Audiobook Review: Takedown by Allison Brennan

 

Takedown by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: October 27th 2026 by Brilliance Publishing/Amazon Original Stories

Pages: 75

Audiobook Length: 1hrs 36min

Narrator: Hillary Huber

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Takedown follows Detective Skye Truman as she pursues Trent Calderone, a serial rapist she knows is guilty but can't arrest without more evidence. Trent is a lawyer in the Governor's office. He’s arrogant and enjoys the fact that Skye can’t touch him.

 

Trent is growing bolder, showing up at crime scenes and taunting Skye. So, when another less experienced cop proposes a risky takedown, Skye is reluctant, but she knows Trent must be stopped before he hurts anyone else.

 

I was hooked from the start and outraged on behalf of both the victims and Skye!

 

Takedown was a short and well-done thriller. The characters were compelling, and I'd love to read more stories featuring Skye and her circle. The ending was a surprising twist, but a satisfying one!

 

Hillary Huber did an amazing job, as always. She brought each character to life with distinct voices and genuine emotion, making the story even more enjoyable!

4 Stars

Book Description:

In this gritty police procedural from New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan, a detective plays a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with a charismatic lawyer who’s more than he seems.

Detective Skye Truman’s investigation into a series of sexual assaults has led her to the culprit: Trent Calderon, the most charming, affable lawyer in the governor’s office. The man who has an answer for everything. Skye’s obsession grows with every victim, every escalation, every encounter with Calderon, and every moral compromise she makes to catch him. Because if she doesn’t, she risks losing more than just her badge.

Allison Brennan’s Takedown is part of Pursuit, a gripping collection of short stories that explore what it means to be predator and prey … and what it takes to gain the upper hand. Read or listen to each pulse-pounding story in a single sitting—and an intense adrenaline rush.

 

Review: After We Fall by Deborah Clack

After We Fall (Shelter & Sky #2) by Deborah Clack

Publication Date: October 6th 2026 by Haven & Recorded Books

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 47min

Narrator: Jeanine Bartel

Source: Publishers & Great Reads Book Promotion

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Super-efficient Penelope Reid wants to manage the Twelve Bluebells Ranch, a halfway home for girls aging out of the foster care system. It’s a program close to her heart given her own background. She’s grown close to the girls and is determined to prove she’s perfect for the job.

 

Luke Granger is called to the ranch after vandalism and a suspicious delivery give cause for concern. As the two work together to keep the girls safe, they form a reluctant friendship. When the threat leads to an accident, Penelope is forced to rely on Luke even more, examine her past, and finally address an old injury.

 

It took me a bit to see the attraction with Luke, toothpicks are a pet peeve of mine, but he was such a sweetheart with Penelope and the girls and grew on me.

 

I didn’t know much about TBI, so I found all the medical aspects really interesting. I felt for Penelope and everything she had been through, and I admired the strong, capable, loving woman she became despite her childhood trauma.

 

I really enjoyed After We Fall! It’s a romance with a touch of suspense that delves into some deeper issues while tempering them with humor and a whole lot of heart!

 

I alternated between the audiobook and print copy, and I thought Janine Bartel did a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life. I especially loved the way she captured Penelope’s perky, efficient personality.

 

4 Stars

Book Description:

Self-sufficient Penelope Reid has her life completely mapped out—a necessity after surviving foster care. Now she’s on a mission to prove that she’s capable of managing a halfway house at Twelve Bluebells Ranch. The last thing she needs is hindrance from the charming Luke Granger, who asked her to dance three years ago, then disappeared before the music began.

Luke lives a nomadic lifestyle as a security specialist. He’s never found a reason to put down roots until he’s reunited with the bossy brunette and her generous heart. When vandalism strikes the ranch neighboring Twelve Bluebells, securing the area is just another gig for him before he hits the road. But as Luke and Penelope work alongside each other and care for the ranch’s halfway house residents, his restless heart finds reasons to stay, and her careful walls begin to crack.

