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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?

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

☀️ Review - STAR-CROSSED SUMMER ☀️

Author - Devon Daniels

Pub Date - 7/7/2026

Ten year ago, Scarlett Everhart and Ryder Perry co-starred in a movie that not only launched both of their careers, but it also launched a romantic relationship between the of them that ended badly.  They haven’t spoken since - that is, until the coastal Carolina town where they shot the film is devastated by a storm and Scarlett and Ryder are approached about coming to town for a ten year reunion project to help raise funds to rebuild the town.

As soon as Scarlett and Ryder see each other again, it’s clear they still have unresolved feelings but it’s also clear that they have so much that they need to work through. This will involve reopening old wounds, unearthing long-buried secrets, and finally talking about what drove them apart all those years ago. 

I loved how this story unfolds in a dual timeline and thought the author did a wonderful job showing young Scarlett and Ryder as they were versus the people they have grown up to be.  There are sweet nostalgic scenes from ten years ago when they first met and their relationship started to blossom, and these were nicely balanced with the more emotional, tension-filled present day scenes as Scarlett and Ryder finally confront one another and have conversations they should have had a decade earlier and try to figure out if there is a path to a future together once all of the cards are finally on the table between them. 

Highly recommend if you enjoy:

☀️Second Chance Romance
🌅First Loves
☀️Forced Proximity
🌅Celebrity Romance
☀️Coastal Carolina setting
🌅The Notebook film

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Since this story features a movie, what’s your favorite movie?

AOTD - My favorites are Dead’s Poets Society and Remember the Titans
💫 REVIEW - INTO THE FADING TWILIGHT 💫 Author - Ca 💫 REVIEW - INTO THE FADING TWILIGHT 💫

Author - Catherine Cowles

Pub Date - 7/7/2026

Thanks so much to @catherinecowlesauthor for this gifted special edition Touch Her and Die trope arc and other bookish goodies to welcome me back to Starlight Grove, and for the gifted ALC. 

I’ve been eager to read Nova and Kol’s story ever since I finished the first book in the Starlight Grove series, and no surprise here, but Catherine Cowles did not disappoint!  She delivered everything I was hoping to get from their story and more, and I devoured this book in a couple of sittings. 

I was so invested in Nova finding her way to a happily ever after, particularly after the horrific ordeal she spent more than a year enduring.  When we meet Nova again in this book, she is determined to take her life back. She is the ultimate survivor and doesn’t want anyone hovering over her and holding her back.  Much of the story focuses on this journey for her as she processes both the physical and emotional trauma she endured.  I loved Nova’s strength & deterination but also loved how Cowles wrote her both strong and vulnerable.  The portrayal of this journey from trauma felt very authentic.

Kol is a single dad and he’s also the ranger who found and freed Nova. He might be battling his own past demons, but he feels very protective of Nova and is determined to make sure she is safe and secure, whether Nova wants it or not.

I loved watching Nova and Kol’s relationship evolve. They have incredible chemistry but the biggest attraction for me was how they just truly saw each other in ways no one else did.  It was like they were kindred spirits & I thought that connection was just beautiul.

There is a big suspense element, and as always, Cowles had me on the edge of my seat trying hard to guess the baddie all the way the big reveal!

The audiobook cast is a who’s who of my favorite narrators - Brittany Pressley, Sebastian York, Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton, and Connor Crais, and as always, they delivered a top notch performance that perfectly captured each character and the tone of the book. Cannot recommend highly enough! 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What was your last 5 star read?
Thanks for the gifted book @hambright_pr, @authorm Thanks for the gifted book @hambright_pr, @authormaxmonroe, & @entangled_publishing.

🐑 Review - WHERE I SHOULD’VE BEEN 🐑

Author - Max Monroe

Pub Date - 7/7/2026

I enjoyed the last book I read from Max Monroe so much that I went into this one blind and oh my goodness, did it have me feeling ALL of the emotions. Laughing out loud one minute, shedding tears the next! 

Where I Should’ve Been follows Breezy Bishop who was single handedly running her family’s art gallery in New York until her dad died and left the gallery to her brother Logan instead of to her. When she finds out her brother knew this was going to happen, Breezy feels betrayed and flees New York for Red Bridge, Vermont, where her other brother lives, looking for a place to regroup and reset.

