Format: Paperback

#BookReview It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan @PenguinRandomCA #ItsALoveStory #AnnabelMonaghan #Putnam #PenguinReads

Published on by Zoe1 Comment
#BookReview It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan @PenguinRandomCA #ItsALoveStory #AnnabelMonaghan #Putnam #PenguinReads Title: It's a Love Story

Author: Annabel Monaghan

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons on May 27, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback

Source: Penguin Random House Canada

Book Rating: 9/10

From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV punchline who has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash-course with her past, spending a week in Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.

Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth—you can’t fake a belly laugh. Jane should know, she spent her adolescence as “Poor Janey Jakes,” the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America’s fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she’s living by a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.

Except, she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.

Now, Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan while facing down her past is Jane’s idea of hell, but Dan just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?

Review:

Amusing, tender, and sweet!

It’s a Love Story is a charming, uplifting tale that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Jane Jackson, a former child actor turned studio executive struggling to get her first movie made, and Dan Finnegan, a cinematographer with a big family who may seem from afar to be a little arrogant but who actually has a huge heart of gold.

The writing is touching and light. The characters are charismatic, genuine, and endearing. And the plot is an engaging mix of heart, humour, friendship, attraction, chemistry, relationship drama, heartfelt moments, romance, and movie-making.

Overall, It’s a Love Story is another heartwarming, witty, delightful tale by Monaghan that has all the elements I’ve come to know and enjoy in her novels, including a fierce heroine, an attentive alpha male, and a 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 Penguin Canada for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Annabel Monaghan

Annabel Monaghan is the USA Today bestselling and Library Reads Hall of Fame author of Summer Romance, Same Time Next Summer, and Nora Goes Off Script, as well as two young adult novels and Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big?, a selection of laugh-out-loud columns that appeared in The Huffington Post, The Week, and The Rye Record. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Her novels have been translated into twenty languages.

Photo by Alison Rodilosso.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

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

Published on by Zoe1 Comment
#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.

Website

#BookReview Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto @BookSparks #WorthFightingFor #JesseQSutanto #MeantToBeSeries #BookSparks #SRC2025

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#BookReview Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto @BookSparks #WorthFightingFor #JesseQSutanto #MeantToBeSeries #BookSparks #SRC2025 Title: Worth Fighting For

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Series: Meant to Be #5

Published by: Hyperion Avenue on Jun. 3, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 320

Format: Paperback

Source: BookSparks

Book Rating: 8/10

Mulan is reimagined as a contemporary romance about family expectations, mistaken identity, and high stakes mergers—of both business and the heart.

As the right hand of her father’s hedge fund company, Fa Mulan knows what it takes to succeed as a woman in a man’s work twice as hard, be twice as smart, and burp twice as loud as any of the other finance bros she works with. So when her father unexpectedly falls ill in the middle of a critical acquisition, she is determined to see it through. There’s just one the family company in question is known for its ultra masculine whiskey brand, and the brood of old-fashioned aunts, uncles, and cousins who run it—lead by the dedicated but overworked Shang—will only trust Mulan’s father, Fa Zhou, with the future of their business.

Rather than fail the deal and her father, Mulan pretends she’s Fa Zhou. Since they’ve only corresponded over email, how hard could it be to keep things moving in his absence?

But the email leads to a face-to-face meeting, which leads to an invitation to a week long retreat at Shang’s family ranch. One meeting she can handle, but a whole week of cattle wrangling, axe-throwing, and learning proper butchering techniques, all while trying to convince Shang’s dubious family that this young woman is the powerful hedge fund CEO they’ve been negotiating with? Not so much—especially as she finds it harder and harder to ignore the undeniable spark between her and Shang.

Can she keep her head in the game and make her father proud, all while trying not to fall into a trough, or in love with Shang?

Review:

Fresh, uplifting, and fun!

Worth Fighting For is a charming, engaging tale that takes you to California and into the life of the intelligent, hardworking Fa Mulan as she decides to do whatever she must, even pretend to be her father, in order to secure the important acquisition he was working on before he fell ill.

The writing style is witty and sweet. The characters are amusing, determined, and supportive. And the plot is a smart, engaging tale full of tricky moments, awkward situations, quirky mishaps, delicious chemistry, snappy banter, romantic drama, tension, chauvinism, friendship, and self-reflection.

Overall, Worth Fighting For is an enjoyable, entertaining, modern retelling of Disney’s Mulan by Sutanto that’s a lighthearted, breezy read with its endearing characters, heartfelt moments, contemporary storyline, and ending that leaves you with a smile.

 

This novel is available now.

