Category: 8.5/10

#BookReview Save Me by Mona Kasten @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #SaveMe #MonaKasten #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Save Me by Mona Kasten @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #SaveMe #MonaKasten #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Save Me

Author: Mona Kasten

Series: Maxton Hall #1

Published by: Berkley on Jul. 1, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

They come from different worlds, and yet they are meant for each other.

Money, glamour, luxury, power—Ruby Bell couldn’t be less interested in these things if she tried. After being awarded a scholarship to one of England’s most prestigious and expensive private schools, Maxton Hall, all she wants is to keep her head down, work hard, and get accepted to Oxford. She keeps her distance from everyone, especially the arrogant, rich, and extremely handsome James Beaufort, ringleader of the school’s party boys.

When Ruby discovers a scandalous secret about the Beauforts, she is suddenly on James’s radar. It only gets worse when James is forced to work with her to plan the school’s annual gala. Yet the more time they spend together, the more they realize they share much more than they thought.

Falling for James Beaufort was never part of her plan, yet Ruby can’t help but let her feelings sweep her away. But James must make a decision for will he choose what’s expected of him, or what he feels for her?

Review:

Captivating, spicy, and entertaining!

Save Me is an angsty, seductive tale that transports you to Maxton Hall, an elite private school for rich delinquent teens that has all the usual fare, entitled students, unrelenting bullies, sexual promiscuity, forbidden romance, naughty behaviour, innumerably delicious scandals, and a few hardworking scholarship students.

The writing is steamy and fun. The characters are rebellious, self-indulgent, and secretive. And the plot is a passionate, promiscuous, coming-of-age tale full of familial troubles, teenage angst, palpable attraction, witty banter, excessive indulgence, romance, friendship, heartbreak, and love.

Overall, Save Me is a wildly addictive, salacious, engaging novel by Kasten that immersed me so thoroughly in the decadence, lifestyle, drama, luxuries, and scandalous behaviour of the characters I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a true guilty pleasure that has undoubtedly not only left me craving for more but already counting down the days until I can get my hands on the second book in the series Save You, which is releasing on September 2, 2025.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Berkley Romance for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Mona Kasten

Mona Kasten studied library and information management before devoting herself entirely to writing. She lives in Hamburg with her family and cats as well as an infinite number of books, loves caffeine in any form, long walks in the woods and days when she can only write.

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#BookReview The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi @FireflyDist @AmazonPub #TheSecretLibraryOfHannaReeves #ChristineNolfi #LakeUnion #FireflyDist

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#BookReview The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi @FireflyDist @AmazonPub #TheSecretLibraryOfHannaReeves #ChristineNolfi #LakeUnion #FireflyDist Title: The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves

Author: Christine Nolfi

Published by: Lake Union Publishing on Jun. 24, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 303

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Firefly Distributed Lines

Book Rating: 8.5/10

An antiques dealer and an enigmatic heiress embark on a revelatory friendship in a haunting and hopeful novel about family ties, secrets, and belonging by the bestselling author of A Heart Like Home.

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

Review:

Captivating, vivid, and immersive!

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves is an intriguing tale set in Maine during the years 1915 and 1973 that is told from two different perspectives. Claire, a young woman who, after being chosen to catalogue the possessions of one of the most prestigious homes in the area, stumbles across a hidden library full of books and long-buried secrets, and Hanna, an elderly seclusive woman, who’s finally ready to reveal a life that was filled with loss, tragedy, and heartbreak.

The prose is rich and sentimental. The characters are passionate, strong, and flawed. And the plot is a touching tale about life, loss, heartache, hope, healing, friendship, relationship dynamics, and familial drama.

Overall, The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves is a heartwarming, alluring, compelling tale by Nolfi that highlights the power of stories and is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys a dual timeline story with both a sliver of mystery and a touch of romance.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

      

 

 

Thank you to Firefly Distributed Lines for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Christine Nolfi

Christine Nolfi is the award-winning and bestselling author of fifteen novels, including A Brighter Flame, selected by She Reads as a best book club pick, The Passing Storm, cited by Publishers Weekly as “Tautly plotted, expertly characterized, and genuinely riveting” and gold medal winner in general fiction, International Book Awards. Look for Christine’s 2024 release, which will be available for preorder soon.

Other works include The Road She Left Behind, a top book club pick by Working Mother and Parade magazines, and the award-winning Sweet Lake Series: Sweet Lake, The Comfort of Secrets, and The Season of Silver Linings.

