Category: Fiction

Book Review: The Honeymoon Phase by Amy Daws

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

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Listen. If you love a “he’s always loved her” romance, this one is going to hit you right in the feelings.

Luke has been in love with his best friend Addison “Roe” for years. He’s just never said anything because he’s convinced she doesn’t feel the same way. So when Roe finds herself in a situation where she has to get married in order to inherit her family’s lumber business, Luke does what any secretly-in-love best friend would do… he offers himself up as the solution.

What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something so much messier and sweeter than either of them expected.

This book is full of longing. The quiet kind. The “I’ve loved you forever but I don’t want to lose you” kind. Watching Luke try to protect his heart while also stepping up for Roe was everything. And Roe’s journey? She’s carrying her own emotional baggage and grief, and seeing her slowly realize that the love she’s been looking for has been standing right in front of her was just chef’s kiss.

Their shared history made every small moment feel bigger. Every touch meant something. Every misunderstanding hurt a little more because you know how much they care about each other.

The pacing at the very beginning felt a little choppy during the lumberjack competition setup, but once the story settled in, it absolutely found its rhythm. From there on out, I was hooked.

The small mountain town setting, the found family vibes, the healing from grief, the way their fake marriage slowly turns into something very real… it was all so satisfying.

If you love slow-burn tension, emotional payoff, and a hero who has been quietly in love for years, this book delivers in the best way. It’s tender, angsty, heartfelt, and deeply romantic without feeling over-the-top.

And if you loved Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score or The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker, you will absolutely fall for Honeymoon Phase. It has that same small-town warmth, emotional depth, and swoony-but-grounded romance.

Oh and don’t let the cute cover fool you, this one is a slow burn scorcher!

On sale now, you can get your copy here!

You can also check out the other books in the Mountain Men Matchmaker Series:

Book One: Nine Month Contract

Book Two: Seven Year Itch

Book Four: Coming May 2026 Bad Boy Era!

Huge thanks to Amy Daws, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Review: It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Well, my friends, it’s been a minute since I dove into a truly twisty domestic thriller, and I could not have picked a better one to jump back in with.

I’m a huge fan of Mary Kubica, so I was already excited going in. But this one? She absolutely knocked it out of the park.

I pride myself on trying to figure out the twist or the villain before the big reveal. With this one, I was kind of right… kind of wrong… and also completely blindsided. Which, honestly, is exactly what I want from a thriller.

As always, I’ll keep this spoiler-free. But if you want to go in completely blind like I did, I highly recommend it.

The story is told through multiple points of view and shifts between past and present. Courtney Gray is vacationing at a secluded lake resort with her husband Elliott, their daughter Cass, her brother and sister-in-law, and their kids. What should be a peaceful family getaway turns into a nightmare when Courtney discovers her brother and sister-in-law dead in their lakeside cottage.

Her niece Reese is missing. Her nephew Wyatt is found upstairs asleep and unharmed.

From there, everything unravels.

The small resort town is full of secrets. Elliott had been out fishing that day and some of his details feel… murky. Reese’s disappearance raises unsettling questions. And then there’s the lingering shadow of another girl who went missing years ago. Some people say she looks like Reese. Others say the only similarity is that they were both young and pretty.

Courtney starts suspecting everyone — including her own husband. The paranoia builds fast. Every character seems to be hiding something. And just when you think you’ve got a handle on where it’s going, Kubica shifts the ground under your feet.

This was a riveting domestic thriller that I genuinely could not put down. It was twisty, tense, and unsettling without being overly graphic or terrifying. I was constantly tempted to flip to the end just to see how it all played out.

Mary Kubica does what she does best here: layered characters, slow-burn suspense, and a final stretch that makes you question everything you thought you knew.

If you love closed-setting thrillers, messy family dynamics, and stories where everyone is a little suspicious, this one absolutely delivers.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Huge thank you to the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, NetGalley, and Mary Kubica for the advanced reader copy.

Book Review: The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🫑 /5

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Part mystery, part romance, part women’s fiction The Man Next Door was such a fun read! The story follows three generations of women: grandmother, mother, and daughter.

Zona is freshly divorced (husband #2, thank you very much), broke, and forced to move back in with her mother, Louise. She thinks she’ll at least have a little breathing room while Louise heads off on her long-awaited singles cruise. But a hilarious accident leads to not-so-hilarious consequences, and Louise ends up back home with a broken leg and a bruised spirit.

Zona’s daughter, Bree, is juggling nursing school and a full plate of emotional baggage, thanks in part to her mom’s messy love life. She’s got an adorable guy trying hard to win her over, but she’s so jaded she can’t let him in. Eventually, he gives up and walks away. Bree is left miserable, confused, and furious at the world especially at her mom.

