Romance Review – HER KNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM by Bryn Donovan @berkleyromance

November 14, 2024/5 Comments/by Suzanne

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan

Published by Berkley Books on November 12, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 352
Source: the Publisher
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Goodreads

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

If you are looking for an entertaining romcom that will help you escape reality for a while, look no further than Her Knight at the Museum!

The story follows Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago. Emily has been tasked with restoring a statue of a medieval English knight for an upcoming exhibit. As she begins her task, she keeps imagining that she hears the knight speaking to her, which is crazy, right? Well, when Emily gives in to the voice she’s hearing and kisses the knight, imagine her surprise when he actually comes to life!

It turns out that Sir Griffin de Beauford really is, in fact, a medieval English knight, who was presumed dead in the late 1400s, but who was actually cursed by a ruthless enchanter and turned into a statue. For all of these years, he has been able to see, hear, and think, but has been unable to move or speak. Emily’s kiss has apparently broken the curse and now Sir Griffin must learn how to navigate the challenges of 21st century America, with Emily’s help, of course.

Oh my goodness, this was just so fun and so cute! You definitely have to suspend disbelief and just go with the flow since the concept is a little out there, but once you do that, it’s just such a good time and the chemistry between Sir Griffin and Emily is just perfect! Their interactions have the perfect blend of knightly chivalry and spice, and I couldn’t resist rooting both for Sir Griffin to find a way to successfully live in modern society of course for he and Emily to find their way to a happily ever after.

If you enjoy movies like A Night at the Museum or Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, this book would be a great choice for you!

Thanks so much to Stephanie Felty at Berkley for the blog tour invite!

About Bryn Donovan

Bryn Donovan is the author of several romance novels, including Sunrise Cabin, a Publishers Weekly bestseller. She’s also written nonfiction books and the story treatments for two Hallmark Channel movies. Her work has appeared in McSweeney’s, Writer’s Digest, and many literary journals. A former executive editor in publishing, she earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. She’s a voracious reader, a rescue dog lover, and a hopeless romantic who lives in the Chicago area and blogs about writing and positivity.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Boyfriend & Original Twin

October 24, 2024/5 Comments/by Sharon

Welcome to another edition of Thriller Thursday with Sharon. My reviews for this week are, The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden and Original Twin by Paula Gleeson. I enjoyed both of these books so much.

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Boyfriend & Original Twin

The Boyfriend Goodreads

Author: Freida McFadden

Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

I can always guarantee that when I pick up a Freida McFadden book I am going to love it and her latest book The Boyfriend is no exception. I was very excited to read The Boyfriend and McFadden did not disappoint.

Sydney Shaw is a single thirty-year-old living in New York, and she has the worst luck with men. She has dated men who have stuck her with the check, lied on their dating profile, who are mama’s boys, and who won’t take no for an answer. Sydney believes she will never find Mr. Right. But then all that changes when she meets Tom, a charming, handsome doctor. Sydney thinks she has finally hit the jackpot. But when a young woman is brutally murdered and the prime suspect is a mystery man the woman dated, Sydney is on edge. She should feel safe dating Tom, but there are a few red flags that are starting to make Sydney suspicious that he may not be as perfect as she thought. Sydney needs to get to the truth, or she could be the next victim.

The story is told in a dual timeline. In the present day we get Sydney’s POV as she navigates the dating world and tries to get the truth about Tom. And then we get Tom’s POV from when he was in high school. In this POV we learn more about who Tom is. I don’t want to say too much about what we learn from when Tom was in high school, I think getting that info as you read adds to the mystery and outcome of the story.

I liked Sydney for the most part, but I did think at times she made the worst decisions. She meets Tom, right after a young woman is murdered and yet she has no qualms about jumping right in. Sure, you are not going to just stop dating, but do a bit of research on the guy first. LOL! I do give her points for what she does after she starts getting suspicious of Tom.

As always Freida McFadden created a story that had me engrossed from start to finish. As the story progressed and we got more info from Tom’s timeline, I really thought I had things figured out, and then McFadden threw in a twist that blew my theory out of the water.

The Boyfriend is another winner from Freida McFadden. If you have enjoyed her other books, then I believe you will enjoy this one as well. And if you are looking for your first McFadden book, then definitely give The Boyfriend a read. 4 stars

Original Twin Goodreads

Author: Paula Gleeson

Publication Date: June 1, 2024

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Original Twin is Paula Gleeson’s debut novel and what a debut it was. I am already looking forward to her next book that is due out next year.

May and June may be fraternal twins, but they are so different from each other. May is plain looking, quiet and withdrawn. Whereas June is beautiful, loud and outgoing. June went missing a year ago and at the time everyone thought it was just June being June. Now a year later they are having a funeral for June, even though she was never found. May doesn’t believe June is dead, but goes along with her father, aunt and grandmother to have the service. While she was looking through June’s things in her bedroom, May finds and old newspaper article from nineteen years ago. The article is about their mother who also vanished but turned up three weeks later. May had no idea their mother had also vanished at one time, but what really stands out is the date. Both June and their mother vanished on the same exact date. May now realizes that June was looking into the events of what happened to their mother. In order to find June and find out what happened to their mother, May has to follow the clues that June has left her. Following these clues will unbury a dark family secret.

