REVIEW: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Title: The Villa
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Narrator: Julia Whelan, Kimberly Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: January 2023
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs returns with a brilliant new gothic suspense set at an Italian villa with a dark history.

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album―and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred―and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge―and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle―the birthplace of Frankenstein―The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

My Thoughts: Fans of twisty mysteries and thrillers will definitely enjoy this one. I especially liked the dual timeline told from two characters, Mari in the 1970’s and Emily in the present day. The parallels of their lives were quite interesting. I particularly liked that all of the characters were morally ambiguous and the line separating right from wrong wasn’t always clearly defined. I paired the reading of the book with the audiobook and I think it enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

The story moves at a wonderful pace, building the tension at the appropriate levels to ensure the reader isn’t overwhelmed with details. This was my first experience reading this author’s work and I look forward to reading more from her.

I highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers as well as readers who enjoy suspenseful novels set in locations with a creepy past.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Moments With God for Couples by David and Lori Hatcher

Title: Moments with God for Couples: 100 Devotions for Growing Closer to God and Each Other
Author: David and Lori Hatcher
Publisher: Our Daily Bread Publishing
Publication Date: April 2023
Genre: Religion / Spirituality
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Strengthen your marriage with this 100-day devotional that guides you and your spouse through everyday moments of pride, misunderstandings, and life circumstances. Couples will learn to make space to reflect Christ in their relationship through relatable stories, relevant Bible verses, and practical applications. Whether it’s been one year or fifty, draw closer to God and each other.

My Thoughts: My husband and I are both born-again Christians and have been on a spiritual journey to draw closer to God and to each other. As with many other married Christians, we want our relationship to be God centered so that we can be a blessing to each other as He has been to us individually. These devotions were easy to read along and though not all of them were applicable to us specifically, it was enjoyable to share in the personal revelations and perspectives of David and Lori.

Relationships take a lot of work, effort, patience and copious amounts of love and respect. Sharing this journey with my husband has reminded me, yet again, of the blessing He has given me in this man who walks with me sharing the joys and challenges life brings.

I highly recommend this book to everyone as it can be applied to all types of relationships at all stages of life.

Thank you to the publisher, Our Daily Bread Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban

Title: Lying in the Deep
Author: Diana Urban
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication Date: May 2023
Genre: Young Adult / Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A juicy mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal set on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, with a diverse cast of delightfully suspicious characters who’ll leave you guessing with every jaw-dropping twist.

After being jilted by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Jade couldn't be more ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime—11 countries in 4 months, all from the luxurious Campus on Board ship—and to wedge an entire globe between her and the people who broke her heart.

But when Jade discovers the backstabbing couple are also setting sail, her obsession with them grows and festers, leading to a shocking murder. And as their friends begin to drop like flies, Jade and her new crush must race to clear her name and find the killer they’re trapped at sea with….before anyone else winds up in body bags.

My Thoughts: I loved the concept of this book and was so excited to dive in. College student Jade is recovering a broken heart after her boyfriend breaks up with her in a text message and tells her he’s with her best friend, Lainey. As part of her curriculum, she joins several other college students on a four month world cruise. I loved that this cruise is full of college students from all over who will attend class and do homework while seeing the world. The awesome vacation vibe is really strong here and I would love to go on a four month cruise all over the world. Jade thinks this cruise will help put some distance between her and Silas and Lainey to give her time to process what happened and gain some perspective. Unfortunately, Silas and Lainey are also on the cruise and they don’t react well when they see her.

This story doesn’t waste any time drawing the reader in. I was indignant on Jade’s behalf that Silas and Lainey had the audacity to come on this cruise and then to act like they are the injured party. Jade meets another college student on the ship, Felix and they decide to fake date to help Jade move on and hopefully to give Silas and Lainey the proverbial finger.

The interesting thing about murders committed on a cruise ship is that there aren’t a lot of places to hide. The ship is packed with people and people witness things. Dead bodies will draw lots of attention so nobody feels safe and nobody trusts anyone. I had a lot of fun tagging along with Jade and Felix as they work to figure out who the killer is and also felt the sense of urgency they felt wondering who will be next.

The audiobook format narrated by Brittany Pressley, was exceptional and delivered the perfect amount of tension one should feel if trapped on a ship with a killer aboard. This story also provided many unexpected twists throughout the book that left me with my jaw on the floor. The ending felt a little abrupt but gave me the closure I always seek in thrillers and mysteries. I love how well this author captures the young adult mindset and emotions blending snark, humor and suspense. If you are a fan of young adult mysteries and thrillers, this author is a very good choice to go with.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to adults of all ages who enjoy twisty thrillers and mixing in a little murder and mayhem on vacation.

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

REVIEW: The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose

Title: The Girl I Was
Author: Jeneva Rose
Narrator: Hillary Huber
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: “If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.”

Alexis Spencer will use any inspirational quote to rationalize her failures and shortcomings. Her closest friends are a distant memory, and her college debt is still as high as the day she left. But that’s all fine and dandy, because “whatever will be, will be.”

However, when Alexis loses her job and her relationship on the same day, there’s no quote strong enough to get her through that. In typical fashion, she blames the world for her problems, including her younger self, who should have tried harder.

