Review: The Rainy Day Bookshop by RaeAnne Thayne

 

The Rainy Day Bookshop by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: June 2nd 2026 by St. Martin's Press MIRA & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 384

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 46min

Narrator: Carly Robins

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Emma was learning to drive in bad weather and crashed the car killing her father. Rosie, her mother, never blamed Emma for the accident, but Emma left soon after and spiraled. Only when she became pregnant did she clean up and get her life back on track.

 

Now, Emma is back home with her three-year-old daughter, Olive, to help her mother run The Rainy Day Bookshop while her grandmother is laid out with a broken ankle. Rosie is thrilled to have her daughter back home after years apart.

 

Emma never told her mother what caused the tragic accident that killed her father, and she doesn’t intend to, because she doesn’t want to shatter her mother’s memories. Now she’s happy to be back at home, close to her family with Olive. She’s had some hard years raising her young daughter on her own while working and earning a degree and so she appreciates the opportunity to have some support and get close again with her family.

 

I loved The Rainy Day Bookshop and felt deeply for both Emma and Rosie as they navigated their shared grief and guilt. Watching the two of them slowly rebuild their relationship was moving. Olive was adorable, and seeing her bond with her grandmother was touching. There were romances as well: Andrew, the reclusive writer for Rosie, and Bryce, the construction foreman for Emma. Both were sweet, low‑drama, and genuinely lovely!

 

I alternated between the e-copy and audio version and can recommend both. Carly Robins has a pleasing voice and added warmth and emotion to each character. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance! 

4 Stars

Book Description:

Sandwiched between caring for her mother and rebuilding the relationship with her estranged daughter, Emma, Rosie Lucas’s life is full. In the best way. With Emma and her 3-year old daughter, Olive, back home, Rosie has a partner for The Rainy Day Bookshop, the family business, and a chance to fix the past. What she doesn’t have time for is a romantic relationship. And even if she did, Andrew Morgan is the last person she’d choose. Not only is he an arrogant and reclusive writer, but he’s a single dad with two young kids. She’s already been there, done that. Still as an irresistible flirtation builds between them, he becomes her unexpected confidante on the distance Rosie can’t seem to overcome with Emma, a secret she can’t quite unravel…

Emma isn’t proud of her past. But she’s pulled herself up by the bootstraps, caring for her own daughter, and protecting her mom at all costs. Just as she always has. She never told Rosie what she saw all those years ago and she never will. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction. Rosie and Emma will have to navigate an unimaginable path forward. Together.

Review: Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan

 

Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan

Publication Date: May 5th 2026 by MIRA & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 21mins

Narrator: Henrietta Meire

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Evie Hamilton steps in as acting general manager of The Alexandra in Cornwall after the previous manager suffers a heart attack. She basically grew up in the hotel, with her father as concierge, so she’s known the staff since childhood. That history makes it hard for her to enforce change, but without it, the struggling hotel may not survive.

 

Abby Jones, meanwhile, has worked her way through every role in her mother’s hotel group, yet her colleagues still assume she’s only advanced because she’s the boss’s daughter. When her mother sends her undercover to the Cornwall property to find out why the hotel is underperforming, Abby jumps at the chance. Going incognito means the staff will speak freely, but it also means hiding who she is.

 

Evie and Abby click almost instantly. Evie is relieved to finally have support from head office, and Abby is surprised by how quickly she feels welcomed and understood. Still, the secret she’s keeping makes her uneasy.

 

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Evie, Abby, and Abby’s mother, Alexandra, each woman dealing with issues. I loved watching Evie and Abby’s friendship grow as they leaned on each other. Evie needed guidance on managing a staff who still saw her as the concierge’s daughter, and Abby’s fresh approach helped her find her footing. Abby, who’s never had close friends, finds Evie’s warmth and acceptance unexpectedly healing. Alexandra, too, has her own history with the Cornwall hotel and her own reasons for sending Abby there.

 

Each woman also gets their own romance. A nice addition rounding out the story, but it wasn’t the focus.

 

Sarah Morgan excels at writing relatable characters facing realistic problems, making me feel and root for every one of them! Everything comes together in a cozy, uplifting way with low drama and plenty of heart.

 

I alternately read and listened to an audio version and can recommend either. Henrietta Meire’s performance was wonderful! She seamlessly alternated between characters, giving each one a distinct voice and personality.