Then there’s Alec James, the new hottie who moves into the long-empty house next door. Louise and Zona immediately start spying on him, sometimes intentionally, sometimes because Louise’s dog, Darling, keeps choosing Alec’s yard as his personal bathroom. There’s also a mystery woman coming and going, shouting matches over the fence, and a lot of speculation. Louise is eating it up for her next novel, with plenty of encouragement from her tough-as-nails nurse, Gilda.

Oh, and Martin. A sweet, solid guy right under Louise’s nose. But she’s too busy chasing the idea of someone… shinier.

This book was fast-paced, witty, and full of heart. I loved the growth arc of all three women, but I was especially cheering for Louise. Her storyline was surprisingly tender and empowering.

PS, don’t think I missed that Susan and Carol reference at the end. I love a good F.R.I.E.N.D.S. easter egg!

If you’re a fan of the Stephanie Plum books or the Finlay Donovan series, this will be right up your alley. Equal parts fun, heartfelt, and sneakily emotional — I didn’t want to put it down! Thank you to the author Sheila Roberts, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and netgalley for the ARC copy of this book.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here!

Book Review: Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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This book totally snuck up on me in the best way. It’s fast-paced, funny, and just the right amount of chaotic.

Darby Vaughn is a relationship expert whose entire world implodes after a very public (and very humiliating) breakup. What follows is a wild mix of scandal, reinvention, and the awkward, hilarious, and occasionally sweet road to figuring out what she actually wants.

Darby’s voice was one of my favorite parts…sharp, witty, and totally relatable. I loved watching her try to navigate the mess of public image, heartbreak, and second chances, all while trying to hold it together (and sometimes very much not). There’s a great balance of laugh-out-loud moments and surprisingly tender, introspective ones too.

And yes, the romance subplot is adorable. The banter is top-notch and the chemistry? Definitely there. It hit all the right notes without ever overshadowing Darby’s personal growth, which I really appreciated.

It’s light but empowering, messy in a fun way, and delivers just enough scandal to keep things interesting. A solid pick if you’re in the mood for something that blends humor, heart, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

Fifteen Minutes of shame is on sale now. You can grab your copy here.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy. Thank you so much to Lisa Daily, Siesta Key House and Netgalley!

Book Review: The Invisible Woman by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I don’t think James Patterson could write something I wouldn’t enjoy, and his newest collab The Invisible Woman definitely didn’t disappoint. It has everything I love in one of his books: short, punchy chapters that keep you turning the pages, memorable characters, and that addictive pacing that pulls you in from the first page to the last.

Elinor’s career at the FBI ended badly—she took the fall for someone else’s mistake. Now she’s middle-aged and, for all intents and purposes, invisible. Turns out that’s exactly what the FBI needs. The catch? She’s undercover as a nanny for a wealthy family with ties to a drug cartel. And no one knows she’s there, except for the jerk who wrecked her career and her best friend (you know, just in case someone has to ID the body).

Watching Elinor handle a baby, a moody teenager, and two unruly dogs while undercover made for the perfect read. She’s sharp, relatable, and honestly, just really fun to root for.

I really hope this is the start of a new series because Elinor is amazing.

The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo comes out January 5th, but you can preorder your copy here!

Huge thanks to James Patterson, Susan DiLallo, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Review: Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶/5

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Nine Month Contract is the first installment in Amy Daws’ newest series, Mountain Men Matchmaker, a spin-off of Max and Cozy’s story from the Wait With Me series. The new series centers around the four Fletcher brothers, with Max, the eldest living in Boulder while his three younger siblings have built homes on what’s now known as Fletcher Mountain.

Following a heated falling-out over a woman, the mountain-bound brothers make a dramatic pact to remain single for life. However, Wyatt, one of the brothers, decides it’s time to become a father, just without the complications of marriage. The only problem? His surrogacy agency drops him because he manages to find fault with every potential surrogate.

Enter Everly, Max’s daughter and a well-meaning schemer who previously orchestrated her father’s romance with Cozy. Now, she’s determined to find her uncle not just a surrogate (though she refuses to call her that, preferring incubator) but also a potential partner.

On her way to confront the surrogacy agency, Everly crosses paths with Trista, a woman recently rejected as a surrogate due to her BMI. Everly instantly feels a connection and thinks Trista is the perfect match for Wyatt—both as a surrogate and maybe something more.

Trista, who dreams of starting an animal sanctuary, is driven to surrogacy to fund her goal. Estranged from her toxic family, she’s more comfortable around animals than people. Soon, she and her goat Millie move to the mountain, and what follows is a heartwarming and hilarious story. From unconventional (and awkward) baby-making efforts to unexpected animals taking up residence in Wyatt’s once-empty barn, the novel delivers laughs, tender moments, and slow-burning romance.

This is, of course, a romance novel, so no spoilers here but expect twists, emotional depth, and a well-earned happily ever after for Wyatt and Trista.

