Goodreads

Release date: November 8, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook. She’s in way over her head even before the shop’s resident book club, comprising seven of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begin to do what they do best–meddle.

Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From river rafting to local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she only thought happened in fiction.

When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She’s reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.

Review:

I’ve read plenty of books where the main character is a book store owner and usually it’s because they love to read but this was my first time reading a book about a bookstore owner who hated reading. So I wasn’t sure what to think about that aspect but it ended up being surprisingly fun actually. I was utterly charmed by this one, between the super swoony Jasper, the gorgeous Colorado setting and the hilarious dirty birds every aspect of this was enjoyable. I also really liked the fact that Jasper was a male romance author and his while he was lovable he wasn’t written in a cheesy way. I think this was an ideal fall romance, so delightful and funny and sexy! I could even see it becoming a series because I would love to see a book about Drew’s sister, Daisy 🤞🏻

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: December 27, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A young woman’s life is torn apart when her wealthy ex-lover is found dead—along with his wife.

Vera is ruthlessly ambitious, beautiful, and knows how to get exactly what she wants—no matter who stands in the way. When she meets a wealthy older man on an exclusive dating app, she thinks nothing of the wife he tells her he’s separated from. But days later, when the man and his wife are found dead in their home, Vera is immediately blamed for their deaths and branded as good as a murderer.

A year later, she emerges from a cocoon of self-pity and tries to reenter the world, but the specter of scandal still clings to her. Then she’s invited to a memorial for the wife of her former lover. As she learns more about the family, and about the couple and their friends, she begins to suspect there was more to the story than an affair gone wrong. In a quest for redemption, Vera uncovers layers of lies and close-kept secrets held by an inner circle of filthy rich tech millionaires who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations.

Review:

I’m usually not a huge fan of a slow burn mystery but there was something incredibly intoxicating about this one that held my attention. I think a big part of the reason was that I was captivated by the authors writing style, she managed to write a story full of unlikable characters and somehow I was still invested in them? The way the story slowly unraveled revealing so many layers of deception, obsession and betrayal was hypnotic and really had a hold on me. This one went dark too, super dark in unexpected ways. Definitely many moments were I felt uncomfortable and unsettled but I’m telling you, this one got under my skin! If you like slow burn stories full of women’s rage this was good.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 22, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career–her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she knows she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation, which will be featured on a popular HGTV show, Innside America, Astrid is thrilled. Not only will the project distract her from her failed engagement and help her struggling business, but her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her a nod of approval.

However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and the lead carpenter for the renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into some light sabotage to ruffle Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other evolves into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead or the one that she wants?

Review:

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care early this year so I definitely had high expectations going into this one. While I still enjoyed this one I didn’t like it quite as much as it’s predecessor, I think it was missing some of the magic book one had for me. BUT. Still lots to like here, I’ve been curious about Astrid and it was nice to get her perspective, you also get Jordan’s POV too and in a romance especially I’m all for seeing both sides. I was into the home renovation aspect of the story as well, design talk is interesting to me and it was a cute and fun backdrop for a romance. I felt like both Astrid and Jordan were well drawn too, it’s hard to put my finger on exactly why this wasn’t the five star read I assumed it would be. I’m still going with four stars, I loved the representation, checking in on Claire and Delilah and the authentic characters. I think maybe it felt a little long and drawn out for me in the end, maybe? But if you like queer romances that are super steamy and witty try this.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 1, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

When college sweethearts Frankie and Ezra broke up before graduation, they vowed to never speak to each other again. Ten years later, on the eve of the new millennium, they find themselves back on their snowy, picturesque New England campus together for the first time for the wedding of mutual friends. Frankie’s on the rise as a music manager for the hottest bands of the late ’90s, and Ezra’s ready to propose to his girlfriend after the wedding. Everything is going to plan–they just have to avoid the chasm of emotions brought up when they inevitably come face to face.

But when they wake up in bed next to each other the following morning with Ezra’s grandmother’s diamond on Frankie’s finger, they have zero memory of how they got there–or about any of the events that transpired the night before. Now Frankie and Ezra have to put aside old grievances in order to figure out what happened, what didn’t happen…and to ask themselves the most troubling question of all: what if they both got it wrong the first time around?

Review:

I struggled with this one so I’ll just keep this fairly brief. I went into it thinking it was gonna be this fun nostalgic romance and really it was more fiction, not a lot of romance and missing the nostalgia I was hoping for. I found both Frankie and Ezra to be frustrating and frankly, annoying characters so I wasn’t able to connect to them or care about them. The story also dragged for me and it felt like it was an endless cycle of trying to piece together the night before and I just didn’t care eventually. I have enjoyed the authors past books but this was just a miss for me.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 31, 2022

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat.

That’s how it all begins—with a simple invitation.

For five authors, it’s meant to be the start of a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and likeminded company.
But shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn.

Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning their companions. As suspicions mount, the authors are pitted against each other.

Whom can they trust in a house full of strangers?

With tensions rising, the writers find themselves in the middle of their own mystery. Death, terror, and despair are common elements in their books, but at Black Hills Manor, the murders being plotted are their own.

Review:

KMod books are always tricky to review because I don’t want to give too much away, but I also want to make sure y’all know how much I enjoy her books. You never quite know what to expect when you start one of her books, her last release was super emotional but still tense and this one felt more like her usual style. It definitely gave me the same vibes as Just Married so if you’ve read and liked that one this one was even creepier for me.

