Format: ARC

#BookReview Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum @harperbooks #MurderYourDarlings #JennaBlum #HarperBooks

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#BookReview Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum @harperbooks #MurderYourDarlings #JennaBlum #HarperBooks Title: Murder Your Darlings

Author: Jenna Blum

Published by: Harper on Jan. 13, 2026

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 368

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Harper Books

Book Rating: 8.5/10

For every woman who’s ever fallen for a bad man comes a hilarious and eviscerating tale of love, loss, and deadlines from New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum.

Known for such brilliant historical novels as Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family, A Mighty Blaze co-founder and New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum now offers a contemporary, suspenseful novel about love, loss, and revenge in the world of books.

Simone “Sam” Vetiver is a mid-career novelist finishing a lukewarm publicity tour while facing a deadline for a new book on which she’s totally blocked. Recently divorced, Sam is worrying where her life is going when she receives glowing fan mail from stratospherically successful author William Corwyn, renowned for his female-centric novels. When William and Sam meet and his literary sympathy is as intense as their chemistry, both writers think they’ve found The One.

But as in their own novels, things between Sam and William are not what they seem. William has multiple stalkers, including a scarily persistent one named The Rabbit. He lives on a remote Maine island, where his writer life resembles The Shining. And when writers turn up dead, including from The Darlings support group William runs, Sam has to ask: Is it The Rabbit—William’s #1 Stalker? Another woman scorned? Can William be everything he seems?

Narrated by Sam, William, and The Rabbit, Murder Your Darlings is a wickedly witty look at today’s literary landscape and down-the-rabbit-hole tale of how far people will go for love.

Review:

Creepy, atmospheric, and ominous!

Murder Your Darlings is an unpredictable, fast-paced thriller that follows Sam, a young writer paralyzed by writer’s block, whose life is upended when she becomes entangled with the charming and highly successful author William Corwyn who, although seemingly generous and supportive, soon reveals a darker aura that includes an unsettling number of stalkers and an alarming trail of dead acquaintances.

The prose is sharp and relentless. The characters are devious, obsessive, unscrupulous, and vulnerable. And the plot, told through alternating perspectives, builds nicely to create tension and suspense as it exposes layers of manipulation, questionable motives, duplicitous personalities, and parasitic relationships.
 

Overall, Murder Your Darlings is a cleverly plotted, eerie, compelling page turner by Blum that chillingly illustrates just how easily people can be psychologically and emotionally exploited.

 

This novel is available now.

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

         

 

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

 

About Jenna Blum

JENNA BLUM is the New York Times bestselling author of The Stormchasers. Jenna is of German and Jewish descent and spent four years working for Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, interviewing Holocaust survivors. She teaches fiction for Grub Street Writers.

Photo by Janna Giacoppo.

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#BookReview Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde @SimonSchusterCA #OnlyBetweenUs #OakwoodBaySeries #EllieKWilde #SimonSchusterCA

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#BookReview Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde @SimonSchusterCA #OnlyBetweenUs #OakwoodBaySeries #EllieKWilde #SimonSchusterCA Title: Only Between Us

Author: Ellie K. Wilde

Series: Oakwood Bay #2

Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada on Jul. 8, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Pages: 416

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 9/10

After a death-defying injury sidelined him for two seasons, Brooks Attwood’s pro football comeback has hit a major snag. Naughty photos from a post-break-up bender have leaked, and they’re killing his chances with the Rebels—his old team, and the only one he wants to play on.

As he trains with the hope of being signed before the first kickoff of the season, Brooks’s plans to keep a low profile are suddenly upended when his selfie with a fiery fan goes viral, and tabloids mistake them as the football world’s newest It couple.

Turns out, Siena Pippen is the ex-girlfriend of the “face” of the League. And she wants nothing more to do with that world after being with her nightmare ex. While she and Brooks are busy blaming each other for the media circus surrounding them, NFL teams are suddenly scrambling to sign a housebroken Brooks. Meanwhile, Siena realizes that all this buzz could be the Hail Mary her family’s struggling business needs.

Together, Brooks and Siena hatch a ignore the will to kill each other and pretend to be madly in love—at least, until Brooks signs with a team. But the longer they pretend, the less fake their fauxmance begins to feel…and Brooks becomes as determined to convince Siena they’re truly meant to be as he is to land a spot on the Rebels’ roster.

