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.

REVIEW: The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

Title: The One That Got Away
Author: Bethany Chase
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: March 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, this bright, funny debut from a fresh voice in fiction offers a delicious take on love, family, and what it means to build a home of one’s own.

Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer — and former flame — Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices — and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life — and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.

My Thoughts: Thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story about a woman who gets the answer to that “what if” question when a former flame reappears in her life years after he abruptly departed from her life.

I was prepared to dislike Eamon but I just couldn’t. He has a great vibe about him and though he broke Sarina’s heart, I knew he wasn’t a creep. Sarina comes off very wishy-washy regarding her feelings for Eamon and I struggled a little bit with the fact she is in a relationship of four years with Noah and needed to address that long before she does. I didn’t think Noah was a bad guy either, but just not right for Sarina. I also resented his parents interfering with life plans and goals for Sarina. I would not have been as polite or patient as Sarina, however, especially when Noah does not defend her choice to work after marriage and childbirth. So, yes, I was not a fan of the Noah / Sarina relationship and felt it had run its course long before this story begins.

The author’s voice, style and humor drew me into the story so completely, I felt like I knew these characters personally and would love spending time with them at Danny’s bar or hanging out on Sarina’s couch with her cat, Newman. I will be looking for more of this author’s work and would love to revisit these characters in a sequel.

My Final Verdict: Readers who are suckers for romance and fun will enjoy this feel-good story that will leave them with plenty of smiles.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The One That Got Away from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Therapist by B.A. Paris

Title: The Therapist
Author: B.A. Paris
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The multimillion-copy New York Times bestselling author B.A. Paris returns to her heartland of gripping psychological suspense in The Therapist--a powerful tale of a house that holds a shocking secret.

When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they’ve dreamed of. But appearances can be deceptive…

As Alice is getting to know her neighbors, she discovers a devastating secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before.

Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbors are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…

My Thoughts: Can you imagine taking that big leap of faith, move into a new home with your boyfriend / girlfriend only to discover that a brutal murder had been committed there and your loved one not only knew about it but kept it from you? Worse yet, the apparent murderer was possibly innocent, which means the real murderer is still out there.

Welcome to Alice’s world. After moving into an exclusive gated community with her boyfriend, Leo, things appear to be as they should. To get to know her neighbors, she hosts a cocktail reception and notices a stranger there that nobody else recalls seeing. When the stranger appears on her doorstep with the shocking news that a brutal unsolved murder occurred in her home, Alice is devastated and when she further discovers that Leo not only knew about it, but kept it from her, she doesn’t feel like she can stay. The stranger tells her he is a private investigator hired by the family of the victim’s husband to investigate the matter and clear his name. When Alice decides to assist the P.I. with his inquiry, she is shocked at the sense of secrecy amongst her neighbors. What are they hiding?

I was quickly and easily pulled into this story and eager to discover what people were hiding. Alice appears to be consumed and obsessed with the former resident, Nina and upon learning Nina is also the name of Alice’s sister who died tragically, I completely understood and could empathize with her situation.

My Spidey-sense kept tingling and I had a major distrust of practically every character in the story, including Leo and Thomas, the private investigator. I trusted nobody. I also struggled with understanding why Alice continued to stay, especially after she noticed things out of place inside the house. She suspects someone is coming into the house. In her place, I would like to think that I would beat feet out of there.

My Final Verdict: The story is a little slow in the build-up, but quickly escalates and provides a heart pounding conclusion that I didn’t see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and recommend it to fans of domestic thrillers and mysteries who like the suspense and aren’t afraid to go into a room without turning on the lights.

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

REVIEW: Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox

Title: Mutts and Mistletoe
Author: Natalie Cox
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: October 2018
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Thirty-one-year-old Charlie isn't in the mood for Christmas cheer...

Her boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, her mother has absconded with her latest husband for the holidays, and--adding insult to (literal) injury--her London apartment has just been destroyed by a gas leak. Single, mildly concussed and temporarily homeless, Charlie realizes there's only one place to go: Cozy Canine Cottages, where she'll spend the season looking after her cousin Jez's doggy day care center. And if she's not exactly a dog person, well, no one has to know...

