The Little Shop of Merry and Bright by Jenny Bayliss

Casey Smith has given up on love after a video of her turning down a marriage proposal went viral. Sam, her ex-boyfriend, has continued to be in the public eye, painting himself to be a victim with Casey being the villain, although in reality it was the opposite. She now spends her time living near her brother, Sam and his two children and working at a department store. One evening, alone at the store during the Christmas season, she happens upon Margo, the "Spirit of Christmas Present." Only Casey can see Margo and Margo tells her that she will erase the infamous video, but Casey first has to see five alternate realities and, if after that, Casey wants the video to disappear, Margo will do that for her. Then things begin to look up after Casey meets Ajay, a policeman who has moved to the area and they fall in love. Will Casey decide to just move forward or have the proposal erased--possibly changing her future?

The French Illusion by John Grisham

Paul and Chelsea Tanner are on their honeymoon in Paris when both are kidnapped. Chelsea is soon released after her parents pay the $2 million ransom. Paul's family also pays that amount, but he is not let go. It turns out that Paul and Chelsea are the third American couple to be taken in the last few years. Who is responsible and what is their motive? The French Illusion takes the reader on the journey to answer those questions, in addition to outlining the CIA plot to free Paul and the other two men. While I have enjoyed the several Grisham books I have read in the past, this one is a miss for me. One-dimensional characters and a story that is too leisurely-paced bogged down any momentum the book had.

Swan Song by Charles Spencer

In this memoir, Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's younger brother, recounts them growing up together first at Park House, on the Sandringham estate, then at Althorp. Alternating with the story of their childhoods is Charles' story of learning of his sister's death and preparing to write a eulogy that turned out to send reverberations around the world. It's a heartfelt, honest portrait that I felt lost some of it's momentum with the alternating timelines. However, a worthwhile read for those interested in Diana and her life.

So, I Met This Guy...by Alexandra Potter

As Maggie is turning fifty, life is not going well. She lives in an old caravan on a farmer's land, penniless after she found out her fiancée Theo was a con man who took all of her money. Young reporter Flick comes to Maggie wanting to write a story about her situation and suggests that they try and find Theo so Maggie can confront him about what he did and Flick can write a story about it. So, I Met This Guy... follows Maggie's and Flick's journey through Europe (including Monte Carlo, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Tangier) as they try and track Theo down. It's the story of a blossoming friendship, good food, humor, and healing.

The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett

The amateur drama troupe, The Fairway Players, are staging Agatha Christie's play The Hollow, but a murder occurs during the performances. Months later, lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with sorting through emails and text messages of the people involved, since the person convicted of the murder wants to appeal their sentence. Who was murdered? Are all the characters who they seem? Follow along as the truth is uncovered...

Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus

As Batter Gray grows up, he can't think of anything he'd rather do than be involved with poetry. He knows he has a special gift for understanding and interpreting poems, but everyone from his parents to his teachers to even his college roommate Paul tells Batter that it's not a real career, but should just be a hobby. Somehow, he manages to graduate from college, jumping from major to major, in the late 1970s. He finds himself in New York City in the 1980s working at Peck and Peck, the revered poetry journal. Peck & Peck recounts Batter's early twenties through his eyes--getting a job there, the people he meets and the eccentric and (at times) dehumanizing workplace. The novel has the same quirky feel as Garmus' first novel, Lessons in Chemistry, and it has a main character you can't help but cheer on while it immerses you in 1980s literary New York. It will be published next month.

How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop by Poppy Alexander

Petra, a literary agent who lives in London, flees to the small village of Portneath to run a bookstore for six months, following a social media post gone wrong. Petra has lost confidence in doing her job and figures lying low will help her decide what to do next. As the manager of Capelthorne's, Petra becomes immersed in village life--recommending books to customers, running the book club, and enjoying all the local food. She also becomes friends with Ross, whom Petra soon recognizes as a famous novelist who published his first book to great acclaim five years ago and then disappeared. Petra agrees to keep Ross' secret, but finds herself falling in love. Does Ross feel the same way--and what will happen when the bookstore's owners come back after their time away? How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop is a cozy, feel-good romance, similar to Jenny Bayliss, Alexandra Potter, and Jenny Colgan. As a bonus, it is set in the same town as some of Alexander's past books, and those characters make appearances in this book.