Feeling sorry for herself, Alexis finds a bottle of vodka from her college days and goes on a bender, blacking out in the process. Only this time, she doesn’t wake up at home, or in the right city. In fact, she isn’t even in the right year.

Alexis is back in her college town in the year 2002.

Convinced this is her chance to do things over, she heads to her dorm—and comes face-to-face with her eighteen-year-old unruly self, who goes by Lexi because it’s “sexier.” Getting acclimated to life in the early 2000s is the easy part. Dealing with Lexi is where things prove difficult.

They might be the same person, but they couldn’t be more different from one another. Now Alexis and Lexi must learn to get along and come to terms with the fact that alone, they will never make things right, but together, they could change their life for the better.

My Thoughts: I love it when an author can capture my attention and draw me in across multiple genres. I became familiar with this author when I read The Perfect Marriage which fed my twisty suspense thriller craving so when I came across this book, which is on the opposite side of the universe of thrillers, I was intrigued. Few authors have the ability to change their voice in genre crossovers, but Jeneva Rose is an author who can and I am excited to read everything she writes.

In The Girl I Was, the reader is introduced to Alexis Spencer, a woman who appears to have just drifted through her life without any noteworthy success or milestones met. Her college degree never brought the glorious career she envisioned for herself and though she focuses on a lot of positive affirmations to justify her failures, everything comes to a head when she loses yet another job. Feeling sorry for herself and blaming the entire world, she goes home and takes it out on her boyfriend, which results in the end of her relationship.

She gets cozy with a bottle of vodka and decides all of her failures and disappointments are because her younger self didn’t try hard enough and if she only knew then what she knows now, everything would be different. When Alexis wakes up, she’s back in college in the year 2002. What makes this time travel story interesting is that her younger self is also there and they can occupy the same time and space without creating a paradox that disrupts the time continuum and destroying life as we know it. I also found it interesting that young Lexi and older Alexis don’t like each other and spend a lot of time at odds. The presence of Alexis in Lexi’s life is explained to their friends as Alexis is Lexi’s older sister and yes, it is wild they have the same name. These two characters were so distinctly different that I often forgot they were the same person. Additionally, Alexis has no clue what she is there specifically to fix so she spends a great deal of time just winging it with the results taking me through the many emotions of hilarity, sadness and shock.

This book moves at a wonderful pace and the audio narration performed by Hillary Huber was brilliantly executed. She uses two different voice inflections for Alexis and Lexi which gave me a lot of insight into their personalities.

My Final Verdict: We have all had that question of whether we could go back and tell our younger selves things to spare us from the failures and disappointments in life and we always say we would. After reading this book, I still would, but like Alexis has to learn, the answers we are looking for may not lie in the past, but in the present. I highly recommend this book to readers who love time travel themes, second chances and stories featuring characters with many complex layers.

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

REVIEW: Love, Lies and Wedding Cake by Sue Watson

Title: Love, Lies and Wedding Cake (Love, Lies and Lemon Cake #2)
Author: Sue Watson
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Will Faye get her happy-ever-after or will bittersweet secrets ruin the recipe for love?

Since Faye met her gorgeous Aussie boyfriend Dan, they’ve travelled all over the world to meet in amazing, crazy and romantic locations. They’ve eaten gateaux in a chateau, chocolate torte in a moonlit port, and even had stolen kisses in a sparkling Christmas market. Neither of them wanted to settle down… until now.

When Dan asks Faye to marry him and to move to Australia it throws a real spanner in the works. Faye’s daughter Emma needs her here, so moving to the other side of the world – even for a hunk like Dan – simply isn’t an option. Is it?

Faye’s been down the marriage road before and it ended up with her having Ryan Gosling fantasies while her ex-husband obsessed about the plumbing. Is that what she has to look forward to? Is she ready to end her adventure? And even if she is, how can she be sure Dan is the right man for her?

My Thoughts: If you haven’t read the first book in this series, Love, Lies and Lemon Cake, you need to read that one first so you can get to know Faye and Dan, their backgrounds, how they met and the events that led up to where they find themselves in this book. In addition to catching up with Faye and Dan, I thoroughly enjoyed the moments when Faye’s granddaughter, Rosie, is present. Her personality was captivating and some of the off the wall comments she makes had me laughing myself silly.

This book also brought tears to my eyes as Faye and Dan have to face the inevitable heartbreak that will summon Dan back to his native Australia. I felt so much empathy for them and understood why Faye is so torn about staying in England or going with Dan. I don’t know how I would have handled that situation in her shoes. Faye can be her own worst enemy and she constantly second guesses herself and often feels guilt about pursuing her dream of finishing her degree. This book also surprised me because I was expecting, like Faye, that when she shows up in Australia, she and Dan will just pick up where they left off after being apart for a year.

My Final Verdict: I really enjoyed this book and love that this author’s talent doesn’t just lie with one genre. Her feel-good warm fuzzy romances and nail-biting jaw-dropping thrillers are a must for all bookworms. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy romance, fun and exciting adventures in amazing places.

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

REVIEW: Between the Lies by Michelle Adams

Title: Between the Lies
Author: Michelle Adams
Narrator: Deryn Edwards
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: March 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The truth is hiding between the lies.

What would you do if you woke up and didn't know who you were?

