REVIEW: Thicker Than Water by JD Kirk

Title: Thicker Than Water (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers #2)
Author: JD Kirk
Narrator: Angus King
Publisher: Zertex Crime
Publication Date: June 2019
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Not all monsters are make-believe.

When a badly mutilated body washes up on the shores of Loch Ness, DCI Jack Logan's dream of a quiet life in the Highlands is shattered.

While the media speculates wildly about monster attacks, Jack and the Major Investigations Team must act fast to catch the killer before they can strike again.

But with Nessie-hunters descending on the area in their dozens, and an old enemy rearing his ugly head, the case could well turn out to be the most challenging of Jack's career.

And, if he isn't careful, the last.

Death and dark humor combine in this fast-paced Tartan Noir crime thriller set in the Highlands of Scotland.

My Thoughts: This series continues to deliver everything I enjoy in a crime thriller: intense storylines, compelling characters, sharp banter, and well-timed humor. I am especially enjoying the audiobook format, and I highly recommend experiencing the series that way. Angus King gives a top-notch performance that makes the story even more gripping and entertaining.

Because this is only the second book, I am still getting to know Jack and the members of his team. One detail I appreciate is that the author does not focus solely on Jack. The story gives meaningful time and attention to the rest of the team, allowing their personalities to come through and adding more depth to the investigation.

Readers should be aware that the author does not shy away from the gruesome details of the murder investigation, so it may be worth checking trigger warnings. At the same time, the pacing works very well. The story moves forward steadily without revealing too much too soon or slowing down with unnecessary details.

There are plenty of suspects to consider, and I enjoyed watching Jack and his team work through them methodically. Their careful approach keeps the mystery engaging while making the progression of the case feel satisfying and believable.

My Final Verdict: Thicker Than Water is a gripping, well-paced crime thriller that blends dark humor, sharp characterization, and a compelling investigation. The mystery kept me engaged, the team dynamic added depth, and Angus King’s narration made the audiobook especially enjoyable. I’m looking forward to continuing the series and spending more time with DCI Jack Logan and his team.

REVIEW: Katie Comes Undone by Jared Wynn

Title: Katie Comes Undone (Katie McGuire, Vampire #1)
Author: Jared Wynn
Publisher: Easy Wynn Publishing
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: As if high school wasn't hard enough, Katie McGuire just died, and her new life is about to get even more complicated. Because in a world where Vampires have civil rights, the last thing they can allow is for mortals to think that people are still being turned against their will. So in order to maintain the fragile peace, a 600-year-old Vampire must bring Katie into the fold - or silence her.

She can't run, and she can't hide, not with midterms, a pregnant best friend, and a nerdy new love interest all needing her attention. Katie must learn to live with her condition while navigating the horrors of high school and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her afterlife.

This is the story of Katie McGuire, Vampire.

My Thoughts: Katie McGuire had me at teenage vampire problems. She’s a typical teenager, surviving the hellscape of high school—midterms, prom, the usual. She’s also dating Brian, sort of. Brian is the new kid, except his classes are in the basement because he’s a vampire. In Katie’s world, vampires are out of the coffin, walking among us, enjoying civil rights, and following a strict code against turning humans who didn’t ask for it. In Brian’s defense, I don’t think he meant to kill Katie, and he definitely wasn’t thinking clearly when he gave her his blood after taking too much of hers. Unfortunately, intent does not cancel consequences.

Katie is, understandably, less than thrilled with her new condition. High school was already bad enough; doing it as a vampire is going to suck in entirely new ways. And when much older vampires—think 600 years old—need to keep her unwanted transformation quiet, things are not going to stay neat, simple, or remotely pretty for Katie or Brian.

This is the first book in a six-book series, and it’s a very short, quick read. Honestly, the whole setup probably could have fit into one book, but Katie’s new undead existence has me curious enough to keep turning pages—preferably before sunrise.

My Final Verdict: A fun little bloodsucker of a book—short, messy, dramatic, and absolutely committed to making high school even worse.