While there Breezy looks for a distraction and finds it in the form of local sheep farmer, Tad Hanson. Tad is charming and easygoing, and it’s clear that he’s attracted to Breezy.  I loved the easy chemistry and hilarious banter that flies between Breezy and Tad, but could tell that what started as a distraction could easily turn into more if either of them were to let their guard down. 

What I loved the most about this story was that as satisfying as the romance was, there’s so much more to both Tad and Breezy’s story.  There are hints from the beginning that in spite of his easy going nature, Tad has suffered a tragedy in his past that is still haunting him.  When he starts to feel something deeper for Breezy and thinks about the future, his journey becomes one of finding a path through grief to healing. 

Breezy also has a journey in that she has to decide what to do about her career and about her relationship with Logan. Does she want to go back to NYC or has she found something that she didn’t know she was even looking for in Red Bridge? 

This book definitely has a little something for every reader - opposities attract spicy romance, hilarious banter, found family, & layered characters.  Oh and don’t even get me started on the sheep & their Houdini-style antics.  Poor Tad might be charming and sexy, but his sheep farming skills leave a lot to be desired. 😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - Current read?
📚 Getting Ready to Spend an Afternoon Reading 📚 📚 Getting Ready to Spend an Afternoon Reading 📚

 Hey book friends, 

I am not a good video maker at all but I still wanted to share the fantastic reading set-up that I used while reading over the holiday weekend. 

Thanks so much to @viozon_official for the #gifted multifunctional pillow stand. 

The grip can hold my kindle, a tablet, or even my phone if I rotate it vertically. There is also plenty of room to store my reading snacks and a holder to snap my soda into. 

I also loved that when you take the cover off, you can rotate that and attach it as a mini side table. It was the perfect spot for my tiny fan so it was so darn hot here all weekend long! 

After spending my afternoons reading, I was then able to pop the cover back on and use it as a laptop pillow so I could write my book reviews. 

❓QOTD - As you can see, I like a salty-sweet combo when it comes to my reading snacks, popcorn and some kind of chocolate. What’s your go to reading snack or beverage?
📚 JULY HOPEFULS 📚 Happy Friday, book friends! I h 📚 JULY HOPEFULS 📚

Happy Friday, book friends! I hope your month is off to a good start and that you’ve already had some great reads.  I’m off today so I went ahead and pulled together what I’m hoping to read this month. 

I think I’ve got a pretty amazing line up and I’ve already finished a couple of these so be on the look out for reviews starting right after the holiday weekend. 

There are several in my hopefuls list that were gifted, so I’ve tagged those publishers, authors, and PR firms. Thanks so much to all of them for their generosity! ♥

📚 Physical Copies: 📚

Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels - Just finished, review coming soon
Where I Should’ve Been by Max Monroe - Currently reading
Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis
The Final Score by Lana Ferguson - Currently reading, almost finished
Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles - Just finished, review coming soon
Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment by Leslie Rene
Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith (26 in 2026 challenge read)
Score by Kennedy Ryan
Formula Zero by Meredith Lanzen
The Matchmaker’s Cottage by Kat Sloane
She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica (26 in 2026 challenge read)

🎧📱E-ARCs/ALCs: 📱🎧

In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto
Love Wells Kept by Bailey Hannah - Finished, review coming soon
The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
Not That Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine
Extra-Curricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel
Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh
Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler
Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly
Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead
Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer
Tethered Love by Ann Einerson

❓QOTD - What are some books you’re hoping to read in July? Do we have any in common?
Thanks to @macmillan.audio #macaudio2026 #partner Thanks to @macmillan.audio #macaudio2026 #partner for the gifted ALC!

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - WHISPER CREEK 🎧

Author - Allison Brennan

Pub Date - 6/23/2026

Whisper Creek is a fast-paced, atmospheric thriller that follows the McKenna family, particularly matriarch Ellen McKenna, who is fighting to keep the family farm going after her husband’s death. Ellen’s family does their part, but it’s a challenging job, especially when both a greedy local businessman and Mother Nature are constantly threatening. 

This story centers on a single day when all hell seems to break loose at once between a menacing storm, a dog and its owner both found shot, which is then followed by even more trouble when Ellen’s daughter goes to check on a neighbor and walks into unexpected danger. 

