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12

Top Ten Tuesday – My Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the First Half of 2024

January 9, 2024/17 Comments/by Suzanne

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Most Anticipated Releases of the First Half of 2024.  This is always an easy topic just because, of course, there are always so many books that I’m excited to get my hands on.  I have ARCs for several of these so I’m glad I don’t have to wait too long to dive into them. As always, it’s mostly romance with just a hint of historical fiction and fantasy.

My Most Anticipated Releases of the First Half of 2024

 

1. BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood  –  “A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.”

2.  THE CATCH by AMY LEA – “A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.”

3.  FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry  – “A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.”

4.  JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez – “A sharp and scintillating summer novel that will make readers laugh out loud and cry happy tears from the New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly.”

5. THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren – “Christina Lauren, returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.”

6. THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center – “She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?  Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies—good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates—The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!—it’s a break too big to pass up…But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone—much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.”

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter—even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules—and comes true?”

7.  THIS COULD BE US by Kennedy Ryan – “Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. She’s a domestic goddess who’s never met a party she couldn’t host or a charge she couldn’t lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.

But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She’s too busy keeping a roof over her daughters’ heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise. But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to resist. She’s lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself?  After all she’s lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?”

8.  THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS by Katherine Arden – “During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale“

9. THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah – “From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah’s The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.”

10. A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey – “With “her signature warmth and Southern charm” ( E! Online ), the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds and the Peachtree Bluff series presents a tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina.”

 

* * * * * *

Question:  Are you planning to read any of these?

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/TTT-Big2.png 203 500 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2024-01-09 11:22:532024-01-09 11:22:53Top Ten Tuesday – My Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the First Half of 2024

Romance Review – LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL by Sarah Grunder Ruiz @berkleyromance

January 5, 2024/16 Comments/by Suzanne
Romance Review – LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL by Sarah Grunder Ruiz @berkleyromanceLast Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
four-half-stars
Series: Love, Lists & Fancy Ships #3
Published by Berkley Romance on January 2, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Pages: 368
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Goodreads

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

 

Last Call at the Local is the third installment in Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s Love, Lists & Fancy Ships series and it honestly might be my favorite one yet! What I love about this series is that each book makes me feel so much. Whether I’m laughing at some hilarious banter or shedding tears about a sad turn of events, my heart is just always full the entire time I’m reading. Last Call at the Local was no exception to that and I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience.

Set in Ireland, the story follows Raine, a young American woman who has run into some bad luck that has left her broke and with little more than the clothes on her back. She stops in at a pub called the Local, where she has a very one-sided conversation with the pub’s cat, Sebastian, and meets Jack, who is not only Sebastian’s charming owner but he’s also part owner of the Local.  Jack and Raine hit it off immediately and once he hears about the predicament she is in, he offers her a temporary job at the pub to help her get back on her feet.  Neither Raine nor Jack realize how life changing this chance encounter and temporary job will turn out to be.

I cannot even express how much I adored both Jack and Raine.  They were just so perfect together and it was a joy to watch them interact and explore their growing feelings for one another.  I also admired them as individuals though because they’re both facing some mental health challenges.  Raine initially comes across as a free spirit, and while she is to a degree, she is also living with ADHD, which makes it hard for her to buckle down and focus. That’s why, when we meet her, she has been working as a traveling musician all over Europe. She figured it was the best of both worlds, a way to make money from her passion for music, but also no set schedule, no boss to answer to, and no family to be disappointed in her.  Jack, on the other hand, is dealing with the challenges of living with severe OCD. Ruiz handles the exploration of both ADHD and OCD thoroughly and respectfully, and I felt like I learned so much by having access to Jack’s and Raine’s inner thoughts and experiencing ADHD and OCD from their perspectives.

I loved being back in this world and was absolutely thrilled to bump into Ollie and Nina again and see what they’ve been up to.  Everything about this book was just perfect and I can’t recommend it and the whole series highly enough.  If you’re looking for a book that will leave you with a full heart and a smile on your face, be sure to check out Last Call at the Local.

 

Thanks so much to Kristin Cipolla from Berkley Romance for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour.

four-half-stars

About Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a writer, educator, and karaoke enthusiast. Originally from South Florida, she now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and two children. She holds an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University, where she now teaches First-Year Writing.