4 Stars

Book Description:

A joyful, sun‑soaked story of friendship, love, and new beginnings, from USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan—perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Jill Shalvis, and seaside escapes.

Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.

Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.

Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures…

Review: Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak

 

Meet Me in Italy Brenda Novak

Publication Date: April 7th 2026 by MIRA & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 400

Audio Length: 12hrs 11min

Narrator: Stina Nielsen

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

My Thoughts:

As Charlotte stares down the looming deadline for her second novel, with not a single word written when her life implodes. Her marriage to Cliff Jackson, a famous basketball star, ends abruptly when he demands she move out with no explanation. She has no idea what went wrong. Then comes another shock: Charlotte learns she has a twelve‑year‑old half‑sister, Lilly, stranded in Italy after their mother is killed in a tragic accident. As Lilly’s closest relative, Charlotte is suddenly the only person who can step in.

 

Determined to meet her sister, escape the chaos of her divorce, and hopefully find inspiration for her book, Charlotte heads to Italy. Her estranged best friend Sloane and Sloane’s brother Julian join her, offering support she didn’t realize she needed, and sparking an unexpected connection with Julian.

 

Charlotte is carrying so much heartbreak and uncertainty, but Sloane and Julian have their own wounds and reasons for needing a getaway, and I found myself caring deeply for all three of them.

 

Meet Me in Italy was an engrossing, heartwarming story, that swept me away! For Charlotte, Sloane, Julian, and young Lilly, this trip becomes a journey of healing, rediscovery, and quiet transformation with a touch of romance woven in set in against the gorgeous Italian Coast.

 

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and Stina Nielsen’s narration was wonderful. She gave each character a distinct voice and emotional depth, bringing them vividly to life and enhancing my experience.

4 Stars

Book Description:

A sun-soaked trip to the Amalfi Coast promises a fresh start—and reveals secrets never imagined in New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s tender new novel.

In the wake of her debut novel’s breakout success—and a very painful public divorce—Charlotte Williams-Jackson has something to prove. With her second novel overdue, she’s scrambling to hold it together. But her focus is rocked when she discovers that her childhood wasn't as it seemed—and she has a tween half-sister who's been orphaned in Italy.

Alongside her best friend, Sloane, and Sloane’s charming brother, Julian, Charlotte ventures to the Amalfi Coast to meet her sister. She would never turn her back on family, especially since this girl doesn’t have anyone else, but between her looming deadline and her entire identity being flipped upside down, it’s a lot. Determined to rebuild her life, Charlotte must confront the relationships she’s held dear—and the loss of those she thought she had but didn't—forcing her to question everything she understood about herself and the bonds that shape a family.

Review: Invasive Species by Ellery Adams

 

Invasive Species by Ellery Adams

Publication Date: April 14th 2026 by Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 327

Audio Book Length: 9hrs 31min

Narrator: Courtney Patterson

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Natalie is trying to break out of her role as suburban housewife and mother, selling real estate, but this isn’t easy in the male-dominated 80s. Her chauvinistic boss is giving her 90 days to prove herself. The listing Natalie’s given is in her own affluent neighborhood, but it unfortunately butts up to Mrs. Smith’s decaying, vine‑choked estate.

 

Beth and Elaine, Natalie’s friends, have their own issues with Mrs. Smith.

 

Mrs. Smith has been a mystery for years, never seen out of her crumbling estate with its overgrown garden, but things are about to change. Mrs. Smith is a hungry creature masquerading as a human and she needs nine human sacrifices to stay alive. Now that she’s on the hunt, no one is safe!

 

Jill, Natalie’s twelve-year-old daughter, feels the evil coming from Mrs. Smith’s lair.  Her housekeeper/babysitter, Una has suspicions about Mrs. Smith, as well, and together they try to discover her origin and motives.

 

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Natalie, Jill, Una, and Mrs. Smith herself. I was hooked by all four voices, but Jill and Una’s POVs were my favorite. I felt bad for Jill and the way her mother treated her.

 

Invasive Species was a fun, sinister tale set in the 80s which stirred up all kinds of memories for me, as I was Jill’s age during that era, and the setting felt spot-on. I rooted for all these women as they went up against the evil Mrs. Smith!

I alternately read and listened to an audio and can recommend either version. Courtney Patterson did a fantastic job performing all the characters, accents and emotions, enhancing my enjoyment of the story!

