Review: The Cloak and Dagger Book Club by Jackie McMahon

 

The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon

Publication Date: July 14th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

The Cloak and Dagger Club follows Lucy Hubbard, a new mystery writer who is shocked to receive an invitation to an exclusive gathering of successful crime authors hosted by the legendary Horace Hazelmoor. She's not thrilled to discover that her ex-fiancé, fellow mystery writer Frank Murray, will also be attending.

 

The meeting quickly descends into chaos as a drunken, belligerent Horace insults everyone in attendance. When he's later found murdered with a knife in his back, the members of the club become obvious suspects. Frank soon emerges as the prime suspect, and despite their painful history, Lucy is convinced he's innocent. Determined to clear his name, she begins investigating on her own.

 

Set in the 1930s, this was an enjoyable blend of classic mystery and second-chance romance. The historical setting was well done, and I liked following Lucy as she methodically uncovered clues and pieced together the truth. With its cast of secretive suspects and plenty of motives, the story gave me Agatha Christie vibes.

 

I was also invested in Lucy and Frank's relationship and enjoyed learning about their shared past. However, my biggest frustration was that Frank remained involved with another woman for most of the book, which dampened my enjoyment of the romance and lowered my overall rating.

 

The mystery builds to a suspenseful and satisfying conclusion, with Lucy finding herself in serious danger as she uncovers the truth. While the romance wasn't a perfect fit for me, I enjoyed the mystery and am looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

3.5 Stars

Book Description: 

Inspired by Agatha Christie's real-life Detection Club, a murder among a group of golden age mystery writers meets a second chance romance in this debut novel from author Jackie McMahon.

London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she's been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers—the Cloak and Dagger Club.

Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace's glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She's even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club's rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain's most popular crime writer.

But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police's prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he's not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime—and fight their lingering feelings for each other—before the murderer strikes again.

Review: The One Who Walked Away by Karen Rose

 

The One Who Walked Away (Mendocino #1) by Karen Rose

Publication Date: August 11th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 528

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Elle Randolph traded her career as a family law attorney in Florida for life as a bounty hunter after a terrible accident ended in tragedy. She left Florida and went to work as a bounty hunter with one of her close friends. Looking for a fugitive leads her to the small, picturesque town of Mendocino, California. When the innkeeper of the hotel they’re staying at is murdered it seems there’s more to the job than they first thought.

 

Detective Ronan Clarke isn’t thrilled to have two bounty hunters muddling his murder investigation, but he gradually forms a reluctant friendship with Elle, and an attraction begins to grow between them. Unlike her partner, Elle seems to have a strong moral compass and is more willing to share important information. Still, as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Elle may know more than she’s letting on.

 

The case grew increasingly intense as the killer became more desperate. At first, I wasn’t sure what their motives were, which kept me guessing throughout the story. I found myself worried not only for Elle but for anyone who crossed paths with her, especially as several clues seemed to point toward her being the murderer.

 

I loved the setting of Mendocino, a town I’ve visited many times. It was easy to picture the charming community and its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean along the Northern California coast.

 

I was also happy with how the romance was handled. It fit naturally into the story without overshadowing the mystery, and given the dangerous circumstances, anything more prominent wouldn’t have felt believable.

 

I really enjoyed The One Who Walked Away, the first book in Karen Rose’s new series. I’m a big fan of her romantic suspense novels and always look forward to her latest releases. I was very satisfied with how everything came together and am hoping there are many more mysteries to come in this series!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A bounty hunter must outrun her past before it catches up to her in this pulse-pounding new standalone thriller

Bounty hunter Elle Randolph takes on every case she can, in an effort to outrun herself. Three years ago, she was the only one who walked away from a car crash that killed her husband and two others. Although she was cleared of any wrongdoing, she is fueled by guilt and dedicated to solving other people’s problems. But her running is over when she’s identified as a person of interest in a murder investigation.

