Review: Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne

 

Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: October 7th 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 8hrs 

Narrator: Vanessa Johansson

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Snow Kissed was a sweet, feel-good story! Part women’s fiction, part romance with characters facing real life challenges. I loved how positive Holly was and how she chose to try and look for the best in both people and a situation. She could’ve been bitter and vindictive towards her ex but chose the high road. That’s not to say that she didn’t have moments where she wanted to be, though.

 

You'll want to mark this one for holiday season! Snow Kissed had Hallmark holiday romance vibes with a picturesque winter wonderland! All the magic of the season came through with the smell of pine, hot chocolate, twinkle lights, family and friends. Themes of grief and forgiveness and focusing on what’s important. A pure delight!

 

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy and can recommend either version. Vanessa Johansson has a pleasing voice, and I thought she did well with both male and female characters, young and old bringing them to life with appropriate emotions. She seamlessly switched between characters, making it easy to distinguish between them.

4 Stars

Book Description:

'Tis the season for a little white lie…

Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now.

Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So they make a he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away. 

Audiobook Review: Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell

 

Sharp Force (Kay Scarpetta #29) by Patricia Cornwell

Publication Date: October 7th 2025 by Hachette Audio

Pages: 400

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 54min

Narrator: January LaVoy

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Librofm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Kay and Benton are called to investigate when two people have been brutally attacked, one dead and the other severely injured. From the descriptions it seems that it was another attack by The Phantom Slasher, a serial killer who’s been terrorizing the area for the last year.  The killer stalks, surveilling by high tech means using a ghostly hologram to terrify his victims before closing in and killing them.

 

It’s been fun getting back to the Kay Scarpetta series since the reboot back in 2021! I’ve been reading every installment since then and loving them! The usual relationships and reoccurring conflict are part of the draw: Maggie Cutbush, the character we all love to hate, is infuriating as usual. The governor is something else, too! Kay and Benton have acquired a new enemy with connections in high places. Dorothy crossed a line I wouldn’t have easily forgiven. Marino as usual was a lot of bluster, shooting his mouth off, but this series wouldn’t be the same without him.  Fun every time Lucy foils Dana Deletti! Merlin, Lucy’s cat that Kay seems to care for much of the time is one of my favorite kitty characters!

 

Sharp Force was suspenseful and spooky in places! The serial killer’s MO was frightening, and I fear his methods utilizing tech might be rooted in real life. It’s a frightening prospect if true! The conclusion was clever and satisfying! I look forward to the next one!

 

I listened to the audio version with January LaVoy narrating. She’s one of my favorites and I love her performance of Kay, easy and calm in the face of all that comes at her. Her performances of all the characters, Marino, Dorothy, Benton and Lucy are all spot on, too! I highly recommend the audio version!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

NO ONE IS SAFE FROM THE SERIAL KILLER
NOT EVEN SCARPETTA...

During the early hours of Christmas morning, chief medical examiner Dr Kay Scarpetta receives a chilling call. The Phantom Slasher has struck again.

The serial killer has terrorized Northern Virginia for months. His pattern is to stalk with a sophisticated technology that enables him to invade his victims' homes and watch their every move. They wake up to a ghost-like hologram before being murdered in their beds.

Scarpetta is summoned to Mercy Island, the site of a notorious psychiatric hospital where two people have been brutalized, one of them from Scarpetta's past. It soon becomes apparent that she could be next . . .

Sunday Post #312

 

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 rainy, cold week here perfect for reading, puzzling and having a fire! I had to work again today (Saturday) but it was a quiet day at the hospital. 

A field on my walk.

Starla napping

The cats weren't happy with the cold and rain!

Puzzle Completed: 1000 Piece-Eclectic Treasures from Galison

Puzzle Completed: 500 Piece Garden Party from Rifle Paper Co.

Our daughter invited us to Cancun over the coming holiday weekend, so we leave Thursday and come home Sunday. Just a short trip and I would've been okay staying at home, but I wanted to see them before our trip to Italy. We're going to be gone for a good portion of November. 

Read:

Ghost Business (Boneyard Key #2) by Jen DeLuca-2 Stars

Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs-5 Stars

A Moment's Shadow (Verity Kent Mysteries #8) by Anna Lee Huber-2 Stars

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells-4 Stars

Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood-4 Stars

Chaos Rising (Edge of Collapse #0.5) by Kyla Stone-4 Stars

My favorite read of the week was Blind Date with a Werewolf! Love Asil! I had two books that were disappointing. I was hoping to enjoy Ghost Business since I really liked the first book, Haunted Ever After, but I really didn't like the MMC. I was more disappointed over A Moment's Shadow because it's been a favorite historical mystery series from the beginning. The continuing story arc has been playing out for at least five books and IMO it was time to move on. I was hoping it would happen here. Instead, we got a cliffhanger. Not sure I'll continue the series. System Collapse was a little confusing at first because of the timeline, but with Murderbot it's bound to be fun and action-packed!