But her plans for a quiet Christmas in a quaint country village are quickly dashed. Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane seem determined to keep her up all night. A strange man has been casing her cousin's house. And where is Cal, the unbearably patronizing but disturbingly handsome local vet, when she needs him?

As the days tick down to Christmas, Charlie's life has never felt so out of control--but with some help from her new four-legged friends, she just might learn a thing or two about living in the moment, embracing the unexpected and opening herself up to love...

My Thoughts: Mutts and Mistletoe by new to me author Natalie Cox is an enjoyable story about a woman who finds herself running her cousin’s doggie day care and boarding facility after her apartment is destroyed by a gas leak and her cousin goes on holiday to the North Pole. She isn’t a dog person so this proves to be quite an interesting and entertaining prospect and it appears she is in way over her head throughout most of the book. Add to that the enigmatic vet, Cal who may or may not be a romantic interest but has great forearms, when he isn’t being an insufferable boor, however.

I enjoyed these characters and found them easy to relate to and thought Charlie to be quite a brave young woman, whether she’s trying to rein in two sled dog Huskies or serving as midwife to a very pregnant Beagle.

The romance doesn’t become part of the story until nearly the end, though there is a quasi-romance building between Malcolm, a lovesick Great Dane and Peggy, a pregnant Beagle. Instead, the most entertaining moments are Charlie’s daily routine of trying to manage six dogs, two alpacas, a dog napper and a partridge in a pear tree.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this book to readers who are looking for a sweet story to curl up with on a winter’s night.

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

REVIEW: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Title: The Maidens
Author: Alex Michaelides
Publisher: Celadon Books
Publication Date: June 2021
Genre: General Fiction / Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.

Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge.

Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?

When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life.

My Thoughts: The Maidens is the second book from this talented author, though it should be a prequel to his first novel as references to the first novel are made, but the timeline occurs prior to the events of the first novel. This is very much a stand-alone story but hopefully will incite an interest to the reader for the first book. Once again, the author crafts a very twisty novel that takes the reader into some very dark places that, once illuminated, reveal some surprises that I was not expecting.

Mariana is the main protagonist of this story. Grieving the death of her husband the year before, she tries to stay busy as a group therapist. I found it interesting that her vocation was a therapist, helping others deal with their issues, but not dealing with her own. When Mariana is contacted by her niece, Zoe, about a murder at the university she attends, Mariana heads to Cambridge and finds herself right in the middle of the investigation when Zoe advises that the victim related to her that one of their professors threatened to kill her.

Frankly, I was surprised at how quickly Mariana accepted that Edward Fosca was the murderer when there were several viable suspects to my way of thinking. I thought Edward Fosca was a complex character and not hero material, but I figured he was a red herring and having him turn out to be the killer would be too obvious. I thought Mariana’s therapist training would prompt her to look deeper below the surface, but she spends most of the book adamantly, almost rabidly, trying to prove to the investigators that he’s the culprit. I was more suspicious of the other girls in Fosca’s student group, The Maidens. It had a cult-like feeling about the way they appeared to idolize and worship him.

I was also very suspicious of Fred, a young man that Mariana meets and who appears to be everywhere she is. At first glance, he comes across as an admirer of Mariana’s who is determined to start a relationship, but then I started wondering if he might be the mysterious man whose dark thoughts about his upbringing and complicated relationship with his parents are provided to the reader in short increments. Who is this man? Fred? Edward Fosca? The anticipation the author creates as the book progresses is palpable.

My Final Verdict: I really enjoyed this story but not as much as the first book by this author. I think it’s perhaps due to Mariana’s relentless pursuit of Edward Fosca’s guilt. Her perception was clouded through most of the story, which made her an unreliable character. I think readers will enjoy this story for the suspense and when all was revealed, I wanted more.

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

REVIEW: Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost

Title: Slashing Through the Snow (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #3)
Author: Jacqueline Frost
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: October 2021
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Cozy Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Maine innkeeper Holly White returns to sleuth another seasonal slaying in the third Christmas Tree Farm mystery from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business, and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. Even better, Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, Evan Gray, has deputized his little sister Libby to help Holly wrap presents for Mistletoe's toy drive. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in: Karen, a vicious B&B critic, who could make or break the new inn. And the short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Karen's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box.

