Tag: Book blog

Book Review: Smoke and Mirrors (Silver and Bone #2) by Claudia Cain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Mystery
Length: 310 pages
Author: Claudia Cain
Publisher: Black Sheep Books
Release Date: October 31st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two months have passed since the events at Locklear Church, and Detective Jennifer Jones and her new partner Ian Clarke are trying to leave the past behind them. But nothing stays buried in San Francisco, including the dead…

When a local attorney returns from beyond the grave, it could be seen as a miracle. However, as her investigation turns up reports of supernatural stalkers and odd murders, Jennifer begins to suspect something darker is at work.

With her job on the line, Jennifer can’t afford to make mistakes. But not everything is as it seems, and as the mystery deepens, she quickly finds herself in more danger than ever.

A GOOD SEQUEL.

I am really enjoying this series. It’s different than my usual romance reads and I loooove Jennifer Jones character so much. She’s humorous and strong willed with a soft interior. I loved watching her solve this mystery and take care of those in her group.

The whole doppelgänger concept was creepy in the best ways. It added a level of mystery that kept me intrigued. I will say (which might be from my mental state at present) but I had a hard time picking this back up. It’s GOOD, but didn’t convince me to rush through it.

Any who, it’s a wonderful book. I highly recommend this series and I can’t wait for the conclusion!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal mystery
  • Language: low
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: grief depiction, murder, loss of a loved one

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ALC Book Review: Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Sci-Fi Romance
Length: 288 pages
Author: Amie Kaufman
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: February 10th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

8 HOURS TO STOP AN EXPLOSION… 8 HOURS TO FALL IN LOVE.

From the NYT bestselling co-author of Illuminae and Aurora Rising comes a high-stakes, high-chemistry sci-fi romp about a stowaway girl and the richest boy in the galaxy, racing the clock to outwit a gang of mercenaries.

It’s 2067, and the Graves family has transformed Mars from lifeless rock into a chaotic patchwork of settlements—and everybody wants a piece.

Enter Hunter Graves: handsome, ambitious, and with spectacularly bad timing. He shows up at the United Nations base just as an emergency evacuation sends everyone scurrying for safety. Except he’s left behind. Uh oh.

Also stranded: Cleo, a sharp-tongued stowaway with no intention of dying today, and even less patience for overconfident trust fund boys. But the enemy of your enemy might just help you survive, so here we are.

Turns out the evacuation was just a cover for the mercenaries who came next, and they plan to blow up the base—and every trace of their crime—in eight hours.

Now, Hunter and Cleo have one shot to stop the explosion, escape alive, and deal with the inconvenient fact that they’re falling for each other.

The clock is ticking.

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Get Underline for the gifted copy.

STELLAR STANDALONE.

I admit to thinking this was a series starter before seeing another friend’s review and I’m glad I knew going in this is a STANDALONE because my frame of mind was much better.

I think Amie Kaufman writes some of the best overall dialogue in the young adult genre. I love the quippy comebacks and sentiments, the right amount of snark and gentleness. This combined with the incredible audiobook made this story come alive. I loved the multiple narrators and sound effects that made the downfall of this Martian settlement all the more intense.

The romance wasn’t 100% believable for me within such a short time line, but I did like it well enough. Hunter and Cleo are a reluctant allies from different walks of life and I liked seeing them come together and find a stronger understanding between them.

This really covered a lot of ground for 250 pages and I had such a good time reading/listening to it. Highly recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dystopian Sci-Fi Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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ARC Book Review: Mail Order Baroness (Lords of the Rockies #2) by Misty M. Beller

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 262 pages
Author: Misty M. Beller
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 10th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

James Balfour, the charming middle son of an English duke, is determined to prove he’s capable of taking leadership of his family’s Montana ranch as the next deadly winter approaches. With the household stretched to its limits, James crafts a clever plan to hire Rose Prescott—his childhood best friend—and to right an old wrong.

Rose’s remarkable singing voice was meant to be her gift, but in Virginia City, it’s become her curse. Forced by her stepfather to perform nightly shows, she dreams of escape and a life free from his control. When a newspaper ad for a housekeeper offers her a way out, she risks everything and flees, hoping her stepfather can’t find her. She never expected to return to the Balfour ranch, nor to see James again, whose charm now reminds her too much of the men who’ve betrayed her before.

James’s desire to protect Rose is shaken when his old friend treats him like an enemy. Winning her trust becomes his greatest challenge yet. As tensions rise on the ranch, old secrets and new dangers threaten everything James and his family have built.

With enemies closing in, Rose must decide whom she can trust—and whether she’s willing to fight for the freedom and love she’s always longed for.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, a second chance romance, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

SOFT & PROTECTIVE.

I love a hero who knows what he wants. And goes out of his way to ensure the safety of those he loves. This was another good installment in the series that brought the same charm from the previous book.

I enjoy these characters and the whole family dynamic. While there are some more intense moments you always know things will work out which makes the whole book feel low stakes. And sometimes what you need is a low stakes book to bring the hope and light.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: murder, kidnapping, loss of a parent

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Book Review: Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1) by Kate Watson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Little Biks Creative
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage…license.

Sean

When my ex cheated and begged me to take her back, I made a rash, too-public vow: the next woman I kiss will be my wife. It seemed like a good idea at the time—anything to stop being everyone’s second choice. The ultimate fallback guy.

Then the Kayla Carville walks into my bar, all bold and stunning. When she hears my ex tearing me apart, she kisses me to shut her up. And when she learns about my stupid promise, she offers me a way to save face: we’ll claim we’re engaged.

The thing is, this isn’t about some stupid vow anymore. It’s about finding the courage to stop being the backup goalie and finally go for what I really want.

If I can.

Kayla

My ex is the worst, so my dad bought me a baseball team.

Classic billionaire-dad move.

Now I’m living in a small Southern town that hates me, trying to convince everyone I’m an absolute delight, not some generic “Boss Babe.”

They’re not buying it.

Except for Sean O’Shannan, the hot hometown hockey hero and bar owner who gave me the courage to break up with my fiancé months ago. He’s the kind of guy who remembers my smoothie order, saves a seat for me at the church potluck…and proposes when he discovers I don’t meet the team’s “ownership residency requirement.”

Saying yes is easy.

The hard part?

Not falling for my husband.

THIS WAS SWEET.

Y’all know I am a big fan of marriage of convenience. If I see that as a potential part of the book I AM SO THERE. I thought this was a really sweet way to bring Sean and Kayla together. It was a simple situation between them. I do think it led to lacking in some sort of push/pull. They were super smitten from the get-go and while they absolutely led to some great moments I think I needed more of a slow burn in that department.

I adored all of the hockey and baseball content. As a big sports girlie having both MC’s connected to sports in some way was awesome. And I loved how Kayla supported (and lovingly pushed) Sean to pursue his dreams and reminded him of how much he mattered.

I could always do with less ex related drama but it’s alright. If you’re needing a soft closed door romance, Kate Watson is slowly becoming an easy go-to author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door between a married couple
  • Violence: low

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