Source: Berkley Publishing

#BookReview A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #AMapToParadise #SusanMeissner #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #AMapToParadise #SusanMeissner #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: A Map to Paradise

Author: Susan Meissner

Published by: Berkley on Mar. 18, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Format: Hardcover

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

1956, Malibu, Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, Elwood, but the screenwriter’s agoraphobia allows for just short chats through open windows. He’s her sole confidante, though, as she and her housekeeper, Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe, rarely make conversation.

Then one early morning Melanie and Eva spot Elwood’s sister-in-law and caretaker, June, digging in his beloved rose garden. After that they don’t see Elwood at all anymore. Where could a man who never leaves the house possibly have gone?

As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…


Review:

Rich, atmospheric, and unpredictable!

A Map to Paradise is a mysterious, captivating tale set in Malibu during the late 1950s that takes us into the lives of three main characters. Melanie, an aspiring actress whose affair with a suspected communist has blacklisted her from the movie business; Eva, a European immigrant maid who is content to keep her head down and get her work done; and June, a middle-aged woman who since losing her husband has spent her days happily taking care of her agoraphobic brother-in-law.

The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are vulnerable, resourceful, and resilient. And the plot is a compelling tale of life, loss, deception, surprises, secrets, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, survival, and a touch of romance.

Overall, A Map to Paradise is an intriguing, absorbing, enigmatic tale by Meissner that immerses you in another time and place and does a wonderful job of highlighting the lengths that people will often go to for survival, and reminds us just how important and powerful female friendships can truly be.

 

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 Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling novelist with more than half a million books in print in fifteen languages. Her critically acclaimed works of historical fiction have been named to numerous lists including Publishers Weekly’s annual roster of 100 best books, Library Reads Top Picks, Real Simple annual tally of best books, Goodreads Readers’ Choice awards, Booklist’s Top Ten, and Book of the Month.

She attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and is a former managing editor of a weekly newspaper. Susan’s expertise as a storyteller and her thoroughly researched topics make her a favorite author of book clubs everywhere. Her engaging and warm speaking style appeal to all manner of women’s groups, literary organizations, libraries and learning institutions, and service clubs.

When she is not working on a new novel, she enjoys teaching workshops on writing and dream-following, spending time with her family, music, reading great books, and travelling.

Photo courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

#BookReview Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #JaneAndDanAtTheEndOfTheWorld #ColleenOakley #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #JaneAndDanAtTheEndOfTheWorld #ColleenOakley #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Jane and Dan at the End of the World

Author: Colleen Oakley

Published by: Berkley on Mar. 11, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 368

Format: Hardcover

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress, from the USA Todaybestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.

Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn’t sure they’re going to make it to twenty. The mother of two feels unneeded by her teenagers, and her writing career has screeched to an unsuccessful halt. Her one published novel sold under five hundred copies. Worse? She’s pretty sure Dan is cheating on her. When the couple goes to the renowned upscale restaurant La Fin du Monde to celebrate their anniversary, Jane thinks it’s as good a place as any to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

But before they even get to the second course, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room. Jane is shocked—and not just because she’s in a hostage situation the likes of which she’s only seen in the movies. Nearly everything the disorganized and bumbling activists say and do is right out of the pages of her failed book. Even Dan (who Jane wasn’t sure even read her book) admits it’s eerily familiar.

Which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next. And they’re the only ones who can stop it. This wasn’t what Jane was thinking of when she said “’til death do us part” all those years ago, but if they can survive this, maybe they can survive anything—even marriage.


Review:

Quirky, funny, and suspenseful!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a humorous, compelling read that transports you to California and into the lives of Jane Brooks, a struggling mystery writer, and her husband Dan, a somewhat successful podiatrist, whose lives get turned upside down when a terrorist group storms the swanky restaurant they won a reservation to, hold them hostage similarly to a way Jane previously wrote about in her one failed book, leaving their anniversary dinner in shambles and Jane’s request for a divorce on a temporary pause.

The prose is sharp and witty. The characters are relatable, stressed, and multilayered. And the plot unravels quickly into a riotous yet thrilling tale filled with marital drama, criminal intentions, secrets, tricky situations, spirited hijinks, danger, and hilarious mishaps.

Overall, Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a fresh, charming, laugh-out-loud funny mystery by Oakley that kept me amused and entertained from the very first page. It’s escapism at its very best, and I would, hands down, love to see it as a movie.

