Book Review: Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Heather McBreen
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After a case of mistaken identity and an almost one-night stand, two stranded wedding guests have to find their way to their final destination together, in this riotously fun debut romance.

Ada’s little sister is getting married. Which should be a happy thought, right? But the once close sisters have been in a year long fight, the wedding is all the way in Ireland, and Ada is so broke that she just barely managed to get a ticket on a budget airline. And as if things couldn’t get worse, said airline just cancelled her connection. Which means Ada is stuck in London with no way to make it to the wedding.

Surely she’s hit rock bottom?

So, there’s no reason for her not to spill her heart out about the over-the-top wedding, her sister’s worryingly quick engagement, and the womanizing best man she’s dreading meeting to a handsome also-stranded stranger at the bar. Until she realizes the stranger is headed to the same wedding. Oh, and he’s the infamous best man.

Now, Jack and Ada must put their simmering attraction behind them to make it to Belfast before they miss the nuptials. But between flat tires, missed trains, and suspect hostels, Jack and Ada start to question whether their feelings are worth going the distance, or just a distracting detour along the way.

THE BANTER.

The way I was obsessed with every single dynamic between Jack and Ada. I know some of the humor won’t work for others and honestly I’m surprised at how well it worked for me. It’s innuendo without being heavy on the phrasing I don’t like and more of cheeky sass with some heat. I was enthralled and laughing out loud.

I loved the traveling chaos (though it brings me so much anxiety). All of these moments allowed for connection and proximity that made the shorter timeline make sense. It felt like they spent way more time than they actually did together and I love when the writing accomplishes feats like this.

Ada’s constant recounting of her history with her ex was the only small thing. I just thought that it went on a little long and I was tired of hearing about him. I’m grateful she had the self growth necessary to finally move on and pursue her own goals.

The third act truly made sense and I could get behind the need for separation based off of their histories. I loved the space and improvement it allowed for both Jack and Ada. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: divorce, emotionally abusive relationship (off page), death of a parent mentioned

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Book Review: The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy #2) by James Islington

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 720 pages
Author: James Islington
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: November 11th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

OMNE TRIUM PERFECTUM.

The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. Still hail me as Catenicus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am.

But with all that has happened—with what I fear is coming—I am not sure it matters anymore.

I am no longer one. I won the Iudicium, and lost everything—and now, impossibly, the ancient device beyond the Labyrinth has replicated me across three separate worlds. A different version of myself in each of Obiteum, Luceum, and Res. Three different bodies, three different lives. I have to hide; fight; play politics. I have to train; trust; lie. I have to kill; heal; prove myself again, and again, and again.

I am loved, and hated, and entirely alone.

Above all, though, I need to find answers before it’s too late. To understand the nature of what has happened to me, and why.

I need to find a way to stop the coming Cataclysm, because if all I have learned is true, I may be the only one who can.

GREAT SEQUEL.

I had a good time with this one. Like most, I have been waiting for this book after loving The Will of the Many.

The progression of this book felt like another first book? But not in a bad way, just more setting up for the third (conclusion??) installment. I loved that this crossed realms and seeing the expansion of the magic and background of the world. I love Vis as a main character and seeing him in different stretches of his story only endeared me to him more.

Islington is not afraid to hold punches and the ending ramped up the action and heart stopping moments. Maybe a few shouts too.

*An audiobook note: while the audiobook narrator is fantastic, no issues there, I do think there was a disconnect on which realm I was in and it confused me often. I noticed that the physical copy didn’t denote which realm Vis was in at the top of the chapter but maybe it would be easier to physically read and catch where you are???

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Beautifully Broken Control (Sutter Lake #4) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 330 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: February 18th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman trying to rebuild her life.

Kennedy is doing all she can to escape, to prove that she’s not the monster her father was. A simple life of peace and service is all she needs.

A man haunted by a past he can’t forget.

Cain has buried his demons under layers of control and success. The only thing he needs is his company and his solitude. Certainly not a woman with captivating green eyes filled with ghosts so similar to his own.

He’s a reminder of the life she’s left behind. And she’s a threat to his tightly guarded control. As sparks fly between them, they discover that what they might need most is each other.

But with pasts like theirs…you never know when darkness might descend.

HIGHLY ENJOYABLE.

What I love about being caught up on CC’s latest two series is diving into her back list and realizing THEY ARE ALL HITS. She does not miss. From the beginning. I needed something fast and heated and romantic and this delivered on all fronts. I love a man who has a protective mindset and a woman determined to find balance and joy in her life.

I loved the suspense aspects of this one and I was surprised by the reveal!! I had my eyes on one person and another showed up and I was like WAIT WHAT. My favorite every dang time.

This is swoony, filled with all the best pieces of a found family, and a bit of drama that will have you listening to it in one day like me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: mentions of suicide, kidnapping, weapons violence

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Book Review: Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Thriller
Length: 384 pages
Author: Emma Simmerman
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: February 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Tell Me Lies in this binge-worthy debut murder mystery about a college student whose senior year takes a deadly turn when her exes start turning up dead…

Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy in my journal. It’s kind of my thing—closure through creative mourning. They don’t actually die… or, at least, they didn’t.

Now? These guys aren’t just dead to me, they’re dead to everyone. And I’m the prime suspect.

With my senior year at Pembroke College—and my entire future—on the line, I’ve got no choice but to play detective. Unfortunately, that means teaming up with my long-standing frenemy, Asher, who is insufferable and somehow always there when I need him the least. We bicker, we banter, we occasionally almost hook up, but with the body count rising and my name all over the suspect board, there’s no time to get distracted.

Between college parties, messy exes, suspicious deaths, and a murder investigation I never asked to be a part of—one thing’s for this is not how I thought my last year would go.

Here’s to hoping I can find out who the real killer is… before someone ends up writing my eulogy.

Thank you Avon Books for the gifted copy.

WELL NOW I’M JUST MAD.

This felt a little all over the place. As if it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a thriller or a romance or maybe romantic suspense? But that didn’t nearly bug me as much as the FMC. I think it’s a cop out in thrillers to have the FMC be under the influence of alcohol or drugs every single time something big happens. The unreliable narrator component didn’t play out well because of this. And all she did was make bad choices.

I oddly enough, really liked Asher. He was probably my favorite character and I liked most of the romantic tension between him and Sloane. It did have an enemies vibe I could get behind. But his character was absolutely ROBBED with a plot choice at the ending. Whyyyyy???? Oh it totally ruined it.

The reveal of the big bad guy seemed out of pocket too. They weren’t involved with the plot much and the destruction they caused didn’t line up with the reasoning during their villain monologue. I had my eyes on multiple other characters who would have made more sense.

Anywhoooo not my favorite, moving on.

Overall audience notes:

  • Thriller/Romantic Suspense
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: multiple murders, weapons violence

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