Thank you to the publisher, Easy Wynn Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Mini-Break by Maddie Please

Title: The Mini-Break
Author: Maddie Please
Publisher: Avon Books UK
Publication Date: March 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Sometimes you just need to get away…

Lulu has it all; a romance writer at the height of her career, she can often be found attending glittery parties or spending time with her good-looking, health-fanatic boyfriend, Benedict.

When writer’s block strikes she goes on a mini-break to Devon, which proves just the tonic she needs. But upon her return to London, she finds her usual perfect life in chaos.

Will escaping back to the countryside be the answer? And will life become even more complicated when Lulu runs into handsome, brooding farmer Joe?

A funny, feel-good and fabulous read that will take you on a trip you never knew you needed. Have you packed…?

My Thoughts: I was immediately intrigued when Lulu and her sister, Jassy, leave London for a sabbatical in the Devon countryside to find inspiration for their writing projects. Their remote retreat—with no Wi-Fi, no cellphone signal, and now a flat tire—sets up a wonderfully inconvenient escape. When Lulu meets Joe, the nearest neighbor, she feels an instant pull toward him, even though her life in London still includes her boyfriend, Benedict.

Once Lulu returns home, she finds Benedict with another woman in her apartment and begins to reassess everything she thought she wanted. She realizes that both her London life and her relationship with Benedict no longer fit who she wants to become. From there, she decides to sell her apartment and, after several attempts, finally ends things with Benedict.

I liked both Lulu and Joe, and I was interested to see where their connection would lead. That said, Lulu’s attraction to Joe—and how quickly it seems to deepen into love—felt a little rushed to me. I also struggled with how quickly Lulu shifts from city life to country living, especially when she begins making big decisions like moving to the countryside and buying chickens. Her plan felt more impulsive than carefully considered, as though she was winging it rather than truly preparing for such a major change.

Despite my reservations about Lulu’s choices, I loved the sense of community the author creates in Devon and enjoyed meeting the supporting characters. This was my first time reading Maddie Please’s work, and the warmth of the setting and cast makes me curious to read more from her.

My Final Verdict: The Mini-Break is a warm, feel-good read with an inviting countryside setting, a lively supporting cast, and plenty of charm. While Lulu’s major life changes and the romance with Joe sometimes felt a little rushed, the book still offers an enjoyable escape and a strong sense of community. Readers who enjoy light contemporary romance with humor, heart, and a fresh-start storyline will likely find this a pleasant and easygoing read.

Thank you to the publisher, Avon Books UK, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: If I Never Met You
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Narrator: Sara Novak
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: March 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: If faking love is this easy... how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...

My Thoughts: Although I completely understood and empathized with Laurie’s situation, I’m not a fan of the fake-dating trope. When a relationship is built on a lie, it sets a troubling precedent, no matter how justified the participants may feel.

I’m also wary of workplace romances—not because dating a boss or coworker is inherently wrong, but because private lives can quickly become office gossip. Laurie and Jamie face intense scrutiny from their colleagues, even after their relationship becomes genuine. If the relationship ends, the workplace can become a battleground, creating awkwardness, discomfort, and an unwelcome loss of privacy.

What makes the story compelling is how convincingly the fake relationship develops, even though the eventual outcome is easy to anticipate. I enjoyed Laurie and Jamie’s chemistry, the ease with which they connect, and the support they offer each other when painful events from their pasts come to light.

McFarlane also blends romantic comedy with sensitive subjects and emotional upheaval remarkably well. This is only the second book I’ve read by her, but it left me eager to explore more of her work.

My Final Verdict: Despite my reservations about the fake-dating and workplace-romance tropes, If I Never Met You won me over with its engaging chemistry, emotional depth, and thoughtful balance of humor and heavier themes. The destination may be predictable, but the journey feels sincere, entertaining, and ultimately satisfying. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary romance with wit and heart.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Publishers, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase

Title: Little Girls Sleeping (Detective Katie Scott #1)
Author: Jennifer Chase
Narrator: Lisa Rost-Welling
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2019
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: He looked down at the little girl, sleeping peacefully, her arms wrapped around a teddy bear. He knew he was the only one who could save her. He could let her sleep forever.

