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Release date: June 9, 2020

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Do you want to play a game?

Twelve years ago Jessica Williams escaped a cult. Thanks to the private detective who rescued her, she reintegrated into society, endured an uncomfortable notoriety, and tried to put it all behind her. Then, at an airport bar, Jessica meets a woman with an identical name and birth date. It appears to be just an odd coincidence—until a week later, when Jessica finds her bank account drained and her personal information stolen.

Following a trail of the grifter’s victims, each with the same name, Jessica gathers players—one by one—for her own game. According to her plan, they’ll set a trap and wait for the impostor to strike again. But plans can go awry, and trust can fray, and as Jessica tries to escape the shadows of her childhood, the risks are greater than she imagined. Now, confronting the casualties of her past, Jessica can’t help but wonder…

Who will pay the price? 

Review:

With many thrillers feeling very basic and formulaic for me lately it’s getting harder and harder for me to find authors that I can truly count on to deliver solid books time and time again. CM is one of those rare authors for me, each of her books feels different from the last and they’ve all been highly entertaining and compulsive reads for me.

If a book has anything cult related in the plot I’m instantly interested and then the idea of meeting a total stranger who not only has the exact same name but also the exact same birthday really just piqued my interest even more. That was just the tip of the iceberg y’all, this one was WILD and kept me on my toes the whole time. It’s one big game of cat and mouse that never once faltered or let off the gas. If like me you’ve had trouble lately with finding a book to hold your attention then give this a try because it worked for me!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: June 2, 2020

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.

And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She’s fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they’re half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.

But then Brynn runs into Kinsey’s lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.

As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them. 

Review:

You may remember that late last year I finally discovered Jill Shalvis and in that short amount of time I’ve become such a huge fan. There’s a handful of authors that I can truly depend on to take me on a fun, entertaining escape and she is definitely one of them. Also, look at that cover, I mean have you ever seen a more perfect one for summer? The inside is amazing as well.

So this one is much more than just a summer romance novel. Yes, there is romance (two actually 😍🔥) but it’s also about friendship and family as well, truly a little bit of everything for everyone. It also has the author’s trademark fantastic characterization, every single person in this book feels so authentic and relatable on some level. A cute little addition that I adored was journal entries from two of the main characters back when they were frenemies at summer camp, and oh yes instead of a friends to lovers romantic relationship the two female leads have a love/hate relationship. I’m telling ya, this was such a fun one and a perfect addition to summer reading!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: May 5, 2020

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he’s stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless string of resort visitors who couldn’t interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn’t just the top item on Zoey Caldwell’s bucket list. It’s the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she’s smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham’s world, she may just find there’s more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness. 

Review:

There’s something about a grumpy hero in a romance novel that just works for me, maybe it’s because I’m kinda grumpy myself but Graham stole my heart almost instantly. His diner started out as a joke and his customer service is nonexistent, picture lots of grunting and you get what you get with a surly attitude. Then there’s Zoey who is his polar opposite, she’s adorable, sweet, quirky and awkward and I loved her too. So with two main characters that I liked I was already happy and then throw in an amazing Alaskan setting and it really couldn’t be anymore perfect for me!

This had all the rom com feelings and was super sweet too, very much cutesy rather than sexy but Graham and Zoey’s chemistry was great. It’s a great beginning to a new series, the secondary characters were fantastic and I can’t wait until my next trip to Moose Springs! Oh, if you’re an animal lover there is also plenty to love her taking this to a whole other swoon level.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: February 27, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Nurse Sage Nichols life changed when she lost her favorite patient and inherited a bed and breakfast in a town she didn’t know existed. She traveled to Aspen Cove intent to sell so she could hurry back to her life in Denver. Little did she know, she was about to find everything she ever needed in the tiny mountain town with a big heart. Sage found herself in a place where caring for your neighbor was a way of life. In her case, that happened to be surly Cannon Bishop, the man of her dreams. 

Cannon Bishop was a man who learned long ago that hope was a dangerous thing. Closed off from the world after a family tragedy, Cannon lived a lonely life as the owner of Aspen Cove’s only bar and son to the town drunk. When Sage Nichols breezed into town, she offered the possibility of more if he’d only open his heart. Cannon’s protective walls tumble and suddenly a brighter future of healing, hope, and peace was possible… if only Sage would stay. 

Review:

Where are my small town romance fans at? How about Virgin River? I discovered VR late last year and it’s one of my favorite romance series now and I’m always looking for another one that has a similar vibe. Guess what?! I found one in the Aspen Cove series 🙌🏻 It’s definitely not exactly the same and I wouldn’t want it to be anyway, but it had a similar feel to it and everything I love about VR can be found here too. Also? This series already has twelve books so I can binge read and be satisfied for awhile still. Another bonus for me (especially right now) is she’s an indie author and I’m trying my best to support them through the craziness in the world.

