Audiobook Review: The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

 

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

Publication Date: September 16th 2025 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 31min

Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour star in a modern film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Off camera, however, sparks fly for all the wrong reasons. Tess, known for her Teen Choice Award nominations, clashes with Hugh, a serious, brooding, BAFTA-nominated actor. Their on-set arguments take a fantastical turn when a lightning strike transports them back in time to Jane Austen’s era. Suddenly, they must rely on each other to navigate this unfamiliar world. Luckily, both bring unique insights: Tess, a lifelong Austen fan thanks to her mother’s influence, knows the customs and quirks of the period from countless rereads and film viewings. Hugh, meanwhile, has studied the era extensively, tracing it through his ancestral roots.

 
Initially, Tess sees Hugh as a stuck-up, emotionless automaton, while Hugh views Tess as immature and impulsive. But as they face the challenges of Regency England together, their misconceptions begin to unravel, and so does their resistance to each other.
 
With its unique time-travel twist and sweet enemies-to-lovers trope, The Austen Affair delivers a fun, fresh romance I thoroughly enjoyed!

Stephanie Németh-Parker narrates and I thought she did a wonderful job with the accents and wide range of characters: male, female, old and young! She’s fast becoming one of my favorite narrators!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Two feuding co-stars in a Jane Austen film adaptation accidentally travel back in time to the Regency Era in this delightfully clever and riotously funny debut

Tess Bright just scored her dream role starring in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It's not just the role of a lifetime, but it’s also her last chance to prove herself as a serious actress (no easy feat after being fired from her last TV gig) and more importantly, it’s her opportunity to honor her mom, who was the biggest fan of Jane Austen ever. But one thing is standing in Tess’s way—well, one very tall, annoyingly handsome person, actually: Hugh Balfour.

A serious British method actor, Hugh wants nothing to do with Tess (whose Teen Choice Awards somehow don’t quite compare to his BAFTA nominations). Hugh is a type-A, no-nonsense, Royal Academy prodigy, whereas Tess is big-hearted, a little reckless, and admittedly, kind of a mess. But the film needs chemistry—and Tess’s career depends on it.

Sparks fly, but not in the way Tess hoped, when an electrical accident sends the two feuding co-stars back in time to Jane Austen’s era. 200 years in the past with only each other to rely on, Tess and Hugh need to ad-lib their way through the Regency period in order to make it back home, and hopefully not screw up history along the way. But if a certain someone looks particularly dashing in those 19th century breeches…well, Tess won’t be complaining.

A wickedly funny, delightfully charming story, The Austen Affair is a tribute to Jane Austen, second chances, and love across the space-time continuum.

Audiobook Review: A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard

 

A Tour to Die For (The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco #2) by Michelle Chouinard

Publication Date: September 23th 2025 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 3min

Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Capri Sanzio runs a successful tour guide business around San Francisco, specializing on the true crime history of the city. Being familiar with San Francisco I really enjoyed the interesting historical information given at the beginning of each chapter!

 

In this installment, while running her business, Capri’s also working on a book based her experience solving the mystery of the “Overkill Bill” murders.  She’s caught up in another murder investigation when a woman on her tour witnesses a possible murder. She works along with Detective Petito, and they make a good team! I’m on board with this pairing!

 

Capri is also dealing with her ex-husband’s shifty business dealings, as it affects their grown daughter, Morgan. Todd’s a creep! It seems there will be more about that in the next book.

 

A Tour to Die For was just as fun as the first book! Capri’s education in investigative journalism was evident in her smart and methodical approach in searching for answers. I appreciated her tenacity! The mystery wraps up in an exciting conclusion and an interesting revelation! I’m eager for the next book!

 

As with the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration! Her smooth, calm voice is perfect for Capri! She did well with all voices, male and female in a variety of ages, seamlessly making each distinct.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

In Michelle Chouinard’s A Tour to Die For, Capri Sanzio is back, giving a true crime tour her guests won’t soon forget. After all, a tour guide who specializes in serial killers knows better than most that San Francisco is a city with killer charm.

