Book Review: Silent Heist by Jenessa Fayeth

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 225 pages
Author: Jenessa Fayeth
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He came for the painting…

Soren Stapley is a professional thief. He is prepared for every scenario and has a plan for every situation.

But he never planned for her.

The painting he needs? It’s being guarded by the woman he once loved and the nine-year-old terror she’s nannying.

What’s worse? He’s not the only one hunting it down.

Christmas is about to get complicated…

…she became his reason to stay.

Maya Perry is out of options. Her job as a nanny is the only thing standing between her and rock bottom, and she’s not about to lose it—not to Arabella Hartwell, a feral child with a Nerf gun she nannies, and definitely not to the thief who shattered her heart. Soren may be charming, but he’s dangerous. And still the guy who broke her heart and apparently learned absolutely nothing about knocking.
It’s only a matter of time before he disappears again, but this time, Maya isn’t going to break.
At least, that’s the plan.

Silent Heist is an adventure filled, closed door, Christmas romantic comedy inspired by Home alone.

I’D REC IT.

Y’all know I go on a big holiday romance quest every year and this one came highly recommended. I really do love reading a Christmas romance that brings a different vibe than the usual and the light heist vibes of this one were fun!

I think what works great for shorter stories like this is that there’s some kind of second chance angle. And this one pulled at my heart strings!! I loved the little mentions and notions to their back story and you could see the chemistry between Maya and Soren from the beginning.

I’m not sure all of the Home Alone antics worked for me? But I know that’s totally a personal preference. For a book set entirely in one location I was impressed at the plot created. I definitely plan to continue reading Jenessa Fayeth’s books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Never Over by Clare Gilmore

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Rating: ★★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 340 pages
Author: Clare Gilmore
Publisher: St. Martin’s
Release Date: October 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A swoony second-chance romance where facing the one who broke your heart could be the thing that makes your dream come true.

Twenty-five-year-old Paige Lancaster is one contract away from earning a living doing her favorite thing in the world: writing songs. But when a music industry professional suggests she might be holding back with her lyrics to lessen the heartbreak of an old flame, Paige doubts if her music is ready to be heard.

In a rare, impulsive move, Paige contacts Liam Bishop after four years of no contact to ask him for a small favor: date her, and then re-break her heart, all so she can remember what those big, songworthy emotions felt like. And since Liam is the one who first set Paige on this career path, he hesitantly agrees.

Across three months of Liam’s summer work travel, the exes are forced to share hotel beds, rehash the past, and date in the present, all while navigating the building attraction between them they both swore was the one line of their agreement they wouldn’t cross.

But when it becomes near impossible not to act on their rippling chemistry, and as ever intensifying feelings blur the lines of what’s actually real and what’s driven by the music, Paige and Liam will both have to decide what’s more important: art for the sake of it, or love over everything.

NEW FAVORITE.

Oh this is easily my new favorite from Clare Gilmore. There was something so intensely magnetic about this second chance romance. I loved it. I was glued to my headphones. Liam Bishop was next level. I’m obsessed with that man.

And I actually liked the flashback moments!! They genuinely added to the back story and made me love this couple all the more. Though that .25 I took off had to do with the initial reason they broke up, but I digress. These two had chemistryfor daaaaays.

I feel like you could almost call this a sports romance too. While not the forefront of the plot it plays a large part in Liam’s story and I loved all of those scenes and moments too.

The best way I could describe this book is romantic. The embodiment of a second chance romance (a trope that I usually struggle with) that is swoony and heated and man, Liam and Paige LOVE EACH OTHER.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: modearate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Since We’ve No Place to Go by Kate Watson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 330 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Little Biks Creative
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Caught in a blizzard with the baseball player she despises, a sports analyst is about to see if holiday cheer can thaw even the coldest hearts.

SCATTERED.

It’s like I liked this but also some stuff took me out of it?

I thought the banter was fantastic. It’s cheeky and full of great quips. I loved Cooper pushed Liesel’s buttons without being over bearing and it made for some solid moments. I loved the baseball dynamics and it has a soft sports vibe (no games are played, but baseball is definitely part of the story).

I loved Liesel’s over bearing family. They drove me a bit crazy but I also appreciated the sentiment of their care and love so it worked well. This book is also a little bit heavier than I was expected and I found myself really invested in a part of the plot and loved how that worked out for the conclusion.

There’s definitely a good amount of showing, and yet there was just enough telling too that I noticed and it bugged me? I would have loved to just have had enough more show. I do love a good argument scene though and this one was great. Some momentum issues, but this was my first book by Kate Watson and I would try another!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content Warnings: a parent with agoraphobia, loss of a mother (recounted, grief depicted)

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Book Review: The Rebel and the Rose (The City of Fantome #2) by Catherine Doyle

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Upper YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 528 pages
Author: Catherine Doyle
Publisher: Margaret K. Elderry Books
Release Date: December 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The path of destiny burns with love, magic, and betrayal in this second book in the City of Fantome enemies-to-lovers romantasy series perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Caraval.

From a remote hilltop haven, far from the city of Fantome, Seraphine Marchant and her Order of Flames plot to eradicate shade magic with lightfire. But as Sera struggles to control her blooming powers, destiny calls her back to Fantome—and to the assassin who haunts her dreams.

Ransom Hale can’t get Sera out of his head. As their rivalry grows and he grapples with the responsibility of leading the Order of Daggers, he feels himself slipping further from who he wants to be. Is he doomed to a life in the shadows? Or can he forge another path?

Meanwhile, rebellion is stirring in the kingdom, and a dangerous prince grows in power. Forced to work together by order of the king, Sera and Ransom’s conflicted hearts are tested to their limits. And all the while, an ancient prophecy is unfolding that will change the fate of Valterre forever…

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted copy and Simon Audio for the audiobook.

GOOD SEQUEL.

I had a good time with this one! I enjoy Doyle’s writing style and getting to see more of this world. The magic system continued to grow and I think this is leading up to an awesome third book (conclusion? I’m not sure).

The romance delved deeper and dragged out the slow burn really well. I love the opposite worlds Ransom and Sera inhabit and how they continually find each other. The audiobook does a good job of conveying their voices as well.

Everything amped up well and I look forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate

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