Earlier works include Second Chance Grill, highly recommended by The Midwest Book Review and Treasure Me, recognized by the Next Generation Indie Awards and Put Your Heart in a Book Awards.

The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge was cited by The Midwest Book Review as “Poignant and powerful, as much a saga of learning to survive, heal, and forgive as it is a chilling crime story, unforgettable to the very end.”

A native of Ohio, Christine now resides in South Carolina with her husband. She is currently working on her 2025 release.

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#BookReview Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #BeforeDorothy #HazelGaynor #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #BeforeDorothy #HazelGaynor #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Before Dorothy

Author: Hazel Gaynor

Published by: Berkley on Jun. 17, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

Chicago, 1924: Emily Gale and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago behind for the promise of their own American dream. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.

Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have made a life in the warmth of the community of Liberal, Kansas, and among the harsh beauty of the prairie. Their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.

The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and their much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of Dorothy.

Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the what is the true meaning of home?

Review:

Insightful, inspiring, and atmospheric!

Before Dorothy is an enchanting tale that sweeps you away to Chicago and Kansas during the 1920s – 1930s when the country is reeling from the great depression, the farmers are struggling to maintain their livelihoods, identities, and health through the relentless heat, devastating wind storms, and catastrophic droughts, and the childless Emily Gale suddenly becomes the guardian of her eight-year-old niece Dorothy.

The prose is evocative and smooth. The characters are strong, resilient, and hardworking. And the plot is a captivating, emotional tale filled with life, loss, self-discovery, motherhood, familial drama, poverty, tragedy, heartbreak, community, courage, romance, friendship, and survival.

Overall, Before Dorothy is a creative, touching, heartwarming tale by Gaynor inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of OZ that does a beautiful job of blending historical events with compelling, imaginative fiction.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Berkley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Hazel Gaynor

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times, and internationally bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. Her most recent novel, The Last Lifeboat, was a Timeshistorical novel of the month, an Audie award winner, and was short-listed for the Irish Book Awards. Her work is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.

Photo by Fran Veale.

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#BookReview A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena @delreybooks @randomhouseca #ADanceOfLies #BrittneyArena #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads

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#BookReview A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena @delreybooks @randomhouseca #ADanceOfLies #BrittneyArena #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads Title: A Dance of Lies

Author: Brittney Arena

Published by: Del Rey on Jun. 10, 2025

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 448

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Random House Canada

Book Rating: 8.5/10

A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom

My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.

I am a shadow.

Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.

As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.

As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.

Review:

Sensual, gripping, and action-packed!

A Dance of Lies is a suspenseful, thrilling tale that takes you into the life of Vasalie Moran. A dancer turned prisoner who, after making a deal with the devil, will have to deceive, lie, and try to protect her heart, all while coming face to face with the man who haunts her dreams in order to survive.

The prose is seductive and intense. The characters are complex, fiery, and stubborn. And the plot is a creative, riveting tale of twists, turns, passion, angst, wrath, loyalty, heartbreak, duty, betrayal, sizzling tension, violence, forbidden romance, and supernatural abilities.

Overall, A Dance of Lies is a unique, fierce, epic debut by Arena that is bursting with determination, grit, heat, adventure, bloody battles, sexual chemistry, and fantastical elements. It kept me invested, engaged, and on the edge of my seat from the very first page and has an ending that has left me hoping there’ll definitely be more.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

        

 

 

Thank you to Random House Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Brittney Arena

BRITTNEY ARENA is a passionate storyteller, crafting emotional and immersive fantasy for all kinds of readers. With a background in both brand and visual design, she has always found solace in art. However, after a challenging health journey, she turned to writing, and what began as a coping mechanism evolved into a journey of exploration, allowing her to traverse new worlds from wherever she might be. When she’s not penning tales, Arena spends her time binging K-dramas, playing with her camera, and waging war against ungodly amounts of pet hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two pups, and she is always ready for the next adventure, whether it be on the page or in real life. A Dance of Lies is her debut novel.

Photo by Jeff Singleton.

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#BookReview Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle @acebookspub @PenguinRandomCA #RealmOfThieves #KarinaHalle #ThievesOfDragemore #AcePub #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle @acebookspub @PenguinRandomCA #RealmOfThieves #KarinaHalle #ThievesOfDragemore #AcePub #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Realm of Thieves

Author: Karina Halle

Series: Thieves of Dragemore #1

Published by: Ace on Jun. 10, 2025

Genres: Fantasy

Pages: 432

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Two thieves vie for dominance in the illegal dragon egg trade, putting both their lives and their hearts on the line in this scorching romantasy from New York Timesbestselling author Karina Halle.