Chloe Daniels regains consciousness in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

She doesn't recognize the strangers who call themselves family. She can't even remember her own name.

What if your past remained a mystery?

As she slowly recovers, her parents and sister begin to share details of her life.

The successful career. The seaside home. The near-fatal car crash.

But Chloe senses they're keeping dark secrets--and her determination to uncover the truth will have devastating consequences.

What if the people you should be able to trust are lying to you?

My Thoughts: It’s traumatizing enough to awaken from a coma and not to have any memory of who you are or the life you once had, but to then discover that your parents and sister are actively keeping secrets and lying to you about the circumstances of your life and the accident that stole your memories adds further damage and is unacceptable.

This is where we meet Chloe. It seems to me that when you have no recollection of your life that learning you have family would be a beacon. I felt so much empathy as well as anger on her behalf when she learns that her family have been lying to her and I was not expecting just how far and twisted the lies ran. What’s worse is that Chloe’s father is a doctor and his so called medical treatment is highly unethical.

I really enjoyed the twisty direction this book takes as along with Chloe, the reader is also trying to put the puzzle pieces together and figure out who can be trusted. I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook format narrated by Deryn Edwards. Her performance added more texture to the character’s personalities and actions. Though this story is told primarily from Chloe’s point of view, there are some insights into the perspective of a character whose identity remains unknown for most of the book. This person gave the story a more sinister feel and I was way off base when their identity was revealed.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy twisty domestic thrillers and unexpected surprises.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Role Play by Kay Cove

Title: Role Play (Off the Books #1)
Author: Kay Cove
Publisher: Page and Vine
Publication Date: September 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: She wanted to write a bestseller. She wasn't ready for the plot twist.

Being an indie romance author was supposed to be a dream come true. But after publishing umpteen books, I still haven’t “made it” and now I’m just waiting for the dark cloak of insignificance to completely snuff out my career.

I decide to roll the dice on a marketing guru who swears he can yank me out of obscurity. But after a frantic search for “book boyfriend material” and an unexpected bar encounter, I accidentally blow my entire budget on an escort.

Forrest is a charming single dad by day and hotter-than-sin escort by night. But before I can fire him and ask for a refund, he reminds me how I got here in the first place… I’m in desperate need of inspiration.

He might be a walking red flag, but Forrest is ready to be my muse, which means spending the next three months helping me “research” my next bestseller. (Hey, I’m manifesting here.) Our game plan? Act out all the romance novel tropes that make a bingeable love brooding billionaires, masked men, cowboys in small towns, and even swoon-worthy green flags.

Forrest plays all the book boyfriend parts perfectly. So perfectly I’m starting to wonder if his feelings for me might be real, or if he’s just earning his paycheck. I’m not sure if I’m trying to write a love story or live one out.

After all, there is no such thing as happily ever after with a professional escort…right?

My Thoughts: This book was such a wonderful surprise filled with romance, spice, drama and hilarity. I have never read a book where the male main character is a paid escort but the knight in shining armor vibes was strong with this one. A swoon-worthy hero in real life doesn’t come around often and the chemistry he and Sora have was off the charts. As I got to know both of these characters, I was rooting for them so much to take the leap of faith. I also adored Forrest’s four-year-old daughter, Dakota. I loved the author gave Dakota a large role in this story and I was captivated by her.

This book made me feel all the feels. One minute I am fanning myself while contemplating an ice bath and the next I am crying my eyes out or laughing until I can’t breathe. This is my first experience reading this author’s work and I am looking forward to the next two books in this series. I can’t say with certainty that they should be read in order, but to be on the safe side, I recommend that you do so that you get the introduction to the escort friends of Forrest and some background. I really hope that Forrest, Sora and Dakota make an appearance throughout the series.

I highly recommend you get this book and get acquainted with Forrest and Sora. I expect you will fall in love with them and want to spend as much time as you can with them. I highly recommend this book to readers who like spicy, heart-palpitating romance, readers who connect to the characters so deeply they feel like they know them in real life and readers who love to be entertained by a wonderful story that will surprise them, make them cry or laugh so hard, catching breath is a challenge.

REVIEW: Aloha Alibi by Jasmine Webb

Title: Aloha Alibi (Charlotte Gibson Mysteries #1)
Author: Jasmine Webb
Narrator: Khristine Hvam
Publisher: Blueberry Books
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Most people flee to Hawaii for gorgeous weather, white-sand beaches, and cocktails at sunset. Charlotte Gibson, however, is fleeing for her life after a vengeful mobster leaves a severed finger on her doorstep as a warning. Message very much received.

That’s how Charlotte—Charlie to everyone except her mom— finds herself on Maui with six dollars to her name, living with a mother who can’t stop giving her advice on how to land herself a husband. But when a businessman is murdered and his company offers a reward to whoever finds the killer, Charlie sees an opportunity: with that kind of cash, she could afford her own place and start a new life here away from the people who want her dead. After all, how hard can hunting down a murderer be?

Teaming up with a couple of old ladies with more spunk than Betty White, Charlie is sure she’s on the right track to snag the reward money. However, the infuriating but smoldering hot cop trying to keep her away from his case has other ideas. Throw in a day job at an ice cream shop, corrupt local politicians, and a best friend trying to act as the voice of reason, and Charlie has her work cut out for her.

