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Pub Day Review: THE ROOMMATE PACT by Allison Ashley

Review: GOOD GIRLS LIE by J.T. Ellison

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About Me

me

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

BOOKSTAGRAM

🎧 AUDIOBOOK MINI REVIEWS 🎧 Happy Halloween 🎧 AUDIOBOOK MINI REVIEWS 🎧

Happy Halloween Eve! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on some audiobooks I’ve listened to this spooky season.

PLAY NICE by Rachel Harrison (Thanks to @prhaudio for the #gifted ALC)

Pub Date - 9/9/25

I love Rachel Harrison’s books and Play Nice is my new favorite from her. I loved that this book is part haunted house story, part family drama. It’s a dark story, but has some humor as well, particularly Clio’s snarky personality, which I found very entertaining. I loved the spooky atmosphere of the house, and the flashbacks to when Clio, her mom, and sisters lived in the house. Everyone had always assumed Clio’s mom was imagining the house was haunted, and the path to the truth is a wild, messy, ride for Clio as an adult.  Alex Finke and Natasha Soudek narrate and the way they set the tone and bring Harrison’s characters to life made this a binge-listen for me. So good! ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️️
️

HOT FOR SLAYER by Ali Hazelwood (Purchased)

Pub Date - 9/23/25

This novella is a forbidden romance between Lazio, a vampire slayer who has amnesia, & Aethelthryth (Ethel), the vampire he has been hunting for centuries. Ethel lets Lazio crash on her couch since he has no one else who can help him, and the two of them start to bond over sudoku puzzles. The two of them were so cute together, and their obvious mutual attraction had me eager to see what would happen if Lazio got his memory back. This was such a fun listen and Nina Yndis and Maxim Reston were great narrators, especially the banter and the yearning between Lazio & Ethel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V.E. Schwab (Libby)

Pub Date - 6/10/25

This is a sapphic vampire story that follows three vampires and how their lives intertwine over the course of a few centuries. Schwab’s writing is poetic and atmospheric, & the way these characters are developed made me feel like I really knew them. There are also themes of hunger and feminine rage that sucked me in. The narrators were Julia Whelan, one of my all time favorites, Marisa Calin, and Katie Leung, and they were all just perfect. I was mesmerized listening to their performances. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ 💫

❓QOTD - Final read of October?
🔮 WITCHY WEDNESDAY 🔮 Thanks so much to Jenn 🔮 WITCHY WEDNESDAY 🔮

Thanks so much to Jennifer Chipman for sending me a #gifted copy of her latest book, Spookily Yours, a Halloween romance novel, and book 1 in the Witches of Pleasant Grove series. 

This book is Chipman’s love letter to all things Halloween, and she describes it as having “Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hocus Pocus, and Halloweentown vibes, all set in a cozy small town like Stars Hollow.” 

Each book in this series is an interconnected standalone but features a brand new couple. All of the books are currently available on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback and audiobook format.

About Spookily Yours:

My cat is a demon.
No, that’s not a joke. An actual, real life demon. And he needs my help to break a curse.
But what happens when that turns into more?
It can never be forever, and yet... I’m falling in love with him anyway.

Spookily Yours is a spicy, open-door Halloween themed novel, featuring a witch and the demon who falls in love with her. This book is a complete standalone with a HEA guaranteed.

❓QOTD - I need to go shopping for Halloween candy to hand out on Friday.  If you hand out candy, what kind do you like to hand out or what’s your favorite candy?
🍁 ALL THE FALL THINGS 🍁 We’re collaborati 🍁 ALL THE FALL THINGS 🍁

We’re collaborating to celebrate all of the bookish magic in the crisp fall air with warm drinks and sweaters in hand. 

To see how everyone is getting into the fall spirit check out #AllTheBookishAndFallThings 

🍁🧡🍂💛🍃💛🍂🧡🍁

For this collab, I decided to keep things simple and share a flatlay some of my favorite book covers that have fall colors and/or cozy fall vibes.

