REVIEW: The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison

Title: The Witch with No Name (The Hollows #13)
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: September 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Rachel Morgan's come a long way from the clutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now.

To save Ivy's soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything.

My Thoughts: As this is not the last book in the series, I could have done without the last chapter as there is a huge time jump, but it was amusing to see what Al ends up doing. Of course, that is all subject to change as this is not the last we will see of Rachel, Trent, Jenks, Ivy, Al and yeah, I guess Nina too, though I still haven’t warmed up to her.

I found the story to be satisfactory and enjoyable for the most part. I felt a smidge of empathy for the desperation of the undead to get their souls back, though it will mean certain death as they become suicidal and walk into the sun. For some of the bloodsuckers in this book, I would gladly hold the door open for them to high step it out into the sunshine, but I certainly have to wonder how Ivy would feel about getting her soul back once she is truly one of the undead. She has her hands full with Nina right now so hopefully that won’t be an issue for a very long time.

Rachel definitely has her hands full trying to convince Cormel that getting his soul back is a bad idea and trusting Landon to help him is even worse. Hopefully, we have seen the last of him because I just have no patience for stupid vampires. Otherwise, I am still enjoying the relationship she and Trent are developing and hope it continues.

Jenks and Al remain my favorites and I hope they continue to appear prominently throughout the remaining books.

My Final Verdict: Had the series truly ended with this book, I would have been satisfied with the outcome, though I would have missed these characters. Hopefully the rest of the series continues to delight and entertain us.

REVIEW: A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Quick Bite (Argeneau #1)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: October 2005
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau's bed? He's not dessert - he's the main course!

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there's another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood...an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course, it doesn't hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?

Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger's bedroom pretty quickly - once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That's a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into...if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

My Thoughts: When it comes to vampire fiction, especially romance, I’m such a fangirl who has been known to have several “squee” moments when finding a new release. Unfortunately, though this story was good, there were no moments of squee for me. I liked Lissianna and Greg quite a lot and thought that a vampire who faints at the sight of blood was intriguing, but it just didn’t carry the story into excellence. Instead, it tiptoed around campy and cheesy.

There were way too many characters being thrown into the mix for the reader to keep up with. I know it’s a tactic to advise the reader that there will be more (so many more) books to give each and every dang person in the book their own story. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me, but it felt like the story wasn’t as focused on Lissianna and Greg as much as it should. Don’t get me wrong. I liked the other characters, but there was too much a sense of watching the clowns at the circus instead of a psychologist trained in the curing of phobias trying to figure out how he was going to cure Lissianna.

I felt the romance and Greg’s decision whether to become one of the undead was rushed. Within a couple of days of meeting one another, they are talking about whether they are life mates and if Greg wants to become a vampire. Nope, I don’t buy it.

What did I like? I liked the story in general. A blood-phobic vampire and the psychologist who is brought in (kind of against his will) to treat and cure her. I liked that these are not your normal Hollywood run of the mill vampires. They aren’t evil. They don’t turn into bats. They are from the lost city of Atlantis and the vampirism is nothing more than a scientific result of nanos that requires the consumption of blood to stay alive…for a very long time. The story takes place in Toronto so there are no “I vant to bite your neck” Transylvanian accents running amok here either.

My Final Verdict: The story was good but I can’t enthusiastically recommend it or the series to fans of vampire romance as I’m not motivated to continue it.

REVIEW: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Title: The Royal We (Royal We #1)
Author: Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / New Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: "I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story of an American student studying at Oxford who falls for the heir to the British throne. I enjoyed the parallels this story has to Kate Middleton and Wills. Meeting at university, long-term relationship before the engagement and marriage brouhaha. Of course, Kate is not an American like Bex is, so I enjoyed that twist, but I found it a slight nod to the red-headed spare heir and his American bride. I found it interesting how much my mind noticed just how similar is this story to Kate and Wills as well as similarities of Freddie to Harry. I mean, really, even the cover gives the reader a nod to Kate and Wills before the story even begins. I am sure it’s all fiction, and good fiction at that.

I really liked Bex and Nick as a couple. They start out as friends who enjoy eating American junk food while binge watching episodes of Bex’s favorite television show sent across the pond by Bex’s sister, Lacey. Bex even begins dating one of Nick’s mates, if you can call a shag buddy dating. The blossoming of their relationship from friends to more is a treat to watch, not only because he’s the future King of England and how cool is that?! but also because their relationship is really sweet and I was rooting for these two from the beginning.

I also liked Freddie, the rascal that he is, but his friendship with Bex is special. Through her eyes, we see Freddie as the brother, the second, the flirt, and the one who appears will never measure up in the eyes of their father. The pain and hurt he carries at feeling rejected resonates keenly and you can’t help but feel a lot of empathy for him and understand the masks and personas he hides his true self behind, but Bex sees through him.

I also enjoyed getting a bird’s eye view into the workings of the royal family through Bex’s eyes. I learned they aren’t all that different from any other family. They have their good days and bad days, successes and disappointments, secrets and scandal. The only difference is that their lives are heavily documented all over the tabloids for our entertainment.

I also found the circus that Bex is put through to “train” her for her upcoming roles as Duchess of This That Or The Other as well as Baroness What’s Her Name and Countess So and So were interesting. Things that those of us who live in the commoner’s world would never worry about, such as exiting a car with grace and style, how to hold a flute of champagne or even how to cross one’s legs when sitting.