Will she be able to find the killer, or is Charlie’s time in paradise going to go straight to hell in a handbasket?

My Thoughts: Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this first installment of a series that takes place in Maui and features some interesting characters. Charlotte Gibson is returning home to Hawaii after she runs afoul of some gangsters in Seattle. Leaving a severed finger on your doorstep leaves a very strong message to beat feet and Charlie hears it loud and clear. Unfortunately, returning to Hawaii without a way to support herself means living with her meddling mother, but Charlie also gets to reconnect with her best friend from high school, Zoe, who is now a doctor. Charlie lands a job at the local ice cream parlor and when one of her customers is later found murdered, the entire town is on edge.

Charlie decides to investigate the murder to win the substantial reward of $100,000, which would get her mother out of her hair and give Charlie some much wanted breathing room and the independence of having her own place. Unfortunately for Charlie, she isn’t the only one looking into the case and two elderly women, Dot and Rosie, join forces with Charlie and agree to split the reward. I loved Dot and Rosie. These women have seen it all and probably done it all and are living their best lives. They are feisty and blunt and with Charlie make a great team. There are currently fifteen books in this series so I would not be surprised if these three decide to open a private investigation firm at some point since they work so well together.

This story flowed very well and it was easy to get to know the characters. The audio narration, performed by Khristine Hvam was also done well and provided an excellent visual in my mind as I listened.

I’m sure the situation Charlie ran from in Seattle will make its presence known in Hawaii at some point. There is also some chemistry between Charlie and one of the detectives so it will be interesting to see where this all leads. I also want to learn more about Dot and Rosie as these two women are full of unexpected surprises.

My Final Verdict: This series has piqued my curiosity and I will be looking for more of this author’s work. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries and stories with feisty characters who tell it like it is.

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

REVIEW: The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

Title: The Wives
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Publisher: Harlequin – Graydon House
Publication Date: December 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: Imagine that your husband has two other wives. You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, and because of this unconventional arrangement, you can see your husband only one day a week. But you love him so much you don’t care. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself.

But one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket—an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives.

You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then, Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with telltale bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.

Who exactly is your husband, and how far would you go to find the truth? Would you risk your own life?

And who is his mysterious third wife?

My Thoughts: Twisty thrillers that provide massive amounts of nail-biting anxiety and moments of the rug being ripped out from under you are high on my want to read genres. Twists that come out of left field without warning or logic don’t bother me either as long as it makes sense to the story and all loose threads are tied up at the end. Unfortunately, this story did not deliver everything I look for in a thriller. The premise was really interesting, even though the polygamy trope gave me all the ick. I was in high anticipation of what was going on, especially since the FMC, Thursday, was a very unreliable narrator.

The story ends on a major cliffhanger with zero closure and a lot of frustration on my end. I fluctuated quite a bit on having empathy for Thursday or if she really is the villain. I enjoy the conflict it creates but by the end of the book, I want everything wrapped up.

The story moved at a very good pace and though it was hard for me to connect with the characters, I thought they were interesting with many layers. I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook format and enjoyed the well-executed narration by Lauren Fortgang.

My Final Verdict: If you enjoy jarring cliffhangers without closure, you will likely enjoy this story and the buildup to the conclusion. If you prefer your thrillers to have all the dots connected with clarity, this is not the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin – Graydon House, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell

Title: Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: November 2013
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Finding the courage to trust your heart can be the hardest thing of all…

Dexter Yates has the looks, the money, the swanky apartment, and girlfriends galore. But it's not until his niece, Delphi, is born that Dex falls in love for the first time in his life.

Then tragedy strikes when Dex's sister Laura dies in an accident. Suddenly, Dex finds himself a new parent and a single father to boot. With no idea how to raise an eight-month-old baby girl on his own, Dex decides to move into his weekend home in the small village of Briarwood in the Cotswolds.

The quirky neighborhood welcomes him with open arms, especially next―door neighbor and gifted cartoonist Molly who offers to help with Delphi. Molly won't put up with any nonsense and her messy romantic past makes her cautious.

If they can learn to trust each other, there might be a happily-ever-after for all three.

A fresh and fun British women's fiction and a great romantic book with plenty of humor and friendship.

My Thoughts: I initially tried to listen to the audio format of this book back in 2019 and just wasn’t feeling it. This is very interesting because I have recently learned that sometimes when a book isn’t working for me, changing the format is a gamechanger. I wish I had known that back in 2019 as I would have gotten to experience this wonderful story much sooner.

If you are familiar with Jill Mansell’s work, you are already aware you will get a lush story with many characters and subplots. She weaves this story so seamlessly that the reader has no difficulty keeping everyone straight and following all of the individual story lines. At the center of this story is Dexter Yates. He is your typical playboy bachelor. He lives a fast and carefree life and has no intention of settling down with any one woman. When his sister, Laura, has a baby daughter, Dexter is over the moon for his niece.

Unfortunately, Laura dies suddenly eight months after her daughter is born, leaving Dexter bereft and has named him as Delphi’s legal guardian, something he isn’t sure he can take on. Raising a child is a huge responsibility and a lot of work for people who seek to become parents. How will he ever manage with his career and lifestyle?