Books Featured:

🍁Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
🧡If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
🍂Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller
💛In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
🍃People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young
🍁The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover
🧡Fall I Want by Lyra Parish
🍂It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard
💛Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay
🍃Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese
🍁The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
🧡Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these? Or what’s your favorite thing about fall?

🍁🧡🍂💛🍃💛🍂🧡🍁

This collab & more bookish community fun is hosted by the members of  @bookends.friends 🫶🏻

#bookendsfriends #bookishcollab #bookstafriends  #booklovers  #bookishcommunity #bookishfun
Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyrom Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance @acebookspub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🧹 Review - WITCHES OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN 🧹

Author - Jenn McKinlay

Pub Date - 10/28/25

Zoe Ziakas loves her quiet life as a librarian in a charming New England town, that is until a mysterious book with an unbreakable latch is delivered to her at the library. 

Zoe decides to consult the Museum of Literature and their collection of Books of Dubious Origin to try to learn more about this book and why it feels like it’s calling to her. 

Zoe learns she is the last descendant of a family of witches and the book that has found its way to her is their grimoire.  Zoe has always wondered what exactly happened to her mother and grandmother and thinks the answers must lie in the grimoire so she decides to try to decode it. 

Among the challenges she faces is that the book draws all things magical to it so while she’s trying to decode it and uncover her family’s long-buried secrets, she finds herself being chased by ghost pirates, Vikings, and other assorted ghosts and ghouls. 

It’s a wild ride, but Zoe’s not alone on this quest though - she also has a team of quirky librarians, a handsome containment specialist named Jasper, and a pesky raven on her side.

I’ve been really into cozy fantasies this spooky season, and this is one of my favorites.  I love bookish characters and witchy reads so having a librarian/witch as the main character just really called to me. I also loved the library setting, which just felt so atmospheric and perfectly added to the overall cozy vibes of the book.  The cast of characters was also wonderful and they felt like one big found family.  There is also a hint of romance, but this is more about Zoe’s journey and whether or not she wants to embrace her family’s legacy.

I did an immersive read and thought Saskia Maarleveld was the perfect narrator for this story. I enjoyed the unique voices she gave each character & thought her tone added to the enchanting vibe of the story. 

Perfect for fans of cozy witchy reads, magic, & atmospheric library settings.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - How often do you visit your local library?
✨BOOK FEATURE: THE DO-OVER ✨ Book 4, The Mile ✨BOOK FEATURE: THE DO-OVER ✨

Book 4, The Miles High Series

Author - T.L. Swan

Pub Date - 10/28/25 (New Deluxe Edition); 8/30/22 (Original Pub Date)

Thanks so much to @arndellbooks for this fun PR box.  The new deluxe editions of The Miles High books feature gorgeous new covers, beautiful sprayed edges, and exclusive bonus content. 

About the Book:

He left behind everything he knew… but he never expected to find her.

A year off, a new identity, and a chance to escape the emptiness of his privileged life. That was the plan. But when Christopher Miles steps into a crowded hostel in Barcelona, reality hits hard. Gone are the luxuries he’s used to—his penthouse, his tailored suits, his billion-dollar empire. In their place? A shared dorm room, questionable roommates, and the one woman who might actually make this trip worthwhile.

Hayden Whitmore is smart, beautiful, and completely immune to his good-looks and usual charms. She’s on her own journey, finally seizing her independence and traveling across Europe to find herself. Hayden doesn’t know (or care) who Christopher really is and she’s made one thing very clear– he’s firmly in the friend zone.

Determined to prove he’s more than the player she assumes he is, Christopher plays the long game of friendship. But the closer they get, the harder it becomes to ignore the undeniable attraction between them and Christopher realizes one thing for certain. He may have left his old life behind, but when it comes to Hayden, walking away isn’t an option.