My Final Verdict: This story ends with some interesting twists so it came as no surprise that there’s a sequel which I will have to read as I’m nowhere ready to see the end of Bex and Nick and hopefully Freddie will get his happily ever after too.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Royal We from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks

Title: Grounded for All Eternity
Author: Darcy Marks
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: July 2022
Genre: Fantasy / Teen – Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A group of kids from hell come to Earth on one of the craziest nights of the year—Halloween—in this snarky, witty middle grade adventure about teamwork, friendship, shattering expectations, and understanding the world (or otherworld) around us.

Mal and his friends are just your regular average kids from hell. The suburbs that is, not the fiery pit part. But when Hell’s Bells ring out—signaling that a soul has escaped from one of the eternal circles, Mal and his friends can’t help but take the opportunity for a little adventure.

Before they know it, they’ve somehow slipped through the veil and found themselves in the middle of Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. And what’s even worse, they’ve managed to bring the escaped soul with them! As the essence of one of history’s greatest manipulators gains power by shifting the balance on Earth, Mal and his squad-mates—along with some new friends that they meet along the way—work desperately to trap the escapee, save the people of Earth from the forces of evil, and find the portal back to their own dimension.

If they can’t manage it before their parents realize they’re gone, they’ll be grounded for an eternity. And an eternity in hell is a very, very long time.

My Thoughts: Kids who live in Hell go to Earth to capture an escaped soul before their parents find out they left and are grounded for all eternity? How can I refuse? First, the cover. I don’t like to admit I am usually drawn to books by their covers and have been known to acquire books based only on the cover without knowing anything about the story. So yes, the cover drew me in at first then when I read the description, I knew I was in because it sounded like so much dang fun!

Malachi, Crowley and Lilith are your typical teenagers. On school break, looking forward to hanging out, playing video games, sleeping in, grabbing a latte. The only difference is these kids can fly using sharp black wings and they live in Hell. Who knew there were suburbs in Hell? When the alarm is raised that a soul has escaped the pit, their plans are cancelled as the entire place is on lockdown and they are all restricted to their homes. So, so boring. If you can’t have any fun on school break, even if it’s Hell, what’s the point of living? Well, you guessed it. Malachi and his friends sneak out and decide to go check out the veil. It is Halloween after all and the veil between realms is at its thinnest. What they didn’t plan for was being pushed through the veil inadvertently bringing the escaped soul with them. They find themselves in Salem, Massachusetts and oh yes, the escaped soul happens to be the Reverend Samuel Parris, the man who is thought to be the driving force behind the witch hunt resulting in the Salem Witch Trials in 1693 and personally profited from the hysteria. Now that he has escaped Hell, he plans to continue his reign of terror using the residents of Salem once again to commit acts of evil. In order to return home, Malachi and his friends must capture him. If they don’t capture him, they will be stuck there and the powers of Heaven are planning to smite the entire city to ensure Samuel is stopped.

I have never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed the setting she created even if you have to suspend disbelief that anything coming out of Hell would be looking to protect the humans on Earth. Malachi and his friends are very likable and easy to relate to. I also liked teenage witches, Sean and Charity and the angel, Cassandra who tries to bribe the kids from Hell with cookies to come to Heaven. The pacing of the story was good, though there were a few moments, very tense moments, I might add, where I was clutching my fists wondering if they were going to be successful on their mission, because the alternative is death, or worse, being grounded for all eternity.

My Final Verdict: The ending of this story leads me to believe we haven’t seen or heard the last of Malachi, but without proof, there is only hope. I hope there will be more. I highly recommend this story to readers in middle school and high school as well as adults who like to be entertained but don’t mind that the protagonists are juveniles.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Grounded for All Eternity from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Faithless in Death (In Death #52)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: February 2021
Genre: Mystery / Romantic Suspense / Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In the new Eve Dallas police thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb, what looked like a lover's quarrel turned fatal has larger--and more terrifying--motives behind it...

The scene in the West Village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wine glasses by the bed, music playing, and a young sculptor named Ariel Byrd with the back of her head bashed in. But when Dallas tracks down the wealthy Upper East Side woman who called 911, the details don't add up. Gwen Huffman is wealthy, elegant, comforted by her handsome fiancé as she sheds tears over the trauma of finding the body--but why did it take an hour to report it? And why is she lying about little things?

As Eve and her team look into Gwen, her past, and the people around her, they find that the lies are about more than murder. As with sculpture, they need to chip away at the layers of deception to find the shape within--and soon they're getting the FBI involved in a case that involves a sinister, fanatical group and a stunning criminal conspiracy.

My Thoughts: After so many books in this series, to continually be surprised is important. The fifty-second book in this intriguing and entertaining series provides plenty of surprises. Initially, this book appears to be another run of the mill homicide that appears to be a crime of passion committed by a woman with secrets to keep regarding her sexual orientation. As Eve and her crack-shot Scooby gang begin to peel back the layers, we see so much more there besides murder. Kidnapping, rape, torture, human trafficking, just to name a few. The sordid nature of the people at the root of the organization called Natural Order make Warren Jeffs appear vanilla and harmless.

I continue to be amazed and beyond impressed at the way Eve’s brain puts it all together and zeroes in on her suspects as if she were deciding what to eat for breakfast or what outfit to wear to work on a given day. She really does operate several levels above the rest of us and when you partner that with someone like Roark, who is also equally brilliant, they are a force of nature. I can’t take my eyes off of them, in complete enthrallment at what this dynamic duo will pull off next.

I also enjoyed seeing more snark from Peabody in this one. Some of her deadpan one-liners delivered with a straight face and off the cuff had me giggling with delight. Eve really hit the mark when she picked Peabody for her squad. I would be remiss in my praise if I don’t throw some love to Susan Ericksen, the narrator of the audiobook editions. She captures the personalities of all the characters brilliantly, but especially with Eve and Peabody. They go together like peanut butter and jelly and I know I am in for quite a ride with these two and Ms. Ericksen makes it come to life with little to no effort, it seems. At this point, I doubt I will ever read any of these books in any other format.

