Book Review: If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Kate Golden
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s the duet of a lifetime when a rock star and his backup singer find a new kind of harmony off stage in this sensational contemporary romance.

Clementine Clark isn’t looking for love. Growing up with a single mom who weeps over a new guy each week tends to have that effect on a girl. But Clementine doesn’t mind being the rational one—she’s even buried her musical dreams so deeply within herself that she hardly notices the hole it’s left in her life.

That is until her best friend calls her with a life-changing opportunity: to join Irish megastar Halloran on his first US tour as a backing vocalist. Clementine wants to reject the offer, but the pay is enough to change her and her mom’s life. Overnight, Clementine goes from serving enchiladas at the Happy Tortilla to belting high notes before a cheering crowd.

But the whiplash of trading small-town Texas for sold-out stadiums is nothing compared to the rush of performing with the enigmatic Thomas Patrick Halloran. Poet, introvert, and lyrical genius, Halloran quickly gets under Clementine’s skin. The two couldn’t see the world more differently. And yet, over the course of the next eight weeks on tour, the romantic rockstar might just strike an unforgettable chord in Clementine. But will it be enough for an encore?

WELL LOOKIE HERE.

I liked this one y’all!!! I can bet you that the duet narration worked wonders on me and I highly recommend the audiobook path for this one. It is SUPREME.

And reading another celebrity romance?? WHO AM I. They are hitting so well lately and I think I’ve read five+ in the last month alone. I loved all of the touring and friendships and singing and passion. Thomas and Clementine had such a lovely dynamic and I loved seeing them together. I do think the spice jumped in a bit too early but it wasn’t the end of the world.

Because what really made me mad was the third act (and the FMC honestly frustrated me throughout). Past that nonsense is a strong romance that will have you feeling all the things.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one (recounted), a mother with fibromyalgia, sexual harassment, mentions of drug/alcohol addiction

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Book Review: The Heart of War by Olivia Snow

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 364 pages
Author: Olivia Snow
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

London, 1815

If love is war, then London’s marriage mart is a battlefield—and Helena Weston is its most cunning general. As the diamond of the season, Helena has never struggled to collect suitors. But when her father’s fortune collapses, she faces the unthinkable: marriage not as a conquest, but as survival.

Using Sun Tzu’s The Art of War as her courtship playbook, Helena has only two months to secure a husband rich enough to save her family from destitution. She selects three candidates for her scheme, including Edmond Hawke, a handsome newcomer to London with a mysterious past and an insufferable tendency to jeopardize her carefully laid plans.

With her future on the line, Helena must decide what victory truly means—and whether surrendering to love is the most strategic move of all.

QUITE GOOD.

I ate this up. I was a sucker from a reel I saw and here we are. This was a solid historical romance that I can totally recommend. Even if I have a few caveats.

One of those being the girl vs. girl drama. I just get tired of that narrative and while I would have been fine with an instance (maybe even two) I was not okay with it being such a larger part of the plot. It was aggravating and frustrating and I really just need Sybella to go away. My other caveat is how long it takes the FMC, Helena, to DO anything. She talked a lot of game but the follow through took much longer to achieve.

I did think the romance was a unique case that I haven’t come across (off the top of my head) before in historical romance. I loved the MMC’s back story (would have loved his POV too!). I liked how earnest he was and how gosh dang down bad this man was for Helena. I am a sucker for the small and subtle moments because that’s what makes a lasting romance and this book delivered. I also adored the little side plot with Mrs. Sweete. I loved how tight the friendship was between Helena and Mrs. Sweete. Definitely needed more of that.

I would totally be interested in reading another book from Olivia Snow. This was a fun find and for my closed door readers this was kisses only too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: sexual assault, physical altercations, minor injuries, loss of a parent, emotionally abusive parent

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Book Review: Spies, Lies, and Alibis by Natalie Walters

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Mystery + Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Natalie Walters
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

They were each other’s first love. Now they might be each other’s last hope.