Perfect for fans of:

✨Friends to Lovers
✨Billionaire Romance
✨Slow Burn
✨Forced Proximity
✨Spicy Romance

❓QOTD - It’s Pub Day. Are you picking up any new books this week?
Thanks for the gifted ARC, @youhadmeathea @stmarti Thanks for the gifted ARC, @youhadmeathea @stmartinspress #partner & to @recordedbooks for the gifted ALC.

🎵 Review - NEVER OVER 🎵

Author - Clare Gilmore

Pub Date - 10/28/25

Slow burns, second chances, spice, and a swoonworthy MMC who is major book boyfriend material, Clare Gilmore’s latest novel, Never Over, has it all!

Paige is a songwriter who is trying to make it in country music, but every Nashville publisher she has applied to has rejected her. The general consensus is that her songs have potential but are missing something, some emotional depth that will really make them resonate.  When a professional in the music industry tells her it seems like she might be holding back with her lyrics to lessen the heartbreak of an ex, Paige decides maybe it’s time to reach out to that ex to see if maybe reconnecting with him will help to get song-worthy emotions flowing again. 

Liam is a former baseball player who now works as a tour manager.  When Paige approaches him, Liam reluctantly agrees to fake date her and then break her heart again to hopefully help stir up those emotions, but only on the condition that she travels with him over the summer while he runs a big tour.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t entirely sold on Paige’s method of forcing those emotions to the surface again. That said, I do love a second chance romance so I set aside my reservations and ended up enjoying Paige and Liam together, especially the flashback scenes to their college days when they first met and became friends, then romantically involved.  These characters are written to have wonderful chemistry, both in the past and again when they reconnect. It was very easy to root for them as they worked through what broke them up in the first place, and I enjoyed their banter, as well as the more emotional and angsty moments along the way. 

The audiobook was narrated by Carly Robins, and I thought she did a wonderful job bringing these two characters to life. I especially enjoyed her southern accent, which really helped make me feel fully immersed in the country music industry. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Who are some of your favorite musical artists?
Thanks to @libro.fm and @avonbooks for the #gifted Thanks to @libro.fm and @avonbooks for the #gifted ALC. #partner

✨Review - GOOD SPIRITS ✨

Author - B.K. Borison

Pub Date - 10/21/25

(physical copy purchased by me)

It’s official. I have a new favorite holiday romance! Up until I read Good Spirits, my favorite was Lovelight Farms, also written by B.K. Borison, and while I still adore that book, Good Spirits is just the most perfect holiday romance I’ve ever read. It checks every box I look for in this kind of read.

I love Borison’s unique twist on the classic Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol, especially having the Ghost of Christmas Past be a sexy, swoonworthy Irish grump named Nolan, while the female main character, Harriet, is actually the exact opposite of Ebenezer Scrooge. She’s a ray of sunshine whose main flaw is that she tries way too hard to please everyone around her. 

Nolan has the same job every Christmas, where he is assigned to haunt someone over the holidays, before returning to his usual routine of waiting for the afterlife.  Everything changes for him when he is assigned to haunt Harriet.  Even though he is supposed to take her back to her past so she can reckon with her past mistakes, Nolan soon concludes that Harriet is one of the sweetest people he has ever encountered and he starts to have feelings for her and wish they could have a future together. The more time they spend together, the more real those feelings become for both Harriet and Nolan and the more they look at Harriet’s past together, the more they realize there are threads that tie them together and that the key to both of their futures might be more intertwined than they could have imagined. 

Borison’s writing and the way she crafts these characters is just beautiful. I loved the grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Nolan and Harriet, and the pining between these two characters was absolutely everything! The charming antique store setting and the cozy holiday vibes all just combined to make for a magical holiday read. 

The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker, who is one of my favorites, & Will Watt, who had the perfect Irish accent for Nolan. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Do you have any holiday books on your TBR? Which ones?
Thanks to @gallerybooks #partner for the #gifted A Thanks to @gallerybooks #partner for the #gifted ARC and to @simon.audio #partner for the gifted ALC.

