The Last Letters of Sally and Walter by Cammie McGovern

The Last Letters of Sally and Walter is a beautiful story about two retirees who begin a friendship and reveal their faults in order to move forward into their futures. As they get to know each other, by playing scrabble, they begin to confide to each other about their children, regrets and secrets. How fortunate they are to uncover and learn from mistakes.

Sally has just moved into Golden Grove, an independent living retirement home, against her children’s wishes. After taking care of her late husband most of her life she feels she needs this freedom. As she looks into the different clubs they offer, she sees there is a Scrabble Club. But, when she goes to the meeting, there is only a man named Walter who is the leader and no one else. Walter seems to be a bit of a curmudgeon, and she is told the club lost its members because of him, but if she would like to play a game, he would love it. She agrees and not only does she discover she loves the game but with Walter’s expert advice she becomes good at it, very good.

Sally and Walter begin to develop not only a friendship but with his guidance she decides to enter a tournament. As their companionship grows, they begin to tell each other about their past lives, their children, spouses and disappointments with their children, their pasts and more important themselves.

As Sally enters tournaments with Walter by her side coaching her, she feels powerful, doing something just for herself. But that all starts to crumble when she discovers her children need her. She goes to them leaving Walter questioning if it was him. Meanwhile Walter’s son has a crisis and in the only way Walter knows how he tries to help but only seems to make the situation worse.

And they will both encounter health issues which neither wants to admit or have help for, but their friendship will guide them. Slowly…

Both Sally and Walter must take a hard look at their previous lives and discover perhaps what they could have or should have done differently. Their futures will depend on it.

The Last Letters of Sally and Walter is not only a love story, but a rite of passage for each of them as two lost souls are able to piece together new lives, conquer hardships and learn to lean on others.

Thank you #NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #CammieMcGovern #TheLastLettersofSallyandWalter.

Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns

Icing on the Murder is the fourth book in the Baker Street Murder series and as funny and cozy as the previous stories. In this new installment we learn more about Maddy’s previous life as she and her now fiancé Michael, best friend Sherrif April Johnson and of course the star of the book, Baby, her 250-pound English Mastiff, begin their journey on picking wedding sites and attire as well as all the other good stuff. Of course, there is a murder! The Baker Street series is such an enjoyable read.

As Maddie reminisces about her Aunt Octavia who passed away and left her not only her bakery, Baby Cakes Bakery, but her beloved dog Baby, her heart aches that she does not have her to lean on for advice on how to plan a beautifully cheap wedding.

But, Maddy does have her social media background and discovers there will be a wedding expo coming to their town in New Bison, Michigan. And they are going to be running a contest. Now, Michael does not want to participate in any of these expos. But of course, Maddy enters figuring she just won’t tell him because of course she doesn’t think she will win.

Maddie discovers the wedding planner is none other than Serafina a social media star! But unfortunately, Serafina is not an angel and treats not only those who work for her horribly, but during the beginning of the expo also finds dirt on some of the contestants!

Unfortunately for Maddy, Serafina is murdered during the expo with, gulp, baking skewers from Maddy’s bakery making her the prime suspect. Now not only does she have to find the real killer, but she has to fess up to Michael about not telling him the truth. Will there even still be a wedding to plan?

With a killer on the loose it’s up to Maddy, the Sherriff, the community and of course Baby to figure out who the real murderer could possibly be. And there are many people who did not care for Serafina!

Icing on the Murder is amusing, entertaining and Burns’ books always have great twists and turns. I also can’t get enough of Baby’s antics, and I bet neither will you!

Amazon.com: Icing on the Murder (A Baker Street Mystery): 9781496753403: Burns, Valerie: Books

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