Goodreads

Release date: February 22, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Welcome to Wisewood. We’ll keep your secrets if you keep ours.

Natalie Collins hasn’t heard from her sister in more than half a year.

The last time they spoke, Kit was slogging from mundane workdays to obligatory happy hours to crying in the shower about their dead mother. She told Natalie she was sure there was something more out there.

And then she found Wisewood.

On a private island off the coast of Maine, Wisewood’s guests commit to six-month stays. During this time, they’re prohibited from contact with the rest of the world–no Internet, no phones, no exceptions. But the rules are for a good reason: to keep guests focused on achieving true fearlessness so they can become their Maximized Selves. Natalie thinks it’s a bad idea, but Kit has had enough of her sister’s cynicism and voluntarily disappears off the grid.

Six months later Natalie receives a menacing e-mail from a Wisewood account threatening to reveal the secret she’s been keeping from Kit. Panicked, Natalie hurries north to come clean to her sister and bring her home. But she’s about to learn that Wisewood won’t let either of them go without a fight.

Review:

After absolutely loving Darling Rose Gold I was dying to read the authors follow up novel. The synopsis sounds so great, I love the cult vibes, the two timelines with one being a mystery unknown character and the many questions that needed answers. It ended up sounding way better than it was for me in the end and this isn’t one that I’ll be recommending unfortunately. The pacing was odd for me, at times things seemed fairly fast and then it would stall out and I think it’s because once Natalie arrives at the retreat too much time is spent on the mundane aspects of life their. I was curious enough about the unanswered questions to keep reading and had hoped that it would pay off in the end and it didn’t. The ending was actually the weakest part of the whole thing for me and if you know me then you know I hate nothing more than a weak ending. Overall this one was a disappointment for me. I would try the other again as I loved her first book but this one just didn’t work for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 22, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls—nothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her.

When Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there’s some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.

Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first. Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Even worse, she’s starting to think she doesn’t want to…

Review:

Ok this one had it all and then some for me, definitely one of the most perfect romances I’ve read lately and I freaking loved it! You have a grief element, former mean girls who are all grown up, a single parent, bridesmaid shenanigans, found family, a perfect balance of tenderness and steam and much more. Adored it SO much!

I love that we’re seeing more queer romance being published lately and this one is the cream of the crop. Delilah is unapologetically queer and Claire is bisexual and instead of it feeling like the author just slapped a label on them it felt like a true part of their identity and incredibly authentic to boot. Both women are complex and have depth and not only are they well drawn, the secondary characters are as well too. Oftentimes in a story with so much going on some characters will fall a little flat and that wasn’t the case here at all, everyone felt purposeful and intregal to the story and they added value to an already valuable story. I’m thrilled this is a start to a new series as I could read about these characters again and highly recommend this one to romance fans!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Release date: February 8, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

An intriguing and twisty domestic suspense about loyalty and deceit in a tight-knit Texas community where parents are known to behave badly and people are not always who they appear to be.

Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.

Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.

Each mother is sure she knows who is responsible, but they all have their own secrets to keep and reputations to protect. And the lies they tell themselves and each other may just have the potential to be lethal in this riveting debut.

Review:

This one had me hooked initially, I love stories about people behaving badly and hiding secrets etc so I had a good feeling going into it. I also enjoy multiple viewpoints and I especially liked Emily’s perspective as she narrates after she’s already been missing for months. I liked the angle of her being gone for so long yet no one has any idea where she’s been or who she’s been with. There were a ton of unanswered questions and the plot moved steadily forward and kept my interest at first, but unfortunately that interest waned. About halfway in things just started to feel sluggish and like they weren’t going anywhere, or at least anywhere interesting. It was dramatic but not in a fun way, it just seemed pretty silly. I started not really caring about what had happened to Emily in the past or what would happen to her later. I didn’t believe the ending, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense in terms of motivation for where Emily had been and why. Overall this one fell flat for me despite a decent premise.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 21, 2021

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

When Nate Porter left Helen, Alaska, to become a firefighter with the Forest Service, he claimed it was because he craved adventure. The truth was, he couldn’t stand to hang around, pining for a girl the town’s century-old feud meant he could never have. But Nate got over Lydia Lipin years ago, or so he thought until he learns that an old rival has come sniffing around. The solution—a trip home with his rescue puppies to prove to himself he completely extinguished that old flame.

Lydia Lipin has always been satisfied being the “good” Lipin daughter—dutiful, practical, and always putting others before herself. But that role begins to chafe as Nate’s return ignites old memories. No one in town knew about their secret friendship or those forbidden kisses they stole the summer after graduation. Suddenly, Nate and his puppies are everywhere, and sparks are flying.

When Nate realizes he never got over Lydia, he’ll risk everything for a second chance. But Lydia’s not a risk-taker, and she has to make a choice—play it safe and pretend their summer fling was just puppy love, or step out of the family shadow and unleash her heart.