✨Review - BACKSLIDE ✨

Author - Nora Dahlia

Pub Date - 10/21/25

Nellie and Noah were high school sweethearts who had a major falling out and haven’t seen each other in a couple of decades.  That is, until they find themselves trapped together in the same suite at their best friends’ vow renewal ceremony in wine country. 

I loved how this story was structured with a dual timeline that takes the reader back to the 1990s to see Nellie and Noah as a young couple and to see what happened to force them apart.  I enjoyed the nostalgic vibe of that timeline and thought it provided a nice contrast to the present day timeline where Nellie and Noah reconnect after so many years apart. At first, there’s mutual loathing, plenty of eye rolls, and verbal sparring, but as you might expect, forced proximity can work wonders when it comes to clearing the air about the past and realizing that the chemistry is still there.

I really enjoyed the character growth in this story, as well as the themes of forgiveness and second chances, and found both main characters very likable and relatable.  I also enjoyed the author’s writing style, especially the way she writes the banter and the more emotional scenes between Nellie and Noah. It made for a read I didn’t want to put down.

The audiobook is narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Gilli Messer, and I just loved both of their performances.  Their voices worked well together and they perfectly captured the full range of emotions as these characters worked through what happened in the past and looked ahead to the future and a possible happily ever after.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Do you have a reading buddy? 

AOTD - My tuxedo cat Ninja is my main reading buddy.
🥳 BIRTHDAY BOOK HAUL 🥳 Hey book friends! I 🥳 BIRTHDAY BOOK HAUL 🥳

Hey book friends! I hope you’re all having a great week.  Mine has been pretty good so far, especially today which is my birthday. 🥳

I almost always get mostly gift cards so I went birthday book shopping over the weekend and picked up several books I’ve been wanting to read, and then my hubby took me out today and I picked a couple of new releases I’m excited for too.

Here’s my birthday haul:

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
Wild Card by Elsie Silver
Revolve by Bal Khabra
Chasing Shelter by Catherine Cowles
The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller
Blood over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
Sawyer by Jessica Peterson
It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these?  Do you do anything special to celebrate your birthday?
Thanks for the free ARC @berkleyromance #BerkleyPa Thanks for the free ARC @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & #gifted ALC @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

😈 Review - THE DEVIL SHE KNOWS 😈

Author - Alexandria Bellefleur

Pub Date - 10/21/25

When we meet Samantha Cooper, she is having the worst day, ending up both single and homeless when her live-in girlfriend Hannah dumps her. 

She also finds herself trapped in an elevator with Daphne, a beautiful woman who claims she’s a demon. Samantha is desperate to get Hannah back, so when Daphne makes her an offer that could help her win back her ex — six wishes in exchange for her soul, Samantha decides to go for it, thinking she’ll only need one of the wishes.

Daphne, on the other hand, is desperate to collect Samantha’s soul, the last of the one thousand she needs to free herself from her own deal with the devil. She grants each of Samantha’s wishes, but in such a way that Samantha is forced to keep using more wishes. The more time Samantha and Daphne spend together, however, the more Samantha starts to realize that the woman of her dreams might actually be the demon right in front of her.

This was such a fun read! Samantha’s pursuit of Hannah was a little frustrating because Hannah is actually the worst, but at the same time, I found Samantha to be pretty relatable, thinking something about her was the problem because she loved Hannah so much and then using each wish to change something about herself. This also gave the story a bit of a Groundhog’s Day vibe as she kept revisiting her relationship over and over again to see if anything had changed.

I loved the chemistry and the tension between Samantha and Daphne, especially as Daphne’s conscience starts to get the better of her, and was rooting for Samantha to see what was right in front of her so they could team up and find a way out of both of their demonic deals. 

Ellie Gossage narrates the audiobook, & I loved the voices she used for these characters, especially the seductive quality she gave to Daphne’s. It made for a very entertaining listening experience.

If you enjoy sapphic romances, creative plots, & magical realism, check this one out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Favorite fall drink or treat?
💍 Review - SECRET HAVEN 💍 Author - Catherin 💍 Review - SECRET HAVEN 💍

Author - Catherine Cowles

Pub Date - 10/21/25

Thanks so much to @catherinecowlesauthor for the #gifted Trope ARC and ALC and to @sourcebookscasa for the gifted ARC.

