Goodreads

Release date: April 25, 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Synopsis:

After being hospitalized for panic attacks two years after his mother’s death, charitable foundation executive Teagan van Zijl is dragged by his sister to a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana. Lost in the woods, Teagan nearly gets eaten by a bear but is saved by an angel in muddy hiking boots—the program’s handywoman, Darcy Albano, that is. After spending the summer with Darcy, Teagan realizes he doesn’t want to return to New York without her. He hires Darcy as his sober companion—a position he doesn’t actually need filled and for which Darcy is completely unqualified—hoping she can help him figure out how to move forward. But once they get to the city, all Teagan can think of is how to confess the truth while keeping her in his life.

Darcy Albano thought she was going to work as a wilderness guide when she was hired on the camp staff, but ended up a handywoman instead—only the latest screwing-over she’s endured since her ex stole her car and her parents ruined her credit score. But Teagan van Zijl is the silver lining she didn’t expect to appear—clearly going through something but willing to commit to Darcy’s unique brand of wilderness education as the cure for what ails him. They form an unlikely bond based on the unexpected support they provide each other. Darcy never imagined staying in the city, but with Teagan’s unshakeable belief in her abilities, anything seems possible.

Review:

Suspending some disbelief is something I’m used to doing when I read a thriller but I don’t tend to have to do this as much in a romance but it is absolutely necessary here. From the beginning when Teagan gets attacked by a bear things verge on outlandish and only proceeds from there. Everything about this one just felt off for me, I never bought into Teagan and Darcy’s relationship which makes things difficult when it’s a romance, I want to be invested and it just never happened for me. There is a lot of mental health rep here and while lots of it is portrayed well there were some big yikes moments for me too. I can’t even really explain it, I was just uncomfortable. Unfortunately this was just a miss for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 30, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Graydon House

Synopsis:

Grace Holloway keeps to herself. Since narrowly escaping death at the hands of the man who kidnapped her, she’s thrown herself into the small inn she runs in Rock Harbor, Maine. It’s quiet, quaint and, in the off-season, completely isolated—the perfect place for Grace to keep her own secrets.

But Grace isn’t the only one with something to hide, and Rock Harbor isn’t just a sleepy vacation town. Someone is taking young women—girls who look an awful lot like Grace did when she was kidnapped so many years ago.

When a surge of disappearances brings the investigation to her door, Grace finds herself unwillingly at the center of it all and doing everything she can to keep her distance. Because Grace knows something…something that could change everything. And when the truth comes to light, getting justice for the vanished might be more than Grace can handle alone…

Review:

I’m definitely a fan of the authors style of suspense, there’s something quiet and haunting about her style and this was no exception. You get three viewpoints here and I was equally intrigued by all of them. Grace is a survivor of kidnapping and she managed to escape a tragic and horrific death, Aden returns to his hometown when his father goes missing and Kira is desperately searching for her missing daughter. The way these three storylines merged and came together was clever and satisfying, I didn’t have things totally figured out and that’s always the sign of a strong thriller for me.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: Available now

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

After a dramatic break-up, Landscape Architect, Lanie Green is determined to make a fresh start. When a residential developer in Texas offers her a position, she jumps at the chance to further her career and follow her heart.

Third-generation cattle farmer, Max Walker, daydreams of becoming a Nashville star, but his father has other ideas for his future. Working long days on the family farm is quickly becoming monotonous and he longs to find his purpose.

Sparks fly when the northerner and the cowboy cross paths on a lonely dirt road, somewhere outside of Sunset. Lanie captivates Max on that early summer day and he inspires her to look forward to the Texas summer nights.

Lanie’s new position is far from what she imagined but she refuses to fail. Besides, telling Max the truth about her job’s expectations might damage their budding relationship. Determined to follow his life-long dream and keep Lanie by his side, Max makes her an offer she can’t refuse.

Review:

This was a sweet little read, it’s under two hundred pages so it’s super easy to get caught up and finish it in one sitting, which is exactly what I did. Despite it being on the shorter side I didn’t feel like the chemistry between Lanie and Max was lacking, they had a great connection. Max’s grandma was a cute addition to the story, I’m a sucker for a strong side character and she was great. If you like sweet small town romances with lots of heart try this.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 25, 2023

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

After posting a negative book review, a woman living in a remote location begins to wonder if the author is a little touchy—or very, very dangerous—in this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense and terror from the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and Hairpin Bridge.

Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her golden retriever Laika, house-sitting an old beachfront home on the rainy Washington coast. Her only human contact is her enigmatic old neighbor, Deek, and (via text) the house’s owner, Jules.

One day, she reads a poorly written—but gruesome—horror novel by the author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur at night. To Emma, this can’t just be a coincidence. It was strange enough for this author to bicker with her online about a lousy review; could he be stalking her, too?