Detective Ronan Clarke, a single dad for fifteen years, has been laser-focused on raising his daughter and serving the people of Mendocino County, California. He’s got everything under control—until a bounty hunter enters his jurisdiction, keeping secrets and bringing murder to his quiet town. The hunter is definitely involved in his current case, but exactly how is his question. Could she be his killer? As he unravels her secrets, he becomes increasingly troubled by what he finds. While Elle is forced to reexamine every painful memory of the life she left behind, Ronan grows more and more sure of her innocence. But can he trust himself to uncover the truth amid their growing attraction?

Review: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances

 

Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances

Publication Date: June 23rd 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 367

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Sloane takes six weeks away from her wedding photography business to pursue what she truly loves: chasing tornadoes and storms, capturing their beauty with her camera. Winning the Nature Shots cover contest could help launch her as a landscape photographer, but the magazine hasn’t chosen a female winner in years, and her male competition is “Wild Wes” Talbot, a popular and talented photographer who’s made his mark by taking risks and his big, playful persona. He’s a shameless flirt with her, but she’s not impressed.  With a self-absorbed mother, Sloane has always been the responsible one so Wes’s brash personality doesn’t sit well with her.

 

Unfortunately, when Wes has an accident, Sloane finds herself stuck with him for the rest of storm-chasing season. As they spend more time together, though, she begins to see a different side of him. While searching for the perfect winning shot, the thrill of chasing storms brings them closer together.

 

I wouldn’t call this an enemies-to-lovers romance, because the adversarial part was coming from Sloane not from Wes, but that quickly melted away when she was forced into spending so much time with him and got to see his actual character.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Chase Me If You Can! The idea of spending six weeks traveling from state to state chasing storms sounds like an exciting adventure. Sloane and Wes were both well-developed, likeable characters, and I was fully invested in their journey and rooting for their HEA.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Two storm chasers find a love that could blow them away in this electric debut romance.

Wedding photographer Sloane Michaels might spend most of her year running after brides, but she lives for the six weeks each spring she chases tornadoes instead. When the prestigious magazine Nature Shots announces a cover contest, Sloane knows that winning could be the chance she needs to break up with taffeta for good and establish herself in landscape photography.

The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of reckless “Wild Wes” Talbot. A legend among storm chasers, he’s been Sloane’s close, personal frenemy for the last decade and is the man to beat for the cover contest.

Sloane isn’t surprised when Wes gets in an accident that jeopardizes his season. But with an active weather pattern emerging, she doubles down on her need to beat Wes fair and square, and begrudgingly invites him to join her for the remainder of the season.

As they race through hail, high winds, and stormy skies, Sloane realizes that Wes might be more than the rich, flirty, Texas wildcard she thought she knew — and that the feelings blooming between them are more charged and dangerous than the storms they’re chasing.

Review: Unpredictable Magic by Faith Hunter

 

Unpredictable Magic (Everhart Investigations #1) by Faith Hunter

Publication Date: July 14th 2026 by Ace

Pages: 556

Source: Publisher  

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Angie and her brother, Evan, are witches with ties to Queen Jane Yellowrock, but they’re striking out on their own by launching Everhart Investigations, a detective agency specializing in paranormal crimes. When a woman hires them to look for her friend, a woman who went missing at a party hosted by the Queen, it’s immediately obvious that she’s leaving out important details. They discover the missing woman has ties to Angie’s ex-husband, a vampire and nasty piece of work, with his own diabolical agenda.

 

Unpredictable Magic was an engrossing, but complex first installment in a new urban fantasy series. As the opening book in a spin-off series, and my first experience with the connected Jane Yellowrock novels, it did take me a bit to navigate this magical world and its many players. Alongside witches Angie and Evan, who are still learning the full extent of their powers, the story features vampires, demons, and plenty of political maneuvering.