When crisis threatens everything Penelope has built and tragedy pulls at Luke’s wandering heart, they must decide if it’s worth the risk to lower their guards for a love that could give them the home they’ve always longed for.

Deborah Clack crafts a story with poignant emotions and witty banter in this no-spice romance about taking risks and finding belonging in unexpected places.

Review: Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong

 

Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: October 6th 2026 by St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 288

Audio Book Length: 8hrs 23min

Narrator: Helen Laser, Shane Ghostkeeper, Sean Patrick Hopkins

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Ellie is driving home on a stormy night when, out of nowhere, a woman appears in the road. When she swerves to avoid her, Ellie crashes into a downed tree. With a disabled car and no cell service, she sets out to find help and stumbles upon what looks like a rundown bar. Another traveler, Henry, crashes into Ellie’s car when he spots it too late. Three more cars soon crash: Edgar, an older man; Noemi and Caleb, a young couple in love; and Raymond, a ruthless businessman. The stranded travelers all end up at the same bar, waiting for the storm to pass and their cell service to return.

 

It starts to dawn on Ellie and Henry that not everything is as it seems, and maybe it’s no accident they all ended up at the same bar. The forest is more than creepy. It’s dangerous. Will they make it out alive?

 

Dive Bar at the End of the Road had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going on! I was rooting for Ellie and Henry! There’s an ode to classic horror films sprinkled throughout, and some of my favorites were brought vividly to life. The story was atmospheric, creepy, and the perfect way to kick off spooky season!

 

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and I enjoyed all three narrators. Helen Laser, Shane Ghostkeeper, and Sean Patrick Hopkins did an excellent job conveying the uneasiness, tension, and horror of the situation!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Final Destination meets The Cabin at the End of the World in this supernatural horror from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, in which a series of car accidents traps a group of strangers at a dive bar.

A forested road at night, slick from the pounding rain and eerily illuminated by flashes of lightning. Just before midnight, a car swerves to avoid something—or someone—mysteriously standing in the road, only to slam into a fallen tree instead. In the pitch black, four more cars follow in a pileup no one can seem to avoid.

Stumbling out of the wreckage, soaked from the rain and nursing various injuries, five strangers find themselves in a backwoods dive bar, waiting for daybreak and hoping for cell service. But as tensions rise and the storm rages on outside, the occupants of the dive bar start to notice that not everything is as it seems. Time is moving differently, and they quickly learn that going outside—whether to assist another accident victim or to hike for help—is a very bad idea.

There’s something in the woods, something that isn't natural. Could the figure in the road have been a warning? Or something more sinister? None of this is normal, and they'll need to work together to figure out what’s happening if they have any hope of surviving the night.

Review: The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves

 

The Dying Light (Two Rivers #4) by Ann Cleeves

Publication Date: September 22nd 2026 by Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 384

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 33min

Narrator: Jack Holden

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Detective Inspector Matthew Venn and his team are called to a small coastal town in Devon after a young woman, Lottie, is found dead in a swimming pool. Lottie had been vacationing with her friend Hannah, the daughter of a politician, who is now missing. The two made an impression around town, and not in a good way. Lottie made waves at a local farm music festival by posting mocking videos on her socials and was rude at the local pub, as well.

 

But was Lottie really the intended target, or was someone after Hannah because of her father’s politics? There’s also a tragic incident from the girls’ past that may have caught up with them. Matthew and his team, Jen, Ross, and Victoria, methodically work the case, uncovering information bit by bit.

 

The Dying Light was an engrossing police procedural that nicely balanced the investigation with glimpses into the detectives’ personal lives. I read the last installment, and it seems like the team is more cohesive now, working well together. Ross was a little immature and grasping for recognition in the last book, causing some friction, but he seems to have grown here. I’ve liked Jen, a levelheaded single mother, from the beginning.  Matthew has an interesting background, being brought up in a strict religious community and then leaving the faith.

 

I alternated between an audio and e-copy and can recommend either. Jack Holden’s performance was excellent! He had a way with the regional English accents that made them distinct. He did well performing a variety of characters, male and female in a range of ages.