I love how Gleeson unfolded this story. The book opens at June’s funeral, with May’s discovery of the newspaper article. And we then follow May as she finds more clues that June left her. With each clue that May finds, more questions are brought to life. We also get chapters from May and June’s mother, Diana. In these chapters we get bits of information on what happened to Diana when she was missing for those three weeks and the events that followed. And then there are chapters with letters that June wrote to Diana, who died the year before June went missing. In these chapters we follow as June investigates what happened to her mother all those years ago. I loved following each of these women and getting to know them, as well as trying to figure out both the mystery of what happened to Diana and what happened to June.

There were so many twists and turns in this story. I really thought I knew where things were going to go and then in comes a twist to turn things around. I was not sure who to trust while I was reading. I love when a story does that to me.

I thought all of the characters were well developed. They were all flawed and complicated. Original Twin was an amazing debut novel and I definitely recommend it. 4 stars

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The House That Horror Built & The Swimmer

October 3, 2024/10 Comments/by Sharon

Happy Thriller Thursday! Sharon here with a couple of great books to read for spooky season. 🙂 This week I am happy to share my thoughts on Christina Henry’s, The House That Horror Built and Loreth Ann White’s, The Swimmer. I hope everyone is getting some great reading in and if you have any recommendations for spooky season let me know. I love finding new authors. 😀

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The House That Horror Built & The Swimmer

The House That Horror Built Goodreads

Author: Christina Henry

Publication Date: May 14, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

I love Christina Henry, so I was very excited to read her latest book, The House That Horror Built. I am happy that I waited for spooky season to read this, as this book was perfect reading for this time of year.

Harry Adams is a single mother to fourteen-year-old Gabe. Harry loves horror movies and books, so no surprise that she takes a job cleaning the house of award-winning horror director Javier Castillo. His Chicago mansion, Bright Horses, is filled with props and costumes from not only his movies, but other horror movies as well. Javier lives as a recluse after a family tragedy five years ago. Harry keeps her head down and does her job, even though she swears she hears banging and voices coming from a locked room and is sure one of the props is moving and watching her. After being evicted from her apartment, Harry reluctantly moves with Gabe into Bright Horses with Javier, who has taken an instant liking to Gabe. But Harry soon realizes that moving in was a bad decision and she needs to get her and Gabe out of there before it is too late. Javier is hiding secrets that put Harry and Gabe’s life in jeopardy.

OMG this book was so creepy and gave me the chills. As you know I also love horror, so I was instantly hooked. My first thought when I read the synopsis was, if my favorite horror director needed someone to clean their house, sign me up! LOL! But, If I started hearing noises coming from a locked room and the props started moving, I so would have been out of there. I have seen enough horror movies to know, that is not a good combination.

I love how Henry incorporated so many of my favorite horror movies into the story. There were so many mentions of my favorites, I would have loved to tour this house and see all the props. I also think Henry did a great job of creating Javier Castillo and bringing him to life. Being a horror director, he came across as odd and a bit quirky.

I really liked Harry and thought she was also a well-developed character, as well as her son Gabe. Harry does everything she can to give Gabe a good life. She has gone without things, just so he could have what he needs. She was a great mother. She instilled her love of horror in Gabe, so it was fun watching him in fan mode when he met Javier and toured the house.

I kind of figured out what Javier’s secret was, but there was a twist at the end I so did not see coming.

My only issue with this book is that I wish the end had more to it. It ended abruptly and I think there should have been at least one more chapter to explain things and tie everything up. But all in all, I loved this book and if you are looking for a book to read this spooky season, I definitely recommend The House That Horror Built. 4 stars

The Swimmer Goodreads

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publication Date: September 10, 2024

Publisher: Montlake

Loreth Ann White’s newest story, The Swimmer, is another winner. This book had lots of twists and turns, characters I loved and characters I hated, as well as a few tearjerker moments.

Chloe Cooper has always been socially awkward. She is forty years old and for her whole life her mother has instilled in her to never draw attention to herself, and to trust her instincts. If something seems off, then it probably is. Chloe spends her days caring for her ailing mother, as well as being a dog walker and bartender. Chloe is also a people watcher. When new neighbors, Jemma and Adam Spengler, move in next door, Chloe is instantly drawn to watching them. One rainy morning while Chloe is walking her mother’s dog, she witnesses a swimmer get hit and killed by a jet ski. Chloe is sure that it was Adam on the jet ski and against her better judgement she calls the police and reports what she saw. In doing so, Chloe has put herself in the Spengler’s path. The Spengler’s are not the happy, carefree couple they portray to be, they are harboring secrets that has put Chloe’s life in danger.

The first part of the book is broken up into chapters labeled, The Hit-and-Run, and After-The-Hit-and-Run. The second part of the book is broken up into chapters labeled, Before the Murders and After the Murders. And we also get chapters throughout the book from a true crime podcast called, It’s Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story. I loved how Loreth Anne White created the story this way. It created so much suspense and mystery with lots of twists and turns added in. I found myself caught off guard so many times while I was reading.

I loved Chloe and had so much sympathy for her. I did find myself tearing up a few times while reading. Being so socially awkward, Chloe did not always make the right decisions, and I found myself thinking “No Chloe don’t.” Especially when it came to Jemma. Chloe so wanted them to be friends and I hated how Jemma used that against Chloe. White did a great job in creating Chloe and having her jump off the pages.

White also did a great job in creating the other characters as well, especially Jemma and Adam. OMG! I loathed them both. LOL!