This is a high stakes story that is filled with tension and suspense and where the storm is described so vividly, it practically takes on a life of its own and feels like another character.  There’s a lot going on, but the writing is clear so it’s easy to keep track of everything. The plot is also well paced, and Ellen McKenna, with her strength and determination, is a very easy character to root for.  There are definitely some elements that give this story a family drama feel, but by and large, it’s a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Amanda Stribling narrates the audiobook and her performance is top notch. She does such a great job lending each character a unique voice that I actually thought it was a full cast performance until I went back and verified who did the narration. Very impressive!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Random but I can’t think, so what’s for dinner tonight?

AOTD - We had chicken fajitas.
📚 JUNE WRAP-UP 📚 Hey book friends! I hope your Ju 📚 JUNE WRAP-UP 📚

Hey book friends! I hope your July is off to a great start. Was June a good reading month for you? 

I read 22 books in June so it was a pretty great reading month.  My photo features all of the physical copies I read, but I also read a few e-arcs and listened to several audiobooks as well. 

I did have one DNF but I’m calling it a DNF for Now because it was totally a me thing. It’s a witchy read that I think I’m actually really going to enjoy closer to spooky season, but I just wasn’t feeling it as a summer read so I set it aside. 

As always, I am a little behind on reviews, so you can expect to see a few of the ones I’m behind on over the holiday weekend while I’m off from work and have some extra time to write. 

❓QOTD:  How was your reading month? What were some of your favorite June reads? Or tell me what you’re reading this week.

AOTD - I started off my July reads with Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles and Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels. Both were books I started the last week of June but didn’t finish in time to make this wrap up. 

❤️ 5 STARS ❤️

Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances
The Great Outdoors by Kayla Olson
Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood

🧡 4.5 STARS 🧡

In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
Dearly Departed by Chip Pons
Tropestick by Lauren Okie
West of Forever by Corinne Michaels
Love Between Innings by Laura Langa
Love Wells Kept by Bailey Hannah (Review to come)

💛 4 STARS 💛

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
North Country by K.A. Tucker (Review to come)
Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (Review to come)
Beard Science by Penny Reid
Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen
It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell
You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings
Sticks & Stones by Jillian Arly
Rumors & Whiskey by Victoria Wilder
Wild Card by Elsie Silver (26 in 2026 challenge read)
Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit (26 in 2026 challenge read)
The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

💚 3.5 STARS 💚

Crescent Kingdom by Tessa Hale

💙 3 STARS 💙

NONE

💜1 or 2 STARS 💜

NONE

DNF for Now

Witch Season by Julia Bianco (This was a seasonal/mood reader is
The problem is NOT that I own too many books. Th The problem is NOT that I own too many books. 

The problem is that I don’t own enough bookshelves. 

Anyone else have this problem? 😆

#bookwormproblems #readerproblems
Thanks for the gifted e-arc @readforeverpub 🏒 Rev Thanks for the gifted e-arc @readforeverpub

🏒 Review - BIG STICK ENERGY 🏒

Author - Sarina Bowen

Pub Date - 6/30/2026

Big Stick Energy is the second book in Sarina Bowen’s New York Legends hockey romance series and oh boy is it a good one! It follows Darcy Kendrick, who works as an admin for a professional hockey team and who also happens to have a crush on the team’s captain, Eric Tremaine. 

After she accidentally slides into Eric’s DMs and reveals that she finds him attractive and they learn they will be attending the same wedding, one that neither is overy excited to attend because of family drama, Darcy and Eric decide to attend together and pretend that they are dating.

I really enjoyed both of these characters, Darcy because she has the underdog vibes and I’ll always cheer for the underdog, and Eric because he is just so supportive in every way, whether it’s with his teammates or with Darcy. You could just tell they were both good people who could be great together if they would give it a chance and not worry about the whole workplace issue. 

I’m always up for a fun fake dating story and this one was very entertaining. It was fun getting to hang with Eric and Darcy as they each interacted with the hockey team.  There was a lot of fun banter and of course plenty of shenanigans with the teammates. 

Darcy and Eric were fantastic together and I loved how naturally their relationship evolved even though it obviously started out as fake. They were both there for one another both in terms of emotional support and in terms of pure fun, to make what could have been a painful wedding experience for each of them actually a great time.. I especially loved them teaming for the dance off and for the maze race. So much fun and so much hilarious banter! 

