From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.
Alix Morgan just got her big break as the ghostwriter of a memoir by Sebastian Green, a former member of the boy band True North. And when he offers her a penthouse at a luxurious resort in Vermont, she jumps at the chance to work far away from her noisy, cramped apartment.
Her career as an entertainment journalist has been building toward this dream job—after all, she used to cover True North and was one of the last people to interview former front man Jett Beckett before he disappeared. As she combs through her client’s voice memos, the specter of the missing lead singer remains, and fans are desperate to know the full story.
But Alix also has time for some fun at this glamorous resort, where she begins ski lessons with a handsome instructor named Tyler. As Alix and Tyler fall in love on the slopes, Alix’s work takes a complicated turn—and the mystery of True North’s downfall may be hers to solve.
Review:
This had the best cozy vibes and would be perfect to curl up with this winter! The lodge where Alix is staying sounds absolutely gorgeous and even though I have no desire to ski I would love to stay there just for the food and the ice skating. Alix and Tyler’s developing relationship was so charming and sweet, the little dates he planned for them were beyond adorable. While I adored them there were some truly awful secondary characters that never redeemed themselves fully for me. This was light and fluffy, very Hallmark movie style problems but overall really cute, despite the little twist being really obvious.
In this haunting story that spans three decades, a young gymnast escapes a kidnapping. Years later, she’s forced to face the past when her own daughter disappears.
Cora Valentine has her whole life—and a shot at the Olympics—ahead of her. But when she’s kidnapped on Halloween, her name is splashed across headlines not as an athlete but as a victim. Not even her safe return changes that, especially since no one is caught for the crime.
Hounded by the public, Cora’s time as a missing girl and member of the Magnificent Eight has its consequences. Years later, when Cora has her own daughter, she’s determined to leave the past behind for a better life. Her daughter will never face those fears. And Cora will never face them again.
But four years later, on Halloween, the past comes knocking.
Now, Cora’s daughter is gone, and to get her back, Cora must take someone else’s child.
Clearly, whoever took her all those years ago isn’t done with her yet…but as long as they have her daughter, Cora’s not done with them either.
Review:
This was SO intense and exactly what I mean when I say I want a thriller that hooks me right from the start and never lets up. It’s dual timelines, one in present day as Cora searches for her daughter and another in the past when she was kidnapped as a young teenager. Who knew gymnastics and tense thrillers went so well together but when I tell you this combo had me in a chokehold, it was insane. It was very fast paced, one of those head spinning type of reads and even if things were over the top and I had to suspend disbelief I didn’t care, I was hooked! This was unhinged and so addictive and was almost a five star read for me but I guessed a big twist so I’m knocking a half star off. Still definitely worth a read, especially if you want a one sitting thrill ride.
To Brooke, image is everything. She works hard to maintain perfect grades, perfect looks, a perfect life—especially after “the incident” that threatened it all. Getting into her dream university puts her that much closer to a fresh start. How can she say no to celebrating with all her classmates?
Hanging out with her crush by the bonfire is the perfect end to the night. Except it isn’t the end. An old truck starts aggressively tailing Brooke and her best friend on the isolated road toward home. Someone thinks they know the truth about “the incident,” and they won’t stop until it’s all out in the open. This terrifying drive is about to bring out Brooke’s worst fears…if she survives it.
Review:
There was a lot I liked about this one, it was fast paced and exciting and the tension kept mounting throughout the book. It’s also fairly short so between that and the pacing I flew through this. It flips between past and present with short chapters that kept me turning the pages and I was always desperate to get back to whatever timeline I wasn’t currently reading because most ended on a mini cliffhanger. It was also a bit outlandish and ridiculous with truly unlikable characters but I don’t always mind reading about awful people. If you don’t mind some silly plot points and terrible characters but do enjoy heart pounding and intense action try this.
Sometimes the last thing you expect is exactly what you need, the final missing piece. And sometimes it comes in the form of a towering, broody sheriff, determined to get in your way at every step.
Ridley Sawyer knows what it’s like to miss someone, to feel like a piece of her vanished—because it happened to her the night her twin sister disappeared.
Now, Ridley channels that loss into hope, traveling the country covering cold cases for her true crime podcast. She might not have found justice for her sister but that doesn’t stop her from finding it for others.