Capri Sanzio knows that when you give serial killer walking tours for a living, unexpected situations are more common than San Francisco's famous fog. So, when one of her guests claims to see a woman being attacked during a tour, Capri remains unphased. The police search the apartment in question and find no evidence of anything amiss, so they chalk it up to a false report from a true crime fanatic looking to be a part of a case. And Capri thinks they might be right, since lately her tours have been attracting even more obsessives than usual--as it turns out, finding the actual serial killer who committed the "Overkill Bill" murders didn't stop the constant questions about her grandfather's supposed crimes, it only intensified them.

But Capri would never forgive herself if someone is in trouble and she walks away. Plus, something about the whole situation has every one of Capri's investigative journalist instincts going haywire--why would someone lie about seeing an attack? So Capri starts to dig, and when her questions lead to a body, she finds herself at the center of another murder investigation.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2025 TBR

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 Fall 2025 to-Read List:

Most on my list here will be releasing over the fall, but three are ones that have already released: The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier released in 2014, System Collapse by Martha Wells released in 2023 and Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews released in 2022, a re-read for a read-along hosted by Anne @Books of My Heart. I'm excited for each and every one of them!

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan (10/7/25)

Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne (10/7/25)

The Haunting of Payne's Hollow by Kelley Armstrong (10/14/25)

Blind Date with a Werewolf (Alpha & Omega short stories) by Patricia Briggs (10/21/25)

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier (7/15/14)

Innocence Road by Laura Griffin (11/11/25

Sharp Force (Kay Scarpetta #29) by Patricia Cornwell (10/7/25)

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells (11/13/23)

Sweep of the Heart (Innkeeper Chronicles #5) by Ilona Andrews (12/5/22)

A Judgement of Powers (Inheritance of Magic #3) by Benedict Jacka (11/4/25)

What's on your Fall 2025 TBR?

Review: Don't Say a Word by Allison Brennan

 

Don't Say a Word (Angelhart Investigations #2) by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: September 16th 2025 by MIRA

Pages: 416

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Angelhart Investigations has been asked to look into the death of Elijah Martinez, a high school honor student. He wasn’t known to do drugs, yet the police have ruled his death an accidental overdose with little investigation. His mother and best friend, Angie, want answers.

 

Margo Angelhart dives right in as the case brings up a painful memory from her past. Her gut tells her there’s more to Elijah’s death, especially when she discovers a major drug operation was brought down at Elijah’s school a few years earlier.

 

Angie, Elijah’s best friend, was also a key character. She was a smart girl with her head on straight despite her deadbeat mother. Angie ends up in danger while pursuing the truth.

 

The whole Angelhart family work together at their private investigative firm, each one with a specialty that’s key in handling the cases. There’s some friction between Margo and her mother, but it’s clear they’re a close, loving family. The last installment, Out of the Shadows, was novella length with Margo’s brother, Jack, taking the lead in the investigation. He ended up gaining a girlfriend in the process. I loved the pairing, and it was nice to “see” them again here. We’re introduced to a potential love interest for Margo and I’m all for it!

 

Don’t Say a Word wrapped up in a thrilling conclusion, and I can’t wait for the next installment! I love this series, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of smart crime procedurals with complex, relatable characters and a bit of romance!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A tragic accident…or a murder?

The police ruled Elijah Martinez’s death an accidental drug overdose, but the teen’s grieving mother isn’t convinced. With the case officially closed, Angelhart Investigations is the only one who can help her find the truth. Margo Angelhart’s sure this will be an easy solve—she’ll talk to Elijah’s friends and employer, retrace his steps, and figure out what happened in his final hours.

Except none of his friends believe he did drugs, and the teacher who’s been vocal about the police mishandling the case turns up dead. Every thread Margo pulls leads back to a dangerous drug ring that once ran through the school.