The suspect list is longer than Santa's naughty list, and local resident Cookie is on it, since her fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she gave to Holly. So is Libby, who recently moved to town from Boston in less-than-savory circumstances. But cranky Karen was an oh-holy-nightmare to lots of the townsfolk, such as Evan's reporter friend Ray; Christopher, the inn's former contractor; and confectioner Bonnie, whose Gum Drop Shop was a direct target of Karen's scathing prose.

To figure out the killer's identity and clear Cookie's name, Holly and her friends brainstorm at The Hearth, the farm's café, while her mother keeps them fueled with Christmas goodies fresh from the oven. But if they can't put the culprit on ice, Holly may never see another Christmas.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this installment of the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series and feel it was a good addition to my holiday reading. As with the residents of Mistletoe, I love this little community and once again another murder happens at Christmas time which should put a serious damper on the festivities. Despite this being the third year in a row that a murder happens that also finds Holly White right in the middle of the investigation, the holiday festivities continue.

This time around, Holly’s friend Cookie is the suspect and with her fingerprints on the weapon, Holly and her friends are desperate to figure out who the real culprit is. As with the other books, I felt annoyed that Holly puts herself in situations that draw the killer’s attention to her, but unlike Evan, I knew she would insert herself into the investigation and wouldn’t listen to anyone telling her to let the authorities manage it.

As frustrating as it is seeing Holly put herself in danger, I have to say that for the third year running, the crime appears to be solved in large part due to her involvement. Evan is an excellent police officer, but he probably should just involve Holly at the onset of the investigation to avoid having to worry she is up to her neck in trouble as a result of keeping her out of it. I suppose hoping Holly comes to her senses and leaves the crime solving to Evan would mean the end of this series, so I will hope she and Evan keep their channels of communication open and she tries to stay in the background. I would miss the hot chocolate and snickerdoodles at The Hearth if it all went away.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this book and the whole series to fans of cozy mysteries as well as readers looking to add a little warmth and cheer to their holiday.

REVIEW: Christmas at Frozen Falls by Kiley Dunbar

Title: Christmas at Frozen Falls
Author: Kiley Dunbar
Publisher: Hera
Publication Date: September 2019
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Sylvie Magnusson is going to be lonely this Christmas. Instead of jetting off for her honeymoon, she’s freezing at home in Cheshire. Guess that’s what happens when your fiancé dumps you a week before your wedding…

Sylvie’s best friend, Nari, plans a trip to see the Northern Lights and get Sylvie’s mojo back. But as their Lapland getaway approaches, Sylvie realizes that Frozen Falls is the hometown of Stellan Virtanen, her dreamy Finnish ex-boyfriend, the one that got away.

When they meet, Stellan’s still gorgeous – and her heart is warmed when he shows her the romantic delights of Lapland (as well as some adorable Husky puppies). But when she returns to England, can she really leave Stellan behind? Or will she find that her heart belongs in the frozen North?

My Thoughts: This book gets top marks from me for the locale and the interesting research the author did on the history and customs of the area, but the story fell flat for me. There was little to no chemistry between Sylvie and Stellan and when she finds out the reason he left her and broke her heart back in college, I was quite annoyed.

Additionally, the secondary romance between Nari and Niilo, though cute and charming, had no place here and would have been better as its own story. The back and forth between the two couples got to be very distracting. The narrator’s accents for Stellan and Niilo didn’t work for me either. Stellan’s dialogue sounded stilted and forced and it pulled me out of the story numerous times. In hindsight, I would recommend the printed version over the audio version.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy a story with a beautifully detailed and researched locale will enjoy this trip to Lapland, but readers looking for a magical Christmas romance may want to look elsewhere.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Christmas at Frozen Falls from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Christmas Wish by Tilly Tennant

Title: The Christmas Wish 

Author: Tilly Tennant
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: October 2018
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Lose yourself in this beautiful romantic comedy set in a land of sleigh rides, sparkling starry skies and gingerbread cottages. Perfect for fans of Karen Swan, Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell.