Website | Goodreads | Instagram

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/last-call-lg.jpg 700 454 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2024-01-05 05:35:592024-01-04 22:54:16Romance Review – LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL by Sarah Grunder Ruiz @berkleyromance

Top Ten Tuesday – My Ten Favorite Books of 2023

January 2, 2024/36 Comments/by Suzanne

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

Happy New Year, everyone!  I want to start off by apologizing for my lack of blogging and blog hopping for the past few weeks. Time got away from me, and I was planning to use my vacation to get all caught up and that just didn’t happen. All plans went out the window when I ended last week by face-planting on my neighbor’s concrete sidewalk one night while taking a mis-delivered package to their house (Thanks USPS!).  I’m okay aside from a busted chin and sore jaw, but needless to say, I spent the rest of my vacation on the couch reading.  I don’t think I have it in me to backtrack and try to get caught up on comments, so I hope it’s okay if I just start fresh this week.

Okay, back on topic.  This week’s TTT topic is Favorite Books of 2023. The hardest part about this topic is narrowing down to just ten favorites.  I did it here to fit the topic’s criteria and the ten I selected are ones that just really resonated with me and have stuck with me in many cases for months after I read them.  I really do have so many more favorites though and if you want to see more, later this week I’ll be posting my top 23 reads for 2023 on my Bookstagram account.

 

* * * * *

My Favorite Reads from 2023 (in no particular order):

 

   

     

1. YOURS TRULY by Abby Jimenez

2. FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros

3. THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP by Ashley Poston

4. THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel

5. HEARTLESS by Elsie Silver

6.  NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell

7.  THE FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER by V.E. Schwab

8.  THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey

9.  ALWAYS ONLY YOU by Chloe Liese

10. THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young

 

* * * * * *

Question:  Did we share any favorite reads in 2023?

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/TTT-Big2.png 203 500 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2024-01-02 05:35:552024-01-01 23:15:21Top Ten Tuesday – My Ten Favorite Books of 2023
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About Me

me

Hi, I'm Suzanne. Proofreader by day, book blogger by night, devourer of books 24/7. My reading tastes: Basically you name it, I probably like it. I read a lot of contemporary and historical, both adult and YA, and I've also been enjoying more and more fantasy lately. Hobbies include: buying and hoarding of books, rambling about books to anyone who will listen, and trying to recommend books to my family and friends whether they are readers or not - because seriously, how can you not love to read books?

BOOKSTAGRAM

For this booklover, “just one more chapter” is act For this booklover, “just one more chapter” is actually code for “I’m reading. Go away. I’ll see you when I see you.” 

If I end up staying up half the night reading, that’s my business. 😅

Anyone else like this? 

#readerlife #bookishlife #justonemorechapter #bookstagram
Thanks for the free e-arc @berkleyromance #Berkley Thanks for the free e-arc @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 

🪿Review - WILD GOOSE CHASE 🪿

Author - Sarah Adler

Pub Date - 7/28/2026

I had such a good time reading this one! I mean, how often do you come across a romance where the characters fall for each other while trying to track down a missing taxidermied goose? Just thinking about it makes me giggle. 😂

I’m also just such a sucker for a grumpy-sunshine romance and this one features Callahan, a grumpy antiques dealer and Annie, the ray of sunshine who has been brought in to help in Callahan’s store while his partner is away.  These two butt heads right from the start, but there is also some major chemistry bubbling below the surface between them. I love the banter between them as Annie wants to infuse his shop wtih more personality and he wants no parts of it until Annie discovers the illegal and rare taxidermied goose he is hiding and blackmails him over it. Callahan’s ex found it in her attic and begged him for help in getting rid of it, and he just couldn’t say no.  He really wishes he had though when it goes missing and he and Annie have to find it before someone else finds and report it. 

I love romcom shenanigans and the premise of chasing after this goose definitely provides for lots of shenanigans.  I laughed out loud so many times along the way and just loved watching Callahan and Annie grow closer while they’re trying to track down the goose.  They’re opposites in so many ways - he’s grumpy and awkward, while she’s cheerful and very social - but they end up making a great team.

There’s also a great dual timeline that provides some context for how the rare goose came to be discovered. 