Dexter moves out of London and meets his new next door neighbor, Molly. I loved the chemistry between these two and enjoyed the building up of their relationship as friends first. Mixed into their story are the numerous characters living in the village all with their own lives and stories. I enjoyed meeting them all and loved the wonderful sense of community in this village.

This story made me laugh and cry and even made me angry a few times at some of the characters’ behavior. It is so easy to get drawn into the lives of these people and spending time with them, I often forget that they are fictional.

My Final Verdict: I am so happy I decided to revisit Dexter’s world as I would have missed an opportunity to meet so many wonderful characters who left a big impression. I highly recommend this story to readers of women’s fiction and contemporary romance.

REVIEW: I Wanted to Tell You by Anna Mansell

Title: I Wanted to Tell You
Author: Anna Mansell
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: November 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: “Sometimes I think that if I’d found a way to talk, we’d be together now…”

When Helen finds a bundle of unsent love letters, tied with a red ribbon, and signed only ‘the love you wished I could be’ , she wonders who they could belong to.

The same day, however, her husband Alex announces he’s leaving. She’d believed their love would last a lifetime, but now he’s gone and she hadn’t even realized there was anything wrong.

Desperate to understand, Helen doesn’t know where to look for answers. But the letters keep drawing her back. As she reads the words of loneliness, loss and regret, something in them helps her start to make sense of it all… Even as she realizes someone has been keeping heart-breaking secrets.

But who do the letters belong to? Can the sender ever be reunited with the one they love, or is it too late? And when Helen finds out the truth about Alex, can she find it in her heart to forgive him, or will he never be the love she wished he could be?

My Thoughts: This book made me feel both hopeful and heartbroken. Upon meeting Helen, I found it very easy to empathize with her as we have all been where she is. Her marriage is going through a rough patch and her husband takes off. She has no idea where he is or if he is ever coming back. While on her daily route as a bus driver, she finds a bundle of letters written anonymously. She wants to find the owner and return them but she feels drawn to read them and they begin to give her a lot of insight to her situation. I found the letters heartbreaking, written by someone who has lost the love of their life and living with massive regret at not being the person they should have been.

This story also touches on a couple of the bus riders Helen knows. One is an elderly man whose wife is advancing in dementia and the struggle he is facing with wanting to be her caretaker and putting her in a home that their daughter insists would be best. The other passenger is a homeless man that Helen allows to ride for free but doesn’t know a whole lot about.

The story moved at a wonderful pace with a unique and engaging story. The characters were complex and I was captivated by them all. This is the second book I have read by this author and I absolutely love her writing and will be looking for everything she has written.

My Final Verdict: Overall, if you are already a fan of this author and haven’t read this book yet, you are in for a treat. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy women’s fiction as well as stories that feature wonderful characters and realistic stories that make you feel all the feels.

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

REVIEW: Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready

Title: Josh and Gemma Make a Baby (Josh and Gemma #1)
Author: Sarah Ready
Narrator: Erin Mallon
Publisher: Swift and Lewis Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: January 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: New Year’s Resolution:
Have a baby
Preferably with Josh Lewenthal

Meet Gemma Jacobs. She’s driven, energetic, and a positive thinker. She has a great career working for famed self-help guru Ian Fortune, she lives in a cute studio apartment in Manhattan, and her family is supportive and loving (albeit a little kooky). Her life is perfect. Absolutely wonderful.

Except for one tiny little thing.

After a decade of disastrous relationships and an infertility diagnosis, Gemma doesn’t want a Mr. Right (or even a Mr. Right Now), she just wants a baby.

And all she needs is an egg, some sperm, and IVF.

So Gemma makes a New Year’s resolution: have a baby.

Josh Lewenthal is a laid back, relaxed, find-the-humor-in-life kind of guy. The polar opposite of Gemma. He’s also her brother’s best friend. For the past twenty years Josh has attended every Jacobs’ family birthday, holiday, and event – he’s always around.

Gemma knows him. He’s nice (enough), he’s funny (-ish), he’s healthy (she thinks) and he didn’t burn any ants with a magnifying glass as a kid. Which, in Gemma’s mind, makes him the perfect option for a sperm donor.

So Gemma wants to make a deal. An unemotional, businesslike arrangement. No commitments, just a baby.

To Gemma’s surprise, Josh agrees.

They have nothing in common, except their agreement to make a baby and their desire to keep things businesslike.

But the thing about baby-making…it’s hard to keep it businesslike, it’s nearly impossible to keep it unemotional, and it’s definitely impossible to keep your heart out of the mix. Because when you’re making a baby together, things have a way of starting to feel like you’re making other things too – like a life, and a family, and love. And when the baby-making ends, you wish that everything else didn’t have to end too.

My Thoughts: First of all, I absolutely loved that Josh and Gemma have known each other forever. Even though Gemma isn’t looking for any kind of relationship, I was rooting so hard for them to realize they are meant to be together. I also liked the other women in Gemma’s infertility support group and enjoyed how they weren’t just background characters. The author did an exceptional job illustrating the infertility journey for all of these women and I felt so much empathy and compassion for their struggles to conceive. I also loved Gemma’s family and how they have included Josh and made him a part of their family as well.

This is the first book in a two book series and you must read this one first. I went with the audiobook format and the narration was performed by Erin Mallon. I thought her narration was flawless, giving all of the characters vibrance, wit and charm. This story moves at a wonderful pace, giving me time to get to know all the characters. The plot was clear, concise and original. Though I am sitting on several books by this author, this is my first experience reading her work. I don’t know how she or her books have been overlooked for so long but I am looking forward to reading more and catching up with Josh and Gemma in the sequel, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers of contemporary romance stories that tug on the heart as well as tickle the funny bone.

Thank you to the publisher, Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Title: You Deserve Each Other
Author: Sarah Hogle
Narrator: Taylor Meskimen
Publisher: Penguin Group - Putnam
Publication Date: April 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there's a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves--and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

My Thoughts: This book was an absolute hoot! Imagine being engaged, the wedding is only a few months away and you are miserable and completely sick of them. Call off the wedding, right? Unfortunately, neither Naomi nor Nicholas wants to do that because the one who calls it off gets stuck with the bill. I know, it’s absurd. Who in their right mind would agree to that stipulation in the first place? Of course, neither Naomi nor Nicholas request a cease fire to talk about what’s happening.

As the acts of intentional sabotage are perpetrated against each other, I kept wondering if this was going to break out in an all-out war with one or both ending up dead. I also kept thinking all of this could have been avoided if they had just talked to one another and shared their feelings. Finding out Nicholas felt the same way about many of the things Naomi did regarding his mother and the way she took over the entire planning of the wedding gave me hope that they could get on the same page.

In addition to the numerous acts of sabotage that had my eyes almost bugging out of my head, there were several moments of eyes tearing up with laughter. This was my first experience reading this author and am looking forward to reading more of her work. I thoroughly enjoyed the crafting of the story and the snarky behavior of the characters. The audio narration performed by Taylor Meskimen added to the overall enjoyment.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who love contemporary romance, chick-lit and stories with characters who have no problem showing the world the worst version of themselves and are willing to risk it all for their happily ever after.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Group - Putnam, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The New Beginnings Coffee Club by Samantha Tonge

Title: The New Beginnings Coffee Club
Author: Samantha Tonge
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Everyone deserves a second chance…don’t they?

Jenny Masters finds herself living the modern dream. Wife to a millionaire, living in a mansion and mother to Kardashian-obsessed ten-year-old April, there isn’t anything missing. Until her whole world comes crashing down, forcing Jenny and April to leave behind their glittering life and start over with nothing.

With village gossip following her wherever she goes, she finds refuge and a job in the new coffee shop in town. As the days pass Jenny fears she doesn’t have what it takes to pick herself back up and give April the life she always wanted to. But with the help of enigmatic new boss Noah, and housemate Elle, Jenny realizes it’s never too late to become the woman life really intended you to be!

My Thoughts: I love stories that are relationship driven filled with characters who are flawed and broken but manage to rise above the challenges they are facing by finding their place in a community with other flawed and broken people and begin to heal with love and friendship.

I liked Jenny but living in the lap of luxury for the past ten years clouded her perception about what is important. When she finds out about her husband’s infidelity and near bankrupt status, she and her spoiled daughter, April, find refuge in the village coffee shop owned by Noah, who appears as a shoulder to lean on and an ear willing to listen.

This story surprised me that while Jenny is navigating this new reality for her and her daughter, there are people all around her who are trying to navigate their own reality. Noah is struggling with a mysterious past and trying to make the coffee shop a success. His employee and roommate, Elle, is also trying to navigate her own path that has been challenging. I loved that Noah was willing to offer Jenny and her daughter room and board in exchange for Jenny working at the coffee shop. What initially begins as an act of mercy and compassion by Noah becomes a journey of healing for all of these people. I especially loved how Jenny’s daughter begins to see life outside of her posh friends and exclusive school and embraces the new experiences. With the exception of Jenny’s husband, I loved these characters and the bravery and determination they all demonstrate by not allowing their circumstances to keep them from growing and moving forward.

I have read a few books by this author but this one is my favorite so far. I have several waiting to be read and I’m hoping they will deliver like this one did. I felt such a strong connection to Jenny, Noah, Elle and April and had loads of empathy for each of them. This story flowed so smoothly and the pacing was excellent. None of the characters stayed mired in misery or regret which I also loved. I don’t know if the author has plans to write a follow up to this story but it would be great to visit with them again.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who love women’s fiction and stories rich in character development and relationships.

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

REVIEW: Believe Me by J. P. Delaney

Title: Believe Me
Author: J.P. Delaney
Narrator: Sally Scott, Matt Reeves, Lorelei King, John Chancer & Eric Meyers
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Publication Date: July 2018
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: In this twisty psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before, an actress plays both sides of a murder investigation.

One out-of-work British actress pays the rent on her New York City apartment the only way she can: as a decoy for a firm of divorce lawyers, hired to entrap straying husbands. When the cops begin investigating one of her targets for murdering his wife--and potentially others--they ask her to lure the suspect into a confession.

But with the actress pretending to be someone she isn't, differentiating the decoy from the prey becomes impossible--and deadly.