Until Sheriff Colter Brooks gets in her way.
Colt knows what it’s like to have reporters descend on his town in the wake of a tragedy, and he’s not about to let a fiery podcaster stir up trouble. It doesn’t matter that her haunting blue eyes tell him there’s more to Ridley’s story or that he can’t stop imagining what it would be like to touch her.
But when Ridley’s cold case turns hot and she’s thrust into the crosshairs, Colt has no choice but to step in. Suddenly, Ridley’s living at his house, drinking his whiskey, and stealing his dog’s affections. But she’s also proving that she’s so much more than his first impression.
And as they get closer to the truth, the game they’ve been playing might just turn deadly…
Review:
The Queen of romantic suspense is back with a standalone that I hope turns into a series because I loved these characters and their town! Ridley is a true crime podcaster and her driving force is the disappearance of her twin sister so there’s a deep emotional connection for her and you can feel that energy throughout the book. Colt is the grumpy yet soft and squishy inside sheriff in Shady Cove and while these two have a rough start when they first meet, they actually have so much in common and they heal each other in a beautiful way. The author always surprises me with her twists but this one was next level and shocked me so well! Andi Arndt was one of the very first narrators that made me fall in love with audiobooks and she remains a legend, her emotional performance here was everything. No one plays a grisly grump better than Sebastian York so if you like audiobooks definitely try that format for this gem. If you like true crime, suspense, enemies to lovers, small town and grump and sunshine this was excellent!
The caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life—and sanity—in this twisty, addictive thriller.
Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.
But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .
Review:
If you like to read seasonally and don’t mind another thriller about an alcoholic woman with memory issues this was pretty fun. I loved the locked room style setting at a motel during a snowstorm, especially as Kerry is caretaking and she’s the only one staying there. The creepy vibes were definitely apparent and it doesn’t take long to get to the action either. The main question of whodunnit was fairly easy for me to predict BUT there were several smaller twists along the way that I didn’t catch. I know I can count on the author when I want a fast paced and binge worthy thriller and she delivered for me once again!
A propulsive page-turning thriller following the hit reality TV show Garden State Goddesses where secrets are uncovered, intense rivalries surface, and a startling murder propels a producer on a riveting quest for the truth.
One of Huzzah’s most popular shows, Garden State Goddesses, was in need of a refresh. Largely centering on the Sicilian American Fontana family of Shady Pond, New Jersey, showrunner Eden Bennett found a solution that helped her both personally and she introduced lovable bachelor Leo Fontana to her estranged cousin Hope—a blonde beauty and aspiring singer. After a whirlwind romance, they begin the new season with Leo and Hope’s wedding, but not everyone is happy, least of all Hope’s new sister-in-law Carmela, who finds Hope’s lack of family, friends, pop cultural knowledge, and social media presence deeply suspicious. Nevertheless, Hope is joining Carmela, and their other sister-in-law Valeria, a lovable ditz too dependent on cutting Carmela, and wealthy grand dame Birdie St. Clair as a new lead on Garden State Goddesses. Hope quickly bonds with castmate Renée, a down-to-earth single mom whose daughter Ruby aspires to be the next Ariana Grande.
When one of the goddesses collapses while filming at the Broke Not Broken gala at Birdie’s manor, there will be a reality reckoning. Eden will be forced to confront the ways she is emotional manipulation, coercion, and dropping her naïve cousin in this mess while also using her skills as a producer to seek out the truth—uncovering that many of the Fontanas have rivalries and grievances that go back decades, some with serious legal, financial, physical, and romantic consequences.
Review:
I am a day one Housewives fan, I never miss an episode and am obsessed with just about every franchise, so the minute I heard about this one I knew I had to read it! I expected it to be dramatic, over the top, glamorous and juicy and it was but it was also silly, shallow and not thrilling at all. Sadly, it’s a very middle of the road read for me and it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I did enjoy how this felt almost exactly like watching an episode of RHONJ down to the confessionals. I also loved all the nods to the franchise, lots of Easter Eggs that were fun! I didn’t expect to be bored and unfortunately I was and I also didn’t expect the mystery aspect to be so lackluster but it was. The characters had no depth either which sounds like it could’ve worked here but it fell flat. Overall a miss for me and I’m truly bummed about it.
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.
Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.
A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.
As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?