If you’re in the mood for a charming and unique romcom, definitely check out Wild Goose Chase! 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What’s the last book you read that made you laugh out loud? Or what are you starting off the week reading?
Thanks to @gallerybooks #partner for the gifted e- Thanks to @gallerybooks #partner for the gifted e-arc @simon.audio #partner for the gifted audiobook.

✨REVIEW - MEET ME IN PARIS ✨

Author - Kristin Harmel

Pub Date - 7/28/26

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, but it was a real treat to dive into her latest novel, Meet Me in Paris, and realize it’s contemporary fiction. The synopsis describes it as Love, Actually meets The Notebook and that feels like a pretty accurate comparison.

The story follows nine Americans all at different points in their lives who have travelled to Paris. The one thing they all have in common is that they are trying to find their way to some kind of happy ending or at least a path forward for themselves.  That’s a lot of characters to keep track of, but their stories all resonate so much that it ends up being very easy to keep everyone straight. 

Some standouts for me were the mother and daughter who have planned a last minute trip after a terminal cancer diagnosis to make as many happy memories as possible. Then there’s the elderly gentleman who has traveled to reunite with the love of his life who he thought had died decades ago, only to learn that she is alive and in a memory care facility. 

I thought this story was a beautifully written exploration of grief and loss, but also of love, second chances, and new beginnings.  I was thoroughly invested in the characters I’ve already mentioned, but honestly in all nine of the characters’ journeys.  Every character is so well developed, and I loved the way the story moved between each of their stories and some of their stories even become entwined in very moving ways. 

Paris of course is the star of the story and is described so vividly that you’ll feel like you have travelled there with these characters and explored the charms of the city with them. 

I read this one with my eyes and ears and find the audiobook to be especially captivating. Madeleine Maby narrates & does a wonderful job of making each character feel unique & of capturing the sad yet hopeful tone of the story. 

Such a beauitufl read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - Have you ever been to Paris? Or what’s your
📚WHAT I’VE BEEN READING FROM MY PHYSICAL TBR 📚 He 📚WHAT I’VE BEEN READING FROM MY PHYSICAL TBR 📚

Hey book friends! I have continued to work on my 26 in 2026 challenge to whittle down my physical TBR. I’m trying to clear some piles of books off my floor now so I’m coming at you with some quick thoughts on some recent reads.

✨Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith - This was a really fun romance that felt half romcom, half romantic suspense. It features Andee, a fireworks designer, who along with Adam, a cute CIA operative, is kidnapped by her father, an international criminal. As they work to take down her dad, Andee and Adam. Loved the combo of banter and tension and high stakes action and suspense. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde - The final book in the Windy City series, it’s a sweet and spicy second chance romance featuring childhood friends who are now neighbors.  Filled with so much pining and also amazing found family vibes.  Great finale for a wonderful series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

✨Wild Card by Elsie Silver - This is the final book in the Rose Hill series and it features a romance between Gwen, a yoga instructor, and Bash, a firefighter pilot, who happens to be the dad of Gwen’s ex.  I thought this was written well and in a way that had me rooting for Gwen and Bash, but also rooting for Bash and his son to find their own path forward. Recommend for fans of age gap, grumpy sunshine, and heartwarming, spicy romances. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Sunshine & Spice by Aurora Palit - This was a fun read that features some of my favorite tropes - grumpy/sunshine & fake dating.. As fun as the romance is, what I liked most was the cultural aspect as the FMC gets to learn so much about her own Bengali culture and traditions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Walkoff Wedding by Maren Moore - Final book in the Orleans University series and it’s a great combo of sweet & spicy romance.  It features Grant and Addie, online penpals who become friends even though they are opposites in every way. This leads to a marriage of convenience to save Addie from an unwanted marrage arranged by her father. Loved Grant and Addie and it was also great to see characters from the other boo
✨ FIVE STAR FRIDAY ✨ SCORE by Kennedy Ryan Pub D ✨ FIVE STAR FRIDAY ✨

SCORE by Kennedy Ryan

Pub Date - 5/19/2026

I have read so many great books this month, but my absolute favorite so far has been Score by Kennedy Ryan.  It’s the second book in her Hollywood Renaissance series and it is both a moving second chance romance and a very realistic portrayal of mental illness and how it can impact, not just of the person with the illness, but also their friends and loved ones. 