 

Despite the learning curve, I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to the Everhart Investigations series. The world-building is unique, and the mystery kept me invested. With nonstop action and lots of danger along the way, I was hooked from start to finish.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Witches Angelina and Evan Everhart-Trueblood take a case that spirals out of control until the whole city is at risk in this exciting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter.

Angelina Everhart-Trueblood and her brother Evan run Everhart Investigations Inc., a PI firm in Chattanooga that solves paranormal crimes committed by supernatural beings. When their new client wants help finding her friend who supposedly disappeared during a reception at Angie’s aunt Jane’s winter residence, things get . . . complicated.

The client is not who she appears to be, and demons strike the city for the first time since the Demon War. On top of that, evidence is pointing toward the involvement of an overly ambitious vampire—who just happens to be Angie’s ex-husband.

As Angie and Evan team up with the CPD, they will have to dig deep into their magical reserves—and rely on some friends in high places—to rid Chattanooga of the danger creeping into their city.

Author Bio: Faith Hunter is the New York Times bestselling author of the Jane Yellowrock series, the Soulwood series, the Rogue Mage series, and the Junkyard series.

 

Review: The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

 

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #2) by Brigitte Knightley

Publication Date: July 7th 2026 by Ace

Pages: 416

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

This is book two in the duology series, Dearly Beloathed, which should be read in order. The series is utterly delightful! I appreciated the catch-up chapter at the beginning.

 

Aurienne is a member of the Haelen Order committed to healing and saving lives and Oric is part of the Fyren Order, a guild of mercenary killers. Opposing orders and fierce enemies.

In the last book, Oric bribes Aurienne to cure his seith rot, a disease that weakens his powers and will eventually kill him. His bride enables the Haelen Order formulate a cure for the pox killing children all over the Tiendoms.

Meeting several times for the cure that may or may not work, Oric and Aurienne are forced to work together and with every encounter the hate dims a little more. The reluctant attraction between them ignites into a full blown, steamy affair! This is how you do spice!

Meanwhile, more details emerge about the pox outbreak and the sinister forces behind it. As their plans begin to unravel, the bad guys grow desperate. Aurienne, her order and the children are in grave danger. Despite Oric’s villainous persona, he can’t resist giving aid to Aurienne and her Haelens.

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy was so much fun! The fast-paced, witty dialogue and gorgeous prose kept me hooked from beginning to end! A romance and mystery set in a rich fantasy world that didn’t weigh down the plot. I absolutely loved this journey and how it all turned out!

5 Stars

Book Description:

The stakes are high, the love is forbidden, and the slow burn turns steamy in this swoony, witty, and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order’s motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark . . .

Until they don’t.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body—and his heart.

Aurienne’s perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon—nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order—an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war, and love and hate, trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.

Review: The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

 

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

Publication Date: May 26th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Hannah, a van-life travel blogger, and Simon are shocked to learn they’ve each inherited half of the same beach cottage courtesy of their grandfathers,. Hannah wants to keep the cottage, since it’s been a while since she’s put down roots and Simon wants to sell for financial reasons.

 

They butt heads over that, but part of the will stipulates they live there for two months before making any decisions. Cohabitating gives them a chance to see the other’s side and a chance to get to know each other. Of course, (this is a romance!) sparks of attraction fly between them.

 

The Summer Share is the perfect summer read! The small town of Cape Split in the Outer Banks of North Carolina sounded so charming and beautiful!  Exactly the kind of place I’d want to spend a summer! The quirky, friendly community welcome Hannah and Simon right away and give them glimpses into their grandfather’s lives. I loved the gentle slow‑burn romance and the way both characters find peace, acceptance, and love.

4 Stars

Book Description:

When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van. An unexpected inheritance from her Pops brings Hannah to Cape Split, North Carolina, where she learns she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his Gramps.

As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover the house was once home to a timeless love story. Soon, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past may be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.