4 Stars

Book Description:

“Dark and delectable. I gobbled this book up and enjoyed every last bite.“
—Kirsten Miller, author of The Change and The Women of Wild Hill

The women in Cold Harbor all have something to prove, and they'll have to do it in a world full of monsters.
 
Something’s not right in Cold Harbor—more so than usual. While this sleepy small town has seen its fair share of monsters in cheating husbands and leering bosses, none are as hungry as Mrs. Smith. The mysterious resident has finally emerged from her crumbling mansion on the hill, mesmerizing the townspeople with her beauty. Her secret? Nine human sacrifices to feed her immortality.
 
Natalie Scott is more worried about Mrs. Smith blocking her first real estate sale—the one that will take her from stay-at-home mom to working woman extraordinaire. She's eager to prove herself in a world where the social mores of 1980s suburbia reign, where she's expected to keep a magazine-perfect home and raise beautiful children, all while sticking to her husband's budget. Natalie's two best friends are facing their own demons, and Mrs. Smith and her deep, dark woods are an easy scapegoat for everyone's problems.
 
But Natalie's twelve-year-old daughter, Jill, and her Icelandic housekeeper, Una, can sense something deeper at play. Armed with library books and a whole lot of grit, Jill and Una team up to save the town once and for all. But as the rest of Cold Harbor sinks into anger, fear, and jealousy, they’ll have to confront the What does it really mean to be a monster?

Review: Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass

 

Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass

Publication Date: April 14th 2026 by Park Row Books & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 304

Audio Book Length: 7hrs 53 min

Narrator: Brittany Pressley, Rebecca Lowman, Karissa Vacker

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Three friends, Regan, Sasha, and Andi, live in the affluent, picture-perfect community of Cloverhill Lakes. On the surface, it’s all charm and privilege, until Regan’s car explodes during the neighborhood’s annual Labor Day party. Thankfully, she isn’t inside, but the blast shatters the illusion of safety, and from that moment on, everything spirals.

 

Regan is already barely holding it together, numbing her grief over her husband’s death with prescription pills. When she spots him alive, just for a moment, from a distance, her world tilts again. Sasha is juggling her own troubles, including her son Drew’s increasingly unsettling behavior and secrets she’d rather keep buried. And Andi is forced to deal with her ex-husband’s new wife, Tia, who is such a nightmare I wanted to strangle her myself!

 

Too Close to Home opens with a bang, literally, and never lets up! The short, cliffhanger chapters rotate between Andi, Regan, and Sasha. I was riveted as each new thread was revealed, on edge for what it meant for each of the women!  It all builds to a danger-packed, thrilling conclusion that delivers!

 

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and the narration elevated my experience. Rebecca Lowman (Andi), Brittany Pressley (Regan), and Karissa Vacker (Sasha) each bring a distinct voice and emotional tone to their characters. All three narrators shine, making the women, and secondary characters, feel fully alive.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The two-time Edgar Award–nominated author of ON A QUIET STREET and THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10, Seraphina Nova Glass, is back with TOO CLOSE TO HOME

Nothing in this idyllic community is quite what it seems…

Those lucky enough to live in the elite lakefront community of Cloverhill Lakes are drawn to it for its safety and top-notch school district. The moms meet for coffee at the park while their kids play, they’re heavily involved in the PTA, and the summers are filled with chardonnay, brunch, sundresses, and backyard bonfires.

But everything changes when Regan Hoffman’s car explodes at the annual Labor Day party. The wrong person is killed, but it was meant for her. As the carefully crafted walls of her community begin to crumble, Regan tries to keep it together—something made infinitely harder when she sees her dead husband…alive.

When a Cloverhill Lakes resident suddenly goes missing, dark secrets begin to surface from underneath the idyllic veneer of their beautiful community—and the truth threatens to destroy them all as Regan finds herself in a fight for her life.

Review: The Moonlight Runner by Karen Robards

 

The Moonlight Runner by Karen Robards

Publication Date: March 24th 2026 by Park Row & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 12hrs 2min

Narrator: Alana Kerr Collins

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

The Moonlight Runner was equal parts action, thriller and romance and completely riveting!

 

Ireland in 1918 is still recovering from World War I and there’s a rebellion against the British rule gaining momentum. Rynn Carmichael, works as a nurse to aid the soldiers still healing from their wounds. When Rynn overhears two British soldiers talking about apprehending gun runners that night, she rushes to the shore to warn her fiancé, Donal, knowing he’s probably involved despite telling her he’d have no part. It puts them all in grave danger.