Verity Hill is studying screenwriting in college when she meets and loves in love with musician Monk Bellamy.  Even though they have only known one another for a short time, their connection is intense and both of them feel like they are each other’s end game.  That is, until Verity inexplicably throws it all away and ends up leaving school and leaving Monk behind, heartbroken.  Ten years later they are reunited when they are both hired to work on a film together, reopening not only old wounds, but also the renewed possibility of a future together. Verity now knows why she did what she did in college, but does she have the courage to share everything about back then with Monk?

Oh my gosh, you guys! The way I just ate this book up!  One of my favorite things about how Kennedy Ryan writes is that her characters are so complex, layered, and real.  I felt like I knew these characters so well, to the extent that I didn’t just feel like I was reading about them. I felt like I was right there in the room with them, eavesdropping on and witnessing their most vulnerable moments, yelling at Verity to just tell Monk the truth, that the truth has to be better than what he has been thinking for the past decade. 

I also thought Ryan’s depiction of bipolar disorder was so well done.  I felt like it was described accurately and that it was handled with great care.  One of the characters from Reel, an actress who ends up working on the film in this book, has Lupus, and I thought Ryan handled that chronic illness with the same respect and care. 

Filled with outstanding writing, authentically messy characters, and a second chance romance that had my whole heart, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for the free e-arc @putnambooks #partner 💍 Thanks for the free e-arc @putnambooks #partner

💍 Review - MARRIED WITH BENEFITS 💍

Author - Ellie Palmer

Pub Date - 7/21/2026

What a delightful read this was! I loved both main characters and thought the premise of the story was such a fresh take on the marriage of convenience trope.

Lainey Davis really wants to leave her small hometown. Unfortunately, every dime she has goes to paying for her expensive prescription migraine medicine. 

Elliot Hodge has just inherited the land where Lainey house sits. At first he’s annoyed that Lainey, by way of squatter’s rights, owns the house on his property, but when he learns of her migraines and insurance woes, he proposes marriage - he’ll put her on his health insurance which is much better than hers, and in exchange, she’ll let him buy her out. 

Because most of the property is in need of serious repairs, Elliot and Lainey move in together and then work side-by-side to fix the place up.  All of the sudden, what began as fake starts to feel all too real.

I adored both Lainey and Elliot.  Lainey is an artist and a whirlwind of chaos and disorder, but she also has a strong sense of independence and resourcefulness. She has had to get creative to make ends meet, but she’s making it work. 

Elliot is her total opposite in most ways and is frankly alarmed by some of the things she does to make ends meet, but at the same time, he can’t help but be charmed by her and impressed with her sense of independence. 

The dynamic between them was a fun one and I thought they had fantastic chemistry. 

The book is filled with tension, hilarious banter and endless shenanigans as these two work together and grow closer, but it also has some emotional depth as both characters are on journeys of personal growth. 

Highly recommend this one for fans of:

Opposites Attract
Small Town Romance
Marriage of Convenience
Forced Proximity
Quirky Secondary Characters
Banter
Chronic Illness Rep (Migraines)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Favorite read so far this month?
🗡️ SERIES FEATURE - THE EVER SEAS 🗡️ Thanks for t 🗡️ SERIES FEATURE - THE EVER SEAS 🗡️

Thanks for the free books @acebookspub @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 

I was thrilled to receive these stunning paperback editions of the first three books of the Ever Seas series by L.J Andrews.  For those who are interested in these, the first two books are already available in paperback and on August 11, 2026, book 3 will also be available on paperback. All ahead of the October 6, 2026 hardcover release of book 4, The Stolen Crown. 

I’ve been wanting to read this series for so long, so I dove into the first book as soon as I received it. I’m about halfway through and I’m obsessed!

I don’t want to spoil the whole series, so I’ve just included the synopsis of the first book. 

The Ever King synopsis: 

They stole his crown, so he stole their daughter…

For years Erik, the scarred king of the Ever Kingdom, has thought of nothing but vengeance against the man who killed his father and trapped him beneath the waves, making him a prisoner in his own realm. 

Until his enemy’s daughter unintentionally breaks the chains on the Ever, and Erik makes her the unwitting pawn in his vicious game of revenge. 

She’s innocent. He’s vicious. 

But he will take back what he lost, no matter the price. Unless she steals his heart first. 