Review:

Romantic, charming, and hopeful!

Only Between US is a heartwarming, sassy tale that takes you on a journey into the life of Siena Pippen, a young woman who, after an embarrassing first meeting and a former disastrous relationship with a pro-football player, finds herself agreeing to fake date the one man, football player Brooks Attwood who although struggling to get himself back on an NFL team after a career-ending injury might actually be the one who finally steals her heart.

The prose is smooth and light. The characters are amusing, supportive, and endearing. And the plot is a heartfelt, flirty blend of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous hijinks, introspection, new beginnings, friendship, family, health, happiness, romance, and love.

Overall, Only Between Us is another charming, witty, delightful tale by Wilde that has all the elements I’ve come to know and love in her novels, including a fierce heroine, an attentive alpha male, and a fast-paced, swoony storyline.

 

This novel is available now.

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

         

 

 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Ellie K. Wilde

Ellie K. Wilde dreams up love stories with a lot of heart and the kind of spice that makes your knees shake. She writes male leads with big personalities and sweet, cinnamon roll insides, and women who discover they’re just as tough as they wish they were. Happily-ever-afters only.

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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 Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears by Jack Ford @uplitreads #BeyondThisPlaceOfWrathAndTears #JackFord #gifted #uplitreads

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#BookReview Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears by Jack Ford @uplitreads #BeyondThisPlaceOfWrathAndTears #JackFord #gifted #uplitreads Title: Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears

Author: Jack Ford

Published by: Kensington on May 27, 2024

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Uplit Reads

Book Rating: 8/10

From award-winning journalist Jack Ford, a riveting and colorful dual timeline novel of Lee Carson, the heroic yet elusive female journalist who defied convention and danger to report from the front lines of WWII, combining breathtaking wartime narrative with a compelling Cold War espionage tale for fans of Christine Mangan, Pam Jenoff, Erika Robuck, and Kate Quinn.

Washington, DC, April 1954: Lee Carson, former war correspondent, is frustrated that her journalism career has been relegated to society events and fashion stories. But when she receives a tip about a Russian spy in a high-ranking government position at the height of the Cold War, she feels the thrill of a story that she hasn’t felt since she was on the front lines of the European theater . . .

London, December 1943: As war rages on across Europe, twenty-two-year-old Lee Carson is waging a private battle of her own. An American-born correspondent for the International News Service, Lee is determined to cover the war from the field. But no woman, certainly not an attractive young woman with no military experience, will be allowed near the front lines.

Lee is not easily dissuaded. And as the Allied forces prepare to take the fight to the enemy, her gift for boosting public morale is seen as a valuable weapon. Assigned to cover the build-up to the invasion of Nazi-held Europe, she constantly wrangles with authorities to get to the heart of the action. From talking herself onto a bomber and flying over the beaches of Normandy at the start of D-Day to other feats of daring, she witnesses and reports on the war’s most pivotal moments.

Told in dual timelines, Beyond this Place of Wrath and Tears is inspired by the story of an incredible woman who has largely been forgotten by history, and who, like many women in WWII, broke barriers in wartime only to find that upon the return home, she had to continue to fight for relevance in an entirely different way . . .

Review:

Rich, descriptive, and intriguing!

Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears is an insightful, fascinating tale that takes us into Lee Carson’s personal and professional successes, frustrations, experiences, sacrifices, and accomplishments as a female reporter on the ground in Europe during WWII.

The writing is clear and precise. The characters are resilient, determined, and endearing. And the plot is a compelling, absorbing tale of one woman’s dedication and passion, under extremely dangerous circumstances, to help record and publish important stories that needed to be told and heard.

Overall, Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears is a vivid, captivating, emotive story by Ford that highlights his considerable knowledge and impressive research into this renowned historical figure whose life and contribution during the war and after is often unknown or unfortunately long forgotten.

 

This novel is available now.