 

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 Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley’s novels BEFORE I GO and CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH have been named best books by People Magazine, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and both were long-listed for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. Formerly the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health & Fitness and senior editor of Marie Claire, her articles and essays have been featured in The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Women’s Health, Redbook, Parade, Marie Claire and Martha Stewart Weddings. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, four kids and the world's biggest lapdog, Bailey. Her third novel YOU WERE THERE TOO will be published by Berkley/Penguin in January 2020.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

#BookReview Dead Man’s List by Karen Rose @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #DeadMansList #SanDiegoCaseFilesSeries #KarenRose #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Dead Man’s List by Karen Rose @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #DeadMansList #SanDiegoCaseFilesSeries #KarenRose #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Dead Man's List

Author: Karen Rose

Series: San Diego Case Files #3

Published by: Berkley on Mar. 4, 2025

Genres: Romantic Suspense

Pages: 480

Format: Hardcover

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick’s latest case exposes San Diego’s seedy underbelly in this nerve-shattering tale of romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose.

On a long-anticipated second date with police psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves—right as things are getting steamy—Kit stumbles across the mutilated body of a local San Diego politician. The politician is loved by many of his constituents but is hated and reviled by many more. That the suspect list is long is no surprise to anyone, but exactly who ends up on it stuns Kit and her team.

As the SDPD reveal the victim’s sinister dealings, Kit and Sam are forced to navigate the lawless world of the city’s most rich and powerful citizens to find answers. But time is rapidly running out, with their sources of information dropping like flies as the killer methodically eliminates loose ends—and anyone else who stands in the way.


Review:

Sinister, intricate, and intense!

In this compelling third instalment in the San Diego Case Files, Dead Man’s List, Rose has written a tortuous whodunit that sees homicide detective Kit McKittrick and her partner Connor Robinson working together with psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves on a complicated case involving a serial killer with nothing to lose, a prolific blackmailer with something to hide, and a list of victims who will pay whatever they have to in order to keep their secrets buried for good.

The writing is menacing and tight. The characters are consumed, persistent, and dependable. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat as it submerges you, page after page, into a world of blackmail, murder, wealth, arrogance, violence, terror, deception, corruption, suspicious personalities, palpable chemistry, and a sliver of romance.

Overall, Dead Man’s List is an addictive, engrossing, thrilling addition to what has quickly become a must-read series for me with its flawed characters, great pace, and consistent sense of urgency.

 

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 Karen Rose

Karen Rose is the award-winning, #1 international bestselling author of over twenty-five novels, including the bestselling Baltimore and Cincinnati series. She has been translated into twenty-three languages and her books have placed on the New York Times, the Sunday Times (UK), and Germany’s der Spiegel bestseller lists.

Photo by Michael Greene Photography

#BookReview I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #IDiedForBeauty #AnEmilyDickinsonMystery #AmandaFlower #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #IDiedForBeauty #AnEmilyDickinsonMystery #AmandaFlower #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: I Died for Beauty

Author: Amanda Flower

Series: An Emily Dickinson Mystery #3

Published by: Berkley on Feb. 25, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

When a blaze takes both a neighbor’s home and his life, Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa have a burning desire to crack the case in this new historical mystery from Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New England’s history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.

These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost.


Review:

Mysterious, atmospheric, and entertaining

In this latest novel by Flower, I Died for Beauty, we head back to 1857, where poet Emily Dickinson and her maid/sidekick Willa Noble now find themselves tangled up in a tragic investigation into a house fire that may not have been as accidental as it first appeared and which ultimately left two people dead and one little girl orphaned.

The writing style is fluid and light. The characters, including the intelligent, independent heroine, are well-developed, complex, and intriguing. And the plot is a well-paced, engaging whodunit full of twists, turns, amateur sleuthing, red herrings, suspects, customs, tradition, deduction, and danger.

Overall, I Died for Beauty is a cosy, enjoyable, satisfying tale by Flower that I thoroughly enjoyed and which is undoubtedly another wonderful addition to the Emily Dickinson Mysteries.

 

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 Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower is the USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning mystery author of over forty novels, including the nationally bestselling Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series, Magical Bookshop Mysteries, and, written under the name Isabella Alan, the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries. Flower is a former librarian, and she and her husband, a recording engineer, own a habitat farm and recording studio in Northeast Ohio.

