Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Blog Tour: The Wedding Engagement - Review!
Monday, September 2, 2024
Review: This Book Kills!
This Book Kills by Ravena Guron
All Jess Choudhary wants is to keep her head down, do her work, and make it through high school without any problems. As a scholarship student—and one of only two students of Indian heritage—her future at the elite school depends on her ability to keep a low profile and spotless record. But when one of the most popular and richest kids in the school ends up dead in the exact same way as a character in a short story she wrote, Jess unintentionally finds herself at the center of the investigation.
And then Jess receives an anonymous text thanking her for the inspiration.
As rumors run rampant about who the murderer could be, Jess knows if she doesn't solve this mystery herself, she'll finally have something in common with she'll be dead too.
Monday, March 25, 2024
March '24 Mini Reviews!
Here are mini reviews for a few March releases!
Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja
I really enjoyed reading this debut adult romance, and I look forward to what Ms. Khawaja writes next!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
This was a really unique mystery, with lots of twists and turns! I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds interesting!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
This was a good historical romance with great characters and an interesting plot!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
This was another wonderful adult historical romance/mystery from Manda Collins! Her characters are always great, with a fun plot. I would definitely recommend to fans of her previous novels!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
I really liked this historical mystery! The characters and plot were interesting. I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds good!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
This was a good adult contemporary romance, that I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds interesting!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
This was a great YA debut novel, with great characters and a fun plot! I look forward to what Ms. Tucker writes next!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Blog Tour: Recipe For A Charmed Life - Review!
After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
American chef Georgia May Jackson has one goal—to run her own restaurant in Paris. After a grueling decade working in Parisian kitchens, she is on the cusp of success. But in one disastrous night, Georgia loses her sous-chef position, her French boyfriend, and her sense of taste! Renowned for her refined palate and daring use of bold flavors to create remarkable dishes, Georgia is devastated to discover her culinary gift has simply...vanished.
When she receives a surprising invitation from her estranged mother, Georgia flees to a small island near Seattle hoping the visit will help her regain her spark in the kitchen. There she tentatively reconnects with her mom, a free-spirited hippie eager to make up for her past mistakes. But there’s something about the enigmatic island Georgia just can’t piece together. Good luck charms keep appearing in the oddest places. Her neighbor is a puzzlingly antagonist (and annoyingly handsome) oyster farmer. And her mom keeps hinting at a mysterious family legacy.
With the clock ticking and time running out to win her dream job in Paris, Georgia begins to unravel some astonishing secrets that make her wonder if the true recipe for a charmed life might look—and taste—very different than she ever imagined.
Review: I really enjoyed this romance novel! The characters were all fantastic, and I thought the writing was really well done. And I love the cover (isn’t it so cute?!)! Overall, I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds good!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Blog Tour: Technically Yours - Review!
Technically Yours by Denise Williams
Pearl Harris has learned the hard way to be careful in work and in love. When she is appointed acting director of OurCode, a nonprofit aimed at inspiring high schoolers to code, she has a chance to make lasting change for the organization, but a scandal has put their reputation at risk. Further complicating matters, Pearl didn’t expect the one man she hasn’t stopped thinking about in seven years to be the newest member of her board of directors.
Cord Matthews fell for Pearl when they met in an elevator seven years ago. She’s just his type: smart, capable, and makes him laugh, but when she broke his heart, he decided love wasn’t for him. After five years with no contact, their connection is immediate despite the many roadblocks in their way and Cord must consider breaking his ban on serious relationships. But going public with a romance between them might derail Pearl’s career and the progress she’s made at OurCode.
-summary and cover via Goodreads
Review: I really enjoyed reading this romance! Great characters, and I loved the ending! Overall, I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds good!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Blog Tour: CHRISTMAS IN THE CROSSHAIRS - Author Guest Post - Review - Giveaway!
Christmas in the Crosshairs (Love Inspired Suspense) by Deena Alexander
Author Guest Post:

INGREDIENTS:
4 Eggs
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup flour
3 Tsp. almond extract
3 Tbsp. Amaretto
2 Sticks melted margarine
Food coloring: Red, yellow, green
1 Bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 jar Apricot or Raspberry jam or jelly (whichever you prefer)
DIRECTIONS;
Preheat oven to 350
Beat eggs and sugar together. Add flour and stir. Add Amaretto, almond extract, and melted margarine. Beat well. Separate into three bowls (an even amount of batter in each bowl). Add one color food coloring to each bowl (until batter is desired color).
Spray three 9 X 11 disposable baking pans with non-stick spray. Pour one color batter into each pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350 for 14 – 15 minutes (cooks quickly, so watch closely and remove if browning). Remove and let cool.
Melt chocolate chips.
Once cool, spread apricot or raspberry jelly over one colored sheet. Put next sheet on top of it. Spread a layer of jelly over that sheet. Put next sheet on top. Cover top layer with the melted chocolate chips – spread thin.
Cut into small rectangles and enjoy!
Those look absolutely delicious!
About Christmas in the Crosshairs
Christmas in the Crosshairs (Love Inspired Suspense)
Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Setting – Seaport, Long Island, New York
Love Inspired Suspense (November 28, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 1335597794
ISBN-13 : 978-1335597793
Digital ASIN : B0BTJ3BSJW
A baby in need of protection— and a hitman in pursuit.After evading an attack, defense attorney Adam Spencer is on the run from a dangerous hitman. The killer’s wife is Adam’s only hope at apprehending the criminal—until she lands in the hospital. Now he must depend on her twin sister, Jaelyn Reed, to find the answers they need…all while protecting the baby niece Jaelyn didn’t know she had. But with threats at every turn, trust may be the deadliest trap…
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
My Review:
About Deena Alexander
- Webpage: http://deenaalexander.com/index.html
- Blog: http://deenaalexander.com/blog.html
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeenaAlexanderAuthor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeenaAlexanderA
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20382104.Deena_Alexander
- BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/deena-alexander
- Newsletter: https://gmail.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d7e6e9ecdc0888d7324788ffc&id=42d52965df
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Review: Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity!
Then Myrtle's investigation stirs a villain out of hiding. The estate’s boat is stolen, so there’s no escape from the island. Myrtle is forced to play a deadly game, hunting for the brooch with a thief breathing down her neck—someone who will stop at nothing to get the treasure, even if it means murder.
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Blog Tour: The Wake-Up Call - Review!
Monday, September 25, 2023
Review: Case of the Bleus!
Review: Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss
What in the bleu blazes is happening in Yarrow Glen now?
Cheesemongers from across the Northwest have come to the Sonoma Valley for the Northwest Cheese Invitational. As owner of the local cheese shop, Curds & Whey, Willa Bauer loves it. The event showcases custom cheese creations, and it’s the perfect time to gather with old colleagues to honor her former boss, the late and grate cheese legend, Max Dumas. He was famous for journeying into the wild bleu yonder to where he aged his award-winning custom Church Bleu. Only Max knew the recipe and location to his beloved cheese, and many are eager to have these revealed at his will reading.
But instead of naming someone to inherit his cheese and its secrets, Max stuns everyone with one cryptic clue. When a fellow cheesemonger dies under mysterious circumstances––the woman they all thought would get the secrets to Max's prized possession––everyone falls under suspicion. Willa adores Church Bleu as much as the next cheese connoisseur, but it’s not to die for . Is a killer trying to get away with murder...and the cheese?
-summary and cover via Goodreads
Review: This was another five star read from Korina Moss! The Cheese Shop Mysteries are one of my favorite cozy series, and I absolutely loved this newest book. I don't want to say too much about the mystery aspect, but I will say I thought it was really well written, and I loved the treasure hunt part of it! And the personal lives of all the characters got a little advancement in this book, which I really enjoyed.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Monday, September 4, 2023
Review: It Found Us!
Review: It Found Us by Lindsay Currie
From the author of Scritch Scratch and The Girl in White comes a new spooky mystery about a girl detective who must decode a series of ominous clues tied to a century-old tragedy to find a missing teenager before it’s too late…
Twelve-year-old Hazel Woods has always had an unusual knack for sleuthing. Some may call it snooping, but all she really wants is to solve mysteries around town. So, when she not-so-accidentally overhears her brother Den planning to sneak into the cemetery at night for an epic game of hide-and-seek, she decides to secretly tag along. This seems like the perfect opportunity to investigate the claims that the cemetery is haunted.
But the moment the game ends, Hazel realizes something is very, very wrong. From her hiding spot in the bushes, she overhears that her brother’s best friend, Everett, is missing. Everyone else was found by the seeker but there’s no sign of Everett anywhere. It’s as if he just . . . vanished
Hazel and Den are determined to find Everett before it’s too late. But as they begin to unravel the terrifying clues that started appearing since that night in the graveyard–eerie whispers that sound like someone counting, the intermittent smell of smoke, and the cold, lost presence that follows them everywhere, she’s not sure what they are dealing with. But Everett needs more than search parties and scent-tracking dogs to find him, especially if his disappearance is tied to the history of the cemetery, and the lost, century-old spirits that might still be trapped there.
-summary and cover via Goodreads
Review: This was another wonderfully spooky Middle Grade book from Lindsay Currie! Hazel was a great main character, and I thought it was so fun that she loved solving mysteries, and being a sleuth. (It had young Nancy Drew vibes!) There were lots of genuinely creepy moments throughout the book. The reason behind the hauntings was so well written, and made me cry, but I won't share anything else about that, because I don't want to spoil anything. Overall, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Review: Ghosted!
Review: Ghosted by Amanda Quain
Never Have I Ever meets The X-Files in Amanda Quain's Ghosted, a gender-bent contemporary retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey.
Hattie Tilney isn’t a believer. Yes, she’s a senior at America’s most (allegedly) haunted high school, Northanger Abbey. But ever since her paranormal-loving dad passed away, she’s hung up her Ghostbusters suit, put away the EMF detectors and thermal cameras, and moved on. She has enough to worry about in the land of the living--like taking care of her younger brother, Liam, while their older sister spirals out and their mother, Northanger’s formidable headmistress, buries herself in her work. If Hattie just works hard enough and keeps that overachiever mask on tight through graduation, maybe her mom will finally notice her.
But the mask starts slipping when Hattie’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a golden retriever of a boy who’s transferred to Northanger on—what else—a ghost-hunting scholarship. The two are partnered up for an investigative project on the school’s paranormal activity, and Hattie quickly strikes a deal: Kit will present whatever ghostly evidence he can find to prove that campus is haunted, and Hattie will prove that it’s not. But as they explore the abandoned tunnels and foggy graveyards of Northanger, Hattie starts to realize that Kit might be the kind of person that makes her want to believe in something—and someone—for the first time.
With her signature wit and slow burn romance, Amanda Quain turns another Austen classic on its head in this sparkling retelling that proves sometimes the ghosts are just a metaphor after all.
-summary and cover via Goodreads
Review: Amanda Quain's debut novel, ACCOMPLISHED, made my favorite books post the year I read it. So I went into this book with high expectations. Were they met? Absolutely! This was another fantastic book from this author. It was messy, and happy, and sad, and I think, in the end, hopeful. I loved Hattie as a main character, and reading about her growing throughout the story was wonderful. My heart broke for her at multiple points during the book, but getting to see her journey was great. I thought all the side characters were well written, from Kit, to her family, and her friend group. And I loved the ending! Overall, I would highly recommend this YA book!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Review: All Alone with You!
Review: All Alone with You by Amelia Diane Coombs
HBO Max’s Hacks gets a romantic twist in the vein of Jenn Bennett in this swoon-worthy novel about a standoffish teen girl whose loner status gets challenged by a dynamic elderly woman and a perpetually cheerful boy.
Eloise Deane is the worst and doesn’t care who knows it. She’s grumpy, prefers to be alone, and is just slogging through senior year with one goal: get accepted to USC and move to California. So when her guidance counselor drops the bombshell that to score a scholarship she’ll desperately need, her applications require volunteer hours, Eloise is up for the challenge. Until she’s paired with LifeCare, a volunteer agency that offers social support to lonely seniors through phone calls and visits. Basically, it’s a total nightmare for Eloise’s anxiety.
Eloise realizes she’s made a huge mistake—especially when she’s paired with Austin, the fellow volunteer who’s the sunshine to her cloudy day. But as Eloise and Austin work together to keep Marianne Landis—the mysterious former frontwoman of the 1970s band the Laundromats—company, something strange happens. She actually…likes Marianne and Austin? Eloise isn’t sure what to do with that, especially when her feelings toward Austin begin to blur into more-than-friends territory.
And when ex-girlfriends, long-buried wounds, and insecurities reappear, Eloise will have a choice to make: go all in with Marianne and Austin or get out before she gets hurt.
-summary and cover via Goodreads
Review: This is now one of my favorite YA books! Eloise was such a wonderful main character. The anxiety and depression rep was excellent. Her relationship with Austin was adorable. And speaking of Austin! He was so sweet and kind and absolutely perfect for Eloise. Marianne was a great character, too! I liked how much Eloise's family was a part of the book. Overall, I absolutely loved this YA novel and I highly recommend it!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Monday, July 24, 2023
Review: All That Glitters Isn't Old!
In her youth, Goldy was an item with a Catalina catch named Darren. But it was actually a ruse to fool Darren’s parents who wouldn’t have accepted his preference for men. Eventually, he left the island and chose the life—and life-partner—he wanted for himself. Back in town for his mother’s funeral, Darren takes the opportunity to heal his open wounds, and settle some scores.