I’ve come to realize that for me to really connect with a romance novel it needs a few key things. First, I love a small town with quirky characters and plenty of charm. I also need the lead characters to be interesting and have relatable flaws and struggles and I also need to believe their chemistry together. If there’s a great balance between humor and heart and cute romance and sex, I’m in. This one had everything I listed, Aspen Cove sounds idyllic based on the name alone and while it has a lot going for it, it’s nowhere near perfect and neither are the residents. They have real issues and problems as do Sage and Cannon and their chemistry was 🔥 from the money they met. I laughed plenty, and while there was some sex, I wouldn’t call this steamy. I feel like it really had a little bit of everything and for me, that’s exactly what I like! Definitely recommend this one, the whole series is on kindle unlimited too and I can’t wait to keep reading.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

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Release date: May 12, 2020

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

On Ichabod Island, a jagged strip of land thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, ten-year-old Sky becomes an orphan for the second time after a tragic accident claims the lives of her adoptive parents.

Grieving the death of his best friends, Leo’s life is turned upside down when he finds himself the guardian of young Sky. Back on the island and struggling to balance his new responsibilities and his marriage to his husband, Leo is supported by a powerful community of neighbors, many of them harboring secrets of their own.

Maggie, who helps with Sky’s childcare, has hit a breaking point with her police chief husband, who becomes embroiled in a local scandal. Her best friend Agnes, the island busybody, invites Sky’s estranged grandmother to stay for the summer, straining already precarious relationships. Their neighbor Joe struggles with whether to tell all was not well in Sky’s house in the months leading up to the accident. And among them all is a mysterious woman, drawn to Ichabod to fulfill a dying wish.

Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and Ann Leary, My Kind of People is a riveting, impassioned novel about the resilience of community and what connects us all in the face of tragedy.

Review:

Y’all I just adored this book! If you’re looking for a heartfelt escape, an ensemble cast of characters that you will fall in love with and a setting that is fully brought to life this is a must read. I was so incredibly invested in the lives of the characters in this book from Sky the ten year old girl who just lost her parents to her neighbor and teacher, Maggie and then to Leo who is Sky’s new legal guardian. There were a handful of other supporting characters that I also loved, is there anything better than feeling like you’ve made new friends by the time you finished a book?!

Besides the best, most relatable characters the author has the most gorgeous writing style. I’m not a big fan of literary fiction, mostly because I feel like I’m not smart enough for wordy prose, but her writing has such a beautiful, evocative feel that it almost feels like you’re reading literary fiction without the pretentiousness. There’s also a little mystery element as well as some exploration into some timely issues like race relations, sexuality and mental health issues all with a graceful and insightful touch. Highly recommended by me!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: May 5, 2020

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Ruth Cooperman arrives in beautiful beachside Provincetown for her retirement, renting the perfect waterfront cottage while she searches for her forever home. After years of hard work and making peace with life’s compromises, Ruth is looking forward to a carefree summer of solitude. But when she finds a baby girl abandoned on her doorstep, Ruth turns to her new neighbors for help and is drawn into the drama of the close-knit community.

The appearance of the mystery baby has an emotional ripple effect through the women in town, including Amelia Cabral, the matriarch who lost her own child decades earlier; Elise Douglas, owner of the tea shop who gave up her dream of becoming a mother; and teenage local Jaci Barros who feels trapped by her parents’ expectations. Ruth, caring for a baby for the first time in thirty years, even reaches out to her own estranged daughter, Olivia, summoning her to Provincetown in hopes of a reconciliation.

As summer unfolds and friends and family care for the infant, alliances are made, relationships are tested, and secrets are uncovered. But the unconditional love for a child in need just might bring Ruth and the women of Provincetown exactly what they have been longing for themselves.

With heartfelt storytelling, Summer Longing is Jamie Brenner’s eagerly anticipated return to Provincetown; another unforgettable tale about motherhood, friendship, and finding your way home.

Review:

You guys ready for another summer reading recommendation? Jamie Brenner writes some of the best beachy books and I look forward to her latest every single year. There’s something effortless and easy about the way she tells a story and once again, this one has everything I look for in a summertime read and more. There’s a pretty setting that is brought to life, complex and authentic characters, intrigue, romance and even a light mystery, what more could you want?!

If you need a pick me up in the form of a great book this is definitely a great option. This one really swept me away and made me forget about my own life as I got wrapped up in the dramas of the characters. Highly recommended by me and her other books are just as fantastic!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.