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

         

 

 

Thank you to Uplit Reads for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Jack Ford

Jack Ford is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist, author, college professor, award-winning documentary film producer, and former trial attorney. An original anchor at the launch of Court TV, he was the co-anchor of the Weekend Today Show, a substitute anchor for Nightly News and Meet the Press, and has worked as a correspondent for Good Morning America and ESPN. Currently he is a CBS News Correspondent for 60 Minutes Sports and the co-host of Metro Focus on PBS. He has received two Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, an American Radio and Television Award, a National Headliner Award, and the March of Dimes FDR Award. A graduate of Yale University and the Fordham University School of Law, he is a Visiting Lecturer at Yale, NYU, and the University of Virginia, teaching a seminar on famous trials.

Photo Credit: Stephen Lacko.

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#BookReview The Lure of Their Graves by Laura R. Samotin @randomhouseca #LauraRSamotin #TheLureOfTheirGraves #TheCursedCrownDuology #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads

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#BookReview The Lure of Their Graves by Laura R. Samotin @randomhouseca #LauraRSamotin #TheLureOfTheirGraves #TheCursedCrownDuology #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads Title: The Lure of Their Graves

Author: Laura R. Samotin

Series: The Cursed Crown #2

Published by: Random House Canada on Jun. 3, 2025

Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQIA, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 448

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Random House Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

In the heart-wrenching sequel to The Sins on Their Bones, The Lure of Their Graves forces Dimitri and Vasily to confront old ghosts and a new threat: political enemies-turned-suitors, all coveting Dimitri’s throne.

Dimitri Abramovich may have won back the throne of Novo-Svitsevo, but even after defeating his former husband, the usurper Alexey Balakin, he seems no closer to securing lasting peace for his people. Enemies are closing in on all sides, and pressure is mounting for Dimitri to play the one card he has left in a bid for stability—offering his hand in marriage for a second time.

But Dimitri is still healing from the tragedies of the war, his return to the throne, and Alexey’s years of torment. Vasily Sokolov is the only person with whom he feels safe, and giving up the comfort of their budding relationship feels unfathomable, even if it’s the only way to sever the alliances being formed among the countries surrounding Novo-Svitsevo. So as Dimitri and Vasily reckon with political treachery, the lasting consequences of Dimitri’s resurrection, and the sinister legacy of Alexey’s use of the Holy Science, they must also work to understand what it means to love each other even as they prepare to let each other go—which might prove the most difficult of all.

Review:

Intense, imaginative, and thrilling!

The Lure of Their Graves is an angsty, gripping tale that takes us back to Novo-Svitsevo and into the life of Dimitri Abramovich who, after believing his vicious ex-husband is finally dead, struggles to come to grips with the loss of a man he loved but also despised, the expectations of his country versus the desires of his heart, and the resurrection of a man driven by evil and consumed with power and control.

The prose is brisk and tight. The characters are multilayered, fearless, and dependable. And the plot is a sinister, passionate tale full of twists, turns, anxiety, loyalty, duty, heartbreak, grief, guilt, danger, family, trauma, demonic violence, and enduring love.

Overall, The Lure of Their Graves is a suspenseful, heart-wrenching, satisfying conclusion to The Cursed Crown duology by Samotin that gave the characters I couldn’t help but root for the heartwarming, happy-ever-after ending I really hoped they get. 

 

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 Laura R. Samotin

LAURA R. SAMOTIN and her spouse live with two enormously large felines. When she’s not pursuing her academic research on military tactics, power politics, and leadership, she relishes her role as a full-time cat servant.

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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 Plays Well with Others by Lauren Myracle @BlackstoneAudio #LaurenMyracle #PlaysWellWithOthers #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInsiders

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#BookReview Plays Well with Others by Lauren Myracle @BlackstoneAudio #LaurenMyracle #PlaysWellWithOthers #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInsiders Title: Plays Well with Others

Author: Lauren Myracle

Published by: Blackstone Publishing on Jun. 10, 2025

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 288

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Blackstone Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

Perfect for fans of Laura Dave and Ashley Audrain, Plays Well with Others is a delicious domestic thriller that explores neighborhood secrets, dangerous friendships, and truths too dark to be acknowledged … even to ourselves.

One year after her ex–best friend posted their private correspondence on social media, good girl Jake Nolan is still reeling. Thanks to Shelby’s betrayal, Jake lost her job, her house, and her husband, not to mention a cherished friendship that turned out to be built on deceit. Circle Shelby; cross out Jake.