 

From the first chapter the story was an action-packed read that I didn’t want to put down! I’ve read stories set Ireland during this period and have enjoyed learning about the events of this tumultuous time. The Moonlight Runner vividly depicts the danger and personal cost without making the story too gritty or depressing. There were friendships and romance, and one man that Rynn ends up counting on again and again. He was a charismatic presence!

 

This is a sweeping page-turner I wholeheartedly recommend!

 

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to an audio and recommend either version. This is the first time I’ve listened to Alana Kerr Collins and I thought her narration was fantastic! Her Irish accent sounded authentic to me, and she seamlessly performed all voices, male and female in a range of ages.

5 Stars

Book Description:

In the wake of the Great War, a young woman joins the Irish rebellion and risks everything for her country in this sweeping story of love, bravery and the relentless pursuit of freedom.

Ireland, 1918. In a world brutalized by the Great War and devastated by the Spanish flu, twenty-two-year-old Rynn Carmichael is suddenly pulled into the war of independence when Donal O’Reilly, the boy she has loved for most of her life, takes up gunrunning in support of the rebellion.

Raised in a small Irish village on the shores of Donegal Bay, Rynn is working as a nurse in a convalescent home for soldiers wounded in the Great War when she overhears a British officer gloating over the trap that has been set for Irish gunrunners bringing a boat full of smuggled arms ashore. Knowing that Donal must be involved, she rushes out at midnight to warn the incoming boat, only to find herself caught up in a terrifying and tragic series of events that take her from the glittering ballrooms of London to the narrow back alleys of Dublin as she and those she loves fight for their lives and their country.

Review: It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

 

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

Publication Date: February 3rd 2026 by Park Row & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 2min

Narrator: Jennifer Jill Araya, Brittany Pressley, Gary Tiedemann

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Courtney’s peaceful family vacation is shattered when she discovers her brother and sister-in-law murdered in the cottage next door. They discover her nephew asleep upstairs, but her seventeen-year-old niece is missing. Was it a stranger who came in or was it one of the family? They definitely weren’t getting along.

 

The story is told from Courtney’s present day POV and Reese’s POV starting from when the family arrives at the lake resort. I have to say I preferred Courtney’s POV since I liked her character more, even if she did pull some TSTL moves. It was difficult being in Reese’s head, since she was so difficult and her parts were a bit drawn out for me.

 

It's Not Her was a page-turner! There was no shortage of suspects here and I suspected just about everyone at one point or another. I was shocked to find out the killer’s identity by the end! The reason the events were put into motion... Yikes!!! And that last revelation, wow!

 

I alternated between the audio and e-copy and recommend either version. I enjoyed all the narrators, Jennifer Jill Araya, as Courtney, Brittany Pressley as Reese and I won’t say who Gary Tiedemann performed. All performed a variety of ages, male and female distinctly and well!

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

Two families vacationing at a secluded lake resort are at the center of a chilling crime and mysterious disappearance in this twisty, unputdownable thriller

A stunning discovery…
Courtney Gray's tranquil family vacation is shattered when she hears a blood-curdling scream from the lakeside cottage next door. There she finds the lifeless bodies of her brother and sister-in-law. Her teenage niece Reese is nowhere to be found, while her nephew Wyatt lies asleep upstairs, unharmed.

A shocking investigation…
As the police descend on the quiet resort town, disturbing secrets about Courtney’s family start to emerge. When she learns that the town has secrets of its own, it makes her wonder if Reese is another victim in a brutal crime or if she’s the killer.

A truth no one could have imagined …
As Courtney begins to unravel the terrible mystery, she realizes that everyone around her has something to hide. And the closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to see…

Review: Make It Out Alive By Allison Brennan

 

Make It Out Alive (Quinn & Costa #7) by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: January 27th 2025 by Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 400

Audiobook Length: 11hrs 57min

Narrator: Suzanne T. Fortin

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Detective Kara Quinn and FBI Agent Matt Costa go undercover as newlyweds to catch a killer targeting couples at a Florida resort. When they manage to arrest their suspect mid‑abduction, the team thinks the case is wrapped. But after deciding to stay the weekend and finally take a breath, Kara and Matt vanish. Suddenly, the question becomes unavoidable: Did they catch the right man?

 

As the team scrambles to retrace Kara and Matt’s steps, they’re forced to confront a chilling possibility, someone else may be involved. Meanwhile, Kara and Matt wake to find themselves trapped in a deadly, escape‑room‑like setup where every choice could be their last.