Review:
What great concept, that tagline about having his dead wife’s heart was enough to grab my attention and what follows was even better than that somehow. It immediately hooked me as Rosie starts emailing with Morgan, it was like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. Rosie comes off as slightly unhinged immediately but you can’t help but feel for her, she had a heart transplant AND was dumped in her wedding dress so I just went with her crazy. Plus, an unhinged character is always an interesting character to me and Rosie was downright fascinating. I don’t wanna say too much more about the plot because there were some seriously delicious and wild turns here but if you like sound of this try it because I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.
An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice
She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.
As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.
Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.
Review:
I’ve been on the lookout for a book with the same vibes as Daisy Jones and the Six for years and this one definitely has the same feel. I’ve long been fascinated by figure skating but never really got that into ice dancing and after reading this it makes me want to become a bigger fan!
This follows Heath and Katerina from the time they meet as kids up through adulthood and gives a glimpse inside the cutthroat and intense world of competitive skating. The format is really engaging as you hear from those two but it’s also set up like a documentary so you hear from several people who played large and small roles in their lives between the regular narrative structure. So the plot had me allllll in, following a couple throughout their fascinating careers?! Yes please! But I didn’t expect to be as obsessed as I was, I was addicted to the drama, the betrayals, the heartbreak, the romance, the glitz, the dark side of sports and so much more. Everything about this one was immersive for me and I suspect it will be hugely popular upon its release, I’m telling it’s SO good!
Kim clutches the note tightly as her pulse starts to race. You have 36 hours. If you follow the instructions, no one will get hurt…
When Detective Kim Stone is woken before dawn because local journalist Tracy Frost wants to show her a message, she’s not impressed. But her blood turns cold when she reads the note. She has 36 hours to follow a trail set by an anonymous challenger. If she fails, people will die.
Kim’s gut tells her this is no hoax. She summons her team, desperate to prevent what lies ahead. With minutes to spare, they solve the first cryptic clue. It leads to a box hidden deep in the woods, containing a second clue and a tape. As she listens to the recording of a heart-wrenching scream, Kim knows her enemy will go to any lengths to achieve his goals… and that she must draw on all her experience of evil men to understand what is driving him.
Refusing to blindly follow orders, Kim and the team turn the killer’s clues against him, using evidence buried deep in the tapes to find where he’s hiding his victim. But they are too late… And then, as the sun rises on the second day, someone else goes missing. This time, it’s a skilled surgeon, and if they don’t save her, an eight-year-old girl will die.
Exhausted and enraged, with her bosses watching every step she takes, Kim realises the only way to win is to break the rules. But with the clock ticking, can she find the twisted mind behind this murderous game before her time runs out?
From the no.1 bestselling author Angela Marsons, 36 Hours is a pulse-pounding race against time that will not let you stop reading for a second. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni and Val McDermid.
Review:
I feel like a broken record every time I talk about the latest installment in the Kim Stone series because I always say the books just keep getting better, but y’all, they really and truly do! The authors true talent to genuinely improve book after book in such a long running series is beyond impressive, it’s a special gift that few possess and it always leaves me in awe. The other thing I find myself repeating each review is yes, you should read the entire series in order. Technically you can read this as a standalone but you would be missing out on so much history and rich character development and I’m not sure you would appreciate just how fantastic this series is.
This time around Kim and her team are racing against the clock, literally. Every case has pressures but the addition of a ticking clock really heightened everything to a new level. The team doesn’t get any rest while they’re trying to solve cryptic puzzles and hard to guess clues and the intensity was at an all time high. As you can imagine this leaves Kim even grumpier than ever but dare I say she showed a softer side at moments here?! I know, sounds unbelievable but it’s true and I adore when the author showcases a slightly more tender side to her character. Don’t worry she’s gone too soft though, the case throws her nemesis Tracy Frost into the mix so she’s still the irritable smart ass we all know and love. As always this was fast paced, twisty and super clever with a case that I would’ve never solved before the team did. I loved how everything wrapped up, especially the last few chapters with glimpses into the entire teams home and private life, it lent of sense of intimacy to the story and brought me back down to earth after an epic conclusion to the case. I can’t say enough good things about this series, it’s a police procedural like no other and definitely one of my all time favorites!
Overall rating: 5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
About the Author:
Angela Marsons is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series and her books have sold more than 6 million copies.