Hannah thought one summer at the Split would be enough, except it isn’t like any place she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—and she’s thinking about putting down some roots. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community the same way or their first summer share might also be their last.

Review: Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Publication Date: April 28th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Mebel’s a sixty-three-year-old who excels at being a “trophy wife”. She maintains her body and looks and has built her life around what her husband, Henk, wants. However, her life is turned upside down when he asks for a divorce. He’s taken up with their twenty-four-year-old chef, Wendy. Mebel isn’t going to take this lying down, though, and decides to go to school to become a chef to win her husband back.

 

Right away, things don’t go as expected and instead of attending a glitzy school in Paris, she’s mistakenly enrolled herself at the campus England, in the very unglamorous town of Cowley. The classes are more work than she thought, and all the students are younger than her son. But soon Mebel is enjoying the feeling of accomplishment she has mastering the skills. She’s even making friends and even though they’re much younger, she feels truly seen for who she is as an individual apart from her husband.

 

Ms. Mebel was a lot of fun with Ms. Sutanto’s signature humor!  Mebel was a character with her brutal honesty and Chinese grandmother ways, but this was also a touching journey. It was satisfying to see Mebel start over and find joy!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A nearly divorced housewife enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to start questioning the strange antics of her classmates in this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

Retirement should mean long-awaited trips to the sapphire waters of Santorini or careening down a sand dune in Dubai. For sixty-three-year-old Mebel, retirement means her husband of more than forty years announcing that he's leaving her for their private chef. Mebel isn’t sure who's the bigger loss.

Not to worry, Mebel has the perfect plan: she’s going to win back her husband. No one knows what he needs better than her—after all, she's been anticipating his needs their whole marriage. And if he wants a wife who can cook (why else would he leave her for a chef?), she will simply go to cooking school. Luckily, class at the renowned Saint Honoré School of Culinary Arts in France starts in just four days!

However, Mebel quickly realizes that her culinary school is not in illustrious Paris but rather in England—and some small village outside of Oxford no less. Despite the less-than-warm welcome from her much younger classmates, Mebel manages to befriend Gemma, the breakout star of the program, who offers to help Mebel on their first day. When Gemma stops showing up to class, Mebel knows she must figure out what—or who—caused her friend’s sudden disappearance. After all, Mebel may not know the first thing about how to cut a potato, but she certainly knows how to identify a fraud, and there’s definitely something fishy going on.

Review: The Antiquarian's Object of Desire by India Holton

 

The Antiquarian's Object of Desire (Love's Academic #3) by India Holton

Publication Date: April 21st 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling, experts on magical antiques, have been close friends since they were children, but when an innocent embrace is misinterpreted, their reputations, and their positions suddenly hang in the balance. To avoid scandal, they decide to fake a feud, a plan that spirals wildly out of control. After one too many magical mishaps (including some literal explosions), Professor Otterstock ships them off to Cumbria to catalog Sir Nigel Harroway’s sprawling collection of enchanted antiques, many of which may be more dangerous than advertised.

 

I really felt for Amelia. Watching her navigate a world where her intelligence is dismissed simply because she’s a woman was infuriating. Throckmorton, Dummersby, and Professor Otterstock were absolute bullies, and their constant digs at her had me seething on her behalf. I kept hoping she’d finally let loose on them, and while she mostly held her tongue, her subtle acts of retaliation were satisfying. The romance, a sweet friends‑to‑lovers arc, was a swoony one.

 

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire leans more toward romantic comedy than tightly plotted fantasy, and the story does wander a bit before pulling everything together at the end. Still, it’s an entertaining romp, slapsticky, clever, and full of quick humor. Even when the plot zigzags, the charm never really lets up.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton.

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

Review: Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh

 

Archangel's Eternity (Guild Hunter #18) by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: May 5th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 448

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Archangel’s Eternity was a beautiful, heartfelt finale to a series I’ve loved for years. From the moment Elena the Guild Hunter met Archangel Raphael, their sparks, clashes, and undeniable chemistry set the tone for an epic romance, and this last book honors every step of their journey.