My Thoughts: A very intriguing and promising plot that just didn’t deliver the twisty suspense I was hoping for. The story was OK but I didn’t feel any connection to Claire and often wondered if she was working for the police to trap the killer or if she was the killer. I found her to be very unreliable and unrelatable. The climax of the story fell flat for me and felt contrived and unbelievable.

I paired the reading of this book with the audio and found the performances realistic and the immersive background sounds gave me a sense of being in the room with the characters, which I enjoyed. I have several more of this author’s work on my to be read shelf so I am hoping I will find those more riveting.

My Final Verdict: This book covers quite a range of ratings from numerous readers who loved it and didn’t love it. I personally cannot recommend it though many people did enjoy it.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Skeleton in the Closet by Angie Fox

Title: The Skeleton in the Closet (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #2)
Author: Angie Fox
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Publisher: Moose Island Books
Publication Date: January 2020
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A haunted library is no place for a girl who can see ghosts, but when Verity Long stumbles on a dead body in the middle of the main reading room, she has to believe someone…even a dead someone…must have witnessed the crime.

Her ghostly sidekick Frankie warns her to stay out of it. The very alive, very handsome deputy sheriff, Ellis Wydell, inadvertently places her directly in the middle of it. And her ex-fiancé, Ellis’s brother, is back with an agenda of his own.

Undaunted, Verity presses forward, uncovering scandalous secrets, long-forgotten ghosts, and a shocking trail of clues that places her directly in the path of a killer.

My Thoughts: Verity, Ellis, gangster ghost Frankie and the adorable Lucy the skunk are back in another ghostly adventure that draws on the historic battle of Sugarland during the Civil War, secrets taken to the grave and worth killing over and scandal sweeter than the iced tea served on the veranda with a twist of mint.

One of the things I enjoy about this series is that there is no shortage of ghosts. Anywhere one goes in the town of Sugarland, Tennessee, running into a ghost or some type of paranormal phenomenon is most likely a certainty. In Verity Long’s case, it’s an absolute, especially in the town library.

After a murder occurs in the library, it appears that there could be witnesses, even though those witnesses have been dead since the Civil War. Meeting the ghosts that inhabit the library was more entertaining than figuring out who is behind the murder, as well as meeting a ghost who happens to enjoy reading. This ghost is hooked on Anne Rice’s Interview With a Vampire series and is hoping Verity will assist him with acquiring a copy of The Vampire Lestat. In addition to Frankie, I really hope ghosts Verity has already met will continue to appear throughout the series.

The story is easy to follow and the audio narration performed by Tavia Gilbert is enjoyable. The budding romance between Verity and Ellis is not the primary focus of the stories at this point. I am eager to see how that develops and hope it turns Ellis’s mother’s hair white. Learning about Frankie’s connection to the Wydell family in this story was interesting too. I am looking forward to Verity’s next adventure.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries as well as readers who like charming stories filled with interesting characters and adorable skunks should give this series a look. I recommend reading the series in order to better understand the various backgrounds of the characters.

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

REVIEW: When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

Title: When Life Gives You Lululemons (The Devil Wears Prada #3)
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Narrator: Laura Benanti
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: New York Times bestselling author Lauren Weisberger returns with a novel starring one of her favorite characters from The Devil Wears Prada—Emily Charlton, first assistant to Miranda Priestly, now a highly successful image consultant who’s just landed the client of a lifetime.

Welcome to Greenwich, CT, where the lawns and the women are perfectly manicured, the Tito’s and sodas are extra strong, and everyone has something to say about the infamous new neighbor.

Let’s be clear: Emily Charlton, Miranda Priestly’s ex-assistant, does not do the suburbs. She’s working in Hollywood as an image consultant to the stars, but recently, Emily’s lost a few clients. She’s hopeless with social media. The new guard is nipping at her heels. She needs a big opportunity, and she needs it now.

Karolina Hartwell is as A-list as they come. She’s the former face of L’Oreal. A mega-supermodel recognized the world over. And now, the gorgeous wife of the newly elected senator from New York, Graham, who also has his eye on the presidency. It’s all very Kennedy-esque, right down to the public philandering and Karolina’s arrest for a DUI—with a Suburban full of other people’s children.

Miriam is the link between them. Until recently she was a partner at one of Manhattan’s most prestigious law firms. But when Miriam moves to Greenwich and takes time off to spend with her children, she never could have predicted that being stay-at-home mom in an uber-wealthy town could have more pitfalls than a stressful legal career.

Emily, Karolina, and Miriam make an unlikely trio, but they desperately need each other. Together, they’ll navigate the social landmines of life in America’s favorite suburb on steroids, revealing the truths—and the lies—that simmer just below the glittering surface. With her signature biting style, Lauren Weisberger offers a dazzling look into another sexy, over-the-top world, where nothing is as it appears.

My Thoughts: This was a fantastic wrap up to a series that has been one wild ride. No Andrea in this story and Miranda makes an appearance but not in the way I have come to expect of her, so it was quite interesting and surprising. After the events of the second book, Emily has moved to Los Angeles to become an image consultant for the celebrity class. She has had moderate success until she starts losing clients for more prestigious opportunities. Emily finds herself visiting her friend Miriam in the wilds of Greenwich, Connecticut, which is a big step for Emily as she does not do the suburbs…ever.

