This week in the Book Barn, the always entertaining Mike Hammer joins us to talk Books, Bourbon & Cigars, though we mostly stick to books. From Cold War thrillers to cosmic memoirs and dusty Westerns, it’s a lively chat full of opinions, favorites, and a nod to Batman!

Authors Mentioned:

•Stephen King

•Tom Clancy

•Cormac McCarthy

•Elizabeth Gilbert

•Michael Collins (the astronaut-author!)

Books Discussed:

•The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy

•Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut’s Journeys by Michael Collins

•No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

•All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

•The Road by Cormac McCarthy

•Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Movies Mentioned:

•No Country for Old Men (2007, Thriller/Western)

•Eat Pray Love (2010, Romance/Comedy)

Actors Mentioned:

•Javier Bardem (hauntingly unforgettable)

•Julia Roberts (queen of the genre)

And yes—Batman comes up. Briefly. But importantly. 

Tune in for a smart, funny, and refreshingly unfiltered book chat with Lanie’s husband, Mike.

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this special back-to-school bonus episode, Lasha and Lanie welcome author Jack Ellison, creator of Charlie, The Skunk Who Never Stunk, to the Book Barn! Young guests Emma and Collins join the fun to share how much they loved Charlie’s story, read to them by their grandmas. This heartwarming tale encourages kids to be brave, be themselves, and stand up to bullies.

Whether you’re heading back to school or just enjoy a good story, this episode is packed with fun, inspiration, and timeless tales.

Books and Comics Mentioned:

•Charlie, The Skunk Who Never Stunk by Jack Ellison

•Archie comics – created by John L. Goldwater, Bob Montana, and Vic Bloom

•Superman – created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

•Batman – created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

•The Three Little Pigs – popularized by Joseph Jacobs, originally sourced by James Halliwell-Phillipps

•Goldilocks and the Three Bears – by Robert Southey

•Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

•The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Find Jack, The Lone Road Ranger, on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@jackellison8518

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

As summer winds down, Lasha and Lanie dive into Summer at Hideaway Key by Barbara Davis. This novel is about family secrets, sibling rivalry, and the search for truth.

They also discuss a few other powerful titles that sparked meaningful conversation:

Books Mentioned:

•Summer at Hideaway Key by Barbara Davis (Book Club Pick)

•Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

•Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

•The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler

•28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

•The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this episode, we call up Lanie’s daughters-in-law to chat about a special book they received from her as a Christmas gift. The conversation takes a few fun turns and we dive into what everyone’s been reading. Grab a cozy drink and join us in the Book Barn!

Books Mentioned:

•How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

•A Sky Full of Love by Lorna Lewis

•The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

•The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

•The Women by Kristin Hannah

•A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this sunny episode, we welcome our book club friend Elisa to the Book Barn! We dive into our June pick, 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand and mention its follow-up novella The Sixth Wedding. Along the way, we chat about summer getaways, both real and fictional.

Books Mentioned:

• 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

• The Sixth Wedding: A 28 Summers Story by Elin Hilderbrand

• An Elephant & Piggie Biggie by Mo Willems

• The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

• Summer at Hideaway Key by Barbara Davis

Authors Mentioned:

• Elin Hilderbrand

• Jan Brett

• Patricia Polacco

• Mo Willems

• Nicholas Sparks

• Kristin Harmel

• Barbara Davis

So grab your sunscreen and your reading glasses! It’s time for a good summer read!

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this fun episode, we interview the incredible co-author team behind Story Weaver: Adventure Mode Unlocked! Plus, our junior book reviewer, Adelaide, joins us to share her thoughts on this thrilling book and its unforgettable characters. From spooky tales to classic adventures, this episode is packed with storytelling inspiration for young readers (and grown-ups, too!).

Books & Media Mentioned:
• Story Weaver: Adventure Mode Unlocked by Andy Keats
• Spooky Tales from the Story Weaver: A Collection of Short Stories by Andy Keats
• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
• Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
• The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
• So Totally Emily Ebers by Lisa Yee
• Deadpool comic books (Marvel Universe)
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios theme park experience
• Tales from the Crypt – Television series

Tune in and get ready to unlock your next adventure!

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this heartfelt episode, Lasha and Lanie are joined by special guest Teri to discuss What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon. Together, they unpack the emotional highs and lows of this genre-bending novel, from favorite quotes and Yeats poems to the enduring power of love across time. They ponder the rules of time travel and swoon over journal entries that bring both tears and chills. Whether you’re team-standalone or series-devoted, this episode is full of laughs, reflections, and literary love. A must-listen for fans of historical fiction!