Welcome to the passionate world of the Ever Kingdom where pirates, sirens, and fae collide with Vikings in a dark fantasy romance between a villain and the innocent princess who holds his heart.

❓QOTD - Have you read this series or is it on your TBR?  If not, do you prefer standalones or series?  Do you have a series that you’re hoping to read this year?
Thanks for the gifted e-arc & ALC @atriabooks #par Thanks for the gifted e-arc & ALC @atriabooks #partner and @simon.audio #partner

💍 Review - NOT THAT KIND OF PROPOSAL 💍

Author - Victoria Lavine

Pub Date - 7/21/26

(Physical copy purchased by me)

Gracie works as a wedding planner at Larkwood Estate and she also lives in a cottage on the property, courtesy of the kindly owner of the estate. When the owner passes away, she leaves Larkwood to her grandson, Jude, a divorce attorney who has zero interest in keeping the estate, much less carrying on with the wedding planning tradition. After a meet cute that turns contentious as soon as they realize the awkward position they are in, Jude agrees to give Gracie the summer to convince him to change his mind. Even more awkward is that she will be planning her ex’s wedding while doing so. 

I love a good opposites-attract romance and what could be more opposite than a wedding planner and a divorce attorney!  I was rooting for Gracie and Jude from their very first meeting, which actually takes place at Jude’s grandmother’s funeral.  They just immediately have this electric chemistry and that connection persists, even when they are at odds over Larkwood, which gives the reader pages and pages of amazing banter to swoon over. 

I love that Gracie is able to get Jude to actually take part in the wedding planning process, which leads to so many hilarious moments between the two of them. 

Like Gracie, I was super annoyed at Jude for being so vague about why he didn’t want to keep the property or do weddings there anymore, but I fell hard for him when we finally learn why he’s so determined to do things his way.  I don’t want to spoil anything here, but I loved how the author wove this more sensitive topic into this otherwise fun and light-hearted read. 

I read the e-arc and then re-read on audio and think both formats are fabulous.  Marie Smith and Will Kirk narrate the audiobook and were just a joy to listen to, the way they bring Jude and Gracie to life!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - Do you like to plan parties and events?

AOTD - Anything bigger than a birthday party and I need some help! 😅
🔮 BOOK FEATURE - PRACTICAL MAGIC 🔮 Thanks for the 🔮 BOOK FEATURE - PRACTICAL MAGIC 🔮

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 

This gorgeous new deluxe paperback edition of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is available as of today. It is releasing a few months ahead of the upcoming movie sequel, Practical Magic 2.

My photos don’t really do it justice, but this deluxe edition featured purple sprayed edges with “Fall In Love Whenever You Can” stenciled on them. It also features a celestial themed cover with beautiful foil detailing.

I think most are familiar with this book and its popular movie, but for those who aren’t, I’ve included the synopsis below.

🔮 Synopsis:🔮

The Owens sisters confront the challenges of life and love in this bewitching novel from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman.

For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape.

One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic...

❓QOTD - Do you collect special editions?  What’s the prettiest book you own?
Thanks to @avonbooks for the gifted e-arc and to @ Thanks to @avonbooks for the gifted e-arc and to @harpercollins and @librofm for the gifted ALC. 

🧑‍🍳 REVIEW - YES, CHEF 🧑‍🍳

Author - Grace Reilly

Pub Date - 7/21/26

This was such a fun read! It basically has everything I look for in a spicy summer romance. It has just the right balance of tension, chemistry, banter, and steam, but with the added layer of emotional depth as both main characters are trying to prove themselves, both to themselves and to those who doubt them.

Jack is a chef working at an elite NYC restaurant, until he has a very public meltdown that gets him fired. Poppy is the daughter of the restaurant owner and she also happens to be a popular social media influencer. When she is publicly dumped the same night Jack gets fired, Poppy decides it’s time to get away. She’s tired of her family belittling her career choice. 

When Jack returns to his Florida hometown to deal with a restaurant he has inherited from his mentor, Poppy hatches a plan where she and Jack will work together to get the restaurant up and running, with him handling the actual restaurant aspects while she promotes Jack and the restaurant on social media.  Jack is game, but only if Poppy will also learn the ins and outs of the restaurant side of things as well, including taking cooking lessons from him.