An eight-year-old girl, Chelsea Compton, is missing in Pine Valley, California and for Detective Katie Scott it’s a cruel reminder of the friend who disappeared from summer camp twenty years ago. Unable to shake the memories, Katie vows she won’t rest until she discovers what happened to Chelsea.

But as Katie starts to investigate, the case reveals itself to be much bigger and more shocking than she feared. Hidden deep in the forest she unearths a makeshift cemetery: a row of graves, each with a brightly colored teddy bear.

Katie links the graves to a stack of missing-persons cases involving young girls—finding a pattern no one else has managed to see. Someone in Pine Valley has been taking the town’s daughters for years, and Katie is the only one who can stop them.

And then another little girl goes missing, snatched from the park near her home.

Katie’s still haunted by the friend she failed to protect, and she’ll do anything to stop the killer striking again—but can she find the little girl before it’s too late?

My Thoughts: Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in a series with fifteen published installments as of this review. The story follows Katie Scott, a police officer and Army veteran who returns to her hometown with her K9 partner, Cisco. Katie carries significant emotional trauma that is not fully explained, though I hope the series sheds more light on her past as it develops. Her uncle, the town sheriff, offers her an administrative position with the department while she decides what comes next.

Katie inadvertently discovers the graves of two little girls who disappeared several years earlier, their murders still unsolved. Determined to identify the person responsible for the abductions and killings, she makes the case a personal priority—even if pursuing it means stepping on the assigned detective’s toes.

I adore stories in which dogs and cats play prominent roles, and this book was no exception. I loved Cisco and hope he appears throughout the series.

Overall, the story was good, but I am still trying to understand what Katie endured in her youth, later as an adult, and while serving overseas. The book offers vague hints about her trauma without providing concrete answers, which can be frustrating for a reader like me who prefers loose threads to be tied up.

Even so, I enjoyed the story enough to continue the series and see what Katie and Cisco get into next.

My Final Verdict: Little Girls Sleeping is an engaging start to the Detective Katie Scott series, pairing a compelling mystery with a likable K9 partner in Cisco. Although Katie’s unresolved backstory left me wanting more clarity, the investigation held my interest and the characters have enough promise to bring me back for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag

Title: The Bitter Season (Kovac and Liska #5)
Author: Tami Hoag
Narrator: David Colacci
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: January 2016
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: EVERY FAMILY HAS A SECRET. THEIRS WILL CHILL YOU TO THE CORE.

A murder from the past. A murder from the present. And a life that was never meant to be... As the dreary, bitter weather of late fall descends on Minneapolis, Detective Nikki Liska is restless. After moving to the cold case squad in order to spend more time with her sons, she misses the rush of pulling an all-nighter, the sense of urgency of hunting a murderer on the loose. Most of all she misses her old partner, Sam Kovac.

Sam is having an even harder time adjusting to Nikki's absence, saddled with a green new partner younger than pieces of Sam's wardrobe. Sam is distracted from his troubles by an especially brutal double homicide: a middle-aged husband and wife bludgeoned and hacked to death in their home with a ceremonial Japanese samurai sword. Nikki's case, the unsolved murder of a family man, community leader, and decorated sex crimes detective for the Minneapolis PD, is less of a distraction: Twenty years later, there is little hope for finding the killer who got away.

On the other end of the spectrum, Minneapolis resident Evi Burke has a life she only dreamed of as a kid in and out of foster homes: a beautiful home, a family, people who love her, a fulfilling job. Little does she know that a danger from her past is stalking her perfect present. A danger powerful enough to pull in both Kovac and Liska and destroy the perfect life she was never meant to have.

My Thoughts: Because The Bitter Season was published in 2016 and, as of 2026, no additional books have featured Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, it seems reasonable to view this as the likely final installment in the series. That gives the story a bittersweet quality, especially after the events of the previous book.