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

         

 

 

 

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

 

About Jesse Q. Sutanto

Jesse Q. Sutanto is a USA Today bestselling author. She has won an Edgar® Award, a Libby Award, an Audies Award, and the Comedy Women in Print Award. She is best known for her novels Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and the Dial A for Aunties series. The film rights to Dial A for Aunties was bought by Netflix at auction. Jesse lives in Indonesia with her husband and two daughters.

Website | Instagram | X

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

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#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.

Website | Instagram | X

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

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#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.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

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

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#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.

Website | Goodreads | Instagram

#BookReview For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn @SimonSchusterCA #ForWhomTheBelleTolls #HellsBelles #JayseaLynn #SimonSchusterCA

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#BookReview For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn @SimonSchusterCA #ForWhomTheBelleTolls #HellsBelles #JayseaLynn #SimonSchusterCA Title: For Whom the Belle Tolls

Author: Jaysea Lynn

Series: Hell's Belles #1

Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada on May 6, 2025

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 640

Format: Paperback

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 9/10

They told her to go to Hell.
She’ll go on her own terms.

Lily is less than thrilled about her arrival to the Afterlife, but what awaits her is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined. Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.

As Lily explores everything the Afterlife has to offer, she finds herself drawn to a place most people would rather avoid at all Hell.

What she discovers there subverts everything she’s ever learned, and Lily realizes the demons working at the gate to guide souls need help—badly. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves out a place for herself among the demons, confronting, sassing, and aiding the spectrum of humanity to redefine justice and redemption.

A chance meeting with Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice, sparks an immediate and deeply healing friendship. However, the undeniable heat between them simmers, and it’s only a matter of time before it combusts.

Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve ever known and everything that could be… unless they fight like Hell to stop it.

Review:

Humorous, sexy, and exceptionally creative!

For Whom the Belle Tolls is a unique, passionate tale that sweeps you away to the afterlife and into the life of Lily as she tackles with gusto an early death, a new role as a customer service agent for souls in hell, an ever-increasing attraction to an irresistible demon, and her affection for a little girl who is in desperate need of stability and love.

The prose is descriptive and light. The characters are kind, loyal, and fierce. And the plot is a captivating tale full of life, death, loyalty, duty, heartbreak, danger, family, friendship, love, sizzling tension, war, and supernatural phenomena.

Overall, For Whom the Belle Tolls is an engrossing, steamy, highly entertaining tale by Lynn that is the perfect choice for anyone who loves a dab of romance, a little spice, and a whole slew of paranormal, unconventional fun.

 

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 Jaysea Lynn

Jaysea Lynn was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from college, she purchased and lived aboard a thirty-five-foot sailboat for eight years, during which she found success with Hell’s Belles, her comedy/drama skit series on TikTok (@Sea.Ya.Later), and gained the confidence to share her lifelong passion of writing. She can often be found with her nose in a book, going for walks, embarking on random adventures, or trying to make the perfect cup of coffee (with mixed success).

Photography by Happy Hour

Website | Instagram

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

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#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.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

#BookReview One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune @CarleyFortune @PenguinCanada #OneGoldenSummer #CarleyFortune #PenguinReads #PenguinCanada

Published on by Zoe1 Comment
#BookReview One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune @CarleyFortune @PenguinCanada #OneGoldenSummer #CarleyFortune #PenguinReads #PenguinCanada Title: One Golden Summer

Author: Carley Fortune

Published by: Viking on May 6, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 400

Format: Paperback

Source: Penguin Random House

Book Rating: 10/10

I never anticipated Charlie Florek.

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.

Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.

Review:

Enchanting, tender, and sentimental!

One Golden Summer is a beautiful, heartwarming, affecting story that sweeps you away to Barry’s Bay and into an immersive tale where friendships are developed, memories are cherished, secrets are unearthed, lives are remembered, and love is forged and savoured.

The prose is rich and vivid. The characters are helpful, dependable, and loyal. And the plot is a heartfelt, delightful mix of friendship, family, introspection, love, support, secrets, heartbreak, community, new beginnings, and special summer moments.

Overall, One Golden Summer is a fresh, sophisticated, addictive novel with irresistible characters that I devoured from start to finish. I’m a huge fan of Carley Fortune, and this novel didn’t disappoint. It enthralled, captivated, and amused me, and I highly recommend it be on top of everyone’s summer 2025 TBR pile.

 

This novel is available now.

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

         

 

 

Thank you to Penguin Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Carley Fortune

CARLEY FORTUNE is the New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling au­thor of Every Summer After and Meet Me at the Lake. She’s also an award-winning Canadian journalist who has worked as an editor for Refinery29, The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Toronto Life. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

Photo by Jenna Marie Wakani

Website | Goodreads | Instagram

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

Published on by ZoeLeave a comment
#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.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X