I am in high anticipation for the next installment to see how the house remodeling with Mavis, Leonardo, Peabody and McNabb is progressing and I can’t get enough of Bella and her obvious delight being around Eve and Roark. She’s a smart cookie as being around them makes me feel the same way.

My Final Verdict: As of this writing, there are currently fifty-six installments to this series and I highly recommend this series for the interesting story lines that remain fresh instead of feeling cookie-cutter, which happens all too often in a long running series. I also highly recommend this series for the characters. They are well-written, highly developed with unique and individual personalities that come to life and jump off the page (or for you audio fans, like me, jump into your ear) and grab your heartstrings and never let go.

REVIEW: Match Me If You Can by Michele Gorman

Title: Match Me If You Can
Author: Michele Gorman
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Ever thought about recycling your ex?

Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.

Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr. Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So, when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realize that anything could happen . . .

Three best friends, proving that sometimes it really isn't you…it's him.

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story about three best friends and housemates, Catherine, Rachel and Sarah who are all searching for Mr. Right. Catherine convinces Rachel and Sarah to join the dating site she owns with her ex-husband. The interesting catch to joining this site is in order to sign up, you have to bring your ex along and they have to sign up as well. I found the idea of “recycling” your ex for an upgrade to be very intriguing.

I liked these women and enjoyed their different personalities and quirks from Catherine’s nearly A-type personality and coping with her ex-husband getting remarried, to Rachel’s determination and drive as an architect trying to win a competition for her drawing to be chosen by the firm’s biggest client, to Sarah who designs greeting cards, loves to bake and worries about finding a new care home for her sixteen-year-old sister with Down’s Syndrome.

I was rooting for all of these women to succeed not only in the romance department, but also in their chosen professions. I did find myself getting annoyed at the building crew who seemed to be tearing up the house more than remodeling it, but I always get nervous when someone is knocking holes into walls.

Michele Gorman is an author I have always enjoyed reading. She writes characters that are easy to relate to and care about with unique stories that entertain without being cookie-cutter.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy laugh aloud moments with romance to ease the burdens of the daily grind of life and career should pick this one up.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Match Me If You Can from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: If Only by Angela Marsons

Title: If Only
Author: Angela Marsons
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Find love. Have a baby. Ditch the mother-in-law from hell. Three best friends, each wishing for the one thing they want the most. But what if they’re searching for happiness in all the wrong places?

Cher is head over heels for her new boss. He’s gorgeous, smart and funny but he barely even notices her except to ask for a coffee refill. How can she get him to see that she’s the perfect girl for him?

Sarah is longing for a baby with the man she loves. The only trouble is David is already married. Will he finally leave his wife so they can be together?

Deb should be looking forward to her wedding with lovely fiancé Mark but with her mother-in-law from hell Margie taking control of everything, will her dream day turn into her worst nightmare?

So, when one summer evening, over several glasses of wine, Cher, Sarah and Deb stumble across an old book on Sarah’s shelf and drunkenly decide to cast a wishing spell, they don’t think for one minute that it will come true. It’s just three best friends having a laugh and throwing some herbs around the garden. Or is it?

My Thoughts: If Only by new to me author Angela Marsons was a breath of fresh air for me. I was quickly drawn into this story of three women who have been the best of friends for ages get together over several glasses of wine to commiserate the misery of their lives. Cher is in love with her boss, who is a tool and barely acknowledges her existence. Sarah has been seeing a married man for five years and longs for a baby, thinking it will bind him to her forever. Deb is in the middle of wedding planning hell with her future mother-in-law trying to control every aspect of the nuptials and was the cause of the last two attempts to be postponed.

Do you know what they say about not making important decisions while under the influence? That goes for casting wish spells too. After finding a book about casting spells on Sarah’s bookshelf, they decide to try it. Cher wishes for her boss to fall in love with her, Sarah wishes to have David’s child and Deb wishes her fiancé’s mother would disappear. I say be careful of what you wish. Your wish may be granted, but not in the way you are expecting.

What follows is a story I found difficult to put down. I truly liked these women and cared about their lives and with what they were dealing. I could be friends with these women. I had a bit of a struggle with Sarah dating a married man but she isn’t the type of man-stealing femme fatale character I usually think of when I envision the “other woman.” I’ve never been a fan of the adultery plot device, but the author writes it so well that it garnered more empathy from me for Sarah than I normally would feel.

The chapters skip between each of the women, giving me the sense that I was a part of the story, present with each of them as friends would be, with laughter and sympathy for what they are going through. Isn’t that what life is all about? Surrounding yourself with the people you care about the most who are there ready to celebrate your victories and mourn your losses with you, with or without wine, is the best way to live.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that draw on their emotions from laughing to righteous indignation to tears. I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator’s voice and the personality that shines through the characters. I doubt I would have enjoyed it as well if I had read it in my own voice.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of If Only from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: What a Dog Knows by Susan Wilson

Title: What a Dog Knows
Author: Susan Wilson
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: June 2021
Genre: General Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson comes What a Dog Knows, another heartwarming novel about humans and the dogs that change our lives.

Ruby Heartwood has always lived a life on the move. As a traveling psychic, she makes her living working at carnivals and festivals and circuses around New England. It's a life Ruby has made peace with--settling in one place has never been for her. She needs no one, and no one needs her.