Highly recommend this one for fans of:

🏒Fake Dating
⛸️Hockey Romance
🏒Workplace Romance
⛸️Witty Banter
🏒Forced Proximity

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What is going to be your first read of July? 

AOTD - I started Into the Fading Twilight today so will be continuing that into July.
☀️ BERKLEY ROMANCE SUMMER FLATLAY ☀️ My summer ha ☀️ BERKLEY ROMANCE SUMMER FLATLAY ☀️

My summer has been fully booked so far with fantastic reads from Berkley Romance, some from long-time favorite authors and some from authors releasing their debuts this year. 

Some of these books were purchased by me, while others were gifted by Berkley Romance. Thanks so much, @berkleyromance!#berkleypartner 

I still need to post reviews for a couple of these that are releasing in July, but they are all just chef’s kiss for anyone who is looking for some great romance books to add to their beach or pool bag. 

Books Featured: 

☀️Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels
🏖️The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest
🌸The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston
🏒The Final Score by Lana Ferguson
🍀In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
🎾The Open Era by Edward Schmit
🌪️Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances
🤠Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood
⛱️The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay 

❓QOTD - Are any of these on your radar? What has been your favorite read of June?
🔎 THRILLER THURSDAY 🔎 Thanks for the free e-arc @ 🔎 THRILLER THURSDAY 🔎

Thanks for the free e-arc @atriabooks & gifted ALC @simon.audio #partner

Review - IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER

Author - Lisa Jewell

Pub Date - 6/23/26

Jane is out walking her dogs when she comes across a lost dog. After having its chip scanned, Jane offers to return the dog to its owner in London and is shocked when she arrives and recognizes the house right away.  It’s the same house she had a frightening experience at years before. Jane also learns that before the dog turned up on her property, it had been seen with a teen girl who was staying nearby but who has now gone missing.  When Jane realizes there might be some connection between the missing girl, the lost dog, and the house from Jane’s own past, she decides to do some amateur sleuthing. 

The first half is a bit of a slow burn, as Jewell lays the intricate groundwork that will eventually lead Jane and the reader to see how so many seemingly unconnected people and things are actually very much interconnected.  The pacing picks up significantly around the halfway point though and I found myself flying through the pages because I had to know what exactly had gone on in that house over the years because it was obviously holding a lot of secrets within its walls.

I love a good amateur detective story and this one was especially intriguing since Jane actually does have a bit of training as a detective and had been thinking about picking it up again.  I also enjoyed that Jane is an older protagonist. We need more books that feature older protagonists.

As always with Jewell’s writing, it’s very satisfying to watch all of the pieces of the overall puzzle slot into place over the course of the book. 

If you enjoy twisty thrillers filled with dark secrets and dysfunctional families, this is the book for you!

I started reading the e-book and added the audiobook for an immersive experience when that became availableThe audiobook has a full cast narration and it definitely enhanced my overall experience as the narrators struck the perfect tone to really add to the suspense and mystery. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Do you think you would make a good detective or woul
Thanks for the free e-arc @berkleyromance #Berkley Thanks for the free e-arc @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 

🍀 Review - IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY 🍀

Author - Alicia Thompson

Pub Date - 6/23/26

(Physical copy purchased by me)

Jess has just ended what has to be the worst date ever and then, to add insult to injury, is mugged and knocked unconscious while walking to her car. When she wakes up, Jess is shocked to find that she is in Ireland and even more shocked when she meets Eamonn, the handsome Irish brother of her date from hell, as she is walking around trying to get her bearings. With no passport or ID, Jess knows she needs to get to the American embassy to sort things out, but it’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend and the embassy is closed.  Eamonn graciously offers Jess a place to stay and to show her around Dublin over the weekend.

You definitely have to suspend disbelief a bit, but everything about Jess and Eamonn’s weekend together is so magical and romantic that it’s very easy to do.  Thompson’s writing is just so vivid and gorgeous that I felt like I had been transported to Ireland right alongside Jess, and I was just so delighted for her, especially because Eamonn was everything his brother was not when it came to Jess. 