Christmas is coming but it doesn’t feel that way for Esme Greenwood. Recently jilted by her cheating fiancé Warren, she’s had enough of London life and escapes to Thimble Cottage in the Peak District, home of her beloved grandmother Matilda.

While Esme mourns for the wedding she’ll never have, Matilda puts her granddaughter back together again with comforting words and generous helpings of fruitcake and together, they plan the trip of a lifetime, to Lapland to see the northern lights, somewhere Matilda has always dreamt of going.

But tragedy strikes and when Matilda dies, Esme screws up the courage to go on the trip on her own to honor her beloved grandmother’s wishes. At the airport she meets a motley crew of characters including Zach, a handsome, brooding, out-of- work actor and together they set off for an adventure.

Beneath the indigo skies of Lapland, Esme and Zach grow closer. But when Esme is bombarded by messages from Warren promising he’s changed and she discovers that Zach is hiding something very significant - will her head be turned? And when a trip to the northern lights reveals the full extent of Zach’s own secret past, is there any hope that Esme will get the happy ending that her grandmother wished for her?

My Thoughts: With The Christmas Wish, readers are taken on a holiday adventure to the Northern Lights and Lapland with a young woman who is honoring her late grandmother’s wish by taking the trip they were meant to take together. I liked Esme and thought she was brave and courageous to go on the trip, knowing it would be difficult not having her grandmother to share it with. I also enjoyed that she finally sees her ex for the creep he is and takes her power back for a change.

I enjoyed meeting the other travelers in Esme’s group and liked the chemistry building between her and Zach as well as some very humorous moments with Hortense, who was equally annoying and fun.

The landscape of Lapland really resonated with me and I commend the author for the excellent job she did of bringing it to life on the page. I got a real sense of the sights, scents and sounds through Esme’s eyes and found it to be quite magical.

My Final Verdict: I found this book to be a good choice for my Christmas holiday reading and recommend it to readers who are looking for happy conclusions and enjoy an adventure when it comes calling.

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

REVIEW: The Best Worst Christmas by Kate Forster

Title: The Best Worst Christmas
Author: Kate Forster
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: December 2021
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Lily is back from Australia for the first time in seven years to spend Christmas at her mum’s house in a small, gossipy English village. To her surprise, she returns to find that her mother is dating the man next door, who also happens to be the father of her ex-boyfriend Tom. Tom, who broke Lily’s heart all those years ago. Tom, the real reason Lily fled to the other side of the world and stayed there. Tom, who is also home for Christmas and right there, next door.

In what is shaping up to be the worst Christmas ever, somehow Lily and Tom have to try to get along and play happy families but living with the man who she is clearly not over is proving to be difficult, and tensions are high. Add in some drunken caroling, a reindeer bite, a potent Christmas pudding and some meddling parents and Lily’s trip home will turn her entire life upside down.

My Thoughts: A cute story sprinkled with charm and Christmas cheer about forgiveness of self and others and second chances. Lily is going home to England for Christmas for the first time since her broken heart drove her across the world to Australia. To her utter shock and confusion, her mother is dating and living with the man from next door, who also happens to be the father of Tom, her ex-boyfriend and the reason for her broken heart. Oh, and by the way, the ex-boyfriend is also home for Christmas and is next door and surprise! Lilly must bunk next door under the same roof as Tom. I figured this would have a happy conclusion or would turn into a bloodbath, as the tension was so sharp between these two, I was sure someone would be bleeding before too long.

This story had so many unexpected twists that I enjoyed as well as some heart-wrenching ones that reminded me that strong manly men can be vulnerable and that’s absolutely acceptable. This was a short story but is packed full of interesting characters and goings on that it felt longer. The characters were likable and easy to relate to. I was in high anticipation as to whether Lily would stay and sort out this mess with Tom or take off back to Australia.

My Final Verdict: Readers looking to add some festive cheer to their Christmas will enjoy this story, with or without the fruitcake.

REVIEW: Scrooged by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Title: Scrooged
Author: Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
Publisher: Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
Publication Date: December 2019
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Sexy Scrooge
The Last thing I needed was to share an Uber with Scrooge - a cocky lawyer on a snowy Christmas Eve. It was bad enough I was on my way to court for the gift of eviction.

Although maybe today wouldn't turn out so bad after all.

The Sexy Scrooge and I started to connect as we trudged our way through a storm. Our ride was about to end. But would I ever see him again?

The Merry Mistake
Note to self: Ask Santa for glasses this year. When I accidentally mistook a gorgeous man resting outside my building for a homeless person in need of a lunch, we got into it. I'd only been trying to do a good deed around the holidays, but he called me righteous. I called him something far worse. If only I didn't have to see him again. But fate had other plans.

Kissmas In New York
It was just supposed to be a simple kiss with a stranger. I'd done it to prove a point - that I hadn't lost my sense of adventure. But you know what they about the best laid plans. Maybe I'd get something in my stocking after all this holiday season. . .

My Thoughts: When I am looking for a Christmas themed title that offers up a fun story, I know I don’t have to look further than Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. With Scrooged, the reader gets three short, festive, flirty and fun stories. I noticed that a common thread of mistaken identity was apparent in each story, but I thoroughly enjoyed each one and it’s impossible to pick a favorite.

My Final Verdict: Each story contained likable characters and lots of witty banter and some very funny situations all set in a Christmas backdrop. I highly recommend this story to readers who like their holiday reading to be fun and tickles the funny bone. This is such a short read that the marshmallows in your hot chocolate won’t have had a chance to melt before finishing this book.

REVIEW: The Magic of Christmas Tree Farm by Erin Green

Title: The Magic of Christmas Tree Farm
Author: Erin Green
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: September 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction / Christmas Holiday
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: The scent of pine fills the crisp air as local villagers select their perfect tree. Picking the tree is the easy bit, creating a perfect Christmas is a bit trickier...

Nina has the most magical job in the world, matching customers with their perfect Christmas tree. Working at Christmas Tree Farm is always fun and full of laughter but the weight of past tragedy bears down on her. Her admirer is a great distraction, but is he the right man for her?

Holly is just trying to be a normal teenager, having to deal with the mean girls in her class. But then the most handsome boy at school takes an interest in her. Have all her Christmases come at once?

Angie is trying to bring her family together and save her broken marriage. It's not something she can force, but it's the only gift she craves. Will her Christmas wish come true?

It's the season of goodwill, and at Christmas Tree Farm anything could happen...

My Thoughts: An incredibly delightful story that really illustrates the spirit of the holiday season. This story centers on three primary characters, all different and not really connected to one another except through the Christmas Tree Farm. Nina works at the farm but would rather skip Christmas and all the festivities as she is mourning the death of her father the year before. Holly is embarking on her first relationship with the most wonderful boy from school. Angie is trying to rebuild her family after she and her husband divorced, but she must get through to her son who isn’t so eager to trust her after she left.

Each story is separate but they all connect to one another as more is revealed. Throw in a winter wedding at the farm and teenagers trespassing and damaging property and I could not put this book down. I found all the characters easy to relate to and cared about what was happening to them and what would happen. This book has a definite Love, Actually quality about it as the connections between the characters are made clear. I liked all the characters, but Nina was my favorite and I was on pins and needles alongside her as she sorted out who her admirer was.

My Final Verdict: All things are possible at Christmas and this story highlights that nobody is immune to The Magic of Christmas Tree Farm. I highly recommend this book with a hot chocolatey beverage and fuzzy blanket.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Magic of Christmas Tree Farm from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Honey-Don’t List
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: March 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripp’s are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripp’s and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripp’s up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

My Thoughts: Good story about people who work under less-than-ideal conditions, making the best of it and managing to keep their sanity and find love. Working for America’s favorite couple isn’t easy under the best circumstances but trying to keep your employers on their best behavior while on a book and television show tour proves to be more than it should be. Melissa and Rusty Tripp used to be the ideal couple. Starting out their home design concept with a single store, they have been married for a long time. Unfortunately, it’s all a façade as they can’t stand each other. Excessive drinking and Rusty’s infidelity could bring their house of cards tumbling down and cause them public embarrassment and ruin everything they have worked toward.