Until one night, when she is camped by the side of the road in her trusty Volkswagen Westie van, a fierce thunder and lightning storm erupts. In the middle of the downpour, she hears a distinct voice telling her to let me in. In jumps a little black and white dog, and to Ruby's astonishment, she can hear the dog's thoughts. Has she been struck by lightning? Did the storm do this? Is she losing her mind?

It turns out, Ruby can hear many dogs' thoughts. She decides to set up semi-permanent residency in the town of Harmony Farms, until she can sort out what is going on, and who the little dog, Hitch, belongs to. But some people in Harmony Farms don't want her there. And it seems that events keep preventing Ruby from leaving. What secrets is this town keeping? Why was she meant to find this dog? And what has Ruby really been running from, all these years?

My Thoughts: New to me author Susan Wilson pens a delightful and heartwarming tale about two lost souls who find their way to one another. One is traveling psychic, Ruby Heartwood and the other is a stray dog she calls The Hitchhiker, or Hitch for short. What makes this story all the more interesting and intriguing is Ruby and Hitch can communicate. Ruby hears the dog’s thoughts as clearly as she can hear her own and this opens a door for Ruby to communicate with other animals. Ruby decides to stick around the small town of Harmony Farms for a while longer than she normally would to explore this new addition to her psychic abilities and soon learns that home is much closer to her heart than the physical geography of the location.

I really liked Ruby and felt great empathy for the life she has lived, starting as an abandoned baby growing up in a convent, trying to come to terms with the ability to foresee future events and trying to help those these events affect, even though it isn’t always accepted or received by everyone around her. As a result, Ruby runs away and makes her way in the world surviving horrific events and struggling to raise a child on her own. This woman is a survivor in every sense of the word and having to rely on herself for her entire life has not hardened or embittered Ruby. She has a heart of gold that is shown in how she treats the people she meets in Harmony Farms.

The locale of this book is nearly as engaging as Ruby was. There are several secondary characters that bring a lot of vibrancy and charm to the story, both animal and human. Ruby doesn’t stay long in one place and though the reader has full disclosure of Ruby’s reasons for wanting to move on, I secretly harbored Hitch’s desire that they stay. I especially enjoyed the scenes where Ruby is giving a reading to help an animal’s owner identify a behavioral problem and hearing it from the animal’s point of view was equal parts refreshing and entertaining.

I listened to the audiobook and very much enjoyed the pace of the narration and the various voices and accents she used for both the human and animal characters.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy stories that are relationship driven will enjoy this book quite a bit as this story abounds with relationships. Friendships, adversarial relationships, romantic relationships, family relationships and the special relationships we have with our pets and animals are all present in this book. I highly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy stories that feature animals and the lessons they teach us.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of What a Dog Knows from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Friction by Sandra Brown

Title: Friction
Author: Sandra Brown
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: August 2015
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Crawford Hunt wants his daughter back. Following the death of his wife four years ago, Crawford, a Texas Ranger, fell into a downward spiral that left him doing deskwork rather than fieldwork, and with his five-year-old daughter Georgia in the custody of her grandparents. But Crawford has cleaned up his act, met all the court-imposed requirements, and now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.

Holly, ambitious and confident, temporarily occupies the bench of her recently deceased mentor. With an election upcoming, she must prove herself worthy of making her judgeship permanent. Every decision is high stakes. Despite Crawford's obvious love for his child and his commitment to being an ideal parent, Holly is wary of his checkered past. Her opinion of him is radically changed when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the custody hearing. Crawford reacts instinctually, saving Holly from a bullet.

But his heroism soon takes on the taint of recklessness. The cloud over him grows even darker after he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman and realizes that the unknown person behind the shooting remains at large . . .and a threat.

Catching the real culprit becomes a personal fight for Crawford. But pursuing the killer in his customary diehard fashion will jeopardize his chances of gaining custody of his daughter, and further compromise Judge Holly Spencer, who needs protection not only from an assassin, but from Crawford himself and the forbidden attraction between them.

FRICTION will keep you on the edge of your seat with breathtaking plot twists and the unforgettable characters that make Sandra Brown one of the world's best-loved authors. It is an extraordinary novel about the powerful ties that bind us to the ones we love and the secrets we keep to protect them.

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story with plenty of plot twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next. Texas Ranger Crawford Hunt is in family court to fight to regain custody of his daughter from his in-laws. Long story short, after the sudden death of his wife, Crawford gave temporary custody to his in-laws as he wasn’t quite up to the job of being a good parent. Unfortunately, his father-in-law has always hated him and is using Crawford’s past and even his present as a tool to label him as unfit so that Crawford loses custody permanently. When a gunman bursts into the courtroom firing several rounds striking the bailiff, Crawford does what he automatically is conditioned to do. He tackles the judge and shields her from the shooter. After the shooter takes off, Crawford pursues him and ends up on the roof with a man holding the gun. A SWAT sniper takes out the man holding the gun. Case closed, end of story, right? Nope…not even close.

It takes a while to get there but finally the story takes off when Crawford realizes the man who was killed by the SWAT officer is not the man firing the weapon in the courtroom. Who is this guy? How did he end up with the weapon? Naturally, more questions pop up and Crawford is trying to ensure the judge is protected while trying to convince local PD that he did not orchestrate the entire event in the first place. I had a bit of difficulty with that part as it seemed the local detectives came across as complete imbeciles and someone else is going to end up dead at this rate.

Throw into the mix that there is white hot chemistry between Judge Holly Spencer and Crawford and the fact that they are both eyewitnesses to a shooting make their one-on-one involvement on any level a conflict of interest. There appears to be no reason or connection between the man killed on the roof of the courthouse and Holly so that made investigating the motive and reason behind the attack all the more perplexing.