One notable addition is the author’s thoughtful note on surrogacy and the research behind it, which I appreciated. For those sensitive to themes of fertility and family planning, a trigger warning may be appropriate.

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy:

🩷Grumpy x Sunshine

🩷Small town romance

🩷Age gap

🩷Curvy FMC

🩷Found family

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I do wish I’d read the Wait With Me series beforehand, as Max and Cozy are the leads in Book 5 of that series. But don’t worry, I’ll be diving into that one next. And you don’t need to read it first to love this book (and series!)

Stay tuned for my reviews of Books 2 and 3 in the coming days—I binged the entire series and now just need to catch up on writing the reviews! The fourth book in the series is set for release in May 2026, and you can bet I’ll be first in line to grab it.


You can grab your copy of Nine Month contract here.

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is sexy sexy! It’s also available on KU, which I always love Thank you to the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

Book Review: Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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If you love morally complex characters, smart heist plots, and high-stakes action, Malibu Burning is your next must-read. The first installment in Lee Goldberg’s new Sharpe & Walker series blends crime fiction, firefighting drama, and an undercurrent of redemption into a tightly woven, page-turning thriller.

Told through dual timelines and perspectives, Malibu Burning introduces two compelling leads: Danny Cole, a former convict and skilled con artist with a surprising moral code, and Andrew Walker, a former U.S. Marshal turned arson investigator. At first, their stories seem disconnected — one plotting a heist in the chaos of a wildfire, the other chasing suspicious fires across California. But as the flames spread, their paths collide in a way that’s both explosive and unexpectedly emotional.

This was my first solo Lee Goldberg novel (though I’ve read and enjoyed his collaborations with Janet Evanovich), and fans of the Fox and O’Hare series will definitely feel at home here. There’s the same slick pacing, clever plotting, and banter-driven dialogue, but Malibu Burning adds a darker, more grounded edge that really works in its favor.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is its focus on California’s inmate firefighter program — a system that feels ripe for both praise and critique, and Goldberg handles it with a mix of realism and empathy. It gives the story an extra layer of tension and makes Danny’s motivations feel all the more believable. He’s a morally gray antihero you can’t help but root for, especially as his plans veer from revenge into something far more complicated.

The stakes are high — wildfires rage, a cartel closes in, and the line between right and wrong blurs as the story builds to a cinematic climax. But what elevates this book beyond a typical thriller is its heart. Amid the crime and chaos, there are genuine moments of sacrifice, redemption, and even a spark of hope.

Whether you’re here for the action, the character dynamics, or the Robin Hood-style justice, Malibu Burning delivers. It’s smart, fast, and fiery in all the best ways — and it sets up the Sharpe & Walker series with serious momentum.

The Malibu Burning is out now! You can grab your copy here. The whole series is available on KU for both ebook AND audio!

Click the links below for the rest of the Sharpe & Walker Series

Ashes Never Lie

Hidden in Smoke

Book Review: Head Cases by John McMahon

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Head Cases took me completely by surprise—and I loved every page of it.

This is an intelligent, character-driven police procedural that stands out in the crowded world of FBI thrillers. At its core is Agent Gardner Camden, a brilliant puzzle-solver with sharp instincts, emotional blind spots, and a quietly devastating personal history. He’s not your typical G-Man—and that’s exactly what makes him such a compelling lead.

Gardner heads up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) Unit, a fringe FBI task force in Jacksonville made up of brilliant misfits who were all sent there for making mistakes or stepping out of line. The team is unconventional, awkward, and endlessly compelling. They don’t play by Bureau rules, but they solve the cases no one else can.

When DNA from a new murder victim links back to a long-dead serial killer, the team is thrust into an active case—rare for them. As more bodies drop, it becomes clear that the killer is leaving behind riddles specifically designed for Gardner. And this time, the case isn’t just professional—it’s personal. The killer knows things they shouldn’t, and the PAR team must stay one step ahead before the trail turns toward them and their families.

What sets Head Cases apart is its deeply flawed, emotionally rich cast. Each member of the PAR Unit is working through some form of damage—professional, personal, or both—and yet their quirks and failings are also what make them exceptional at their jobs.

Gardner is socially awkward, possibly neurodivergent, and entirely devoted to solving puzzles and doing what’s right—even when it’s cost him everything: his marriage, custody of his daughter Camila, and his career trajectory. Still, he wouldn’t change a thing. Cassie, his new partner, transferred to Jacksonville under murky circumstances and shares Gardner’s analytical mind and eye for detail. Their dynamic is layered and full of potential. And hopefully some smoochin’ in the later books. Shooter (yes, that’s what they call her) is the wildcard—an eccentric, badass weapons expert who might just steal the show. Frank, the team’s leader, brings quiet authority and calm—but he also seems to be keeping secrets. Richie, the new recruit, is sharp and capable… but the fact that his personnel file is sealed adds an intriguing mystery to the mix.