As Emma digs into Kane’s life and work, she learns he has published sixteen other novels, all similarly sadistic tales of stalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of?

Review:

As soon as I read the description of this I knew it was a must read, I mean a bad review turns into an author tracking the reviewer down? How deliciously creepy. Having read the authors previous books I knew what to expect, meaning he writes really cinematic and fast paced thrillers that defy logic but are always fun and this may be his most unhinged book yet. You have to and I mean you MUST suspend all disbelief if you’re going to read this because none of it seems even remotely possible. But if you’re able to let reality go this was wild and really fun. It does get a little gory and descriptive but it’s also a very quick read that I enjoyed. If you’ve enjoyed the authors other books I think you will like this one too.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 11, 2023

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

A woman discovers the father of the child she is nannying may be her biggest (Only)Fan in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson.


After losing her job and being on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans finds herself with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But there are no jobs to be found, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.

Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. She is shocked when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.

Cassie soon discovers that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her—or at least, her body. She finds herself at a loss for what to do, given that he doesn’t remember her. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility—losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

Review:

I’m still very in the mood to read romances with a single dad and the nanny so I had a feeling I would like this one and I was right. I liked the spin the author put on the trope too with Aiden being one of Cassie’s previous customers on her now closed Only Fans account. This definitely brought the heat, there were some really sexy steamy scenes and the balance between those hot moments and the funny and charming family like scenes was a great balance for me. Sophie is Aiden’s adorable nine year old daughter and her relationship with Cassie was so pure. Cassie’s friend Wanda basically stole the show, she was a hilarious and sassy older woman who cracked me up. If you’re a romance fan and like them on the smuttier side but still want a plot this was great!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 4, 2023

Publisher: Random House

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love, until a dreamily handsome pop star flips the script on all her assumptions. Romantic Comedy is a hilarious, observant and deeply tender novel from New York Times–bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld.

Sally Milz is a sketch writer for “The Night Owls,” the late-night live comedy show that airs each Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love, settling instead for the occasional hook-up, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather to round out a satisfying life.

But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actor who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show—and in society at large—who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women. Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch called the “Danny Horst Rule,” poking fun at this phenomenon while underscoring how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a woman.

Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show. Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder whether there might actually be sparks flying. But this isn’t a romantic comedy; it’s real life. And in real life, someone like him would never date someone like her…right?

With her keen observations and trademark ability to bring complex women to life on the page, Sittenfeld explores the neurosis-inducing and heart-fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.

Review:

Celebrity romance has been my thing lately so I was thrilled to see CS latest used this trope. Add in a behind the scenes look at a SNL style sketch comedy show and I was intrigued from the moment I started this. The first section is all about Sally’s work at The Night Owls so you really get to know her, which I loved. She was very relatable and funny and charming in an odd way, definitely the kind of character that I have no trouble rooting for. Part two is an epistolary section with emails between Sally and Noah and I love nothing more than reading other people’s emails, I’m nosy that way. Part three shows their relationship developing and the back and forth felt realistic and the whole thing was ultimately satisfying. Felt like a pretty smart romance with great dialogue and plenty of wit.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: March 21, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Your next stay-up-all-night thriller, about identical triplets who have a nasty habit of killing their boyfriends, and what happens when the youngest commits their worst crime yet: falling in love with her mark.

Make him want you.
Make him love you.
Make him dead.

Sissy has an…interesting family. Always the careful one, always the cautious one, she has handled the cleanup while her serial killer sisters have carved a path of carnage across the U.S. Now, as they arrive in the Arizona heat, Sissy must step up and embrace the family pastime of making a man fall in love and then murdering him. Her first target? A young widower named Edison–and their mutual attraction is instant. While their relationship progresses, and most couples would be thinking about picking out china patterns and moving in together, Sissy’s family is reminding her to think about picking out burial sites and moving on.

But then something happens that Sissy never anticipated: She begins to feel protective of Edison, and then, before she can help it, she’s fallen in love. But the clock is ticking, and her sisters are growing restless. It becomes clear that the gravesite she chooses will hide a body no matter what happens; but if she betrays her family, will it be hers?

Review:

I absolutely loved this premise, triplet female serial killers?! AMAZING. Say no more, I’m all in. I was instantly pulled into this one and I know a huge part of the reason why I was so invested so quickly is because of how original the setup was. Of course none of this is plausible but who cares when you’re on such a wild ride? The book being set in Arizona was such a treat for me, I’ve only read a handful of books set in my home state so that was really fun. I love reading about unhinged characters and the fact that all three sisters are the very definition of unhinged was so fun. Sissy narrates the entire story and her voice was just so strong and well developed. Speaking of narration I listened to part of this one audio and Karissa Vacker is queen. Grab this is you want a fast paced thriller that is wholly unique and wildly entertaining.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.