Another cozy, feel-good story translated from the best-selling Japanese Kamogawa Food Detectives series. In this second installment, father-daughter dAnother cozy, feel-good story translated from the best-selling Japanese Kamogawa Food Detectives series. In this second installment, father-daughter duo help six character solve their food recipe mysteries, tracking down the ingredients to some beloved family dishes. Heartwarming and full of delicious food descriptions, this was great on audio and is perfect for fans of the Before the coffee gets cold series. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
An absolute MUST for fans of Buffy, The vampire diaries and True Blood, this fan fic vampire romance adventure was pure gold!! I loved how the bookishAn absolute MUST for fans of Buffy, The vampire diaries and True Blood, this fan fic vampire romance adventure was pure gold!! I loved how the bookish content was based on real life vampires, the sexual assault trauma for the FMC was all too real and the great Sapphic romance side story for the best friend was another highlight. By far my favorite by Kate Stayman-London, this was wonderful on audio narrated by Amber Benson, an actor from Buffy and includes a must listen author interview at the end. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! Fans of Katee Roberts will not want to miss this book!!!!...more
Another FABULOUS 2024 debut that is absolutely perfect for any spooky season reading list!! This witchy, dual POV, British romance features a biracialAnother FABULOUS 2024 debut that is absolutely perfect for any spooky season reading list!! This witchy, dual POV, British romance features a biracial kitchen witch who finds herself falling for the best man at her best friend's wedding. Super steamy and full of great bisexual rep (her), this book is perfect for fans of authors like Sangu Mandanna. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!!...more
What a fantastic paranormal mystery debut featuring Kathy, a pregnant 40 year old woman in the midst of a divorce who works as a modern day Grim reapeWhat a fantastic paranormal mystery debut featuring Kathy, a pregnant 40 year old woman in the midst of a divorce who works as a modern day Grim reaper for S.C.Y.T.H.E. - (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences) a government division that collects souls. When assigned to collect the soul of a new client things don't go according to plan and Kathy finds herself becoming an amateur detective to discover what actually happened to Connor, a weed-smoking, video game playing teen boy who swears he was murdered. With unusual sidekicks and a twisty mystery, this was fun, great on audio and perfect for fans of books like the Finlay Donovan series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
I enjoyed this small town M/M romance featuring a down on his luck Broadway playwright, Noah Adams, who returns to his Illinois hometown to help his aI enjoyed this small town M/M romance featuring a down on his luck Broadway playwright, Noah Adams, who returns to his Illinois hometown to help his ailing father and gets roped into producing an off Broadway rendition of his latest musical that was panned by the critics. Full of quirky characters who help show Adam new ways to think about his version of King Lear, this was a fun rivals to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance that was great on audio narrated by Michael Crouch. Anyone who loves theatre and LGBTQIA+ friendly stories won't want to miss this big-hearted queer romcom debut perfect for fans of authors like Timothy Janovsky and Steven Rowley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A steamy Sapphic second chance holiday romance that sees two almost married exes unexpectedly forced to spend Christmas together in this heartfelt newA steamy Sapphic second chance holiday romance that sees two almost married exes unexpectedly forced to spend Christmas together in this heartfelt new love story perfect for fans of authors like Rachel Lacey and Alexandria Bellefleur. I loved that both main characters were musicians and that we got to see how their first relationship broke down through flashbacks. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: very spicy, multiple graphic sex scenes...more
A lyrical literary story about female rage and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a career. Great on audio and perfect for fan3.5 rounded up.
A lyrical literary story about female rage and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a career. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Nightbitch. It took a bit for me to get fully invested in this story but I really liked the dual timeline structure and can definitely appreciate how some reviewers are critiquing the way Ava, the protagonist likes to rail against her lot as a stay at home mom yet never seems to have an actual conversation with her husband that might help resolve some of her frustrations....more
A delightfully cozy, magical small town enemies to lovers romance set in Owl's Hollow that sees tarot reading witch Charlie Sparrow and her two moms' A delightfully cozy, magical small town enemies to lovers romance set in Owl's Hollow that sees tarot reading witch Charlie Sparrow and her two moms' Chanterelle Cottage magic shop suddenly in stiff competition with the new corporate Maven Enterprises magic store, run by a rich city mage, Fitz.