I really cannot say what happens in the story because I think it is best to go in blind and have the twists and turns blow your mind like they did mine. If you are a Loreth Anne White fan, I recommend The Swimmer, I don’t think you will be disappointed. 4 stars

Reviews – STORYBOOK ENDING, NOSY NEIGHBORS, & I’LL HAVE WHAT HE’S HAVING

September 16, 2024/5 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! I’ve been way behind on writing book reviews but finally played catch up this past weekend, so today I’m back to share my thoughts on three recent reads that I really enjoyed. Two are from authors I’ve reviewed before on the blog, while the third is a new to me YA author who has written his adult debut.

Storybook Ending Goodreads

Author: Poppy Alexander

Publication Date: August 20, 2024

Publisher: Avon

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

Poppy Alexander’s new book, Storybook Ending, follows Imogen, a children’s book author, is pregnant and in the midst of a move to the countryside when her husband unexpectedly passes away. Imogen wants to make a fresh start and a good life for her baby so she decides to go ahead with the move. For those familiar with Poppy Alexander’s The Littlest Library, Imogen’s new home is in Middlemass. I loved Middlemass so I was excited to be returning to the quaint and charming little village. I knew the residents there would take good care of Imogen and her baby.

After a rough start, particularly in terms of dealing with her gruff neighbor Gabriel, Imogen soon settles in to life in Middlemass. Gabriel reminded me a bit of Luke from Gilmore Girls, grumpy as heck on the outside, but would do absolutely anything he could to help someone he cared about. It becomes pretty clear early on that Gabriel cares about Imogen. I loved their scenes together, and especially all of the small things here and there Gabriel would do to make Imogen’s life a little easier.

There’s a bit of drama throughout the story surrounding Imogen’s home that kept things interesting, but overall I’d consider Storybook Ending to be a heartwarming, feel good story about finding yourself and your path forward after grief and loss, and about second chances, especially when it comes to love. 4 STARS

Nosy Neighbors Goodreads

Author: Freya Sampson

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

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

Nobody writes the found family trope quite like Freya Sampson. Nosy Neighbors is my third read from her, and that found family element is what takes each book to the next level for me.

In Nosy Neighbors, the long-time residents of Shelley House and Kat, the young pink haired girl who ends up renting a room there, are the found family. Before Kat’s arrival, the residents had mostly just kept to themselves, only interacting when necessary.

77 year old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House for over 30 years. She’s a cantankerous old lady who spends her days spying on her neighbors and taking detailed notes of their comings and goings. She seems to have a particular disdain for Joseph, the elderly gentleman who lives across the hall from her and his adorable dog, Reggie, and when Joseph sublets a room to Kat, her disdain for Joseph immediately extends to Kat as well.

When the residents learn that their awful landlord has decided to sell the building out from under them and evict them all, everything changes. They start to bond over their shared desire to save Shelley House. All of the residents are so endearing in their own way, and I just loved watching these wonderful friendships blossom as everyone worked together and as they tried to get through to Dorothy, who seems to be in denial about the eviction and who also seems to be harboring some deep rooted secrets.

The relationship between Dorothy and Kat was especially compelling for me as Kat is carrying the weight of some secrets herself. The two women have so much more in common than either would have ever thought, and their relationship was, by far, my favorite friendship to come out of such a heartbreaking situation.

There’s also an element of mystery to the story, especially surrounding the house itself and some of Dorothy’s more eccentric tendencies. While the mystery element is quite entertaining and definitely kept my attention, it was that element of found family that made this such a special read for me. 4.5 STARS

I'll Have What He's Having Goodreads

Author: Adib Khorram

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

Publisher: Forever

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

I’ll Have What He’s Having is Adib Khorram’s adult debut and it follows Farzan and David, two thirty-something year old men as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life and love.

When we meet Farzan, he is reeling from his most recent heartbreak. His love life is a mess and he’s also not overly happy with his life as a substitute teacher either. Farzan needs to get out of his own head for a while, and when his best friends are not available, he decides to head to a new restaurant he has been wanting to try. Farzan is surprised when David, the restaurant’s hot sommelier, starts acting super flirty with him, but he decides to just enjoy it and see where things go, not realizing that this night will change everything.

David has been told that Frank Allen, famed food critic, will be visiting the restaurant. When Farzan enters, Davis thinks he is Frank and really pours on the charm. One thing leads to another, and the two men end up spending an unforgettable evening together. When they both realize the mixup, Farzan and David laugh it off and the two part ways, assuming this was a one-night stand since neither is interested in a relationship at this point.

The universe has other ideas for them though and they cross paths again when Farzan inherits his family’s bistro. Farzan needs advice on running a restaurant and David could use some help studying for his exam to become a master sommelier, so they agree to help each other out. Even though David’s plan is to relocate to L.A. once he passes his exam, he and Farzan have an increasingly difficult time trying to fight their growing feelings for one another.

I thought this story was going to be a rom-com but it’s actually a much more emotional read than I was expecting. It’s heartbreaking to watch Farzan struggle with his life choices on a day-to-day basis, especially since his heart is always in the right place. I was rooting so hard for him to find his path both on a personal level and of course for him and David to figure out how they can each follow their dreams and still keep this wonderful relationship that is within reach if they would both just embrace it.

Equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, and filled with so many delicious descriptions of food and wine, I’ll Have What He’s Having is sure to please anyone who enjoys more emotional romance reads. 4 STARS

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Look in the Mirror & Wrong Place Wrong Time

September 12, 2024/2 Comments/by Sharon

Happy spooky season! Sharon here with another edition of Thriller Thursday. This week I am reviewing Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman and Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. I have only read one other book of Steadman’s before and have never read anything by McAllister, but I am happy to say these two books were awesome. I love finding new to me authors and so glad I found Catherine Steadman and Gillian McAllister, I look forward to reading more from both of them.