As assistants to the Tripp’s, Carey and James are put in the awkward position of getting their employers to play nice and behave in public. They both need their jobs so they try to make the best of it. I kept thinking throughout this book that no job is worth this nonsense. The Tripp’s give a whole new meaning to dysfunctional relationships and even take it to new levels, but really, enough is enough! Life is short and I was surprised Carey and James put up with it for as long as they did.

I enjoyed this story though much of it felt like a train wreck that you just can’t walk away from. I think, like Carey, I hung on, hoping things would get better. I started wondering if the Tripp’s enjoyed the attention and didn’t care about any repercussions their bad behavior would bring. I enjoyed the blossoming romance between Carey and James and felt they were good together.

The character development overall was good and I had a lot of empathy for Carey and James due to the situation they were forced to participate in. Surprisingly, I also had empathy for Melissa and Rusty. They were probably great together at one time, but over the years, they lost their way and by the end of the book, I still was on the fence if they should even try to make their marriage work or cut and run. The story moved at a good pace, leaving the reader in anticipation of what was going to happen next and if Carey and James had scouted out the locations of the nearest exits.

My Final Verdict: Overall, an enjoyable book for fans of contemporary romances and women’s fiction. This author has many books that also look interesting and will likely end up on my to be read pile in the future.

REVIEW: The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer

Title: The Perfect Daughter
Author: D.J. Palmer
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: April 2021
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The Perfect Daughter is a thriller that explores the truth or lies behind a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder, from D.J. Palmer, the author of The New Husband.

Grace never dreamt she’d visit her teenaged daughter Penny in the locked ward of a decaying state psychiatric hospital, charged with the murder of a stranger. There was not much question of her daughter’s guilt. Police had her fingerprints on the murder weapon and the victim’s blood on her body and clothes. But they didn’t have a motive.

Grace blames herself, because that’s what mothers do—they look at their choices and wonder, what if? But hindsight offers little more than the chance for regret.

None of this was conceivable the day Penny came into her life. Then, it seemed like a miracle. Penny was found abandoned, with a mysterious past, and it felt like fate brought Penny to her, and her husband Arthur. But as she grew, Penny's actions grew more disturbing, and different "personalities" emerged.

Arthur and Grace took Penny to different psychiatrists, many of whom believed she was putting on a show to help manage her trauma. But Grace didn’t buy it. The personas were too real, too consistent. It had to be a severe multiple personality disorder. One determined psychiatrist, Dr. Mitch McHugh, helped discover someone new inside Penny—a young girl named Abigail. Is this the nameless girl who was abandoned in the park years ago? Mitch thinks Abigail is the key to Penny’s past and to the murder. But as Grace and Mitch dig deeper, they uncover dark and shocking secrets that put all their lives in grave danger.

My Thoughts: This story grabbed me and pulled me in right away and I couldn’t put this one down. The author did an excellent job of illustrating this family and what they are going through, not just with Penny’s dissociative identity disorder and her treatment, but the murder and the ensuing trial. The author researched his subject matter very well and presented it in an open and honest fashion, enabling the reader to make their own conclusions without any preconceived ideas.

This story is told from two points of view, one from Grace and one from one of her sons. I found this interesting because, although they both wanted the best outcome for Penny, their perceptions were coming from different directions, which gave a lot of insight to the characters. I had immense empathy for this family and what they were going through. I also enjoyed the side story involving Dr. McHugh’s struggle to help his son with his addiction. His determination to help Penny was admirable.

The pace of the story moves very quickly and held my interest throughout the story. I never doubted Penny’s guilt, but this book had several moments that took me by surprise and had me rethinking everything I thought I knew.

My Final Verdict: I’ve never read this author before and will be looking for more. Fans of suspense thrillers who enjoy intricate stories that weave a web around the reader, making it difficult to separate reality from fantasy will enjoy this story.

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