This story moved much slower than I normally like but once it kicked into gear, it was good. The attraction between Crawford and Holly was well written and gives the reader an excellent sense of the conflict they both feel but cannot deny their attraction. All of the characters are well developed and the story itself was credible.

The identity of the mastermind behind the attack is revealed early in the story but the connection between them and the target remained unclear until the end. Once that was revealed, I was a little disappointed as I was expecting something much more intense to match such a well-structured attack in an open courtroom.

My Final Verdict: This story wasn’t my favorite by this author, but fans of romance with suspense will find this enjoyable.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Friction from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: You Belong to Me by Karen Rose

Title: You Belong to Me (Romantic Suspense #12)
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date: February 2011
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Years ago, a young woman was beaten and raped while onlookers did nothing. Now those witnesses are becoming victims themselves…

Baltimore homicide detective J.D. Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of horrific violence both as a cop and during his deployment in Afghanistan, but nothing like the trail of tortured bodies turning up throughout the city. He's up against a brutal killer with a very personal vendetta, and J.D. is beginning to suspect that his medical examiner may be shielding some crucial evidence linked to the case.

Medical examiner Dr. Lucy Trask is intrigued by J.D.'s compassion, but she isn't about to mix work with pleasure. Not while there's a ruthless killer on the loose. And definitely not while she's keeping a dark secret that could connect her to these vicious killings - and put her next on the killer's hit list...

My Thoughts: Although there was a lot to unpack, and I mean A LOT, with this one, fans of Karen Rose will enjoy this installment where we are now in Baltimore with new characters, new scenery and a new sadistic monster who is avenging the rape and murder of a young woman many years ago by hunting down the people who witnessed the act, as well as people who had any knowledge of it, but did nothing.

The author pulls out all the stops to bring these characters to life and the explicitly graphic and horrifying details of the murders. Reader, be warned, as this story will test your mettle. I found myself cringing multiple times because this author is so gifted at pulling her readers right into the story, I got a good sense of what the other characters were likely feeling and thinking because I was feeling and thinking it myself. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and, as with earlier installments, these secondary characters will most likely be making an appearance in future books in primary roles.

At the center of this story is Baltimore homicide detective J.D. Fitzpatrick and medical examiner Lucy Trask. The killer has Lucy in his sights as an upcoming victim so in the meantime, he gets his rocks off by terrorizing her. While getting to know Lucy and J.D., the story takes us into Lucy’s past to the town where she grew up and where the rape and murder occurred. Trying to connect all the dots and figure out the identity of the killer proved to be impossible for me as Karen Rose is quite gifted at keeping the reader guessing.

The story moves at a good pace and the chemistry between Lucy and J.D. was sizzling. Both of these characters have tons of baggage in their past and watching them engage with one another while trying to keep their walls up was interesting and seeing the wall start to crumble was fantastic. The killer was a well-written character too. Trying to figure out not only his identity, but his game plan was beyond challenging. He had no qualms about killing innocent bystanders or others not connected to his manifesto and seemed to derive immense pleasure in making it as painful for the victim as he could. If this had been a movie, I would have been hiding underneath a blanket.

My Final Verdict: Fans of romantic suspense, mysteries or thrillers won’t go wrong with this author or this series. Good character development and intriguing plot will hook the reader, leave them breathless and eager for more.

REVIEW: The Breakup Mix by T.K. Carter

Title: The Breakup Mix
Author: T.K. Carter
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: A lot of wine, a little time, and the Breakup Mix CD on repeat cures a multitude of hurts, but I don't know if my broom and dustpan are big enough for the messes we've created. The five of us have been best friends since childhood, our lives have always intertwined, but this time we may have reached a point of no return. Leave it to Alissa to make a snap decision that drags Dani and me with her halfway across the country for the next six months. That girl may have a big heart and more money than God, but this time she's in over her head and sinkin' fast. Even though Dani's marriage is in the toilet, she's flying on Cloud 9 thanks to Alissa, but I'm done. My single toes are in the sand, and I'm trying to forget the existence of my ex -Tony. Marriage-pfft-does he know me at all?

Back at home, Katie's lost in married-and-dutiful land proclaiming to be happy and rarely comes around anymore. But Michelle? She got the life she dreamed of when we were kids but watching the rest of our success over the last twenty years has her wondering if she aimed too low and hit the bullseye. Her marriage to Brandon-the-douchebag inches closer to the breaking point every day and there's nothing any of us can do but wait for the snap.

The Breakup Mix is a story of five women and the decisions they make that tear them apart but connect them forever.

My Thoughts: It’s been an exceptionally long time since I found a book that has pulled me into the story so deeply and completely that I didn’t want it to end. With The Breakup Mix, new to me author T.K. Carter has created a story about friendships weathering everything life throws at us, from careers, marriages, families and the myriad paths all of us walk in life with each decision and choice we make.

This story is told from the different points of view of Chance, Alissa, Dani, Michelle and Katie and I loved how each character’s personality came alive on the page. It gave me a sense that I knew these women and could be friends with them as I cheered their successes and commiserated their losses with each of them. As this story develops, we are given insight into their lives and the issues each of them are struggling with.

The story moves at a wonderful pace with brilliant dialog that had me laughing out loud or being moved to tears from the emotion packed events these women are facing. I loved that these women have been best friends for most of their lives that they are more like sisters than just friends. I knew this story would get me right in the feels as soon as Chance’s pug, Chubs, was introduced. I enjoyed the time I spent with these women so much that I truly hope the author will revisit these characters in a sequel to see how they fare after the events of this story.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy stories that are relationship driven, love to laugh until their sides hurt or sobbing uncontrollably in empathy for these amazing characters will love this story.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Breakup Mix from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Just the Way You Are by Lynsey James

Title: Just the Way You Are
Author: Lynsey James
Publisher: Carina
Publication Date: May 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Dear Ava,
How do you start writing a letter to someone, six years after breaking their heart?