I loved the chemistry between Jack and Poppy. He’s grumpy, while she’s pure sunshine, and even though they push each other’s buttons, they eventually start to realize that they make a pretty good team.  I thought their banter was so fun, but the slow burn and the tension between them was absolutely fantastic!

In addition to the romance, I found so much more to enjoy about this book. I thought Jack’s grief journey as he mourns his mentor was handled really well. I was also really into Poppy’s journey and loved watching her grow and figure out what she really wants out of life. 

Samantha Summers and Troy Duran narrate the audiobook and I really enjoyed both of these narrators and the life they infused into the characters.  They perfectly captured the emotionns and overall vibe of the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Do you like to coo
🎨 Birth Chart Color Palette Book Recs 🎨 It has be 🎨 Birth Chart Color Palette Book Recs 🎨

It has been a while since I’ve jumped on a trend, but I couldn’t resist doing the Pantone Birth Chart one that I’ve been seeing all around Bookstagram!

Here are the recs I came up with to match my birth chart color palette.  It was so hard to find perfect matches, so I just did the best I could. Thanks so much to @letscreatewithvane for the template!

Libra - Sun

The Final Score by Lana Ferguson
Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Romnantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood

Aries - Moon

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia

Virgo - Rising

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Collide by Bal Khabra
Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Virgo - Venus

Tropesick by Lauren Okie
Extra-Curricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon
The Bridge Back to You by Riss M. Neilson

❓QOTD - Have you tried this trend yet or do you plan to?  Or have you read any of these books?
🤠 REVIEW - TETHERED LOVE 🤠 Author - Ann Einerson 🤠 REVIEW - TETHERED LOVE 🤠

Author - Ann Einerson

Pub Date - 7/17/26

Thanks so much to @authoranneinerson for the gifted e-arc!

Tethered Love is the third book in the Silver Saddle Ranch series. It’s a spicy cowboy romance that follows Heath, a sexy but grumpy cowboy, and Charlie, who is Heath’s sister’s best friend and the woman who constantly gets under his skin with her sassy banter. 

Heath has secretly yearned for a romance with Charlie for years, and when the two of them are at a wedding and get caught up in the moment, a steamy one night stand ensues.  It’s meant to be a one and done, no strings attached, but Charlie ends up pregnant.  Now, I sometimes struggle with the accidental pregnancy trope, but I think it’s very well written in this story so I was on board with it. 

I already found Heath very endearing, even with all his grumpiness, but I fell hard for him when he immediately steps up to take responsibility. He wants to marry Charlie, but will do whatever he can to be there for her and the baby no matter what.  When Charlie ultimately agrees to what starts as a marriage of convenience, I loved watching Heath’s transformation from the resident grumpy cowboy to the sweetest, most caring husband and dad-to-be. So sweet!

Charlie has some financial debt that she is trying to pay off and she doesn’t have great health insurance, which she already struggled with because of her Type I Diabetes. Now add a pregnancy to it and she really needs better insurance.  This was why she originally agrees to Heath’s proposal, to relieve some of the financial burden. I found Charlie to be such a sweet and fun character, and I adored her wonderful relationship with her Grams. Watching Charlie take care of the woman who has always cared for her made me want the best for Charlie so I was thrilled to watch her relationship with Heath evolve into something truly lovely, a relationship filled with love, emotional support, trust, and everything they both deserved so much. 

I really enjoyed this & recommend it for fans of: 

Cowboy romance 
Small town 
Accidental pregnancy 
Age gap
Diabetes rep
Marriage of convenience 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️�
✨FRIDAY FEATURE ✨ MY KILLER VACATION by Tessa Bai ✨FRIDAY FEATURE ✨

MY KILLER VACATION by Tessa Bailey

Thanks to @avonbooks for the gifted book! 

First Published - 6/6/2022

Rereleased by Avon 6/2/2026 with this fun new cover and with a bonus novella, My Killer Role!

✨Synopsis✨

A spicy rom-com with a murder mystery from Tessa Bailey, #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer!

It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in sweet, sunny Cape Cod—just Taylor and her beloved brother—but discovering a corpse in their rental house has really thrown a wrench into their tanning schedule. Now a rude, crude bounty hunter has arrived on the back of his motorcycle to catch the killer and refuses to believe Taylor can be helpful, despite the countless hours she’s spent listening to true crime podcasts. Not to mention her fulfilling teaching career of wrangling second graders.