But enough is enough, and after moving into a bungalow on idyllic Sweetwater Lane, Jake decides to retaliate by doing some crossing out of her own. When her brand-new friend and neighbor Mabel admits to also having an enemy, they decide to join forces. Why not, since they’re both itching for revenge?

Only they’re not the only ones. It seems that everyone on Sweetwater Lane is nursing a grudge or two, and although most of the grievances are trivial, a few sprout fangs. While Jake and Mabel’s revenge game begins as a series of giddy pranks, the stakes become deadly when uninvited participants join the fun.

Review:

Suspenseful, disturbing, and tight!

Plays Well with Others is a tempestuous, edgy thriller that takes us to the coveted Sweetwater Lane, where abuse is hidden, drama is high, gossip is rampant, marriages have ended, lives are messily intertwined, and very soon some of the residents may be injured or even dead.

The prose is brisk and sharp. The characters are tormented, troubled, and conflicted. And the plot is an unsettling tale filled with family, friendship, lies, deception, scandal, tragedy, infidelity, suspicions, revelations, mayhem, neglect, inappropriate behaviours, jealousy, and violence.

Overall, Plays Well with Others is a dark, twisty, compelling adult fiction debut by Myracle that delves into the emotional, psychological, and physical effects long-term manipulation, control, and abuse can have on children.

 

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 Lauren Myracle

Lauren Myracle was born in Brevard, North Carolina. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and earned a BA in English and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She later earned an MA in English from Colorado State University, where she taught for two years, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. Since then, she has written many books for children and young adults, including the best-selling Internet Girls books: ttyl, ttfn and l8r, g8r, and the Winnie Years series.

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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 Letters from Strangers by Susan Walter @FireflyDist @AmazonPub #LettersFromStrangers #SusanWalter #LakeUnion #FireflyDist

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#BookReview Letters from Strangers by Susan Walter @FireflyDist @AmazonPub #LettersFromStrangers #SusanWalter #LakeUnion #FireflyDist Title: Letters from Strangers

Author: Susan Walter

Published by: Lake Union Publishing on May 27, 2025

Genres: General Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 310

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Firefly Distributed Lines

Book Rating: 9/10

Jane’s father is far from perfect. But his sudden death brings crushing grief. As Jane grapples with her pain, life delivers another a stack of letters pointing to a secret life. A life her father shared with another woman…who may have had his child.

Across the country, sixteen-year-old Adam is self-destructing. His adoptive parents never intended to show him the unsigned letters from his birth mother, but he is desperate for answers, even if they hurt.

Jane and Adam are on a collision course, but not for the reasons we might suspect. Because the letters do not tell the whole story. What is true is that Adam and Jane are both looking for a woman who does not want to be found.

A family saga spanning two decades, this emotional story explores how good things can grow from the ashes of old scars.

Review:

Compelling, engaging, and heartfelt!

Letters from Strangers is an immersive, moving tale that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Jane, a young woman who, while grappling to come to grips with the sudden death of her father, has her world turned upside down when she stumbles across a bunch of letters that shatter her illusion of him, and Adam, a teenage boy who is stuck in a downward mental spiral due to his conflicting feelings about familial expectations, his emerging sexuality, and the facts surrounding his adoption.

The prose is sensitive and sincere. The characters are vulnerable, troubled, and consumed. And the plot is a captivating tale of life, loss, family, grief, friendship, self-discovery, revelations, strained relationships, and forgiveness.

Overall, Letters from Strangers is a hopeful, tender, heart-tugging tale by Walter that reminds us that families are complicated and messy, the choices we make often have far-reaching consequences, and secrets often find their way to the surface no matter how well they’re hidden.

 

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 Susan Walter

Susan Walter is the author of Good as Dead and Over Her Dead Body. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After being given every opportunity but failing to become a concert violinist, Susan attended Harvard University. She had hoped to be a newscaster, but the local TV station had different ideas and hired her to write and produce promos instead. Seeking sunshine and a change of scenery, she moved to Los Angeles to work in film and television production. Upon realizing writers were having all the fun, Susan transitioned to screenwriting, then directing. She made her directorial debut with the film All I Wish starring Sharon Stone, which she also wrote.

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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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