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Look in the Mirror & Wrong Place Wrong Time

Look in the Mirror Goodreads

Author: Catherine Steadman

Publication Date: July 30, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine Books

I first came across Catherine Steadman last year when I read The Family Game. I loved it so much that as soon as her newest book, Look in the Mirror, came out I bought a copy and I am happy to report that I loved this book as well.

The story is told mainly from the POV of Nina and Maria. There are a few other POV’s, but Nina and Maria are the two protagonists of the story, and I loved them both. They were both strong and determined women. I loved watching them fight back and not just give up and accept whatever horror awaited them.

Nina’s father recently passed away and she discovers that she has inherited a house he had in the British Virgin Islands. Nina had no idea her father had this house. The house is state of the art. How did her father have the money to build this house? And why did he keep it from her? Nina travels to the BVI and after she has been in the house for a couple of days, she realizes that she may not have known her father as well as she thought. Why would her father build a house like this and what is up with the room in the basement? Nina must use everything her father taught her to survive the terror that is awaiting her.

Maria is a medical student who has taken time off and is now a nanny for the superrich. All she needs is another year of nannying and she will have enough money saved to fund the rest of her medical school. But Maria’s latest job could be her last. When she arrives at the house on an secluded estate she is given a list of rules, among them; Do not under any circumstance go into the room in the basement. When her boss and his two children do not show up, Maria spends her days lounging by the pool and in the sauna. But then her curiosity gets the better of her and she enters the room in the basement. Maria is now in the fight for her life.

I don’t want to say too much and spoil things, especially on how these two women are connected. But I will say what a wild ride this book was. Look in the Mirror gave me so many horror movie vibes. There was so much suspense and tension throughout the whole book. I did figure a couple of small things out, but not the major reveal at the end. That just blew my mind and gave me major chills.

I definitely now need to check out some of Catherine Steadman’s older books, because she has me hooked. If you are looking for a Catherine Steadman book to dip your feet into, then I highly suggest Look in the Mirror. 4 stars

Wrong Place Wrong Time Goodreads

Author: Gillian McAllister

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

Publisher: William Morrow

I have never read anything by Gillian McAllister before and don’t even remember how I came across Wrong Place Wrong Time. But it sounded so good, and the library had a copy available, so I borrowed it immediately and now that I have finished the book, I will be buying a copy for myself because I need this in my collection.

When the book opens it is midnight on October thirtieth and Jen is waiting up for her eighteen-year-old son Todd to come home. As she is watching through the window, she finally sees him, but then another man emerges from the dark and Jen witnesses Todd just walk over and stab and kill this man. Todd is arrested and Jen is determined to help her son. Why would he just stab someone and show no remorse? But when Jen wakes up the next morning it is actually the day before the stabbing and none of that has happened. What is going on? Each time Jen goes to sleep and wakes up it is further in the past. First it is just a few days and then weeks and then months and years. Jen realizes somewhere in the past something happens to make Todd kill this man and she needs to figure out what it is so she can fix it and stop her son from becoming a murderer.

OMG, I love time travel books and Wrong Place Wrong Time was no exception. I loved the concept of going back in time and trying to figure out what the jumps mean to Jen. I really cannot say anything that happens because anything would be a spoiler. I did figure a couple of things out as we were going back in time but figuring them out did not in any way take away from this story. Even though I did figure some things out, there were still a few twists that caught me off guard.

I loved all the characters in this story. Especially Jen as this is told from her POV. I loved her determination in trying to find a way to help Todd. Even when some things came to life that could alter her future life, she did not let that deter her. I was so invested in trying to figure out what was of importance with each jump back. I loved how even the events that seemed minimal at the time took on a bigger picture when Jen went back even further in time.

I am so glad I came across Wrong Place Wrong Time. And now want to check out more reads by Gillian McAllister. If you like books about time travel, then Wrong Place Wrong Time is the book for you. 4 ½ stars

Mini Reviews – Magical Meet Cute, The Summer Pact, & Wicked Serve

September 3, 2024/6 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! I was actually motivated to post today so I’m really hoping it means that the end of my blogging slump is in sight. Today I’m sharing reviews for some books I’ve read in recent weeks but didn’t have time to write the reviews until our long holiday weekend. These were mostly really good reads, although I did have issues with a couple of them.

Magical Meet Cute Goodreads

Author: Jean Meltzer

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

Publisher: MIRA

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

I always enjoy Jean Meltzer’s books so I was excited to receive a review e-arc of her latest release, Magical Meet Cute, from Mira Books.

The story follows Faye, the Jewish owner of a pottery shop in Woodstock, NY. Faye is usually pretty content with her life, but after someone leaves anti-semitic fliers all over her town, she is distraught and looking for comfort. She turns to her pottery, and in a drunken haze, decides she needs to create a golem to protect the town. She takes some creative license along the way, infusing the golem with characters she finds attractive in a man. The next day, too hungover to properly function, Faye accidentally runs into a handsome man with her bike. He has no memory of who he is and no idea what he is in her town. Faye becomes determined to help him find out who he is. The more she gets to know him, however, the more she finds herself incredibly attracted to him and also a little fearful that instead of being her dream man, he may, in fact, actually be the golem she crafted.