 

I devoured Make It Out Alive in a single day. The blend of crime‑procedural investigation and high‑stakes survival kept me glued to the story, especially as the clock ticked down for Kara and Matt. Their chapters are action-packed as they use their wits to escape, while the team’s investigation unfolds with smart, methodical tension.

 

I’ve followed this series from the beginning and love how consistently gripping it is, but you can jump in here without missing a beat. Still, I wholeheartedly recommend the entire series.

 

I alternated between reading and listening to Make It Out Alive, and both formats were excellent. The audiobook, performed by Suzanne T. Fortin, was especially enjoyable. She delivers distinct, believable voices for every character, male and female alike.

5 Stars

Book Description:

Allison Brennan returns to her bestselling series with an edge-of-your-seat thriller that thrusts Quinn and Costa into the crosshairs of a sadistic serial killer.

Three newlywed couples have disappeared from an exclusive resort in Florida, only to turn up dead soon after. With the location and the similarities between the female victims as their only leads, it’s up to the FBI Mobile Response Team to catch a serial killer before anyone else ends up dead. And they have the perfect bait—Detective Kara Quinn, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the targeted women.

Undercover as newlyweds pretending to enjoy their honeymoon, Kara and FBI Agent Matt Costa set a flawless trap. When their plan works and they arrest the predator, Matt sends the rest of the team home so he and Kara can have the weekend for some much-needed R&R. But on Monday morning, the couple doesn’t show up to work, and the MRT learns they never checked out of their hotel.

As their team tries to find them, Matt and Kara learn the truth—the killer wasn’t acting alone. He had a partner who succeeded where he failed. Kidnapped and forced into a twisted escape room, they need to find a way out, because if they don’t escape, they’ll die.

Review: A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

 

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

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

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 42mins

Narrator: Henrietta Meire

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

The Balfour’s Christmases are full of love and chaos, but this year it’s a little more fraught as each member seems to be dealing with a crisis.

 

Twins Becky and Rosie have been distant since Rosie’s wedding. Becky’s been trying to give her sister space to settle into her new marriage while Rosie is wondering if she should’ve taken more time getting to know her husband before they married.

 

Their brother Jamie is bringing his new girlfriend, Hayley, home and he’s got a big announcement. Hayley, who’s never been part of a proper family, is worried about fitting in. My heart broke at hearing her history!

 

Jennifer, the Balfour’s matriarch, thought her husband’s retirement would be a good thing, but he’s having trouble settling in and she doesn’t know what to do about it.

 

The story is told through the perspective of Becky, Rosie, Hayley and Jennifer each dealing with their own trouble and insecurity. I loved each and every character and found their dilemmas relatable. The Balfour’s were an imperfect, loveable multi-generational family ready to give support and understanding. There’s a touch of romance woven in too: best friends falling for each other, fake-dating, and a marriage-in-crisis finding their way back to love. I rooted for all of them!

 

A Merry Little Lie was touching and lovely, filling my heart with joy!

 

I alternately read and listened to A Merry Little Lie and can recommend either version. Henrietta Meire’s narration was a joy to experience. She seamlessly alternated between characters, giving each one a unique voice and personality.

5 Stars

Book Description:

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

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: Out of the Shadows by Allison Brennan

 

Out of the Shadows (Angelhart Investigations #1.5) by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: August 12th 2025 by Harlequin Audio

Pages: 201

Audio Book Length: 5hrs 5min

Narrator: Hillary Huber

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Logan Monroe hires Angelhart Investigations when his sister Laura and her two kids are run off the road and she finds her house has been tossed in a break in. Jack Angelhart and his siblings, Margo and Luisa, as well as their mother are all in on the investigation. Jack is more front and center, as opposed to Margo like in the previous books.  

 

Out of the Shadows starts off with a bang and was an exciting, action-packed crime procedural that I listened to straight through! I was hanging on every word as the Angelhart clan tried to locate Laura’s ex-husband and figure out why they were targeted. There was a bit of romance between Jack and Laura as they’re thrown together with Jack sticking close to her family while there’s a threat at large.   

 

I feel you could read/listen to this as a standalone, as it’s focused more on Jack and Laura, and the mystery does wrap up, but you’d miss out on the history and connections that spill into this story.