 

Across the series they’ve battled monsters, faced devastating losses, and navigated the treacherous politics of the Cadre. Here, though, they step into the most meaningful chapter of their lives. The external drama is lighter, a few archangel conflicts and the fragile mental state of another, but the emotional depth is rich. Much of the story centers on Elena and Raphael embracing change, surrounded by the people who’ve become their family.

 

I especially loved how Elena’s memories of those she’s lost remain fresh. Her grief and love coexist, and she finds a way to let those memories shine in this new beginning.

 

I was genuinely sad to see this series end, but Nalini Singh closes it with such grace and warmth that I finished the final page with a full heart and a huge smile.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Elena and Raphael return for the hauntingly poignant conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s genre-defining Guild Hunter series.

A thousand years.

It’s been a millennium since Elena’s fateful first meeting with Archangel Raphael. She has survived war and loss, experienced beauty and cruelty. But no matter what, she has always held on to her mortal heart, as she and Raphael have held on to each other. Passionate and vibrant, they’ve built a life that has stood the test of time, growing ever stronger with each turn of the sun.

But change is coming—of a magnitude they could have never imagined—and it will forever alter the trajectory of their existence.

Even as they grapple with the cataclysmic shift in their personal lives, the Cadre of Ten, which has maintained a hard-won peace for centuries, begins to simmer with dangerous fault lines. The specter of madness looms in one archangel, the promise of war burns between two others, and in darkness far from mortal and immortal eyes stirs an ancient, slumbering power.

Suddenly, the future is terrifyingly uncertain . . . at the very moment that Elena and her archangel need to protect a treasure infinitely more precious than eternity.

 

Giveaway: 3 Romance Books!

 Happy Friday! 

Just got back from the coast yesterday afternoon and thought I'd hop on here and post a giveaway. 

The Wild Magic series by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

The Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the form for a chance to win. Good luck!

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Review: The Name Game by Beth O'Leary

 

The Name Game by Beth O'Leary

Publication Date: April 7th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Charlie Jones arrives on the remote island of Ormer ready for a fresh start as the new farm store manager. The island is exactly what she needs: quiet, beautiful, and far removed from the life she’s trying to leave behind. But her reset is immediately derailed when another Charlie Jones shows up, insisting he is the one who was offered the job. A simple mix‑up… or something more suspicious?

 

Rosie Nicole, the farm’s owner, decides the only fair solution is a two‑month trial. Whichever Charlie proves to be the better fit will stay on permanently, unless they can boost profits enough to justify hiring both.

 

Both Charlies are desperate for a restart, and the story slowly unravels their pasts through emails, diary entries, and flashbacks. Their relationship begins with prickly tension, but working and living in such close quarters forces them into an uneasy truce that gradually shifts into trust, respect, and eventually a simmering attraction. It’s a slow burn, but I was hooked on every moment of it.

 

I also adored the island regulars, an odd, prickly, and unexpectedly warm group who make Ormer feel like a place you’d want to escape to yourself.

 

As for the name‑swap mystery, I had no idea where it was heading, but I could feel a twist brewing. When the truth finally dropped, I had to pause and process because it genuinely blindsided me in the best way. O’Leary ties it together so cleverly that once everything clicks, it feels both surprising and completely earned. It added a whole new emotional layer to the story, and I loved it!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Charlie couldn’t be happier to take the job of farm-shop manager on the remote, wild Isle of Ormer. She’s grieving, a little lost, and in desperate need of a fresh start.

Jones has come out of a difficult breakup and is looking forward to some peace away from the noise of his city life. Moving to Ormer couldn’t have come at a better time.

But when Charlie Jones and, ahem, Charlie Jones both turn up at Ormer’s one and only farm shop, claiming to have been offered the role of manager, everyone is baffled. How could this have happened? And just who is the real Charlie Jones?