This was an utterly enjoyable You've got mail retelling with fantastic banter and chemistry between the leads. Full of romance, small town charm and a mysterious vandal Charlie is determined to track down. Forced to choose between her beloved shop and her newfound love for Fitz, Charlie has tough decisions to make.
Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like The Crescent moon tearoom or Hazel Beck's Witchlore series. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
I think this one was a little more literary than I was in the mood for but it was still very well written and tackles race in America in a new and intI think this one was a little more literary than I was in the mood for but it was still very well written and tackles race in America in a new and interesting way. Great on audio but I just couldn't get fully invested in this story. Probably a me thing. Still definitely worth a read for fans of authors like Kiley Reid....more
This was a total departure from her middle grade book, Barely floating but I really, really enjoyed the slow burn horror story set in the NYC fashion This was a total departure from her middle grade book, Barely floating but I really, really enjoyed the slow burn horror story set in the NYC fashion world that has a Cuban American woman trying to impress her demanding fashion designer boss, battling alcohol addiction and inner demons. Perfect for fans of authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Especially great is the historical insights into the female immigrant garment workers and the terrible conditions they endured. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
Another feel-good British holiday romance from one of my favourite authors! A hot one night stand turns into a disaster when empty nester and overworkAnother feel-good British holiday romance from one of my favourite authors! A hot one night stand turns into a disaster when empty nester and overworked teacher Harriet is forced to work with James, the guy she never expected to see again but who is the lawyer representing a grumpy old woman who owns the derelict theatre Harriet got caught breaking into.
In order to avoid charges, Harriet has to agree to clean up the theatre to help get it ready for sale and James has to supervise to make sure the job gets done. Not looking forward to a Christmas alone, Harriet slowly learns to appreciate the season with the help of her students and this new project she wasn't sure she'd have time for.
I loved that the two leads were both middle aged and that the story was filled with a large cast of quirky characters ranging from a theatre troupe to a group of Harriet's students, who figure out how to work together to pull off a ramshackle production of A Christmas Carol.
Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Sarah Morgan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A definite must read for anyone concerned with the effect of 24/7 access to smart phones and social media that the youth today are growing up accustomA definite must read for anyone concerned with the effect of 24/7 access to smart phones and social media that the youth today are growing up accustomed to. Parents of girls and boys especially will be interested to learn about how this unprecedented access is negatively affecting their children in numerous ways, particularly the links to increased anxiety and depression. Good on audio and highly recommended!...more
I really enjoyed this emotional, feel-good holiday story that has wedding singer Mel Hart learning that her alcoholic mother has died and her long-timI really enjoyed this emotional, feel-good holiday story that has wedding singer Mel Hart learning that her alcoholic mother has died and her long-time boyfriend is leaving to go on tour with another band.
Stuck in her grief and not wanting to be alone for the holidays, Mel is surprised when an old friend of her mother's reaches out and invites her to come over and hear more about what her mother's life was like before Mel was born.
Full of family secrets, new beginnings, second chances and a bit of romance, this book delivers all the feels with a wonderful redemption arc of an ending. Forgiveness plays a big part in this story and what better time is there to forgive the ones we love than the holidays?
Great on audio read by Anna Caputo, a newish to me narrator. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
**spoiler alert** Easily my new favorite book by Amanda Elliot!! This reverse grumpy sunshine, black cat x golden retriever, friends to lovers, fake d**spoiler alert** Easily my new favorite book by Amanda Elliot!! This reverse grumpy sunshine, black cat x golden retriever, friends to lovers, fake dating romance has Abby Cohen, a prickly cafe owner and one of the only Jewish people living in her small town, recruited to organize a Hanukkah festival to try to help boost tourism in December.
