Tag: 8/10

#BookReview The Winter Witch by Jennifer Chevalier @SimonSchusterCA #TheWinterWitch #JenniferChevalier #SimonSchusterCA

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#BookReview The Winter Witch by Jennifer Chevalier @SimonSchusterCA #TheWinterWitch #JenniferChevalier #SimonSchusterCA Title: The Winter Witch

Author: Jennifer Chevalier

Published by: Simon & Schuster on Jan. 27, 2026

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

Two sisters set sail on a bride ship from Normandy hoping to leave a curse behind them and find better lives in the wilds of 17th-century Quebec, only to meet a mysterious witch who forces them to confront the truth about magic—and their past. For fans of Emilia Hart, Sarah Penner, Alix E. Harrow, Ami McKay, and Roberta Rich.

Élisabeth Jossard boards a bride ship to New France with her sister Marthe, forced to start a new life after a scandal in her village in Normandy. She’s harbouring a dark secret and hopes that by coming to Montreal—the holiest place in the world, she’s been told—the saints will hear her pleas and lift the curse that plagues her.

When Élisabeth’s prayers go unanswered and she is unable to banish the spirit she believes is tormenting her, Marthe encourages her to turn to a powerful witch for help, the enigmatic stowaway Jeanne Roy. But Jeanne has secrets of her own, and when she refuses to help, Élisabeth’s resentment kindles a dangerous fire.

Inspired by the tales of Canada’s Filles du Roi, The Winter Witch examines how lies, arrogance, and ignorance can lead to witch hunts in any society.

Review:

Atmospheric, mysterious, and immersive!⁣
⁣
The Winter Witch is a rich, fascinating tale set in seventeenth-century Quebec that draws readers into the lives of Élisabeth and Marthe Jossard, two young sisters from Normandy who journey to New France in the hope of leaving behind their losses, secrets, and curses.

The writing is eloquent and descriptive. The characters are resilient, layered, and compelling. And the story is an engaging blend of life, loss, hope, family, female friendship, betrayal, misfortune, witchcraft, and love.
⁣
Overall, The Winter Witch is a vivid, compelling, absorbing tale by Chevalier inspired by real-life events that sheds light on an often overlooked chapter of Canadian history and the struggles, resilience, and hardships of that time.

 

This book is available now.

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

         

 

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

 

About Jennifer Chevalier

Jennifer Chevalier worked for several years at the BBC in London before moving home to Ottawa where she is currently the showrunner for CBC Radio’s long-running weekly political affairs program, The House. The journalism and documentaries she’s led have won a Gracie, several RTDNAs, and a CAJ Award for investigative journalism. She lives in Ottawa with her husband and two children.

Photograph © Angela Gordon.

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#BookReview Caste in the Stars by Leylah Attar @doubledayca @PenguinRandomCA #CasteInTheStars #LeylahAttar #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Caste in the Stars by Leylah Attar @doubledayca @PenguinRandomCA #CasteInTheStars #LeylahAttar #PenguinReads Title: Caste in the Stars

Author: Leylah Attar

Published by: Doubleday Canada on Dec. 16, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback

Source: Penguin Random House Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

For fans of Becka Mack and Ana Huang comes a heart-stopping and utterly romantic story about two people from opposite sides of the world who dare to risk the odds to be together.

She did everything right—until her life fell apart.
The last place Priya Solanki wants to be is back at the funeral home her parents have run for decades—a place tied to a caste legacy the world says is long gone, but that her family carried from India to Canada and never let go of. Her traditional parents call it fate—proof that her path was written in the stars, just like the generations before her. But to Priya, it’s a life she never chose, and one she’s spent years trying to outrun. Her plan is simple: regroup, reset, and finally break the cycle.

Then Ethan Knight reappears.
Once the reckless, motorcycle-riding boy next door, he’s now a full-blown Hollywood star—older, incredibly handsome, and impossible to avoid. Adored by millions and followed everywhere by flashing cameras, he’s renting out the funeral home to prepare for a role—and flipping every piece of Priya’s plan upside down.

And finally, the stars align.
Trapped in close quarters with the boy she once loved in silence, Priya can’t escape the heat, the history, or the ache she’s buried for years. But falling for Ethan doesn’t just mean risking her heart; it means stepping into a world that was never built for someone like her—and daring to believe she belongs in it anyway.

But even if she takes the risk, what happens when Ethan leaves? Because, inevitably, he will.

Loving him wouldn’t just destroy her—it would destroy everything she’s trying to rebuild.

Review:

Heartwarming, hopeful, and sassy!

Caste in the Stars is a cute, romantic story that takes you into the life of the hardworking, dependable Priya Solanki as she navigates a recent divorce, an unwanted move back into her parents home, difficult conversations surrounding the financial stability of the family-owned funeral home, and an unexpected resurgence of feelings for a famous movie star, once her teenage crush, who is now briefly back in town.