4 Stars

Book Descrisption:

The Dying Light is a searing new novel featuring DI Matthew Venn, brimming with energy and taut with claustrophobic tension, as the detective peels back layer upon layer to discover the dark secrets this family is keeping.

A scorching heatwave marks the start of the summer in Devon. Detective Matthew Venn is called in to investigate a puzzling death, when the body of a young woman, Lottie, is found in the swimming pool of a luxurious holiday home. The girl’s best friend, Hannah, whose family owns the house, is missing. The girls had arrived in Devon a few days ahead of the family to celebrate the end of their school exams, and had managed to make waves during their short time there; they disrupted the folk music festival at the neighboring farm, with Lottie posting incendiary videos on social media mocking what she snobbishly considered to be a parochial community.

When further tragedy strikes, Venn and his team begin questioning a community filled with secrets. Hannah’s father, Paul Armstrong, is a rising political star, a fact that quickly draws intense media scrutiny to the case, not least because there are many who would want to take him down. With the summer heat come holidaymakers, and it emerges that some of them may have more connections with the Armstrong family than first thought.

Caught between a powerful family's secrets and a powder keg of local tensions, Venn and his team must navigate a treacherous path. He knows all too well that the real answers lie not in what people say, but in the silence that they keep . . .

Review: Something About September by Julia McKay

 

Something About September by Julia McKay

Publication Date: August 18th 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

Pages: 320

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Something About September was a sweet second-chance romance packed with cozy fall vibes: a pumpkin contest, hay maze adventures, sweater weather, hot apple cider, and plenty of small-town charm!

 

After her grandmother’s death, Rebecca returns to Bramley Hollow with thirty days to fix up the diner she inherited. Unfortunately, the only available contractor is Cort Adams, her high school crush, whom she’s been avoiding after an embarrassing encounter.

 

Beyond the romance, I appreciated Rebecca’s journey through grief, doubts about her career, and figuring out what she wants next. I also loved the support she received from her bestie Sabrina and Sabrina’s family.

 

Rebecca and Cort’s romance was full of palpable longing. A little more honesty and fewer assumptions would’ve helped, but the angst still remained pretty low. I really enjoyed their journey to a sweet, satisfying HEA!

4 Stars

Book Description: 

Cozy up with your pumpkin spiced latte and a slice of apple pie, because it's time to fall in love in Bramley Hollow...

A fall-inspired second-chance romance about a woman who returns home after inheriting her grandmother’s diner, only to discover the contractor she must hire was her high school crush.

Sweater weather is better together.

Rebecca Macintosh has always felt that there’s just something about September—nostalgia, crisp mornings, and possibility. But not this year. Rebecca has thirty days to return home to fix up her late grandmother’s diner or face the consequences. And the only contractor in town? Cort Adams. The man who rejected her one year ago. He’s somehow even better looking as a single dad than when he was the high school football star she once tutored. She’d been hoping to avoid him forever.

As the golden leaves start to fall, Rebecca may find that there’s more to her hometown—and to Cort—than she’d realized, and that the dreams she’s been chasing might have been the wrong ones. Could a spark kindle hot enough in the cool autumn air to call Rebecca home for good?

Review: I Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily Zinnikas

 

I Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily Zinnikas

Publication Date: September 15th 2026 by St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 12hrs 34min

Narrator: Jenn Lee

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

When Willa was in high school, she was the only survivor after six people were murdered in the woods. Even though she was cleared as a suspect, the town still blamed her. After graduating, she moved away, changed her name, and became a successful artist. She's built a quiet life for herself until someone leaks her identity and the media descends on her home.

 

When she learns that her beloved art teacher has died, Willa decides to return to her hometown for the funeral. She'll be escaping the media frenzy, but she'll also be going back to a place where most people despise her.

 

I was freaked out by the flashbacks to Willa's past. I was enraged that her parents didn't believe her about the strange things happening in their house. I'd have been terrified! I was also annoyed by the way the town treated her. There was a lot going on, but everything came together in the end.