 

I was pleased to see Logan, Laura’s brother, a character from the first book, show up again. His ex, Brittany (a piece of work!), is in the story as well, and it makes me wonder if they’ll be in the next book.

 

Hillary Huber is one of my favorite narrators, so I was thrilled she’s continuing with the series! Her narration definitely enhanced the story as she seamlessly performed all voices: male and female in a variety of ages with a range of emotions!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

In this suspenseful new novella in New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s Angelhart Investigations series, the PI team’s biggest client hires them to look into a burglary that quickly escalates into a case with deadly stakes.

Logan Monroe’s family is in danger. After his sister, Laura, and her kids are run off the road and their house is broken in to, Logan tasks the Angelharts with keeping them safe, and the PIs drop everything to take on the case.

But they quickly realize there’s more to the situation than anyone thinks. First, the burglars didn’t take anything—were they just trying to scare her or were they after something they didn’t find? Then Laura can’t reach her ex-husband, who was supposed to take the kids for the weekend. While Jack protects the family, Margo tries to find the ex…but he seems to have disappeared.

As she digs deeper, Margo uncovers someone hiding in the shadows who will do anything to get what he wants—including killing anyone who stands in his way.

Review: The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace

 

The Dead Come to Stay (Ardemore House #2) by Brandy Schillace

Publication Date: June 3rd 2025 by Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 12hrs 26mins

Narrator: Imogen Church

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

After the events of the last book, Jo Jones is settling into Yorkshire in the cottage on Ardemore. The Jekyll Gardens on the estate are about to open and Jo is still investigating the mystery of her ancestors, but that doesn’t pay the bills, so she’s refurbished the attic space to rent out. However, the first booking doesn’t go as planned and a body turns up right before the Jekyll Garden opening.

 

Detective James MacAdams is called in to investigate this puzzling murder and isn’t surprised when he finds a connection between Jo and the victim.

 

Jo’s memory for detail comes in handy with the murder investigation, but she’s more involved with the mystery of her ancestors and the history between Jo’s mother and uncle. She gets more background from an unexpected source revealing information her mother never shared.

 

The Dead Come to Stay was another fun cozy murder mystery and I enjoyed seeing the relationships solidify and deepen. It was nice for Jo to get some answers and closure, as well.

 

I alternately read and listened to the audio version. I enjoyed Imogen Church’s performance of the female characters, but some of the male voices sounded stuffy and silly. Maybe it was to convey a bit of humor? Even so, I enjoyed the audio version overall.

4 Stars

Book Description:

A delightful new cozy crime novel from the award-winning author of the "twisty, engaging, and thoroughly unexpected" (Deanna Raybourne) The Framed Women of Ardemore House

An amateur autistic sleuth. A wry English detective. A murder case that thrusts them both into the wealthy world of the rare artifacts trade...

Jo Jones can't seem to catch a break. Trading in city life for the cozy, peaceful hills of North Yorkshire to take over her family estate should have been a chance for a "fresh start.” Instead, she's been driven further into the past than she thought possible -- and not just her own. The estate property is littered with traces of ancestors that Jo never knew existed, including the mysterious woman in a half-destroyed painting – and hints about Jo's late uncle, who may hold the key to her cryptic family history. Then there’s the gossipy town politics Jo must constantly navigate as a neurodivergent transplanted American… And of course, the whole murder business.

When prickly town detective James MacAdams discovers a body in the moors with coincidental ties to Jo Jones, they're forced to team up on the case. The clues will lead them into the wealthiest locales of Yorkshire, from sparkling glass hotels to luxury property sites to elite country clubs. But below the glittering surfaces, Jo and MacAdams discover darker schemes brewing. Local teens, many of them international refugees, are disappearing left and right, and each case is somehow linked to a shady architectural firm -- which also happened to employ the dead man from the moor-side ditch.

What begins as  bizarre murder case quickly plunges them both into the black market world of rare artifacts and antique trading... and a murderer who will do anything to cover it up.

About the author:

BRANDY SCHILLACE is the author of several works of nonfiction, including Mr. Humble and Dr. Butcher. She is the creator of Peculiar Book Club, a twice-monthly live-streamed YouTube show. A former professor of English and gothic literature, she writes about gender politics and history, medical mystery, and neurodiversity for outlets such as Scientific American, Wired, CrimeReads, and Medium. She is also autistic, though has not (to her knowledge) been a suspect in a murder investigation.

Connect with Brandy Schillace:

Website | BlueSky | YouTube | Facebook