Ava is unlucky in love as well as in life. The new office bitch has landed the dating column Ava wanted, and she can't remember the last time she had a second date. It's a good thing she has best friends Max and Gwen to pick up the pieces.

Deep down, Ava knows the reason why one date never turns into two - she's in love with someone else. Someone she's never even met.

It all started six years ago, with a letter from a secret admirer, Mr. Writer…but then they suddenly stopped and Ava was heartbroken.

Now the letters have started again and Ava knows it could mean winning back the dating column at work. This time she's determined to unmask Mr. Writer...and find out once and for all if he's Mr. Right or Mr. Very Definitely Wrong!

My Thoughts: Highly predictable, but good story about a woman looking for her Mr. Right who is right under her nose. I enjoyed the premise of a secret admirer writing anonymous letters to Ava beginning six years prior. As suddenly as the letters began, they mysteriously stop after she is stood up by the letter writer. Ava has never forgotten him or gotten over what might have been had he shown up.

When the letters begin arriving again, Ava is filled with hope that the outcome will be much different and begins an investigation to determine who the admirer is. So, this story is quite predictable in that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the letter writer is, but the bigger questions of why he didn’t show up six years ago and why he is resuming the letter writing now were significant and needed answering.

With her best friends, Max and Gwen along for moral support, Ava creates a list of potential suspects and begins to meet them to see if they are the one. Ava has a lot of trust and abandonment issues so I was more interested in what would happen once she learned who he was. In addition, Ava is developing a story reuniting a couple who missed their happily ever after fifty years ago, which really appealed to me and left me anticipating the outcome of that more than Ava learning who her admirer is.

The story moved at a decent pace and held my interest for the most part, though I was thoroughly frustrated with Ava for pushing the love of her life away. I understood why she does, but it still annoyed me. Perhaps if Ava had gotten out of her own head sooner, she would see what everyone else could clearly see standing right in front of her.

My Final Verdict: Fans of chick-lit romances as well as stories of second chances will enjoy this book. I recommend this story to all readers who enjoy a happily ever after and don’t mind a bumpy ride getting there.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Just the Way You Are from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin

Title: The Arrangement (The Arrangement #1)
Author: Kiersten Modglin
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Ainsley Greenburg is a fixer.
It’s what she prides herself on.

So, when she realizes her marriage is at its breaking point, she makes a decision to repair it, no matter the cost. Approaching her husband to propose the arrangement is supposed to be the hard part, but Peter agrees to the salacious plan almost immediately.

The rules are simple:
They will each date someone new once a week.
They will never discuss what happens on the dates.

Soon, though, the rules are broken, turning terrible mistakes into unspeakable consequences.

When the only person they can count on to keep their darkest secret is each other, new questions and deceits surface. Can they truly trust the person they share a life with, or will the vicious lies that have mounted over the years destroy everything they’ve built?

Once, Peter and Ainsley vowed to stand together forever, but as they push boundaries of deception, suspicion, and temptation, each begins to wonder if ’til death do us part may come sooner than they’d intended.

My Thoughts: First time reading this author’s work and won’t be my last. I was very intrigued going in and a little taken aback at the logic Ainsley deploys to save her marriage. “Hey, honey, we are going to get on a dating app and see other people.” Wait, what? Not surprising that Peter readily agrees, though he struggles with the idea of Ainsley sleeping with the men she is seeing.

In a nutshell, what we have here is a marriage imploding under the weight of all the lies and secrets flying around. Seems to me that agreeing to start seeing other people to reignite the spark you once felt for one another while keeping what you are doing with these other people a secret has disaster written all over it! But that’s just me, I guess. I prefer to deal openly and honestly with people. Ainsley insists to Peter they have no more secrets and by the end of the book, it appears all (and I mean ALL) of the deep, dark and uglies have reared their heads. We shall see, dear readers, as this is the first book in a series and I am convinced that we have not yet begun to see the depths Ainsley and Peter will sink to in order to save their marriage or keep their actions in this book a secret. Ironic how everything they are doing requires keeping it secret, but Ainsley is adamant that there be no secrets between them. How is that working for you, Miss Ainsley? I think you’re going to be in over your head and things are going to get really ugly for you. I can’t wait to find out!

My Final Verdict: This story is a wild rollercoaster of a ride that requires the reader to hold on tightly with a white-knuckled grip. There are so many twists and turns, one could get whiplash, but the entire experience left me picking my jaw up off the floor. I highly recommend this book to readers who love to be shocked with surprise twists and like a front-row seat into other people’s drama and emotional baggage.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Arrangement from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Husbands by Chandler Baker

Title: The Husbands
Author: Chandler Baker
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network, is back with The Husbands, a novel that asks: to what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband?

Nora Spangler is a successful attorney but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too... but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder?

When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women--a tech CEO, a neurosurgeon, an award-winning therapist, a bestselling author--with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident's wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. She finds the air is different in Dynasty Ranch. The women aren't hanging on by a thread.

But as the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having-it-all. One that's worth killing for. Calling to mind a Stepford Wives gender-swap, The Husbands imagines a world where the burden of the "second shift" is equally shared--and what it may take to get there.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this story about a couple going through the challenges of life, raising a toddler with another one on the way, managing careers and household, while trying to navigate the burden of the roles we have within our marriages and the fair division of labor once our second job as spouses and parents begin. I liked Nora and Hayden and thought they were pretty typical of most couples, but Nora’s resentment about how much she does compared to what her husband does is quite telling. This is a common issue in most households and, if left unchecked, creates most of the arguments between couples.