A brash bounty hunter and an energetic elementary school the murder-solving team no one asked for, but thanks to these pesky attempts on Taylor’s life, they’re stuck together, come hell or high tide.

Myles is just there to do a job, not babysit an amateur sleuth. Although...it is becoming less and less of a hardship to have Taylor around. Sure, she’s stubborn, distracting and can’t stay out of harm’s way. She’s also brave and beautiful and reminds him of the home he left behind three years ago. In other words, the insatiable hunger and protectiveness she is awakening is a threat to his peace of mind. Before Myles sinks any deeper into this dangerous attraction, he needs to solve this murder and get back on the road.

But will fate take her from him before Myles realize the road has been leading to her all along?

❓QOTD - What are you reading this weekend? 

AOTD - I’ll be reading Yes, Chef and Married with Benefits.
Thanks to @librofm for the gifted audiobook! 🎧 RE Thanks to @librofm for the gifted audiobook!

🎧 REVIEW - NORTH COUNTRY 🎧

Author - K.A. Tucker

Pub Date - 6/16/26

I’ve been a fan of K.A. Tucker’s books since I devoured her Wild series a few years ago. When I saw that her latest, North Country, is a second chance romance with an element of romantic suspense, I knew it would be right up my alley.

When she was a teen, Emery McAllister dreamed of running away with Logan Landry, the boy next door, by her side. That dream is shattered when Logan finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up in prison for 20 years.  Since then, Emery has been married and divorced and is raising a daughter on her own. She has also built a successful career in law enforcement. Emery’s life is a good one and she is sure she has long since moved on from Logan. That is, until he is released from prison and returns home. One look at him and all of the old feelings come right back.

I absolutely love a second chance romance so I was immediately drawn to Emery and Logan as soon as it became clear that they still had feelings for one another.  I also found Logan to be an easy character to root for. He has come home to try to rebuild some semblance of a life for himself but struggles to escape his past when he immediately becomes the prime suspect when a teenage girl disappears. I was really rooting for him to have a true redemption arc because he genuinely seemed like a good person and a good match for Emery.

I loved watching Logan and Emery reconnect and also thought Tucker did a great job with the tension that the forbidden aspect of their relationship creates. It’s obviously awkward that an officer in law enforcement is attracted for a former convict. 

The romance captivated me and I also found the mystery/suspense element to be very compelling. It held my interest and kept me guessing, which is exactly what I want when I read romantic suspense.

🎧 I thought Ryan West and Summer Morton did a great job bringing K.A. Tucker’s words and characters to life. All of the emotions, tension, and suspense were delivered perfectly and I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

�
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyP Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 

🎤 Review - EXTRA-CURRICULAR 🎤

Author - Rachel Lynn Solomon

Pub Date - 7/15/2026

Professor-student romances aren’t usually my thing, but this one just really hit the mark for me.  Ramona is a 26-year-old retired popstar turned college student who is just trying to live a normal life and find a new path forward for herself.  The last thing she expects when she walks into her first psychology class is to feel a connection to her handsome professor, 36-year-old Nick Navarro. 

I found Ramona to be immensely likable and sympathetic right from the start. All she wants is a normal life, but now she’s having to navigate her new normal with the paparazzi and curious onlookers watching her every move. She has also realized that the people she thought were her friends were really just acquaintances or were in her life because of her fame. Now she’s so lonely, so when she feels the instant rapport with Nick, she’s eager for the connection.

Nick is equally likable. Recently divorced, he is living in his sister’s guest house and looking for his own path forward.  He’s a popular professor, up for tenure, and even though he knows he should resist, there’s just something about Ramona that calls to him. 

The professor-student relationship worked for me because Ramona is older than the typical college student and she has just lived a lot more life than her classmates. 

The dynamic between Ramona and Nick is everything! She teases him and pushes his buttons, but at the same time, ultimately lets him see a more vulnerable side of her because she is dealing with some emotional trauma that has left her with occasional panic attacks.  Letting him see that vulnerable side really allows their relationship to first become friendly and then more when they can no longer fight their obvious attraction to one another. 

I loved everything about their relationship and was rooting for them to find a way to make it work. 

If you’re in the mood for a tender, heartwarming romance that is both sweet & spicy, check out Extra-Curricular!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Favorite singer or band? 

AOTD - Bruce Springsteen
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