Review: The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn

 

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn

Publication Date: April 7th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 464

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Layla is heading to Paris for the wedding of her ex‑husband’s younger sister, Emily, the little sister she promised to stay close to after the divorce, even if keeping that promise has been harder than she expected. Learning that her ex is bringing his new girlfriend only adds another layer of awkwardness to an already difficult trip.

 

Griffin, the groom’s best friend, just wants to see him happy after everything they’ve been through. So, when he discovers Emily has cold feet, thanks to something Layla said, he insists Layla help fix the situation.

 

The Paris Match begins with Layla and Griffin firmly at odds, but I loved how quickly they become each other’s quiet defenders. Whenever Emily or Michael’s family made things uncomfortable or painful, they stepped in for one another without hesitation. Layla’s “amicable” divorce clearly left deeper wounds than she lets on, and being around her ex and the family she lost stings. Griffin had his own issues dealing with chronic pain from injuries sustained in a tragic accident and the emotions tied up with that event. I felt for both of them.

 

Watching these two slowly come together, supporting each other, challenging each other, and softening toward each other, was genuinely moving. Even from their first prickly interaction, the chemistry was unmistakable, and I was completely swept up in their romance. Despite the messy circumstances, they still paused to soak in the magic of Paris with its beauty and history. I loved “revisiting” the city right alongside them.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A woman tests the limits of her so-called amicable divorce when she flies to Paris for the destination wedding of her former sister-in-law, only to butt heads with the deliciously gruff best man, in a poignant and romantic novel from Kate Clayborn.

Physician Layla Bailey has spent over a year telling herself she's moved on from a painful but amicable divorce from her college sweetheart. Staying friends with her ex seemed like the mature thing to do, but when Layla is invited to her former sister-in-law’s destination wedding in Paris—where Layla once spent her own romantic honeymoon—she knows her commitment to maturity might be her worst enemy…especially since her ex isn’t attending alone.

The only thing that could make the week more difficult is getting through it without the distraction of the wedding.... But when what Layla thought was a harmless conversation about the choices of her younger self leads to the bride getting cold feet, Layla finds herself facing down the groom’s mysterious, taciturn best man, Griffin, who will do anything to make sure this wedding happens.

Since she broke it, Griff demands she help him fix it. Going along with his plan to alleviate the engaged couple's doubts seems like Layla’s best chance at maintaining a good relationship with a family she once called her own. But as she learns more about the past heartbreak that’s driving Griff to help his friend, she gets closer and closer to confronting the true depth of her own pain…while finding herself more and more willing to risk it all again for Griff.

Review: Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

 

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

Publication Date: March 10th 2026 by Ace

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher  

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Single mother Josie has been barely scraping by since losing her partner, and now her rent has jumped yet again. Just when she’s convinced she’s out of options, a listing pops up for a nearby rental that, while definitely a bit shabby, has good bones, a welcoming feel, and most importantly, a price she can manage.

 

Meanwhile, Pax is doing everything he can to keep Number 5 Wayside Hotel running. The hotel is a sentient refuge for magical beings, but it has mysteriously run out of fuel, leaving it stranded on Earth. With its glamour flickering and its systems failing, Pax is desperate to find a solution before the guests become trapped far from home. Taking on human residents might be the answer, especially when the hotel reacts so strongly to Josie and her four‑year‑old son, Amos. But hiding the hotel’s magic from Josie is harder than he expected, and Pax doesn’t want to frighten away the sweet, worn‑down woman he’s unexpectedly drawn to.

 

Some of the Inn’s residents were quite unlikable, and I thought the cause of the hotel’s problems would be obvious. There were also some genuinely sweet, welcoming characters who immediately take to Josie and Amos, which added a lot of charm.