Nikki and Sam are no longer partners in this book, and that shift is felt throughout the story. Nikki misses working with Sam, but her move to the cold case unit gives her more time with her sons and keeps her away from the immediate danger of chasing active killers. I was glad to see that they still cross paths, and their scenes together continue to deliver the camaraderie and banter I enjoy so much.

Nikki’s twenty-five-year-old murder investigation eventually connects to the new case Kovac and his inexperienced partner are working, though not in the way I expected. That connection added tension and kept me invested as the two storylines began to overlap.

Because this series is so character driven, I recommend reading the books in order. Doing so makes it easier to understand the characters’ personalities, appreciate their growth, and notice the nuances in their relationships. This installment is also intense and violent at times, so readers may want to check content warnings before diving in.

Several jaw-dropping twists genuinely surprised me and heightened my apprehension as the story unfolded. David Colacci’s excellent audio narration added to that tension and made the suspense feel even sharper. My only real disappointment was the lack of closure around Sam and Nikki’s personal lives, especially if this is the final book in the series. The author may have left that door open intentionally in case she wants to revisit these characters, but I also do not want to hold on to false hope.

My Final Verdict: The Bitter Season is a gripping, character-driven thriller that blends a chilling cold case with a brutal present-day investigation. While I wish the ending had offered more personal closure for Sam and Nikki, the suspense, twists, and emotional weight make this a strong and bittersweet installment in the Kovac and Liska series. Recommended for readers who enjoy dark police procedurals with layered relationships and tense, unsettling mysteries.

REVIEW: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

Title: A Witch in Time
Author: Constance Sayers
Narrator: Courtney Patterson, Claire Christie, Brittany Wilkerson, Stephanie Willis
Publisher: Redhook Books
Publication Date: February 2020
Genre: Fantasy / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A young witch is cursed to relive a doomed love affair through many lifetimes, as both troubled muse and frustrated artist, in this haunting debut novel.

In 1895, sixteen-year-old Juliet LaCompte has a passionate, doomed romance with the married Parisian painter Auguste Marchant. When her mother -- a witch -- attempts to cast a curse on Marchant, she unwittingly summons a demon, binding her daughter to both the artist and this supernatural being for all time. Juliet is fated to re-live her affair and die tragically young lifetime after lifetime as the star-crossed lovers reincarnate through history.

The demon -- who appears to Juliet in all her reincarnations as a mysterious, handsome, and worldly benefactor -- has been helplessly in love with her since 19th century France, even though she forgets him each time she dies. He falls for her in 1930s Hollywood, in 1970s Los Angeles, and finally in present-day Washington D.C. -- where she begins to develop powers of her own.

In this life, she starts to remember her tragic past lives. But this time, she might have the power to break the cycle...

My Thoughts: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers is spectacular: heartbreaking, atmospheric, and ultimately hopeful. The story introduces a woman bound by a witch’s curse to live many lives across more than a century, repeatedly drawn toward the wrong man while the love that may truly be meant for her remains just out of reach.

What makes the novel even more remarkable is that it is Sayers’s debut. The plotting and pacing are so assured that the book reads like the work of a seasoned author with several titles already to her credit. Her attention to historical detail gives each time period a vivid sense of place, making it easy to feel fully immersed in the world of the story.

Following Helen as she begins to remember her past lives as Juliet, Nora, and Sandra took me through a wide range of emotions. While a few moments were somewhat triggering for me, they never disrupted the story’s flow or diminished my overall enjoyment of the book.

My Final Verdict: Overall, A Witch in Time is a beautifully written and emotionally rich debut that blends romance, history, and fantasy into a haunting, memorable story. Constance Sayers creates an immersive reading experience through vivid historical settings, a layered curse, and characters whose choices echo across lifetimes. The novel’s mix of heartbreak, longing, and quiet hope makes it especially compelling for readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven stories with a touch of magic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone drawn to reincarnation, doomed love, historical fiction, and emotional fantasy with strong storytelling at its center.

Thank you to the publisher, Redhook Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.