It doesn’t surprise me that Nora is quite taken with the community of Dynasty Ranch, where she and Hayden are house-hunting. Upon meeting some of the other wives in the neighborhood, Nora is impressed at the careers these women have, while raising children and they all have husbands who bend over backwards to help out!

For me, the story takes on a Stepford Husbands feel when one of the husbands stops to help Nora change a flat tire and appears to be quite distressed that his chores aren’t completed. Nora doesn’t seem to think too much about it and when she and her husband begin seeing one of the residents for couples therapy, she is quite impressed at her husband’s change in manner, attitude and behavior. It doesn’t take long to see where the story is heading, but the getting there was quite interesting and entertaining. The last few chapters of the book were pretty intense and held some surprises for me that I wish had been managed differently, but overall, an enjoyable story.

My Final Verdict: Fans of domestic thrillers and mysteries will enjoy this story and the heightened anticipation of what is coming next will add to the thrills. I recommend the audio version for the dramatic scenes and visualization the story brings.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Husbands from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: What Happens in Tuscany by T.A. Williams

Title: What Happens in Tuscany
Author: T.A. Williams
Publisher: Carina
Publication Date: January 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: From rainy England…

Katie never imagined her life was perfect. But when she finds herself on a rainy street, soaked to the bone and with only a cheating boyfriend and a dead-end job keeping her in town, she knows something has to change. Which is what leads her to Iddlescombe Manor, to be companion to Lady Victoria Chalker-Pyne – the only 25-year-old Katie’s ever met who hasn’t heard of Twitter, thinks camisoles are de rigueur, and desperately needs an education in the 21st century!

…to the Tuscan sun!

But it wouldn’t be an education without a summer holiday – and where better than Tuscany? Decamping to Victoria’s family villa, it’s soon clear that the valley really does have it all: sun, sea…and some seriously gorgeous neighbours. The only question is: when the weather’s this hot, the wine is this smooth and the local men are this irresistible…will Katie ever want to make the journey home?

My Thoughts: First time reading this author and though the story was good, I never felt fully engaged with the characters and events. The constant detailed description of the oppressive heat in Tuscany started to grate on my nerves and pulled me out of the story numerous times. I get it, summer in Tuscany is HOT! Also, the author kept referring to one of the characters constantly by his first AND last name. I found that odd as none of the other characters were addressed in this manner and there was only one character in the story named Paul, so trying to figure out who Paul was and where he fit into the story wasn’t an issue.

I liked Katie and Victoria and though Victoria is painfully naïve and gullible, she has a lot of potential to grow and hold her own. I would be interested to see how she fares upon returning to London to attend college and pursue her law degree.

My Final Verdict: Readers who love stories set in exotic locales, like Tuscany, will probably enjoy this story. I prefer less emphasis on the weather and would rather focus on the interpersonal relationships.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of What Happens in Tuscany from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Zombies Don't Cry by Rusty Fischer

Title: Zombies Don’t Cry (Living Dead Love Story #1)
Author: Rusty Fischer
Publisher: Medallion Press
Publication Date: March 2011
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal / Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Maddy Swift is just a normal girl—a high school junior surviving class with her best friend and hoping the yummy new kid, Stamp, will ask her out. When he finally does, her whole life changes.

Sneaking out to meet Stamp at a party one rainy night, Maddy is struck by lightning. After awakening, she feels lucky to be alive. Over time, however, Maddy realizes that she’s become the thing she and everyone else fear most: the living dead.

With no heartbeat and no breath in her lungs, Maddy must learn how to survive as a zombie. Turns out there’s a lot more to it than shuffling around 24/7 growling, “Brains.” Needing an afterlife makeover is only the beginning of her problems. As Barracuda Bay High faces zombie Armageddon, Maddy must summon all of her strength to protect what matters most—just as soon as she figures out exactly what that is.

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story directed to the teen generation about a normal girl trying to live through puberty and survive high school where several students have died suddenly. After sneaking out to meet the cute new guy at a party, Maddy is struck by lightning and wakes up face down in the mud, only to discover that passing Home Ec is the least of her problems. Maddy is dead and now thanks to electricity and the gaping hole in the top of her head, she’s now a member of the living dead.

Learning how to eat brains and arranging her appearance so normal breathing humans don’t catch on become Maddy’s priority with the help of a couple of students who are also zombies. Maddy learns there are rules and laws in the zombie world that are strictly enforced if she fails to abide by them. She also discovers the existence of evil zombies, known as zerkers, who are hunting her and pretty much everyone she cares about. I’m starting to think my high school experience was a walk in the park compared to Maddy’s.

This story hints at a romance, but that may be explored in more depth in the rest of the series. Personally, I believe Maddy has more than enough on her plate without adding relationship drama to the mix.

This story was engaging and held my interest. As a fan of zombie fiction, I enjoyed the theory that electricity can create and kill zombies and they retain their minds, memories and emotions, but zerkers are bitten and lose pretty much all traces of any humanity they had.

My Final Verdict: A good start to a series that I recommend to fans of zombies, be they teenage or adult. This story had a few surprises towards the end that I wasn’t expecting but found entertaining.

REVIEW: Dog Eat Dog by David Rosenfelt

Title: Dog Eat Dog (Andy Carpenter #23)
Author: David Rosenfelt
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Mystery / Humor
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, work to free a man who risked it all to help a dog in need.

Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, enjoy walking their dogs, Tara and Sebastian. By this point in their marriage, it's routine. When out for one of their strolls, their simple ritual isn't so simple anymore. Across the street, a man is mistreating his dog. Three things happen at once: Andy yells, Laurie runs to stop the abuse, and so does a closer passerby, who so thoroughly beats the owner that both are arrested when the cops arrive.

Andy scoops up the dog and takes him to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that's always been his true passion. Meanwhile, at the police station, the passerby is identified as Matthew Jantzen, and he's wanted for murder. Andy and Laurie are struck by the fact that Jantzen, a man on the run, would nevertheless intervene to help a dog, and decide to find out more.

Dog Eat Dog, the twenty-third installment in the Andy Carpenter series, features the charming cast of characters - old and new - that David Rosenfelt is known for and the dogs that accompany them.

My Thoughts: First time reading this author and I found Dog Eat Dog to be entertaining despite not having read the first twenty-two installments of this series. I liked Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie. They were easy to relate to and I quickly came to care about them and what was happening to them. Additionally, as an audiobook, I loved Grover Gardner’s narration. The ease in which he breathes life into the characters made it easier for me to be pulled into the story.

The story was interesting too. I cannot imagine a man who knows he’s wanted in connection with a double homicide would do anything that would draw attention to himself, but Matthew Jantzen does when he steps up to intervene on behalf of a Pug who is being abused by his owner. There was no way in my mind I could be convinced this guy was guilty of anything other than punching the awful man who was kicking Hunter the Pug.

I really enjoyed that this story centers around animals, particularly dogs, and the author gives many moments of pleasure to the reader by including Tara, Sebastian and Hunter in many of the scenes.

My Final Verdict: Like me, I think any reader would enjoy this story without having to read any of the other installments, but this is a series not to be missed, whether you share your life with four-legged furry friends or not. Fans of mysteries as well as fans of humorous stories will enjoy this book as it delivers both.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Dog Eat Dog from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Veronica and the Vampire by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

Title: Veronica and the Vampire
Author: Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Publisher: Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Publication Date: June 2011
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Veronica Davis is a woman with a desperate need.

If she doesn't bring a date to her big sister's wedding, the L for loser that's imprinted on her forehead will become permanent, as far as her family is concerned. And heck, she's started to believe it, herself.

Why else would a girl end up at a Los Angeles escort agency with the strange acronym V.A.M.P. Inc? Where you pick your date from a row of coffins in the agency's basement. Guys who can't meet you at lunch time, due to the fact that they sleep until sundown.

You know . . . . vampires.

And when she meets the unearthly handsome Christian Dale, the agency's odd acronym begins to take on a whole new meaning. Tackling her sister's wedding actually starts to seem like a piece of cake . . .

My Thoughts: This story was a fun read and I loved the premise of a vampire escort service, but this story left too many loose threads hanging for my liking. I think there was a lot to unpack, especially regarding Charlene and her knowledge of the agency. I also would have enjoyed meeting some of the other vampires, or at least knowing it’s an option with future books.

I felt immense empathy for Veronica, not because she is single and must resort to the undead for a date to her sister’s wedding, but because her family is that horrible that Veronica showing up dateless would be considered unacceptable in their eyes. Personally, she should tell them all where to stick it while turning up the volume on her middle finger.

Of course, no vampire escort agency will have ugly vampires to present to their clients and Christian is swoon worthy in looks and physique. The sexual tension and chemistry between Veronica and Christian is white-hot and I would have voted to skip the wedding entirely and explore that all over the place.

My Final Verdict: Though this was a fast read and I liked this story, I wish it had been a little longer. I recommend this book to fans of paranormal romances, especially those involving vampires.

REVIEW: Once Upon A Royal Summer by Teri Wilson

Title: Once Upon a Royal Summer
Author: Teri Wilson
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Publication Date: June 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A theme park “princess” meets a single dad…who turns out to be a real prince!

Lacey found her dream job: playing a princess character at a popular fairytale theme park in sunny southern Florida. Her diamond tiara might not be real, but the smiles of the children she meets every day certainly are. It’s just too bad that her ex-boyfriend was never impressed with her career choice.

Henry, the crown prince of Bella-Moritz, is trying to fulfill his young daughter’s birthday wish: to be a normal girl with a normal life. That’s why they’re pretending to be ordinary tourists at an American amusement park. Henry lost his wife four years ago, and he’s been going through the motions ever since. But could a meeting with a make-believe princess lead to real love?

This enchanting romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Cucumber Dill Tea Sandwiches.

My Thoughts: Upon first meeting the main character, Lacey Pope, one could experience a toothache with the sugary sweet persona that is Lacey, but you can’t help but like her. She has a heart and soul of gold and is such a kind and caring person. The crown prince of Bella-Moritz is also a kind and caring man raising his daughter after her mother died. He is determined that his daughter, Rose, experience life and all its wonder and glory outside the castle walls.

I enjoyed seeing the bond develop between Lacey and Rose, which created a bond between Lacey and Henry and though this story didn’t contain any white-hot passion escapades, I was completely immersed in the joy of the story and the numerous references to various fairytales.

This story delivers many memorable characters besides Lacey, Henry and Rose. I enjoyed the camaraderie Henry has with his security officer, Ian, Lacey’s friendship with Ava who accompanies her to Bella-Moritz and appears to be having a romance of her own with Ian. I would love to revisit these characters to see what happens there. I absolutely loved the bond that Lacey and Henry’s mother develop over Lacey’s ballgown crisis.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers looking for a sweet romance that confirms fairy tales do come true.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Once Upon a Royal Summer from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.