She lives in Worcestershire with her partner and their 3 cheeky dogs.
It’s that time of year where everywhere you look you see best of lists and I’m the type of person who absolutely loves these lists! As a huge romance reader I was very curious about what books would make Amazons list.
Personally, I’ve read eight from their choices and a few may even make my own best of romance list, you’ll have to wait a little longer to see mine…
I was so excited to get an opportunity to chat with Abby Abell, an Amazon editor about all things romance books. Check out our convo below.
Did any of the best romance picks surprise you? Did any manage to make the list that you didn’t anticipate being here? The fact that a book didn’t unseat Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us for the top spot was a surprise. It was our Best Romance of the Year So Far in June, and normally we kind of expect that a book may come out later in the year that nabs the top spot. While some fantastic romances published in the second half of the year, there wasn’t one that we felt as strongly about as This Could Be Us. It’s just such a beautiful, nuanced book, and while it’s absolutely a romance, it’s also about friendship and parenting and rediscovering yourself. Another book that I’m not surprised made the list but I want even more people talking about is Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. It’s our #5 Romance, and I loved it so much. Smoldering, funny. I recommended it to everyone. Julie Soto has a lot happening in 2025, and I can’t wait to devour everything she publishes.
Did trends in the romance genre change much this year? If so what has changed? I wouldn’t say the trends changed this year, but shifts that I continue to be excited about are:
The vulnerability of MMCs (male main characters) in romance. Whether it’s cowboys or werewolves or divorced dads, I love reading about strong, vulnerable men, and the recognition that vulnerability is strength. It also makes the love stories that much more nuanced and swoony.
Broadening of sports romances beyond hockey. To be clear, I will read a hockey romance any day of the week, but I’ve loved seeing sports romances branch out to baseball, golf, Formula 1, even pickleball. It’s great that romance readers have so many options to choose from.
Were there any specific tropes that seemed to be everywhere this year?
I may be biased because this is probably my favorite trope, but I feel like enemies-to-lovers was everywhere, from romantasies to romantic comedies, and done really well. It’s just such a delicious vehicle for building tension between the main characters, and there are so many flavors of it. A few of my favorite enemies-to-lovers romances from this year are Not Another Love Song, Bride, and Is She Really Going Out With Him?.
Predictions for trends for 2025 in the romance genre? As I mentioned earlier, I think we’ll continue to see sports romances branch out to more sports. I also think for romantasy, we’ll continue to see new worlds being introduced, or new spins on existing worlds (e.g., a new take on vampires). A Fate Inked in Blood was one of our Best Romance Books of the Year, and it’s a Viking romantasy. The second book comes out in May 2025 and I can’t wait.
What makes a book standout and become a best book of the year? Fundamentally, it’s the book we can stop thinking about and talking about and recommending to everyone. It stays with us whether we read it in January or September. There are so many ingredients that go into that (great writing, riveting love story, etc.), but ultimately, it’s the book that brings us the most joy and reminds us that love wins.
What cover trends did you see in the romance genre this year? The trend I’m most excited to see is more covers trying something outside of what’s become the norm of bright colors, bold fonts, and simple illustrations. Don’t get me wrong, I love these covers, but I’m also excited to see something new. An example, and I happen to be obsessed with these covers, is the Rebel Blue Ranch series. I love how retro and fun these covers are (also a fantastic Western romance series), and a departure from a lot of the romance covers out there.
If someone only wanted to read one book from this list what one would you rec? What one would you rec for someone brand new to romance? For the veteran romance reader, I have to go with our #1 pick, Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us. It’s such a rich, poignant, life-affirming book. For someone new to romance, I’d recommend either Funny Story by Emily Henry or Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. These are heartfelt, smart romantic comedies, and I think the perfect gateway for someone who wants to see if romance is for them (spoiler alert: it is!).
Huge thanks to Abby for talking with me!
About Abby:
Abby Abell has always been in awe of authors and the magic they create with words. She’s spent much of her career in publishing and is never not reading, mainly fiction – romance, young adult, fantasy, literary, you name it. Her primary goal now is making sure her son shares her love of books, and so far, so good. She lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband, son, and two grumpy dogs. Some of her favorite books include A Prayer for Owen Meany, Normal People, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and everything by Emily Henry.
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