 

For most of the story, I Am the Monster Under the Bed is a mystery with horror elements, but things get wild by the end! I was completely riveted, worried about Willa, and wondering how everything would work out. This is a great read to add to your spooky TBR.

 

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook and would recommend either version. Jenn Lee did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, performing both male and female voices across a range of ages with just the right emotions.

4 Stars

Book Description:

TIME ONLY MAKES THE NIGHTMARE MORE REAL.

Something lives under Willa’s bed. As an adult, her fondest childhood memories are of the invisible entity under her bed who taught her how to read. Now thirty-two, Willa is a reclusive but successful painter until a bombshell news report exposes her identity as the controversial survivor of the unsolved Rapture Mystery Slayings, a small-town tragedy that splashed across headlines during her senior year of high school. Six teenagers died in the woods while Willa walked free, and everyone thinks she killed them.

When an old classmate calls about a funeral, Willa reluctantly travels to her sleepy hometown, where the possessed forest that stole her friends looms. The trees whistle for her attention, but she knows better than to listen. And the unexplained knocking from the shadows in the basement of her decaying childhood home is honestly the least of her problems.

As her past pulls her back to the place she swore she’d never return, Willa is drawn toward the monster she left behind—and becoming the villain her hometown has always believed her to be.

Review: I'll Be Watching You by Allison Brennan

 

I'll Be Watching You (Angelhart Investigations #3) by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: September 15th 2026 by Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 384

Audiobook Length: 10hrs 39min

Narrator: Hillary Huber

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Three and a half years ago, Margo Angelhart's father, Cooper, confessed to murdering a fellow doctor. Margo never believed he was guilty, but neither Cooper nor her mother, Ava, would explain why he confessed. After leaving the family PI firm over the disagreement, Margo is finally back working with her family.

 

When a nurse from Cooper's past contacts Margo with potential evidence, she's murdered before she can talk. At the same time, Cooper is unexpectedly transferred to a maximum-security prison. As the danger escalates, Ava finally reveals the truth behind Cooper's confession, putting the entire family at risk.

 

I'm a big fan of Allison Brennan's mysteries, and I'll Be Watching You delivers another compelling mix of likable characters, suspense, and page-turning twists. As the culmination of a mystery that's been building since the first book, this installment brings long-awaited answers while keeping the tension high.

 

The investigation is both methodical and urgent, with ongoing personal storylines. Margo and DEA agent Cal continue to grow closer, while hints of a romance between Nate and Luisa add another layer of interest.

 

I alternated between the audiobook and e-book and can recommend either. Hillary Huber gives another excellent performance, bringing both the characters and suspense to life. She's one of my favorite narrators, and her performance continues to elevate this series!

4 Stars

Book Description:

In New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s latest Angelhart Investigations novel, Margo finally has a new lead in the case that tore her family apart.

Private investigator Margo Angelhart has recently rejoined her family’s PI business, but she never forgot the reason she walked away. Three and a half years ago, her father, Dr. Cooper Angelhart, pled guilty to killing his colleague. While she never believed he was guilty, her mother, Ava, refused to help investigate and wouldn’t explain why.

When a nurse who once worked with Cooper reaches out, Margo leaps at what could be a potential lead…only to stumble across the nurse’s grisly murder. Then, Cooper is mysteriously transferred to a penitentiary out of state in the middle of the night, and Ava finally discloses why her husband confessed to a murder he didn’t commit.

Now the entire Angelhart family must fight to clear Cooper’s name. But every step they take drags them deeper into a deadly conspiracy…and into the crosshairs of some very powerful people with fortunes on the line. They’ve killed to keep their secrets before. And this time, the target is an Angelhart.

Audiobook Review: The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury

 

The Oxford Guide to Scandal & Lies by Kate Westbury

Publication Date: September 1st 2026 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 35min

Narrators: Ell Potter

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

The Honorable Ginevra Bishop and Sidney Braithwaite are both students at Oxford, but they come from very different worlds. Their thrown together when the British Security Service recruits them to uncover a Soviet spy operating on campus after their undercover agent is assassinated.