Review:

This is the third book in a series and I haven’t read the first two, which may have been a mistake. I wasn’t confused or anything, I just wasn’t very connected to the characters and I’m not sure if it was just the leads here and it wouldn’t had mattered if I had read the first two, or maybe I needed to be more invested in the town. I know part of the reason that I wasn’t that invested was because the conflict centered around Nate and Lydia having to keep their relationship a secret due to an ongoing feud between their two families. While I understood their need to keep things under wraps as teenagers, I didn’t quite buy it now that they’re adults. It just seemed really silly and trivial and since that was a main part of the issue, I never fully got behind them as a couple. There was still stuff to like here, it was pretty cute especially if you’re a dog lover and the setting was pretty and well described. I would definitely try this author again, this just wasn’t my fave but if you like second chance romance and cute pups you may like this more than I did.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 15, 2022

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Synopsis:

A return from the past knocks a family dangerously off-balance in a novel of spiraling suspense by Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent.

Merritt Coletto and her husband, Luca, have the life they dreamed of: a coastal home, a promising future, and a growing family. That dream ends with a late-night knock on the door.

Weak, broken, and emaciated, it’s Luca’s first wife, Lydia. Missing for ten years, presumed dead, and very much alive, she has quite a story. Her kidnapping. A torturous confinement that should’ve ended with her dead. And finally, escape. Racked with guilt over the beautiful life they’ve built, Merritt and Luca agree to help get Lydia back on her feet—it’s the least they can do.

But the more enmeshed Lydia becomes in Merritt’s family, the more questions Merritt has. What is it about Lydia that’s especially unnerving? Why hasn’t she gone to the police with her harrowing tale? What does she really want of them? The answers, when they come, are terrifying.

Because Lydia isn’t the only one with secrets.

Review:

Ok now this was a clever little thriller! A missing person returning years later may not be the most unique plot but that is just the tip of the iceberg here. It went in several completely unexpected directions that I definitely didn’t predict, and honestly half of what makes me enjoy a thriller is not being able to see what’s ahead too early. Bonus points for a very fast pace and enough twists to keep me engaged, yet not so many that it bordered on the ridiculous making this one very was fun. As usual with this author I can’t say much more without getting into spoilers but this was one of her best books for me and I always recommend them to anyone who likes short, bingeable reads where things always get a little crazy.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 25, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Synopsis:

Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten books topping bestseller lists. But on the heels of their greatest success, they ended their partnership on bad terms, for reasons neither would divulge to the public. They haven’t spoken since, and never planned to, except they have one final book due on contract.

Facing crossroads in their personal and professional lives, they’re forced to reunite. The last thing they ever thought they’d do again is hole up in the tiny Florida town where they wrote their previous book, trying to finish a new manuscript quickly and painlessly. Working through the reasons they’ve hated each other for the past three years isn’t easy, especially not while writing a romantic novel.

While passion and prose push them closer together in the Florida heat, Katrina and Nathan will learn that relationships, like writing, sometimes take a few rough drafts before they get it right.

Review:

Ohhh another winner for me early in the new year! When I start the year off reading amazing books right from the jump I get so giddily excited about what books are still to come. If you like Emily Henry this had a similar feel to it for me with mature characters and depth of plot, also maybe because of the two main characters as authors too now that I think about it. 🤔 The characterization is where this one shines, Nathan and Katrina were both complicated and also in complicated situations throughout both the flashbacks and present day, very multilayered and deep. This was a super slow burn (almost frustratingly so) but I see the authors purpose with that too. It was angsty but not in an annoying way and also desperately romantic with gorgeous writing and some forced proximity. A super well rounded romance and I’ll definitely be waiting for more from this duo!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 4, 2022

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Synopsis:

Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream to become a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super-introverted dad, who after raising Millie alone, doesn’t want to watch her leave home to pursue her dream. Not her pesky and ongoing drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension. And not the “Millie Moods,” the feelings of intense emotion that threaten to overwhelm, always at maddeningly inconvenient times. Millie needs an ally. And when a left-open browser brings Millie to her dad’s embarrassingly moody LiveJournal from 2003, Millie knows just what to do. She’s going to find her mom.

There’s Steph, a still-aspiring stage actress and receptionist at a talent agency. There’s Farrah, ethereal dance teacher who clearly doesn’t have the two left feet Millie has. And Beth, the chipper and sweet stage enthusiast with an equally exuberant fifteen-year-old daughter (A possible sister?! This is getting out of hand). But how can you find a new part of your life and expect it to fit into your old one, without leaving any marks? And why is it that when you go looking for the past, it somehow keeps bringing you back to what you’ve had all along?

Review:

This is my third Emma Lord book and now it’s a firm fact for me, when I want an absolutely adorable book that will make me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy the author will deliver. The premise was both interesting and it tugged at my heartstrings too, Millie’s search for her birth mom made my own parental heart ache, both for her and her unknown mom. Millie wormed her way into my heart immediately, she’s larger than life, over the top and dramatic which made her so endearing to me, I really wanted to mother her myself. As much as I adored her the rest of the characters were all amazing as well, such a well rounded and fun cast. Add in Millie’s absolute love and obsession of all things musical theater and she was just the quirkiest most lovable heroine I’ve met in a long time. Just a really fun and entertaining read and such a bright start to my new year!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.