The problem is Abby doesn't know where to start and has been alienated from the Jewish community since she cut her emotionally abusive parents out of her life. Needing to distract his mother's matchmaking schemes, Seth, a loyal cafe customer, proposes to help Abby if she'll agree to come home with him for the holidays and pretend to be his 'good Jewish girlfriend.'
Cue lots of forced proximity, found family and heartwarming Jewish holiday activities that has Seth slowly warming up Abby's cold exterior and getting her to open up her heart to new people. I loved the emotional depth in this book and how Abby has to work her way through panic attacks and childhood trauma with Seth's and a professional therapist's help.
This was great on audio narrated by Kelli Tager who really delivered on Abby's snark and sarcasm. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! Highly recommended for fans of authors like Jean Meltzer....more
Another great middle grade book about censorship, book banning and activism. Important reading for youth to get engaged about learning how to fight foAnother great middle grade book about censorship, book banning and activism. Important reading for youth to get engaged about learning how to fight for their right to read diverse books and the need to stand up for the freedom to read what you want. I also loved the friend group and the way the found a way to use social media and little free libraries to share the books that were getting banned in both their school and around the country. This was great on audio and I really loved the author's note at the end too! Highly recommended for fans of books like Ban this book by Alan Gratz or Answers in the pages by David Levithan. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
I'm a BIG fan of Falon Ballard and this latest holiday second chance, dual POV, forced proximity romance between two former writing partners, lovers aI'm a BIG fan of Falon Ballard and this latest holiday second chance, dual POV, forced proximity romance between two former writing partners, lovers and now rivals that has them snowed in together sharing a bed in a cozy inn over Christmas was a delightful read!
Told through flashbacks to Christmases past we slowly learn why the couple broke up and get to see them debate whether love stories are better with sad or happy endings if they themselves can get a second chance at love.
Perfect for fans of The roughest draft by Emily Wibberley and her author duo husband. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
This was another HILARIOUS vampire romcom that sees grumpy accountant Amelia fake dating her vampire client Reggie to get her meddling matchmaking famThis was another HILARIOUS vampire romcom that sees grumpy accountant Amelia fake dating her vampire client Reggie to get her meddling matchmaking family off her back. Buckle up for TONS of laughs, lots of SPICE, a clueless, sunshine cinnamon roll MMC, an accountant who saves the day and cameos from Cassie and Frederick. This was great on audio and can be read as a standalone. HIGHLY recommended for #SpookySeason reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
Charmed meets Practical magic is the perfect description for this new paranormal romance that has Holly reluctantly agreeing to be part of a ghosthuntCharmed meets Practical magic is the perfect description for this new paranormal romance that has Holly reluctantly agreeing to be part of a ghosthunting tv show in order to help save her family's apple orchard. GREAT on audio, narrated by my very fav, Brittany Pressley, this was a standout fantasy/witchy forbidden, dual POV, love story that had emotional depth and a unique take on the traditional small town magical sisters romance story.
Filled with HEAT, heart, magic and ghosts, this was a captivating read that I couldn't get enough of!! I really hope that this was the start of a trilogy and we'll eventually get Holly's sisters' stories next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A unique, spine-tingling and utterly chilling debut haunted house/locked room thriller novella from a new Canadian author that sees an agoraphobic manA unique, spine-tingling and utterly chilling debut haunted house/locked room thriller novella from a new Canadian author that sees an agoraphobic man and his pregnant wife trapped in their home with a couple guests and their out of control AI robot who has taken over control of the house!
Great on audio, this was a quick listen that completely creeped me out and had a shocking twist ending I didn't see coming! Fans of Stephen King will gobble this up!! Highly recommended especially for anyone who enjoyed the Woman in the window by A. J. Finn....more
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