 

Ginevra is new to the spy game, but her upper-class connections allow her to move easily through those social circles. When she discovers the difficult situation her father has placed her in, the opportunity to earn money while serving her country becomes even more appealing. I enjoyed her determined, plucky personality.

 

Sidney, meanwhile, served in intelligence during the war and carries scars from those experiences, both physical and emotional. Now at Oxford, he’s eager to move on. However, he can't bring himself to leave Ginevra, an inexperienced newcomer, to face such a dangerous assignment alone.

 

Both Ginevra and Sidney were likable, relatable characters with distinct strengths that contributed to the investigation. They clashed at first, but there was spark of chemistry between them from the start. A romance is brewing, and I'm eager to see how it develops in future installments.

 

The Oxford Guide to Secrets and Lies was an exciting mystery filled with danger, intrigue, and suspense! While this mission is completed, the ending hints that there is more to come. I can't wait to see what happens next!

 

I listened to the audiobook edition, and Ell Potter delivered an outstanding performance. She skillfully handled a wide range of English accents across different ages, genders, and social classes, bringing the characters vividly to life. Her narration definitely enhanced enjoyment!     

4 Stars

Book Description:

Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Oxford University, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is the irresistible debut from Kate Westbury that seamlessly layers mystery, romance, and a dash of academia to introduce the Crown’s newest undercover operatives.

Oxford, England, 1951 - The Honorable Ginevra Bishop likes red lipstick, clever retorts, and earning top marks in her tutorials. She’s following her mother’s footsteps by studying at Oxford, eager to prove she’s more than a debutante.

Sidney Braithwaite likes brooding, Latin, and ignoring his nightmares. He’s determined to forge a new life for himself at Oxford, far from his childhood mining village and free from memories of the war.

Though Gin and Sidney have little in common, the British Security Service is keen to unite her charm with his espionage experience: there’s a Soviet spy at the university, and the agent tracking them down was poisoned. MI5 wants Gin and Sidney to pick up the trail and identify the informant before more sensitive information is compromised. As a team, the pair of undergraduates clash in personality, upbringing, and taste––but have a connection neither can deny. Gin and Sidney must unite their respective talents to follow the clues before they’re caught in the traitor’s crosshairs…if the sparks flying between them don’t blow up the operation first.

Audiobook Review: A Match for the Amish Beekeeper by Laurel Blount

 

A Match For the Amish Beekeeper by Laurel Blount

Publication Date: August 25th 2026 by Harlequin Audio

Pages: 213

Audio Book Length: 6hrs 36min

Narrator: Stina Nielsen

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Lydia isn’t looking for a husband. After losing her fiancé, Caleb, and later her parents, she has learned to stand on her own through beekeeping. Caleb’s Aunt Mattie left her beloved bees to Lydia, but she left the cottage to Caleb’s twin brother, Ben. Determined to continue the business, Lydia prepares a proposal to convince Ben to let her rent the cottage and keep the apiary running.

 

Ben left the area after Caleb’s death and built a successful life working with horses, a profession he loves and excels at. He returns home to attend Aunt Mattie’s funeral and is surprised to discover that she left him her cottage and that Lydia is still living there. He’s even more unsettled to learn that Lydia never married after Caleb’s death, especially since he once promised his brother that he would make sure she was cared for.

 

This was a sweet, low-drama romance. It was enjoyable watching Lydia and Ben develop a genuine friendship before their relationship turned romantic. Although they shared a connection through Caleb, the years had allowed both of them to grow, change, and mature. I always enjoy romances that are built on a solid foundation of friendship, and the time they spent caring for the bees, improving the cottage, and dealing with an unfriendly Englisher helped deepen their bond and gradually move their relationship into something more.

 

The matchmaking subplot added a fun touch, and it was obvious that a little behind-the-scenes scheming happening. It was charming and brought some lighthearted moments to the story. Overall, this was a warm, comforting romance with likable characters and a satisfying friends-to-lovers journey.

 

I listened to an audio version narrated by Stina Nielsen and enjoyed the way she brought the characters to life, each distinct and with genuine emotion. Definitely enhanced my enjoyment!