Photo by David M. Seymour

#BookReview Midnight Black by Mark Greaney @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #MidnightBlack #GrayManSeries #MarkGreaney #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Midnight Black by Mark Greaney @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #MidnightBlack #GrayManSeries #MarkGreaney #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Midnight Black

Author: Mark Greaney

Series: Gray Man #14

Published by: Berkley on Feb. 11, 2025

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 528

Format: Hardcover

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

With his lover imprisoned in a Siberian gulag, the Gray Man will stop at nothing to free her in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

A winter sunrise over the great plains of Russia is no cause for celebration. The temperature barely rises above zero, and the guards at Penal Colony IK22 are determined to take their misery out on the prisoners–chief among them, one Zoya Zakharova. Once a master spy for Russian foreign intelligence, then the partner and lover of the Gray Man, she has information the Kremlin wants, and they don’t care what they have to do to get it.

But if they think a thousand miles of frozen wasteland and the combined power of the Russian police state is enough to protect them, they don’t know the Gray Man. He’s coming, and no one’s safe.


Review:

Edgy, propulsive, and charged!

Midnight Black is a sinister, action-packed thrill ride featuring the tenacious former CIA contract agent Courtland Gentry who, after his lover and one-time Russian spy Zoya Zakharova is captured and imprisoned in Russia, will do whatever it takes, no matter who or what stands in his way, to find her and free her.

The writing is compelling and tight. The characters are skilled, persistent, and resourceful. And the plot is an intense, suspenseful tale filled with twists, turns, mayhem, coercion, politics, power, obsession, espionage, secrets, revenge, and murder.

Overall, Midnight Black is an addictive, tortuous, fast-paced tale by Greaney that’s another fantastic addition to the Gray Man series with its multilayered characters, intricate storyline, impressive body count, consistent sense of urgency, and satisfying conclusion.

 

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 Mark Greaney

Mark Greaney has a degree in international relations and political science. In his research for his novels, he traveled to more than thirty-five countries and trained alongside military and law enforcement in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close-range combative tactics. He is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers Tom Clancy Support and Defend, Tom Clancy Full Force and Effect, Tom Clancy Commander in Chief, and Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance. With Tom Clancy, he coauthored Locked On, Threat Vector, and Command Authority. His first novel, The Gray Man, was made into a major motion picture starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.

#BookReview To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #ToSicilyWithLove #MeetMeInItalySeries #JenniferProbst #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #ToSicilyWithLove #MeetMeInItalySeries #JenniferProbst #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: To Sicily with Love

Author: Jennifer Probst

Series: Meet Me in Italy #4

Published by: Berkley on Feb. 18, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

When she learns she has a big Italian family she never knew about, a lonely woman travels to Sicily for a life-changing summer in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Aurora York had it all together: loving parents, a steady relationship, and a promising career. But after she loses both parents unexpectedly, she can’t seem to stay on track any longer. Lonely and lost after a public meltdown that threatens her professional credibility, she’s shocked when DNA test results show a blood relative in Sicily. When her cousin reaches out online and begs her to come to Italy to meet everyone in person, Aurora makes the leap.

Aurora arrives in Sicily for a month, and there she meets a colorful, dynamic family steeped in tradition. The younger generation is fascinated by her social media fame in America, and even though her grandparents have more traditional viewpoints, Aurora begins to heal from her grief…and enjoys the attention of a kind and handsome Italian man.

But when the summer ends, a new opportunity calls her back to the States and her old habits threaten to reemerge. Will Aurora leave everything in Sicily she loves behind, or take the chance on a whole new future?


Review:

Winsome, tender, and atmospheric!

To Sicily with Love is a heart-tugging, engaging tale that takes you into the life of the grief-stricken Aurora York who, after struggling to regroup after the death of both of her parents, embarks on a journey to Italy to unravel the secrets of her mother’s past and to meet the extended family she never knew she had.

The writing is rich and vivid. The characters are endearing, adventurous, and authentic. And the plot is a wonderful mix of life, love, family, friendship, secrets, light drama, self-discovery, and romance.

Overall, To Sicily with Love is another sophisticated, emotive, compelling addition to the Meet Me in Italy series by Probst that once again highlights her exceptional ability to sweep you away to another place through her passion and knowledge of its food, culture, and landscape.

 

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 Jennifer Probst

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012, and spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers.

#BookReview First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #FirstTimeCaller #HeartstringsSeries #BKBorison #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #FirstTimeCaller #HeartstringsSeries #BKBorison #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: First-Time Caller

Author: B.K. Borison

Series: Heartstrings #1

Published by: Berkley on Feb. 11, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 448

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.


Review:

Sweet, touching, and romantic!