I really enjoyed this story! It’s the perfect blend of adorable romance and magical realism, while also tackling the very serious topic of anti-semitism. 4 STARS

The Summer Pact Goodreads

Author: Emily Giffin

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

The Summer Pact is the latest novel from Emily Giffin and I’m not going to lie, it’s a tough read in that it covers heavy topics like suicide and addiction. It’s a story about friends coming together after an unthinkable tragedy. It’s dark at times, which I found somewhat at odds with the bright, summery cover, but once I got past that, I appreciated it for what it is, a story that explores the bonds of friendship and found family.

The story starts out on a college campus where four students from four different walks of life meet and become the best of friends. When tragedy strikes, three friends are left reeling from the loss and make a pact to always be there for each other no matter what. Ten years later, one of them makes good on the pact which leads them all on the most surprising, healing, and life changing journeys.

I really enjoyed the travel aspect of this book as the three remaining friends each choose a destination they’ve always wanted to visit, and one of them chooses Capri, a place their lost friend always dreamed of visiting, as a way to keep her with them.

Even though I enjoyed the book overall, it wasn’t quite as much of a hit with me as Giffin’s books usually are. It felt a little off, like too heavy but not heavy enough at the same time, if that makes sense. 3.5 STARS

Wicked Serve (Beyond the Play, #4) Goodreads

Author: Grace Reilly

Publication Date: August 13, 2024

Publisher: Avon Books

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

Wicked Serve is the new hockey romance from Grace Reilly. The story follows Nikolai and Izzy. Nikolai is a college hockey player who is determined to make the most of his senior year. When he’s forced to transfer to a rival college, things get messy when he realizes he had a secret summer fling with the younger sister of his new team’s captain. Nikolai knows that rekindling his fling with Izzy would not go over well with his captain, not to mention he’s dealing with scars from his past that make a real relationship impossible. As soon as he sees Izzy again though, all bets are off because he can’t deny he’s still attracted to her.

Izzy, for her part, is solely focused on two goals this school year. She wants to win back the spot she lost on the volleyball team, and she wants to forget that Nikolai even exists. Just like with Nikolai though, as soon as Izzy sees him again, she can’t resist the attraction she still has to Nikolai. They begin a friends-with-benefits arrangement that soon morphs into so much more.

I honestly have mixed feelings about this book. I really like Izzy and Nikolai and thought Nikolai’s journey of healing as he worked through the scars of his past was really well done. I liked Izzy and Nikolai as a couple but would have liked a bit more depth to their connection, which felt mostly sexual and surface level to me. I also thought the pacing was a little slow at times. I still very much enjoyed the story overall but did catch myself checking a few times to see how many pages I had left to read. 3.5 STARS

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Dear Hanna & The Family Experiment

August 22, 2024/4 Comments/by Sharon

Hi, Sharon here with another Thriller Thursday post. I am so excited to share my thoughts on Zoje Stage’s Dear Hanna and also John Marrs’ The Family Experiment. I love both of these authors and always look forward to reading their newest releases.

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Dear Hanna & The Family Experiment

Dear Hanna Goodreads

Author: Zoje Stage

Publication Date: August 13, 2024

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Zoje Stage’s Dear Hanna was one of my most anticipated books of 2024. I loved Baby Teeth and was so excited when I saw that Stage was writing a sequel. I couldn’t wait to find out what became of Hanna in her adult life, and I am happy to report that Zoje Stage did not disappoint with Dear Hanna.

When Hanna was seven years old, she tried multiple times to kill her mother. Hanna was a very disturbed child, but after therapy she has been able to curb her dark thoughts, well for the most part. Hanna is now twenty-four and works as a phlebotomist, which is perfect for her for when she feels the need to inflict harm in people, she just gives them extra jabs while trying to find a vein. LOL! It is at work that Hanna met widower, Jacob and his teenage daughter, Joelle. Hanna and Jacob hit it off and within a few months they were married. Everything is going great for a few years, but then Joelle comes to Jacob and Hanna with some news, and the perfect world that Hanna has built starts to slip out of her control. Hanna’s dark thoughts come back with a vengeance as she tries to find a way to get her perfect family back under her control.

I loved grown up Hanna. She really is damaged and in this book I could not help but have sympathy for her. Sure, she is plotting to take people out and some of her ideas were bizarre, but I think if she had the love and support of her parents and kept up with the therapy she needed, she would have been okay. I loved how Stage was able to make Hanna a protagonist that was such a sociopath, but also a protagonist that I was rooting for.

The first half of the book was a slow burn and we got normal Hanna. But then halfway through the book, after Joelle breaks her news, the paced really picked up and we got psycho Hanna.

As much as I loved getting to know Hanna again, I also loved the letters between Hanna and her younger brother Goose. Goose is the only one that loved Hanna for who she was. In the letters, Hanna and Goose would bounce ideas around on the best way to get rid of someone without getting caught.

There was a reveal at the end that though it didn’t take me by surprise (I kind of figured that was where it would go), it still made me gasp and brought tears to my eyes.

While Dear Hanna is considered a stand-alone sequel to Baby Teeth, and Zoje Stage does a great job of giving enough back story on Hanna, I would still recommend reading Baby Teeth first. I think getting to know Hanna as a seven-year-old and then getting to know her as an adult is the way to go. Dear Hanna was everything I was hoping for and if Zoje Stage wants to write another sequel (hint hint), I would not be opposed to getting more Hanna. 4 ½ stars

The Family Experiment Goodreads

Author: John Marrs

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

John Marrs’ newest book, The Family Experiment, is set in the same world as, The One, The Marriage Act and The Passengers. In a world where most people can no longer afford to start a family or raise one in, one company, Awakening Entertainment, has developed software where couples can access the metaverse and create and raise a virtual child. To launch this new technology, Awakening Entertainment has created a reality TV show called, The Family Experiment. The show will follow five couples and one single dad who will raise a virtual child, from birth to eighteen years old, condensed into a nine-month period. Viewers will pick their favorite and at the end of the nine months, the winner will be able to keep their virtual child or have them deleted and take the prize money to start a real family of their own. What could go wrong?