I love reading books with an author as a character and this one has five so that was fun! You have the present day timeline with Blakely at the writers retreat and then “before” chapters mixed in from an unrelated character. I had no idea how she would fit in or how anything would come together but in true KMod fashion when things merged I was totally surprised. This one had some super dark moments and I loved how you knew that Blakely had something mysterious and sinister in her past, but you don’t know exactly what it is until late in the game. Kept me on my toes for sure. If you liked locked room style stories with lots of suspense, a creepy atmosphere and a strong ending try this.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 1, 2023

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Country music’s golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren’t about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he’d be wallowing in self-pity. 

It’s hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clients are scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she’s unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family’s whiskey brand. No big deal…

Colton agrees to consider Gretchen’s offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there’s a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together

Review:

This is the fifth book in a series and man, I’ve really enjoyed every single book which is honestly not all that common as a series goes on. I’ve been loving celebrity romances this year too so I was excited to get that side of Colton’s story as well as his history. This also has a sunshine and grump trope and when the guy is the happy go lucky one like Colton was I just swoon. This is definitely Christmassy but no too much of that’s not your thing, I was still satisfied with that aspect and my love of all things festive was pleased. The best part of this series is checking in with the boys and it was hilarious as usual when they all get together. Loved the latest installment in this series and adored the charm and humor as always.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 3, 2023

Publisher: St. Martins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

Review:

This was such an addictive and fun popcorn thriller! I know it’s early for me to be reviewing it but it was entertaining enough that I figured getting it on your radar early would be a good thing. One of the things I’ve come to enjoy the most about this authors books is the way she creates unsettling settings for her books and this was no exception. It flips back and forth between present day when Emily and Chess are vacationing in Italy and then back to the 1970s when Mari spends a summer at the same villa as Emily. I was very drawn to the past timeline because you already know the summer comes to a violent and deadly end but the lead up to the tragedy was so fascinating. The author did a really great job with these two timelines showcasing such similar and parallel experiences but it was still easy to keep things separate in my head. I think I expected a slightly more explosive ending after such a strong lead up but I appreciate what the author was doing and why she made the choices she did. Overall a solid read with a unique edge and very cool throwback vibes.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 1, 2022

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

One year ago, recent Portland transplant Ellie Oliver had her dream job in animation and a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money.

Finding work at a local coffee shop, she’s just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop’s landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes and isolation. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep up the ruse. But when Andrew introduces his new fiancée to his sister, Ellie is shocked to discover it’s Jack—the mysterious woman she fell for over the course of one magical Christmas Eve the year before. Now, Ellie must choose between the safety of a fake relationship and the risk of something real.

Perfect for fans of Written in the Stars and One Day in December, Kiss Her Once for Me is the queer holiday rom-com that you’ll want to cozy up with next to the fire.

Review:

I adored the authors last book, The Charm Offensive and had super high expectations for this one. I’m so happy to report that this one more than lived up to my expectations and I enjoyed it just as much.

You have fake dating and instead of a love triangle you get a love trapezoid and that worked so much better for me than a boring triangle. The relationships between the characters are complicated to say the least so the entertainment value alone makes it worthwhile but it’s so much more than a sappy rom com with funny moments. It also has those too but the author does such an incredible job at representing a wide variety of people and handling their issues and problems in a delicate and sensitive way. The side characters don’t even feel like a secondary part of the story, every one adds value to the story and they were all so well drawn. Everything about this one felt thoughtful and combine that with a charming sapphic romance, a festive setting for a good portion of the book and Taylor Swift references and I was beyond happy. Loved this one!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 8, 2022

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis: Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.

What could be more restful, more restorative, than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, complete with spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s loving and generous tech-mogul brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’s his birthday gift to Hannah and includes their spouses and another couple. The six friends need this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R, far from the chatter and pressures of modern life.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare. A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep. How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? And who is the new boyfriend, crashing their party? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

Review:

I’m a sucker for a locked room style mystery this time of year so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I was pretty much immediately drawn in here, there’s a ton of different viewpoints and while I wasn’t sure how they all fit together at first, I was able to settle in fairly quickly. There is one mysterious POV that doesn’t click into place until closer to the end but I was invested in this persons story and actually looked forward to their chapters when they popped up. The setting is fantastic, you have an isolated and claustrophobic cabin in the middle of nowhere and despite the amenities when Mother Nature brings a storm in money can’t save you. I think the less you know her the better off you are so if you enjoy tense and addictive locked room style thrillers try this, it was a lot of fun while also delivering a dark and sinister edge.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 8, 2022

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis: Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.

What could be more restful, more restorative, than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, complete with spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s loving and generous tech-mogul brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’s his birthday gift to Hannah and includes their spouses and another couple. The six friends need this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R, far from the chatter and pressures of modern life.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare. A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep. How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? And who is the new boyfriend, crashing their party? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

Review:

I’m a sucker for a locked room style mystery this time of year so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I was pretty much immediately drawn in here, there’s a ton of different viewpoints and while I wasn’t sure how they all fit together at first, I was able to settle in fairly quickly. There is one mysterious POV that doesn’t click into place until closer to the end but I was invested in this persons story and actually looked forward to their chapters when they popped up. The setting is fantastic, you have an isolated and claustrophobic cabin in the middle of nowhere and despite the amenities when Mother Nature brings a storm in money can’t save you. I think the less you know her the better off you are so if you enjoy tense and addictive locked room style thrillers try this, it was a lot of fun while also delivering a dark and sinister edge.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.