4 Stars

Book Description:

After losing her beloved fiance, Lydia Riehl has supported herself as a beekeeper with Aent Mattie’s guidance. There’s only one when Mattie passes away, she bequeaths the bees and hives to Lydia, and the house and land to Caleb’s twin brother, Ben King. Ben promised his brother he’d look out for Lydia. When he steps up to repair the house and learns the ins and outs of beekeeping, their friendship deepens into something more. Will these two lonely souls decide to be open to love’s possibilities?

Audiobook Review: Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan

 

Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Publication Date: September 1st 2026 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 42min

Narrators: Stevi Incremona

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Eliza is taking care of her eleven-year-old niece, Piper, but is alarmed when her sister, Bea, doesn’t show up at the appointed time to pick her up. Especially, since it’s the anniversary of their parents death and they were supposed to meet up graveside to pay respects.

 

Their parents died in a plane crash eleven years earlier and the crash has never been explained. As Eliza searches for her sister we get glimpses into their past through Eliza’s inner musings.

 

Mother Daughter Sister Stranger started off slowly with a lot of time spent on Eliza’s thoughts on the situation and her haphazard sleuthing. There’s a lot in the mix: A past serial killer, a nosy employer, a self-centered ex. I did find the mystery to be a page-turning, entertaining one as I tried to figure out what happened to Bea and if there was any threat to Eliza and Piper. There were surprising twists and a satisfying conclusion.

 

I listened to the audio version and thought Stevi Incremona did a wonderful job bringing all the characters, male and female in a range of ages, to life. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment!

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie? Every family has its story, and this one’s deadly. Two sisters. One secret. And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh anniversary of the tragedy, Bea fails to retrieve her pre-teen daughter from a sleepover at Eliza’s.

Eliza knows her sister would never leave her precious Piper behind, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?

The Ramseys’ lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.

A missing mother. Her frightened daughter. And a sister on a desperate search for a happy ending. But someone knows the deadly key to their shared past, and won’t stop until they’ve written a devastating final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister—stranger.

Audiobook Reviews: The Damage Man by Gregg Hurwitz and Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy by Martha Wells

 

The Damage Man (Orphan X #11.5) by Gregg Hurwitz

Publication Date: September 1st 2026 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 87

Audio Book Length: 2hrs 2min

Narrator: Scott Brick

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

The Orphan X series is one of my all-time favorites! I pounce on every installment, novella and short story. So, I was thrilled to get an audio copy of The Damage Man!

 

Ethan Smoak was taken from foster care as and trained an elite assassin for a covert government program, but left when his conscience demanded it. Now he operates as The Nowhere Man, helping the helpless. His training and smarts make him a formidable foe. Just when you think there’s no way out he somehow prevails!

 

In this short story Evan stumbles across a man being threatened by a loan shark’s debt collector. He steps in to help and finds out the debt is owed by the man’s estranged son. Evan tracks the threat to the boss and does what Evan does, but seeing the strained relationship between the father and son drudges up feelings over his own abandonment. He’s not ready to confront his past and yet circumstances force his hand.

 

Thankfully, Evan has amassed a found family: Joey, Tommy, Mia and more, and it’s everything I want for Evan! He deserves all the loyalty and love! Joey is there for support just when he needs it.

 

From the first book I’ve been “reading” by audio. Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator, bringing Evan to life. He IS Evan Smoak to me even now. His female voices and accents are excellent, and his comedic timing is spot on! 

4 Stars

Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy (Murderbot Diaries #2.5) by Martha Wells

Publication Date: September 1st 2026 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 34

Audio Book Length: 53min

Narrator: Kevin R. Free

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy is a short story centering on Perihelion “Perry” (or ART according to Murderbot) and its crew after he meets up with Murderbot. Iris, his sort of human sister and the crew notice some changes in Perry but he’s a little coy about his new friendship. This is a cute short story. 

The Murderbot Diaries is unique and fun and I’ve loved all the stories and short stories! I recommend reading from the beginning. The traditional audio with Kevin R. Free narrating is amazing. He captures Murderbot’s personality and dry humor so well! There are sound effects here as well, which was a nice addition.

