Goodreads

Release date: April 30, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

They want an ideal life.
She’s the only thing standing in their way.

The Ashleys are determined to build a future detached from the issues in their pasts, and it seems to be working.
They’re happily married.
In love.
Established in their dream careers.
Closer than ever to being debt-free.

But when a mysterious opportunity arrives with an offer they can’t refuse, everything changes.

Soon, they meet her.
She’s rich.
Powerful.
Single-minded in her goals.
She is not used to being told no.

Worst of all, she knows about the dirty deeds they’ve done in the dark…

If they don’t do exactly what she wants, the ramifications of their secrets being exposed are endless. In a battle of wits against a woman who knows too much, the Ashleys find themselves with an impossible choice to make.

Whom do you trust when the only person who can save you is the one who might bring you down?

Review:

KMod is back with yet another winner for me! I made the mistake of starting this late one night after my family went to sleep because I was just going to read a couple chapters to get a feel for the story. I know better than that honestly, the authors books are meant to be devoured in one breathless sitting and needless to stay I was up way past my bedtime finishing this. But it was worth it for sure, this was another unique and super twisty read that I clearly couldn’t put down. The description of this one is perfect, it alludes to what’s to come but it doesn’t give anything away and the best part of this was my shock as things unraveled in a deliciously wicked manner. It kept me guessing and was just so much fun as well. The author really never misses for me.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 2, 2023

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

What if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey?

Britain. The near-future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to society’s ills — the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.

But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives — monitoring every word, every minor disagreement — and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honor and obey.

Review:

I was so interested in the concept here, it was so original and terrifyingly believable that I felt like it had to be a fascinating read. While parts of it were interesting and the overall idea was solid, unfortunately the story as a whole didn’t really work for me. There was a lot going on here with several viewpoints from different couples who are impacted by The Marriage Act in some way and instead of things flowing smoothly it all felt kind of choppy for me. The style also just felt really dry and bland as well and things dragged for me at different points, so it was also too long for me. It seems like I’m an outlier here so if you enjoy this author or this one just sounds intriguing to you give it a try, it just wasn’t the book for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 2, 2023

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort–something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan–a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

Review:

I loved the authors debut so me not loving this one actually hurts but here we are. I think the main thing that made this not work for me from the start was that it was very hard to believe that Will and Fern spent one day together and then she spent ten years pining over him?! That just doesn’t make much sense to me and I never bought into it. I also didn’t really think Will was all that great either, pretty hard to root for a couple when I didn’t think he deserved her. Sadly a miss for me here.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 2, 2023

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

When two best men in a wedding party fall for each other, they realize love isn’t a piece of cake in this hilarious and heartfelt romantic comedy debut by screenwriter Sidney Karger.

Max Moody thought he had everything figured out. He’s trying to live his best life in New York City and has the best friend a gay guy could ask for: Paige. She and Max grew up next door to each other in the suburbs of Chicago. She can light up any party. She finishes his sentences. She’s always a reliable splunch (they don’t like to use the word brunch) partner. But then Max’s whole world is turned upside down when Paige suddenly announces some huge news: she’s engaged and wants Max to be her man of honor. Max was always the romantic one who imagined he would get married before the unpredictable Paige and is shocked to hear she’s ready to settle down. But it turns out there’s not just one new man in Paige’s life–there are two.

There’s the groom, Austin, who’s a perfectly nice guy. Then there’s his charming, fun and ridiculously handsome gay younger brother, Chasten, who is Austin’s best man. As Paige’s wedding draws closer, Max, the introverted Midwesterner, and Chasten, the social butterfly East Coaster, realize they’re like oil and water. Yet they still have to figure out how to coexist in Paige’s life while not making her wedding festivities all about them. But can the tiny romantic spark between these two very different guys transform their best man supporting roles into the leading best men in each other’s lives?

Review:

I freaking loved this one SO much, it had me charmed right from the start and my giddy excitement never stopped. The thing that made it such a standout for me was the incredible wit and humor, I just really enjoyed the authors style and I seriously laughed so much. The romance was sort of a side plot here but it doesn’t matter because where this one shines is through Max and his personal journey with his career, friendships and yes his love life but it’s not entirely the focus. It’s also a super slow burn but it was truly worth the wait for me because Max and Chasten were so cute and I just loved them together. It’s mostly set in NYC and the author also really brought things to life for me, there is a small section set in Fire Island and again, he definitely did a great job with that setting too. This was a total delight and impressed me as a debut, I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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.