I was so invested in Jess and Eamonn, which surprised me since they basically spend three days together touring parts of Ireland, but the connection between them went so much deeper than just physical attraction. It truly felt like each had met their perfect match, especially the more they got to know one another. Their connection captured my heart so thoroughly that it had me muttering “OMG, please don’t let this only be a dream” repeatedly the closer I got to the end of the book.

I’ve enjoyed Thompson’s books in the past but this one is my new favorite from her. Just stunning in every way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Perfect for fans of:

🍀Magical realism
✨Forced Proximity
🍀Age Gap
✨Grumpy-sunshine
🍀Irish setting

❓QOTD - What’s the setting of your current read?
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyP Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 

🌪️ Review - CHASE ME IF YOU CAN 🌪️

Author - Heather Frances @heatherfrancesauthor 

Pub Date - 6/23/2026

I didn’t know I needed a romance about storm chasers in my life until I started reading Chase Me If You Can. Tornadoes actually terrify me and I normally don’t even want to think about them, but the endearing characters, the electric atmosphere, and the addicting storyline of this book had me flat out obsessed from the first page and I devoured it in a couple of sittings. 

Sloane Michaels is a wedding photographer most of the year, but her real passion is storm chasing and photographing tornadoes. When she is one of just a handful of women photographer invited to participate in the prestigious Nature Shots photo competition, she knows it’s the chance of a lifetime to establish herself as a name in landscape photography. 

There’s just one problem, her arch nemesis “Wild Wes” Talbot has also been invited to participate. No one gets under her skin like Wes does and Sloane doesn’t need the distraction.  When Wes recklessly gets into an accident right at the start of the storm season, Sloane surprises herself and she surprises Wes when she invites him to join her for the remainder of the season. 

I loved the tension and the banter between these two and of course watching their relationship grow and change the more time they spend together and really get to know one another. I also loved how down bad Wes really was for Sloane the whole time.  It was actually adorable. 

I also surprised myself and actually loved all of the storm scenes.  They were such an adrenaline rush as we follow the chasers into the path of danger as they try to get their storm photos. 

Everything about this book just hit perfectly. 

Highly recommend if you enjoy:

🌪️Frenemies to lovers
🌪️Forced Proximity
🌪️Storm Chasing
🌪️Banter
🌪️He Falls First

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Do storms bother you or are you a fan?
Thanks for the free e-arc @putnambooks #partner 🌸 Thanks for the free e-arc @putnambooks #partner

🌸 Review - DEARLY DEPARTED 🌸

Author - Chip Pons

Pub Date - 6/16/2026

(Physical copy purchased by me)

I went into this one completely blind, so I wasn’t sure what to expect and I immediately fell in love with this Hades-inspired gay fantasy rom-com.

Hayden Harlow, formerly the God Hades of the Underworld, is now living as a grumpy funeral director in the mortal realm and he is not happy about it.  All he wants to do is get back to the Underworld and reclaim his immortal status.  That is, until he meets Levi. the florist, and total ray of sunshine, who works next door to Hayden’s funeral home.

Grumpy-sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and this was such a fun spin on it. I adored the chemistry and the dynamic between Hayden and Levi, as well as the overall unique premise of the story. The world building was well done and easy to follow. The story is sweet and spicy, but it also has some depth to it, exploring themes like loss and grief. 

The characters are endearing and it’s a delight to watch them grow, both individually and as a couple. 

Overall, just such a fun and unique read. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - What are you starting out the week reading?
🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE MONTH BOOK STACK 🏳️‍🌈 Happy Monday, bo 🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE MONTH BOOK STACK 🏳️‍🌈

Happy Monday, book friends! I’m a bit late with this post but could not let Pride Month pass without sharing some of my favorite queer romance books. For anyone looking for recs, this rainbow book stack is filled with some of my all time favorites, as well as some brand new favorites that I’ve read and loved in recent months.

Everything for You by Chloe Liese
The Bump by Sidney Karger
The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong
That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey
Dearly Departed by Chip Pons
Winging It With You by Chip Pons
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
The Open Era by Edward Schmit
For Our Next Song by Jessica James
It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram
Dead & Breakfast by Kat Hollis & Rosiee Thor

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR? Do you have any additional recs to add to my list?  If not, what are you reading to start off the week?
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