When Margo’s brother Jack, a former cop, can’t get straight answers out of the police, they don’t know if it’s because of an active case…or a cover-up. Margo’s only sure of one thing—she has to find out what really happened to Elijah before more teens become pawns in a twisted scheme.

 

Sunday Post #310

 

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!

It's been a busy week with work, chores, and errands. 

My husband I are slowly finalizing details for our trip to Italy in early November. I can't believe it's only a month and a half away! I need to book two more tours while for our time in Rome and then figure out all the places we want to see in the Tuscany/Florence region and Lake Como. 

Flowers from the garden:

Zinnias and flat leaf parsley

Starla

1000 Piece Puzzle Completed: Old Colonial by Charles Wysocki

Read:

Sweep with Me (Innkeeper Chronicles #4.5) by Ilona Andrews-4 Stars

Don't Say a Word (Angelheart Investigations #2) by Allison Brennan-4.5 Stars

The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin-3.5 Stars

Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher-4 Stars

Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries #6) by Martha Wells-5 Stars

Received:

Road Trip with a Vampire (My Vampires #3) by Jenna Levine

Rifle Season by Pat Kelly

Maybe One Day (The D'Angelos #5) by Catherine Bybee

Thank you to Berkley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Catherine Bybee for the books!

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Review: The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin

 

The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin

Publication Date: September 16th 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Effie grew up in the New Zealand bush, off-the-grid with her family, but left seventeen years ago cutting ties with her family. Now a police officer in Scotland, her old best friend, Lewis, summons her back when a young girl who looks like Effie shows up covered in blood. This child is clearly related in some way to Effie and has witnessed something terrible but won’t speak. Effie must return and find out what’s become of her family.

 

Effie had an unusual upbringing living off-grid in the bush. Her history is doled out slowly with chapters alternating in the present and back in the past, starting with Effie as a nine-year-old. The chapters were short and left me eager for more info with each shift. Why was Effie’s family living in the bush and what happened to make her flee?  

 

I found both the mystery of the past and present captivating but was a little lost around the 75% mark when several characters were introduced without context. The story goes off in a different direction at this point. Effie makes some impulsive choices in the present that I found hard to believe given that she’s a police officer. Parts dragged on in a bad situation, and then the last 5% was a rush of action and revelations. I will say I was happy with how it all worked out by the end.

 

Even though I had some mixed reactions to this mystery I thought The Vanishing Place was a promising debut, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book by Ms. Rankin in the future.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

A shocking murder in the New Zealand bush—and the witness who looks all too familiar—draws a woman back to the very place she swore she’d never return to in this breakneck debut thriller.

A child who ran from the forest.
A woman who must return to it

Growing up with her younger siblings in the unforgiving New Zealand bush, Effie believed their parents had cut them off from civilization because they loved Nature. She never suspected that their reasons might be more menacing. After witnessing a terrifying episode of violence, she escaped the wilderness to forge a life for herself halfway across the globe.

Now, when she learns the only witness to a murder is a little girl who looks just like her, Effie is compelled to return to the scene of her troubled childhood, where the secrets of her upbringing and the terrors of her past come rushing back to the surface. In order to find out once and for all what became of her family—and possibly help this mysterious girl who could be her younger self—Effie must face her greatest fears once more.

Review: Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher

 

Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher

Publication Date: July 22nd 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Stella randomly meets her favorite author, Huck, in a bar in Iceland not knowing he’s a longtime friend of Teddy, one of her treasure hunting friends. There are immediate sparks between Stella and Huck, and he helps solve some of a riddle that leads to a treasure find for their group. Stella and Huck then spend a magical, passion-filled night together, but in the morning, Huck is gone with no explanation. He goes on to write a hit novel when a treasure hunting female character suspiciously similar to Stella.

