig runs into a former Columbia professor in Paris. When someone confides in you that he has seen someone from his past and fears for his life, please don’t let him walk back to his hotel alone! Especially if you saw the person as well and can identify him - he’ll be after you next! My review.

The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan (2018)(reread). Because this series is set in Galway, I’d been thinking about it before my trip and was pleased to find a paperback in a charity shop in Virginia, County Cavan. It’s a police procedural featuring Cormac, who has recently given up his career in Dublin to move to Galway with his girlfriend. He is frustrated about being assigned to cold cases but then a suicide turns out to be related to one of his very first cases 20 years earlier.

Historical Fiction

A Wartime Marriage by Mary Jane Staples (1977). Loved this suspenseful novel about a British officer captured by the Germans near the end of WWII, who is offered help escaping if he will escort a Romanian princess to safety in England. She is beautiful, willful, and charming so it is inevitable that he will fall for her during their dangerous trip, despite the existence of his fiancée. The personalities and interaction of these characters, as well as their pursuers and those trying to help, made this a very enjoyable read. My review.

Romance

His Heir of Revenge by Jackie Ashenden (2025). I always enjoy a good revenge novel so picked this up while organizing new releases at my library: an alpha hero, an accidental pregnancy, revenge, a marriage of convenience - it was kind of silly.

Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr (2009). I was curious about this author so picked this up somewhere but it was only so so. Shelby McIntyre spent five years as her mother’s caregiver and is now staying with her uncle at Virgin River while she makes future plans. These do not include a handsome Blackhawk pilot with no intention of settling down.  There's now a Netflix series based on these books!

The Confessions of a Duchess by Nicola Cornick (2009). I picked up this historical romance from an €3 shelf in Galway because I have enjoyed Cornick in the past but this was disappointing. The heroine is a widowed duchess *and* was secretly a highwaywoman. When estranged from her husband, she had a fling with Dexter Anstruther and bore his child, although never told him. Dexter thinks she exploited him but he is investigating a murder in the neighborhood and needs her help, so they are thrown together frequently. I found both Laura and Dexter unconvincing.  Cornick has written much better books recently.

It's a Great World by Emilie Loring (1935). Not one of Loring’s strongest. Eve suggests a marriage of convenience with her closest friend, Jeff Kilburn, then quarrels with him after the wedding and goes off in a huff. Several months later, they are both in DC working for her uncle, a distinguished senator, and become involved in a strange plot involving diamond mines.  It's a pristine copy, however! My review.

YA/Juvenile

You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh (2025). Jamie Taher-Foster has big plans for her senior year. She's made a list of things and places in Toronto she and her boyfriend of three years, Ben Cameron, need to check off before graduating. When he unexpectedly breaks up with her, she starts fake-dating Axel, a year younger, who is much nicer than Ben, if only she would realize it.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary S. Schmidt (2007). I loved this book set in 1967 about a seventh grader feuding with his English teacher. It’s set in suburban Long Island during the 1967–68 school year, with the Vietnam War as an important backdrop for the novel. The conflict in the country is mirrored in Holling’s home as he and his older sister interact with their self-absorbed father and passive mother. The NY Betsy-Tacy group read this in July and everyone enjoyed it.

Crepes by Suzette by Monica Wellington (2004). Suzette operates a street cart, making crepes throughout Paris in this charming picture book, which I read for Paris in July.  Delicious! My review.

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One of Dublin's finest!

I didn't make much progress on my 20 Months of Summer in July because of spending nine days in Ireland but it was a very fun trip (and I came back with several books, of course).

Here is my First Day of School picture from second grade with my middle sister: