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ARC Book Review: Take Me Home (Honey Badger Creek #1) by Leah Brunner

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Cowboy Romance
Length: 357 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self publish
Release Date: October 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Harriet—Hattie—Townsend comes from wealth, is an Olympic show jumper, and the apple of her mother’s eye. Her life is perfect…

Until she discovers that her mother’s been lying to her since the day she was born.

With her world shattered, Hattie is determined to learn her true identity. She sets off on what’s supposed to be a quick trip to Whispering Pines Ranch in Montana, to meet her biological father—a successful equine breeder and ranch owner.

Hattie is less than thrilled when she’s met at the airport by a rusty pickup and her father’s broody ranch hand, Lincoln Galloway. The grump immediately dismisses her as a spoiled Pony Club princess, but she’s determined to prove him wrong.

Hattie and Lincoln have nothing in common—except for a love of horses and a penchant for getting on each other’s nerves. Their heated arguments quickly turn to heated touches, and they find themselves caught up in a whirlwind romance.

Hattie’s life back in California, and Lincoln’s scars, seem like an impossible bridge to gap. Leaving Hattie with a tough choice between the place where she grew up, and what now feels more like home…

Take Me Home is an adult romance with open door scenes. Closed door modifications are provided in the front matter for those wanting to skip these scenes. This book contains frequent innuendo and adult language, as well as grief over the death of loved ones (past) and a tumultuous parent relationship. Please use this content warning to make an informed decision before reading this book.

Thank you Leah Brunner for the opportunity to beta read this book!

I NEED A COWBOY.

Oh I had the BEST time beta reading this book. And I’m so excited that I can leave a review now just to shout how much I loved it!!!

I loved surly Lincoln x feisty Hattie. They played off each other well and the banter was bantering. Added in with some top tier trope choices and I was grinning from ear to ear. it also stood out to me that this was giving major The Simple Wild vibes (which is one of my favorite books!), so getting to have that aura in a whole different setting AND set-up was fantastic. I loved all of the mountain content and your girl now wants to do nothing but watch cowboy reels all day.

The romance is moderately paced with a it’s you quality. That undeniable moment that you’ve met your match. I’m a fan of conversations and arguments that all lead to genuine communication. And all of the side characters were TOP TIER. Don’t even get me started on Hank, Otto, Poppy, Madison, AND MORE. While I sat here and loved on this book it also made me very excited for future reads in this series too.

I liked that Hattie’s Mom was the instigator of I want greatness for you, at any cost rather than her Dad. I feel like it’s often the other way around and seeing this play out was just the right level of drama.

There’s so many scenes I want to love on in this review, but I’m also a fan of not knowing every tidbit going in so just TRUST ME, Leah Brunner has brought it and her cowboy era is going to be immaculate.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cowboy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: two brief open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: emotionally manipulative parent, loss of parents (recounted)

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ALC Book Review: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Murder (Kiss, Merry, Kill #2) by Ally Carter

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Holiday Mystery Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This limited deluxe edition paperback will feature stenciled edges and cover effects – available on the first printing only, so pre-order now!

A billionaire’s grandson and the housekeeper’s daughter square off in this cat-and-mouse holiday romance-mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.

Ella Chambers didn’t kill Liam Montgomery.

If she had, she certainly wouldn’t have done it outside his family’s mansion during the Christmas party of the year. She definitely wouldn’t have loaded his body into the trunk of her car. And she absolutely would not have announced to the town that the boy who ruined her life ten years ago was “so dead to her.”

But now Liam is missing—nothing but a bloody spot on the drive and a host of unanswered questions—and Ella is the only person who knows he’s still alive.

So it’s up to her to prove it.

Liam Montgomery didn’t want to die.

But, it turns out, when you’re the sole heir to a billionaire, someone might want you dead. Luckily for Liam, being dead works for him.

Now he’s on the hunt for a killer. Unfortunately, Ella is on the hunt for him.

She’ll have to prove he’s still alive to clear her name, but that’s easier said than done in a quaint mountain town where everyone knows your story but no one knows the truth. Can the billionaire’s grandson and the housekeeper’s daughter join forces to catch a killer? Or is their past too steeped in secrets and lies?

As the storm of the century blows in, every step will bring these two childhood rivals closer to a killer—and each other.

Because, this Christmas, only one thing is it’s beginning to look a lot like murder.

Thank you to the publisher for an ALC.

I LOVED THIS BOOOOOOK.


This might be my new favorite of Ally Carter’s. I was down bad from the beginning and it did not let up (complimentary).

The mutual pining between Ella and Liam was top notch. As was the banter. It was sassy and heated and full of *oh my gosh kiss already* nonsense that I adore. The cat and mouse vibes are 100% accurate and you have to go with the audiobook!! Dual narration was top tier. I loved both narrators.

I kind of forgot it was Christmas in this story? But that didn’t bug me at all. I was locked in to the mystery and wondering where things were going next. I liked the the drama and turmoil It does lean on the heavier side (see content warnings) yet it didn’t overwhelm the plot to me and worked well to amplify the themes.

The romance was tender and nuanced. I liked that they both learned new things about each other and found ways to work together. They both had a protective streak I was obsessed with. There was emotional depth and this longing for home (as a person) between Ella and Liam I could not get enough of.

Overall audience notes:
– Christmas Mystery + Romance
– Language: low
– Romance: closed door
– Violence: moderate
– Content warnings: loss of a parent (cancer), murder, attempted murder, gun violence, loss of a grandparent, other mentions of cancer

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Book Review: The Things Gods Break (The Crucible #2) by Abigail Owen

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Romantasy
Length: 528 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She has won the games of the gods, can she stand against the titans? Lyra may have survived the Crucible, but now she faces an even more dangerous test – a deadly race against time begins in Tartarus.

The games continue in the thrilling and highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling romantasy The Games Gods Play. Welcome to Tartarus!

AROUND AND AROUND WE GO.

This is the second sequel I’ve read from Abigail Owen that just did not work. I don’t know how or why this book was 21 hours when it just repeated itself OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. If I hear one more thing about a lock or about how this isn’t the “real” Hades or a conversation surrounding not knowing what year it was I will lose it. BECAUSE SAME.

I’m not sure the plot went anywhere. I’m not sure the romance went anywhere. Being stuck in Tartarus for 500+ pages was a slog. The few small moments I liked did not outweigh my issues.

Will I read the third book? PROBABLY OKAY.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Ice Shy (Ottawa Otters Legends #1) by K.M. Gillis

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin Publishing
Release Date: April 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once burned…

Arthur “Ace” Stetson is a living legend. Once destined for a record-breaking NHL career, a devastating injury put him behind the bench instead. Now the league’s youngest head coach, his only goal is to lead the Ottawa Otters to their first Stanley Cup. It’s going to take discipline, focus, and zero distractions—like the beautiful, chaotic new team physiotherapist.

Elliot Baker runs on caffeine and blind optimism. The single mom has three jobs, a mountain of debt, and absolutely no idea what day of the week it is. Her new job offers the stability she and her son, Sam, desperately need…if she can survive working with the gorgeous tyrant, Coach Stetson.

He needs a physiotherapist who will put up with him. She needs to keep her job.

He thrives on structure. She goes with the flow.

He demands results. She knows broken things need time to heal.

The more time they spend together, the more their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. And for two people who’ve been hurt before, falling for each other might be the riskiest play in the book.

OH I LOVED THIS.

I am a previous enjoyer of the two earlier Ottawa Otter books (they are holiday themed, highly recommend). And I didn’t even know Ice Shy was coming and I’m so glad I saw a friend’s review because I would have missed out on another amazing hockey romance!! My new favorite from K.M. Gillis.

My favorite part was the MMC, Arthur. He’s grumpy for everyone but her and so down bad I can’t even. I loved that you can see his gruff outward demeanor but with his inner dialogue, just how much he cares and wanted to communicate that as well. He found genuine ways to look after Elliot and Sam and it was incredibly endearing and smile inducing every time.

I really liked Elliot as the FMC too. Besides a few too many why would you want to date me remarks, I loved her single parent strength and her ability to handle business. Especially when that involved asking for help.

And I loved seeing the other Otters. I loved Sam. I love so many moments!! I seriously gobbled this up.

I will say that the last chapter through me for a loop because it was an abrupt jump to the epilogue. But that was a minor foible.

Overall audience notes:

  • Hockey romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door; light innuendo
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: abusive parent (recounted, emotional abuse on page), abusive ex (recounted and on page), loss of a loved one (recounted)

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