 

One year later, much to Stella’s surprise, Huck is back to join their latest adventure hunting down sunken treasure in the Florida Keys. Stella’s not thrilled and determined to keep him at arm’s length. However, it’s obvious Huck is full of regret and it’s hard to resist when he’s so sweet.  

 

I really felt for both Stella and Huck. They both had crappy parents and dealt with insecurities stemming from that, but I was not pleased with Huck when he just up and left Stella in the beginning.  There was an explanation, but still.  Being in his head during his chapters was a little frustrating at times as he was constantly berating himself, letting his father’s awful digs creep in. That being said, I did like him a lot and I was rooting for them to sort out the past and get to their HEA.  

 

Loved Stella’s friend Zoe and Gus, both were supportive and steady. Teddy was another matter altogether! He was awful to both Stella and Huck!

 

Heart Marks the Spot was a fun, page-turning adventure romance and I really enjoyed the treasure hunting parts and the setting of Iceland and the Florida Keys! 

4 Stars

Book Description:

A treasure hunter and the bestselling adventure novelist who broke her heart after one successful expedition reunite for a summer to search for lost riches.

Treasure hunter Stella Moore dreams of having it all—wealth, love, and a flourishing career—but knows she’ll never be that lucky. Every summer she and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure, but she can barely manage her bills, let alone a relationship. Then, a chance encounter with alluring novelist Huck Sullivan during an expedition in Iceland has Stella thinking maybe her fortune has changed.

After his last book bombed, Huck hasn’t written a word. Joining Stella and her crew on an adventure seems like the perfect distraction from his problems, and when the crew finally uncovers hidden treasure, he is certain that he’s found more than just inspiration for his next novel. Huck and Stella’s undeniable connection gives way to an unforgettable night on a black sand beach.

After Huck disappears without a goodbye, Stella vows to put the heartbreak behind her—but that’s easier said than done when, a year later, every bookstore has a life-size cutout of her ex-lover next to stacks of his latest record-breaking bestseller. Good thing it’s time for another summer treasure hunt. Stella throws herself into mapping the path to a shipwreck off Key West, but the last thing she expects is an extra crew member showing up in search of material for a sequel and a second chance. 

Stella and Huck are prepared for storms, sharks, sea sickness, even a tentative truce. But facing the feelings they buried and confronting the devastating truth about why Huck left is the only way to find what their hearts have been searching for all along.

Author Bio: Libby Hubscher is an author and scientist. She studied biology at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and holds a doctorate of philosophy in molecular toxicology from North Carolina State University. Her work has appeared online and in textbooks, scientific journals, and literary journals. Her short story “The Unwelcome Guest” was long-listed for the Wigleaf Top 50 in 2018. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two young children, and a menagerie of pets.

Sunday Post #309

 

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!

It felt like fall this week and with highs in the low 70s. The trees are starting to change colors! This next week we'll be back in the upper 80s low 90s as summer throws its last hurrah. The garden flowers are loving the weather!

Leaves starting to change color

Wisteria

Garden flowers: Yarrow, zinnia, lavender and Rose: State of Grace

I had a few routine doctor appointments. One was a "biometric screening" for our health insurance which included blood tests with lipid and glucose panel. If we don't comply we're charged more on our premium every month. It's a little annoying. 

My husband and I watched the last couple of Downton Abbey movies in preparation for the final movie. We went and watched the newest in the theatre with my sister and BIL. It was good, but it was a little sad to say goodbye.

Puzzle Completed: Shops and Buggies by Charles Wysocki 1986

Read:

Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War-3.5 Stars

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison-4 Stars

Deadly Storms (Sunrise Lake #3) by Christine Feehan-3 Stars

The Code (Orphan X #10.5) by Gregg Hurwitz-4 Stars

My favorite for the week was the Orphan X short story, The Code. I also enjoyed Play Nice but it freaked me out! Here for a Good and Deadly Storms were mixed bags.

Received:

Thank you to Canary Street Press, Harlequin Audio, St. Martin's Press and Berkley! 

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