Miriam used to be a big shot lawyer in New York until she realized that her career was removing her from every aspect of her young children’s lives, so she and her husband, Paul, pack it in and move to Greenwich where she has to learn to navigate a whole new class of women who bide their time until school pickups with Pilates, lunch and in depth conversations about the latest, greatest and controversial plastic surgery techniques and procedures. Miriam feels way out of her depth and begins to wonder if her former eighty hour a week job is less of a stressor.

Karolina is a former Victoria’s Secret model and the face of L’Oreal and has been married to New York Senator Graham for ten years and loving stepmother to twelve year old Harry. It appears she is living the dream until she is pulled over and arrested for DUI with Harry and his friends in the car. On the heels of her arrest, her husband informs her she is unstable, has a drinking problem and he no longer trusts her with his son. Cue the divorce lawyer music…

These women join forces to prove Karolina’s arrest was a set up by her husband to obtain a quick divorce so he can marry his mistress, the daughter of a former President. Emily and Miriam will pull out all the stops to remake Karolina’s public image, expose the dark secrets Graham is hiding and somehow survive the Greenwich wives and mothers looking down their noses.

This book was so much fun. Emily is in top form and that is saying a lot because I had a major grievance with her after book two. I’m so glad that Emily has come full circle, as it were, to be present for her friends while rebuilding her career and facing off with Miranda. I won’t spoil anything, but Miranda’s appearance in this story, though small, carries a punch and reminded me all over again that Miranda didn’t get to where she is by sitting back and letting life happen to her. She is an action taker and when Emily receives assistance from this unexpected quarter, I couldn’t help but wonder if Emily has enough of her soul left to sell this time around.

The friendship dynamic between the three women was very enjoyable to watch and getting the separate points of view of all three women throughout the book helped me connect to them each on a more meaningful level. The writing is woven tightly with each moment drawing the reader further into the lives of these interesting women. The audio narration performed by Lauran Benanti was superb, bringing the personalities of these characters to life.

My Final Verdict: Though it’s a little bittersweet to see the series come to an end, there are still many surprises tucked into this story that will delight the reader. I highly recommend this story to fans of women’s fiction as well as strong characters who speak their mind and take no prisoners and could care less whether they impress you or not.

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

REVIEW: The Bayou Never Tells by Chelley St. Clair

Title: The Bayou Never Tells
Author: Chelley St. Clair
Publisher: Chelley St. Clair
Publication Date: October 2022
Genre: Dark Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: The only thing darker than the waters of the Louisiana bayou are the secrets it holds. I’d know—I’ve buried more than a few myself.

She was supposed to be one of them.

I was the boy who never had a chance, an orphan recruited by the devil himself, until the family I never knew gave me something to live for.

Then my brother brought her home—the rich politician’s daughter, a real-life fairytale princess who had no place in our world. We were oil and water, and making her leave became my mission, ’til the little tag-along ended up in my passenger’s seat driving cross-country. That’s when we discovered a common thread… something that ran soul deep. Something hard to resist.

But no one I cared about was safe, and when she left, I made her promise never to come back.

Turns out, she lied.

Now the devil who claimed my future wants her, as well, and when I’m faced with a choice, who will come out alive?

The demons who own me?

The family who loves me?

Or the girl I wasn’t supposed to fall for?

Only the bayou knows…

And its secrets die here.

My Thoughts: Before reading this book, if someone had asked me if I knew what the dark romance genre entailed, I would not have had a clue. This genre typically involves morally corrupt characters with a focus on violence and danger. In a dark romance story, you will get characters who are broken, anti-social, lost and sometimes appear to be beyond redemption. They are strong willed and have learned to survive, usually by keeping to themselves and relying only on their own instincts. Trust is not easily given by these characters and everyone who comes into their world has to work hard to earn it. Silas Montgomery is such a character. He has had to rely on his own wits to survive, trying to stay one step ahead of the people he works for to protect the family he loves. He has had to perform the most heinous and unspeakable acts and he struck me as someone who has lost his soul.

Where Silas is all darkness, Ivy is Summer is light. She is best friends with Silas’s little brother and before meeting Silas, she thought of Grady as her soul mate. Growing up in a powerful political family, she has never been allowed to forget she is expected to perform her duty to her family. Like Silas, she is surrounded by people who would use her as a pawn for their own gain.

Silas and Ivy are like oil and water. Their obvious differences in their backgrounds is just the beginning. Silas makes it very clear he doesn’t like Ivy and doesn’t want her around and she feels the same way. Watching them interact with one another over the course of a road trip was wonderful as without realizing it, Silas begins to slowly drop his guard around Ivy and she can begin to see him behind the mask he wears for everyone else.

The darkness surrounding this story and these characters was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. This story is filled with numerous triggers, so be prepared. Even knowing about the triggers in advance, this story still gutted me and left me bleeding on the floor. This story also had me laughing out loud and blushing furiously like a virgin on her wedding night, so yes, I am now a fan of this author’s writing and of this genre.

My Final Verdict: This story was intricately carved and twisted with complex characters that drew me in and took me completely by surprise. Mixed in with the darkness and outside of the violence surrounding these characters, there’s love, healing, friendship and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book to readers of all romance genres, especially those who love the intensity and moral ambiguity that dark romances bring.