The novella Hot For Slayer was such fun! I recommend the audio which is part of Kindle Unlimited. Chaos Rising, another novella, was an exciting end-of-the-world type of scenario. The e-book is available through Kindle Unlimited but I borrowed the audio through Hoopla.

Received:

Two Kinds of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9) by Steve Cavanagh

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Thank you to Atria Books and St. Martin's Press! I actually won a print ARC copy of Two Kinds of Stranger on Instagram this week, too!

Instagram:

Thank you to @annaisalwaysreading !

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Giveaway: 2 Romance Books!

 My last giveaway ended, so here's a new one! I'm trying out Giveaway tools for the first time. 

Ride with Me by Simone Soltani  

Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith

Fill in the Giveaway Tool below for a chance to win. Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Good luck!

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Review: Devil's Due (Red Letter Days #2) by Rachel Caine

 

Devil's Due (Red Letter Days #2) by Rachel Caine

Publication Date: February 1st 2013 by MIRA

Pages: 329

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lucia Garza and Jazz Callender, both with law enforcement backgrounds, started up a PI firm with the financial backing of a mysterious organization, The Cross Society. Of course, there are strings. They have to commit to drop everything if they receive a red envelope and follow its instructions. They seem to be acting on some sort of precognitive information from this society, and they do help avert some terrible tragedies, but it seems the organization doesn’t mind letting innocents die for “the greater good”. When Lucia and Jazz start to push back and question their assignments, things turn dangerous! Thankfully, both women are smart and have support as they go up against two powerful organizations.

 

I read the first book, Devil’s Bargain, back in 2013, grabbed up the second book and then never read it! I had hazy recollections but remembered more and more as I kept reading. There’s a bit of a sci-fi/fantasy element with the nature of The Cross Society’s mission.

 

Devil’s Due was an entertaining combination of action, danger, romance with two kick-butt female leads at the center! This series ended up being a duology, as the story wrapped up nicely by the end. Both books are now available through Kindle Unlimited.

4 Stars

Book Description:

The New York Times–bestselling author of Devil’s Bargain brings back two kick-ass female private investigators in a case of premonitions and peril.
 
While Jazz Callender is recuperating from nearly losing her life during their first case for the mysterious Cross Society, Lucia Garza hires a new investigator to their none other than Ben McCarthy. The former Kansas City cop has finally been exonerated of murder, and just in time. Jazz and Lucia have received a new red letter. 
 
But instead of instructions for a high-priority case, this missive contains nothing but a “One of you has made a mistake.” And it’s on letterhead from the Cross Society’s major adversary in a psychic war. With Ben filling them in on his past secretive dealings with the organization, Jazz and Lucia start to believe they may be in bed with the enemy, one that they’ve underestimated at their own peril . . . 

Sunday Post #311

 

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!

Nothing exciting to report here. Summer is still hanging on, but we did get a few thunder and lightning storms with some rain. It's supposed to rain this next week for three days. We'll see. 

Out front in between storms this last week.

We went to a friend's house for a small gathering and lunch last weekend. We met another couple we clicked with. We talked about travel, East vs. West coast, (they lived on the East Coast prior to moving to California), cats we've all had over the years, (they love cats, too) and our families. It was fun visiting. 

I worked today (Saturday) and I work next Saturday. Working Saturday has its pros and cons. Less people in our department, but my week is thrown off. I worked a lot the last two weeks. I hope to put in 5 miles on a walk/run tomorrow, but other than that I'm not leaving the house, lol.

Read:

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell-4 Stars

Devil's Due (Red Letter Days #2) by Rachel Caine-4 Stars

A Tour to Die For (The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco #2) by Michelle Chouinard-4.5 Stars

I didn't read as much as I hoped to but I enjoyed what I read. Devil's Due has been sitting on my Netgalley shelf since 2013!! I'm so happy I finally read and will now be able to clear it off my shelf! Well, once I write the review, that is. 

Do you have any books that've been on your Netgalley shelf for a long time?

Received:

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

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover

Rifle Season by Pat Kelly

Thank you to Berkley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books!

Instagram:

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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.