First-Time Caller is a tender, insightful tale that takes you into the life of the disillusioned Baltimore romance radio host Aiden as he struggles to juggle a disheartening career, philophobia stemming from childhood trauma, a new addition to his late-night show, and the budding attraction he feels for Lucie, a caller who has her heart set on finding magic.

The writing is smooth and genuine. The characters are lonely, quirky, and supportive. And the plot is a captivating, touching blend of introspection, friendship, self-depreciating humour, awkward situations, sweet moments, dating woes, misunderstandings, patience, intimacy, and unconditional love.

Overall, First-Time Caller is a charming, heartwarming, spirited tale by Borison that had just the right amount of emotion, angst, and passion to make this an easy, lighthearted, enjoyable read that I highly recommend and absolutely adore.

 

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 B.K. Borison

B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for. Lovelight Farms was her debut novel.

#BookReview Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #UnderLochAndKey #LanaFerguson #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #UnderLochAndKey #LanaFerguson #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Under Loch and Key

Author: Lana Ferguson

Published by: Berkley on Dec. 3, 2024

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.


Review:

Quirky, amusing, and sweet!

Under Loch and Key is a cute, sentimental romance that takes you into the life of Keyanna MacKay, a grieving young woman who finds herself accidentally becoming part of an ancient curse involving a water-loving monster when she heads to her father’s hometown in Scotland to spread his ashes and finally meet the family she never knew she had.

The writing is light and playful. The characters are fierce, feisty, and dependable. And the plot is an engaging tale full of danger, temptation, mystique, chemistry, history, attraction, traditions, witty banter, humorous mishaps, and the supernatural.

Overall, Under Loch and Key is a humorous, charming, unique tale by Ferguson that is a good choice for anyone who loves a little adventure, a dab of romance, 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 Berkley Romance for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Lana Ferguson

Lana Ferguson is a sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio book cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing, you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.

#BookReview Deep End by Ali Hazelwood @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #DeepEnd #AliHazelwood #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Deep End by Ali Hazelwood @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #DeepEnd #AliHazelwood #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Deep End

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Published by: Berkley on Feb, 4, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

Pages: 464

Format: ARC, eBook

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water…


Review:

Lighthearted, charming, and angsty!

Deep End is a sweet, steamy, sexy sports romance featuring the intelligent, focused Scarlett, who is struggling to recover from a tragic accident that almost ended her diving career, and the hot, successful Lukas, who may have finally found the one girl who not only likes the kinky things that he likes but makes him want more.

The writing is honest and emotive. The characters are warm, supportive, and endearing. And the plot is an alluring blend of friendship, family, drama, emotion, attraction, heat, insecurities, self-discovery, happiness, competition, taking chances, tender moments, mental health, romance, and the pressures of being a varsity athlete.

Overall, Deep End is another addictive, salacious, delectable STEM treat by Hazelwood that left me delightfully satisfied and yearning for a whole lot more. 

 

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 Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

Photo by Justin Murphy / Out of the Attic Photography.

#BookReview Spiral by Bal Khabra @authorbalkhabra @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #BalKhabra #Spiral #OffTheIceSeries #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Spiral by Bal Khabra @authorbalkhabra @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #BalKhabra #Spiral #OffTheIceSeries #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Spiral

Author: Bal Khabra

Series: Off the Ice #2

Published by: Berkley on Jan. 28, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing, Penguin Random House Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

He’s on edge while she’s en pointe in this fake-dating sports romance from the author of the smash hit Collide.

Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.

Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot.

Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they’ll call it quits.


Review:

Amusing, seductive, and sassy!

Spiral is a sweet, playful rom-com featuring the considerate, hunky Elias whose life is in turmoil due to the media’s relentless fascination with him and the ongoing stress of a looming trade if he can’t ever get that elusive first goal and the independent, selfless Sage who is struggling to get that one audition which would finally allow her to live beyond pay cheque to pay cheque.

The writing is light and sultry. The characters, including the supporting characters, are charming, flawed and fun. And the plot is an enchanting, tender tale filled with smouldering chemistry, sizzling tension, heartfelt emotion, witty banter, friendship, support, understanding, compromise, communication, delicious romance, and hockey.

Overall, Spiral is an alluring, sensitive, passionate addition to the Off the Ice series by Khabra that had characters I couldn’t help but root for and a happy-ever-after ending that left me once again eager for more. 

 

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 and Penguin Random House Canada for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Bal Khabra

Bal Khabra is a Canadian writer and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media. When inspiration strikes, she is found filling her notes app with ideas for romance novels. She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.