The prose is smooth and light. The characters are fun-loving, supportive, and endearing. And the story is a heartfelt, witty mix of awkward situations, tender moments, self-discovery, fresh starts, friendship, family, culture, community, expectations, happiness, and love.
 

Overall, Caste in the Stars is a charming, flirty, feel-good read by Attar, with characters that are impossible not to root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten, satisfied, and eagerly anticipating whatever she whips up next.

 

This novel is available now.

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

         

 

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

 

About Leylah Attar

LEYLAH ATTAR is an award-winning Indo-Canadian author. Her self-published work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal's bestseller lists. A recipient of the Writer's Digest Award and the IndieReader Discovery Award, Leylah writes stories that reflect her diverse influences and heritage, and have sold over 150K copies across formats. Caste in the Stars is her traditional publishing debut. She lives in Toronto with her husband, son and the most adorable Yorkshire Terrier on the planet.

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#BookReview Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Story @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #DandelionIsDead #RosieStory #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Story @BerkleyPub @PenguinRandomCA #DandelionIsDead #RosieStory #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Dandelion is Dead

Author: Rosie Story

Published by: Berkley on Jan. 13, 2026

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Literary Fiction

Pages: 368

Format: Hardcover

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

Jake has fallen head over heels for Dandelion. The only problem? Dandelion is dead.

When Poppy discovers unanswered messages from a charming stranger in her late sister’s dating app, she makes an impulsive choice: She’ll meet him, just once, on what would have been Dandelion’s fortieth birthday. It’s exactly the kind of wild adventure her vivacious sister would have pushed her toward.

Jake is ready to find something real—and not least because his ex-wife’s twentysomething boyfriend has moved into their old family home. When he meets the intriguing woman who calls herself Dandelion, their connection is undeniable, and he can think of little else.

As their relationship deepens, Poppy finds herself trapped in a double life she never meant to create. Every moment with Jake feels genuine, electric, and totally right—despite the fact they’re tangled in deceit. As the lines between grief and love blur, Poppy faces a choice: keep her sister’s memory alive through her lies, or risk everything for a chance at her own happiness?

With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Review:

Witty, tender, and touching!

Dandelion is Dead is a layered, perceptive tale featuring the heartbroken, grief-stricken Poppy who has been contemplating her life and masking her sorrow after the loss of her big sister, and Jake the single dad who seems like the perfect mate except for the fact he doesn’t know her true identity and she happens to have a fiancé at home.

The writing is heartfelt and direct. The characters are lonely, quirky, and adrift. And the plot is a lighthearted, touching blend of life, love, loss, introspection, friendship, grief, guilt, awkward situations, sweet moments, dating woes, misunderstandings, communication, intimacy, deception, and moving on.

Overall, Dandelion is Dead is an astute, moving, sincere novel by Story that is the first book I’ve read by this author, but certainly won’t be my last.

 

This book is available now.

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

             

 

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

 

About Rosie Story

Rosie Storey grew up on a farm in the south of England. She left her corporate career to finish her debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. She holds a master’s in creative writing, lives in East London, and works as a writing coach.

Photo by Sophie Davidson.

#BookReview Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel @YouHadMeAtHEA @StMartinsPress #MostEligible #IsabelleEngel #YouHadMeAtHEA #SMPInfluencers #SMPRomance

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#BookReview Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel @YouHadMeAtHEA @StMartinsPress #MostEligible #IsabelleEngel #YouHadMeAtHEA #SMPInfluencers #SMPRomance Title: Most Eligible

Author: Isabelle Engel

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin on Jan. 13, 2026

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 8/10

Miss Congeniality meets The Bachelor in this action-packed rom-com debut about an investigative journalist who sneaks onto reality TV only to fall for the wrong guy.

Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.

Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity—and history with Rhett—a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all.

Review:

Charming, light, and amusing!

Most Eligible is a witty, engaging tale that introduces Georgia Rose, an investigative journalist who, after agreeing to go undercover as a contestant on the reality dating show Love Shack to uncover what really goes on behind the scenes finds her plan quickly going sideways when she discovers that this season’s host is none other than Rhett Auburn, the sexy country music star she once shared an unforgettable one-night stand with.

The writing is warm and humorous. The characters are competitive, quirky, and impulsive. And the story delivers a captivating blend of life, love, drama, friendship, emotion, competition, secrets, deception, gossip, fantasy dates, snappy dialogue, sizzling chemistry, tender moments, and steamy romance.

Overall, Most Eligible is a cute, cosy, entertaining tale by Engel that was a true delight to read.

 

This book is available now.

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

         

 

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

 

About Isabelle Engel

Originally from New England, ISABELLE ENGEL (she/her) now lives and works in Washington, D.C. She has an MA in English literature from George Washington University. When she’s not imagining ways to make reality TV even more dramatic, she can be found reading, doing dance fitness, and petting other people’s dogs. Most Eligible is her debut novel.

Photo by Nicole Marie.