 

3.5 Stars

Review: The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

 

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

Publication Date: July 14th 2026 by Gallery Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Emery and Luca, opposites in so many ways, met and fell head-over-heels in love. Now Emery’s life is consumed by work, focused on a top-secret project Luca doesn’t know about.

 

Emery’s project becomes vital when Luca is victim to a hit-and-run. It works, but Luca wakes up with no memory of Emery. Their marriage-in-crisis gets a second chance as Emery and Luca get to know each other all over again.

 

Reviving Luca has the potential to land Emery and her best friend/co-worker, Annie, into big time hot water and they work to keep it secret. Unfortunately, someone’s been paying attention.

 

I liked that Emery, even before the accident, realized things needed to change on her end, but had a hard time believing they communicated so little with how the relationship was described. I had a hard time thinking that Luca would’ve gone through with his plans before trying to talk to Emery first, given the chemistry between them.

 

The Romance Revival was a addictive second-chance romance/marriage-in-crisis type of story. I actually loved all the sci-fi intrigue with Emery’s revival project, and I was more engrossed with that than the romance. The ending was exciting with more danger and thrills than I expected and I enjoyed how it all wrapped up.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

An unforgettable novel in which one fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and love gets one extraordinary do-over.

Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

Review: The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

 

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

Publication Date: August 4th 2026 by St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 304

Audio Book Length: 7hrs 57min

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

The Women in White is told through two timelines: the past, set in 1964, and the present day. In 1964, Betty and her friends, known as Girls One through Four, are test subjects in a study on psychic abilities at the Marquis University. In the present, Riley applies for a job as Betty's caregiver. Riley isn't sure why Betty hired her, as Betty seems capable of caring for herself, even if she does seem stuck in a time warp. However, Betty has a another assignment in mind: she wants Riley to track down the other women, Betty’s friends, who participated in the experiments conducted by the study's director, Dr. Trimble.

 

I was outraged by the amount of power Dr. Trimble and the husbands wielded over Betty and her friends in the 1964 timeline. I wanted these women to stand up for themselves. Riley’s search for the women yields little information at first but digging deeper she finds out their fates. In the present there’s also some strange occurrences and Betty determines she must go back to Marquis with Riley to get to the truth.

 

The Women in White was an engrossing story, but I found I was more invested in the present timeline than the past. I speed up the audio for the 1964 chapters because I was frustrated by how powerless these women were. I wanted one of them to stand up for themselves, or for someone to intervene in their behalf.  Some of what happened was “too little too late” for my tastes.  I also wanted more closure regarding Dr. Trimble. He was a nasty piece of work only concerned with his research and what the discoveries would mean for him.

 

That said, I was satisfied with how things ultimately turned out for Betty and Riley.

I alternated between the e-book and audio copy and can recommend either version. Saskia Maarleveld did a wonderful job bringing all the characters, male and female, in a wide range of ages, to life.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

From Sarah Pekkanen, the New York Times bestselling author of House of Glass and co-author of The Wife Between Us—a stunning new novel of buried secrets, mind-bending history, and one woman’s search for the truth . . .

Decades ago, four women at prestigious Marquis University were the focus of parapsychology experiments led by a pioneering researcher. Just as they seemed on the verge of a real breakthrough, the four women vanished and the program was abruptly shut down.

In the present day, Riley Bell is desperate for a new life when she lands a caretaker job for Betty Sadler—an elderly, wheelchair bound woman whose house seems suspended in time. No television. No microwave. And Betty has never even heard of a cell phone.

Newly widowed, Betty discovers notes in her late husband’s papers that spark her quest to answer one final unanswered mystery that has shadowed her for six what happened to her three best friends who disappeared on the same day?

Told in dual timelines, as Betty’s world of 5 o’clock martinis and increasingly rigorous experiments converges with Riley’s present-day search for the other three women, the danger and intensity grow white hot.

Because whatever was swirling around these four exceptional young women is rising again.