 

Both Josie and Pax carry deep emotional wounds. Josie struggles with feeling like she’s failing as a parent, a fear made worse by her overbearing mother‑in‑law. Pax, orphaned young, has never truly felt loved or chosen. Watching these two bruised souls slowly learn to trust, lean on each other, and believe they deserve happiness was touching.

 

I really enjoyed Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel! It was cozy and magical, but it also had some emotional depth. Seeing Josie and Pax, two tired, bruised people, find comfort and love in each other was heartwarming. The romance wraps up nicely, but there’s definitely room for more stories at the Wayside, and I’d happily come back for another visit.

4 Stars

Book Description:

When a magical hotel appears smack-dab in the middle of the most unmagical of worlds, the last thing the residents expect is to fall in love.

Manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub, Pax Nomen has one of the easiest jobs in all the known universes, unless you count the occasional plumbing disaster. When Number Five Wayside gets stranded on a non-magical world, even Pax's trusty Wayside Handbook can’t help him. How is he going to “reboot” the hotel and keep it on its magical journey?

Josie LaChusia is a single mom experiencing debt, having parenting doubts, and tipping dangerously toward depression when an ad pops up on her phone that an apartment is available in a building she’s never seen before.

Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a nudge to restart her life. In a building occupied by faeries, gargoyles, and a gnome with a bad attitude, two souls from very different places come together to create a home like no other.

Review: Family Lies by Karen Rose

 

Family Lies (San Diego Case Files #4) by Karen Rose

Publication Date: March 31st 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 513

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Kit McKittrick’s adopted sister, Akiko, is contacted by a woman claiming to know the truth about her birth mother. Thirty‑two years ago, Akiko was left as an infant at a firehouse and bounced through foster homes before finding stability with the McKittrick's. Akiko is eager to learn what this woman has to say, but Kit, as a homicide detective feels they should be cautious, so she and Sam accompany Akiko to the meeting place. When the woman, Mary Sherman, fails to show, they head to her home only to find her dead and come under fire themselves. Kit is injured and placed on leave, but there’s no chance she’s stepping away from the case. And of course, Sam, the department psychologist, is right there with her.

 

The slow‑burn romance between Sam and Kit has been simmering since book one, and things are finally getting serious. I enjoy their bond more as a deep partnership than a sweeping romance, their internal reflections about how grateful they are for each other started to feel repetitive, and I didn’t feel a ton of romantic chemistry. Their closeness works; the constant emotional commentary less so.

 

Family Lies was a fitting name for this mystery because Kit, Sam and Akiko discover layer upon layer of deceit in her past. The bodies and suspects pile up, and no one wants to talk. There’s danger around every corner and no one is safe!

 

This is book four in a series, and while this is a standalone mystery I think it’s best read in order because of the ongoing mystery arc that hasn’t been solved, the developing relationships and character growth. I look forward to the next book since there seems to be a lead in the ongoing mystery!

4 Stars

Book Description:

The fourth nerve-shattering installment of the San Diego Case Files from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose sees Kit McKittrick’s sister caught in a maelstrom of deadly family secrets.

As an infant, Kit McKittrick’s foster sister Akiko was abandoned at a firehouse. Now 32, Akiko has received an unsettling phone call from a woman who says that she knew her birth mother but refuses to divulge any details except in person. Akiko is nervous but also thrilled at the prospect of finally learning about her blood relations.

Kit has a bad feeling about this and insists on accompanying Akiko to meet the woman. Sure enough, as they stand on Mary Sherman’s doorstep, shots are fired and Kit is hit...and inside the house is a corpse: Mary Sherman herself.

Although she’s on medical leave and forbidden to work the case, Kit cannot rest. With police psychologist Sam Reeves, she undertakes a covert investigation into the mysterious Mary Sherman. Was she Akiko’s birth mother? Why did she reach out after all these years? And who had a motive to kill her?

As more bodies pile up, Kit starts to put together the pieces of the frightening puzzle that is Akiko’s birth family, and she’ll come to wonder whether some secrets should stay buried after all.