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#BookReview You Watched in Silence by H. Lee Justine @BlackstoneAudio #YouWatchedInSilence #HLeeJustine #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInsiders

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#BookReview You Watched in Silence by H. Lee Justine @BlackstoneAudio #YouWatchedInSilence #HLeeJustine #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInsiders Title: You Watched in Silence

Author: H. Lee Justine

Published by: Blackstone Publishing on Nov. 18, 2025

Genres: LGBTQIA, Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 360

Format: Hardcover

Source: Blackstone Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

Caitlyn believes her world is falling apart when her best friend cuts her off—until she gets a message from the only person who can put it back together. Family vlogger Bella Greene—the celebrity influencer she and her ex-best friend were obsessed with—offers Caitlyn a job as nanny to her twins.

Like millions of others, Caitlyn knows that Bella’s life is in pieces, too. Canceled over perceived indifference to a tragic suicide by one of her fans, Bella fled with her family to a remote island off the coast of Washington. For Caitlyn, the opportunity to help Bella will also help her to heal; a way to honor the past while creating a new future.

Caitlyn can’t believe how easily she bonds with the twins. She also feels an instant connection with the family’s flirtatious chef, Hannah Zhou, who soon stirs romantic impulses that Caitlyn never imagined having again. It feels like magic … until she catches a glimpse of a mysterious girl that nobody else can see.

Before she knows it, Caitlyn descends into constant terror, unable to tell if she is losing her mind or being haunted by a past she’d rather forget. Worse, there is magic here, a dark force that manifests in mysterious pentagrams, animal sacrifices, and scrawled threats right in Bella’s backyard, and increasingly close to her home.

But who’s behind it? Is it a disgruntled employee? A scorned lover? Or someone out for unjust revenge? Because Bella didn’t do anything wrong … right?

Review:

Simmering, gripping, and claustrophobic!

You Watched in Silence is an ominous, character-driven thriller that introduces Caitlyn, a young woman who, after being hired as the nanny for a family vlogger she and her former best friend have idolized for years, quickly realizes that everything is not as perfect as it appears. Beneath the polished façade of affluence, relationships are strained, secrets abound, and danger seems to lurk around every corner.

The writing is tight and intense. The characters are anxious, secretive, and vulnerable, while the plot unfolds as a darkly menacing tale packed with twists, revelations, insecurities, lies, manipulation, isolation, vengeance, familial dysfunction, and troubled pasts.

Overall, You Watched in Silence is a taut, atmospheric, unnerving thriller by Justine that’s relentlessly deceptive and full of eerie surprises.

 

This book is available now.

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

             

 

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

 

About H. Lee Justine

H. Lee Justine is the author of You Watched in Silence. She is a career ghostwriter who has been featured in NPR for her work with famous clients. Maybe you've even read one of her books already. But after years of writing other people's stories, she's excited to see her own name on bookshelves. Her affinity for creepy stories started at age nine and never stopped. When she's not writing, you can find her making content on TikTok.

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#BookReview Overruled by Lana Ferguson @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #Overruled #LanaFerguson #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

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#BookReview Overruled by Lana Ferguson @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #Overruled #LanaFerguson #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Overruled

Author: Lana Ferguson

Published by: Berkley on Jul. 1, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 432

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

Two divorce lawyers determined to share only beds but not hearts discover that love is something that can’t be overruled in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Game Changer.

Danica Pierce has one great love in her life: work. As one of the top divorce lawyers in Austin, Danica lets her caseload keep her warm at night and has no problem being married to her job, not when love only ends in hurt. When the biggest case of her career gives her a shot at making partner, it seems like nothing could possibly stand in her way…except for her infuriating secret: she’s sleeping with the enemy.

Ezra Hart is known for charming his way in and out of a courtroom. In the matter of winning Danica Pierce’s heart, however, he’s been far less successful. With her verdict to keep things purely physical with no chance of appeal, Ezra struggles to show Danica he’s more than the insufferable playboy she’s pegged him to be–especially since they find themselves on opposing sides of Danica’s most important case to date.

While Dani and Ezra battle it out in the courtroom, the real trial is the one happening between them. When Dani realizes that everything she knows of Ezra might be hearsay–and that she’s not the only one with emotional baggage–she must choose between her fear of trusting again and the feelings blossoming between her and the man she thought was her worst enemy.

Review:

Heartfelt, spirited, and romantic!

Overruled is a sweet, amusing tale that takes you into the life of the devoted, workaholic Danica and the arrogant, successful Ezra as they discover that there may be more to their relationship than heated banter, pretend feelings, and occasional hookups.

The writing is fun and light. The characters are hardworking, complex, and supportive. And the plot is a charming tale bursting with heart, humour, self-discovery, secrets, chemistry, attraction, sexy times, and familial strain.

Overall, Overruled is a steamy, touching, uplifting tale by Ferguson that I adored and absolutely devoured from start to finish.

 

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.

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