Stick around for their next book pick and a unanimous rating!

Books and Authors Mentioned:

• What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
• A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
• Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
• Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (Outlander series, book 9)
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Author Jude Devereaux
• Author Nora Roberts
• Author Kristin Hannah
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
• The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
• 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand 
• William Butler Yeats - Irish poet whose poems appeared at the beginning of each chapter in What the Wind Knows

Until next time… keep your bookmarks busy!

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this episode, we're diving into Raven and the literary world of author Anne Gregor.  Anne also shares a little behind the scenes Q&A. From childhood dreams of flying characters to a 600-page historical novel tucked away in a drawer, Anne's path to publishing is anything but ordinary. She shares her daily writing rituals (hello peanut butter), how she conquers writer’s block, and what’s next in her Scottish Lion and Irish Wolves universe, including an upcoming book titled Irish Goodbye that promises to shake things up.  

We also have a call with a special guest! Lauren, a true bookworm and thoughtful reader, shares her take on Raven, the first book in Anne’s Irish Wolves series. Lauren discusses plot twists, spicy moments, age gaps. We also chat about Harry Potter nostalgia, reading for comfort, tandem reading, and how audiobooks make family reading time extra special. 

Books & Authors Mentioned:

Book Barn Challenge Titles:
• Raven by Anne Gregor
• There’s No Place Like Home by Michelle Lynn Ross
• Dead Daddy Issues by Corrin DaCosta

Anne Gregor’s Books:
• Irish Wolves Trilogy: Raven, River, Rowen
• Scottish Lions Trilogy: Josephine, CATRIONA, Mirren
• Irish Goodbye (Coming July)
🔗 annegregor.com

Anne’s Favorite Authors:
Edward Rutherfurd, Patricia Briggs, Lynsay Sands, Sarah J. Maas, Karen Marie Moning, Christine Feehan, Ilona Andrews, Rebecca Yarros, Helen Harper, J. R. Ward, Gena Showalter, Diana Gabaldon

Lauren’s Library Picks:
• Harry Potter series – J. K. Rowling
• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle – Avi
• Twilight series – Stephenie Meyer
• Outlander series – Diana Gabaldon
• The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena
• Red Rising – Pierce Brown
• Meet You in the Middle – Devon Daniels
• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V. E. Schwab
• A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas (narrator Amanda Leigh Cobb)
• I SURVIVED series – Lauren Tarshis
• A Discovery of Witches – Deborah Harkness

Other Mentions:
• Pillars of the Earth & Fall of the Giants – Ken Follett
• Beauty and the Beast (because libraries!)

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

In this episode, we're joined by our book club friend, Lynn.  WE DO HAVE SPOILERS, as we dive into our April book club pick.  

The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel full of unexpected humor, complex characters, and one very dramatic wedding meltdown. From proms and perms to infertility and loss, the conversation weaves through personal reflections, favorite quotes, and what it really means to become who you're meant to be.

Lanie also touches on on the novel, Inheritance by Nora Roberts, because what's wedding season without a haunted mansion and a ghost that DJs your emotions?

Expect laughter, a few “that’s so me” moments, and a heartfelt toast to the messy chapters in life. 

Cheers (with water)! 

Books Mentioned:
•The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
•Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
•The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
•The Adults by Alison Espach
•Inheritance: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 1 by Nora Roberts

Authors Mentioned:
•Jodi Picoult
•John Grisham

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!

Author Michelle Lynn Ross talks about her writing journey and her debut novel, There’s No Place Like Home. 

Books Mentioned:

•  There’s No Place Like Home by Michelle Lynn Ross
•  Small Town Famous by Michelle Lynn Ross
•  The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin
•  The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
•  Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Authors Mentioned:

•  Sophie Kinsella
•  Emily Henry
•  Abby Jimenez
•  Lucy Score

You can purchase a signed copy of Michelle’s book at Myrtles Market in Caney, KS.

Special shout-out to Montgomery County Chronicle Editor Andy Taylor

Connect with Michelle:

• Instagram: @michellelynnrosswrites
• Facebook: Michelle Lynn Ross, Writer
• TikTok: @thatswhatshellsaid

Thanks for listening!
We would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]

You are invited to join our Facebook group, Book Barn Book Club, where we announce our monthly book club selections and continue the discussion!