Secret Haven is the sixth and final book in Catherine Cowles’ Sparrow Falls romantic suspense series. If you have followed me for a while, you know how much I have loved every book in this series. Well, this final book is my favorite, hands down, and it had me feeling so many emotions! It had everything I have loved about every other book in the series - incredible chemistry between the main characters, a storyline with both emotional depth and suspense that had me on the edge of my seat, those heartwarming found family vibes that always surround the Colson family, and of course the hilarity that Grandma Lolli always brings to the table. 

I’ve been waiting for Fallon and Kyler’s story since the beginning of the series because it has always been clear that these two have major history. Cowles delivers their story in the best possible way too, just sealing in my mind that these two are soulmates who are meant to be together. Their romance is a slow burn because they have a lot to work through before they can be together, and Kyler’s backstory truly broke my heart, but thankfully his healing journey with Fallon put it back together again. 

While I’m so sad this series is coming to a close, I don’t think Catherine Cowles could have ended it on a more perfect note.  I laughed, I cried, and just finished the last page fully satisfied with how everything is wrapped up. 

The audiobook, narrated by Connor Crais and Stella Hunter, is also incredible! Crais and Hunter’s performances really highlighted both the vulnerability and the strength of Fallon and Kyler. Their voices just worked so well together and really elevated my reading/listening experience. 

Secret Haven is perfect for fans of:

🤫 Forbidden
💙 Single Guardian
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💕 Second Chance
✨ Forced Proximity
👫 Found Family
🛏️ Only One Bed
🥹 It’s Always Been You
👵 Hilarious Grandma

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What are you reading this week?
Thanks for the #gifted eARC and ALC @hambright_pr Thanks for the #gifted eARC and ALC @hambright_pr and @meghanquinnbooks

🎄Review - MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU FILTHY ANIMAL 🎄

Author - Meghan Quinn

Pub Date - 10/14/25

(Finished copy purchased by me)

I took a break from my spooky season reading to dive into my first holiday read of the season, Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal.  I’m so glad I did too because this was definitely the perfect read to kick off my holiday season! As you can probably guess from the title, it’s loosely inspired by the movie Home Alone and there are many hilarious shout outs to the film sprinkled throughout the book. 

At its heart though, this is a spicy rivals-to-lovers, small town romance that follows Atlas “Max” Maxheimer, who is working hard to keep his family’s Christmas tree farm from failing, and Betty, the new girl in town he catches spying on his farm because she is starting a similar business of her own. 

This book has everything I love in a Meghan Quinn book from an entertaining meet cute gone wrong, to hilarious banter that had me cackling to myself, and finally, to positively electric chemistry between Atlas and Betty.  If you’re a fan of Home Alone and rewatch it every year like I do, you’ll be truly delighted at how seamlessly Quinn integrates so many classic moments from the film into the book.

I did an immersive read with the e-arc and ALC and just devoured this book! The book features a duet narration between Teddy Hamilton and Samantha Brentmoor, who are always perfection, and there was also a full cast for the secondary characters, including Shane East, Vanessa Edwin, JF Harding, and Robert Hatchet, which just added to the overall fun. 

I will also never look at popcorn garland the same again and (IYKYK) and cackled with glee when my preorder arrived and I saw the edges are a popcorn garland. LOL!

If you like spicy romance and are looking for the perfect book to kick off your holiday reading, this is the book for you! 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What’s your favorite holiday film?
Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyrom Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance @berkleypub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🧛🏻‍♂️ Review - DEAD & BREAKFAST 🧛🏻‍♂️

Author - Kat Hillis & Rosiee Thor

Pub Date - 10/14/2025

Arthur and Sal are a queer married couple who also happen to be vampires.  They love their quiet life together where they run a bed and breakfast in Trident Falls, a small town in Oregon, but things take a turn for the ugly when the town’s mayor turns up dead in their garden and because puncture marks are also found on the body, Arthur and Sal become the prime suspects and must clear their names.

