Review: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

 

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: June 17th 2025 by MIRA & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 400

Audiobook Length: 12hrs 4mins

Narrator: Vanessa Johansson

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Libro.fm | Audible | Books A Million  Bookshop.org

My Thoughts:

Mia Crawford is on what most would consider a dream vacation in the Caribbean. Mia as a careful planner, wouldn’t have splurged on such an extravagance if her work didn’t insist.  Even so, she slowly unwinds and can’t help but soak in all the beauty, even with the news of a missing guest. Mia also can’t help but be drawn to the sweet and sexy bartender, Jason.

 

Things get interesting when she borrows a book for a beach read and finds notations about all the guests written in some kind of code. She starts to suspect that the notes are tied to the missing woman. Curiosity sparked, Mia starts asking questions about the missing woman, ruffling feathers in the process.

 

I enjoyed Mia’s friendship with eighteen-year-old Brie, a sort of sidekick in her mystery solving. In addition to finding out what happened to Diana, they teamed up to expose the gold-digging girlfriend of Brie’s father and I was really invested in their success. The girlfriend was awful! Mia had a methodical way of approaching the investigation I appreciated.

 

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds was a fun and engrossing cozy mystery and romance! Mia’s romance with Jason gave her a fresh perspective on life, inspiring her to live with more gusto rather than always playing it safe. While the romance wasn’t front and center, it was spicy and just the right amount, IMO.

 

I alternately read and listened to Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds and can recommend either version. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Vanessa Johansson’s narration in the past and I thought she performed all voices, male and female wonderfully!

4 Stars

Book Description:

In this sun-dappled mystery from New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan, a risk-averse bibliophile gets in over her head when strange notes in a book draw her into a real-life investigation.

Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.

Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this real-life mystery before she becomes the next target. 

Photo Credit: Brittan Dodd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ALLISON BRENNAN is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of over forty novels. She lives in Arizona with her husband, five kids and assorted pets.

Connect with Allison Brennan:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top Ten Tuesday & TMST: Books on My Summer 2025 Reading List

 

This week I'm combining two weekly Tuesday memes:

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Reader where each week they post a new top ten list and ask fellow bookish folk to share their lists on that topic.

This week the theme is: Books on My Summer 2025 to-Read List:

I read all the books from my Spring 2025 TBR, so yay! 

Most on my list here will be releasing over the summer, but two are ones that have already released: The Widowmaker (Black Harbor #2) by Hannay Morrissey released in 2022 and One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews released in 2016, a re-read for a read-along hosted by Anne @Books of My Heart. I'm excited for each and every one of them!

Hunter's Heart Ridge (Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery #2) by Sarah Stewart Taylor (8/5/25)

The Blue Horse (Porter Beck #2) by Bruce Borgos (7/8/25)

Atonement Sky (Psy-Changeling Trinity #9) by Nalini Singh (7/15/25)

A Silence in Belgrave Square (A Below Stairs Mystery #8) by Jennifer Ashley (8/12/25)

The Dead Come to Stay (Ardemore House #2) by Brandy Schillace (8/5/25)

A Moment's Shadow (Verity Kent #8) by Anna Lee Huber (8/26/25)

A Tarnished Canvas (Lady Darby #13) by Anna Lee Huber (6/24/25)

One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #3) by Ilona Andrews (12/20/16)

The Widowmaker (Black Harbor #2) by Hannah Morrissey (12/6/22)

Rage (Kate Burkholder #17) by Linda Castillo (7/8/25)

And now for Tell Me Something Tuesday:

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. For info on TMST click HERE.

This week's topic:

How do you choose what to read next?

I make a list for each month where I note all the ARCs due and I try and keep up with that. I also try to squeeze in whatever library lends become available in between. I try not to accept/request too many ARCs so that I can read what I want, when I want. I do pretty well with not requesting books, however invites are harder to resist, but still, I'm pretty restrained for the most part.

What's on your Summer 2025 TBR and How do you choose what to read next?

Sunday Post #297

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Well, things this last week didn't go exactly as planned. We drove down to Southern California on Thursday intending to stay with our son and attend a funeral. However, ten minutes before we got to my son's house he called because the whole family, his wife and two little ones had a nasty case of the flu so we may not want to stay there. They originally thought his wife had food poisoning and delayed their flight back from Montana (they were at my daughter's) to Thursday morning, but my son became violently ill soon after getting home.

I felt so bad for them, but at the same time didn't want to get whatever they had so we continued on to the area where the funeral was going to happen (Orange County area) and got a hotel. We ended up only going to the funeral service and skipped the celebration of life after because it was three hours after the service and we would've either had to spend the night again or drive through the night to get home. The service turned out well.

We got home late last night and slept in today. I did some gardening, laundry, cleaning and went on a walk. 

Here's some pictures from my garden and walk:

My Astilbe has come back nicely. Love this hardy perennial!

Panicle Hydrangea. I'll be chopping off the top part as soon as the flowering is over.

Wild sweet pea on my walk

Latest puzzle: Bees and Honey by 123 Farms

Starla and Smokey tuckered out. Stalking and hunting is so tiring.

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads description)

Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews-4.5 Stars

Hello, Transcriber (Black Harbor #1) by Hannah Morrissey-4.5 Stars

The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak-4 Stars

I had a pretty good reading week even though I didn't read as much as I hoped to. We listened to Hello, Transcriber at home and on our drive and started and finished Sweep in Peace. Loved both! I hope to start The Widowmaker, next in the Black Harbor series soon, but we'll see with review books.

Received/Invites:

I've grabbed up the audio of Everything's Coming Up Rosie because I've enjoyed Walsh in the past. Them Bones and Asylum Hotel are invites. Has anyone read these two authors? I'm deciding whether to read them or not.

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How was your week?

Review: The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak

 

The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak

Publication Date: June 3rd 2025 by MIRA & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 368

Audio Length: 10hrs 39min

Narrator: Courtney Patterson

Source: Publisher 
Rating: ★★★★
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Fifteen years ago, Lucy Sinclair’s father was convicted of murdering three people in the small town of North Hampton Beach, Virginia. At just seventeen, with no other family, she was left to fend for herself. Lucy weathered some tough times but got through it and made something of herself. Now all these years later Lucy’s ready to go back to answer some nagging doubts she had about one of the murders.  She doesn’t count on running into Ford, the man who abandoned her and broke her heart, but he’s also back in town taking a summer break from his own problems.

 

Lucy gets flak from the townsfolk right away when they find out why she’s there, but there are also ones who’ve questioned the past, as well. While we find out what’s behind one of the mysteries pretty early on, some of it doesn’t come all the way out until the end. I had my suspicions.

The Summer That Changed Everything was part romance, part mystery and a messy situation on several levels. Messy is usually something I avoid because I’m not a big fan of angst, but somehow Ms. Novak writes it in such a way that it doesn't come off as angsty.  Once I started, I knew I’d have to read/listen to it all the way through! It wasn’t a story I’d have an easy time setting aside to continue later. I was riveted and had to know how it’d all turn out! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m still thinking about it!

I alternately read and listened to The Summer That Changed Everything. I thought Courtney Patterson performed all voices, males and female wonderfully with appropriate emotion, bringing the characters and story to life. 

4 Stars

Book Description:

She returned to prove her father's innocence, but there's no telling what she'll find…

It's been fifteen years since Lucy Sinclair saw her father. Fifteen long years since she sat in a courtroom and watched him sentenced to life in prison. He murdered three victims—all people she knew—which ruined her life at just seventeen. But now she’s back in Virginia to talk to him, wondering if there’s more to the story of what happened that fateful night.

An old flame, Ford Wagner, makes his own return to North Hampton Beach, fleeing a marriage that seems destined for divorce. He’s wary of Lucy and her digging into the past, but the more time they spend together, the closer they get and the more he finds himself reconsidering the truth behind the death of their mutual friend that summer. Problem is, there are plenty of those in this small coastal town who would prefer things stay quiet…

 

Sunday Post #296

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday! 