For Brynla Aihr, crime and survival have always gone hand in hand. Ever since she escaped the fanatical dragon-worshipping cult that controls her homeland, she’s had to carve out a life doing the unthinkable: stealing dragon eggs. Egg theft is illegal and, in most cases, fatal. To breach a dragon’s nest means a harrowing journey through the ancient wards spelled to keep the monstrous beasts confined. Dragons can’t get out and only those with a death wish can get in.

Despite the risks, dragon eggs are highly coveted for their magic. An illegal trade flourishes under competing criminal empires, and Brynla’s loyalty has always been to the highest bidder. Until she finds herself kidnapped and blackmailed by Lord Andor, a formidable lieutenant of House Kolbeck, and thrust into the dangerous political games of rivaling dynasties.
 
Brynla and Andor clash at every turn, sparking heat in ways Brynla’s never felt before. But in a world that’s prophesized to return to the dragons, and rife with betrayal and secrets at every turn…how close to the flames is she willing to stand?

Review:

Riveting, spicy, and action-packed!

Realm of Thieves is a suspenseful, passionate tale that takes us to a world where dragons are trapped, dangerous, and their eggs are in high demand, and where the orphan, Brynla, with her ability to steal the eggs has lived quite an independent life until her her world gets turned upside down when she is kidnapped by Lord Andor, and the the attraction between them is hot enough to burn them both.

The prose is intense and seductive. The characters are complex, gifted, and unique. And the plot is a fierce tale full of twists, turns, passion, angst, fury, loyalty, heartbreak, duty, sizzling tension, violence, secrets, tormented pasts, and supernatural abilities.

Overall, Realm of Thieves is a gripping, imaginative, highly entertaining tale by Halle that is bursting with determination, grit, battles, heat, adventure, sexual chemistry, politics, rivals, and other magical elements. It kept me invested and engaged from the very first page and has left me counting down the days until I have the opportunity to read the next novel in the Thieves of Dragemor series to discover whether the dragons will once again rule the world. 

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Ace for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Karina Halle

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Realm of Thieves, River of Shadows & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it. When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their not-haunted condo in Los Angeles.

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#BookReview The Manual for Good Wives by Lola Jaye @PGCBooks @panmacmillan #TheManualForGoodWives #LolaJaye #PGCBooks

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#BookReview The Manual for Good Wives by Lola Jaye @PGCBooks @panmacmillan #TheManualForGoodWives #LolaJaye #PGCBooks Title: The Manual for Good Wives

Author: Lola Jaye

Published by: Pan Macmillan on May 6, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 400

Format: Hardcover

Source: Publishers Group Canada

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Everything about Adeline Copplefield is a lie . . .

To the world Mrs Copplefield is the epitome of Victorian propriety: an exemplary society lady who writes a weekly column advising young ladies on how to be better wives.

Only Adeline has never been a good wife or mother; she has no claim to the Copplefield name, nor is she an English lady . . .

Now a black woman, born in Africa, who dared to pretend to be something she was not, is on trial in the English courts with all of London society baying for her blood. And she is ready to tell her story . . .

From the author of The Attic Child, Lola Jaye, comes The Manual for Good Wives, a dual narrative historical novel about love, generational trauma, second chances and hope.

Review:

Rich, compelling, and alluring!

The Manual for Good Wives is predominately set in England during the 1800s, as well as present day, and is told from two different perspectives. Temi, an African woman born of noble blood who, after being forced to marry a man she does not love, flees to the UK to start a new life, leaving her husband and daughter behind, and Landri, a young woman who, after having doubts about her new fiancé, heads to her ancestral home where she discovers more about herself and her family history than she ever could have imagined.

The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are intelligent, determined, and independent. And the plot is a moving tale about life, loss, love, trauma, emotion, betrayal, family, friendship, heartbreak, resiliency, and courage.

Overall, The Manual for Good Wives is a heart-tugging, absorbing, empowering tale by Jaye that is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys a dual timeline historical story that also includes a sliver of mystery and a touch of romance.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Lola Jaye

Lola Jaye is an author and psychotherapist who has penned seven novels and a self-help book. She was born and raised in London, England and has lived in Nigeria and the United States.

The Attic Child, released in 2022, was her first epic historical novel and has since been nominated for the Jhalak Prize and shortlisted for The Diverse Book Awards.

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#BookReview Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni @BlackstoneAudio #LynetteNoni #WanderingWild #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInsiders

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#BookReview Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni @BlackstoneAudio #LynetteNoni #WanderingWild #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInsiders Title: Wandering Wild

Author: Lynette Noni

Published by: Blackstone Publishing on May 20, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 304

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Blackstone Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

She hates him. He needs her. Can they survive when all they have is each other?

Zander Rune was the darling of Hollywood until he fell from glory and was labelled a problematic bad boy. His public image needs fixing—fast—or he’ll lose the role of a lifetime, and all his dreams with it.

Charlie Hart is a regular teenage girl who despises everything Zander represents. But thanks to her scheming best friend and an ill-timed social media competition, Charlie finds herself pretending to be Zander’s biggest fan on a four-day reality TV adventure led by renowned survivalist Rykon Hawke.

When their trip goes horribly wrong, Charlie and Zander are left stranded in the wilderness. No Rykon, no film crew, no rescue. The only way they’ll survive is if they trust each other. But in order to do so, both will have to let go of the ghosts of their pasts, and just maybe find themselves—and one another—in the process.

Review:

Sweet, tender, and light!

Wandering Wild is a bighearted, charming tale that takes you on a journey into the lives of a young movie star and the best friend of one of his biggest fans as, in order to help fix his reputation and solidify his next movie contract, they must learn to rely on each other to survive the Australian wilderness for four days.

The writing is witty and smooth. The characters are hesitant, charming, and supportive. And the plot is an engaging, lovely blend of heart, hope, humour, and emotion.

Overall, Wandering Wild is, ultimately, a story about life, friendship, family, coming-of-age, self-discovery, tragedy, loss, grief, heartbreak, awkward situations, embarrassing moments, dreams, secrets, and the joys of falling in love. It’s a cute, heartwarming, entertaining novel by Noni that’s also a true love letter to the Australian Blue Mountains.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

        

 

 

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Lynette Noni

Australian author Lynette Noni studied journalism, academic writing, and human behaviour at university before venturing into the world of fiction. She is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of The Prison Healer series, The Medoran Chronicles, and the Whisper duology. To date, her books have sold more than one million copies in over 20 countries across the globe.

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#BookReview The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #TheLadiesRoadGuideToUtterRuin #AnIllManneredLadiesNovel #AlisonGoodman #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #TheLadiesRoadGuideToUtterRuin #AnIllManneredLadiesNovel #AlisonGoodman #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin

Author: Alison Goodman

Series: The Ill-Mannered Ladies #2

Published by: Berkley on May 6, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Pages: 460

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

To most of Regency high society, forty-two-year-old Lady Augusta Colebrook, or Gus, and her twin sister, Julia, are just unmarried ladies of a certain age. But the Colebrook twins are far from useless old maids. They are secretly protecting women and children ignored by society and the law.

When Lord Evan—a charming escaped convict who has won Gus’s heart—needs to hide his sister, Hester, from their vindictive brother, Gus and Julia take Hester and her lover into their home. But Lord Evan’s complicated past puts them all in danger. Gus knows they must clear his name of murder if he is to survive the thieftakers who hunt him. No easy task—the fatal duel was twenty years ago and a key witness is nowhere to be found.

In a deadly cat-and-mouse game, Gus, Julia, and Lord Evan must dodge their pursuers and investigate Lord Evan’s past. They will be thrust into the ugly underworld of Georgian gentlemen’s clubs, spies, and ruthless bounty hunters, not to mention the everyday threat of narrow-minded brothers. Will the truth be found in time, or will dangerous secrets from the past destroy family bonds and rip new love and lives apart?

Review:

Mysterious, romantic, and entertaining!

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin sweeps you away to the British countryside during the early 1800s and into the life of the independent, reliable Lady Augusta Colebrook who, after falling for the escaped convict, Lord Evan, will do whatever it takes to help hide his sister from there spiteful brother, finally discover what despicable behaviours are really going on behind the closed doors of the Rack and Ruin club, and once and for all prove her beloved is actually innocent of all the crimes he was accused of.

The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are resourceful, vulnerable, and passionate. And the plot is a fulfilling blend of family, friendship, danger, desire, societal expectations, scheming behaviour, tricky situations, awkward moments, secrets, attraction, and true love.

Overall, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is another charming, adventurous, action-packed addition to the Ill-Mannered Ladies series by Goodman, complete with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten and satisfied!

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Berkley Romance for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Alison Goodman

Alison Goodman is a Melbourne-based author of historical and fantasy fiction. Her other novels include the The Dark Days Club trilogy, an award-winning mix of Regency adventure and dark fantasy, and EON and EONA, a New York Times bestselling fantasy duology published in 20 countries. Alison has recently completed her PhD focusing on historical research and the Regency era and can dance a mean English contra dance. She is fuelled by coffee and roast potatoes and will travel a long way for a good scone.

Photo by Tania Jovanovic

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#BookReview Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews @acebookspub @PenguinRandomCA #BrokenSoulsAndBones #LJAndrews #AcePub #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews @acebookspub @PenguinRandomCA #BrokenSoulsAndBones #LJAndrews #AcePub #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Broken Souls and Bones

Author: LJ Andrews

Series: Broken Souls and Bones #1

Published by: Ace on Apr. 29, 2025

Genres: Fantasy

Pages: 480

Format: Hardcover

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood—the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown—invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

To be the King’s melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her captive: Roark.

As Lyra gets closer to Roark, she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed—and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know, or accept their dark destiny.

Review:

Immersive, action-packed, and seductive!

Broken Souls and Bones is a fierce, fervent tale that takes us into the life of Lyra Bien, who after her silver scars are discovered, is brought to the fortress of Stonegate where she will do whatever it takes, even work closely with the deadly Roark Ashwood, the prince’s silent guard, to protect those she loves.

The prose is brisk and tight. The characters are multilayered, courageous, and dependable. And the plot is a riveting tale full of twists, turns, angst, loyalty, duty, heartbreak, danger, deception, family, friendship, sizzling tension, undeniable attraction, and supernatural abilities.

Overall, Broken Souls and Bones is a passionate, creative, entertaining first novel in the Broken Souls and Bones series by Andrews that is bursting with soul-searching dilemmas, sizzling romance, dangerous quests, unforeseen twists, and complex, intriguing characters.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Ace for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About LJ Andrews

LJ Andrews is a USA Today bestselling author of fantasy romance. She mystically brings to life worlds of dark Nordic and Viking myths bound by conflicts that bring together impassioned heroes and heroines. In her non-author moments, she is courageously corralling her four children to the myriad of life activities that involves, along with spending time with her favorite hero, her husband. Add two high maintenance dogs and a sassy conure to the mix and that sums it up. LJ Andrews thrives spending time in the Rocky Mountains where she lives in Utah.

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#BookReview All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson @mcwthompson @Sourcebooks @sbkslandmark #AllThePerfectDays #MichaelThompson #bookmarkedbylandmark

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#BookReview All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson @mcwthompson @Sourcebooks @sbkslandmark #AllThePerfectDays #MichaelThompson #bookmarkedbylandmark Title: All the Perfect Days

Author: Michael Thompson

Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark on May 20, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy

Pages: 352

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Sourcebooks Landmark

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Family doctor Charlie Knight is in his late thirties, still playing tennis against the same people every Friday night. Still jogging the same streets every morning. Still treating the same patients every day—fixing the high blood pressure and arthritic knees of folks who’ve known him since he was a kid. But Charlie has a secret plan to escape. A plan to live the life he wants, even if the woman he was meant to do it with has left him behind.

But then Genevieve Longstaff comes back to their hometown, just as something extraordinary happens. Charlie begins to have a vision of the exact number of days a person has left until they die.

Charlie believes it’s a gift. It certainly seems like one—after all, he’s using it to help his patients, family and friends make the most of their to mend relationships, to travel, to retire. But this gift comes with awful consequences, and soon Charlie realizes there are things he doesn’t want to know—especially about the woman he still loves.

Review:

Pensive, heartwarming, and hopeful!

All the Perfect Days is a charming, captivating tale that takes you into the life of Charlie Knight, a young doctor who after years of doing the same thing in the same town finally decides it’s time to move on until he’s suddenly struck with the ability to see the number of days a person has left to live, and the love of his life, the one he let get away all those years ago, returns home.

The prose is fluid and smooth. The characters are troubled, complex, and genuine. And the plot is an absorbing tale of life, loss, love, family, guilt, grief, friendship, forgiveness, compassion, support, community, and romance all interwoven with a thread of magical realism.

Overall, All the Perfect Days is a compelling, emotional, thought-provoking novel by Thompson that reminds us that even the little choices we make often have far-reaching consequences, and sometimes, perhaps, things are truly just fated to happen. 

 

This book is available now.

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Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson has been a journalist, producer and media executive for the last fifteen years. He now co-owns a podcast production company called Fear and Greed – home of Australia’s most popular business podcast. He lives in Sydney with his wife, two young children, two cats and his beloved lawn. How to Be Remembered is Michael’s first novel.

Photo courtesy of Author's Website.

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