When the story opens, we are introduced to all the contestants: Rufus and Kitty, Selena and Jade, Cadman and Gabriel, Woody and Tina, Dimitri and Zoe, and single dad Hudson. Rufus and Kitty are eliminated right away, when there was an accident with their virtual child. All the other contestants have secrets that they do not want anyone to find out. And what juicy secrets they are.

I loved getting to know each contestant and watching them interact with their virtual child. Hudson was my favorite. He is twenty-two and his virtual child is Alice. Hudson is not in the contest to win the prize, he wants to expose something, which we don’t find out until the end of the book what it is. But I loved watching him with Alice. For someone who was not in this for the child or money, he was a great dad.

Cadman and Gabriel were my least favorite couple, well Cadman mostly. Cadman is a social media influencer, and he is in this contest for the money. He makes some very questionable decisions, and I just hated him.

Dimitri and Zoe had a son years ago but lost him. This contest is their only chance to be parents again. They seem like a nice couple, but behind closed doors they are anything but. Someone knows their secret and has been sending them threatening letters.

Woody and Tina are another couple that seem nice, but they are hiding a dark secret in their basement.

Rounding out the contestants are Jaden and Selena. Selena is not very motherly and does not connect with her virtual child as much as Jaden does. Jaden has a stalker, that is about to explode their world.

I really cannot say much about what happens in the book, but I will say that as I was reading, I kept thinking “I could never go on a show like this, knowing that if I lose, the child I was raising and loved would be deleted right before my eyes.”

As usual, John Marrs has created an intense futuristic story that kept me glued from beginning to end. And one that also made me think “Yup, I could see virtual families unfortunately becoming a thing one day.” I definitely recommend The Family Experiment. 4 ½ stars

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Storm Child & I Will Ruin You

August 1, 2024/4 Comments/by Sharon

Hi, Sharon here with another Thriller Thursday post. This week I am excited to share my reviews on, Storm Child by Michael Robotham and I Will Ruin you by Linwood Barclay. I hope you enjoy. 😀

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Storm Child & I Will Ruin You

Storm Child (Cyrus Haven, #4) Goodreads

Author: Michael Robotham

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Publisher: Scribner

Storm Child is the fourth installment of Michael Robotham’s Cyrus Haven series. I love this series and was so excited to reunite with Evie and Cyrus again.

Cyrus and Evie are enjoying some down time at Lincolnshire beach when the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on shore. The only survivor is a teenage boy, who tells police that their boat was deliberately rammed. While Cyrus is trying to help recover the bodies from the ocean, he and Evie are separated. When Cyrus finally finds Evie, she is in a catatonic state. The images of the bodies in the ocean have started to unlock her memories of what happened on the boat she and her mother and sister were on years before. Cyrus is helping the police determine if the boat was targeted and who is responsible, and he also hopes that he can finally help Evie unlock the memories of her past.

I loved how broken and flawed both Evie and Cyrus are. They are both equally vulnerable and strong at the same time. Cyrus wants to help Evie bring down the wall she has put up on her past, but at the same time knows he needs to tread carefully. Evie desperately wants to be normal and at the same time she is afraid of growing too much and possibly losing Cyrus.

Cyrus’ investigation as to what happened on the migrant boat and who was responsible, takes him closer to learning what happened to the boat Evie was on when she was ten years old and the events that ultimately lead to her being found in the secret room three years ago. But the information from both these events, put both Cyrus’ and Evie’s lives in danger.

As Evie starts remembering, we get a look into her life when she was a child, both before she and her mother and sister fled Albania, as well as what happened on the boat that was taking them to England. I loved getting these memories. Some of them made me smile, especially her memories of her father, and a lot of them made me so sad, like when her father died.

As with the three previous books, Robotham has created a story full of tension that kept on building. I love how he intertwines both the mystery and suspense of the story, with the heartfelt characters. I was glued to this story from the very first page and was on the edge of my seat as the end neared. And the end of the book had me in tears.

Storm Child was everything I was hoping it would be. I cannot recommend Michael Robotham’s Cyrus Haven series enough. I am very impatiently waiting for the next installment. I need more Evie and Cyrus in my life. 4 ½ stars

I Will Ruin You Goodreads

Author: Linwood Barclay

Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: William Morrow

Linwood Barclay’s latest book, I Will Ruin You, follows English teacher Richard Boyle, who is hailed a hero after taking down former student, Mark LeDrew, who was going to blow up the school. But after his moment in the spotlight, Richard finds himself up against a blackmailer with a score to settle. As Richard tries to figure out why he was targeted, he finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation.

After the incident at the school Richard is understandably on edge. When he returns to school, he finds out that the parents of Mark LeDrew have filed a lawsuit against the school as well as Richard. Just Mark himself ended up being blown up and his parents believe that Richard should have done more to be able to stop that from happening. And if all this is not enough, Richard is contacted by another former student of the school that saw him on the news, and this student has made allegations to Richard that he molested him when he was at the school, allegations that Richard vehemently denies. This student is now blackmailing Richard. This student is also involved with big time drug smugglers, and when he turns up dead, Richard finds that he is now in the middle of a murder investigation and no matter what he does to try and get himself out of this mess, he just keeps getting himself in deeper. The deeper he gets, the more his life is in danger.