This is one of the most fun books I’ve read all year!  Arthur and Sal are just so delightfully quirky and their banter had me laughing out loud almost the entire time I was reading and listening.  I also loved how devoted they were to making their business a success even in the face of prejudice from the anti-paranormal folks in town.  They are a couple that is just so easy to root for. 

I also adored all of the secondary characters, especially Sal who is a werewolf and also a barista and lawyer in the small town. Sal is one of the townspeople who work to help try and clear Arthur and Sal’s name and is just such an endearing character. 

The murder mystery is fairly low stakes overall, so the read isn’t a fast paced one, but it’s so entertaining that I still flew through it in just a couple of sittings. Dead & Breakfast is the first installment in a new paranormal cozy mystery series and I can’t wait to read the next book!

I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook and highly recommend either format.  The audiobook, narrated by Daniel Henning, is absolutely delightful. Henning perfectly delivers all of the funny banter, especially the puns, and had me chuckling to myself every chapter. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun or read any good books?
🎃👻 CANDY CORN BOOK STACK 👻🎃 Happy Fri 🎃👻 CANDY CORN BOOK STACK 👻🎃

Happy Friday, book friends! I’ve been seeing candy corn stacks all over my feed today and they inspired me to create my own stack. This candy corn stack is filled with some of my recent favorite reads from @berkleyromance . Have you read any of these?

BOOKS FEATURED:

👻Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
🧡 Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler
💀 Happy Place by Emily Henry
🖤 No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
🎃If Only You by Chloe Liese
👻Book Lovers by Emily Henry 
🧡 Dust Storm by Maggie Gates
💀Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie 

❓QOTD - Are you a fan of candy corn? What’s your favorite kind of candy?

AOTD - I’ll eat a couple of pieces of candy corn but I prefer candy with chocolate and peanuts or peanut butter. My favorites are Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 

👻🧡💀🖤🎃🖤💀🧡👻
Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyrom Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance @acebookspub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🩷 Review - THE KEEPER OF MAGICAL THINGS 🩷

Author - Julie Leong

Pub Date - 10/14/25

Cozy, charming, and truly magical, The Keeper of Magical Things was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. I’ve been really loving cozy fantasies this year and I think this book is my favorite one yet!

Certainty is a mage-in-training but hasn’t been having much luck with her magic.  What she is good at though is communicating with objects, especially magical ones, in order to find out what kind of magic they do.  When strange things start happening, like people being transformed into cabbages because of encounters with less important magical artifacts, Certainly and Mage Aurelia are tasked with transporting all of these magical artifacts to the village of Shpelling, which is deemed a safer place for long-term storage because it’s dull and nonmagical. 

If you enjoy a grumpy-sunshine romance, you’re going to love this one. Certainty is an absolute sweetheart who just wants to complete this task and finally earned her Mage status, while Aurelia has the grumpiest and iciest of personalities and resents that she has tasked with this menial assignment.  When Certainty and Aurelia arrive in Shpelling, they learn that the residents don’t really trust them or their magic and set out to win them over by using the magical artifacts to bring this dying village back to life. The two of them bond in the process and start having real feelings for one another, and it was all just so cute to follow. 

In addition to the grumpy-sunshine romance, there’s also friendship, found family, a journey of self discovery for both Certainty and Aurelia, and there’s even the most adorable cat dragon. It’s all just cozy perfection!

I did an immersive read and just flew through the pages because I found Natalie Naudus’ narration of the audiobook to be absolutely delightful. She captures the chemistry between Aurelia and Certainty, as well as the overall whimsical feel of the story. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What was your last 5 star read?
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2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) has read 11 books toward her goal of 175 books.
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11 of 175 (6%)
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2024 Goal – Read More Books From My Own Shelves

I have read 3 books from my bookshelves so far this year. My goal is to read at least 70.

4 %

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