Welcome to Between the Layers
Some seasons call for adventure, others call for slowing down with a good book. Here you’ll find the novels, memoirs, travel stories, and inspiring reads that have earned a place on my bookshelf.
Good books, Beautiful places.
A Layered life.
Where to Buy
I believe everyone should have the freedom to shop where they prefer. Throughout this page you'll find links to both Amazon and Bookshop.org. As an affiliate to both stores, if you make a purchase through either of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Bookshop.org supports independent local bookstores, while Amazon offers anther convenient shopping option. Thank you for supporting Living Layered and helping me continue sharing books I love.
My Reading Philosophy
I read to learn about people, places, and the moments that shaped history. Historical fiction is my favorite escape, bringing different cultures, time periods, and unforgettable stories to life. I also enjoy the occasional quick read beach book – the kind thats fun, engaging and perfect for vacation days. The best books leave me feeling like I’ve traveled somewhere new and learned something along the way.
What I'm Reading Now
The Chateau on Sunset
By Natasha Lester
Set in 1950s Hollywood, this atmospheric historical novel follows a young woman drawn into the glamorous, secretive world of the Chateau Marmont. Blending Old Hollywood, mystery, romance, and a touch of Gothic intrigue, its a story of reinvention, friendship, hidden truths, and finding the courage to choose your own path.
On My Radar
These are the books that are catching my attention right now- recommendations from fellow readers, book clubs, trusted reviewers, and authors, along with a few I’ve discovered along the way. Some will make it onto my nightstand, and others are simply too interesting not to share.
Set in 18th century France, this sweeping historical novel follows a resilient young woman forced to flee her home, leading her from rural France to Paris and eventually across the Atlantic to the beginnings of New Orleans. A story of survival, love, courage and finding your own strength.
A dark and atmospheric historical mystery following a woman drawn into a centuries old family secret with unsettling ties to the legend of Dracula. Rich with history, suspense, and Gothic intrigue, its an eerie page-turner that feels perfect for fall.
* Coming Nov. 19th *
Set in a small Irish town during Advent in 1962, this tender historical novel follows a doctor and his daughter after an abandoned baby unexpectedly enters their lives. A warm store of family, community, belonging, and new beginnings.
Set across South Korea, Australia, and California, this sweeping family saga follows a Korean family navigating financial hardship, cultural expectations, and the pursuit of a better future. A moving story of a family, sacrifice, resilience, and finding where you belong.
Shop Bookstore.org
A moving story of love, loss, second chances, and intertwined lives unfolding over one unforgettable week in Pari, with a touching connection to a love lost during World War II.
A gifted young pianist and his devoted mother become separated in the chaos of Beijing, beginning a years long journey to find their way back to one another. Set against the modern China and woven through music, this is a story about family, perseverance, loss and the enduring bond between a mother and son.
A page turner about love, loss, and second chances, following a successful New York doctor whose carefully planned life is suddenly turned upside down. An unexpected return home and a connection from her past forces her to question what she really wants and where she truly belongs.
A humorous and inspiring memoir about one family’s unforgettable gap year traveling the world together and embracing adventure.
A cryptologist and a mysterious hacker race across Europe solving a series of high stakes puzzles for a $12 million prize. Part thriller, part adventure and part romance, this fast moving story is filled with ciphers danger, European settings and plenty of twists.
At 81, Elsie Fitzpatrick has a quiet life – and a past she’s spent decades trying to leave behind. Once known as “Mad Mabel”, Austrailia’s youngest convicted murder, Elsie finds old questions resurfacing when another death occurs close to home. Darkly funny, twisty, and a little unconventional.
A gripping true account of the 1937 Hindenburg disaster in Lakehurst, New Jersey, told through the passengers, crew, and journalists caught in the tragedy. Blending personal stories with the larger forces shaping Europe before World War II, it brings one of history’s most unforgettable disasters vividly to life.
Beginning in 1950s Tehran two childhood friends grow up against decades of political and social change in Iran, Their lives take very different paths, testing a friendship shaped by ambition, loyalty, betrayal, and courage. A sweeping historical novel about the friendships that form us and the choices that change our lives.
Historical Fiction
My favorite genre. Stories that bring remarkable people, places, and moments from history to life.
Earlier Reads
Remarkable True Stories
Remarkable true stories that reveal extraordinary people, unforgettable moments, and the events that shaped our world.
Timeless Favorites
Books that remain on my shelf long after the final page. Beloved stories that continue to inspire generation after generation.
Easy Reads & Page Turners
Engaging Stories perfect for vacations weekends, and relaxing afternoons.
Earlier Reads
2026
- The Beach House
- The Rosie Project
- The Midnight Library
Destination Reads
Stories that transport you to beautiful places around the world, These are the books that make me want to book a flight and wander a new city.
2025
- One Italian Summer
Inspired Living: Home, Garden & Kitchen
A curated collection of books to inspire cooking, gardening, decorating, entertaining, and creating a beautiful home in every season.
Read It. Watch It. Talk About It. - Books to Movies
To encourage my kids to love reading, these are books we read together and then watched the movies. We would compare and contrast the books to movies, and what they liked better, did they visual that place or character in their head the way the movie did? This inspired years of family discussions, laughter, and a lifelong love of reading.