I liked Richard. Yes, he made some really stupid decisions, but he was dealing with a lot with the aftermath of the potential school bombing. So, when he finds himself being blackmailed and then in the middle of a murder investigation, I kept finding myself yelling “No Richard! Why are you doing that?” As Richard digs deeper to find a way to clear his name with the blackmailer, he finds a connection between, the school bomber, the blackmailer and another teacher at the school. And as things started to be revealed, I thought for sure that I knew what was going on and who was responsible. But boy was I wrong.

I Will Ruin You was a fast paced read that had a lot of things going on. There were so many twists and turns, especially at the end. Linwood Barclay does a great job of creating a story that kept me engaged as well as kept me in the dark. 4 stars

Reviews – BETTER LEFT UNSENT, UNDER YOUR SPELL, WHAT’S IN A KISS?

July 22, 2024/3 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all doing well and that you’ve been reading some amazing books. It has been a while but I’m back today to share some of my recent reads that I think may be of interest and that I haven’t already reviewed over on my bookstagram account.

Better Left Unsent Goodreads

Author: Lia Louis

Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

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

Better Left Unsent follows Millie Chandler, a 30 year old receptionist, who after experiencing a very public and embarrassing breakup, has since kept all of her thoughts and feelings to herself. It’s a way to protect herself from being embarrassed again but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have strong feelings about certain people and situations. Whether it’s a hard truth that needs to be said, a sarcastic reply to a rude boss, or a love letter to her ex who is now with someone else, Millie has been drafting emails to her coworkers whenever she has feelings she needs to get off her chest. She just doesn’t actually send them. That is, until a major server outage somehow sends all of Millie’s draft emails when the system comes back up.

I felt so bad for Millie because I know that whole scenario would be the stuff of nightmares for me. Not only does she now have to worry about possibly losing her job, but some of those emails were super harsh so she has to worry about whose feelings she may have unintentionally hurt. I thought it was interesting watching how each coworker reacted, especially the ones who actually took Millie’s criticisms to heart and decided to make positive changes because of what she said. I was fully invested in seeing how Millie would deal with the fallout from each email and how she might grow as a result of this uncomfortable journey.

Where the story fell a little flat for me that while Millie was focused on making things right with her coworkers, she also seemed hyper-fixated on figuring out who did this to her. I don’t know if I just skimmed over and missed some detail that made it seem like someone tried to hurt her on purpose, but I was confused as to why she was investing so much time and energy investigating who might have purposely sent out all of her emails.

There was also a little romance, but it definitely felt secondary to the plot. I enjoyed the chemistry between Millie and her coworker Jack but wish we had gotten a bit more of them. I actually preferred Millie’s interactions with her roommate, who was both supportive and hilarious.

I went into Better Left Unsent with very high expectations because I’ve read and loved three other of Lia Louis’ books. While I still thought Better Left Unsent was a solid and enjoyable read, it unfortunately didn’t have quite the same magic that I’ve come to expect from a Lia Louis book. 3.5 stars

Under Your Spell Goodreads

Author: Laura Wood

Publication Date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Atria Books

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

Under Your Spell follows Clemmie Moore, who when we meet her, has just been fired from her dream job, cheated on by her now-ex boyfriend, and is in danger of losing her apartment. Needless to say, she is having a rough time. In an effort to cheer her up, Clemmie’s sisters, Lil and Serena, get her drunk and then decide it might change her luck for the better if they revive one of their favorite childhood rituals, the Breakup Spell.

Soon after, Serena approaches Clemmie with the perfect job offer to help get her back on her feet. It’s a six week gig to basically babysit her label’s reclusive rock star, Theo Elliott, at an isolated beach house, and make sure he finishes writing his overdue album. Clemmie is hesitant to take the job because she has issues thanks to her dad, who is an aging rock star, but reluctantly agrees since she really has no other prospects at the moment.

Clemmie doesn’t want to be interested in Theo because of what her dad put their family through, but she can’t deny that Theo is irresistible. I adored both Clemmie and Theo and I loved how not only did they have incredible chemistry, but they also just perfectly balanced each other out. They both had issues from their pasts that they needed to work through, but I loved that they not only had a lot of fun together hanging at the beach house as they grew closer, but they also just made a great team in every way. I especially loved this for Clemmie since the rest of the men in her life have been such losers. She deserves someone wonderful like Theo who is so supportive.

The romance is swoony, but what really made this book such a special read for me was the bond between Clemmie and her sisters. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I’m a sucker for a good story about sisterhood and I love how close these sisters were, especially since they only shared the same dad because apparently daddy rock star really got around.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Under Your Spell since I hadn’t heard much buzz about it at all, but it has ended up being one of my favorite romances of the summer so far! 4.5 STARS

What's in a Kiss? Goodreads

Author: Lauren Kate

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

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

When they were in high school, Olivia and Jake were major rivals and both were voted Most Likely to Succeed. Olivia had planned to attend Julliard but ended up not going after her dad died and her mom needed her, and her entire life path changed because of this. Now Olivia is a laid-off drama teacher who drives a Lyft, while Jake is a successful TV personality. Although they were huge rivals, Olivia and Jake did share an “almost kiss” moment at their senior prom. When she learns that she will be reunited with Jake at a friend’s wedding, Olivia can’t help but wonder what life might have been if she and Jake had really kissed all those years ago. She has no idea that this reunion with Jake will take her on the adventure of a lifetime as she gets to experience firsthand a parallel universe of what life might have been like if she and Jake had, in fact, kissed that night.