Cybil Langford has spent years hiding behind her polished, professional facade as the executive assistant to a powerful real estate mogul, where she’s perfectly positioned to collect intel on her boss’s criminal network. But when her mission leads her into the path of Lorenzo Ramirez–a ruthless crime boss with deadly plans–she’ll need every ounce of cunning and charm to stay one step ahead.

Then he walks back into her life.

Ben Bradley is deep undercover for the FBI, living under an alias, as a financial advisor with a reputation for helping the wealthy and corrupt launder their money. His target? Lorenzo Ramirez, a dangerous crime boss with his hands in everything from smuggling to murder. But when a familiar face from his past suddenly reappears, things get . . . complicated.

The last time Cybil saw Ben, he was an annoying prankster–and her first crush. The last time Ben saw Cybil, she stole a piece of his heart. Neither expected to run into each other at a high-stakes fundraising gala where crime, corruption, and undercover agendas collide. Now, they’re both keeping dangerous secrets–and working dangerously close to blowing each other’s cover.

Forced to work together to stop a catastrophic deal that could arm America’s enemies, Cybil and Ben must face ruthless criminals, hidden agendas, and the ghosts of their past. Trust is a luxury they can’t afford–but love? That just might be their undoing.

The intel is classified. The trust is fragile. And their covers are one lie away from blowing wide open.

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

WELL I HAD FUN.

I had many people let me know that this was not a ROMANCE in the traditional rom-com sense and I think having that expectation manage really helped my enjoyment level because I flew through this one in a morning. And before you get concerned I thought this had plenty of romance for the plot at hand and honestly had no issues on that front. I loved the banter between Cybil and Ben and I’m a sucker for a man who’s down bad.

The undercover story was fun. It’s not dark which is what I think was the right balance for the book. It’s a lighter tone overall and makes it feel perfect for the summer. I thought the pacing was great and like I said, I had no problem wanting to binge read this one. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Natalie Walters next book.

There were a few small plot quirks that stood out to me, but otherwise, this is an easy recommendation!

Overall audience notes:

  • Mystery + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: brief gun violence, kidnapping

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Book Review: Epics Etched in Echoes (Tales of Wonder and Woe #1.5) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 23rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Experience the thrilling sequel to A STORY SPUN IN SCARLET’S heartwrenching conclusion…

AUDRA JASHOWIN is a storyteller without a tale of her own.

Her quiet life shattered by the revelation of a past she doesn’t remember and the false memories she’s long believed, Audra follows the compulsion to reclaim her forgotten years…and the power that shaped them. But when a simple quest to the Isle of Misspoken Stories proves to be far more treacherous, Audra finds herself pitted against a foe that represents her past…all the best and worst parts of it.

Is it worth it to reclaim all the loss and hurt that brought her this far? Or would a quiet life be better in the end?

JAIK GRISSOM is a soldier surviving on desperation and a forgotten dream.

Haunted by memories of love lost and a sacred oath only he remembers, Jaik is determined to help Audra find her memories…by any means necessary. But as their quest for the truth grows more perilous, and a vengeful force pits beasts of nightmare against them, Jaik must confront his own greatest fears.

That Audra might be better off without her memories, after all…and better off without him.

While danger rises and their journey pushes them closer together and pulls them apart again, Audra and Jaik face the most difficult choice they’ve ever known and ever whether to fight for the past, the future, and each other…or learn to live in a world their story has no part of.

THIS PAINS ME.

I love Renee Dugan’s book and it hurts to feel like this was missing something for me. Mainly surrounding the point of,,,why? If you’ve read A Story Spun in Scarlet, I feel like that books ends where it needs to (or if not, an extra chapter or long epilogue would have sufficed). Instead, a companion novel that was one long meandering story covering the same things book one already did just felt redundant.

I do love these characters and the writing style. It’s not a bad book by any means, and I’ll still read RD’s next book. There’s some good scenes and allusions that added a story telling quality I appreciated. I’m hopeful that the next book has a different vibe for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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