The plot moves at a gripping pace, with just enough twists to keep you guessing. The riddles and killer’s pattern are cleverly constructed without feeling gimmicky, and the final reveal genuinely surprised me. It’s amazing to be able to watch Gardner’s brain unravel the clues.

But what I loved most was how authentically human this story feels. Gardner’s neurodivergence isn’t romanticized or exaggerated, it’s simply part of him, and it shapes the way he processes the world, leads the team, and tries (imperfectly) to connect with his daughter. The emotional undercurrent between him and Camila is quiet, but it’s the heart of the book.

This is the kind of series opener that makes you want to binge-read sequels that haven’t even been written yet. If you’re a fan of Criminal Minds, Profiler, or simply love watching a team of outsiders crack impossible cases, this book is for you.

Sign me up for every future PAR Unit release. I’m hooked.

Thank you so much to the author, John McMahon, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC copy of this book. 

The Head Cases is out now! You can grab your copy here.

Book Review: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🫑 /5

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If ever there was a book that felt like a cozy, witchy hug, it’s this one.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a warm, enchanting, and emotionally resonant story about rebuilding from the ashes of failure, rediscovering joy in magic, and finding home in the most unexpected people (and creatures).

At the heart of this delightful novel is Sera Swan, once the rising star of the Guild, now an exile stripped of her magic after breaking the rules to save someone she loved. In a desperate act of forbidden magic, Sera brought her quirky Aunt Jasmine back from the dead—and unintentionally resurrected a zombie rooster named Roo-Roo in the process. With her powers gone and her reputation shattered, Sera retreats to Jasmine’s magical inn in Lancashire, a place where outcasts are welcomed, and the impossible feels ordinary.

The inn quickly becomes a gathering place for some of the most charmingly chaotic characters I’ve ever met. But I think my favorite just might be Roo-Roo – the unintentionally resurrected zombie rooster who steals every scene he’s in. Yes, really. Oh and there’s a talking fox named Clemmie. I picture her as a British fox version of Salem from Sabrina The Teenaged Witch.

Through it all, Sera must navigate the messy, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking process of learning to live a life she never expected, with people she never saw coming. And maybe—just maybe—she’ll rediscover her magic in more ways than one.

Mandanna’s writing is full of charm, wit, and just enough emotional heft to make your heart ache in all the right ways. The story balances found family, redemption arcs, gentle romance, and whimsical worldbuilding with pitch-perfect tone. The village inn setting, nestled in the English countryside, is pure autumnal escapism—exactly the kind of place you’ll want to move into (goats, zombie birds, and all).

It’s the perfect read to usher in fall, purely magical, and full of cozy charm.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Book Review: By Time You Read This by Brianna Labuskes

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I usually try to keep my book reviews spoiler-free, but that’s going to be difficult with this one—especially if you haven’t read the first two books in the Raisa Susanto series. So if you’re new to the series, pause here, go read The Lies You Wrote and The Truth You Told, and then come back. I’ll wait.

You’ve been warned: this review contains info from earlier books, and this is not a series where each book stands alone.

This is book three in the series, which follows Raisa Susanto, an FBI forensic linguist who also happens to be the sister of one of the most infamous serial killers. FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto thinks she’s through with the past now that her psychopathic serial killer sister, Isabel, is locked away forever. Then Raisa receives a letter from Isabel. It isn’t much, but it pushes Raisa back into what she thought she had already finished. Now, Isabel is dead, and their other sister, Delaney, is has vanished. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes disturbingly clear that Isabel had a protégé, even while behind bars.

Raisa is manipulated into solving Isabel’s murder, and the deeper she digs, the more evident it becomes that Isabel’s influence hasn’t died with her. She also worries that Delaney is somehow involved. From beyond the grave, Isabel still manages to pull strings—controlling and warping the lives of both of her sisters.

Told through multiple points of view—including Raisa and Delaney’s perspectives, as well as blog transcripts and diary entries—this book is packed with twists and tension that absolutely deliver, just like the previous two installments.

By the end, it feels like Raisa has completed a compelling character arc: she’s come to terms with who she is, who Delaney has become, and who Isabel truly was. Still, I really hope the series continues. The unique blend of police procedural and thriller, told through the lens of forensic linguistics, keeps the narrative fresh, intellectually engaging, and emotionally layered.

📌 Final Thoughts:

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with complex sibling dynamics, forensic detail, and emotional depth, this series is a must-read. Just be sure to start at the beginning to truly appreciate the journey. As always, I recommend reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here! Bonus, the whole series in available in KU for both ebook AND audio!

Many thanks to Brianna Labuskes, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.