“What if?” stories like Lauren Kate’s What’s in a Kiss? always intrigue me because I think it’s so interesting to imagine what direction someone’s life might have taken if they had made a different decision at some moment in their past. In this version, the “what if” takes Olivia down a path where not only does Jake turn out to be the love of her life, but Olivia also has the career she has always dreamed of.

What I most enjoyed about this book was that not only does Lauren Kate bring all of the fun vibes and banter that I love and expect to see in romcoms, but she also touches on the more serious theme of “Be careful what you wish for” because you just might get it and what you thought you wanted may come at a heavy price tag. In the case of the alternate world, the trade off for getting the guy and the career is losing her relationships with her mother and her best friend. Olivia has to really reflect on what is most important to her and decide which life is the one she really wants.

If you’re in the mood for a fun romcom that is also quite thought provoking, What’s in a Kiss? is the book for you! 4 STARS

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Gathering & Long Time Gone

July 11, 2024/4 Comments/by Sharon

Welcome to another edition of Thriller Thursday with Sharon. I hope everyone is doing well, enjoying their summer, and getting great reads in. I certainly am. 🙂 This week I happy to share my thoughts on another couple of great books I have read. C.J. Tudor’s, The Gathering, and Charlie Donlea’s, Long Time Gone. I highly recommend both of these books and authors.

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Gathering & Long Time Gone

The Gathering Goodreads

Author: C.J. Tudor

Publication Date: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Can C.J. Tudor write a bad book? In my opinion, the answer would be a big NO. Her latest book The Gathering will definitely be in my top five 2024 reads.

In the small town of Deadhart Alaska a fifteen-year-old boy is found dead with his throat ripped out. The citizens of the town are all on edge, they have not seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. They know the vampyr colony living at the old mining settlement deep in the woods is responsible and they want a cull (authorization from the police to kill all vampyrs in the colony). Detective Barbara Atkins is a forensic detective who specializes in vampyr killings, and she has been brought in to determine if the Colony is responsible and authorize a cull. Barbara enlists the help of Deadhart’s former sheriff, Jenson Tucker, to help with her investigation. Tucker was the sheriff twenty-five years ago when the last killing took place, and he knows the Colony better than anyone. As they dive into their investigation and the history of the town, they uncover dark secrets. When more bodies turn up dead, the citizens of Deadhart are growing restless and time is running out for Barbara and Tucker. They need to figure out who is responsible for the murders before there is an all-out war between the citizens of Deadhart and the Vampyr Colony.

While I loved all the characters in this book, Barbara Akins was my favorite. She was one bad ass lady. She did not take her job lightly and even though she was getting pressure from her boss as well as the town to authorize a cull, she was not going to do that until she had all the facts.

I also loved the setting Tudor created. It is Alaska in the winter, so it is cold and dark. That just intensified the creepiness and supernatural feel of the book. I also loved how Tudor redefined the vampyr stereotype. They don’t have a weakness for holy water or garlic and the sun does not burn them up. They can actually have children as well, with another vampyr or even a human. While some vampyrs do go rogue, most just want to live their life in their colony.

I loved everything about this book. C.J. Tudor did an amazing job of creating it all. There were so many twists and turns. There was never a dull moment, and I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. And WOW! what an ending The Gathering had. I so hope there will be a sequel in the works soon. 4 ½ stars

Long Time Gone Goodreads

Author: Charlie Donlea

Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Publisher: Kensington

Long Time Gone is the third book I have read by Charlie Donlea, and he is now on my must-read author list.

Dr. Sloan Hastings is a forensic scientist. Sloan has always known she was adopted and has never had any interest in searching for her biological parents, but in order to complete a research assignment she submits her DNA to an online genealogy site and the results turn Sloan’s world upside down and opens a thirty-year-old missing person’s case. Thirty years ago, in the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada, Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte” disappeared along with her parents. The results of Sloan’s DNA test confirms that she is Baby Charlotte. If Sloan is Baby Charlotte, then what happened to her biological parents? Sloan travels to Cedar Creek to meet the Margolis family and try and get answers on what happened to her parents. But those answers could put Sloan’s life in danger.

The story is told in a dual timeline. In the present timeline we follow Sloan as she tries to find the answers on what happened to her parents and why she was put up for adoption thirty years ago. And we also follow the story in the days leading up to the day Baby Charlotte and her parents went missing in July 1995.

Sloan teams up with the local sheriff, Eric Stamos, whose father was the sheriff back in 1995 and was investigating the disappearance until he died under suspicious circumstances a week after Baby Charlotte and her parents went missing. I loved following Sloan and Eric as they worked to uncover what happened in 1995. Both being in law enforcement gave them information that would probably not be available to just anyone. They need to tread lightly though because the Margolis family controls the town and Sloan and Eric need to make sure that the Margolis’ do not find out they are working together. Eric is sure that the information his father found out about the disappearance is the reason he died. And as information is uncovered, it looks like someone in the Margolis family knows more than they are saying.

I loved following the events in 1995 as well. For the most part we get the POV of Eric’s father as he is investigating the disappearance. But we also get the POV of Baby Charlotte’s mother. And by the end of the book when it was revealed what happened, I wanted to cry.

Long Time Gone was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. And what an end it was! I was on the edge of my seat; the tension was so high. Charlie Donlea has once again delivered an amazing mystery. I definitely recommend reading Long Time Gone, as well as his other books. 4 ½ stars