I had to work yesterday which has thrown me off. Today feels like Saturday which makes Monday coming tomorrow feel unfair. I work tomorrow and Wednesday and we head down south for the funeral of the friend I mentioned a few weeks ago who died suddenly from complications after they removed a brain tumor. We'll stay with our son and get to visit with them and the grandkids, so some happy to balance out the sad. 

Nothing exciting to report here. We were home this week and it's been feeling like summer. Mid to high 80s. My veggies (tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumber and peppers) are starting to form. We've put up a shade cloth over the cucumber and tomatoes after realizing the heat and full sun stunted their growth last year and they seem to be doing much better. The snapdragon I planted last year survived the snow and is thriving this year! 

Snapdragons from the garden

My husband and I went to Trader Joes, which is about 35 minutes from our house, and then a place called High Hand Nursery/Cafe/Brewery for lunch. The nursery was beautiful with a wide variety of plants and trees for sale and they also had some shops. I bought a puzzle, of course!

High Hand Brewery in Loomis, CA

High Hand nursery

This weeks puzzle: National Parks by Cavallini & Co.

We've begun sorting our Italy trip in November and have been watching some Rick Steves on PBS touring Rome.

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads listing)

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle-4 Stars

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon-3 Stars

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson-3.5 Stars

I didn't get as much reading done as I hoped and I think part of that was because I was struggling with What Happens in Amsterdam and The Busybody Book Club. I had trouble with both female leads for different reasons. 

Purchased:

Cover Your Eyes was part of the Audible Plus catalog and the rest I bought the Audible sale which ends tonight. The Mary Burtons were like $3 a piece. Normally I can get Mary Burton through Kindle Unlimited as a "read and listen" but these weren't available through that or my library. I enjoy her mysteries. I've read the all the books in Blount's Johns Mill Amish series except for the first one and the audio wasn't offered at my library either. They're romances with some danger and suspense and I loved the other stories.

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Review: It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle

 

It Takes a Psychic (Harmony #17) by Jayne Castle

Publication Date: June 3rd 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 320

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

It Takes a Psychic takes place in Jayne Castle’s fun, futuristic world of Harmony. People came from Earth after interstellar travel opened up, and those who colonized ended up with paranormal abilities awakened by the planet’s energy.

 

Ms. Castle does a fantastic job introducing and explaining the world of Harmony at the beginning so even though this is book seventeen in a series it works well as a standalone.

 

Leona Griffin is called into an elite event to authenticate alien artifacts but is amazed to discover she feels a connection to one of the items, Pandora’s Box. It could unlock information about her and her sister’s psychic abilities.  The event takes a dangerous turn and is helped to flee by Oliver Rancourt, a man interested in that particular Object of Power. In their escape they stumble upon a dead body.

 

Their investigation into the history of Pandora’s Box leads them to the town of Lost Creek, a place full of followers of the missing cult leader Vincent Lee Vance.

 

Both Oliver and Leona have paranormal abilities they use to help solve the mystery. Teaming up brings them closer, and they can’t help but act on the immediate attraction they felt upon meeting. This is a low angst romance, with the majority of the conflict coming from the mystery and danger they encounter in their investigations.

 

One of my favorite parts about the series is the dust bunnies! Leona gets attached to Roxy when she helps her in the beginning. These dust bunnies can go from “full on adorable mode” to “sleeked out” attack mode in the blink of an eye. Roxy “the licensed emotional support dust bunny” cracked me up always ready to defend or up for an adventure! Never ask “What could go wrong?” when a dust bunny is involved!

 

This was a fun combination of mystery, romance, humor, sci-fi with paranormal elements mixed in. 

4 Stars

Book Description:

Two unlikely allies search for the secrets of their pasts while on the run within the Alien world of Harmony in the thrilling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle.

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

Photo credit: Marc von Borstel

About the Author

Jayne Castle, the author of People in Glass Houses, Sweetwater and the Witch, Guild Boss, Illusion Town, Siren's Call, The Hot Zone, Deception Cove, and more, is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick.